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Posts: 82
| If other please list. |
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Location: Athens, Ohio | "That's a pretty big net there, buddy; what are you fishin for?"
"Mostly to get outta the house!~"
m |
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Posts: 8745
| For the halibut...
In all seriousness, though? It's the rush of actually seeing the fish coming after your lure and catching it on the figure 8. Fished for decades before muskies, and enjoyed every species. Still do. But the anticipation of knowing there might be one there and it night be a big one on every cast, and knowing you'll likely be able to see it happen, that's what does it for me. And topwater. Not only seeing a fish pushing a wake behind your lure, but the often explosive nature of it all when one decides to smash your lure in an otherwise calm and quiet place.
Muskie fishing is like a toddler with a jack-in-the-box. They sit there cranking that little handle, knowing that ugly f'ing thing is going to come flying out of that box. Sooner or later it does, and it cares the hell out of them every time. And they always laugh, and they always do it again and again. Some of us never grow out of that kind of stuff. That's why we like muskie fishing. |
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Posts: 371
Location: SW Ohio | Other. The frustration. The endless hours of not catching anything followed by the mere minutes of panic. I occasionally try for bass, white bass or crappie. But very occasionally. With them it’s like “oh, do I have a fish?” Not so when an esox grabs your lure. But they are a challenge. |
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| Other: Practice my casting. |
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Posts: 1247
| Being in the woods and on the water then looking down holy heck "what is that" ! Plus I have Wisconsin dad and a Minnesota mom. Just the whole thing is great I can go on forever. |
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Posts: 51
| I enjoyed the hunt just as much as the catch. The challenge, trying to lean something each time out, only to find out just how little I really do know about them. |
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Posts: 1217
| Other. Kind of a combination of things. In the 90s, I was getting serious into walleye fishing. Dabbled in tournament fishing (found out I couldn't afford it). 9/11 killed the small business I was running, so times were lean for a couple years. Didn't want to spend the money to go to trophy walleye waters, and noticed we had muskie lakes right here in town. In fact, I have 6 within 15 minutes of my house, and a whole bunch more within another 15 minutes of that. About this same time, I caught my first muskie by accident. Trolling a shad rap for walleyes. Just a dink, about 28 or 29 inches. But I was amazed at how vicious that little thing was. Totally destroyed the Shad Rap. Straightened 4 of the 6 hooks on the two trebles, and stretched out both split rings. Was also full of pi$$ and vinegar after unhooking. Did way more damage than even big pike I have caught on the same lures. My interest was piqued. Also don't hunt as much as I used to, and muskie fishing is more like hunting than fishing. Once I caught that first decent one (mid forties), it was all over. |
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Posts: 32829
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Because I love failing. A lot. I heard it builds character, and I have definitely been accused of being one of those now and again. |
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Posts: 8745
| "wow. It's HOT. I just might mummify standing here in the boat. Haven't seen a fish in two days. My shoulders hurt, my back hurts, can you spontaneously combust? What's the flash point of sunscreen anyway? I wish the sun would just burn the hell OUT! 'ya know... This is STUPID!! Oop, there's one. Here she comes. I GOT HER!! Wow, this is GREAT!!"
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Posts: 1225
Location: E. Tenn | Much like my 40+ years of flying for a living.. 99.5% boredom, and 0.5% of "what in hell is going on".
The similarity being when all hell breaks loose, there's a mental gear shift of sorts, and your entire focus is about taking care of business. At least with a fish on I get to enjoy it, and even laugh out loud. |
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Posts: 542
Location: deephaven mn | other.... i'd rather catch a 20 lb fish insted of a 2 lb fish |
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Posts: 2290
Location: Chisholm, MN | It's the challenge for me. Accomplishing a goal.
Also, just getting the adrenalin rush. Nothing gets me going but muskies or deep sea fishing.
Mikie has it right too. Get out of the house. |
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Posts: 2021
| Because I have issues therapy couldn't fix. |
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Posts: 20188
Location: oswego, il | There should have been it fits my gigantic ego poll option.:-) |
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Posts: 32829
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | ARmuskyaddict - 4/14/2023 8:04 AM
Because I have issues therapy couldn't fix.
There it is. |
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Posts: 4080
Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | Just being out there in God's World, enjoying what the day will bring...
The sights, sounds, the smells... The Peace.... and then the chaos of fighting a Crazy, Pizzed off 30-40 lb. monster that's fighting for its life !
