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False Fishing charts have been a great asset but now there is one device we should all rely on almost as much as our shoes, shirt and pants. It’s the Angler’s Edge made by Speed Tech ( www. sim-plyfishing. com). This device incorporates all of the information we just discussed. By entering in your actual position ( Longitude and Latitude) combined with your altitude, the Angler’s Edge is able to determine all solar and lunar periods for that particular location. It also has other important features including a barometer with an alarm and histogram. I know what you’re thinking - an alarm will beep all of the time and drive you crazy. Believe me when I say it is one of the most valuable features on the unit, although it can be shut off very easily if de-sired. The only time it beeps is when there is a dramatic drop or rise in your local barometric pressure. This very valuable asset, a falling barometer, is a key component in predicting musky activity. Not only does the device tell you all the information necessary, it combines all of the above data and displays a fish activity meter on the side. You can display readouts for the present time or look hours, days or months into the future, keeping in mind your baromet-ric data will not apply in the future mode. The Angler’s Edge is able to display future fish activ-ity charts out to the year 2999. In the present mode it will use factors like the current weather to adjust the fish activity meter. Based on personal experience, this unit is rugged enough to stand up to wet weather and rough handling and should provide many years of trouble- free operation. Putting it all together Now that you have an understanding of all of the influences, what do you do with all of it? I would recommend that before your next outing you make sure to get your hands on a chart or an Angler’s Edge ( www. simplyfishing. com). If your next trip is for a week, a weekend, a day or just a few hours, look for the key times we discussed, see what fits best with your schedule and plan your fishing around the key periods. I cannot stress this enough. You may only be able to hit one or you may be able to fish a number of them. These are times when you want to make sure that you are on an area that has been productive for you. These windows are perfect opportunities to go back to fish you raised earlier that day or week. Throw the bait that you had action on previously and then hold on. With all the information that is out there and available how does a person sift through and sort it all out? Bob and I can assure you that un-derstanding these windows of opportunity, what they are, how they work, when they happen and how often they occur will increase your fishing success. Make sure before the next time you hit the water to incorporate tools like fishing charts or better yet the Angler’s Edge. These items are guaranteed to assist you in your efforts to iden-tify these periods and maximize your time on the water. If nothing else they will help you to keep your spirits up during the not so productive days. It gives you something to look forward to during the course of an unproductive day. You will know that right around the corner there is a sunset, a moon set, a Major or a new moon to get excited about. Now one last note: although by now you should have a better understanding of the periods of solar and lunar influence, we should point out that this is just one part of the mystery when it comes to catching muskies. Other influences such as fishing pressure and water temps also play major roles. Expect to hear more about these in future issues and if you really want a great read email Bob and request he explain the influences of water temps to help round out your knowledge base. They don’t call him the “ Profes-sor” for nothing. Thanks for reading our thoughts and please enjoy every day on the water as a result. - Bart Continued from page 23