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Posts: 2865
Location: Brookfield, WI | sure can be exciting. Sorry, this is long.
That's right. I fished yesterday's IMTT event on Okauchee with Joel Michel. Joel asked Thusday if I wanted to fish with him Friday or Saturday. I'm not stupid, so I said yes. Friday wouldn't work for me, so Saturday it was. Then he calls and tells me they need a judge boat for the Tourney, and I could come for that and we'd fish along the way. Being the pushy person I am, I asked if we could fish the tournament. Why shouldn't I want to fish a tournament. I had been musky fishing three times in my life. He said, "I'll call you back."
Ten minutes later, "We're in it, to win it."
It was bright and sunny at 6:00 am. Michel/Dunn, Boat #6. We slowly made are way out due to low early morning speed limits. Joel had a fishing a pattern almost targeting suspended fish away from other boats. In the first three hours we had five follows, way more if you count the collection of gars we encountered in one spot. To my amazement, three of these follows were behind my Shumway Flasher. Unfortunately, none of these fish were hard chargers, and none followed in the figure eight. Later we would hear that was common for the followers of the day.
Then the slow times set in. We casted, we trolled, I drank Ice Teas and ate sandwiches. My old bones and muscles began to protest. Early afternoon we had three or four more follows, but infrequently. The end of the Tourney began to loom closer.
50 minutes left. Like the two minute warning. We had no timeouts, but we had Brett Favre, er Joel Michel. Let me just say that Joel is the most positive individual I have ever met. He would have to be to take me as a no fish partner. All day long, on every spot, he feels the next cast is going to be the one. No moaning or complaining, he just keeps working with a good attitude. Joel says we're going to a secluded spot, troll the whole thing in a few minutes, catch two fish, and win the tournament.
He was almost right. We make two passes near shore just outside the weed line. A Little Ernie and small Slammer each just about eight feet off the corners of the stern in the wake. No takers. Then he moves out deeper. We start a straight troll. Joel marks a fish. He becomes Favre on a scramble using small S turns. The fish follows and hits. I am stunned. I have a rod in my hands with a fish on. It was touch and go with the beast considering the person trying to bring it in. We land it. A quick measure, and it's only 32", two inches short. The fish goes back. The clock is ticking. 30 minutes left. Baits go back in and we continue in this deep area. Two minutes later the clicker goes off. This time I tell Joel we're not taking chances. He brings it in. I only miss once with the net, we land it. 31". Three inches short. Fish goes back. Baits go back. We continue. 16 minutes left. Six minutes later, clicker goes off. Joel again, we measure, 32'', three inches short. Back goes the fish.
Four more minutes of trolling, and the Tournament's over. Like Farve vs Denver in the Super Bowl, we run out of time. Three first downs, but no touchdown. Zero points at the end of the day, but exciting as hell. Two guys bass fishing the area are just standing in their boat gaping at us. Later in the parking lot, they were almost as excited as us to have watched that take place.
One of the best and most exciting days of my life. At the post Torunament gathering, I win a Slammer bait that is almost an exact replica of the one I caught the fish on.
I need to take a second here. I want to thank Joel, Mike Koepp, Eric, Al, Sponge, Slamr, Mr. Worral and anyone else that's talked to me or reached out to me. I really want to thank my lovely wife, who's also my business partner. She barely looked at me funny when I said I'm going to put down my golf clubs after 30 years, spend a couple thousand dollars on equipment, guides, traveling to shows, etc, and start Musky fishing. I love her.
I also want to thank everyone who reads some of the stupid stuff I've put on this board over the last six months. You're my sponsors. Bigger fish to come.
Sorry about the Oscar speech, but me so happy.
It's not even a legal fish, but under the circumstances, few people's first could have been more exciting. I humbly present my first Musky.
Kevin
The plan didn't include tournaments, but it's not disappointed.
Edited by MuskyHopeful 6/4/2006 9:31 AM
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 MyFirstMusky.jpg (177KB - 76 downloads)
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Posts: 303
Location: Valentine, NE USA | Congratualations, man!
I love reading your posts.
B |
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Posts: 2378
| Attaboy Kevin!! Congratulations!! |
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| Way to go Kevin.
Flexi-plans are fine |
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| the plan comes together! |
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Posts: 2323
Location: SE, WI. | Ok Kevin; How many musky were caught in the tourney. Legal. Who won, and Placed 2nd and 3rd. Do you have the results? JIM |
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Location: The Yahara Chain | Congrats Kevin....the plan is unfolding.
