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| If you had to say one, who would be in your eyes the best muskie fisherman alive today. Criteria could vary depending on your opinion. Most big fish, abaility to Catch fish in many different places or water systems, most innovative etc. My answer could be a few, Mike hulbert, Mike lazurus, Spencer Berman, Joe bucher, but if I had to pick one just from research and percetion I would probably say Jason hamernick based on number of big fish and past performance on pmtt.just a fun topic..what say you? |
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Location: Eastern Ontario | Moses Maltscrubber |
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Location: Athens, Ohio | Too cold to fish already?
Steve Worrall would be my nominee, for his work in bringing so very many to the sport. m |
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Location: oswego, il | Will be a feature article in every issue of Guide Envy magazine. |
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Location: SE Wisc | Fishing isn’t golf or tennis. Too many variables to say there is a “best” and there’s a luck factor, the fish eat when they want to. You could have an argument about who’s been the most beneficial to the sport, many people to choose from there. |
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Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | Mike Bolinski |
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| Ciscokid82 - 10/27/2018 9:01 AM
Fishing isn’t golf or tennis. Too many variables to say there is a “best” and there’s a luck factor, the fish eat when they want to. You could have an argument about who’s been the most beneficial to the sport, many people to choose from there.
Great perspective so the question. Afterthought I might change my shallow answer in the beginning just basing it off of perception of number of big fish. Maybe I will change my answer to Larry ramsell, due to the additional research contributions to the sport and a heavy number of big fish as well. |
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| its a tight race but its always the guy at the landing. |
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Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | Musky Brian - 10/27/2018 9:32 AM
Mike Bolinski
x-2 The Pride |
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| Last name would be Lindner... |
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Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | The best muskie angler I know is Herbie. Thinks a lot, and beats the odds by innovating. |
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Location: St. Lawrence River | Laz..... Over 9,000 muskies in the bag and counting, over 2,200 muskies 50”+, 300+ Muskies at 55”+, and 2 60” fish. Since 1988 on tough water. Jaw dropping numbers. |
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Location: Ashland WI | Bnelson |
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| Those that fish every single day will & should put up big numbers. The hard core Muskie guys will know the names of all those guys. Does that make them the "best" Muskie fisherman today? IDK. Go to the sports shows and see which Muskie seminars fill the seats. Those are the "most" popular. Are they the "best"? IDK.
Today Berman & his partner (sorry I don't know his name) are the "best" in the PMTT. Does that make them the "best"? IDK.
It's a subjective subject. Just like the question of who is the best NFL quarterback playing today, the best NBA player playing today, the best MLB pitcher pitching today. It all depends on what you are looking for in the answer. |
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Posts: 52
| Brian Hoffies - 10/27/2018 3:47 PM
Those that fish every single day will & should put up big numbers. The hard core Muskie guys will know the names of all those guys. Does that make them the "best" Muskie fisherman today? IDK. Go to the sports shows and see which Muskie seminars fill the seats. Those are the "most" popular. Are they the "best"? IDK.
Today Berman & his partner (sorry I don't know his name) are the "best" in the PMTT. Does that make them the "best"? IDK.
It's a subjective subject. Just like the question of who is the best NFL quarterback playing today, the best NBA player playing today, the best MLB pitcher pitching today. It all depends on what you are looking for in the answer.
The best qb and nba player I don't think is debatable. But I understand your point. Tom Brady and LeBron even though I'm not a fan. |
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| A couple of others not mentions: Marc Thorp on the Ottawa and St Laurence rivers...excellent guide, educator and conservationist. Musky Joe Flater, recently inducted into the Fresh Water Haul of Fame, decades of quietly dominating the Flambeau and upper Chippewa Rivers.
Like others have said, to many variables.
Edited by JMacD 10/27/2018 5:35 PM
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| Craig Holland - 10/27/2018 5:24 PM
Brian Hoffies - 10/27/2018 3:47 PM
Those that fish every single day will & should put up big numbers. The hard core Muskie guys will know the names of all those guys. Does that make them the "best" Muskie fisherman today? IDK. Go to the sports shows and see which Muskie seminars fill the seats. Those are the "most" popular. Are they the "best"? IDK.
