Mississippi River muskies?

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No matter what any DNR officer says over the phone, it is still the descretion of teh guy in the field as to whether or not you are fishing out of season...

I L and 8 while northern fishing all the time, I just can't help it after doing it after every muskie cast over the last 8 years.. I even do it once in a while while bass fishing off the dock, I just can't help it and it's a habit and I actually have to concentrate on not doing it..

[Zelmsdawg]

Zelms you really need to re-awaken your reflexes ? Give ya a hint when you feel the weight of the fish set the hook and relax and settle down a bit, you sound like you get a bit jumpy when one first blows up on it, take it easy.Hope you don't work with nitro glycerin or anything. The world will not end if you don't land them, sure it's frustrating, toppers are at times the toughest bait to get a good hook set on, not every blow up is like feeding or crushing your bait. jk, but loved your post.

No offense taken Musky Buck. I fish almost exclusively with topwaters now and the day I lose that feeling when I see a musky wake behind my lure or hear one smash it if I'm looking away is the day I stop fishing. For me at least, I'd rather have a couple of topwater follows or wakes then catch a fish at the end of a cast sub-surface. I love it when you see a fish mid retrieve and then have to keep your nerves under control while trying to get the fish to commit. And typically early in the year I get too excited and pull baits away which is why I try to use bass to get back in the swing of things

Zelmsdawg