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Posts: 15
Location: Illinois | I have been fishing for Muskie for two years now. The last year I have fished like crazy. I went to seminars, read books and have fished 4 days a week or more. This year I have already been out at least 20 times. Tonight I hooked into a beast fought like hell . I was solo, no net tried to pick him up he rolled and got off and swam away into the darkness. When will this pain end?  |
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Posts: 864
Location: NE Ohio | when the next on gets off somehow, then you'll have at least 2 stories to talk about for the rest of your life! |
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Posts: 31
| When you catch what you think is an even bigger one!
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Posts: 558
| A net is a great tool, it usually prevents nightmares like that. |
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Posts: 15
Location: Illinois | Just bought one tonight. I have one for the boat just didn't want to lug one around shore fishing. Never again. |
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Posts: 279
Location: Central Wisconsin | Here's an example of why a net is a good idea when shore fishing too!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9dM5Pqp15x8
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Posts: 230
Location: St Paul, Minnesota | The pain stays for a long time.
Last summer my fishing partner figure-8'd a 49"er, 10 minutes later I hooked into a beast, she stayed down all the way until she was just out of netting distance, when she finally came up she showed herself broadside to us and we could see that she dwarfed the 49". She made a run down below the boat only to then jump about 4 feet out of the water right next to the boat (in hindsight our only actual chance of getting a net under her), and then came unooked as I was trying to steer her clear of the trolling motor....
I went to confession at the St. Paul Cathedral later that day to "get right" with the man and shake any and all bad juju that may have been trailing me.
A month later I caught my new personal best and I'm still haunted by the bigger one that got away....
Your only hope is to catch a fish that clearly dwarfs the one you lost, and even then there's no guarantee.
-C7 |
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Posts: 1202
Location: Money, PA | Congrats! You caught that fish, have a great memory and had an epic battle with the beast. You just didn't get a picture....no biggie, you will get another. |
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| Get used to it! If you're like most people, muskie fishing is a never-ending series of ups and downs. Mostly downs... |
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Location: Eastern Ontario | Just pretend you were fishing a tarpon tournament LEADER TOUCH as long as you didn't take a picture that fish can continue to grow |
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Posts: 1144
Location: Minnesota. | Cloud7 - 4/8/2015 10:10 AM
The pain stays for a long time.
Last summer my fishing partner figure-8'd a 49"er, 10 minutes later I hooked into a beast, she stayed down all the way until she was just out of netting distance, when she finally came up she showed herself broadside to us and we could see that she dwarfed the 49". She made a run down below the boat only to then jump about 4 feet out of the water right next to the boat (in hindsight our only actual chance of getting a net under her), and then came unooked as I was trying to steer her clear of the trolling motor....
I went to confession at the St. Paul Cathedral later that day to "get right" with the man and shake any and all bad juju that may have been trailing me.
A month later I caught my new personal best and I'm still haunted by the bigger one that got away....
Your only hope is to catch a fish that clearly dwarfs the one you lost, and even then there's no guarantee.
-C7
Cool story. And I can SO relate!!! The memories...dammit!! 
Jeremy.
Edited by Jeremy 4/8/2015 11:29 AM
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Posts: 265
Location: Hudson,WI | Musky Face - 4/7/2015 8:18 PM
A net is a great tool, it usually prevents nightmares like that.
Yup, Got to have the right tools!! I found that out the hard way myself. The first muskie I caught while fishing on my own, and I was using an old net my grandpa had given me. My buddy at the time goes to unhook it, and the fish goes ballistic and I looked down to grab the fish so I can get a picture, and there's no fish. I looked at my net, and it had chewed a hole right through the net and got out through the hole  |
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Posts: 238
| Joining the club of those who have lost a giant muskie probably won't help you for a long time, but sharing your story helps veteran members of this club. Speaking from the experience of loosing an estimated 52-54"er that was IN the net back in 1999 (16 years ago) is still a painful memory! Your experience is very fresh and I'm guessing you're in the stage of discomfort that occurs hourly or even more often. That will last several months to more than a year. Over time these feelings will not go away but their occurrence will be less frequent. I've accepted the outcome of my experience (what else can you do), but I still think about it . Good luck -- you've got a pretty big support group right here!
Dave |
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Posts: 358
| Really not the end of the world. This has happened to me and many other even far more experienced, probably has happened to the Pros on PMTT Circuit from time to time or even Guides. Dust yourself off get back at it, there is more fish in the sea including the one you lost. Just think it was a great release, what would of hurt me even more is an unrevivable fish and unfortunately that happens to even the best anglers. Now that would hurt ! I lost the biggest Smallmouth I know of that I ever hooked last year in a Bass Tournament. ( I did not keep the rod tip down and after the 4th jump it got off ) I haven't gave up on catching this fish again, I will just be a bit smarter next time as I'm sure you will be too as this seems like a learning experience for you as well as me and others that read your post. Oh when you do catch it post the pic and story. Good luck to you !! |
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Posts: 8782
| It used to bother me a lot. I'd get mad, yell and swear a lot, and spend the rest of the day mad. I still get upset when it's a really big fish and I knew better than to do whatever it was that cost me the fish. If it was a tournament, that would be a different story. The rest of the time? Sharpen your hooks and get back to casting.
