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| Give us your best story (true of course) of your best day on the water this summer. Big muskies, small muskies or no muskies; it does not matter. You dont have to name the lake. Photos would be nice, but you dont have to have a photo to win. Explain in detail the fun, expressions on faces and patterns you used to have this great day.
Connie Smith will read the list and pick out the best one that discribes the fun you had on that day.
Deadline Dec 31st.
Winner gets a Frabil net, and possibly more goodies if we can find some in Worrall's garage.[:bigsmile:] | |
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| Heres mine and 100% true.
What if a guy tells you he boated 5 muskies in one day. Sounds awesome right and it is. Now what if that guy told you we lost about 15 more that day (actual fish on) and saw a total of 34 fish that day. Now what if that guy tells you on the second day of fishing they boated 10 and lost another 10 and saw a total of 35 fish on day two! 15 fish boated and about 20-25 more lost in 2 days of fishing between two guys casting 100% of the time. I have video of only about 7 of them.
We had two fish hit our lures as they were dangling over the edge of the boat. 4 of the 10 boated on the second day were on figure eights. It got to the point where we were laughing when a fish got off because you KNEW you were gonna get another shot.
I had 5 strikes on topwater within the 2 1/2 hours on the first day (lost all of them). Only got hooks into one of them. The others launched the lure as they came flying out of the water and missed. I got pissed off and switched to a bucktail and finally started to get iron into them. This was two days better than i could expect. As for size. Our biggest was "only" three 38". We had 4 or 5 low to mid 40" fish on and lost them. All of them with that airborn toss or thrashing head shake. It was awesome!!!!!! | |
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| My best day on the water trying for muskie happened just a few weeks ago on 10/20/02. I spent all morning trolling solo without a bite trying shallow with Jakes and then deep with Depthraiders. The weather was nice and just after noon my wife called on the cell phone and said one of my three daughters wanted to go fishing with me. I told my wife where to meet me and I picked up my 5 year old Marie. Within the first hour or so she was bored because we weren't catching anything so I called the wife again and asked her to meet me for the drop off of Marie so I could continue fishing. The wife was going to be a few minutes so we trolled around the middle of the bay while waiting, going deep with Depthraiders again. Finally we hooked up and with her hands in mine we boated Marie's first muskie! (picture attached - hopefully) With the fish still in the Beckman hanging in the water the cell phone rang and it was the wife saying "where are you?". We threw some water and the fish in the livewell and ran over to show her and my other two daughters the fish. Marie was proud as could be and the girls were thrilled to see an actual muskie instead of just a picture. I think the older kids were a little jealous, now they want to go all the time. I can't blame them!
[img]http://muskie.outdoorsfirst.com/files/Marie2.5.jpg[/img]
Quality not quanity! | |
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| Webguy- No contest, I happily concede to Marie! Great story and equally great pic of a very happy young fisherperson. Not even breaking a 5 year slump can compare! I don't know who has the bigger smile, her or the Muskie?[:sun:]
Al Warner
www.spongebobisfullofholes.com[:bigsmile:] | |
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| My best day on the year was hand grabbing my best friend's 48" trophy. Proves that your best day doesn't have to be YOUR best day! [:)] | |
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| my best day on the water????????????????????
well i think my best day is the day i went fishing on a moments notice and forgot my net at home. i was on mill lacs for about 1/2 hr when i hooked into a 43in fish and a couple guys came over and jumped into my boat to help me land it. after the pics and release they went on there way fishing wallies again. 5 min after they left i hooked into a 50 inch class fish. i watched it hit my bucktail right next to the boat. i had it on for a good 3 min before it got off, no net and it would have been my 1st 50 plus fish. around 1 hr later i hooked into another mid 40s fish and started to yell at the only other boat even close to give me a hand, witch they did, another 43in fish in the boat. less then 2 hrs on the water, 2 mid 40s in the boat and a 50in class fish on that got off.
now thats
happy hunting
duck | |
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| My best day this year didn't involve a muskie!
