The Ottawa River Musky Factory
106 County Road 9 K0B 1L0 Plantagenet, ON, Canada

Musky Monday Seminar Series continues tomorrow with Brent Bochek! The Musky Monday Seminar Series is pleased to welcome guide, tv host of the new program Setting the Hook, Suick Pro Staffer, and veteran educator Brent Bochek to this weeks show. Brent will present and updated version of the presentation he gave at the last Musky Odyssey called Musky 101 - Making Every Cast Count.... Catch it live tomorrow on the Musky Factory Baits Facebook Page and bring your questions or drop in on our page later on to catch the show. Monday January 18th - Frank Ungaro from The Ugly Pike Podcast Monday January 25th - JP Derose - Musky Equipment and Technology Brent Bochek Ugly Pike Podcast JP DeRose Musky Factory Baits

Thanks to everyone who tuned in for our first Musky "Monday series yesterday. As promised here is the link to enter our contest for a FREE HYBRID spinner bait of your choice. Please enter by commenting on the link below (on the Musky Factor Baits page).

The first live Musky "Monday" Seminar starts at 7PM tonight with John Anderson and Mike Spratt from the Musky Factory Bait Company! Make sure to like the Musky Factory Baits page so you can watch! You can also click on the three dots in the upper left corner and manage notifications so you always get an invite when we go live in the future!

Ready for Lockdown? Don't drink alone! Sip a Scotch, or a V8, or a kale smoothie, and join us for the Musky Monday Seminar Series every week beginning in January live on the Musky Factory Baits Facebook page starting at 7 pm EST. We will be talking about everything muskie with a focus on baits, presentations, and learning with a star studded guest line up including Pete Bowman, Big Jim McGlaughlin, Mike Suick, Brent Bochek, and many more.... peace, JA

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Holidays - Just Thank You Almost every night before I fall asleep I marvel at how fortunate and lucky I am and how grateful I feel for the amazing people I get to share my life with. If you are reading this, you are probably one of those amazing people. Thank you to my family. To France and my Mother Sarah for being foundations that make me stronger and better.... Thank you to Lisa Goodier and Mike Kadoura and all the other people I get to hang out with at the Ottawa River Musky Factory. Working week in and week out with you inspires me and makes me proud that we are a team. Thank you Mike Spratt for all your work building and making Musky Factory Baits something really cool and fun. You set the bar high my friend and our quarter century plus together continues to grow better. In a year different than all the others the world reminds us of what life is really all about once again. It is about people and love. peace and love to you all and may 2021 be our best yet, JA ps Sunset by Ed Tink. If you know me from 45 years ago, I still talk (now Zoom) with Ed Tink, Colin Stewart (in Western Sahara), Eli Berman (UC San Diego), and Tim McFarland every month. How cool is that!

Announcing the Musky Monday Seminar Series for 2021 Beginning Tuesday January 5th (because France’s birthday is on Monday the 4th) and every Monday evening after that at 7 pm I will be hosting a live educational event online on the Musky Factory Baits Page. These evenings will feature a different topic each week and a different special guest to do a presentation, talk muskies, and answer your questions. Behaviour and tactics are at the core of this series with a focus on rea...l world applications to catch more muskies. Topics and guests so far include: Tuesday January 5th Everything Inlines and Spinnerbaits with Mike Spratt from Musky Factory Baits. We will talk construction, materials, action, vibration, colours, repairing your baits, and what makes some baits work so much better than others Monday January 11th Musky 101 with Brent Bochek Brent have given this seminar for Muskies Canada members a number of times including at the last Musky Odyssey. This is an intro level presentation to talk equipment, behavior, and presentation basics. Monday January 18th Musky Equipment with JP DeRose You know JP from countless TV programs. He knows more about fishing equipment specs, construction, and use than anyone I know. We will talk rods, reels, line, leaders, knots, and applying the right equipment at the right times as well as tactics and behavior. Stay tuned for future seminar topics and guests but here is some of what and who we have lined up for you: Pete Bowman on over 30 years of filming muskies on Fish’n’ Canada TV The History of Muskies in Ottawa with Big Jim McGlaughlin. Everything Jerkbaits with Mike Suick from Suick Lures and Brent Bochek from Setting the Hook TV, and Suicks first ever female pro staffer, Lisa Goodier Musky Myths Exposed & Outside the Box Tactics with Wally Robins Jigging and other forgotten gold with a diversely experienced outdoor writer. Everything Crankbait with Noah Clarke from Clarkey Baits and Brynn Roach from B&R Baits Soft Plastics Where, When, Why, How Using Technology and Reading your Fish Finder with RJ (Rob Jackson) How Muskies Canada Catches You More Fish and what is in store for MCI nationally and and chapter by chapter for the 2021 season. If you are not a member you will want to be. Ashley Rae Multi-species expert, guide, writer, and all around super outdoors woman Ashley Rae takes us into her world. Musky Research and Sustainable Fishing with Lawrence Gunther from Bluefish Canada past, present, and future The Other Ottawa Rivers The Rideau, The Madawaska, The Gatineau, The Jock, and some surprises too. The St. Lawrence River An evaluation of current conditions and populations More great speakers and topics are in discussion right now. If you have an idea for a guest or a show topic please let us know. These events are sponsored by: Musky Factory Baits Andre Lalonde Marine Let’s make 2021 our best musky season ever! Peace, JA

