I put the fewest hours on my boat since I've owned it, however I did get out a lot this year with other people. I took a long trip to the Tahq with a few guys and battled a mosquito invasion of epic proportions!! I got to fish some new stretches of water and landed a few fish too. I got a Canadian license and set off to fish the south shore. After half a day into fishing Brett realized something wasn't right with his boat… Long story but the cliff notes version is that we made it to shore with the transom under water and a 6' split in the hull! The only casualties (other than the boat) were my sunglasses (stepped on by the coast guard) and Brett lost a Wiley that floated out of the boat on our way to shore. Jim and I went to St. Clair and I got a fat 51.5" which shattered my PB by 6.5"! That was the definite highlight of my year. I made it back to LSC a couple times after that and netted a couple of big fish for Scrappy, but I only managed to lose fish, 9 to be exact and a few were very big fish unfortunately. I also had a day on Oster that in a 45 min window I had 4 fish eat and 2 more swing and miss and some how I failed to net any of them. [smilie=brickwall.gif] the worst part of my season was a long tuff day of losing fish in the north channel only to realize a okuma rod and Calcutta B flew out of the boat. Overall I got to fish with quite a few guys and even was able to take a couple guys out with me, and I definitely made some memories.

this year was up and down, im actually somewhat relieved to hear that it was hard to pattern the fish. i read so much about it in the off season that it was a goal of mine to put a pattern on the fish from season to season and effectively know that im fishing where i should be fishing. hard part about that is when you dont catch many, you start to second guess yourself. this year i didnt fish many waters besides thornapple, my previous job made it tough and i unexpectedly had a better job offer i took this fall, but it really increased my workload and im back on third shift again. i was fortunate enough to tag along with a fellow musky fisherman and get out on LSC for the first time this year. no ski's but i had a pike smoke some rubber close to the boat which was a first for me, now i love throwing dogs/medussas. i also caught my first ski on a suick. I did not realize how stupid it was on how i imagined how to work the suick and how it was supposed to be fished. i put 2 new fisherman on muskies this year, both were there first skis ever so that also was very rewarding especially for my younger brother, he fished next to me for so long without even getting a follow. i was happy to see his hard work pay off, it was good timing to! all in all i took 7 muskies off of thornapple in my boat, almost doubled last years numbers so although i really wanted double digits, i know i still improved from the previous year. also i located and targeted fish in different areas with different techniques. my confidence level on thornapple has doubled, which is good because many days that lake beats me down. i really wanted to hit a fish on a figure 8 this year, still a goal along with breaking 50 inches but honestly a fish an eighth of an inch bigger than my PB would make me go crazy. switching gears and getting ready for some ice fishing now….even though it feels amazing outside. hopefully i dont have to drive 3 hours up north just to do some ice fishing this year. my goals for next year includes putting my father/brothers on their first muskie. i feel like once they get over that hump they will understand my addiction for them. I would also love to have a multiple ski day, and fish anchor bay this year on its opening. i do believe i could kill 2 birds with one stone on that one, and possibly 3 if i can get my family to tag along with me! cant wait for the banquet, im more excited for that than christmas straight up. we could do them on the same day and i still wouldnt miss.

Looks like a nice fish and a great time on the water.