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Posts: 32801
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Wow. Story to follow, as soon as I can talk to the angler.
(August-monster muskie 004.jpg)
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Posts: 720
| That guy looks like he just soiled his shorts. Wow, thats a huge lookin fish. |
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Posts: 332
Location: Michigan | Massive head! |
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Posts: 109
Location: Ottawa Lake, MI | That fish is UGLY but HUGE, Nice work!!!! |
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| I am guessing Lac Seul! |
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Posts: 1185
Location: Iowa | Holy Cow...what a fish...
Big Perc |
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| nice fish but it looks like its back is broken |
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| man.....its the year of the big fish!!! |
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Posts: 69
Location: janesville | that thing has a HUGE head |
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| let me guess 56/lac seul/bucktail |
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Posts: 4080
Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | WOW ! looks to be near shallow water. Huge fish.
Jerome |
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Posts: 240
| Great fish!!!
Almost nothing better than landing a huge Muskie
Congradulations.
Cory |
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| At first I thought it may have just been the camera angle, but now I think the head really is that huge. It's almost disproportionate to the body. Great fish. I tend to agree with Hunter4, in that he does look like he just soiled his shorts, as we all would in this circumstance.  |
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Posts: 170
| Ginormous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
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Posts: 4053
Location: Land of the Musky | I thinks is bigger tahn the picture shows by a lot! Nice fish! |
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Posts: 314
Location: Bristol, IN | A BEAUTIMATASTIC muskellunge!!! Congratulations!!! |
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Posts: 1284
Location: WI | Holy cow! HUGE head!!! |
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Posts: 699
Location: Hugo, MN | HOLY Slobasaurus!!! Nice Fish can't wait to hear more details. |
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Posts: 41
| Wow, that fish looks like a freakin dinosaur. |
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Posts: 16
| Monster, ABSOLUTE PIG.
Thats what dreams are made of right there.
Tom Boley |
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Posts: 742
Location: Grand Rapids MN | Curious as to where he caught that. Background resembles a lake and spot that I've fished before and it has produced some big fish. Of course there is a lot of shoreline that looks like that but its just looks so close I have to ask.
Great fish btw!! You could do just a head mount of that pig!
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Posts: 203
| i agree tackle booty, I hope he's got a better pic that shows off the size of the body better..
that should be me some day if i play my aces right. yeah right!!!
good luck,
Bret
Edited by johnson 8/14/2008 10:06 AM
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Posts: 720
| Is there a story behind that hog yet? |
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Posts: 283
| Wow what a pig! Where was it caught?
Wow what a fish.
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Location: Apple Valley | What's the girth on that fish? Unreal!!!!!!
Brian |
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Posts: 4080
Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | Whats the story on this Huge Pig of a fish Mr. Worrall??
Jerome |
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Posts: 433
Location: Cedarburg, Wisconsin | That is one NICE fish, but I can't figure out how big it is from the picture. I looked it over many times and from the apparent size of the fish you would think that it would have to be held in tight to the body to control that amount of weight. If it is tight, then I figured it must be around 68" if the guy holding it has about the same physical dimensions as I do of 5'9". That pretty much doesn't make sense from the expression on his face, so I'm guessing that the fish is actually held pretty far away from the body, especially with the width of his hand across the fingers compared to his face. Usually I'm in the ballpark guessing fish sizes with normal every day fish pictures, but this one has me baffled. So, please tell us how big this fish is! Pretty please? And, yes, that is one monsterously huge head on that fish. |
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My guess is 54-55".
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Posts: 186
Location: West Chicago, IL | I'm gonna say 57"-58" |
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Posts: 32801
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | I have quite a few more images of this fish. It was longer than any I've seen posted here or elsewhere, and this guy knows his Muskies. Suffice it to say if you caught this fish you would be very...very...happy. |
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Posts: 8723
| I'm not even gonna guess at the length, but I'd say its over 50 pounds. That thing's just not normal! Congratulations to the lucky angler! |
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Posts: 897
| Ok, so what's with holding out the other images and the actual measurements? Suspense is cool, but come on, give us the truth.
-Chris |
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Posts: 32801
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | 'Big'. That's the truth! |
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Posts: 572
| "'Big'. That's the truth!"
Yep, but not the "whole truth"...
