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2:40 pm
August 13, 2014
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Success is about confidence. We all pursue musky in a slightly or drasticallly different approach. Confidence in success/time on the water should dictate key tactics. This is also true for failures. Lack of action is also time well spent. It shows a need for change. As a self taught musky Angler with the advantage of a ton of time on the water, I soon realized unproductive time is also valuable. Finding baits/retrieves/high percentage cast scenarios takes time and patience, and change seasonally. You may be doing everything right, exept cast areas, retrieve speeds, etc. A simple vary can change everthing.that being said, if I find success, knowing depth,retrieve, and such can be repeated thru the body of water to use the hard gatheted info to good use. Continuous applications of tactics that worked in a different time of year can be very wasteful, in my opinion. Its ok to not net fish. Every minute spent on the water tells you what, or what not to be doing. I guess im saying all of this because I really seldom figure 8, to elicit strikes. Ive recieved crap for it, yet I do catch a fair amount of fish. Good luck to all mi50 members as fall approaches.
5:41 pm
October 1, 2008
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Good post. I agree that confidence is so important when you "might" catch 1 fish per trip. Confidence in the body of water, spot, depth, structure, time of year, water temps and baits are all critical to how you present your bait consistently. This confidence breeds success and yet you must be willing to change with the seasons, body of water or when the bights just arent coming. I get a lot of fish on bucktails w/ figure 8's or other boatside manuvers so I am always going into an oval or fig 8 at the end of the cast. I rarely get follows on big plastics because my hits usually come in deeper water and on the drop, so I rarely fig 8 with bulldawgs.
Can't wait for fall 8)
4:38 pm
April 26, 2011
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Years ago we were fishing with Doug Johnson. He told us about a couple guys ge had guided that did the figure 8 several turns after each cast.He asked them if they were seeing that many follows. Response " No, but we read you're supposed to do figure 8s after each cast. Doug says " You guys bow hunt . Do you go through the woods shooting arrows or wait till you see a deer?"
Been fortunate to fish with a lot of really good musky guys . Every one has said to only figure 8 if you SEE a fish following. L turn in case you missed seeing a fish but odds are better to spend the figure 8 time making another cast.
I've always believed we place to much importance on maybe insignificant variables after catching a fish. Everyone that has chased these critters has seen a time where multiple fish suddenly start biting. "IF" that occurs after a lure change our brain says " this is THE bait" . Might be as likely they were active enough to hit any other lure running that depth or speed . Had several doubles this year where both anglers hooked up on entirely different class of lures.
4:44 pm
October 1, 2008
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I see your point Larry. However, I've picked up more than a few fish going into the figure 8's blind and the fish pops up under it out of nowhere. Whether it's an "L" or an "8" youre still giving the fish an opportunity to come into your vision before pulling the bait out. I think this has a lot to do with water clarity. I often fish in a lake that may have 1'-2' of visibility with algae blooms. If youre fishing a clear glacier lake and can see for 10 feet, I would agree it may not be necessary to do figure 8's every time.
2:54 am
August 13, 2014
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In my own humble opinion, the best trigger is a variation in retrieve away from the boat, every cast. Eat at the feet makes for cool stories, but for me, speed changes during my main retrieve well away from the boat, is really my figure 8. Straight in line retrieving almost any lure, will need figure 8s or Ls boatside to elicit strike, on average, I think. I love the herky jerky, regardless of the lure. TRIGGER during entire cast, not just a few seconds boat side . not saying to not figure 8. Im saying direction and speed changes that make the figure 8 trigger work, dont always have to be boatside. Many types of baits can be retrieved with these triggers worked into every cast. But im a striper guy. What do I know? HA!
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