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Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | It seems that a lot of ppl on the Boards here and other sites are seeing a lot more, and talking a lot more about 55"+ muskies.........So is a 50" fish no longer considered
"The Trophy Standard" ?
Jerome |
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Location: Antioch IL | http://muskie.outdoorsfirst.com/board/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=62... |
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Location: New Hope MN | I think G-Rome has been talking to the bass guys too much... they always seem to catch the +55" giants, and never have a camera when they do it  |
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| I still think 50 is a trophy fish and hard to catch/land, but mid 50's and above are a whole different animal when hooked. The power is unreal, they are a different beast. BR |
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Location: Contrarian Island | 50s are still Trophys for sure but a 50" is not nearly as hard to catch as it was before lakes like Vermilion, ML, LOTW, GB/St Claire and others came into their prime... imo the new "fish of a lifetime" standard is 55+. 50s are still a trophy, but not quite as uncommon as they were pre 2000s....
Edited by BNelson 9/13/2013 10:09 AM
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Posts: 117
| Depends where you live, where you fish. Some areas a 50 incher is still a fish of a life time.....BUT, some lakes people dont even blink until it hits 54"+ |
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Location: Hayward, WI | It could be, for some people in some locations. For me, 50 is still "it". |
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Posts: 415
| Absolutely about location, its all relative. |
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Posts: 2026
| 54 is the new 50. |
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Posts: 4080
Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | I hear ppl saying "Ahh, it was only a 50 incher..... like it's not a big deal anymore.
I think a 50" muskie is still a trophy, .... but having hooked a few mid 50" fish the last few yrs, I can say it IS a different fight and a STRONGER animal compaired to a 50" fish.....
Perhaps this Fall !
Jerome |
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Posts: 750
Location: Minneapolis, MN | I think it's all about where you fish. if you fish a lake or lakes that don't have the capability to produce a 50"+ fish, then 50" is still your target. |
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Posts: 1638
Location: Minnesota | I have been chasing muskies for only 12 years.I consider myself a newbie.I have only put 1 50" fish in the net. that was in 06 . I had a replica done.I won't get another replica till I get a 55 |
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Location: Lake "y" cause lake"x" got over fished | Ja Rule - 9/13/2013 10:31 AM
Absolutely about location, its all relative.
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EXACTLY! |
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Posts: 95
| BenR and BNelson I agree with both of you. It seems like they've moved up... but not that a "55+" is the NEW 50" mark. I think 54" muskie is pretty awesome!! 55+" is my next goal!!
I've lost some HUGE fish... and the power of fish over 55" compared to the likes of over 60" is even MORE impressive. NOTHING you can do it seems with fish of legendary calibre. |
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| I think it is relative to the water fished. 50 is not a trophy on Mille lacs. A trophy to me is a fish that is in the top 5-10% on the water being fished. In terms of musky fishing overall, then yes 55 is the new 50. |
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Posts: 667
Location: Roscoe IL | 45 is the new 50 after the beating I took this summer. Hope the luck changes in October... |
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| "50 is not a trophy on Mille Lacs" Really? I fish and guide primarily in MN. A good year is 100 to 150 muskies in the boat. Generally 10-20 of those are over 50. Thats pretty close to 10% fishing mostly stocked waters. I have never personally caught a 55. Maybe one of the guys more versed in the science can provide some insight, but I bet thats pretty close to the average % of the population capable of reaching 50". If you're fishing for a 55", I'd guess it's more like 1%. Unless your name is Hamernick, a 50" is a trophy on Mille Lacs or anywhere else! Folks are just getting better at managing and catching them! |
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Posts: 3508
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | Hiya,
In my humble opinion a 55" becomes the new trophy standard when a 50" has been caught. I've been working on breaking 50 for 33 years and finally did it this summer with a 51" x 21" beauty and a 50" x 19.5". The 51 will be getting a replica. My new personal goal is to break that mark, but another replica will only happen if it goes 55" or over.
I think Jerome is right...a fish that is over 50 is a whole different animal as it seems that many fish exceeding the 50" mark seem to gain not so much in length, but more in girth.