Congrats to the lucky angler....very nice fish, indeed. |
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| Close to the body...far away....it doesn't matter, that thing is a BEAST! Congrats to the lucky man holding her! |
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Posts: 86
| Wow that is a Huge FISH. The guy looks really familiar, if its the person i am thinking he is a great guy as i have had the pleasure of musky fishing with him several times over the years. He was in the boat and netted my uncle's first over 50 inch musky. Dont want to post the guys name in case he may not want his name on this post. But if its the guy i am thinking he is a great musky fisherman and also a great Walleye guy as well. Congrats to the angler and cant wait to hear the story.
Edited by itmusky 8/15/2008 1:12 PM
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| wouldnt want to swim in that lake, it could eat my leg |
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| "'Big'. That's the truth!"
Yep, but not the "whole truth"... :)
"You can't handle the truth!!!" lol...
incredible fish. i can't decide if the massive girth makes it look longer than it really is, or if it's a big head (but not freakishly long) fat fat fatty.
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Location: Grand Rapids, MI | Where's Slamr?? We need a moderator with an itchy trigger finger to delete this thread to stop Mr Worrall from teasing everyone... LOL |
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Posts: 734
Location: Watertown, MN | Wil
Salmr is some where on Eagle lake hoping to top that one, we know it will be Nikki who scores it though.
That is just a plain ol pig, congrats and waiting for the "rest of the story" come on Steve Harvey
Troyz |
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Posts: 699
Location: Hugo, MN | Steve you're a cruel fella . . . you know we're just dying to know what her measurements were!! Do you write for the TV Show LOST in your spare time too? Is it Sweeps Week on the web??? |
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Posts: 64
| I've got $5 on 57".... |
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| if we get the right no i wonder if we won a prize? |
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Posts: 1887
Location: syracuse indiana | wow what a hog.. please steve let the cat out of the bag....bill |
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Posts: 78
| How close is it to the world record? Biggest thing I've ever seen!! |
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Posts: 37
| Congrats on the fish of a lifetime!!!!!
What did she eat on??? |
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Posts: 468
Location: Not where I wanna be! | i wouldnt be too upset if i caught that thing!
incredible fish! |
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| so how about the rest of the promised story, and some of those other pictures?
skip the measurements but how about sharing some of what you've been alluding to for this great fish???
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Posts: 32801
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | 'Story to follow, as soon as I can talk to the angler'
I have a few more details to track down, and should have it all confirmed by tomorrow. The fish measured 60" according to all reports to date, and was caught on Lac Seul. Details and confirmed measurements tomorrow.
I was scheduled to fish with the lucky angler today and tomorrow, actually, on an extended trip from the Wabigoon Lake-Dryden Ontario PWT Berkley Can Am Challenge with my friend, Jim Kalkofen while checking into possible sites for the 2009 Challenge. Since the PWT announced the closure of the circuit a week ago, that trip went out the window, and my planned day on the water to chase monsters like this and hear the story first hand was canceled!
By the way, the Canadian Team, Captained by John Butts of Dryden, Ontario, took home the Can Am Super Pro Challenge 2008 Trophy by 11.19 pounds..
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| 60 thats why that monster have a giant head like that. |
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Posts: 699
Location: Hugo, MN | sworrall - 8/17/2008 9:13 PM
'Story to follow, as soon as I can talk to the angler'
I have a few more details to track down, and should have it all confirmed by tomorrow. The fish measured 60" according to all reports to date, and was caught on Lac Seul. Details and confirmed measurements tomorrow.
Mystery Solved! Wow can't even imagine something like that on the end of the line!! |
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Posts: 929
Location: Rhinelander. | Did we not see that guy last year or the year befor with a very huge fish. He sure seems to trigger some fish story in my mind. That is a hugeeeeeeeee fish...congrats
Pfeiff |
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Posts: 16632
Location: The desert | I think we now know how Jesus fed the masses! Imagine the fillets! |
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Posts: 13
| Nice Fish Neil>
How big was it?
I will be calling you. |
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Posts: 13
| This fish is huge. It was a 54.5 inch fish and the guy is only 56.5 inches tall.
This fish is awesome .
