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Posts: 17
| Went down to the Flambeau today to do a little wade fishing with my fly rod. Water is really low there and have been having good luck wading lately. Mostly small muskies around 30 inches. Been tying a few flies with light wire bass hooks that throw really easy on my 8 weight rod. Looking back on what happened that was a mistake and lesson learned. Anyway went down to a nice run below some rapids with a nice pool next to the fast water. Perfect spot. Made a couple short casts while I stripped out some more line. Next cast I made was out about 30 feet straight across into the current. Current takes my fly down stream and am stripping at the same time to give the fly a little life. Fly tails out into the pool when I see her come up to eat. Big sonbitch. Got excited and set the hook before she even ate. Same thing that happens with clients that I take fishing in my drift boat down the rivers. This time I did the same thing. Make a couple more casts into the fast water. She comes up again and crushes the fly out in the fast water this time and a little down stream. I felt her this time and set the hook. Hook comes loose. I see the fish better this time and it is huge.
Now I am really hurt bad. 2 chances on a trophy musky on the fly and I blow it both times. Wait, story is not over yet. Start casting again. Now my adrenaline is in overdrive. I'm casting about 80 feet across the river because it's like I am on steroids or something, could she come up again? About 5 casts later here she comes again out in the fast water. Eats the fly and I think I got her this time, I jab her about 5 times, I feel the strength of this fish as she takes off like a rocket. I feel her head shaking back and forth down on the bottom and out comes the hook again! Strip in the fly and check the hook. It is good and sharp. I make about 30 more casts and start wading down stream. Fished my way down stream maybe 100 yards, no luck. It's getting late so I head back upstream to where I started. Thought I would try her one more time. Would she eat again? Cast maybe 5 more casts or so then on the next cast here she comes again. Stripping the fly back in the fast water she comes up and crushes the fly again! I waited a little bit and felt her weight and stuck her real good about 5 times. She takes off again like a bucking bronco up the river. This time I say to myself I think I got her. She turns and comes at me. I strip line to keep her tight. She makes another turn and out comes the hook again! Strip in my fly and this time it is straightened out. I felt just sick inside. This fish really hurt me bad. I didn't want to try for him again. I had a couple of more flies but they had the light bass hooks. Going to try for him tomorrow with my 10 weight and some flies tied on some strong saltwater hooks. Hope he is still there. If there is a lesson to this it is don't go out there with your bass stuff fishing for muskies, never know when the big one decides he wants to eat your fly. I'm going to cry myself to sleep and try for him again tomorrow. Will keep you posted.
Steve Cervenka
Flambeau Guide Service |
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Location: Northern Wisconsin | good luck i hope you get it, flambeau is my favorite place to fish |
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| Humility is a virtue in all. I'd be shaken by the skill of even hooking a big fish on a river with a fly. |
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Posts: 17
| I went back today to the same spot. I fished the same run for about 4 hours until dark. Tried a few different flies. Didn't have any bites or follows. Not sure if she left the spot or maybe was not in the mood to eat today. It was really warm today up here in the northwoods. Got up to around 72 degrees and sunny. Probably not a good day but will keep trying for her. Will keep you posted.
Steve |
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had a big piece of humble pie today