Today Berman & his partner (sorry I don't know his name) are the "best" in the PMTT. Does that make them the "best"? IDK.
It's a subjective subject. Just like the question of who is the best NFL quarterback playing today, the best NBA player playing today, the best MLB pitcher pitching today. It all depends on what you are looking for in the answer.
The best qb and nba player I don't think is debatable. But I understand your point. Tom Brady and LeBron even though I'm not a fan.
I will say Brady is the best of all time. Whether he is the best TODAY can be debated. LeBron..................I haven't watched 5 minutes of him in his whole career. I'm not a basketball guy. So yep he might be the best today or maybe not. Kinda like who is the best muskie guy.  |
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| Andrew Ragas, Daryl Dorado, and Jay Cutler. |
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Location: The desert | While it's an honor to be nominated, I didn't fish today. So can't be me. Unlikely tomorrow, either. |
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Location: mercer wi | I would love to be in a boat for a week will Bill Sandy, or Steve Herbeck. There's a lot of information between those 2. Maybe next year I'll finally get to go to Canada. O Luke Ronnstrand. Think that's how you spell his name. Couple buddy's have fished with him. They said he's super down to earth and knows the game. |
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Posts: 298
| JakeStCroixSkis - 10/27/2018 2:14 PM
Laz..... Over 9,000 muskies in the bag and counting, over 2,200 muskies 50”+, 300+ Muskies at 55”+, and 2 60” fish. Since 1988 on tough water. Jaw dropping numbers.
Holy $h!t |
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| NickD - 10/27/2018 10:01 PM
Laz..... Over 9,000 muskies in the bag and counting, over 2,200 muskies 50”+, 300+ Muskies at 55”+, and 2 60” fish. Since 1988 on tough water. Jaw dropping numbers.
Any idea how long he has been at it?
Over a 20 year period... 2,200 Muskies over 50 inches would be over 100 Muskies per year. That is amazing when the season is just over 5 months.
Edited by Reelwise 10/27/2018 9:15 PM
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| Those Numbers are pulled from like four years ago I believe, I do know it represents 26 years according to musky hunter article, induction to freshwater hof..Those numbers are crazy!!!...anyone else even close to “averaging” almost a dozen 55”+ in the net annually for over 26 straight years?.. I don’t care how much time you are on the water that’s dialed in!!!
Edited by IAJustin 10/27/2018 9:41 PM
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| Laz- 2,200 is no doubt a large number... but by those number roughly 25% of all his catches are over 50"... 1 in every 4 fish he catches... knowing the Larry fairly well.... if we are talking about the GOAT - I don't know how anyone can top that.... if those numbers are accurate...remarkable.
25% of all fish caught are "trophy" ski...I think Jake had a year like that a few years ago... |
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Location: oswego, il | Louie Spray, he is the only one to catch three world records. |
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Location: Eastern Ontario | If Laz told me he caught a 50 in the sink in Walmart's washroom I wouldn't doubt it for a second. The man is a big fish machine. 2 or 3 in his boat all repeat hardcore muskie guys on the best water in the world every day.
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Location: Eastern Ontario | ToddM - 10/28/2018 7:54 AM
Louie Spray, he is the only one to catch three world records.
Todd did you move to Rhinelander |
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Location: Ashland WI | ToddM - 10/28/2018 6:54 AM
Louie Spray, he is the only one to catch three world records.
