Interested in hearing how people have been doing out there so far.

fished saturday, 5 follows, no hits, biggest fish was 40+, had him boat side on a follow, about 6" behind my bait just under the surface, its nice to look em in the eyes!

Sounds very similar to my story. Had 3 follows throwing home made bucktails on tonka saturday early a.m. One was 40+ and was hot on it but missed.

Hit Bald Eagle and Tonka hard sunday and monday. Caught a few small pike and bucketmouths.

Still looking to get some slime in my boat.

We fished Vermilion for the opener, and I hooked into a beast that was at least 48 inches and 30 pounds. I was fishing with a rookie, and needless to say- he nets fish like a rookie. He went to net her, and didn't get the front of the hoop underneath her enough- and the trebles snagged on the outside of the net so she couldn't advance any farther at that point. He made a quick move to try to get her, but she dove down when he made that move and when he brought the net up she was gone! It was one great battle, and a quick release. Not a bad way to open the season, but a picture would've been better. We boated 2 more smaller fish on Monday.

Jason

My boat got two on sat, a 40 and a 38 and the partner should have had another low 40s. Sunday, fished for about 6 hrs we and had a 51-53ish inch fish take 3 shots at a phat boy before before bumping it out of the water and swimming away. Another boat we were with got 3 for the weekend and a third boat nothing. Fish didn't want to chase, but were willing to eat.

Your horror story brings a tear to my eye, Jason. I bet he nets the next one like a champ! Like you said, at least you got to battle it out until the end.

I'd much rather have the eaters than the chasers, Vinje. But I'll take what I can get!

I couldn't be too hard on him. I wanted to cry, trust me, but for an opening day fish, that was still special. It's an amazing experience to hook into a fish like that, and I know that he was kicking himself more than I could've. It's always a privelege to take a rookie out and show them just what muskie fishing is all about and why we do what we do- as much as we do. I've put him on 2 fish now (he got his second muskie on this trip with me), and he is going to be fishing out of my boat more in the season ahead. I'll need him to stay focused, so when the next 50 incher comes, he does net it like a champ!!