I can say with some degree of certainty that 98% of companies don't work like that. The big, cornerstone companies are 100% not like that, they don't have time for 'games' I've had some issues with smaller builders that value their baits very highly ($$$) and don't understand our time to produce an underwater video also takes time and $$$. But for the most part, the industry is great, but a few bad apples can really drag it down.

@ that’s what I figured. Well that’s great to hear for the most part Looking forward to the 2025 season and hearing what baits treat you well this year.

Appreciate you being part of what we do here!

Might as well so it in the nasty weather then! Lol

Awesome! That will go straight to Dave! We appreciate you! Big time!

Thanks Adam, we went into this with the intent on being professional and honest. We've made mistakes and will continue to do so, but our mission statement has always been about the viewers and offering them an honest, down to earth look at musky fishing. This industry and community is not all unicorns and rainbows. These fish are hard enough to catch, we don't have energy to fight these drama battles. On to brighter pastures for 54

Thanks for watching! email is on my about page.

It is embarrassing, that some of the top companies in musky fishing act like this. As pro staff members our job is to 'promote' the product, thus the promote staff title. It's odd that our success lead to copycat style baits and that was a factor in all this. We'll move on, they'll move on. Thanks for watching.

Thanks Steve, it was a tough one, we put a lot of energy into the Dadson relationship to have it end that way. But with all things in life, you adapt and move on. I'll be fishing next year and probably see you at the same spot or same resort again. This will never stop us. Thanks for watching!

I agree with you on almost all of that. No matter what has become of the relationship I had with Johnny, there is something special about a hand built and hand tuned bait from Johnny. It has a quality that an out of the box bait fail to replicate. That being said, its easy to tune as well and I built a really cool bucktail using the Revolution clevis system. I called it "The One with no Name" lol

Maybe, maybe not. Dadson Blade Baits will not define us. But maybe your right and the industry will cancel us, guess what? I live in the heart of some of the best musky fishing in the world, I'll still go fishing on the third Saturday in June.

Nah this whiney ass video defined you. Byeee

@iTzMarky that’s a pretty dramatic take…I think he and the channel be just fine

@ Johnny will be fine without us and 54 is fine without DBB

The aura around DBB is there only because that's how he wants it. I was checking out long before the door got slammed.

I was having a hard time thinking of the word, but you put it perfectly. There's a weird aura around Dadsons and there always has been.

I could have easily left this behind me. But we helped create the hype, we needed to address what happened to it. To the best of my knowledge the BWNN no longer exists inside the IC, I'm guessing it will be hard to use a name that I created. Johnny deserves a lot of credit for bait designs, it wasn't all bad. It just ended bad. If this, me being honest about my dealings in the industry, ends up being the end of 54 or Bust, I'll live with that. We did what we did with a level of integrity and honesty. And for the record, it isn't about quickly jumping to the next builder for free stuff. It's about open relationships with great companies that we support and that feel the desire to support us. The musky community is full of amazing companies and we are so fortunate to work with so many of them. I'll continue to provide as much value to them as we possibly can. Throw your BWNN on a shelf...

I've been publicly pushing for a more open musky community and became disenchanted with the exclusive aspects of the Dadson group. Great baits are not enough in today's world. The average angler looks up to these companies to be role models within the industry.

One of my first real big fish came on a Munchie. Jeremy is building me a replacement for that lure now!

Well, there was lots that weren't Dadson fans long before we started running them, so you're not alone.

Maybe a go fund me to have Dave shave on a youtube live stream? Could be fun?

Things that make you go hmmm?

Sadly, this is all to common. I'm at a point where it doesn't matter to me, the truth is more important than the baits. But for younger anglers, trying to make a living in this industry, these are treacherous waters to navigate.

Appreciate that, but the truth is easy to tell. I appreciate the Dadson model of scarcity, but I agree some baits are meant to be fished.

I'll give you a bait next year to try that is what the Blade with No Name could have become. At the end of the day, they are just tools. I understand the private clubs, for the most part it's too keep the trolls out and for the founders to be worshipped. There has to be a balance, we have to make musky fishing more inclusive and less exclusive. Young anglers are already finding it tough enough, they see stuff like this, that they'll never be part of and it drives them away.

lol it is the way.

@heinrichbier4759 I wish you still made videos. But life often has other plans. Yeah, I never understood all the egoism in the muskie fishing industry.

@@thelonesomefisherman7425 hey thanks for that!

@@heinrichbier4759 You're welcome

@@heinrichbier4759 You're welcome. Giant Quest was one of the first muskie fishing channels here that I remember watching.

I agree those are the easiest entry to glide baits. I struggle with glide baits. From finding the right cadance to the hook up percentage, it's a bait style I have very little confidence in. But I hope to change that in the future. Thx for watching!

Yes sir!

It will be close to the week your looking at! Thanks for watching James!

Thanks for watching Thatch! Pretty much love everything Matt makes! And ya gotta protect those thorne bros rods!

Thanks for watching Dean, toad one is truly a success story!

Thanks for checking it out Adam, great one for sure!

Thanks for joining me, really enjoyed that converstion!

@@NetBuddyFishing great show guys. Thanks for the listen and knowledge!

It's a tough game to play for sure!

Thanks for checking it out Matt! Appreciate that!

@@edwardsedlak4303 Thanks Ed! I plan to sit down with John from Stealth Tackle to talk leaders in the coming months! Look for that as a stand alone video!

@@deanmentjes7774 thanks for checking it out Dean!!! Happy new year!

I have no experience with Crow lake. Reach out to Thatcher at Droptine Tackle, he can help you out there. Thx

@@54orbustthank you appreciate you very much!

@@ericbergquist5803 thanks so much for that! So happy to help!

Happy New Year Dave! Appreciate you watching and hope you get some value from each and every video! Thx!

Absolutely agree with that! So glad JVR was able to describe it for the viewers.

Happy New Year's! Thx for watching!

Best rod socks ever. Not sure how this haven't hit the market before. Net Buddy makes the coolest stuff and more to come. Thx for watching!

Happy New Years Mitch! Gonna be a good one in '25!

And I have to tell you - do NOT stop doing gear videos! They are critical. Even if you have a system that works for you, it’s always great to see what other guys are doing and having success with. Like Pete Townshend once said - everyone is a thief and a magpie!

Thanks for watching John! I feel your pain with the old style rod socks as well.

True that, we continually learn and evolve... we got some good underwater stuff coming in the next months...

Thanks so much for being part of it, we appreciate you!

Thanks Team Droptine, the Growler ( and arm attachment ) continues to be a go-to combo for us. Defies logic with it's small size, but puts up big results.

Thanks for that Norm, it's a subject we've wanted to cover for a while. I think like most anglers we change things as we go, but some clear combinations tend to work best. Happy New Year!

Ya, Gregg is awesome!

Thanks Matt, let's keep it rollin' in 2025! Lots of cool stuff coming, lots of cool guests planned, things are looking good!

Well said, a good guide is worth way more than the $$$ paid. You're paying for his knowledge, his passion and his understanding of the waters. Most will learn more in a single day from a guide than a whole week of fishing alone. Thanks for watching!

Love the Net Buddy system and all the protective gear they offer! Happy New Year's!

Thanks Adam! Doing our best to keep 'em rolling! Happy New Year's!