The Hunt without all of the fancy toys... the satisfaction of figuring out "the what, where and when"...
And of course, the challenge that muskie fishing brings.
Most importantly the Friendships that are made along the way! |
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Posts: 158
Location: Alexandria, MN | Because I like chasing after the biggest, baddest thing in the lake.
The visual of a boatside or topwater strike is always something to behold. They behave in ways that set them apart from other species.
Muskie fishing can get old - especially after pitching big lures in the hot sun for 10 hours without seeing a fin.... but catching them NEVER does ! |
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Location: PA Angler | Always was a trout fisherman but started wanted to get into big fish and why not Muskie fish. |
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Posts: 608
Location: Duluth | Used to be a disease, now it's much more patterning and getting the payoff from a hunch. Technology has soured me on a lot of the premier musky waters and driven me to streams to chase cold water trophies (brook trout) |
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Posts: 1247
| TCESOX - 4/13/2023 7:48 PM
Other. Kind of a combination of things. In the 90s, I was getting serious into walleye fishing. Dabbled in tournament fishing (found out I couldn't afford it). 9/11 killed the small business I was running, so times were lean for a couple years. Didn't want to spend the money to go to trophy walleye waters, and noticed we had muskie lakes right here in town. In fact, I have 6 within 15 minutes of my house, and a whole bunch more within another 15 minutes of that. About this same time, I caught my first muskie by accident. Trolling a shad rap for walleyes. Just a dink, about 28 or 29 inches. But I was amazed at how vicious that little thing was. Totally destroyed the Shad Rap. Straightened 4 of the 6 hooks on the two trebles, and stretched out both split rings. Was also full of pi$$ and vinegar after unhooking. Did way more damage than even big pike I have caught on the same lures. My interest was piqued. Also don't hunt as much as I used to, and muskie fishing is more like hunting than fishing. Once I caught that first decent one (mid forties), it was all over.
A friend and I were trolling Shad Raps for Walleyes in a metro Denver lake and he hooks a fish I get the net and it's a Trout so I throw the net down and tell him "net your own Slimmer" and walk back to the front of the boat and we are still going forward and my rod doubles and I pick it up and I can tell it's a good fish (thinking I have a nice big Walleye) and it turns out to be a 26" Trout. Yes it tore the hook hanger out the side and did a number on the rear hook, but it also had a 2 1/2 Rapala in it's mouth along with a piece of line. We let it go and it would have made a good Rapala commercial. |
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Posts: 861
Location: NE Ohio | for me, it's all about the hunt..............
Edited by pklingen 4/14/2023 6:18 PM
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Posts: 95
| Because I am absolutely terrible at it and that eats at me. Also, I really do love lures. They are functional art. |
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Posts: 8
| It’s the hunt preparing for and planning |
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Posts: 502
Location: NW WI | Far too many reasons, a large one is because it's hard therefore the reward is sooooo much better. I really love that in the media world for muskies that Honesty still has a place. "Hey folks, we raised a few but couldn't get any to bite." That statement isn't uncommon, and I appreciate that. Also you don't have social mediaers farming muskies in their backyard to show off how big they made em grow.
Another thing I really love, and maybe I'm just lucky, but every musky fisher I've met on the water has always been super nice and respectful. Especially when it's cold water time. I'll call it "brotherhood through shared pain and equal goals". Reminds me of how duck hunting USED to be. |
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Posts: 1285
Location: WI | I’m drawn to extremes and things that are difficult to master. I love the mystique, I remember seeing huge Suicks at Kmart when I was a kid, a 30lber in a cooler at a baitshop. It was one of those things that I knew I wanted to do it before I even started. |
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Posts: 333
Location: SE Wisc | For me, because I don’t believe anyone can truely master catching muskies. That makes it something I can’t get tired of.
I’ve also always considered myself more or a hunter than a fisherman, so it’s the hunt too. And there are no tarpon in Wisconsin |
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Posts: 40
Location: Lower Peninsula | For me it’s the TEETH! Sharp and Dangerous! |
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Posts: 502
Location: NW WI | RikkiTikkii - 4/17/2023 7:05 AM
For me it’s the TEETH! Sharp and Dangerous!
