Well, Busse Lake is that place for me. It's a large body of water that offers a variety of species. An angler can catch bluegill, crappie, carp, largemouth bass, walleye, northern pike, and musky...and it's only been 10 to 25 minutes from me for the past 15 years, so, what's not to like!
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| 2005 |
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| Fast forward to my heavier days a few years later. One of the first fish I caught on the fly. |
After work today, I headed on over to the lake. As I was unloading a guy was just finishing up his day on the water from his kayak. He told me he landed a 30" musky on a night crawler. Awesome - I brought my 9 wt and musky flies :)
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| 4/0 single. |
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| Beefcake |
I floated around and tossed the usual musky meat. I hooked up with a few downed trees, but no fish. Paddled around some more. Saw some activity near some downed trees, so, I slowly and silently made my way to what looked like baitfish trying to get away from something. I casted. Thump. I could feel something with significant size on the other end...could this be?!?! Then as fast as it happened, the line went slack. I felt broken. I made more than a few casts back into the area, but there was nothing. Could that have been a Busski (Musky from Busse)!! I'll never know....
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| Crotch Shot! |
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| Sunset. |
Not that the photos aren't awesome, but a higher angle would be more... flattering. Just saying. I went my whole life in Illinois with out hooking a muskie let a lone seeing one from closer than twenty feet. Keep at it, and I am sure you will get bit.
ReplyDeleteI had a few shots at a musky last year at Mallard Lake while bass fishing. I wasn't prepared for anything with teeth, and it snapped my 9 lb leader.
DeleteI don't have a mount for my camera, yet, and have been researching the best way to do it, to my liking. Yesterday, I just used my suction cup mount on the only part of my kayak that it would stick, and that was as high as it would go. I actually thought the shots were higher, but I was wrong. ha
You can make a pretty simple mount with half inch PVC and a GoPro mounting head. I made my first one with 1/4 aluminum rod and another out of 3.8th inch tubing. Just get a little creative and you can have something that suits your needs and is inexpensive. Shoot me an email if you want to go over plans and ideas.
DeleteIt is hard to keep grabbing the fly rod when you hear stories of spin fisherman pulling monsters out here and there. I think this summer I'll use my spinning rod more.
ReplyDeleteIndeed. All of the reports from guys who have been killin' it there haven't been using fly fishing gear. I do flip flop what I use, as far as gear goes, but I prefer my fly rod. Although, I do believe I will be using my spinning and baitcaster more this year, just because of the addition of the kayak, and the waters I plan on fishing.
DeleteI use what ever fits the situation. If a spinning rod with a crawler works, I'd go for it.
ReplyDeleteI prefer my fly rod, but if it's a quick trip I will take either my spinning or baitcasting set up. If it's somewhere I won't have enough space for a back cast, I will take the others, as well.
DeleteThe previous outings I had on this lake last week from my kayak, I brought my other gear. This was the first outing with my fly gear.
Hey! Looks like we are having very similar experiences! I also fish Busse and go under the name globb4 on WindyCity. http://georgelobb.tumblr.com/
ReplyDeleteYep, it's still very early in the season, but that still doesn't stop me from hating Busse. haha When do you usually go out?
DeleteFirst, love the shirt. Go Hawks! Secondly, stick with the Muskie! I have been I don't know how many trips and hours spent and I have only caught three, two of which on one freak trip. Good luck and tight lines!
ReplyDeleteNice, man! I know I've got to put the time in and the fish will eventually find a way it's way to my hook. Looking forward to that! Go Hawks!
DeleteCrappie and bass what a great combination!!
ReplyDeleteRight! Such a fun time...if I can only find them. haha
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