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Location: MN | I agree with C7. Catch one bigger or it probably isn't going away.
I lost one last year that I am confident would have been my PB. Never got a super good look but from what I saw it was a beast. I caught a nice 50 a couple weeks later but it didn't help with the pain of losing the other one. This year I am going to land the big momma so I can forget about it. |
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Posts: 1023
| I lost two giants two summers ago. It still hurts when I think about it.
I got a fat 51" last Fall but I am sure the two Iost were bigger.
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Posts: 617
Location: Clintonville, WI | The pain never completely goes away.......it just dulls a bit.
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Posts: 2325
Location: Chisholm, MN | I've lost more big fish than I've landed. I'll never get those ones back |
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Posts: 1360
Location: Lake "y" cause lake"x" got over fished | It doesn't .... at least not for me |
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| Well son... she loved ya and left ya..... Get over it!!! I suggest you saddle up, splash on some of that fancy, 50 spf coconut cologne , get out there and find the fattest, ugliest, slob of a honey and get her in the sack asap!!! big rebound girls, the best remedy.
You'll find the ones you lost humble you and the ones you got, harden you.
Thats Musky fishin 102
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Posts: 1000
| another reason to get a net... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZMyJkmo8vA
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Posts: 558
| Nicely said Mnmusky! Lmao.
Edited by Musky Face 4/9/2015 7:55 PM
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Posts: 443
Location: Duluth, MN | Also if you fish solo a lot get one of these. It will save you.
http://robohandle.com/ |
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Posts: 33
Location: Madison, WI | Let's see, I'm 55 now and I was 14 when I lost my first "nice" musky... "nice" to a 14 year old. So that's 41 years later and I still remember it. But it's also one of my most cherished memories because right after he broke my line and dove to the bottom he came back up and he did a tail dance right near the boat.. and I could see my Herter's Hammered Gold Spoon flipping around on the corner of his mouth, catching the sunlight and sparkling like it was real gold. I may have the pain of losing that fish 41 years ago but it's overshadowed by 41 years of one of the best fishing memories I've ever had. Overall, it was an experience I wouldn't want to have happened any other way. |
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Posts: 2753
Location: Mauston, Wisconsin | Never, you will remember every minute detail until the end.... of your time on earth. Its what drives the addiction! I remember every one of mine as if it happened minutes ago.....painful lessons learned with huge levels of endorphins post loss. Yes, the pain drives the addiction, real muskie fisherman crave the endorphins!
Have fun!
Al |
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Posts: 1039
Location: North St. Paul, MN | Never. Still remember and am a little pained by the thought of the 2 I lost on the same day on Lac Seul, 2003. Still haven't come close to having one on the same size as those two since. Maybe this year???? |
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Location: On the O | If you've already hooked into a "beast" and it's only April, I think it might not take very long for you to catch one that helps take the pain away.
This is also why I never fish solo, at least if you're with a partner you have someone else to blame!
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Posts: 358
| mnmusky, That was great ! LMAO x2 :-))) |
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Posts: 552
Location: deephaven mn | i have not yet forgot the really big ones, the ones caught, the ones lost, or the ones just spotted
emotions may vary but i won't go away, still cursing a few |
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Posts: 345
Location: Poynette WI. | My brother and I have also learned this the hard way while shore fishing. Let's see how there bitting before we bring everything out we would say. Let's just say we lost are fair share of big fish before we brought out done every time. A big part of us bringing a net is also to land fish safely, not to mention all the other guys who didn't that we've helped out over the years. A big net with a long handle is a must! |
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Posts: 518
Location: Cave Run Lake KY. | Never, it does make the next big one that much better or worse if you lose the next one also. |
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Posts: 518
Location: Cave Run Lake KY. | Life is short ...... Wounds Heal ..... Good Motto for all My Wounds go back to 1962 fishing about 2 miles from Sandy,s when this this 40#er Comes straight up with my Eddie Bait in his mouth, all 3/4/th's of the fish and sinks straight back down into the hole it made in the water, I got my Eddie bait back with the hooks bent over. In the 50 plus year's of musky fishing you get to see it all. enjoy it's a rocky road. Marv. |
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Posts: 35
Location: Madison Wi | You never ever forget the ones that get away. I have lost and shot at a lot of trophy game and can relate to each event. Life experiences go on. It's all part of living. |
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Posts: 84
