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Posts: 70
| with all the time on my hands (minus the honey due list)
was wondering what the age / experience and home waters on the people on this board was??
i'm now 51 yrs old with 14yrs of musky hunting , averaging 300+ hrs with my fat butt in a boat hunting/ yr,
in my area , eastern ontario, there are a few of us hunters , but most are well over 45 yrs old, the youger folks in the area only selectively fish musky based on patience and opportunity
i actually have problems getting someone to come fishing musky with me,
for bass and walleye, the boat is always full
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Location: MN | Interesting post.
Current Age: 24
Musky Fishing: Since I was a kid, say 10?.. so 14 years.
Local Waters: Grew up fishing the Duluth area lakes and arrowhead of MN including Lake Vermilion, Crescent Lake, Lake X, Island Lake and the St. Louis River. When I lived up north I fished much more than I do today. Used to spend 4-5 days at a pop on Vermilion fishing 10-15hr days, at times spending 15+ days per month on the BigV; would either sleep at the family cabin or crash in my boat when fishing parts of the lake far from our cabin. When back home in Duluth, friends and I would fish the local waters in Duluth almost every other night. Oh those were the good days! 
Today I live in the metro and fish the local lakes primarily. Each year fishing less and less but still getting in adequate time. There is a very strong musky community in the Twin Cities with people of all ages, neat to see and be part of. I rarely have a problem finding someone to fill a seat in my boat.
Edited by Mak51 12/31/2010 1:37 PM
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Posts: 378
Location: Michigan | Age: 43
Musky fishing for 11 years, only deviating for early season walleye, an ocassional pike trip to Canada, or steelhead on Erie. Mostly fish LSC, but occassionaly one of Michigan inland offerings. LSC is getting pummeled by muskie fisherman from all around the midwest. In the last 3 years it has really taken off for the casting crowd. Much less fun to fish than it used to be... I selfishly hope people don't have the nuts to stay with it and the crowds subside a bit. |
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| Age: 24
Been musky fishing since I was about 10yrs old so 14 yrs. I've got the bug and its in full stride... I fish mostly in IL and Vilas County WI but hope too expand my waters next year.. If I'm not working I want to be fishing, as simple as that (the gf doesn't like it but I warned her early on). I'm really hoping on 2011 being a good year for me with what I have learned over the passed couple years, and plan on doing alot of things different. I'm a Union Electrician and have been very fortunate to have been employed the passed couple years and fishings kind of slowed down for me, but hope to change all that in 2011 and fish at night and plan ALOT more weekend trips!!! Bring on the open water! Happy New Year M1st!
-- Ryan |
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Posts: 1530
| pushng the 60 mark. dad started me at 4 years old. we ate everything. i have come from watching commercial fishing tugs on st clair. now its a put back fishery. maybe we do have a future |
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Posts: 8824
| age: 41
Years musky fishing: 7
Started out fishing Silver Lake in S WI back in 1974. Hooked my first muskie in around 1986, a few seasons after the DNR started stocking hybrids. Lost the fish, but the experience of seeing a fish like that coming up behind my lure and crushing it stayed with me. From that day I decided that some day I'd focus my attention on muskies.
Fished for everything that swims in fresh water over the years. I fish the local ponds down here for bass and perch and stuff pretty regularly, and I take a week every year to go saltwater fishing down in FL. I've fished for muskies in IL, IN, KY, all over WI, and the last 4 years I've made Eagle Lake an annual trip. I do most of my fishing in Vilas County in the Presque Isle area. Usually make it up there 5-6 times a season.
Haven't been able to fish much since I lost my job back in June 2009, maybe 10 days a year the last two summers. Before that I was averaging anywhere from 20 days up to 50 chasing muskies.
Tried to figure out once how many days I've spent fishing in my life. Best guess is well over 1000 days, with probably 150 of those musky fishing. Like others in my age group, I grew up fishing during a time where you ate what you caught, whatever it was. Wasn't until the early 80's and Saturday morning fishing shows that I really even heard of catch and release fishing, aside from throwing back what I was either too lazy to clean or what was too small to be worthwhile. Seen tremendous improvements in the fishing pretty much across the board since then, with the exception of the Gulf, which has suffered greatly these last 10 years or so. On my bucket list:
Fly fishing in Alaska
Peacock Bass in South America
Big Pike in Europe
Oh, and of course -- a 40# muskie! |
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Posts: 1295
Location: WI | Age 32, Caught first one in 1996, chased them with friends or from shore until 07 when I finally got a decent boat and got into it hardcore. Avg 250 to 300+ hours a season chasing them in the Duluth area, and NW WI. I cast, troll, use live bait, and am now trying flyfishing. Topwater is my favorite presentation. |
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Posts: 618
Location: Michigan | Twenty-four years old and have been musky fishing for six or seven years now. Since I have gotten into muskies I don't fish for anything else now. |
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Posts: 3504
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | Age: 39
Started fishing for muskies at age 8 after finding a cisco kid floating along shore. Been stuck on them since that point. Still have that lure and still remember finding it on shore. It hangs in my basement workshop.