And no one has caught one even close in that area since... Whatta fisherman. |
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| It's the fisherman who can consistently put muskies in the boat in all waters throughout the muskie range. From the shield lakes of Canada to the deep highland reservoirs of the south. And lets not forget about the rivers in North America to. This is the fisherman who gets my vote, if he exists. Kdawg. |
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| kdawg - 10/28/2018 8:46 AM
It's the fisherman who can consistently put muskies in the boat in all waters throughout the muskie range. From the shield lakes of Canada to the deep highland reservoirs of the south. And lets not forget about the rivers in North America to. This is the fisherman who gets my vote, if he exists. Kdawg. He does,and he can troll ,jig,and cast. Gregg Thomas. |
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Location: Chisholm, MN | I’d say a good gauge is the handful of guys or teams that always seem to be in the top places in the pmtt. Some people just have the muskie bone and make us all wonder what the hell Am I doing wrong? It’s definitely not all just TOW. There is a great deal of skill involved in the sport. I’d say it’s one of the toughest sports in the world to be consistent at. One year you may think you’re the best fisherman on the water (been there), the next year you can’t buy a decent fish (there now). Some guys are lucky and skilled at the same time. Those are probably the best fisherman. Not that luck is a thing, but something like chance or fate has these guys boating giants consistently. |
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Location: St. Lawrence River | Reelwise - 10/27/2018 10:14 PM
NickD - 10/27/2018 10:01 PM
Laz..... Over 9,000 muskies in the bag and counting, over 2,200 muskies 50”+, 300+ Muskies at 55”+, and 2 60” fish. Since 1988 on tough water. Jaw dropping numbers. Any idea how long he has been at it? Over a 20 year period... 2,200 Muskies over 50 inches would be over 100 Muskies per year. That is amazing when the season is just over 5 months.
RW, those figures were offered up when Laz was inducted into the HOF in 2014... roughly 30 years of compiling those figures, now. And since it was 4 years ago, you can add 200+ more 50”+ and probably 20-25 more 55-59” muskies to those figures....
Knowing all too well how stingy our system can be, it’s just mind blowing. |
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Location: Chisholm, MN | JakeStCroixSkis - 10/28/2018 10:09 AM
Reelwise - 10/27/2018 10:14 PM
NickD - 10/27/2018 10:01 PM
Laz..... Over 9,000 muskies in the bag and counting, over 2,200 muskies 50”+, 300+ Muskies at 55”+, and 2 60” fish. Since 1988 on tough water. Jaw dropping numbers. Any idea how long he has been at it? Over a 20 year period... 2,200 Muskies over 50 inches would be over 100 Muskies per year. That is amazing when the season is just over 5 months.
RW, those figures were offered up when Laz was inducted into the HOF in 2014... roughly 30 years of compiling those figures, now. And since it was 4 years ago, you can add 200+ more 50”+ and probably 20-25 more 55-59” muskies to those figures....
Knowing all too well how stingy our system can be, it’s just mind blowing.
And yet you hardly hear about this guy. That system must be amazing and I’d certainly like to fish with him there. |
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Posts: 123
| health, energy, money (equipment), ego and luck are all required.
health and energy are partly due to genetics, so random luck plays a role there too.
ego because some cats with massive catches that keep their mouths shut would never even be considered.
so I put #1 down to luck, must have the lucky healthy genetics and mental makeup imputed by parents to be #1 (one guide to rule them all!) you don't select your genes nor your parents, usually the same thing but some are adopted (random).
number 2 is money enough to stick it out during slow times, relocate to better water, afford top equipment/insurance, repairs.
number 3 is personal drive, which is somewhat inherited and somewhat socialized and somewhat due to personal effort.
so ultimately, it comes down to luck, whomever get crowned.
**
I vote for Steamboat, he is not done yet!
Edited by curdmudgeon 10/28/2018 5:14 PM
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| I think I might have met him. I don't think he knows it and I dont think he cares. I doubt you've heard of him. He has not been mentioned yet and I doubt he ever will be. He certainly is not in pursuit of fame, fortune or notoriety. |
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Location: Hayward, Wisconsin | Laz gets my vote. Not only are his numbers incredible (averages around 350 a year in the boat) the top end sizes have never been equaled by anyone, EVER! Before I first fished with him over 20 years ago, I thought the numbers attributed to him were undoable, and that was when his number of 50's for one year was 28...I thought "No one catches that many 50's...when I finally got my first chance, I was there 2 days and we got one 40 incher...water was high and muddy. However, the next summer, I spent 4 days with him (but only about 25 hours on the water). By 10:30 the first morning I had a 47 and a 56! By noon on day 4 (he sent me home immediately after that), I had 4 over 50!!! I knew then that he was for REAL. Since that time, I have been in his boat for nearly 100 over 50 (me and friends) with many of them over 55, including two 57's and my bucket list 51 pounder from horsehunter's back yard.