Oh you would love to go to Petco/Petsupplies Plus/Petsmart/etc and try to look inside of other people's dogs mouths too than!  |
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Posts: 3820
| 1) If I'm not going to catch a fish it's going to be the biggest dang fish in the lake.
Also 1) Just like a Dead show, the sport is chock full of smart, happy misfits. I'm right at home, except for the smart part.
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Posts: 267
| I know I've read this somewhere, but someone stated, "because it feels so good when I quit!" Some truth to that.
The reason I started was because I was kind of a burnt out trout fly fisherman. I was fishing for bass/pike/walleye more and an intern I had was a muskie guy. We went out and first trip I had a smallish 28" muskie smack a bigger bass spinnerbait. The fish was immediately eye level on a jump! I was hooked from then on. Went through some periods of intense muskie angling from the late 80s through the 2000s. Have slowed quite a lot since. Down to several fishing outings a year. |
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Posts: 8745
| Ranger - 4/17/2023 12:12 PM
1) If I'm not going to catch a fish it's going to be the biggest dang fish in the lake.
Also 1) Just like a Dead show, the sport is chock full of smart, happy misfits. I'm right at home, except for the smart part.
There are a lot of parallels if you think about it.
Deadheads: Travel all over the place regardless of distance in order to participate
Muskie Anglers: Travel all over the place regardless of distance in order to participate
Deadheads: Do so knowing they might not even see the Dead
Muskie Anglers: Do so knowing they may not even see a fish
Deadheads: _____ Days since last Dark star
Muskie Anglers: _____ Days since last fish
Deadheads: Fresh Jerry was better
Muskie Anglers: Fresh suckers are better
Deadheads: Known to sleep in their van
Muskie Anglers: Known to sleep in their truck
Deadheads: Known for colorful attire
Muskie Anglers: Known for colorful lures
Deadheads: No two shows are ever the same
Muskie Anglers: No two days are ever the same |
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Posts: 394
Location: WI | Much like bowhunting, it's the adrenaline rush. I thoroughly enjoy walleye and smallmouth fishing but neither offer the excitement of hooking a big muskie in a figure eight. |
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Posts: 40
Location: Lower Peninsula | 7.62xJay - 4/17/2023 8:50 AM
Oh you would love to go to Petco/Petsupplies Plus/Petsmart/etc and try to look inside of other people's dogs mouths too than! ;)
No a domesticated mutt isn’t fierce enough…a wild wolf maybe tho! I need some gnashing of teeth. It’s like watching a T Rex bite a triceratops in the Disney Dinosaur movie (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=oOyLGqv7FyU).
Also something about the musky going from alpha predator instantly to prey fighting for its life is satisfying. |
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Posts: 1217
| I've never had a knee wobble uncontrollably, after catching any other fish. |
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Posts: 455
| Bow hunting whitetails and fishing for muskies are the only two real things that can get me worked up to the point that I'm shaking like a leaf. God, I hope that never changes. |
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Posts: 171
| I don't (can't) eat fish so catching a million walleyes doesn't really appeal to me. Also having southern Georgian Bay in my backyard with the possibility of the next world record swimming around close to home is extremely exciting. The feeling you get when you raise a supertanker is almost unexplainable. It's definitely a grind though, but I've got other waters within 2hrs that can get the confidence back up with multi fish days almost guaranteed. It's definitely an addiction. Will I ever get tired of it? I'm sure I will but I'm just here to enjoy the ride. |
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Posts: 332
Location: Selkirk, Manitoba | It's a challenge. Like others of said, similar to bowhunting - being lucky plays a smallish role compared to how many things you have to do right to be consistently successful. In both cases have to be very in tune with the environment and spend lots of time in it, which is a major plus. |
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Posts: 267
| chasintails - 4/18/2023 10:17 AM
Bow hunting whitetails and fishing for muskies are the only two real things that can get me worked up to the point that I'm shaking like a leaf. God, I hope that never changes. I agree, but would add hooking and landing a wild steelhead is right up there. I used to get a similar rush when I'd hook one and feel a similar satisfaction when landing one. |
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Posts: 3820
| esoxaddict - 4/17/2023 5:57 PM
Ranger - 4/17/2023 12:12 PM
1) If I'm not going to catch a fish it's going to be the biggest dang fish in the lake.
Also 1) Just like a Dead show, the sport is chock full of smart, happy misfits. I'm right at home, except for the smart part.
There are a lot of parallels if you think about it.
