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Location: ontario | Which body of water holds the biggest fish ? Anyone have some sort of stats to go off? Some say st. lawrence others say geo bay some say lotw but is there any statistics that can prove which body of water has the highest potential of producing a next world record fish?
Edited by Dan111 12/12/2017 9:36 PM
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| I wish this thread was titled "next world record" I got excited for no reason. Haha |
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Location: ontario | true lol |
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Location: Tampa, Florida | Thuawk - 12/12/2017 9:31 PM
I wish this thread was titled "next world record" I got excited for no reason. Haha
Hahaha! Me too.  |
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Location: Hayward, Wisconsin | Dan111: There are a number of ways one could look at this question when formulating answers. To me, the most obvious would be "Where did the current, legitimate, world record come from?". The answer to that question is, in most minds, Bellaire Lake, Michigan. Does this mean that the next world record will come from there too? Actually, no. It only proves that the genetics there were/are(?) capable of producing a world class fish.
You mentioned the St. Lawrence River, Georgian Bay and Lake of the Woods. These bodies of water all certainly have the potential to produce a world record fish and may have in the past produced one or more that exceeds the Michigan record fish of 58 pounds and the first two have been consistent producers of giant muskies right up to the current day. However, since the beginning of the current Modern Day Muskellunge World Record Program, which began about 10 years ago, only the Michigan fish has been completely verified at its record weight. Historical muskellunge over 58 pounds cannot be certified to today's high angler standards and may or may not have weighed what was claimed. Many of those historical muskies have been proven scientifically to not be nearly as large as claimed.
As for "statistics" to support world record potential claims, I probably have as large a data base as anyone and it would support the first two waters you mentioned far above the last mentioned and most others. Are there other waters that could "do the deed"? Absolutely...we cannot rule out Eagle Lake, Ontario; other Great Lakes waters besides Georgian Bay and more. Water like Lac Suel, Ontario, which "may" have record potential, must be discounted due to its catch and release only policy...absolute verification, according to MDMWRP rules would be impossible.
Edited by Larry Ramsell 12/13/2017 5:43 AM
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Location: ontario | I am a believer of big water = big fish, however what are the odds of catching a world record fish in a huge body of water such as georgian bay or lotw? Georgian bay is approximately 3712000 acres. I am not sure the ratio of muskies per acre is but lets say if the number was around .1/acre that would equal 371200 muskies in all of georgian bay or 1 muskie per 10 acres. And out of all those muskies how many are world record in size? Maybe 1-10? Now from my understanding is that a muskie grows every year that it is alive but slower as it gets older. So assuming that the biggest fish are at the last year or two of their natural lives that gives you approx 1.5 years to cover 3712000 acers to try and catch 1-10 fish out of 371200. In other words i think you would have a better chance of winning lottery. That being said maybe the next world record fish will be caught in a smaller lake with fish maybe not as big as the ones in georgian bay, but fish that have a higher chance of being caught |
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| Personally, I think the only way we're going to see a new world record is if we find a lake like the others mentioned above with no current population of muskies and stock a ton of fish in it. Those first few year classes would have tremendous potential. Only bad thing is most of us here would be too old to fish by the time it really gets going. |
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Location: SE Wisc | I don’t think we’ll ever see a fish that beats those old records of the past( especially if they weren’t legitimate) These fish seem to max out near 60 pounds even in the best environments. I read a study on Wisconsin’s Cisco and inland lake whitefish populations and that they were in decline. If these baitfish were to decline on some of the potentially record holding waters, for whatever reason( global warming, invasives, etc), it would certainly make it even less likely let alone impossible to grow giant fish. |
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Location: SE Wisc | We may only have a few decades left to see record class muskies |
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Location: ontario | Food sources and also habitat are huge factors. Decreasing water levels and shore line construction destroy prime spawning areas for muskies. Simply put the less spawning areas the fish have the less they will spawn. So if food source and habitat is depleted then we can put aside the fact that a new world record fish will be caught in the future. |
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Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Awful lot of doom and gloom considering muskie fishing overall is better now than ever, 50's are fairly common, and muskies are available in more waters now than ever. The future looks bright, management in most states where the muskie is considered an important game fish is excellent, and CPR the standard.