For a number of years, he "averaged" over 100 over 50 inches. On most of our good trips, one out of three or four were over 50, covering hundreds of miles of the Ottawa and St. Lawrence rivers. Also, for many years, when things got slow near home, he would venture to Georgian Bay and other big fish waters and did well there as well, including several of his fish over 50 pounds.
There hasn't been a day that I have been in his boat that I didn't learn something new...simply put, the man is incredible!
I have never fished with Bill Sandy or several of the others named, but I'd have to agree with Mr. Worrall that Steve "Herbie" Herbeck definitely belongs in the Top 5... Ever...
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Location: FIB land | Always good fun stuff to read . |
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| lazarus is in another class he caught more than 40 40 pounder plus fish.enough said.and no you will not find a lots of his giants on the internet.i guess when you got clients for years to come,you just don'teed that kind of thing that could just bring unwanted aliens invaders |
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| Larry Ramsell - 10/29/2018 9:48 AM
Laz gets my vote. Not only are his numbers incredible (averages around 350 a year in the boat) the top end sizes have never been equaled by anyone, EVER! Before I first fished with him over 20 years ago, I thought the numbers attributed to him were undoable, and that was when his number of 50's for one year was 28...I thought "No one catches that many 50's...when I finally got my first chance, I was there 2 days and we got one 40 incher...water was high and muddy. However, the next summer, I spent 4 days with him (but only about 25 hours on the water). By 10:30 the first morning I had a 47 and a 56! By noon on day 4 (he sent me home immediately after that), I had 4 over 50!!! I knew then that he was for REAL. Since that time, I have been in his boat for nearly 100 over 50 (me and friends) with many of them over 55, including two 57's and my bucket list 51 pounder from horsehunter's back yard.
For a number of years, he "averaged" over 100 over 50 inches. On most of our good trips, one out of three or four were over 50, covering hundreds of miles of the Ottawa and St. Lawrence rivers. Also, for many years, when things got slow near home, he would venture to Georgian Bay and other big fish waters and did well there as well, including several of his fish over 50 pounds.
There hasn't been a day that I have been in his boat that I didn't learn something new...simply put, the man is incredible!
I have never fished with Bill Sandy or several of the others named, but I'd have to agree with Mr. Worrall that Steve "Herbie" Herbeck definitely belongs in the Top 5... Ever...
lucky you |
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Location: oswego, il | If i ever have a fishing tv show I am calling it alien invader. |
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Location: On the River | My choice would be Dick Pearson fishing on LOTW I use to see him every year at Walsh's
Definitely a bucket list item.
Edited by wisriverrat 10/29/2018 7:53 PM
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Location: minocqua, wi. | we all know who the best is. he claims it often ... |
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| No mention of Doug Johnson? How old is he an still putting up numbers on LOTW? Be a bucket list to drink beer and just listen to his stories. More so the ones of monsters spotted on Lac Suel. |
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Location: Elk River, Minnesota | jonnysled - 10/29/2018 7:59 PM
we all know who the best is. he claims it often ...