My Dad isn't a fisherman. If I can get him out fishing once every other year, I am doing good. This year I got him out for the Two Charlie's Invitational Muskie Tournament on Pewaukee
Lake. Dad caught a 22.5", 6 pound largemouth bass on a 6" Slammer Crankbait.
It was the biggest fish that he has ever caught (so far),
You would think that it was a 60" muskie!
His smile is priceless! My Mom says that Dad has worn out the picture already! | |
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| September 25, 2002, Cass Lake, Mn. Fishing with Papa Joe out of Jason Smith's Tuffy boat. I had looked forward to the day I could fish with Jason, and after a couple days running around in my own boat, was looking forward to a 'guided' trip. We were on the corner of Cedar Island, Jason patiently explained that the muskies lay in the reed beds, to view them like fence posts and cast between the rows. He had a couple strikes that convinced us we were in the right place doing the right thing.
Boom, then it hit. "Big Fish, Big fish" came the cry from the front of the boat. I reeled in fast and, while stashing my rod, heard a splash; this monster had come out of the water (and I missed seeing it!). Jason was grinning ear to ear but concentrating hard as he worked the fish around the front of the boat (or, was the fish working him toward the back?). I scooted to the troller to keep us from beaching, Joe had the net ready. "Biggest I've had all year" , grunted Jason as he deftly moved the monster into the net.
Surgery took a couple minutes to unhook the fish. Like a pro, before lifting the fish for photos, Jason doffed his stocking cap and donned his MuskieFirst cap (nice touch!). Ten seconds seemed to go by fast as cameras snapped. I'm sitting there with my jaw dropped, never have I seen a fish in a boat that measured 48"! Whoa! She recovered well went placed into the water, and soon a fond memory was swimming off.
Even more delightful was lunch on shore, listening to the wonder in his voice as he described the catch. My heart was warmed to see the joy it brought to this dude who works so hard to furnish us with a message board that brings us together. Jason's a MuskieGod, and once my kid gives my hammer back, I'll finish that alter. m[:bigsmile:] | |
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| My thoughts exactly Mike..........My best day had to be last Sunday. Myself, brother and our dad spend about 4 hours on the water and landed 4. 39" being the biggest and 32" being the smallest. It was not really a nice day cold and windy but it has been a long time since the three of us fished together. Made for a real special trip. We all caught fish, good old dad held out for the last pass to catch his. Everyone caught a personal best. | |
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| There was a week on Cass Lake this year that will be memorable to me forever. 3 great friends and I camped for a week at Marclay Point. But the moment in that week that stood out was a beautiful sunny morning of spinnerbait fishing in bullrush on the east side of the lake. I caught a 49"er several years ago in these same bullrush, and we were up early enough this day to give it a shot. Half hour into fishing the shoreline bullrush, I notice a patch 30 or so yards away from the main bullrush beds. Once I got to them, I threw my spinnerbait behind me, and began reeling the bait in from behind me. So imagine, facing the shore, throwing the bait over your shoulder and behind you away from shore, and reeling in. 4 turns of the crank, and BOOM.....I was pulled backwards and almost in the drink. Never saw the fish hit. (I wasn't really expecting that to happen) 4 big runs in the shallow water were simply amazing. On the 4th run, she made an acrobatic flip and twist that I and my buddy Neal will simply never forget. Neal netted it cleanly, hooks came out in the net. A beautiful and GREEN 50"er!!!!! It was measured at 50 1/8", to be exact. I set the fish back in it's home, and after a few short minutes, it began to swim away. I stood up and watched while my eyes filled with tears. I couldn't even speak, as my partner Neal knew exactly what I was thinking about. He came over to me, hugged me, and both of us began to cry. We lost a great fisherman and friend earlier this year who made Cass Lake our family trip lake for what would have been his 20th year. (Thank you Uncle Tom for making our families what they are, and obviously always will be.....fishing families.)