NW Ontario protected their fisheries with a 54" limit, and a large volume of lakes capable of kicking out really big fish now have much larger size limits than just 15 years ago across the range. |
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Location: SE Wisc | Not trying to be Debbie Downer. Numbers wise it is better than ever, but that doesn’t mean we’re going to see a new world record caught. Just trying to give food for thought, usually in evolution creatures get smaller. |
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| Maybe the muskies in Green Bay will develop a taste for gobies, which have caused the perch population to crash. White fish have surprisingly started to feed on them and are now a major sport fishing species there. Don't know if gobies are good enough forage for muskies to grow big but it seems like they are very plentiful. |
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Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Ciscokid82 - 12/13/2017 9:37 PM
Not trying to be Debbie Downer. Numbers wise it is better than ever, but that doesn’t mean we’re going to see a new world record caught. Just trying to give food for thought, usually in evolution creatures get smaller.
Not in a few decades. I think we are good, but keeping an eye on management and water quality where needs be isn't a bad idea. |
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Location: Eastern Ontario | North of 8 - 12/13/2017 10:42 PM
Maybe the muskies in Green Bay will develop a taste for gobies, which have caused the perch population to crash. White fish have surprisingly started to feed on them and are now a major sport fishing species there. Don't know if gobies are good enough forage for muskies to grow big but it seems like they are very plentiful.
The lake Ontario smallmouth are turning int pigs that look like footballs......but maybe not because everyone keeps telling me that muskies feed up that would mean that suckers, bullheads, walleye, and gobies should be safe
Edited by horsehunter 12/14/2017 6:02 AM
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Location: Chisholm, MN | There is no reason to believe that Mille Lacs or another body couldn't put out a world record. They grow to almost 60" and get FAT. That's world record material. It's not likely that one of us will catch it, but it is possible. |
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| I always wondered why no record class fish come from st Claire. The gizzard shad are so thick at times they form a false bottom and you cant fish around them. Ive ice fished in spots where you cant see bottom for minutes at a time as schools of big old football size gizzards swim through by the thousand. Are gizzard shad an inferior food source to cisco for getting muskies huge? |
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Location: ontario | The shad population is tremendous. Even up to lake ontario in bay of quinte in the early summer when walleye fishing you can hear the schools of shad surfacing the water making you think it’s raining.
Edited by Dan111 12/14/2017 12:25 PM
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| I’d say it is going to be Pewaukee Lake. People at the boat ramps there have told me of countless fish they have seen exceeding the current records. And , I choose to believe them! |
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Location: Hayward, Wisconsin | Kirby: Could absolutely happen in Mille Lacs...in fact did! The MuskieFirst RELEASE world record was caught there 2 years ago and its calculated (new formula) weight was 58 pounds, same as the MDMWRP verified Kept record! Lake Vermilion too has put out fish of giant size. I know of at least one 59 incher and one 60 incher from there...Lots of places it could happen! Combine good genetics with good forage and hang on! |
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| tackleaddict - 12/14/2017 8:37 AM
I always wondered why no record class fish come from st Claire. The gizzard shad are so thick at times they form a false bottom and you cant fish around them. Ive ice fished in spots where you cant see bottom for minutes at a time as schools of big old football size gizzards swim through by the thousand. Are gizzard shad an inferior food source to cisco for getting muskies huge?
I have wondered the same thing. Huge body of water. Lots of forage. How come you dont see fish coming out of St Claire that resemble the fish coming out of other bodies of water like Mille Lacs or Georgian Bay? |
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Location: Chisholm, MN | Larry Ramsell - 12/14/2017 12:46 PM
Kirby: Could absolutely happen in Mille Lacs...in fact did! The MuskieFirst RELEASE world record was caught there 2 years ago and its calculated (new formula) weight was 58 pounds, same as the MDMWRP verified Kept record! Lake Vermilion too has put out fish of giant size. I know of at least one 59 incher and one 60 incher from there...Lots of places it could happen! Combine good genetics with good forage and hang on!
Right, I could rephrase that and say it could put out "another" world record. |
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Location: ontario | lake st clair is a numbers lake for sure. Although big fish do come out of there, maybe the competition for food keeps em under the 60lb class ?? |
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Location: St. Lawrence River | The current world record is in Lake Ontario, pelagic in nature. |
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Location: ontario | JakeStCroixSkis - 12/14/2017 5:12 PM
The current world record is in Lake Ontario, pelagic in nature.