| That's why its called fishing and not catching. Always have a net handy with a good rubber coated bag on it. Don't feel like the lone ranger it will happen again, the more you fish the more of a chance it could happen again. |
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Posts: 8
| I still dream of a late fall monster from 3 years ago that taunted me just to wave her fin goodbye in a split second. Old fish is probably dead by now. Hopefully 20 years from now her daughter will be more than willing to share a picture with me. |
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Posts: 2024
| I've been at it with this craziness 3 years, about 2-3 weeks a year. I grew up in Virginia, MN and only fish Vermilion, unless it's with guides down south. First year I go out blind, fishing 4 days with no experience and without a depth finder/gps. See a nice one follow and I am hooked. I get to fish with a buddy after that, who guides and know Vermilion like the back of his hand. We get into some fish, but none will bite. Nothing like a hot follow that only needs to open it's mouth to swallow the bait. I go home and he hooks into several fish 3 nights later. So, I head back up to MN over my daughter's fall break. This time I have gps/depthfinder to help see where I'm at. 2nd spot I fish, nothing, so I throw on the same bulldawg that got a follow the last time I fished the spot. 3rd cast, yes I remember specifics, I feel a tick, think it's a weed, then realize it's a bite, and set the hook, but it's too late... Fast forward to the next summer. I'm heading up for a 2 week trip. 1st week was with my guide buddy trolling and we were going to fish 3 nights. He calls the night before and tells me his client cancelled and we can go out the next night, so 4 nights now. I go say Hi to mom, who luckily understands, and go fishing instead of staying with her. Nailed a 54 as my first fish that first night. Right at moonrise, with a front moving in, and after a distant lightning strike. I proceed to get a 42 then a 52 those 4 nights and he gets 3 as well, all trolling. What haunts me most is the last night of fishing with him we hear the reel scream on the last run. I grab the rod, since we were alternating who gets what fish, and the fish is going nuts. The head shakes were tremendous, ripping drag and jerking the rod around, and it was running toward the other line and my buddy wasn't ready with the net. I was playing the fish, waiting for him to get the net and was pumping the rod, which was not how I had played it before. I felt slack line and reeled as fast as could, to nothing. It was off... I had to leave a week early, due to a family emergency, but went up to the summer outing at Spring Bay to make up for the missed week. I fished with some great people and the 2nd night was with Jerome, TopH20 on here. Well, we troll out of a spot with a topwater on and then run to the next spot. Yep, you got it, I had loosened my drag a bit and started casting the next spot without tightening all the way back down when the water explodes. I set the hook, feel the drag slip, and try reeling in as fast as I can, but it throws the lure. Jerome, in his infinite wisdom and kindness, tells me it was a good one too. I'm claiming it was mid 30s... Then a nipper on the second to last day of the outing bites short on the spinnerbait I had on and tears off my trailer. Last day of the outing, a different buddy that doesn't fish much comes up to go out with me. I put him on a Topraider, he nails a 42 within an hour. Last spot for this summer trip, my favorite spot, where I had moved 3 fish the day before and where he had caught his. 2nd time though we hit the slop, feel a hit on my cowgirl, set the hook, and get my biggest smallmouth, from 4 feet of water, at least 22 inches. While reeling it in I was begging, "Please be a musky!", since I hadn't caught one casting, to his amusement. We go through the slop and then head back and I switch to my favorite topwater, the one I missed the one earlier in the week on. No more than 20 yards from where my buddy got his, the water explodes, I feel the pressure, set the hook, the rod snaps... I did manage to land my first casting musky, a nice 44, beating the rookie friend, but didn't fet to feel the fight. So, I feel redeemed a bit. Fast forward to fall break again. Me and my daughter head up to visit grandma and stay on Vermilion. The first day was too windy to run far, but I did catch a nice pike during the day. At sunset it;s still windy, so I fished a weedline close to Spring Bay. Again, the water explodes, right where I expect the hit to come from. I set the hook, and the rod stays in the same position, but my reeling hand comes away with a broken handle... I tried grabbing the line to hand-land it, but had to watch a very nice one surface and throw it back to me. So, I figure I may be cursed. Last summer I head up, land one the first night, no equipment failures and get another as well. I'll never forget the lost ones, especially the big head shaker, nor the image of the broken handle. But I will keep at it, because the hunt is just as good as catching one. |
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Posts: 9
| During my first year of muskie fishing I learned two important things: 1) big baits catch big fish, and 2) treat the fish with respect. One afternoon I hook a huge bass in a small private lake. I land it and am holding it by its lip. Because we always keep the muskie in the net until we're ready for a picture, I keep this bass in the water until my wife has the camera and tape measure. It was so big and slimy it shook hard and slipped out of my hand!!! Noooooooo!!!! The weight and force of the shake was impressive. I bought a smaller net that evening. That was two years ago...it still hurts. |
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When does the pain go away?