After seeing 4 50"ers caught by family members on Cass, I'm finally part of the Cass Lake 50" Club. That made my summer. Minnesota's official fishing website even has the picture of it on their home page....fishingmn.com. What an honor! | |
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| My best day on the water this year came our the first night of our annual trip to Canada. The six of us awoke early Friday morning with some of us going to work, some filled up on gas (unfortunately not just their vehicles) and others doing some last minute hook sharpening. We departed for our destination at 4:00 PM with GREAT expectation. The long drive north helps to heighten the anticipation of that first hook-up to a near climax. Every trip has something that's unique and memorable. This years fond memories include the pleasure of introducing two rookies into our muskie fraternity. There is no doubt that bonds begin to build during our 18 hour trek that is lengthened by our Cabela's shopping excursion and our mid-trip Blackjack break at the Casino. Stories are shared from years past and strategies are planned for the upcoming trip. Upon arrival at 10:00 AM the next morning everyone is pumped with adrenaline even though they've gone with little or no sleep for the past 28 hours. Of course it time for all of us to lay down and take a short nap, RIGHT instead we head out on the lake to begin our assault on the KING of all freshwater fish. This year I had the pleasure of starting my trip off by fishing with one of the rookies and we had a heck of a first day. The rookie caught the second muskie of his life just missing the 40 inch mark and ended with us landing a 47" muskie after dark on a Hawg Wobbler. This first day and night was followed up with four members of our group ending the week with their biggest muskies yet (Both rookies are virgins no more). I admit we all slept well that first night after being up a total of 40 hour straight before we hit the hay. The action that we experienced this year made it much easier to stay awake on our long trek home as we had plenty of stories to share with each other. The BEST part of the trip was the eternal friendships that developed and the planning of this coming year's trip.
Muskies Forever!
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| My little story is about overcoming adversity and still putting fish in the boat. I took my wife out for the first time in the (kind of new boat). We got out to the lake early and I set us up with some surface baits until the sun rose. I had just positioned us on some good looking water and began casting as the wind picked up. As I began working into the wind to slow our drift, I noticed that we were moving too close to shore. I attempted to make an adjustment with the trolling motor when I noticed that the evil Genesis was devoid of all power. After fooling with the connections I realized that the unit had gone down for the third time and became extremely aggravated. I had to disconnect the unit and heave it on board while deployed (the thing probably weighs close to a hundred pounds). Some choice words were said as I crainked up the big motor and headed to another part of the lake thinking to myself boy what a wasted day. I pulled us up on a spot that I figured I could fish as the wind pushed us quickly across the basin. There were a number of boats fishing the general area and I knew a few of the guys and told them to get out of my way as I had no meens of controlling our drift. Well about my second cast into the area, BAM! I plastered a nice one at the end of the cast. I CALMLY instructed the wife on how to net this rather large specimen of a Musky. She succeeded in scooping her up and I unhooked the fish and began to lift her from the net. That fish was 46" on the head, and as I Lifted her for the gratuitous photo, all hell broke loose as she gator rolled out of my hand and right in my wife's lap. The couple guys I knew who were fishing nearby witnessed the whole deal as my wife was trying to restrain this goofy fish and help me release her unharmed. We got her back in the water and high fives were exchanged. I thought geeze, maybe this won't be so bad a day after all. We fished around the spot for a while longer and then headed in for a potty brake. I carefully pulled us into the dock and let the wife off to go take care of bussiness. As she walked to the restroom, I reached over to grab on to the pole alongside the dock to tie us off. As I did this I lost my balance and fell right in the lake. I quickly hopped back in the boat and gave the audience on shore a good laugh. By now my wife had come back to the dock and noticed that I looked like a wet rat. I told her and the folks on shore that it was my pleasure to brighten their day with a good laugh. We were off again, but this time the winds had grown stronger and drifting and casting was no longer an option, so I decided we would do some trolling. I began trolling large minnow baits across the main basin, and about ten minutes into our trolling pass my rod doubled and I eased off the throttle and grabbed the rod from the rod holder. I cranked hard on the reel and felt some pretty good head shakes as the fish rose to the surface shaking it's head with my big granny t-boned in it's mouth. I got that one up to the boat and again the wife took care of bussines and scooped a nicely marked 41" in the big net. That fish obliged and we released her without any further chaos. What a day on the water. My wife has yet to join me for another adventure this season, but it was a day with ups and downs that gave me a sense of accomplishment.[:bigsmile:] [:0] | |
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| My best day of the year was truely be one that I will remember forever. First off the story starts out on the first day of my vacation up to our cabin on High Lake in Boulder Junction, Wisconsin. On the very first morning at around 10:00 we pull up to our spot that was producing earlier in the season and I started off throwing a Musky Killer. 10 minutes later I had a hit and I set the hook on the fish. After a quick fight I had finally caught my first 40" fish. It was exactly 40 and it made me proud. My day got better. Around 5:00 that night I had another hit and reeled a 30" fish in. Then it got crazy! Because 15 minutes after the 30" I got another hit and reeled in a 32". I couldn't believe it. And then amazingly 15 minutes later I had another hit and reeled in a 35 1/2". I really couldn't believe it. All those fish and my Dad didn't catch any, and he was running the trolling motor in the front. So if anyone that tells you the first guy in the boat always catches the fish then their crazy! What a great day it was and I will remember it for life! | |
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| I think the best day on the water just happened at the start of this month.
