Michigan Muskie Alliance

Will Schultz wrote:No need to change hands if you learn how to cast correctly. With multiplying reels it isn't too important but the rule is that you should learn to reel with your dominant hand.

This I disagree with...

I am right handed, and use left handed reels for these reasons:
First, this is what came and feels natural to me. When i used spinning reels, I always had the handle on the left side. When I picked up a baitcaster, I felt the handle should be on the left... Why change???

It is more efficient... I cast with my right hand on the reel and my left on the butt, and bring the rod over my right shoulder. My hand is on the reel from the start to the finish of the cast. In the mean time, I am moving my left hand to the handle.

Dexterity and power... With the rod and reel in my right (dominant0 hand, I can more effectively work a bait, and generate a powerful hook set. All my left hand has to do is crank a handle... No dexterity or power needed for that, and what you do need is easy to learn.

The "Right" way is what works for you, but my way is more efficient...

Me too.

Well, then you can all look forward to the day when you can say, "I told you so".

Until then, I'm stuck with my woefully lame and inadequate spinning rig, since it's all I've got. Try not to laugh at me too much if you see me out there.

Hemi,
your absolutely right, you should use your spinning gear. Good luck man.

J.: I'm sorry to be such a disappointment to you. I shall endeavor to be less so in the future.

out

Chemi -

Now I REALLY know you are an engineer --- The question I have for everybody is how in the heck can you possibly work a jerkbait with a spinning rig ??? I dont think that it is even remotely possible. I also think we should set a date for the "ITYS" party for Chemi, lets see opening weekend is the 26th...I suppose we could work it in at the Intermediate outing

Spinning rig ==> <== Musky bait

Chemi -

Us -

Chemi later on-

Us later on -

In the end -

My -

Well, I've never said baitcasting is the wrong way to do it, nor have I said spinning is better. All I'm saying is I'm not conviced spinning can't be effective; and in any case I'm STUCK with spinning for the time being because I can't afford new baitcasting stuff right away, so I have to make the best of it.

So Kevin, can we get right to the beer-drinking part right now and forego the sniggering part?

Im certainly in favor of that-- I think though you would be wise to take Jason up on the rod offer and I am 100% certain you can get a reel from somebody for the same price.

Kevin

TOM, If I can use a baitcaster anyone can! Believe me I get my share of backlashes!!!!!!! Go to this http://www.indiantrailresort.com Click on John and his European guest, the guy is using a spinning reel, you'll love it. Is the rumour true that you have a pet name for every muskie in Ovid? All the guy's I fish with have a saying we say to each other all the time. "Shut-Up you big Baby and Fish"

Steve

Steve S wrote:TOM, If I can use a baitcaster anyone can! Believe me I get my share of backlashes!!!!!!! Go to this http://www.indiantrailresort.com Click on John and his European guest, the guy is using a spinning reel, you'll love it. Is the rumour true that you have a pet name for every muskie in Ovid? All the guy's I fish with have a saying we say to each other all the time. "Shut-Up you big Baby and Fish"

Steve

Ha! Yes, I have a pet name for every fish in Ovid, but I can't say it here on a public forum.

Sometimes I resort to doing what Ernie does when he and Bert go fishing, but it hasn't worked well so far:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=pFTjeaDlxDI& ... %20fishing

Chasin50 wrote: The "Right" way is what works for you, but my way is more efficient...

When I was younger and stupid (OK dumber... I'm still stupid) I agreed with that... kinda. I even argued with some guy named Lefty that because I was more comfortable reeling with my left hand on my fly reel that I could indeed reel faster with that hand... despite what he had said in print for years. I'll keep the story short and just say that I lost $1 after timing how fast I could reel in 50' of line first left hand then right. Those old fly guys know stuff...

So... the moral of the story is that a right hand person should crank with their right and cast with their left hand when using a baitcaster.

AND... I've broken or bent enough reel handles that I can assure you that your cranking hand is very important when you set the hook.

Left hand on a spinning reel makes sense because with the way the rod is held you want your dominant hand on the rod. Speed with the reel handle isn't important.

Cyberlunge wrote: I also think we should set a date for the "ITYS" party for Chemi, lets see opening weekend is the 26th...I suppose we could work it in at the Intermediate outing

I'm thinking June 1st but it will likely depend on when someone lets him use their baitcaster.

Hi Chemi, sorry guy the boys are right on the money here . Ill match Jasons rod with a reel spooled with 80 lb ready to go. 6500 abu c-3 . I have one extra one I am not using. On Jasons 7.5 ROD IT WOULD BE A GOOD MATCH. Mike and Michelle.

guess I'm one of those backward people. I'm right-handed and all my reels are left-handed. Just so more comfortable for me and it seem's to work. Steve

Will Schultz wrote:When I was younger and stupid (OK dumber... I'm still stupid) I agreed with that... kinda.
...

It's even worse when you're old and stupid, like me, and know everything!

Thanks, Mike and Jason, for the offers. And I started this thread just asking what lure I had bought!

But I'd feel really uncomfortable about taking accepting that stuff. You're a great bunch of guys!

Chemi-

I have to tell you that at some point in your life you will feel more joy in musky fishing and more pride about being in this group, the day you hand that combo to someone else a few years from now, than you will landing your biggest fish. I am proud to see how willing the people in this club are to advance the future of these and all fish. Hell I'll even send you a few lures I don't use and some day maybe you can forward them to another angler and tell that person about how people you barely know were willing to give. It makes the world a better place...

I'll tell you how I know - One day Dave (Muskypimp) and I were out fishing in Manistee Lake, I have an old perch Super Shad Rap that just loves the Northerns in there and it was on my rod when we came to the dock. There was a kid there that pulled his stuff right out of the way and grabbed the boat for us. He could not have been 13 yet, he looks at the rods and the boat and says "Catch any Muskies?" We were a little shocked so we start talking to him and he tells us about how he fishes all the time but no one will take him etc... So we gave him some tips and checked out his gear and let him check out our stuff, it was cool. So I usually have two or three of those SSR's in that color and I decided he should have one so I grabbed it out of the sidelocker and gave it to him. No kid on christmas with a new bike ever looked as shocked or as happy as that kid did when he got that lure... and what did it really mean to me? I spend (have spent) way too much time and money over the years on Musky crap that has never given me the un-encumbered joy that I got from that kid in that moment.

So what I am saying is, be that kid today and then find that kid when you are in a better position to do so. We will all be better for it.

Kevin