End Of Season Musky Binge

[John Pensyl]

Just finished catching up on release reports and I figured I'd drop a quick report.  I planned on fishing every day from the twmt on the 30th right up until Dec 13th when I leave to fish lake Amistad down in Tx for a week. 

After 5 days we've managed to put some very nice plump clean fish in the boat.  Conditions have been amazing and the wind that seemed to never quit in November has given us a break the past few days.  Both tournaments went well over the weekend and both Cullen and myself managed to boat nice fish each day.  Saturday we measured 45 and 39 inch fish caught jigging near strawberry and Sunday we caught 44 and 39.5 inch fish trolling just below the Lewiston boat launch.  I'll upload pics to the gallery for anybody interested in checking them out.  

Monday we went back to the Canadian waters of the upper niagara and spent the day dragging tubes.  After about 6 hours on the water we called it a day with 3 mid 30s fish landed and a couple more missed bites.  

Tuesday am had a new moon moonrise and 7:56am and those of you that have fished or talked with me know that the new moon mornings are what I live for.  Once again I wasnt let down as my biggest fish to date chomped my green ninja tube at 8:01am and I put a fat 48x25 inch fish in the net.  Cullen added 2 more mid 30s fish to the day and at about 3:00 we called it a day content with our success.

Today was more of the same, light to no winds, 10+ foot of vis and another girthy 48 inch fish in the net.  This time Cullen got the job done after a slow start he was demonstrating to me how he wanted the fish to eat his tube and as he lifted his rod illustrating where exactly she was going to chow it she actually did.  She fought hard at the boat but he made the only bite we had all day count.  2 48's in 2 days, yea you wont find me complaining.  

I plan on spending the next 8 days split between the Canadian waters of the upper and looking for a true giant in the lower.  Those of you who can find the time, get out there, she's waiting......

[Frank Stachowiak]

Looks like my musky fever ended with the Henning.

[Riley Himmrich]

Wow nice looking fish, i was out today, weather was great but not any sign of fish. Im new to this jigging, i do well early season casting the shallows but every fall i struggle, ive got some tubes and bondys but havent seen much action. when you guys jig the tubes are you directly below the boat like with bondys? ive had a few follows casting them up current and retrieving them back with the current slowly. I just dont have much confidence in it i guess. Anyone mind giving some pointers?

[John Pensyl]

Don't bother with keeping it vertical like a bondy. Cast it up river and drag it down river as u drift, this time of year we barely pop them off bottom, just like dragging a tube for smallies. Work on keeping the wind from pushing you cross current and try and drag them directly down river. Keep the hooks sharp and when u feel the thump give her all uve got and keep it tight. North winds kill the flow and the drift in the Niagara but most other conditions will produce bites.

[Riley Himmrich]

Thanks for the tips, i was jigging them up and down like crazy lol.

[jojo wilczewski]

Nice report this old dog is gonna have to learn some new tricks???
Jojoout

[Capt. Larry D. Jones]

I put my boat to bed for the winter after big motor finally got to the point where it would not run, was flooding out with excess gasoline.Either leaking injectors or bad reeds, winter project.I still may get out on the Lower Niagara with Dave Martin next week.I seen you catch the Fattie Cullen just after we trolled by! Congrads!

[Jay Nannen]

John I really admire the way you and Cullen get after it.  Congratulations on your recent success.  Two 48's is quite an achievement.  Hope you pop a 50 before the season ends and please keep posting your fishing reports, they always make my day.

[Josh Ketry]

The musky gods are watching!   Congrats John...hopefully more to come!

[John Pensyl]

Back out today, we hit a thick, thick 41 on a perchbait in peggys eddie.

[Capt. Larry D. Jones]

John, Outstanding! Still time to get a Jumbino!

[104pbcexobzwh]

Came back up to the lower river from P.A. dec 8 and 9.........monday was nasty with high winds and we ended up quiting by 2pm and headed home. Figured the front coming in and dropping temps would have the fish going but only managed a big laker on a perchbait, nothing on sunday either.

[Brett Cournoyea]

congrats on that success

river is blown out, brown as chocolate milk