I’ve heard of muskies coming out of lake ontario but is the population great enough to target them ? |
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Location: SE Wisc | I don’t think anyone doubts that the muskies first release wr or the MDMWR can/will be broken. I’m talking about the IGFA record (Johnson?) and the Spray fish. I’m skeptical that we’ll ever get those washed from the books or catch a larger fish( which we all are hoping for |
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| 70# probably happens, but that likely would be a big pre-spawn female, which would require fishing out of season to actually catch.
You never know, though. I know a few guys with multiple mid to upper 50" fish who claim to have seen one unlike all the others. |
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Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Ciscokid82 - 12/14/2017 6:17 PM
I don’t think anyone doubts that the muskies first release wr or the MDMWR can/will be broken. I’m talking about the IGFA record (Johnson?) and the Spray fish. I’m skeptical that we’ll ever get those washed from the books or catch a larger fish( which we all are hoping for
A little advice, don't go there. Way to early in the Winter to start that one up again.
Those records are story and lore, and not much else. |
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| I think quite a few fisheries currently contain or will produce world record fish (LOTW, Vermillion, ML, Green Bay, St Lawrence, Canada, etc). That said, for it to be a WR it has to be caught, so my guess it will be a Leech or Great Lakes strain fish out of MN, GB, LSC, or the St Lawrence. If I had to put my money somewhere, I'd say the St Lawrence. |
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Location: Eastern Ontario | A potential world record fish could live in Lake Ontario and enter the St Lawrence River in late Dec or Jan after the season closes spawn and leave the river and enter the lake in May or early June and live out her life without ever encountering a fisherman. This years high water temperatures meant there were not as many lake fish in the upper river as normal. If the bait dosen't enter the river the muskies won't follow. There is always a resident population in the upper river but I believe the Queen resides out in the lake following the same bait fish schools that are producing fat salmon and trout. Last year we were fishing the river and Hoser got a text from a friend on Georgian Bay who caught two big muskies about an hour apart downrigging for salmon 90 feet down. Who knows what monsters are out there.And who knows how global warming will affect their movements.
Edit: the lake fish I have encountered usually have an really heavy slime coat I don't know if this indicates they were from deep cold water or were feeding on fat forage
Edited by horsehunter 12/14/2017 8:08 PM
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| Larry Ramsell - 12/14/2017 12:46 PM
Kirby: Could absolutely happen in Mille Lacs...in fact did! The MuskieFirst RELEASE world record was caught there 2 years ago and its calculated (new formula) weight was 58 pounds, same as the MDMWRP verified Kept record! Lake Vermilion too has put out fish of giant size. I know of at least one 59 incher and one 60 incher from there...Lots of places it could happen! Combine good genetics with good forage and hang on!
Someone also caught a 58.5 out of vermillion in 2012. All three of these fish were caught before Mn started recognizing a state record muskie by legnth which is currently 56 7/8". The Mn dnr stocks very low numbers into Mille Lacs and Vermillion allowing the muskies to become massive not competing for food. I think the world record will come from a body of water with very low numbers, like a Lake Ontario, Lake Winnie,etc.. |
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Location: Hayward, Wisconsin | EA wrote: "70# probably happens, but that likely would be a big pre-spawn female, which would require fishing out of season to actually catch.
You never know, though. I know a few guys with multiple mid to upper 50" fish who claim to have seen one unlike all the others."
LR: I seriously doubt a 70-pounder exists, even a "big pre-spawn female". However, if that is possible, there ARE places to fish pre-spawn fish "in season"! AND, some of them do contain muskies with the right genetics!
I too have seen "one unlike all the other", but upon careful and serious reflection, she wasn't anywhere near 70-pounds. When you get into that realm of a fish like few have ever seen, it is impossible to estimate just how big they are/were...and BIG EYE syndrome comes into play and in reality, she wasn't really "that" big. Consider that "now", muskie fishing is better than it ever has been; there are far more people fishing muskies than ever before; equipment and (previously unavailable) electronics have made finding fish and structure that holds them easier to find, and STILL, 60-pounders aren't being caught, let alone 70-pounders!!
Horsehunter: I agree with your assessment of the potential giants swimming around in Lake Ontario during season. They will likely never see a muskie anglers lure.
Edited by Larry Ramsell 12/15/2017 6:54 AM
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Location: Chisholm, MN | Tiger222 - 12/15/2017 12:31 AM
Larry Ramsell - 12/14/2017 12:46 PM
Kirby: Could absolutely happen in Mille Lacs...in fact did! The MuskieFirst RELEASE world record was caught there 2 years ago and its calculated (new formula) weight was 58 pounds, same as the MDMWRP verified Kept record! Lake Vermilion too has put out fish of giant size. I know of at least one 59 incher and one 60 incher from there...Lots of places it could happen! Combine good genetics with good forage and hang on!