Huge head and body. Too bad they didn't get the girth. |
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Posts: 32801
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Thanks Linda, JK is going to be here tomorrow and give him a call. |
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Posts: 18
Location: Hudson, WI | Marine,
You can't imagine a 37" on the end of your line.....but neither can I this year
Howard |
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| hahahahahaha 60 inches!! hilarious. rumors get waaaay out of hand. |
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Posts: 32801
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Now you know why I didn't want to publish the length of the fish until it could be confirmed. |
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| very true |
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Posts: 4080
Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | Come on, Whats the true story here?? Sure looks huge to me .
Jerome |
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Posts: 561
| Did he keep it ? would love to see the other images. I was thinking 56-57 ?? hard to tell great fish MD |
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| LINDA RICE - 8/18/2008 5:02 PM
This fish is huge. It was a 54.5 inch fish and the guy is only 56.5 inches tall.
This fish is awesome .
Huge head and body. Too bad they didn't get the girth.
What a fish!! 60 or 54.5, it doesn't really matter to me, the fish is a beast. I wish there was a story posted behind the catch.
The only thing I find unbelievable about the details shared is the angler's height being only 4'8. No offense to the short in stature audience here, but I don't see anyone that small lifting this hog as such, unless they're showcasing some major pipes. This angler looks to be at least of average height. Maybe that was a misprint Linda. Please correct if I'm wrong.
Big V
"Gimmie some of those Jimmy Deans"
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Posts: 1039
Location: North St. Paul, MN | Lac Seul is all catch and release and all muskies must be released. So, I'm guessing it was not kept if it in fact it was caught out of Lac Seul.
I've seen one fish that size on Lac Seul on the North East section three years ago...HUGE!
Steve |
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Posts: 296
| That's a grand old fish! Big head and fins. |
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Posts: 2
| I am the guy who caught the fish on Lac Seul. My name is Neil and I caught the fish on August 2nd of this year on the figure eight using a Shumway Flasher bucktail. The spot was near current and along a deep bank. I am 5'6.5" tall and I did not crap my pants (almost). It took all of my might to lift this fish. I regret not scrutinizing the measurements but I do not believe in keeping the fish out of the water any longer than I have to. I am holding the fish against my body. This fish is the largest I have seen and obviously caught. I have been guiding out of Sioux Lookout for at least fifteen years. I film my own fishing shows. This is legit. Thanks for the comments and if you want more pictures just ask. I share information to all visiting anglers to our area... If you have questions etc. Just Ask. The fish was long, pretty fat and an incredibly huge head. I can't wait to try to catch this fish this fall when it has it's winter fat. |
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Posts: 2
| Sorry Linda.
I must correct you. I am 5'6.5" tall... that means 66.5" tall. Do your math next time. The guide who was with me has been corrected of this inaccurate statement of my height. He freaked and commented that the fish was not much shorter than I, in fact, he stated that I must lift the fish higher so it was not covering my shoes(CROCS) or touching the boat. Thanks for the comments Linda. Do you really think I am only 4'8"? Come on, you know me... next time we will stand back to back. |
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Posts: 61
Location: Sioux Lookout On Canada | Mr. Worrall.
Steve Hieting and Jow Bucher know of the fish and have the story. If you have any questions and if you want details let me know. There are many rumors on my size and height that have start at Moosehorn... they are inaccurate... I would like to set the record straight if I can.
Sincerely Fishing;
neil Michelin |
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Posts: 32801
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Neil,
Give me a call at 715.362.1760 and we'll get an audio interview on that great fish. Jim Kalkofen sent me the images, we were going to fish with you until the PWT imploded just before the Can AM. |
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Posts: 61
Location: Sioux Lookout On Canada | Hello everyone. I am new to this group. I caught the really big muskie(on the figure eight) on August 2, 2008 on Lac Seul. Everyone is free to ask anything they want. Whether it is about lures, spots, or anything related to Lac Seul and area lakes... For the record, I am 5'6.5" tall. I weigh around 136lbs. I am not tough but yet, no weakling; it took all of might to lift this fish from the net let alone hold it. I have been doing the fishing and guiding thing for along time. I have handled countless big fish of all local species but this one rattled me. I'm ready to meet fellow anglers and share my story, knowledge and experiences.
The fish was huge and it went back healthy.
