Best $100 You Can Spend – Bigguns Hitting the Bag – Mapping Tips
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Mapping Tips
"It's the best $100 you can spend."
☝️ Luke Ronnestrand isn't talking about a reel, a rod, a net, clothing, etc.
He's talking about the Zero Lines map chip you can put in your Humminbird unit to make your own maps.
Here's the video:
This is obviously a useful tool when you're fishing uncharted waters, but don't sleep on it for well-known, popular fisheries that already have good maps.
We talked last week about how you can use Autochart Live to markup your map with hard and soft bottom areas. But it can also be a great tool for finding "hidden" contours on your favorite lake that the map makers missed.
But what really makes Autochart a no-brainer is it runs 100% in the background, collecting data while you fish. You don't need to do anything. There's no reason NOT to take advantage of the extra info it compiles.
Musky Insider isn't sponsored by Humminbird.
We're 100% in the business of sharing useful tips, tricks, and gear that will help you catch more fish, and this one fits the bill.
Boatdoggin'
Not gonna lie, Cole Lauzon might have one of the coolest boatdogs out there.
He recently sent us this pic out on Lake St. Clair, featuring a beautiful spotted musky and his dog Daisy eyein' it up:
Haha, love that pose!
So, naturally, we had to pull up Cole's IG page and see if we could hunt down a few more pictures of this goober. The hunting wasn't in vain!
Exhibit A:
Love it! 🤣
Next up, here's a look at Daisy in mid-winter (top) vs. mid-sumner (bottom):
Same pose, different outfits 😂
And how great is this scene of the pup tracking the 'skie all the way into the net??? (2x speed):
She definitely has the musky bug!
And of course, we need to wrap this montage up with a family photo of Daise, Cole and their other fishin' buddy Shaelynne:
Do you have a boatdog in the family? Send us your pics, and we might share 'em here in the newsletter 👍
Oldies, but Goodies
Okay, this might be the most random musky musing ever, but....
We had a wild hair to dig DEEP into the YouTube archives and look up some of the oldest musky videos on the internet. Here's a few fun findings:
First up, check out this video from October 25, 2006 (17 years ago) of Mark Lijewski, who's one of the best musky tournament anglers of all time:
It was cool to see Mark put this big WI musky in the boat on a Pounder 💪
Next, we have an old video from some musky lovin' folks that most of you have followed throughout the years....
The Angling Edge crew has a lot of good musky content from back in the day, so of course we bumped into this great video of James Lindner and Jeremy Smith boating some plus-sized 'skies in the late 2000's:
Okay, one last super old 'side vid....
I believe this next one was the FIRST EVER musky video posted on YouTube, and it's from alllll the way back in early 2006 from Peter Riola. 😱
Funny enough, it's an ice fishing video....
The first musky videos on YouTube is on the ice... you can't make that up! 😂
Also gotta note, targeting muskies through the ice is illegal most places these days with a few exceptions. If you happen to catch one on accident, unhook and get it back into the water as quickly as possible. Never hurts to have tools next to hole just in case.
This Week's Mashup:
Mashup time!
#1 – Check out this cloud formation sent in by Joe Heitz in Vilas County, Wisconsin. I think it's safe to say we don't need to tell ya what we see up there.
#2 – Was on Ezoko's website the other day when I noticed they were carrying the Strike Pro Guppie Glide Baits. These are really cool baits. They are great fish-catchers and have some wildly impressive paintwork. Here's a not from the product description:
"One of the first things people notice about the Strike Pro Guppie is the artwork. The paint schemes incorporate using paint or glitter on the INSIDE shell of the bait, in addition to painting on the outside.
"This mimics the technique Mr Joe Peterson uses on his wood baits, layering paint between topcoats for a 3-D effect. It also prolongs the color of the bait fish after fish. Strike Pro has even replicated the signature 3-D eyes that TrueGlide lures are famous for."
Here's a few choice colors they have in stock:
#3 – I hope everyone reading this newsletter has a safe and enjoyable 4th of July week/weekend. Bonus points if you get to make a few casts with the relatives!
#4 – Gotta love the game face Nicholas Colangelo is sportin' as he hoists a big out-east 'skie into the boat.
QUICK HITTERS:
– Musky fishing a new lake w/ Todays Angler (video)
– Wisconsin musky fishing w/ Smith's Fishing (video)
– Angling Anarchy on the Tackle & Tacos podcast (video)
– Zig Zag'n early summer topwaters w/ Joe Bucher (video)
– Boat problems and solving it w/ 54 or bust (video)
THIS WEEK'S MONSTER MUSKIES:
Check out this absolute slob of a 55.25-incher sent in by Travis Raison. He got her to go mid-afternoon on a bucktail over a deep weed bed. Great catch, man!
How 'bout this big ole porker of a Canadian 'skie Gord Pyzer (one of our Insider PRO instructors) caught to kick off his musky season in Ontario?? Stout!
Big congrats to Becca Miller on boating her first-ever musky, fishing with Dave Bennett. Awesome upper-40's first 'skie – the smile says it all!
Wanna be featured in Musky Insider? Send in your recent trophy musky photos by replying to this email. You might just see your pic in next week's newsletter. 🤙
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