Home waters are in the Walker/Hackensack/Longville area of MN, even though I live in the Twin Cities.
Steve
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Posts: 413
Location: Madison WI | Age: 26
Been chasing muskies exclusively for 6 years now, home waters are the madison chain, spend well over 1000 hrs a year chasing them and losing my sanity in the process. |
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Posts: 32923
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | 58 years young. Been after them since I was 16, and made a career in the business in one way or the other since I was 24. I've traveled hundreds of thousands of miles over the years on my way to and from Muskie waters across the range. I love big pike, too. Jigs and topwater...cool dichotomy.
I will eventually spend a winter fishing the saltwater. Shallow interests me more than the bluewater. |
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Posts: 10
| 35 years old and have only been fishing for muskies for about 2 years. My home water is the James River in Virginia. Still smallmouth fish a lot but have been mainly fishing for musky this year.
Scott |
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Posts: 153
Location: Antigo Wi. | 46 and been fishing for the fish of my dreams for about 15 years. My home waters are any in northern Wisconsin. I probably have Norm Wild to thank for getting me addicted to this as he was the one who issued the invitation to join him one day on Pelican. Thanks Norm. |
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Posts: 463
Location: Sw Pennsylvania | 27 years old
Caught my first musky at 8 age and first legal musky at 10. Fished for them ever since. I do not exclusively fish them and dont ever see myself only fishing for them but spend between 250 to 300 hrs a season fishing them. I love to fly fish for trout and centerpin for steelhead and salmon in the great lakes tribs, along with catfish and carp in the summer time and walleye and bass fish in the spring and fall.
Edited by allegheny river kid 12/31/2010 7:57 PM
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Posts: 2323
Location: Stevens Point, WI | Age: 24
I moved to Northern WI in 1998, caught my first Muskie a year later when I was 13, a 36 inch Tiger and have been hooked since. I love fishing Canada and Minnesota, but I truly enjoy the home waters of Northern Wisconsin, just my preference. |
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| Age: 60
Started muskie fishing in 1975,now at it for 35 years with 17 years guideing,close to 1900 muskies to the boat between clients and myself.Three muskies over 50 lbs, still hunting for the 60 lber.Still get excited with every fish to the boat big or small!
Capt. Larry D. Jones
www.mostlymuskies.com |
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Posts: 313
Location: Bemidji, Lake Vermilion | 39. Caught my first intentional muskie about 8 yrs ago give or take. Live in the Bemidji area but also consider Vermilion home water, I grew up on the Range and have family in business there. 99% muskie once the season opens in MN. Have both a bad shoulder and a bad knee and am grateful I can rest my body for 6 months a year. I also get excited for every fish, every follow, new baits or equipment, and all the other wonderful experiences a person can have in a boat and on the water. |
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Posts: 285
Location: Price County WI | Age 36, started musky fishing at age 8. Growing up in Price county Wi I was stuck right in the middle of musky country. My parents and grand parents lived on the shores of the Phillips Chain of lakes so it was natural to be on the water almost every day. I made a career out of it at age 16 when I started to work at Ross's Sport Shop in Phillips Wi, at age 17 my parents and I bought the store and I have been here ever since. Now I split my time between the store and guiding for musky, being on the water at least 5 days a week. My first date with my wife was musky fishing and we had our honeymoon the first week of October at Spring Bay resort on the big V. Our date night is Monday night musky league in the summer. In the winter months you can usually catch me at a sport show working the Tooth Tamer Rods and Dreamcatcher Lures Booth. |
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Posts: 646
Location: In a shack in the woods | 26 I've been fishing muskies for 3 years now 4-7 days a week. I fished bass hard for 15 years before that and musky just seemed to be the next step. Now I fish musky 99% of the time after season opens. 4 years ago I tore both of my shoulder joints and moved up north. That's when I became a musky fisherman. First fish I caught while actually fishing for them is what did it. With leech a mile away and within a 1/2 hour of plantan, cass chain, and bemidji I'm very spoiled and have a very understanding girlfriend. |
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Posts: 4343
Location: Smith Creek | Age: 32
Been fishing muskies 25 years. Dad took us fishing muskies with him when we could pass our swimming lessons and hit a tableclothe he laid out in the yard with a baitcaster and hookless spoon. Fished a week or two a year till I was 21 and decided to move to northern Wisconsin so I could spend more time fishing them. Set off from the plains of South Dakota with a couple hundred bucks and an old boat and dreams of catching a world record, and maybe becoming a guide. Figured out in hurry that muskie fishing fishing isn't as fun (for me) with the pressures of guiding and the chances of catching a world record in my home waters are as good as Louie coming back to life and admitting he lied.