I fished with Mr. Mike Deiss to demonstrate a better mouse trap for fishing large suckers in a quick strike rigged manner.
I've fished suckers with a lot of other fishermen, but I found Mike to be a lot like myself in his style and approach to musky fishing.
We agreed to give each others strengths adequate time and that day on the water started off casting and transitioned to deep water trolling of large, quick strike rigged suckers.
The boat conversation was very serious as each opened up their knowledges and experiences in trying to solve the puzzle of what we need to do to catch a large musky.
This educational process was mutually beneficial and I felt an excitement fishing with him that I had only experienced before with my father. Mike is a young man, but a student of Larry Ramsell and boy, did that clearly show.
I felt a lot of pressure to produce as I had challenged Larry Ramsell about banning single J hooks because I fish them in a quick strike rigged manner and Mike had called me out to back up my words.
Just like two gun slingers standing in the main street dust, I had to outdraw him or eat my words...
It's been a while when nerves and pressure while musky fishing rattled this old cage, but it did. I dropped my digital camera into the livewell and ruined it. I forgot about monitoring my gear and replacing a worn leader, only to see my favorite Jake fly away into never, never land. I even moved the boat into the wrong bay when targeting an isolated patch of submerged Milfoil.
I felt embarrassed and foolish and yet, still confident that my turn was about to start.
We put our suckers 22 feet down, and just like a walleye fisherman does when backtrolling live bait rigs for walleye, the gas engine hit reverse gear and off we went.
About 5 minutes later, rounding a very nice late fall musky spot consisting of a main lake point, with submerged milfoil and sheer drop off sides, our big musky hit and the clicker reel screamed as if hooked to a freight train.
Everything from that point on shifted into slow motion. I remember picking up the rod, reeling up some slack, and seeing the line moving east to west through the water. I remember reeling up to the fish and then slamming the hooks home only to move the rod tip about 6 inches.
I remember looking at Mike and saying, here, take the rod. I fish with my son a lot and am introducing him to fishing and this habit of giving the rod away came about to me in this moment of truth. Mike declined, if you can believe that, and I experienced 4 drag stripping runs like neither of us ever experienced nor witnessed before.
When we netted that fish, our heads where about 2 feet apart and we high fived each other.
49.5 inches, 22.5 inch girth, and 33.5 pounds.
My best day on the water ended up catching the most hard hitting, hard fighting musky I have ever caught.
And, best of all, meeting a new friend whom I hope to fish with again, many, many, many times more in the future.
[:)] | |
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| At the beginning of September I had what would be my last weekend to enjoy myself for about a month and a half, after that it would be work everyday until mid October. Being the good husband I am (wink wink) I asked my wife how she would like to spend Saturday, as Sunday would obviously be devoted to the Packers. She, being even a better wife said, ”I know you want to go fishing so why don't you, and I will come along”.
We loaded up the boat around three in the afternoon (I didn’t want to burn her out with an all day trip) and made the hour and half trip north to a numbers lake I occasionally fish. I really wanted to get her a fish since she had very little time to join me in the boat this summer.
