On the fly side of things:

1) Try using 90# fluorocarbon for the leader connected to the flies.
2) Spend more time fishing the 4-8" flies rather than jumpin right to the 8-12".
3) Try slower presentations and give the flies PLENTY of hang time. This seems odd to me as with conventional gear, the baits almost always in motion. I plan to tease the hell out of these fish this year!! LMAO

Conventional gear side of things:

1) Run big blades at some point on every trip out (not new to most of you, but new to me).
2) Try fluorocarbon for the leader connection.
3) Try downsizing at points throughout entire year.

Not sure about you guys, but I am just haunted by the fact that I hear and see people catching BIG musky on anything from walleye/bass baits down to tiny jigs being used to catch perch and panfish. I don't want to even try to get into the science behind it all. However, I definitely plan to put a healthy dose of smaller baits in front of some esox this year and see where I end up.

Also, I am seriously considering getting a drift boat to help me learn some small rivers and streams. If anyone knows about any 14'+ for sale, let me know.