Hahaha!!! So True if we are thinking of the same person!!! |
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| jonnysled - 10/29/2018 7:59 PM
we all know who the best is. he claims it often ... Man,that is a great post. |
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Location: Alexandria, MN | dmorgan173 - 10/29/2018 8:54 PM
No mention of Doug Johnson? How old is he an still putting up numbers on LOTW? Be a bucket list to drink beer and just listen to his stories. More so the ones of monsters spotted on Lac Suel. Agreed. Doug's name belongs in this conversation. |
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| ToddM - 10/29/2018 7:41 PM
If i ever have a fishing tv show I am calling it alien invader. good idea,most of usa musky have been put in lakes where they have nothing to do there.aliens organism that is invading natural biotope |
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Location: The desert | supertrollr - 10/30/2018 11:13 AM
ToddM - 10/29/2018 7:41 PM
If i ever have a fishing tv show I am calling it alien invader. good idea,most of usa musky have been put in lakes where they have nothing to do there.aliens organism that is invading natural biotope
This is post is in the running for best post on this board, ever. |
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Posts: 343
| Sounds like Lazarus might be the guy, I've only fished with one of the above mentioned, Mr. Doug Johnson, he would be a strong choice in my book. But my lack of personal experiences with most of the names mentioned makes my opinion relatively valueless. It may be someone who isn't even mentioned because they keep their catches to themselves, that seems the most likely to me |
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| Not sure who is the best but I'm one of the worst... |
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| thescottith - 10/30/2018 2:25 PM
Not sure who is the best but I'm one of the worst...
I'm right there with ya |
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| Just saw this thread, and while I think it’s an impossible subject filled with political (like) tribalism like our election next week, I think it’s not going to be a guy famous on his lake. I’ve fished with Bill Sandy on LOTW, seen the way he’s treated by Sarik and all the Musky Hunter guys, almost like a deity. I’ve interviewed Herbie for my articles and, frankly, knew he’d already forgot more than I’ll ever know. Then, there are scores of other “quiet geniuses “ like Hanson on the Madison Chain who showed me twenty fish in two hours after I spent the previous day myself seeing none. I’m going to stake my claim on the most scientific, one-off Musky Hunter who found the way to catch the biggest fish in any lake that have never been caught before. He had to develop his own boat (from a sail boat), fill it with tech nobody else even knew about, row it himself, and in the most miserable conditions at an advanced age. So, with respect to guys who know how highly I think of them, Tom Gelb! |
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Herbie, Gregg Thomas, Jeff Sacco |
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| Junkman - 10/31/2018 6:10 AM
Just saw this thread, and while I think it’s an impossible subject filled with political (like) tribalism like our election next week, I think it’s not going to be a guy famous on his lake. I’ve fished with Bill Sandy on LOTW, seen the way he’s treated by Sarik and all the Musky Hunter guys, almost like a deity. I’ve interviewed Herbie for my articles and, frankly, knew he’d already forgot more than I’ll ever know. Then, there are scores of other “quiet geniuses “ like Hanson on the Madison Chain who showed me twenty fish in two hours after I spent the previous day myself seeing none. I’m going to stake my claim on the most scientific, one-off Musky Hunter who found the way to catch the biggest fish in any lake that have never been caught before. He had to develop his own boat (from a sail boat), fill it with tech nobody else even knew about, row it himself, and in the most miserable conditions at an advanced age. So, with respect to guys who know how highly I think of them, Tom Gelb!
That's more like it, without the "political tribalism". 
Edited by 4amuskie 10/31/2018 7:52 AM
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| Count me in to the race for the bottom. My son says the fish see the Crestliner logo on my boat and they sink 3 feet deeper. #thestruggleisreel |
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Location: Contrarian Island | I think one could change the question a bit and get different answers.. who is the best on the St Lawrence. I guess one could say Laz by his results.. but what part does the body of water play into it. Put him on Eagle for a season he won't have the size or numbers he does on his home water correct? to me, the best fishermen are the guys that can go anywhere and put big fish and numbers in the boat given the conditions they are dealt...being versatile is also one factor that seperates the good from the great... guys who consistently finish in the top 10 in the PMTT are clearly good at figuring out patterns and what it takes to get them to bite.... One of the guys that has flown under the radar for a long time but likely has more inland 50s in WI than anyone is Chuck Schauer... check out his lunge log... the guy is a 50" machine for inland 50s...