But I have a decent house and plot of land, a nice family, and a career in the fishing industry. Don't get to fish more than twice a week but I appreciate my time on the water more than I used to. Livin the Dream. Thanks Dad.
Happy New Year everybody.
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Posts: 556
| Age: 51. Been fishing Musky water since I was 10--but didn't start to actually target them until about 17. I still enjoy fishing for all types of species with walleye and Crappie also high on my list. Living in N.IL makes it a little tougher to day fish so I have to plan my trips , but I have fished them all over the Midwest--I would say the Vilas / Oneida /Iron counties of WI as my favorite place to fish ( maybe because of the distance from me but also because of the area and diffferent fishing opportunities it offers). Still have the Larry and Georgian Bay on my list of places I want to try. This coming season it will be LAKE ST CLAIRE as a new experience for me---I always try to do something different every year--not always a Musky trip but just some species somewhere that I haven't experienced before. |
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Posts: 2373
Location: Chisholm, MN | Age:24
I've been fishing muskies since I was about 12. Nobody taught me how, I just decided to do it. It took me a long time to figure it out since I didn't have anyone to show me the ropes. I would make my dad take me out to lakes that I knew held muskies even though he didn't want to. My first trip out, I lost a pretty nice one trolling a suick. I've loved every minute of it ever since. I fish mostly Itasca county MN 3 to 5 days a week but I like to get to other destinations now and then too. |
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Posts: 45
Location: Appleton, Wi | Age 61
Been fishing muskies since the age of 10 years old. My first rod which I still have was a solid 5 foot fiberglass with no flexing when a fish hit. My Grandpa and Dad were avid musky fisherman who got me started. We usually fished the Eagle River area lakes. |
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Posts: 222
Location: c.wis | age-27
ive been fishing muskies only for 6 years- ive chased them throughtout the mid west, ive lived in madison, Minn, and central wis, and florida. caught the bug for big fish when I fished saltwater and I moved back to the mid west looking for the same rush. this past season I spent 4-5 days a week on the water, and at least 1000 hrs on the water. I fish mostly around c.wis but once a week I travel to north/southern wis., been doing some exploring in mn. and some old haunts aound the twin cities. this next year im looking to get into some sorta tournament trail, and kinda got my feet wet with guiding. id like to try and make a living fishing, I finally figured out how to put together a reliable pattern, and exploit it, gotta say though that if you work together with some friends you can greatly increase your odds in boating multiple fish each time out, im fortunate to be able to fish as much as i do but it came at a cost- one wife and many thousands of dollars later, i feel confident that I can catch a fish most anywhere. nxt season ill be in MN more, and exploring some waters north of the boarder- looking forward to lotw, st clair and to get a pig outa green bay- |
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Posts: 131
| Age,gonna be 57 in 3 weeks.i sometimes think[and act]like i'm half that old but sometimes feel way older.started muskie fishing in 1985.caught my first REAL[not stocked] muskie in 1986 while on a tuffy boat dealers trip to lake of the woods[canada]fishing with then tuffy president steve quant.it was only a 42 but back then that was a hog to me!lots of memorable things happened on that trip[LOTS!] and i learned a ton from worrall,wiert and quant in that short week.i've been hooked ever since but living in iowa on the mississippi river finds me chasing walleyes more than muskie.i make a point to hunt them at least twice a year north of the border and/or at spring bay resort.have been lucky enuf to catch several including 2 over the 50 mark so i should probably retire but probably won't,not smart enuf for that.just too much fun and excitement to be had fishing for them that helps keep my old carcass out there.the people i have met thru muskie fishing have led to a lifetime of freindship and FUN.i have been lucky enuf to have made my living ,in one form or another, fishing and hunting and that all started with selling tuffy's and fishing the mwc walleye circuit at it's beginning in 1987.what a wonderful educational learning curve it has been,lots of highs and lows but it has allowed me to meet hundreds of new friends and do things most will never get to do.special things like the campfires at spring bay,the high fives on the front deck at eagle,the "get the net" in the freezing dark on vermillion,the one that got away on the 'goon and the "ah #*#*s" everywhere else are what keeps me going.hopefully i can do it for a few more years and maybe catch a new pb like the hog ryan and saw on big v last october.getting the chance to meet new fisherpeople like jerome,steve w and a,tj,bobbie,muskie chick,julian and uncountable others are what keeps me making plans for yet another year on the water somewhere. |
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Posts: 100
Location: W-PA | 28 here...I was introduced to muskie fishing at a very young age...we own a second house on a nice muskie river. Having close access to the river, I spend a lot of time on the water chasing just about every species. |
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Posts: 146
Location: where the fish are... | I'm 24 and have been after skis for 5 years now thanks to SVT, hahaha. The last two years have been a huge learning experience for me, I've had great days and bad days on the water but I cannot stop now. I've beaten my personal beat two years in a row and did it twice this year in a two day span, prolly single handily the best two days of fishing in my life. At the pace in learning and the amount of time I put on the water last I can only get better every year. I am truly blessed to have one of te best fishing partners too, I feel that if you can tryst someone the way fishing partners do you will be true friends for life and always have something in common. |
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Posts: 4080
Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | Rudy, you don't act over age 18 !!!! I'd take you as a boat partner over most of the young bucks any day.......