On getting to the lake I rigged her with a bucktail and I threw a topwater. On about her fifth cast she had a follow and I thought it was going to be a great day. After another half hour of nothing she decided to sit down and listen to the NASCAR race on the radio.
About an hour and half later the fish started to move, I raised three different fish in about fifteen minutes, all on a Topraider. I rigged her rod with a Super Topraider and she resumed fishing. About ten casts later I had one blow up right next to the boat. After some choice words I had for the fish for missing the bait, my wife said “ I just hope one doesn’t hit that close to the boat on my bait.” Of course on that very same cast the fish challenged her words and hit about five feet from the boat. After a bunch of screaming and shouting (direct quotes would not be allowed here), she landed a nice 36 inch fish. After a couple of pictures the fish was returned to the water.
It would have been a great day had it ended there but about another ten minutes later I hooked up on a fish and after a brief fight the net slid under a 35 incher. After cutting the hooks on that one my wife explained to me that we had both caught one, and it was now dark so maybe we should go. Not wanting to turn her off on the fishing experience, we packed up the rods and left the lake, leaving some of the best action I had seen all year (two fish and about ten follows in a half an hour).
Backing the trailer to the landing, I learned that Jeff Gordon blew an engine in the race. I wondered how the day could be better, we both caught a fish and Gordon finished 42nd in the race. About five miles into the 75 mile drive I heard the first “you know, mine was bigger than yours.” And just think only another 70 miles to go.
[;)] | |
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| The Setting: July 5th, 2002
Location: Vilas County, WI
Beep, beep, beep, beep beep beep, beep beep beep! “Stupid alarm” I’m thinking as I roll over in bed and shut my watch off. “Why must I get up at 4:15 A.M. on a holiday weekend” I whisper under my breath as I stumble past my younger brother lying on the floor of the cabin. Then it clicks. “Musky” I say with a devilish grin and squinty eyes. I bend down and tickle my brother’s ear to wake him from his slumber, and run down stairs to avoid the swinging arm. Visions of great battles to come race through my head as I plan the day’s agenda. In mere minutes after arising from bed I am wide awake and shaking with excitement remembering the pattern I figured out the weekend before!
After what seems like an eternity my brother walks lazily down the steps from the loft, and out the door we go! I race down the road to the landing of a lake 5 minutes away and I wonder “Are my trailer tires even touching the road”. Doesn’t matter, musky fishing awaits! My 4-stroke Yammy hums as we idle away from the launch in the morning darkness. I take in my surroundings before the anticipated caos begins. The morning birds and frogs are chirping, and a pair of loons can be heard off in the distance calling back and forth to one another. There is a light SouthEast wind, and the air temperature is around 65 degrees. Perfect, absolutely perfect!
I crack the throttle half way open when I got far enough from the landing, and the motor jumps alive like it also knows the time has come for yet another great fishing day! We speed across the lake in the darkness without another boat on the lake. I stop the boat short of where I wanted to fish, and creep ever so slowly into the main basin of this treasured spot. Excitement now racing in my brother and I, we hurriedly set our rods ready for casting. I informed my brother to put on an 8” Jake that I lost 4 fish on the weekend before, and he was already putting it on before I could finish my sentence. I also put on a Jake in the same color, but in the 10” model to try and alleviate my poor hooking ability of the 8”.
We began casting our baits as the sun graciously rose above the horizon, and the morning was picture perfect. The sky was almost void of all clouds, and we had just enough wind for a drift. After 15 minutes it happened! My brother yelled from the back of the boat “There’s one” and I turned to see him setting the hook. Through all his excitement his hand slips off the crank of the reel, and he punches himself in the face. Un-phased, my brother fights toe to toe with the musky, and I easily scoop up the 35 incher in the net. My brother’s eyes gleamed with joy, for this is his first fish on a musky rod in a few years. A quick photo, and the fish was released. Fish #1 for the day!