Someone also caught a 58.5 out of vermillion in 2012. All three of these fish were caught before Mn started recognizing a state record muskie by legnth which is currently 56 7/8". The Mn dnr stocks very low numbers into Mille Lacs and Vermillion allowing the muskies to become massive not competing for food. I think the world record will come from a body of water with very low numbers, like a Lake Ontario, Lake Winnie,etc..
Actually when Vermilion put out a ton of giants the stocking levels were much higher. Those big fish were a product of an awesome stocking program. Now that the DNR has cut stocking levels in half, we see half as many fish caught and even less big fish. The lake is not what it used to be. You can see a difference even just in the last few years. |
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| I truly believe there is no such thing as a 70lb fish. I hope someone will change my mind in the future, but I don't think it's a reality. Look at some of the top guides who fish St. lawrence, Mille lacs, Nipeeing, Ottawa, Georgian bay, Torch, Lac Suel, and etc. These guides have put giant fish in the boat, but who has broken 60lbs on a certified scale? For that matter, how many 50lb fish do they put in the boat every year? Certain guides do put several 50lb fish in their boat. These guides are out there every day on trophy waters. Trophy waters that they know extremely well. I do think there is a 60lb fish swimming, but a 70 is like finding a unicorn. Just an opinion |
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| I suspect there are a few fish in trophy waters capable of hitting 70#; full of eggs after a substantial meal. Needle in the haystack if you will, but our odds of CATCHING that fish are far below the possibility of said fish existing in the first place...
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Location: minocqua, wi. | esoxaddict - 12/17/2017 7:24 PM
I suspect there are a few fish in trophy waters capable of hitting 70#; full of eggs after a substantial meal. Needle in the haystack if you will, but our odds of CATCHING that fish are far below the possibility of said fish existing in the first place...
just checked, lakes are frozen, snow on the ground and talk of 70 pounders ... yup, it's winter |
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Location: oswego, il | Two words, tigercat flowage.....mic drop.
Edited by ToddM 12/17/2017 7:30 PM
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Location: oconomowoc, wi | ToddM - 12/17/2017 7:29 PM
Two words, tigercat flowage.....mic drop.
looks like four..fore..for |
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Location: new richmond, wi. & isle, mn | ToddM - 12/17/2017 7:29 PM
Two words, tigercat flowage.....mic drop. Now you let the cat out of the bag..... Meow! |
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Location: oswego, il | fishhawk50 - 12/18/2017 1:43 PM
ToddM - 12/17/2017 7:29 PM
Two words, tigercat flowage.....mic drop.
looks like four..fore..for ; )
Mic drop was techincally a sound effect and not words. |
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| tolle141 - 12/14/2017 7:26 PM
I think quite a few fisheries currently contain or will produce world record fish (LOTW, Vermillion, ML, Green Bay, St Lawrence, Canada, etc). That said, for it to be a WR it has to be caught, so my guess it will be a Leech or Great Lakes strain fish out of MN, GB, LSC, or the St Lawrence. If I had to put my money somewhere, I'd say the St Lawrence.
Now thays funnyy..... names 4 lakes then a country! |
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| Why is open water fishing not that popular for muskies?
The biggest pike here in europe are caught trolling open water on big deep alpine lakes. I caught my biggest pike rowing (no motor allowed) with no electronics at all. You just have to believe that these creatures are out there.
You have to believe that over 300 or 400 feet deep water it is possibble to catch a monster. But dont make the mistake running your lures too deep. Caught many big fish trolling only 3-9ft in very deep water. |
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| I wonder if Lake Superior has potential outside of Duluth Harbor. If muskies would live out there they would grow slow and live a long time which could eventually grow a giant. Eating ciscoes, herring, lake trout, etc. they might in time get huge. |
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Location: Hayward, Wisconsin | Smell_Esox: The answer to your question is definitely yes! Talked to a walleye guide that caught one while fishing "eyes" 8 miles out from Duluth. |
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Location: Green Bay, WI | I would imagine (or like to believe) there are pelagic muskies out in Green Bay as well, following schools of perch...or whitefish...or lake herring. Whatever. I haven't talked to many walleye guys who've caught them out there though, so it would seem that if they are there, the density is so low as to become more of good luck rather than a fish that's actually targetable.
