Tiger muskie bit it off!

[Mark_VTfisherman]

I bought a storm deep thunderstick jr. at 4S Sports while I was fishing at Canadarago Lake in New York. I put it out about 5 minutes and got a REALLY solid hit, but lost the fish. When I brought the lure in, it actually had been bitten OFF right behind the line tie and bill, leaving me only the head. The color was watermellon, nice big black spots (meant to be the 'seeds' I am sure).

I really wanted that watermelon pattern, and was upset that when I went back to get another, but there were no more in stock. I have searched around for more but I am having trouble finding deep thunderstick juniors in general, and can't find the watermelon at all, not even in distributor catalogs. I would like to buy two. Anyone know of a few on a shelf somewhere? I can send you a check for lure cost plus shipping if you can find a couple.

Thanks- Mark

 

[danbo]

Re: Tiger muskie bit it off!

Try a jointed Jitterbug in Frog color & get ready for a Heart-attack hit!!

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Tiger muskie bit it off!

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/s...2_100000000_100005000?cmCat=CROSSSELL_PRODUCT

www.miklurchtackle.com/index.php?categoryID=342

 

[JB]

Re: Tiger muskie bit it off!

I have had muskies and snakes bite off soft plastics, but that thunderstick must be a flimsy POJ if any fish (you don't KNOW what fish) can bite it off. The only fresh water denizens that I know of that might be able to bite through that internal SS wire are alligator snappers and maybe alligator gar.

I have had magnum Rapalas severely mangled by barracuda, but that wire that runs inside from the tie on to the hooks has never been threatened. I am assuming that Storm puts a similar wire in the T'sticks.

Is Canadarago one of those tigers only lakes?

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: Tiger muskie bit it off!

No- Canadarago had tigers put in to fight off alewives according to the NYDEC web gossip. And you are right - I do not KNOW what bit it off, but the teeth marks on the piece I had left made me draw the conclusion.

Incidentally, the Storm does NOT have the internal connection (apparently) as it was merely molded plastic around the line tie loop. Not the same as Rapala- I never had a Rapala come apart, so I don't know what is in them. The thunderstick and its brethren are hollow plastic

I have to say I bought the lure because the color looked like what I would do for landlocks, but I thought it would work well for walleye- which is what I was trolling for.

I don't have a lot of storm stuff, but the thunderstick junior and deep thunderstick junior have a different action that has gotten salmon and walleye strikes both, and that green chartruese back and pink belly with the big black dots all over looked great to me. The thunderstick had seemed to put up with higher trolling speeds, so I wanted to spend some time with it.

Tim Frank: I did check out those links, and I probably will buy a few of the 139's because they are close, but the green is deeper and the black spots are smaller. I have a 139 now, that's how I know.

 

[danbo]

Re: Tiger muskie bit it off!

I never get that hung-up on lure color. Light penetration changes all day long.
Dark day-dark lure. It's all about Contrast.
Try a Ripplin Redfin too.

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: Tiger muskie bit it off!

I never get that hung-up on lure color....%...

I don't either BUT I do have a few colors which seem to outperform others consistently. I don't ALWAYS start exclusively with the color choice first, but do go for depth first. I run different colors. Then usually the hits come often enough that a particular pattern and color emerges as superior and everything goes to that color.

Maybe I am hung up on color ...

 

[freelancer]

Re: Tiger muskie bit it off!

Friend of mine says to contact Rollie and Hellan's Musky Shop in Minnesota, sorry don't have the contact info. He says that you should be able to order what you need from them, if it's still available.

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: Tiger muskie bit it off!

thanks!