June 22 Report

[Tony Scime]

Ok, for the past few years I've been saying that I'd be musky fishing more. But every year I get lured away by smallmouths. But this year I got tired of smallmouths, and I want to re-dedicate myself to musky fishing. But the first few trips were tough - one 20" dink.

Also, I realized I went undrafted in last year's NMAFFL. How embarassing. I still have it (I think).  I think I can still be a contributing member of any owner's team. So this year I want to show that I can still be a valuable teammate (I figure I need at least 12 fish).

And it's not like I can't get out. I'm free for a few hours most mornings (and I'm getting used to getting up at 4:30am to be on the water by 5:30am). I can fish til 10:30 or 11AM. I live only a few miles from the Tonwanda Launch. I have a season's pass. So I plan on at least a couple mornings a week, maybe more.

So now I just need to catch some fish to show that I can still do it. I know how. I know where. I've done it before. I just have to do the time. With all the knowledge out there, the only ingredient any of us really need to catch fish is dedication and time on the water.

So this morning I went out with hope that the passage of the front will change my luck. Before the season I rigged about a dozen tubes with trailer trebles. But I had no takers my first 3 trips. Was it the trebles? Well, brilliant as I am, I decided to start this morning with a single hooked tube (no trailer). The first cast I hook a fish! The first cast I lose a fish! The tail is bit off immediately behind the hook. Damn musky gods. Would a treble make a difference?

At least the showery weather made me believe. Fronts still work. But I see the clearing heading in. Want to beat the blue. Second drift I switched back to a tube with a trailer. Second cast hooked another fish, and this one I land! 36". Boy the 36"ers look a lot bigger than they used to (almost as big as they did in the early 80s, when they were on the rare side). And it was hooked on one prong of the treble! Green tube below FC. Third drift another fish. 41". Nice fish, but it had a serious large scar on it's shoulder. Don't know if it was hooked by the treble or jig hook, because the hooks came out in the net. Three hook ups in first hour. I like fronts. I like tubes. I like trailer trebles!

The front passes. The sky is blue. Boy is the water clear. See to 22 feet easily. Confidence crasher (for me, I hate super clear water). So I move to the east, which generally holds a better stain. Another fish, this one on a brown sparkly tube. 40". 9:15am NE of SI. Sunny and calm. This fish was hooked by the jig hook. Had to snip it off.

Almost pulled a Turkturk. Left my net in the water as I was releasing the fish. Luckily my teble was still entangled in the net. Treble saved the net!

Off the water by 10:20am.

Boy this musky fishing is fun. Hell with bass. When's the next front?

I think I'll try Monday morning (may be back down to reality).

NMAFFL here I come! 

[Scott McKee]

Most of the greatest baseball players of all-time had nicknames.  Stan Musial nickname was of course "the Man".  Ted Williams' was "Teddy Ballgame" or "The Splendid Splinter".  Joe DiMaggio was "The Yankee Clipper".  The two Hanks, Greenburg and Aaron, were both "Hammerin' Hank".  Ty Cobb was the "Georgia Peach".  Babe Ruth was of course the "Bambino" or "The Sultan of Swat".

Adopting these names to Tony, one of the greatest musky anglers of all-time, is a bit difficult.  Tony "The Boloney"?  Hardly. Tony "Musky Fishing" or "The Splendid Trolling Rod"?  "The Niagara Clipper" isn't bad, but I fear people will confuse Tony's nickname with the touring boat the "Grand Lady".  "Trollin' Tony" would have applied in the past, but Tony loves the tubes now.  Tonawanda isn't exactly known as a fruit producing city, so "The Tonawanda Tangerine" is a big reach. "Tonbino"?  No.  The "Sultan of Spinnerbaits" really only applies to Tony's later efforts on Lake Nipissing.

The All-Time baseball great that most closely mirrors Tony in my opinion is without a doubt Lou Gehrig.  That's why I've nicknamed him "The Iron Horse."

It's good to have you back.

After last night's insane ring behind the bar, I feel like Luke Appling or "Old Aches and Pains."

[Jay Nannen]

Way to go Tony!  The Musky Gods are clearly pleased with your renewed passion for the sport.  I see a top 10 fish in your immediate future.