Edited by BNelson 10/31/2018 8:45 AM
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Location: oswego, il | There are no apple to apple comparisons. Time on the water, where you fish play the biggest part in numbers. All the people mentioned are great fisherman no doubt but they don't directly compare to one another. |
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Location: Ashland WI | Junkman - 10/31/2018 6:10 AM
Just saw this thread, and while I think it’s an impossible subject filled with political (like) tribalism like our election next week, I think it’s not going to be a guy famous on his lake. I’ve fished with Bill Sandy on LOTW, seen the way he’s treated by Sarik and all the Musky Hunter guys, almost like a deity. I’ve interviewed Herbie for my articles and, frankly, knew he’d already forgot more than I’ll ever know. Then, there are scores of other “quiet geniuses “ like Hanson on the Madison Chain who showed me twenty fish in two hours after I spent the previous day myself seeing none. I’m going to stake my claim on the most scientific, one-off Musky Hunter who found the way to catch the biggest fish in any lake that have never been caught before. He had to develop his own boat (from a sail boat), fill it with tech nobody else even knew about, row it himself, and in the most miserable conditions at an advanced age. So, with respect to guys who know how highly I think of them, Tom Gelb!
I read his book and have to agree with you.
What this man did goes well beyond being a "good muskie fisherman".. |
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| BNelson - 10/31/2018 8:44 AM
I think one could change the question a bit and get different answers.. who is the best on the St Lawrence. I guess one could say Laz by his results.. but what part does the body of water play into it. Put him on Eagle for a season he won't have the size or numbers he does on his home water correct? to me, the best fishermen are the guys that can go anywhere and put big fish and numbers in the boat given the conditions they are dealt...being versatile is also one factor that seperates the good from the great... guys who consistently finish in the top 10 in the PMTT are clearly good at figuring out patterns and what it takes to get them to bite.... One of the guys that has flown under the radar for a long time but likely has more inland 50s in WI than anyone is Chuck Schauer... check out his lunge log... the guy is a 50" machine for inland 50s...
your example is not really true. because his no of giants his at least x5 higher than the guys that is fishing at the same place since same time. |
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Location: MN | There are 1145 muskies entered into the Muskies Inc lunge log for the St. Lawrence River. 22.1% of those are 50+, and 5.0% are 55+. Note here: https://www.muskyhunter.com/archives/3247 the numbers for Lazarus:
50+: 2200/9000 = 24.4%
55+: 300/9000 = 3.3%
Seems to me that the size distribution is simply a function of the water. The fact that he has so many giants is a combination of his ability to consistently catch numbers of fish combined with the size distribution of the waters he is on. |
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Location: Contrarian Island | one has to look at the hours as well ... not saying he isn't a great fishermen, I'm sure he is... and if Larry R. thinks he is, I will go with that.. but.... if he fishes 1500 hrs a year for 20 over 55" and another guy fishes 750 hrs and gets 10.. isn't it the same? If he put those same hours in on Eagle.. he would never catch that many over 55" so as others have pointed out, if someone simply fishes the same body of water for 30 yrs they are a function of what swims in the water.... of course they will be good fishermen with 30 yrs in on that body of water...or one would hope..
Edited by BNelson 10/31/2018 1:07 PM
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| Just thinking about aspects of the very best anglers, stuff like just plain smarts, determination, guts, physical strength, and instinct can clearly trump time on the water or a good log book. Mark Lejewski makes “instinct” come to mind. You might be camping on a prime spot in a tournament for hours on end, his boat roars to a nearby spot, he absolutely heaves his bait for ten or twelve casts, and he’s back on plane roaring away. Too many times, however, I watched while he was forced to wait for a judge boat. I have never figured out how he does that, but I’m certain he has a natural instinct for knowing where to be, and he may be the best tournament guy we have. And, there’s Spencer Berman who’s ship has really come in lately, he’s on top of the heap for now, and I think it’s a lot of just being a uniquely “smart” guy. I recall a tournament maybe a dozen years ago when he was a new kid, with only an hour to go in the event, he pulls up, says he’s got a chance to be in the money, and would I mind if he fished the obvious good water I was fully controlling. So, how do tell another guy he’s really got no chance and you do, and he should get off the spot. The answer is you have to be really, really smart. Like selling ice to Eskimos smart. I actually found myself glad to move aside. Later on when I got to know him better, often choosing to interview him for my articles, I began to really appreciate just how sharp a kid he is. Clearly, I myself am waiting to be lucky, but the leader board, as I’ve said before, is rarely much of a surprise! |
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Location: Contrarian Island | Lijewski can usually fish circles around most of the field but in the championship in Indiana a couple weeks ago I believe his boat got skunked while Berman caught 7 the same day, same lake. of course that is Bermans home waters but... goes to show even the best don't always wack and stack every time out.....