Over 60". I am holding on for dear life. No trick photography here. Stay tuned for details. Sworral will have all of the details very soon. This one was legit and swimming around for the next lucky angler. Lac Seul in the south eastern section near current. I have a series of photos and my expression is surprise, exursion and exhaustion. My wife will tell you... I slept in my clothes that night and all she could smell in the morning was that musky smell. I was wet and slimed pretty good.
Neil Michelin of Sioux Lookout
Sincerely Fishing;
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Posts: 880
Location: New Berlin,Wisconsin,53151 | Nice fish I can't believe the size of the head. looks like it has some room to grow yet.
Bruce |
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Posts: 90
Location: Florence, Wisconsin | Absolutely amazing! I love that you slept in your clothes. Can we see more pictures of this one?
Bo |
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| As soon as I figure out how to post photos. Steve Worrall... can you help me with this? Do you have any pics from JimK that you can post for me? |
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Posts: 153
Location: Storm Lake, IA | Muskynorth...thats one heck of a fish...I have a question for you though, I've been taking a trip to LOTW every year and was considering a trip to Lac Suel next summer instead. The only thing that has stopped me so far is the lack of knowledge of the lake and the density of the population. Don't get me wrong I would die a happy man if I caught a fish the size of which you did, but I also like being able to conact multiple fish a day which happens pretty regularly on LOTW. I was curious if the action on Lac Suel is pretty similiar? |
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Location: Twin Cities | muskynorth - 10/9/2008 10:01 PM
As soon as I figure out how to post photos. Steve Worrall... can you help me with this? Do you have any pics from JimK that you can post for me?
Email them to me, i'll post them. birdmanmt at gmail dot com |
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Posts: 61
Location: Sioux Lookout On Canada | Doonan...
It is not uncommon to encounter multiple fish on a day of fishing. I spend a lot of time sharing info with anglers who fish these waters. I can suggest many specific locations, types of structure and other lakes with dense musky populations. Come up here sometime. In fact we can start with the suggestions including detailed maps and stuff to get you hooked. I concentrate my efforts after July 4. I have greater success on Lac Seul throughout the season. The deep clear water lakes are different. I plan trips to catch fish and learn. Would you like to find out more?
LOTW is great. the goon is great... but a lot of new anglers change over to the Seul for the fact that once you learn the main run it is difficult to get lost. Lac Seul is a series of interconnecting bodies of water that became bigger when they built a dam in Ear Falls. I can help you learn your "drive to work" every day because that is my approach with all new guides who take my training programs. When I guide for visiting anglers it is usually for only long enough for them to learn enough to get started. They are getting a better bang for their buck this way than staying at a lodge, hiring a guide for all day and probably, the guide will end up catching all the fish. That is not what people want. This is why my approach is different. I am a guide's guide to fishing Lac Seul. My focus is on customer service and making sure my guests are catching the fish. Let me know what you think and please keep in touch. The more you learn now will pay off when you get here. You may be interested in my fish calendar as well. It will help you determine what cycle the fish are in; whether it is bass, walleye, pike trout or muskies, it helps to know what is your best chance. Having the edge with fishing is every angler's dream... My success rate has increased alot since I figured this out. I do not always catch them but I find them and I leave the rest up to the fish gods.
Pretty well all of the muskies you encounter on Lac Seul are trophy size. I have boated five in a span of four hours. I have missed almost all of my 50+ fish so far, but, I landed the one that counts.
Keep in touch.
Neil Michelin |
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Posts: 32801
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Neil,
Give me a call tomorrow morning at 9:30 AM if that's possible, missed your call because I was on the phone. Call me on 715.362.1760 and we'll set up an interview on the MuskieFIRST radio gear. If you can't call at that time, let me know in a post here when you can. thanks! |
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Posts: 61
Location: Sioux Lookout On Canada | is that central time or eastern time? I will probably call you from out on the lake if that is OK. Talk to you tomorrow. |
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Posts: 32801
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Central. I'll be standing by. In fact, call me at 715.362.1760, I'll have the equipment hooked up and ready toi go. |
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| I am trying to understand all of this size thing, since we have two differing heights of one man. Starting with Mrs. Rice's comments, if in fact Neil is only 56" tall, then that would make him 4' 8"... that is pretty short. Given the fact that she has said the muskie is only 2" shorter than Neil " the muskie is 54.5 inches while he is 56.5 inches tall" then lets do some simple math. If in fact Neil is 5 foot 6.5 inches or 66.5 (which is the correct way to measure somebody), and if she states the fish is only 2 inches shorter than Neil, and he is 66.5" tall then that fish would be.... drum roll please.... 64.5 inches in length. Wow that is amazing. Biggest fish I have ever seen, or may see in my life... Congrats Neil on a fine fish, a fish of a life time... |
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Posts: 32801
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | I have the MuskieFIRST Radio interview ready to go. Neil states how big that fish was, and tells the whole story.