Still... Lisa is hardcore. I love that about her. Being around people with passion is the juice in life. Lisa had a charter this past Friday with someone who had never caught a musky. After she cleans and sets up her boat on Thursday afternoon, she realized there was a peak coming up and thought she really should go and scout the baitfish schools that have been working so well for her of late just one more time. And that's how this late fall fatty ended up in Lisa's arms.... The fish in the title photo was the result of Lisa's scouting efforts. A first ever musky, 48 x 22, caught casting, on a perfect day in November. Congrats Mike Henry! When you know what goes into making something like this more than just a dream it makes it even more special. I work diligently to pass on the wisdom of experience to my guides to make sure they have the tools they need for success. I can teach them musky behaviour, techniques, tactics, technology, and maybe a little more. But I can't teach passion, caring, and a dedication to your craft. Thanks Lisa. You're amazing. It's a pleasure working with you. peace, JA Lisa Goodier - Ottawa River Musky Factory guide Lisa Goodier Mike Henry

The Nicholls' Double Header Check out these two seven year old Silver Lampreys that Ross caught yesterday. Experienced musky hunters knows that you only get really big lampreys like these off of really nice muskies. I jumped in the boat with Bryan and Danny Osborne yesterday and long time friend Ross Nicholls. It was yet another magnificently calm and warm November day on the Ottawa River in what has been the warmest November ever. No cold hands or cold anything. Wow.... Eleven years ago I netted Danny's first musky so to get to net another one to close out this spectacular season for him is an honour. I posted Bryan's almost 40 pounder from a couple of weeks ago as well. These two have figured out downtown Ottawa like few others and it has been a pleasure to share a boat for over a decade together. Thanks Bryan. Thanks Danny. Thanks Ross. 2020 continues to impress. peace out, JA ps Wait until you see the spectacular last couple of days Lisa has had with her guests out on the water in tomorrow's post!

TOPICS AND QUESTIONS FOR TONIGHT Below is a list of the questions we will answer as a group tonight at the Ottawa Muskies Canada meeting on Zoom. I will also discuss topics like how to get the Mooneye crap out of your Leaf Logo boat towel and what it's like to have a real Leaf pee in your Toronto Maple Leaf pee cup.... There's a guaranteed laugh or two to be had....... HOW WAS YOUR YEAR OVERALL? HOW WAS YOUR YEAR FOR NUMBERS/PRODUCTION/FISH PER HOUR? HOW WAS YOUR YEAR FOR BIG FISH AND OVERALL FISH SIZE? WHO CAUGHT THEIR FIRST MUSKY? WHO CAUGHT THEIR PERSONAL BEST? WHAT MONTH DID YOU CATCH YOUR BIGGEST FISH? WHAT TIME OF DAY? AT WHAT DEPTH? 0 TO 8 8 TO 15 DEEPER THAN 15 ON WHAT LURE INLINE SPINNERBAIT CRANKBAIT SURFACE LURE SOFPT PLASTIC JERKBAIT HOW WAS THE FIRST 6 WEEKS OF YOUR SEASON YOUR OBSERVATIONS HOW WAS YOUR ‘SUMMER HOME RANGE’ SEASON FROM MID JULY TO EARLY SEPTEMBER OBSERVATIONS WATER TEMPS FISH DIE OFFS STURGEON WATER LEVELS HOW WAS YOUR FALL EARLY SEPTEMBER TO LATE OCTOBER? OBSERVATIONS? WINTER FISHING WHO’S STILL OUT THERE STORIES & OBSERVATIONS? peace out, JA

