T's Tackle Bump Boards

[Scott McKee]

Mike Fortunate has secured a deal with the owner of T's Tackle, the makers of premium musky bump boards.  The club will be allowed to order boards at 30% off their retail price.  These are really sexy bump boards.  We will take orders up until our July 1st Membership Meeting, then we will place our order.  A cash or check payment will be required with your order.  This deal is available to NMA members only.

Big Bump XL Boards - $60

Big Bump Boards - $50

If you are interested in purchasing a board, send a check payable to: Niagara Musky Association, Inc., to Mike Fortunate,  308 North Ogden Street, Buffalo, NY 14206, or bring your payment in cash to our July Meeting.  We are only accepting paid pre-orders.

[Joe Dolan]

Ah...I just bought a new one a couple weeks ago.  These prices are outstanding!  

One thing to note:  They sell both sizes in a left-handed and right-handed version.  Do you get a choice in this program?

[Scott McKee]

As far as I know, yes.  What's the difference?  This may be a stupid question, but then again it is coming form me.

[John Jarosz]

Scott...I checked their website & didn't see a pic of R vs. L, but my guess is that the "bump" is on the other side & the numbers run from right to left vs. left to right... that's a feeble guess only as I've seen other measuring sticks for kayaks, boats, etc & that was the difference between them.  Anyone know for sure?

[Joe Dolan]

John, you are correct.  The left-handed model reads the numbers from left to right (this is the norm that I have seen from the different bump boards I have used).  The right-hand model reads from right to left.

I bought the Big Bump, not the XL.  The Big Bump is rather wide.  I decided to save the $10 and also have a board that did not take up as much room in the boat (it can probably take the weight of people walking on it, but I would prefer not testing that hypothesis)

I really like T's version of a board.  (1) The numbers are printed directly to the board...no concern of a sticker pealing off (2)The color coding they use for specific sizes makes it super easy to get a quick reading and the fish back into the water (3) The hinges they use are another plus.  They are made of the same material as the board and are built in-line with the board.  This is important since the musky will not be laying on metal or something sharp that could hurt them.

[Joe Dolan]

Pictures are worth a thousand words...

Full Board picture:

Starting corner on a left-handed board (starts at the left with the numbers incrementing left to right):

The hinge in the board -- no hardware on the board touches the fish:

The color coding of numbers to help you get a quick measurement:

The dream of getting a fish longer than this board:

Last, the question is still out there...do you pinch their feet to get a longer measurement (thanks to my niece for actually allowing me to test my new board before the season opens)?

[John Jarosz]

Joe...NIIICE!!..and tell your niece that she is going to make a good fish model one of these days.

I like the girth & weight chart on there, too.  That fish can be out & in, in no time.

[Stephen Glassic]

I like the hinge so it doesn't take up too much room in the boat and the numbers will show up well in a pic.

I wish I could fork up the cash for one.

Hint... raffle table, monthly release prize.

[Scott McKee]

Hint taken, Steve!  We'll pick up a few extra for raffle prizes.

[John Pensyl]

I bought mine before they offered the left/right hand option but that is genius! I hold the muskies gill plate with my right hand so when I go to bump them they are always facing the wrong way and it requires an additional move to get the head to the left side of the board where the flat spot is. Less handling sounds better to me.

[Joe Dolan]

Yea, I was always surprised that the left-handed models were the dominant ones getting sold.  I am a lefty, so they feel natural to me...but I would think more people would have your issue, John.

[John Jarosz]

Can I still plunk down a Ulysses S if I don't win the raffle?  Maybe raffle off a certificate for a board when they come in?

[Stephen Glassic]

Maybe it was designed by a leftie and that is why the original one was left handed.