http://muskie.outdoorsfirst.com/watch.asp?id=1183 |
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Posts: 223
Location: Minn. | Nice to hear his story and see more photos. Truly a fish of a lifetime. Eh |
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| 37" or 57" or 67" either way thats a pig and congrats too you...too many people guessing the size of the fish when MOST havnt even seen a fish EVEN CLOSE to that size.... its a fish of a lifetime thats for sure, but keep up the good work and stick another pig...so M1st guys have something to guess at how big it is... |
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Posts: 1449
Location: Kronenwetter, WI | Wow--look how that thing is bending---at some point I wonder if fish get so big there IS no good way to hold them out of the water at all.
I sure would enjoy trying to figure out a good way, though.
Congrats. |
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Posts: 100
Location: Bemidji/Cass Lake | This is a very well done documentation of a released fish. Truly a beast. Thanks to Neil for sharing with us, and Steve for displaying it.
Later Sackett |
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| so a vertical hold is more harmful than laying one on a wet bump board to get an accurate measurement. Interesting opinion.
fish of a lifetime for sure congrats, but I don't see how it could be 60 with him being 5'6.5". ? Am I crazy
Not nearly as heavy as some of the Mille Lacs monsters in recent years imo |
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| Would have been nice to get an accurate measurement on a bumpboard instead of a tape. |
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| A vertical hold can cause a lot of internal damage to the fish, and Muskies Inc. does not endorse holding fish vertically. Coincidently, two photos I received from individuals this month for use in Muskies Inc.'s magazine could not be used as we have criteria in place against holding fish in a vertical manner. We have drawings in the magazine showing the recommended ways to hold the fish that put their well-being first and foremost. I'm sure the larger the fish, the more damage that could be done. I don't see any harm in laying fish on a wet bump board at all, I do it a lot. I know when I used to Bass fish I competed in a few tournaments where measurements were to be pretty accurate. Some people had aluminum bump board rulers screwed down to the deck of their boat. Those things got very hot laying out in the hot sun all day, and I wonder how many fish were laid down on them without splashing them with water or something first. That could be very harmful to the fish, but lying Muskies on wet bump boards is very different in my opinion, and not nearly, if at all harmful. Maybe someone needs to study it further, but I've seen no credible evidence of it harming the fish in any way. |
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Posts: 4080
Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | Great interview and truly a fish of a lifetime !
Lets try not to ruin a great story and and moment by nit picking about how this HUGE fish should have been handled. The fish swam off for someone else to make their own little bit of monster fish history........ Good job Neil and partner..
Jerome |
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Posts: 86
Location: University of Hartford | I am willing to bet that a bunch of you musky incers would have thumped that fish if it came out of a lake where you could have. I believe that he did a great job of getting the fish back and fine. personally I would probably have not done that well a job if I ever got one of that size. I think that it was easily as heavy or heavier than the vast vast majority (if not every one) of the mille lac monsters without a doubt. even if it was only 58 on a bump board then its still larger than the mille lacers.
just my 2 cents,
Alex |
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Posts: 1767
Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | Oh jeez, I really need to bite my tongue here.
But please, take your whining about holds, bump boards, and measurements somewhere else. I see nothing wrong here other then a great catch that looks 100% legitimate, and it looks like there is a very good chance that fish is still alive as we speak. Really enjoyed the story Neil, thanks for sharing and WHEN are you taking me out guiding in 2009 is my only question |
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Posts: 2687
Location: Hayward, WI | Wow, what a fish. Those pictures certainly show how big that fish is - amazing. I really enjoyed listening to the interview also. Nice to hear that a great fisherman can be so humble about catching a true giant.
curleytail |
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| for head size comparison this is a pics of the true release world record(61)so i am sure of 1 thing your fish is a true giant.