I'm 54 and will never act my age.....Caught my first muskie while fishing for Bass and Pike on Minnetonka in 1994 ....Plan on fishing my 60th muskie tourney this up coming season.
I've made friends with some of the coolest people on earth, and plan on adding to that list as time goes on.
God has truly blessed me.
Jerome
Edited by Top H2O 1/1/2011 3:48 PM
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Posts: 109
Location: Spencer, Wisconsin | Age 48. Been fishing lunges for over 8 years. Previously fished for pike over 35 years, home water was Rice River northern Minnesota. Fishing for Muskies is a lot more attention to the details in presentation, baits ect... but would not trade it for the world. Broke into the sport of Muskie fishing by friend Clark Anderson by chance where his previous partner could not make a Muskie tourney on Pelican Lake years ago and the rest is history. Only regrets that I did not discover this sport 20 years ago.
Edited by TET62 1/1/2011 3:59 PM
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| 53/7. Ohio. Occasional trips to Ontario. I've fished LOTW, LSC, Mille Lacs, Kawarthas, Little Vermilion system, Namekagon, ..... you'd think I would have caught more & bigger fish by now! LOL
ErieBoy75 |
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Posts: 484
Location: St. Louis, MO., Marco Is., FL, Nestor Falls, ON | How did I wind up the old guy here on the board? Started fishing muskies on LOTW in 1953. I am now 67 years old and this will be my 58th year fishing LOTW and muskies thanks to my Dad starting me out. |
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Posts: 60
| Age: 51. I fished 4 seasons so, looking forward to next year. I'm in Washington State and we only have Tigers and 7 lakes to fish. Biggest fish so far is a 49" but I have seen a number of fish in the 50" + range. I fish mostly Bucktails and swimbaits, mostly Bass size stuff (6"-8"). I fish my swimbaits on G.Loomis swimbait rods and my Bucktails on a Legend Tournament split grip. I also fish Largemouth Bass in the early spring (prespawn) and winter steelhead in the winter. Mike. |
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Posts: 4053
Location: Land of the Musky | Check these two kids out. This even makes me feel real old ;( I think we will hear a lot about these two kids over the years! They seem to be bigger musky nuts than most here.
http://www.muskybrothers.com/
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Posts: 175
Location: Tonka, MN | Age 24. Been fishing muskies exclusively for 3 years when the season is open. Only been going hard for 2 due to college. My twin brother got me off the bass fishing and into a real challange. Far more exhilarating than any other fishing in my area. Primarily fish Minnesota waters, specifically Tonka and Alex area. All my free time goes in to the sport and the addiction will never be cured. Wish I could just hibernate for the winter, but ice fishing will have to do. |
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Posts: 177
Location: Cohasset, MN | I'm 45. I've only been trying this for 7 years and only get to spend about a dozen days chasing muskies each season. Still consider myself a neophyte. My "home" waters are in Itasca county although I live in the cities. I started doing this after a co-worker brought it up. Sometimes I wish he hadn't - this may be the worst return on investment in fishing if judged from a fish/hour perspective. Can I stop ? Unlikely. |
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Posts: 829
Location: Maple Grove, MN | I'm 47, but feel a lot older.  I was introduced to Muskies in 1985 and fished them on and off until 1994 when I got into it more hardcore. I learned a long time ago there is always much to learn and one never knows it all. I also learned long ago that it isn't how many hours one fishes that matters - it is how many quality hours one fishes. Two hours on the water when the fish are active are usually much more productive than 25 hours when the fish are inactive. And the most important thing is to always have fun and not take fishing too seriously. After all, it is just fishing. |
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Posts: 98
| Age: 25
Caught my first musky in 1997. I used to live in Maryland, which caused me to fish mostly eastern Ontario. Eventually started fishing LOTW.
I now live in Tampa, FL which puts me a little further away. I still make my annual pilgramage to LOTW, but it's only usually 10 days. I try to make up for it by catching Reds/Snook/Largemouths.