Now I’m really getting excited! My plan is unfolding perfectly, and we have only been fishing for 15 minutes. We go back to casting, just waiting for the next battle. It didn’t take long before I felt the “jolt of lightning” on the end of my rod. I reared back and yelled, “I got one”. The fish came to the surface quickly, and I cranked fast as my hart pounded in my ears. The fish made a run under the boat, and I strained to keep him up. Fish #2 was in the net shortly, with more photos of what was a 37 incher. Now my brother and I are jabbering like little kids. The fish were snapping, and not one boat has arrived on the lake yet!
We went back to work, to only have all hell break loose again! Once again I set the hook, and the rod creeks with strain. I yell, “It’s a good one” as the fish gives me headshake after headshake. For those of you who don’t know me I am a pretty small guy. 5’10” and 140 lbs. My brothers laugh at me when I fight a musky because they say I look like a “Willow branch in a wind storm”. This fish also dive under the boat, and there I am with my feet spread and my rod a few inches above the gunwale of my Smokercraft. I bring her up after much straining, and a nice 43 incher is netted! Fish #3 and it is only 7:00 A.M.!!!!
We proceeded to fish, but only mustered one more missed fish at the boat. At around 9:00 A.M. we headed back to the cabin for lunch, and jabbered our stories to my wife and my brothers girlfriend. At 5:30 P.M. we head back out to a different lake with our significant others, and the fun continues. I lose what is close to a 50” fish, and boat a 34 ½ incher. I also catch an estimated 32” northern, and lose two other fish. My younger brother lands two more fish; a sub 30” fish and a 35 incher that was pretty beat up. He also lost two fish. My boat was loaded with laughter, grunting, cheering, and lots of smiles the whole time on the water. After catching 6 muskies in one day, and losing 4 others it would have been a hard day to beat. However, with all the fun my brother and I had picking on each other, and our significant others cheering us on in the afternoon, put this day to the top without a doubt.
Sorry for getting so long winded, but starting to think back on the day got me wrapped up in the excitement all over again!
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| BTTT....Great stuff guys![:bigsmile:] | |
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| Our best day on the water happended this july. We got out on the water at 630am. Started trolling a lake we had not trolled before but wanted to. In the first half hour we boated a fish, then another, another, another, another, ect. Sometimes we would have a fish 15 seconds after we started back up. By 1230 we had boated 10 musky, hooked 4 more and three other rips. That's action from 17 fish in six hours. It was a good day and we would start laughing when the clickers went off, just an unbelievable day.[:bigsmile:] | |
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| More stories!![:0] | |
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| My best day on the water was during the Cass Lake outing and I never even caught the fish.
For those of you who were at the Cass outing you know the story....
If you don't know the story let's just say I "caught" one and I missed one[;)]
The image of that fish inhaling my Muskie Treat is forever burned into my brain and will probably haunt me forever, but man was that cool!
[:halo:] PK[:devil:]
ssshhhhhhhh......I got a bite | |
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| My best days on the water this year was fishing with family.
Two occasions that stick with me is one, fishing with my Dad when he caught his first musky. A 44" on a topwater. My dad has been trying for years, he's not a real good caster and can't last very long, but that evening he made it happen. He was truely proud of his catch.
The other was when I was with my 17 year old nephew, I waited to things felt right, then I brought him to a weedy inside turn where I have seen fish before. Standing next to him, I had him throw a undertaker jerkbait into this inside turn. After a couple of pumps, we both witnessed a large silver fish come up and take his bait. After an exciting battle he was holding up a 49" musky, his largest ever. To this day, whenever he sees me, he talks about that fish.
[:)]
Kevin
Cass Lake, MN | |
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| One of my most memorable days of this year came from 10:00 AM July 3rd till 8:oo AM July 4th. not our best day, but because it was the fourth, it just helped in celebrating my freedom a little more. It began like this........