Edited by mota 10/15/2008 3:44 AM
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| Muskies Inc. members annually release over 99% of their fish, so I strongly doubt any of us would have thumped it. As far as handling this particular fish, I have shared numerous e-mails with Neil, and EVERY Muskie caught would be very fortunate to be treated with the care Neil informed me he took when dealing with this fish. I certainly have no issues with that. My earlier post simply stated that there is no proof of any kind that using bump boards is in any way harmful to Muskies. I have never heard of anyone having a problem with measuring Muskies on a bump board until reading a post on this message board yesterday. My earlier reply had absolutely nothing to do with the fish Neil caught. Sorry if that wasn't clear. Again, congratulations Neil. You deserve a fish like that for the c&r practices you use. |
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hey cradle is the best!
hilbert you are my hero,its always fun to read you |
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Posts: 61
Location: Sioux Lookout On Canada | I could have stated that it was 61,62,63,64 inches or better but, I simply stated to Steve the numbers that I heard from the guy reading the tape and reacting to the numbers. If I forked the tail? Ya sure why not tack on another 3-4 inches... who cares guys. I boated this fish and I am not out to prove anything like I find other anglers are. It is not good business especially if you are a guide, to be front and center. The guide should put the guest front and center. I fish to relax when I am not guiding... is that wrong? My partner left his measuring board at home that day. Was that wrong? If it meant a million dollars I probably would have kept it but I didn't. When anglers compete against each other for prosterity reputation and to be better... that leads to mistakes that usually cost the fish its life. I have seen this time and time again up here with a couple of the guides. always wanting to be the best... center of attention.. for what? Always at the expense of the helpless fish. I am really enjoying the comments and I will take the time to be better prepared next time.
I hope someone else catches it soon... |
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Posts: 550
Location: So. Illinois | Neil,
You have nothing to prove, you were honest in detailing your experience with both musky fishing and your experience catching this magnificent fish. Nothing additional needs to be said. There are many of us on this message board who are grateful that you shared your experiences with us. What it comes down to is that you caught a fish of a lifetime and recognized the experience as being truely special and that experience is not defined in any means by the need to articlate that experience in relationship to a specific measurement.
Ignore the "tools" on here who pretend to congratulate but use this thread as a means to criticize your accomplishment in an effort to push their own selfish agenda. Your interview speaks volumns in repsect to your character. It would be an honor to share some time with you on the water.
R, Jerry Ford
Edited by AFChief 10/15/2008 1:15 PM
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Posts: 296
| That's a giant! Congrat's on the fish of a lifetime. Thanks for sharing. |
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Posts: 304
Location: Lino Lakes, MN | Niel,
Congrats on big--big--big ---big fish  I congatulate you on catchin it and telling your story. It took a lot longer to tell it in words than it happened in real life.
Thank You for sharing it with us.
I can tell you this much most of the guys who have found something to knock you with have not caught or seen a fish that big.
Catch another this fall that makes it look small
Steve |
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Posts: 32801
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | muskynorth,
Thanks again for the opportunity to talk with you, and may you recapture that fish again....and release it as successfully as this time. Looking forward to sharing a boat with you next year! |
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Posts: 280
Location: McFarland | Loch ness monster is for real only it resides in Lac Seul!!!! Holy mother of muskies Congrats to you! |
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Posts: 221
Location: Detroint Lakes, MN |
Unbelievable fish. Most of us can only hope to see one follow that is so large.
In regards to comments made on fish handling, anytime you take a fish out of water it is stressfull.
Whether you use a vertical hold, horizontal, bump board, tape measure, etc. etc.
So we're really splitting hairs here saying a bump board is safer than holdling it.
Personally, I'd rather hold a big fish and be able to toss it overboard if it wanted to thrash than lay the thing in the bottom of the boat and have it start flopping around potentilly causing serious damage to the fish or anglers.
I don't know how I would hold something that big, I don't think you can plan for handling something like that, you just do it.
Neil obviously doesn't care if it was 58", 58.5" or 60". Why should he, it was the experience that makes it what it is, not the measurement.
Way to go Neil, that's something most of us will never get to experience.
JS
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Posts: 561
| my buddy told me there were other pic's available , other than the one on page 1 , is that true ? |
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Posts: 1916
Location: Greenfield, WI | It looks just like a typical day in the life of a Muskie First Member!
Good for him.......
