I had mentioned in an above comment about recalling the days of the old Zebco De-Liar. My dad and grampa had one. Can’t find them anymore. In my tackle box is a Berkeley digital scale and an 8-ft tape measure. Someday I’ll own a bump board.

Fishermen are known for their tall tales and I’ll insist on keeping facts, facts. Lures, depths and lakes may vary.😁

That’s my next move, tying mono leaders and getting heavier test braid. I love fishing with it.

Question: for those bringing up braided line being more visible, what about fly guys? That line has got to be even worse for visibility yet they catch fish. I’m taking to heart all I’m reading.

And I may yet for the spring outfit. My muskie and salmon rig has 50# power pro. Love how braid casts. It’s nasty little pike and muskie with scissor teeth that are the need for leaders.

That I will do. Thank you!

That’s the first thing I look at. All three were frayed. I tug hard on the knots and use a light drag.

When fishing in younger years I used 8-12# mono line and never a leader. Caught many a pike mostly under 25” but never a bite off. Recently have went over to braided lines and really enjoy the differences. This past summer I fished non-musky lakes for walleye and pike without a leader (floro or steel) and have experienced 3 bite-offs, one was a pike and not seeing the other two fish can assume they are most likely pike.

Does braided line bite off easier? I’m using 12# test. How about going up to 20# or will I need to be using a leader?

I’ve seen more muskie fisherman that rather not say a peep about their local catches. Some catches are told but I can’t discern embellishment. Funny this came up here, I was just recalling the old “fish deliar” my dad and grampa had when I was a kid.

Murphy’s Law states “whatever can go wrong will go wrong at the worst possible time”

We catch gators through the ice in Michigan😁

I’m on the fishbrain app under the same name if you get over there, hit me up. Have a great season!

Fishing Charlevoix county and the chain of lakes. 👍

Thanks everybody! Pics coming soon!

Muskies break all the rules. On one of our muskie lakes it isn’t unusual to hear of someone hauling in a 45+”er with the traditional 8lb test med spinning outfit thinking to land a bass. Sometimes they just don’t bite. Me? I go big no matter what lure or bait I’m using. You just never know.

Good to finally sign in. Getting ready for ice fishing here in northern lower “tip of the mitt” Michigan. Cant wait to fish the hardwater, it’s a blast!