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Posts: 646
Location: In a shack in the woods | Tackle Industries - 1/1/2011 6:44 PM
Check these two kids out. This even makes me feel real old ; ( I think we will hear a lot about these two kids over the years! They seem to be bigger musky nuts than most here.
http://www.muskybrothers.com/
I think they had an article in musky hunter or were on tv. I remember seeing them somewhere. If I ever have a kid #*^@ sure mine would be the same way. |
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Posts: 56
Location: Southern MN | I'm 28; just got back into fishing a year and a half ago. Mostly spent the summer chasing big pike on the Mississippi/Lake Pepin with muskie baits and going after muskies during the fall, feel like I have a good handle on the pike and a ways to go but making a little progress figuring out the skies! I'm not far from French Lake in southern MN and have mostly fished muskies there and a few metro lakes. Don't have my own boat so it limits my options a little bit. |
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Posts: 71
Location: Loves Park, IL | 44....... started fishing for musky when I was 16 years old and haven't stopped since. That would be 28 years of fishing exclusively for musky. |
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Posts: 642
Location: Richfield, MN | I am 47 and went on my first musky adventure on Oct 1st thru the 3rd in 2010. But due to blood clots in both lungs the following weekend I had to put an end to all my fishing and hunting for the year.
All is good now so I am really looking forward to getting out onto the waters to catch my first musky ever!!!!
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Posts: 433
Location: Cedarburg, Wisconsin | Soon to be 59. Started hoping to catch muskies in 1966 if I remember correctly when I was invited along on my friends family vacation to northern Wis. Fished for pike and walleyes (loved Lac Seul in the late '70s) a lot before muskies eventually stole center stage in about 1985. Fished heavily for trout/salmon on Lake Michigan, fished bass in local southern Wis. lakes somewhat, walleyes in Winnebago, Big Green and other places, tried for many other fish too, and loved fishing carp in the local creek many years ago. Now my musky fishing is mainly in NE WIS. and Ontario.
I had fished so much more in the 70's and 80's than now because it was more affordable. We thought nothing of working 8 hours and then driving an hour and a half to fish for four hours before coming home and doing that three times a week. Now that would cost more for gas than I could afford even if I cut out the luxurious things like eating and having a couple beers. Bummer!
Yes, I have lost my fishing hours too because none of my friends wants to go out and fish muskies, so I am relegated to just fishing that much less. It really hurts the results that way, but there is always hope. My main fishing comes in when I take a few weeks off for an Ontario musky vacation and even that has been put on an every other year schedule lately. Then I get to fish as many hours a day as I want for the two weeks I'm there, an believe me, I fish hard. I still can catch the other fish proficiently, but it just isn't the same as musky fishing. All fish are fun, and fishing with friends makes it better, but it just isn't the same as fishing muskies. |
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Location: Eastern Ontario | I am 67 and caught my first musky while bass fishing in 1958. Was mainly a trout fisherman and would drive 3 hrs north every weekend to fish, on arriving home I would meet Americians who were driving 14 hours to get to where I live to fish musky. I figured I should check this out and was hooked. I didn't catch a lot of muskies untill I started fishing for them exclusively which I have been doing for 22 years.
Edited by horsehunter 1/2/2011 7:26 AM
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | 46
started fishing muskies in the late 80's but got focused on them from 1998 to about 2008. the past few years i've gone back to more multi-species fishing and blend musky fishing with walleye, smallie and recently salmon fishing.
Home waters are Oneida and Vilas County Lakes and spend a week each year in Canada along with a lot of time in Minnesota each year. |
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Posts: 999
| Im 33 and have been totally obsessed with these fish since I first started fishing them at the young age of 9. I spend most of my time in Vilas county with my annual trip to Lake of the Woods each year. |
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Posts: 906
Location: Warroad, Mn | Bob, sorry, (new oldest) but I'll be 72 Feb 5th! Still fishing the LOTWs (and many others)and still liking it. Been at it for around 45 years. Still do around a 100 days a year. Caught lots of muskies and they are still fun! Doug Johnson |
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Posts: 999
| Doug you are our inspiration!!! Glad to see that green Triton pass by every year we are on Lotw!!! |
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Posts: 91
Location: Central Wisconsin | Age 24.
Was brought up around it in the evenings fishing in minoqua as a kid but got bored and usually started casting for bass. Started fishing more on my own and really taught myself over the last 4 years. After the first year became addicted, now spending 2-3 days a week on the water and fishing local tournaments and looking to fish more WMT's. Fish mainly central wisconsin river systems and make trips around central northern wisconsin to different bodies of water. Looking forward to heading to MN for some big fish this summer. |
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Posts: 2754
Location: Mauston, Wisconsin | Age: 62 - Didn't start muskie fishing until 1996. Home water- WI river, including Petenwell & Castle Rock Flowages. Preferred WI waters - Vilas county. Water I wish I could fish all season long- Flyin lake X - Ontario CA. and Kagagi Lake Ontario CA.
I'm really a multispecies fisherman, but I do love fishing muskies. I grew up fishing a small Central WI river, mostly for northern pike and expanded from there. Saltwater, freshwater, streams, rivers, it doesn't matter, being outdoors and fishing is always good for the soul.
Have fun!