OK, now it is my turn! |
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Posts: 32801
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | ManitouDan - 10/21/2008 4:52 PM
my buddy told me there were other pic's available , other than the one on page 1 , is that true ?
Watch the video, sir. |
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| Neil - great fish. That thing is well over 60 inches and bigger than any fish anyone on this site has ever caught. especially the one's questioning how accurate your measurements were and or criticizing how it was held. I'm pretty sure i read a post by someone saying fish shouldn't be held vertical and the bigger they are the more damage that would cause. A bunch of tools. Have yet to make it as far as lac suel but someday i will and look you up. Great fish, great pictures, great release, great interview and great measurements. Thanks for sharing the details with everyone.
Captn Ron |
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| I was skeptical at first after seeing the horizontal hold in the first pic whether that fish was really near 60". But after watching the video and seeing Neil holding the fish vertical, I have to believe that it really was 59"-60". Great fish and great story to go with it!
Edited by Baby Mallard 10/21/2008 8:08 PM
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Posts: 50
Location: Central Wi. | Way to go, Neil. Thanks for sharing. Great interview, sworrall. Keep up the good work. |
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| Wow, I'm a tool for stating a vertical hold is likely more harmful to a Muskie than simply lying it on a bump board. If that makes me a tool, I accept. |
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Posts: 1449
Location: Kronenwetter, WI | Wow just watched the vid...what a great story...Neil---congratulations, you deserve it! |
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| Mota, whats the story behind the fish in the boo/magazine you have pictured? |
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Posts: 1277
Location: Hayward, Wisconsin | I am by no means trying to take anything away from this capture of an obviously GIANT muskellunge. But to ascribe an accurate measurement to it is impossible given the circumstances. Doesn't reduce the accomplishment. Following is something everyone should consider when measuring that trophy of a lifetime (which by the way includes consideration for the fish).
From "Handling Techniques and Survival of Released Muskellunge" by Rod Ramsell (MN DNR) written by Jack Burns (from TheNextBite library):
"Very little support is provided by the connective tissue on the underside of the head in the vicinity of the isthmus. As a result, a fish held (or hung) vertically has a tremendous amount of gravitational stress upon its mechanical physiology. This can best be seen by the amount of stretch of a fish’s length when it is held vertically. A 39-inch muskellunge, measured laying flat on a measuring board, will measure between 40 and 40.5 inches when held vertically; a 48 inch muskellunge will measure between 50.5 and 51 inches under the same conditions. This increase in length results from the stretching of connective tissues between some of the more anterior vertebrae and the articulation of some of the weakly "hinged" areas and skeletal structures within the skull. Using gill net mortalities or recently deceased angling release mortalities that I have recovered, I have demonstrated this physiological effect on Esocids to several student interns and new employees that I have been assigned to train over the years. By showing them this physiological effect first hand, I feel it has helped all of them to become better handlers of the fish they will be working with during their professional careers."
It is apparent that there are many variables in how anglers measure their fish and the end result that they get. Some methods make the fish longer than it actually is and some are oft debated, like pinching the tail (which by the way is the accepted method used by biologists). Which is correct is an individual choice as applied to released fish. For record purposes, the lying flat method is required using both fork length and total length without the tail being pinched.
It is my opionion that anglers, that use a vertical measurement length are doing the fish and themselves a disservice. As has been pointed out often, it is very hard to hold a fish and tape at the same time and get an accurate measurement...you "may" short yourself (as could have EASILY been the case with this fish, which as noted by the captor was HARD to hold up alone, let alone with the tape), OR you could be "claiming" a length that is not realistic, especially in the longest specimens based on the MN DNR data quoted above.
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Posts: 32801
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Something I think alot of the folks here are missing:
Neil didn't claim the fish to be any particular exact length because he is aware of what Mr. Ramsell offered, he simply said in the interview it was 'over 59', good enough for Neil so it's good enough for me.
Good advice Larry, thanks! |
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Posts: 652
Location: MPLS, MN | I can't believe people care so much about how someone else measures their fish. From musky historians to guides to Noobs. Please stfu and let the guy and the public just enjoy the darn fish. |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | wouldn't it be great if we all had the opportunity to have as many critics? i'd like to see a judgement of his peers ... which would be a short list of people and probably result in a very different discussion. |
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Posts: 2024
| I loved the interview. I sat on the edge of my seat. I don't care how big it was. I hope some day I'll be able to encounter such a large fish. Neil's story was great and the description of how it went down made me feel like I was right there.
