New Toys

[Scott McKee]

What new lures, rods, reels, gadgets or electronics are you dying to try out when musky opens?

I haven't added much to my arsenal this off-season. I have plans to purchase a few big Bull Dawgs, a Baker or five, a few Shmo' Double Baloney's and a few Double Baloney Sliders (size 8 blades), and I have to replenish my supply of Red October tubes, but I didn't go nuts buying stuff which is a recent trend for me; one I'm happy with.  I definitely need a new boat cooler.

I am looking forward to casting and trolling my new Storm jointed Flatsticks.  I had some success with their bigger brothers last year and at only $10 a piece (Dick's), these little guys look like very affordable fish catchers.  I picked up a few Bondy's at the Odyssey.  When I spoke with Jon Bondy, he asked me what I thought of his lures?  I replied, "I hate them".  I went on to tell him about the only fish I've ever caught on one of his baits and how the 40-incher almost ripped the rod out of my hands.  I plan on spending  more time jigging these globs of plastic at night since my trolling success in the dark has been lacking.  Truth be told, of the lures I've added or plan to, I'll probably have more success with the cooler.

How about you?

[John Pensyl]

Picked up another Croix big nasty and paired it with a revo nacl. Looks slick and the new round handles on the reel were kind of weird at first but it grew on me throughout the day Saturday, other than the new handles its just another revo Toro though. Picked up some foiled 6in jointed musky rockets for speed trolling and a small arsenal of foiled baker deep divers that I plan to cast like a madman this season. Got a couple 10 inch slammers, couple of dadsons bucktails, tied up a couple more twin 10 combos. Got a few mag dogs and a couple pounders for the fall. Picked up a couple jointed trophy divers I'm going to try night trolling with this summer. A stack of bondys, a few New glidebaits and of course I put in a mass order with Arena to replenish and replace my chewed up tubes.

One week left in my academy and then off to work. Hopefully I can get thru all the BS and get my swaps set up for the summer so I can play with all my toys on the Niagara. Hoping to spend a lot more time on waneta and Chautauqua this season and maybe even transfer near waneta before the start of next season and hang out there for a year or so, we'll see how it all works out.