Al |
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Posts: 70
| great to see the youth being a little obssesed with the hunt
Doud at 72 yrs young you would have company at a Muskies Canada meeting
for some reason we are having problems getting the young to join/ participate
i'm soooo impressed with the amount of people under 30 plying their skills , south of the border, they will be/are the guardians of the beast
bob |
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Posts: 2
| 26 years old
I grew up fishing pike/walleyes with my Grandpa transitioned to strictly walleyes. Now I only seem to fish Walleye's when musky is closed. I've had 2 succesful musky seasons now and I'm looking forward to many more. |
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Posts: 484
Location: St. Louis, MO., Marco Is., FL, Nestor Falls, ON | dougj - 1/2/2011 6:36 PM Bob, sorry, (new oldest) but I'll be 72 Feb 5th! Still fishing the LOTWs (and many others)and still liking it. Been at it for around 45 years. Still do around a 100 days a year. Caught lots of muskies and they are still fun! Doug Johnson
Doug: Thanks for letting me be the kid again. I hope I can be just like you when I grow up. LOL:) |
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Posts: 1996
Location: Pelican Lake/Three Lakes Chain | 40 years old.
I started as a trouter, walleye and panfish guy until the mid 80's when I started focusing on muskies. I haven't been the same since. Muskie fishing has killed fishing for other species, golfing, duck hunting, bowhunting the rut, baseball and who knows how other many activities. I would give anything to trade March and April for another November so I could bow hunt properly again!
I have fished from Kentucky to NW Ontario and various places between, I call Oneida Co. Wi lakes home, and since sworrall got so busy in the summer, I get them more to myself.
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Posts: 81
| 52
Been fishing forever, fishing for the elusive water wolf for 30+ years. If therre's a lake thats gotem, I'll fish it.
Dew |
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Posts: 550
Location: So. Illinois | HI, my name is Jerry. I am 47 years old and I have been a musky-aholic for the past 8 years. I now live in a van down by the river and subsist on a steady diet of government cheese. My muskie addiction started when I found out there was a lake close to me in Southern Illinois that had a mature population of fishable muskies. My addiction took hold when I posted a question on a Musky forum on the Musky Shop web site and a stranger by the name of "Ranger" responded. His answers to my questions enabled my sickness and served as the tipping point for my addiction. I can honsetly say my life has not been the same since. |
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Posts: 785
| 25 and been fishing all my life. Was out in the boat as a baby. My whole life I've been drawn to any kind of water like a magnet.
Caught my first musky in 2003 on a one day visit to a portage lake. That same year talked my parents into a long weekend on the mad chain. Next year tried it again. By 2005 was already taking on Mille Lacs I was so addicted. Looking back it was like graduating from pre school into college. It was a rough couple seasons but I'm glad. I learned so much in such a short period of time it was unreal. So this will be my 9th season technically but 07' was when things really started falling together so seriously chasing we'll say 4 years going on 5. I live in Iowa and I never knew a musky fisherman. So in some ways it's cool to know I'm self taught and drug my parents and one of my cousins along for the ride. All my fishing is done in the state of Minnesota currently. I want to expand someday but there's still so many lakes there I've yet to fish!!!
Edited by musky-skunk 1/3/2011 3:57 PM
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Posts: 138
Location: Aurora IL | 53 yrs. old, have chased musky about 30 years. Lucky enough to have sold tackle, hunting gear, guns, or boats for most of my life. Mostly fish wis but hit Minn, Ill, and Can. 49 incher still my biggest. Have met some of the finest people I know fishing and its good to meet others with the same disease! Bill |
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Posts: 159
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Great thread---I love reading about fellow Musky fisherman---we all have a lot in common!
45 years old---started fishing Musky's only my sophmore year (15 years old) of high school at the family cabin in Minocqua WI. Left it for a couple years and came back to it thanks to a college friend in the early 90s.
Taught school from 91-97 and put a lot of time on the water during those years in the summer.
Bought a cabin on beautiful Lake Vermilion two summers ago and now consider that my home water. Looking forward to learning the Big V. the same as my home water growing up as a kid.
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Posts: 540
| 30yrs old, started fishing skis when I was like 16 borrowing grandpa's boat, fished hard the first couple yrs and then got sick of borrowing my granpa's stuff so I fished with buddies and then off shore too and got married and kinda lost it for awhile only get out once or twice a summer but got back into it the last couple of yrs big and doing better then I have done before. Getting out with new muskie buddies and learning new stuff and new waters and having a blast! |
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Posts: 470
Location: Blaine, MN | 31 years old,
first fish got me hooked in 1999, a pretty 36"er on vermilion while after smallies...been fishing them on and off ever since... have picked up the intensity to almost exclusively chasing these fish in the last 3 years. Fish Mille lacs and Cedar most due to proximity to the family cabin east of Brainerd (been a rough few years)... hopefully the upper and lower south long stocking comes together. I too find it difficult filling seats in the boat, and never had any luck finding anyone to take some sort of extended musky fishing vaca. recently joined muskies inc. and slowly making some new friends and hopefully fishing partners.