Fishing with Joel and Mike would be a great plan. |
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Posts: 32949
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Great story, sir. And a great first muskie, no matter the length. |
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Posts: 201
Location: Stevens Point | congrats on your first fish, you're hooked. |
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| Kevin,
Execution of the plan!
S-
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| A true classic me friend! AND...never ever apologize for a long riveting tale of yer exploits; you have brought the board back to it's former glory of yesteryear, and yer posts be much in demand as far as I'm concerned, as you enjoy life as it should be... |
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Posts: 5200
| Great story.You should have called your partner,Montana,or Aikman those fish would have been 34 plus,those guys do not come up short.Bill |
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Posts: 284
Location: Fishing the weeds | Kevin,
Great story! Congratulations, I'm sure this is the begining of long career in the muskie game. I love fishing tournaments. It forces you to learn and pay attention to the details. Keep it up. Pat |
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| Kevin, after you experienced Mike's big catch, then it was only a matter of time before you scored your first. With Tuffdaddy as your guide it was bound to happen this weekend. Congratulations on your very first musky and you will always remember that first one with pride. We all enjoy your insightful perspectives on this crazy sport.
Steve |
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Posts: 2691
Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin | Congrats Kevin !!!
I knew I left you in good hands with Joel.
I told you it was only a matter of time before you caught a muskie. Now it's time to catch one casting!!!
Tuesday is in the plan. We have boated one each of the times we went out. This time it's going to be your rod that gets a big girl to commit. Second water has been lucky for me BUT your first water in the front of the boat is going to produce Tuesday for you. I will be NET MAN.
Congrats on the fun day of tournament fishing..............It's never over until the time is up in a tournament. Muskies come for those who never loose faith. Good sticks always look for different ways to score when the fish are not eating. Short line trolling triggers strikes. Good move Joel and Kevin.
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Posts: 2754
Location: Mauston, Wisconsin | Kevin- Wahoo! Ya got slimed. all part of the plan. Maybe you need to get a fast action camera so you can record the strange looks when you announce your future muskie fishing strategies to the Missus.
Have fun!
Al
Edited by ESOX Maniac 6/5/2006 10:01 AM
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Posts: 3242
Location: Racine, Wi | That was definitely a great day on the water. Thanks for dragging me out there Kev!!! 
The cool thing is, Kevin pounded all day, and didn't complain once (accept maybe to be closer to the boats that had women in bikinis in them). He definitely had the bait that was shoiwing fish. Unfortunately, most of them turned off 5 feet from the boat. The end of the day was exciting to say the least. Every one of those fish were FAT as heck, and we thought we may get on the board. But as luck would have it, that wouldn't happen. Still cool to score 3 fish in that short of time.
That reminds me, who says that only big fish suspend and mow on food????? LOL
Great job Kev!!!! |
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Posts: 1023
Location: Lafayette, IN | Kevin and Joel,
Great story! Great day!
Keep it up.
Steve |
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| Excellent, nice work you two, except for the Packer references.
Kevin, that plan is coming together nicely for you this year. |
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Posts: 222
Location: Hartland, WI | Congrats boys!!!
Great story Kevin.
Joel, I have to laugh man...there are no suspendos out there! Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Johannes
Edited by muskie_man1 6/5/2006 8:28 AM
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Posts: 1316
Location: Madison, WI | opps, plz delete
Edited by Magruter 6/5/2006 8:53 AM
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Posts: 1316
Location: Madison, WI | NJ Kev!! Glad to see you finally got some slime. Great post BTW! |
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Posts: 11
| Kevin,
We're glad you had a great time out there. You fished with a great stick, with a great plan.
Congrats from all of us on the IMTT Board and we hope to see you out there in September. |
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Posts: 5874
| WTG Kevin. I can't wait to hear the hollering on Pewaukee Tuesday, when you catch your legal with the Extreme One. I'll be slutting with Tuffdaddy, hopefully. You get that fish, I'll buy the beer at Curly's. Besides, I want to see Lazer sqirm when his fatal attraction hooters show up! |
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Posts: 128
Location: Germantown, WI | Congrats Kevin - good talking to you Saturday.
Elby |
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| Count me in as a fan of this guys posts--great story -- Yeah Sponge it did sound like a post from years gone by... WTG on those fish ------ Now just don't become the "elder" Farve --time for him to hang'em up ! ManitouDan |
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