2010 season is over....time to reflect and discuss

[larndt]

Highs:
1) We had our best summer trip ever to Minnesota. I caught my personal best - a 52.5" beast (see attached pic). We also boated beautiful 44" and 42" muskies. My son landed his personal best northern of 40" and a lot of other nice pike. I believe we have a hot summer pattern figured out to catch these rascals.
2) My new personal best friend, besides my son, is a rainbow-colored showgirl, what a fish catching machine!!!
3) I made Muskie Hunter's Lure Doctor page in the Dec/Jan 2010 issue.
4) We became much more versatile as muskie fisherman by doing more vertical jigging and trolling.
5) I have a new bottom-bouncing technique, but need more time to experiment with it.

Lows:
1) Totally struck out when fishing for fall Indiana muskie. Got me baffled as we had caught many muskies in the 20 through 30lb. class range each fall before 2009. Since 2009 things have changed dramatically. Wish I could put my finger on why!