Geno |
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Posts: 366
| 31 years old, and had my first follow at 15. I'd fished pike since I was big enough to cast daredevils, but after taking the next step to chase muskies I haven't looked back since. I don't get to fish ski's as often as I'd like, but who does? I've chased them in several states, but spend the most time fishing in Tennessee, Minnesota, and on LOTW. Still haven't caught the one I'm after, but it's just a matter of time.
Ryan
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Posts: 81
| 32 yrs old and caught my first musky(27'' tiger) when I was 8 fishing for trout in PA! I loved trying to catch them but only caught small ones by accident fishing for other species until I was 14. Thats when (92') I begged my dad to take me and on our first trip to a NW PA lake, where I raised 4 in the 40-45'' range! Couldn't figure 8 very well back then! I was totally addicted after that and have chased them since. I would like to catch them in every state that has them and so far I have caught them in 7 states!! Moved to NC 7 years ago, joined a musky club and meet some great people from all over!! NC is where my home waters are, but want to move up north where I have more opportunities! However, year round musky fishing is alright!
Derek |
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Posts: 256
| 30 years old. been fishing muskies for 5 years. First time I went fishing for them it was on the Mississippi river and had a strike 5 minutes in. I didn't get that fish but it sure got me. I've been really lucky to catch two fish over 50+, spend a ton of time with my dad and make several new lifelong friends who enjoy the sport as much as I do. |
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Posts: 717
Location: Grand Rapids, MI | 30 yrs old. Fishing muskies 3 yrs. Caught my first 4 yrs ago after a neighbor told us they were in a local lake. My brother and I went down there after buying a Rapala J-13 at the grocery store. Very 1st cast, had a mid-30's follow right behind it. Of course, I just stopped my lure, and it swam alonside the boat all the way to the back and disappeared. 1hr later, my brother was casting a Rapala x-rap (bass size) and nailed a 38"er. I caught my first in the same lake a couple months later while casting in 50' of water.
I hope to someday have my wife as interested in the sport as I am. I travel to Indiana every winter as soon as they have their ice gone. I go to LSC every now and then. But my dream is to someday have my wife as my "go to" partner. Some of you guys have written about your ladies being out with you, and it really does sound great. I like watching some of Steve's videos with Sue and it's awesome.
One other goal of mine is to take my Dad out to LOTW some day. He loves walleye & muskie fishing. I told him about the walleye shore lunches you take inbetween muskie fishing, and he about melted. Out in the sticks, no houses in sight, just woods, your boat, big rocks, water, and silence. Ahhhhh.... |
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Posts: 462
Location: Antioch, IL | 36 years old. Started muskie fishing around 1998ish. I'm a Southern bass boy transplanted into the North and discovered this fish with teeth. I still go after any thing that swims, but muskies hold a place in my heart. The remaining details of my life are quite inconsequential ... Very well, where do I begin? My father was a relentlessly self-improving boulangerie owner from Belgium with low-grade narcolepsy and a penchant for buggery. My mother was a 15-year-old French prostitute named Chloe with webbed feet. My father would womanize; he would drink. He would make outrageous claims like he invented the question mark. Sometimes, he would accuse chestnuts of being lazy. The sort of general malaise that only the genius possess and the insane lament . My childhood was typical, summers in Rangoon, luge lessons . In the spring, we'd make meat helmets . When I was insolent I was placed in a burlap bag and beaten with reeds, pretty standard, really. At the age of 12, I received my first scribe. At the age of 14, a Zoroastrian named Vilmer ritualistically shaved my testicles. There really is nothing like a shorn scrotum, it's breathtaking . I suggest you try it |
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Posts: 32923
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Post of the New Year. Hopefully I won't pass out laughing. |
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Posts: 426
Location: Perryville, MO | LMAO |
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Posts: 484
Location: St. Louis, MO., Marco Is., FL, Nestor Falls, ON | At the age of 14, a Zoroastrian named Vilmer ritualistically shaved my testicles. There really is nothing like a shorn scrotum, it's breathtaking . I suggest you try it How did you relieve the itch? I just finished and it itches like heck. Please, don't suggest anything else for me try. |
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Posts: 112
Location: Nielsen's Fly-In Lodge, on Rowan Lake | have been chasin these bugers for all most 40 years 35yrs guiding here on leech and the rest on rowan to me its all about the hunt and seeing some one coming completley unglued at this fish of a life time.its not about me or look what i caught its all about the hunt what ive learned over the years is you really can make them bite. to all you new muskie hunters out there just keep thinking and most of all just keep casting . i am blessed to be where i am and i am haunted by the waters! |
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Posts: 906
Location: Warroad, Mn | Bob:
Just wait till next week it get worse.