Deadheads: Travel all over the place regardless of distance in order to participate
Muskie Anglers: Travel all over the place regardless of distance in order to participate
Deadheads: Do so knowing they might not even see the Dead
Muskie Anglers: Do so knowing they may not even see a fish
Deadheads: _____ Days since last Dark star
Muskie Anglers: _____ Days since last fish
Deadheads: Fresh Jerry was better
Muskie Anglers: Fresh suckers are better
Deadheads: Known to sleep in their van
Muskie Anglers: Known to sleep in their truck
Deadheads: Known for colorful attire
Muskie Anglers: Known for colorful lures
Deadheads: No two shows are ever the same
Muskie Anglers: No two days are ever the same
Excellent! Here's another thing... I've fished my way to and from many midwest Dead (and a couple Panic) shows. Alpine, Deer Creek, Soldier Field, Detroit Lakes, etc. In every single instance when I was towing a boat the gate staff grinned and waved me into the venue. Every time. |
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Posts: 1217
| Ranger - 4/18/2023 7:43 PM
esoxaddict - 4/17/2023 5:57 PM
Ranger - 4/17/2023 12:12 PM
1) If I'm not going to catch a fish it's going to be the biggest dang fish in the lake.
Also 1) Just like a Dead show, the sport is chock full of smart, happy misfits. I'm right at home, except for the smart part.
There are a lot of parallels if you think about it.
Deadheads: Travel all over the place regardless of distance in order to participate
Muskie Anglers: Travel all over the place regardless of distance in order to participate
Deadheads: Do so knowing they might not even see the Dead
Muskie Anglers: Do so knowing they may not even see a fish
Deadheads: _____ Days since last Dark star
Muskie Anglers: _____ Days since last fish
Deadheads: Fresh Jerry was better
Muskie Anglers: Fresh suckers are better
Deadheads: Known to sleep in their van
Muskie Anglers: Known to sleep in their truck
Deadheads: Known for colorful attire
Muskie Anglers: Known for colorful lures
Deadheads: No two shows are ever the same
Muskie Anglers: No two days are ever the same
Excellent! Here's another thing... I've fished my way to and from many midwest Dead (and a couple Panic ) shows. Alpine, Deer Creek, Soldier Field, Detroit Lakes, etc. In every single instance when I was towing a boat the gate staff grinned and waved me into the venue. Every time.
I'll add another one: Both catching a muskie, and attending a Dead show, have made my knees wobble uncontrollably. |
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Posts: 126
| Something that hasn't been mentioned yet here. I enjoy watching one swim away unharmed and fully alive. I am not a meat hunter, and 98% of the fish I catch are released anyways, but being able to catch, hold, and then release a sizable predator like a muskie is pretty indescribable. |
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Posts: 3820
| TCESOX - 4/18/2023 9:38 PM
Ranger - 4/18/2023 7:43 PM
esoxaddict - 4/17/2023 5:57 PM
Ranger - 4/17/2023 12:12 PM
1) If I'm not going to catch a fish it's going to be the biggest dang fish in the lake.
Also 1) Just like a Dead show, the sport is chock full of smart, happy misfits. I'm right at home, except for the smart part.
There are a lot of parallels if you think about it.
Deadheads: Travel all over the place regardless of distance in order to participate
Muskie Anglers: Travel all over the place regardless of distance in order to participate
Deadheads: Do so knowing they might not even see the Dead
Muskie Anglers: Do so knowing they may not even see a fish
Deadheads: _____ Days since last Dark star
Muskie Anglers: _____ Days since last fish
Deadheads: Fresh Jerry was better
Muskie Anglers: Fresh suckers are better
Deadheads: Known to sleep in their van
Muskie Anglers: Known to sleep in their truck
Deadheads: Known for colorful attire
Muskie Anglers: Known for colorful lures
Deadheads: No two shows are ever the same
Muskie Anglers: No two days are ever the same
Excellent! Here's another thing... I've fished my way to and from many midwest Dead (and a couple Panic ) shows. Alpine, Deer Creek, Soldier Field, Detroit Lakes, etc. In every single instance when I was towing a boat the gate staff grinned and waved me into the venue. Every time.
I'll add another one: Both catching a muskie, and attending a Dead show, have made my knees wobble uncontrollably.