Edited by BNelson 10/31/2018 5:39 PM
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| Seems some of those walleye and bass guys catch quite a few nice ones also. Great arguments all around though.
Lately the combos of Snyder/Riebe and Raley/Osfar have been showing what kind of sticks they are as well. I think there is a lot to be considered for a fisherman that can go from lake to lake and catch fish. I'd be confident any of the guys already mentioned would quickly figure out each water body as well. |
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| A feller by the name of dudlkslkaldy. Or something like that. Can anyone else catch them on lime flavored doughballs? |
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Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | That was absolutely classic. We need to rekindle the chat room again, it's still here. |
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Posts: 386
| jonnysled - 10/29/2018 7:59 PM
we all know who the best is. he claims it often ...
I think I know that guy..... |
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Posts: 1425
Location: St. Lawrence River | BNelson - 10/31/2018 2:04 PM
one has to look at the hours as well ... not saying he isn't a great fishermen, I'm sure he is... and if Larry R. thinks he is, I will go with that.. but.... if he fishes 1500 hrs a year for 20 over 55" and another guy fishes 750 hrs and gets 10.. isn't it the same? If he put those same hours in on Eagle.. he would never catch that many over 55" so as others have pointed out, if someone simply fishes the same body of water for 30 yrs they are a function of what swims in the water.... of course they will be good fishermen with 30 yrs in on that body of water...or one would hope..
He also fishes the Ottawa, the Nip, and GB. And has MORE then one 50 pounder on Georgian Bay. Just saying.
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Location: Contrarian Island | oh for sure, I'm not saying he isn't a great fishermen.. I'm sure he is.. for the waters he fishes it sounds like he does very well... I guess my point is, simply catching big fish doesn't make someone a good fishermen on that basis alone. anyone can catch big fish with enough hours on any body of water with big fish... well, most anyone anway. |
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Location: oswego, il | I agree with Brad. You can say these are the best for the areas they fish, you cannot say they are the best of all because the comparisons are not the same. |
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Posts: 569
| Bill Dance |
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Posts: 8824
| I've been lucky enough to share a boat with many guys who make their living chasing these fish. All of them are the "best' at something, whether its their home water, late fall fishing, jigging, trolling, live bait fishing... To me, the "best" are the guys who can go somewhere they've never fished, in the worst conditions, and still put a fish or two in the bag when everyone else on the water is standing around asking "now what??"... |
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Posts: 3
| If I had a mortgage on the line on 5 different lakes, I'm taking Jason Hammernick. Won the PMTT championship, one of the best guides , and can figure out weather patterns, lake conditions and other fishing issues with the best of them. |
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Posts: 427
| If making a name for yourself defines the "best "at anything then the list is long and very opinionated. If you consider the "best" in a specific area then there are many nationaly unknown locals who catch an unbelievable amount of fish from their local haunts. These people are the real pros in my opinion. They catch fish day after day from the same pressured waters that others struggle with. Most of the time the waters they fish are not the big famous waters we all know but unimpressive local lakes that most never heard of fighting off the jet skies and pleasure boaters as well.
Edited by 7ovr50 11/18/2018 7:45 AM
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Posts: 21
| The best in my opinion anyone who can introduce someone new to the sport and create an experiment that wants them to try again. Not easily done.
Andy L
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Best muskie fisherman today?