Doug J |
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Posts: 360
| I'm 25 caught my first musky when I was 9 on my first musky fishing trip.(36") and almost pulled me out of the boat. Have fished them as much as possible since. I live in north western Pennsylvania. |
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Posts: 283
| Awesome quote and great movie Fish and Whistle. I am currently 17, I started fishing before I can remember. My dad and uncle were the ones who got me hooked on musky fishing when I was little. I was lucky enough to have lived on a river growing up so my dad and I made many trips after school chasing skis. As of now muskies have taken over my life, I fish in local tournaments and whenever I have a scrap of freetime I am out pounding the water. This summer I am really looking forward to fishing more and bigger tournaments.
Edited by brewcrew 1/5/2011 8:29 PM
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Posts: 1202
Location: Money, PA | 42 y/o here. Started muskie fishing in my home waters in Pennsylvania when I was in college in the late 80s. So, its been somewhere around 25yrs. I enjoy muskie fishing a whole lot more these days since I don't put nearly the amont of pressure on myself anymore. Fished many tournaments and traveled all over the US and Canada chasin' muskies. My favorite place in the world to fish for muskies is the Kawartha Lakes chain of 26 lakes. A natural fishery with muskie habitat thats outta this world! Used to strictly cast for muskie, but have evolved into more of a troller in my older age. I will still, however, cast them up from time to time in the right situations. My home waters are in Western PA. Our man made, mud bottom lakes are certainly more conducive to trolling. The East does not get the credit it deserves for sure...the sport continues to grow out here and the fish are healthy and abundant with the continued efforts of C&R by quality sportsman. My hopes are most certainly that the elitist, purist and extremist attitudes out there do not ruin this great pastime! I just hope for all good muskie-men/women to be sensible, respect and use their best judgement. And also to teach our youth the same. |
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Posts: 393
Location: Hopefully on the water | 36 years old. I have been fishing Muskies for 13 years already. It took me 1 1/2 years to get my first actually landed. Lost a few in the beginning and seen othere but nothinng to the net. i like to bounce around alot when fishing but mainly fish Northern Vilas county and Sawyer county. I have been fishing other species as long as I can remeber. Parents actually have a photo of me when I was about 5 or 6 holding up a perch I caught. When I looked at the picture it is a picture of a Muskie chasing a perch and at that time I had no idea what a muskie was. Over the years of doing this I have got about 15 people dragged into this sport and now the kids are starting in it and fun seeing their eyes when there is a follow or they hook up with one. Some days are split between Muskie and other fish but it helps keep the boys out there and enjoying fishing. |
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| Hi, I’m 42 years old and caught the musky fever very bad about 22 years ago. I caught my first musky in Canada when I was 13. I was born in the Florida Keys where my grandpa got me hooked on fishing at an early age. I’m from Northern IL. but I consider my home waters to be the Chippewa Flowage. I’ve had a cabin (mobile home) on the lake for 12 years now and do 90% of my fishing there. I’m also a partner in Frolanders Resort in Monument Bay LOTW, but weird enough I don’t get up there that often. I’m just embarking on my third lure business endeavor called “Woodbridge Bay Tackle Company”. My first lure company experience was when I was an original partner in ERC. I did the CAD design, mold design, and molding process development for the “Triple D” and “Hellhound”. That company ended up being sold to Drifter. I then started Bradrock Baits and developed the “Molly Bait”; I put that business on hold when I smelled my divorce coming. I still own the Molly Bait molds and have another dive and rise jerkbait called the “MDR Chopper” ready to introduce. Hopefully the third time is a charm…
Thanks,
Mike
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Location: Northern Wisconsin | I'm 20, first musky caught when I was 13 and it's been an addiction ever since. No real home waters... I don't have a boat and my father doesn't fish much any more so most of my time is spent wading in the fox river by my house. I chase muskies and smallies there. When I have time and $ I take trips up to Pewaukee and rent a boat. Usually can get a week long trip up north as well. |
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Posts: 1220
| 61 years old, but still very young looking with an unmistakably athletic aspect--humble too! First fish in 1978 (33 years ago) near Minocqua, 42 1/2 inches on a Bobby Bait fishing with a guide they used to call Crazy Jim in a very ugly shade of green Monarch Tri-hull. Marty Forman |
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Posts: 994
Location: Minnesota: where it's tough to be a sportsfan! | Age 56, started the fever when I was just a kid fishing with my grandfather. I had a pike on...it was a BIG fish about 6-7 lbs maybe ( remember this is the 60's and meat was the game!) during the fight this other fish came up and grabbed my fish. The surge was tremendous....long story short the muskie let go after I got her back up boatside and I saw her full lenght. I was hooked for life! When I was guiding Bass full time I gave up Muskie fishing, just not enough time. Now I've cut way back on guiding trips and able to do more Ski chasin' the fever is BACK!! |
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average age/experience of a musky fisherman