Here's the ultimate mash up pf musky fishing and jam band shows.... At the 10,000 Lakes Festival, a 3 Day weekend deal featuring Widespread Panic and another dozen bands, almost everyone tent camps on the grounds for the entire show(s). Like 20,000 people spread out in a number of campgrounds on the vast property. After the main attractions finish at 11pm or so most folks wander back to their tents and hang out around campfires. The dirt roads that make up the loops are very dark, lots of tree canopy and no lights.
So it's midnight and as usual many of us are still blazing on mushrooms, acid, whatever. Nobody is sleeping. Me, I was on 2 hits of Rainbow Brain Gobbler. I grab my creature rod and my favorite trip toy, a small, VERY bright strobe light that flashes red>blue>green>yellow. The light, about the size of my thumb, is covered in rubber, very tough. The creature rod is a custom-made 7' heavy action bass flipping rod with an Abu 4500 loaded with 40# PowerPro.
I go walking down the darkened loops, target a campfire with the people chatting/laughing, and cast the light past the campsite. I reel the light back in slowly and it bounces along the road and weeds past the campsite. I know I have some interest when I hear, "Whoa! Dude! Do you see that?! What the **** is that!?" And then I get my follow - a guy leaves the campsite to chase my light. I keep the light bouncing along the ground just out of reach as he's bent over and chasing. The guy can't see me in the dark, even if he did look up, because his eyes are all full of bright strobe light. When the guy is a bout 8' away I sweep the light straight up and then down behind me. The guy tries to watch but the light is too fast and all he saw was the light launching itself up into space. So now I have a tripping fool standing within 6' looking up at the sky mumbling stuff like "Was it real? I know it was real. ****, was that real?" Hi eyes adjust and he finally sees me standing there, right smack in front of him. I ask him his height and then release him, because we're always catch and release. My biggest catch was 6'10", not bad at all. I call it "Fishing for Freaks" and I highly recommend it as a wonderful hobby. |
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Posts: 333
Location: SE Wisc | Ranger…
Your just like me!!!!
When I was in my teens…
Your story also reminds me of why I believe not everyone should be allowed to vote once turning 18. |
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| Actually, Ranger's story just solidifies my position that 18 yr. olds should vote. He showed great creativity, ingenuity and while entertaining himself, gave dozens of young people a story they can tell for years. |
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Posts: 3820
| It was amazing great fun. But I was in my 40's at the time. Peter Pan Syndrome, I guess. "Never grow up, not me!" I started going to Dead shows in the mid 70's, 13y/o sneaking out of the house at midnight to ride my bike down to the record store to "sleep out" for tickets. Party all night, frisbee on the street, sleep for an hour or two around dawn, score excellent seats, limp to school, beg forgiveness. Good times, good times. |
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Posts: 27
| For me, there is something incredibly satisfying about pushing myself to my limits, challenging myself to fish longer and harder than I think I can in hopes of it all paying off. Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't, but the adrenaline rush when it all comes together keeps me coming back for more time and time again. A big musky is the only fish that really gives me "the shakes." I'll never forget what it felt like to catch my first 50 incher. I was so hyped up on adrenaline I could barely think, let alone breathe. I'll gladly continue chasing that feeling as long as I am able. |
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Posts: 156
Location: Cedarburg, WI. | Other - Because i just love seeing them, follows, strikes or in the net. Big or small it never seems to get old. |
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Posts: 3820
| Slopski - 5/4/2023 11:32 AM
Other - Because i just love seeing them, follows, strikes or in the net. Big or small it never seems to get old.
Amen. If you wanna see much, much more, get a good q-beam and on a flat night shine the waters. A whole new world shows itself between midnight and dawn. One of the lessons will be that many of the biggest fish in the lake are suspendos. They live in the open, deep water and the only relatable structure is the thermocline and the surface. For whatever reason, in the wee hours of the morning they often rise and hang out just below the surface. Maybe they are star gazing, I dunno. But with flat water and a q-beam you can see them from 30 yards away. And they are not spooky, you can use your electric motor and creep right up to them. They know you're there; they heard you coming, and when you get really close, they casually swim away and down out of sight.
The other thing you'll learn is that after midnight hungry tanker walleye come up over the drop off (or out of a thick clump of weeds) to slink along the bottom in the shallows. Those girls can be caught by violently twitching and long pausing a big Husky Jerk or a slow rolling a spinnerbait, both in black/silver. |
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Reasons We Muskie Fish