I rolled around in bed all night in anticipation for the morning sun, as the smell of musky was still on my hands from the 45" fish that I netted for my friend Don Kempen the night before. Our plans were to meet at the landing at 6:00 sharp and be to the spot by 6:15. I was in the water with the boat at 5:45 and Don rolled in with dust flying at 1 minute to 6. He jumped in as I sat retying a couple of leaders. Don got in and set his rods in the boat with the tips hanging off the side. He then got antsy, started the motor and backed out, when we heard a crunch.....as both of his Premiers were snapped in half as they were caught between my Down East rod holder and the pier. DOHHH
I lent him another rod and we were off. Don immediately hooked up with a low 40's fish on a Bear Paw as we started fishing the first spot, and lost it. He then caught a low thirties fish on a homemade spinner, and the action ceased. 9:30 rolled around and Don said "lets try trolling". I was skeptical as I've never done well trolling on this river before, but we decided to give it a try. I let out 55 feet of line on my Depth Raider, 75 on my Jake and we started our pass. I became instantly snagged with the Depth Raider and it took 5 minutes and bending of hooks to finnally get it out. We started the pass again and my rod started to bounce. I was taken by such surprise when the line surged out in 2-3 foot increments indicating that this was no snag, that I accidentially put the boat in reverse when I stood up. After getting the boat in neuatral, and starting to crank, I knew I was into a nice one. Finnally after several bulldawging power runs, the 47.5"er was netted and released. We had no more action that morning, so we headed home for a break. At 5:oo PM Monica and I headed back out and within five minutes, I had two separate mid forties fish miss my 8" Jake so we knew it was going to be good. At 7:00 PM my 8" Bobbie was interupted by a large white mouth that didn't lket go, and soon a 41"er was released. At 8:oo PM Monica looked out at her Hawg Wobbbler and wondered what the weird wave was coming from the side, when BAM a fish in the 45-46" range was airborn cartwheeling towards us with the lure. After a few head shakes it was lost. The very next cast, a larger fish(48+) grabbed the same lure and headed out towards deep water peeling drag as it went. This fish was finnally coming to the net when it jumped right towards us at close range and threw the bait right into the boat. In the next 20 minutes we lost(fish that we actually fought for awhile) 4 more fish, and had a handful of blowups. At 9:00 PM we were just ready to leave, when I noticed a swirl behind my pacemaker. I sped up the pace a bit and twitched into a fish that was out of the water before I could set the hook. Soon a beefy 45"er was netted photoed and released. We were about to go home when I noticed something on the surface. The closer I got the more I could make out what it was. I could here this popping/splashing sound. When I got over there the thing was still on the surface but not moving. Here was a 6-8lb carp on the surface barely alive, with huge scars and teeth marks, scales all over the place. WOW, what the heck was that? We then went home, and went to bed, her with thoughts of shopping the next AM, me with thoughts of repeating that days events.
I met Erik Hanson at the same landing at 6:00 AM and we started fishing right there. As we rounded the first bend, Erik had a nice fish grab his Manta and let go upon showing us its dorsal, so we decided to make a trolling pass through the area. We had just set our lines when the same bait that was eaten before suddenly became what I thought was snagged....it wasn't. The rod started pumping, and exclaimed "FISH...BIG FISH". I fought the fish and it stayed very deep, not showing itself till it was in the net. After measuring and releasing the 48.25"er I sat down in the back of the boat and almost lost it. Not to get touchy feely, but it had been a couple years since this pond had put out a decent fish for me, now it gave up a handful in less than a day. Erik and I fished for another two hours with a couple more short hits, and we headed in to enjoy the fourth!! | |
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| Short and Simple.
I cherish every day on the water as it is the best. Some may be better days then others but they are all equally as fun. Its not a matter of what I caught, but the fact that I have my health and I am able to fish. I dont take life for granted because I have seen to many of them cut short. In closing my best days on the water are the ones that I am able to fish.
Jim | |
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| I know there are more stories out there...the ones we got here are great!
Frabil net on the line![:bigsmile:] | |
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| wondering that myself. That net would sure be handy....
but I'm sure not as cute as those kids pictured with their trophies! m[:bigsmile:] | |
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| My wife is still reading...with the baby crying and me telling her to get me a beer. She is a little bogged down.
I will get on her case TONIGHT!!![:bigsmile:] [:bigsmile:] | |
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New MF Contest......Best day on the water in 2002