In response to those questioning the length and giving him flak about it and how it was measured, this is why people don't post pictures on the internet. http://muskie.outdoorsfirst.com/board/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=38...
60% said either keep your mouth shut or don't post on the 'net and share with friends... Hmmm. If you've got thick skin, great. Good for you. But who needs the aggravation when people question your catch? It's a shame so much of this goes on. |
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| I think we need to clear up a little confusion on this whole "Vertical Hold" issue going on.
In a post on page 3, the poster CAPT MORGAN says this, "so a vertical hold is more harmful than laying one on a wet bump board to get an accurate measurement. Interesting opinion." Those are his exact words, taken from the post. He is implying with that statement that there is NO DIFFERENCE between the two, which according to everything I've personally read, is simply not the case. I've seen studies showing there are negative effects to holding a 10lb Largemouth Bass by the jaw, so I'm pretty sure holding a 20,30, or 40lb Muskie in the same manner can not be good for the fish. I replied stating that it is probably worse holding a fish vertically, and MY reply was to Capt Morgan's statement and had absolutely nothing to do with Neil's fish. If you read through all of the posts, you'd notice that I've shared e-mails with Neil about this catch, and according to everything Neil told me about how this Muskie was handled, every Muskie should be so lucky.
Do a search on vertical holds and see for yourself what you find. I'd post a link to a great article from The Next Bite, but it's not allowed by that website. Everything points to vertical holds NOT being in the best interests of the fish. I'd love to see one person show scientific proof stating that there is no difference in harm to the fish between laying a Muskie on a bump board, or holding it vertically by the jaw. You won't find it.
Hopefully this will clear up any misunderstandings about any of my earlier posts, and I'm sure Neil knows I was speaking about Muskies in general, and in no way about his awesome catch. Congrats again Neil. Hope you catch her again next year. |
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Posts: 720
| You know what in the end verticle or horizontal. Both hold are bad for the fish, because its out of the water. You that berate Neil for his method of holding that fish should quit fishing. There are a lot of things that "are not in the fishes best interest." Like hooks, nets, and many other things. So next time you idiots catch a your 35" musky and pull it out of the water for picture. Remember what a hypocrite you've become.
Neil great fish man. |
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Posts: 59
Location: WI | Why can't we all get along? Nice fish. Wish I'd caught it. Period. |
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Posts: 32801
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | And, Neil shot a DANDY Whitetail just a few days ago. Sportsman, all the way, and I am looking very much forward to fishing with him next year if at all possible. |
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Posts: 4266
| I never blame people who don't put up pictures and stories about big fish. This is a fine example of why. Is it jealousy? Are you just pist? The elections should keep you busy enough if you are looking for stupid crap to complain about.
Thank -you for sharing your photos and story with us.
Beaver |
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| Wow. I just finished reading some of these comments. I never thought that people would be so worked up. Anyways... thanks for the comments about the fish and the article. I am carefully reading the comments looking for advice on measuring and handling fish. I realized that this site is great for sharing and learning more about fishing. It is comforting to know that for as rattled as I was that day, that for the past couple of months, this fish could rattle so many more people that were not there. I wish you all were there and I hope someone else catches a Lac Seul monster soon. Cheers and good luck next season.
Neil Michelin
Lac Seul Fish Fry Co.
Canadian Heartland Fishing |
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Posts: 28
| Neil, congrats. It's a beautiful Muskie.
I've always regretted not getting a measurement or a photo of my personal best (until reading this thread today).
Maybe I'm better off with the memory alone. I'd hate to have people try to ruin that for me.
Johnny
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Posts: 15
| Arm chair critics is what keeps alot of very good muskie fishermen from ever even looking at these sites, nonetheless posting pictures for people to critique.
Unless you have caught fish of this caliber - you shouldn't say a word...
John |
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Posts: 32801
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | I'd submit 'very good muskie fishermen' who are somehow intimidated enough to not even look at 'these sites' could learn a thing or ten from how Neil has handled the attention (which has been, by the way, overwhelmingly positive) his monster fish and story of the catch has generated. I'd like to again thank him for the interview and the story. |
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