OTTAWA MUSKIES CANADA MEETING PRESENTATION TONIGHT Every November I have the privilege of reviewing the season and sharing stories with the Ottawa Muskies Canada Chapter. This is the largest chapter in the country and home to more research and more eccentric/cool/different/musky obsessed people than you can imagine. This is a highly interactive meeting where the group answers questions about their experience and catches over the year. It always provides great learning and I...'ll spin a few stories from the Ottawa River Musky Factory season including how I hooked and fought the fish I spoke of in this video. 7 pm start time on Zoom. Write if you need help to get in. Muskies Forever! JA

November Blue Sky Muskies Through Technology Wow! We just felt privileged leaving the dock each day this week in such amazing November conditions. Beautiful big blue skies, warm light breezes, and last night was one of the most beautiful sunsets of the year. And, beautiful big muskies every day. This is fall musky fishing at its’ finest. I shared the boat with fellow Shimano team mate Wally Robins and good friend Kent Rozon on alternating days. Each day looked similar bu...t under the surface of the water fish were behaving very differently at different times. Emerald shiners moved on and off the bottom regularly, mooneyes appeared and disappeared back to the giant worm schools they form into now, and my Helix showed me the most sturgeon I have seen congregating in single locations at different times over the days as well. To a trained eye technology reveals the secrets a musky angler needs to know to succeed in these tough conditions. I spoke with monster catcher Billy Barber this week and we both talked about what we had learned to read off the Freudian imagery one often sees on a Helix. We also talked about how what we had learned had changed our game and made us better. Two of the three fish in these pictures are the result of technology. We found them and worked them. The fattest one Wally is straining to hold took two visits to coax into the net. One of the best pieces of advice I can pass on to you is to use the technology available to you. To do this you must not only buy the good stuff, you must learn to use it properly. There is a lot of learning behind identifying fish, where they are in the column, what direction they are facing, if they are moving, if they are on bait fish, if they are hunting, and so much more. Put in the time and it will change your game. RFM! Thanks Wally. Thanks Kent. Can’t wait to see what magic awaits us on our next adventure. Chimo, JA Ps My new Frankensuick caught two of the fish pictured here. Love the Frank!

November is Trophy Time! Muskies are approaching their maximum possible weight right now. That’s why those afflicted with the musky disease revel in November and those who don’t know call us crazy. Here’s three recent fish from different locations around Ottawa that demonstrate what super fat muskies look like. Fish get fat every fall but only in years that produce bountiful baitfish do we get to super fat. 2020 is one of those years on the Ottawa River.... Bryan Osborne and his son Danny are two of the most successful muskie anglers in our region. Their catch rate is exceptional and they get giant fish every year. And, they get their fish casting right to the end of the season. Bryan’s quest for a 40 came oh so close to fruition this past week. Another fall Suick fish for Bryan 45 in the last three seasons he tells me. Huge congratulations my friend! After decades of catching muskies Mike Spratt (My partner in Musky Factory Baits) is having perhaps his best ever big fish year. Past posts of Mikes’ 2020 successes tell a very interesting story. His trail of giants are all caught in locations far apart from each other. Big Kudos to you my friend for this crazy Rideau River fatty. The third fatso photo is my neighbors Bob and Vince. Bob came by to see me last January to book a special trip this fall. (No pressure fishing with your neighbors..). We shared a great day together and the boys got to play with three muskies. This is the one that made it into the net and we all felt privileged to watch this big fish become completely airborne a couple of times during a sensational battle. We had so much fun we’re going to do it again next year! Thanks guys. It was a pleasure to get to know you better. CHERRY PICK CHARTERS AVAILABLE There are some November openings left. We don’t fish on freezing or big wind days but there will be lots of beautiful, warm enough, low wind days between now and December 15th. Inquire below. Suick Lure Company Musky Factory Baits peace, JA