A guy can dream though. |
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| I have often wondered about Lake Winnebago. Has huge schools of bait fish, lots of cover. There are a few muskies in the system and I know at least one person who does well in part of the system. When I lived in Fond du Lac, a couple of fishermen I worked with said they were present in the lake but the nut job walleye fishermen hated them and would brag about "gilling" any muskies they caught. I think 'Bago could kick out some giants if the DNR ever stocked it. And threw a couple of the nut job walleye fishermen in jail |
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Location: Smith Creek | Smell_Esox - 12/19/2017 11:15 AM
I wonder if Lake Superior has potential outside of Duluth Harbor. If muskies would live out there they would grow slow and live a long time which could eventually grow a giant. Eating ciscoes, herring, lake trout, etc. they might in time get huge.
Trouble with Superior is that wherever there is bait there is also nets. And the nets don't discriminate. |
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| North of 8 - 12/22/2017 10:51 AM
I have often wondered about Lake Winnebago. Has huge schools of bait fish, lots of cover. There are a few muskies in the system and I know at least one person who does well in part of the system. When I lived in Fond du Lac, a couple of fishermen I worked with said they were present in the lake but the nut job walleye fishermen hated them and would brag about "gilling" any muskies they caught. I think 'Bago could kick out some giants if the DNR ever stocked it. And threw a couple of the nut job walleye fishermen in jail
They do stock it, great lakes strain. |
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| Tiger222 - 12/22/2017 12:57 PM
North of 8 - 12/22/2017 10:51 AM
I have often wondered about Lake Winnebago. Has huge schools of bait fish, lots of cover. There are a few muskies in the system and I know at least one person who does well in part of the system. When I lived in Fond du Lac, a couple of fishermen I worked with said they were present in the lake but the nut job walleye fishermen hated them and would brag about "gilling" any muskies they caught. I think 'Bago could kick out some giants if the DNR ever stocked it. And threw a couple of the nut job walleye fishermen in jail
They do stock it, great lakes strain.
Thanks, I thought they only stocked the upstream lakes, like Poygan. |
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| I checked and the DNR has stocked great lakes strain in the Winnebago "system", e.g., Poygan, Buttes Mort, but not in the big lake itself. |
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| Has there ever been a 70 lber caught nope , is there a 60 to 65 lber swimming around lake Ontario or the St Lawrence river , yes without a doubt , several big girls this year could easily topped 58 lbs with a full belly and one i would guess could have topped 65 lbs with a full stomach and a full egg mass , the task is to get them to bite after they have a full belly , LoL |
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| Maybe this is just wishful thinking but I would like to think that if we can agree that 60 pounders exist, then 70 pounders should be very possible. Isn't a 60 pound fish just one BIG meal away from being a 70 pounder? |
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Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | If it's a 60 pounder it's likely it's because of a big meal.
70 is sort o the Holy Grail. |
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| Do bass guys dream of the 30 pounder? Crappie fishermen looking for a 6 lb , open water beast? Funny bunch we are ?? |
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Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | IAJustin - 12/23/2017 10:24 AM
Do bass guys dream of the 30 pounder? Crappie fishermen looking for a 6 lb , open water beast? Funny bunch we are ??
This. |
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Location: St. Lawrence River | IAJustin - 12/23/2017 11:24 AM
Do bass guys dream of the 30 pounder? Crappie fishermen looking for a 6 lb , open water beast? Funny bunch we are ??
6lb crappies? Show me. Ill sell my musky gear lolol |
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| JakeStCroixSkis - 12/23/2017 2:50 PM
IAJustin - 12/23/2017 11:24 AM
Do bass guys dream of the 30 pounder? Crappie fishermen looking for a 6 lb , open water beast? Funny bunch we are ??
6lb crappies? Show me. Ill sell my musky gear lolol
For a number of years, there was a mounted crappie in a glass box at the Birchwood Bar outside Rhinelander with what was supposed to be a crappie just under 5lbs. It was a very impressive crappie. |
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Location: St. Lawrence River | Wowza |
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| Hi Bill, I fish the St. Lawrence a lot—-But I wasn’t able to this year because my partner had surgery. Do you have any pictures of hogs this year? Wishing you a safe winter. Todd |
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Location: Mauston, Wisconsin | Where no one else fishes - they spend a lot of time in deep water.
Have fun!
Al |
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Next world record muskie?