Steve
Edited by VMS 9/13/2013 12:26 PM
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| While I do travel a bit to fish other areas, I am a Pewaukee Lake guy week in and week out. According to records I can not quote (??) a lot of folks say Pewaukee is the most musky fished lake in Wisconsin and that year after year it gives up the highest number of muskies caught in the state. Now, there are all sorts of guys in pontoon boats who tell me how many 60 inch (and above) they know about...but I will stake my rep on the statement that there are about 3-5 fifties caught there per YEAR! Therefore, in my my little world, fifty is like a hundred! |
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Location: oswego, il | Wont be long before there are guys pulling their baits away from a 50. |
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| The question is what is a trophy. To me the top 5-10 percent are the target for big fish. The numbers 10-20 percent over 50 on 100-150 fish are good. I have always thought of a personal trophy to be a fish of a lifetime though and to the old time musky fishermen 50 was that. Those with a lot of time on the water on the right lakes realize that catching a 50 is awesome, but not a fish of a lifetime anymore. Pre-2000 50s were relatively rare especially on the stocked waters of Minnesota. I may have been misunderstood. My apologies. So on Mille lacs a 55 I would consider a trophy. On the tiger cat flowage a 40 is probably a trophy. With the mobility of my fishing and the ability for many people to drive to GB, Mille Lacs, Lac Suel, Georgan Bay, St Claire, and the Larry the overall target could be said to be a 55?? At least for the traveling crowd. |
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Posts: 8834
| Hard to put a number on it. I'd say the mark of a trophy is when there are fewer than ten fish of that size known to have come out of that area in the last few seasons. Some places, that would be 55". In a lot of others, that might be 47".
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Location: Madtown, WI | Top H2O - 9/13/2013 10:41 AM
I hear ppl saying "Ahh, it was only a 50 incher..... like it's not a big deal anymore.
I think a 50" muskie is still a trophy, .... but having hooked a few mid 50" fish the last few yrs, I can say it IS a different fight and a STRONGER animal compaired to a 50" fish.....
Perhaps this Fall !
Jerome
Man if a 50 EVER gets to not be a big deal to anyone, they should stop fishing. I don't care if you catch 2 of them in your life time or 2 a week, it is still a special fish and when that wears off, I feel sorry for you.
We may have different levels of the definition of "special fish" but it should be held in high esteem. I am chasing a 55 incher... but I thank GOD every time a fiddy hits the net.
Edited by C.Painter 9/13/2013 1:22 PM
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| It's regional for sure. A 50" on most WI lakes is a very rare fish. In MN, not so much. If catch & release took better hold in northern WI, and the WI DNR did a better job stocking and managing their fisheries, I expect you'd see that change like it did on LOTWs where a 50" wasn't nearly as common as it is now. |
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Location: Maplewood, MN | HA! I have yet to get hooks in a 50" fish! Anything around 47" + is a #*^@ nice fish. |
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Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | I will have to confer with the panel in the advanced angler section to answer that question |
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| What about this side of the coin....I have caught a 52" fish from Canada that was long and skinny, a nice fish, but nothing like a couple of 50" GB fish that had girths of over 26" and were absolutely pigs ...length isn't everything. Those fat fish were over 40 lbs each and gave amazing battles!!! To me they were the real trophies not the 52" fish. |
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Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | Guest - 9/13/2013 3:02 PM
What about this side of the coin....I have caught a 52" fish from Canada that was long and skinny, a nice fish, but nothing like a couple of 50" GB fish that had girths of over 26" and were absolutely pigs ...length isn't everything. Those fat fish were over 40 lbs each and gave amazing battles!!! To me they were the real trophies not the 52" fish.
+1 agree completely |
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| Every lunge in the boat is a trophy. The only reason 55" seems like the new 50" is because you've been on these internet boards too much. I think it mostly deals with the abundance of Musky fishing talk and the ease of doing it. I never got my 50, and I was lucky enough to be pretty much born casting, and growing up meeting so many people and seeing/handling so many fish...but I still haven't got my 50. I've seen her, more times than my total amount of catches that's for sure! Up until the internet, I've never really read about so many people who are gung-ho crazy about catching their said trophy. |
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Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | 'because you've been on these internet boards too much' says the guy postulating on an internet board.
55" is not the 'new 50'. It's 55". 50" is a trophy, and so is 48' to the vast majority of Muskie anglers out there. |
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Posts: 171
| Nope. 60" is another benchmark though. Louie Spray and only a handful of anglers have ever achieved such a feat. |
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| sworrall - 9/13/2013 9:08 PM
55" is not the 'new 50'. It's 55". 50" is a trophy, and so is 48' to the vast majority of Muskie anglers out there.
Very true. However, I think those, like Jerome, who fish trophy waters, and have already caught a 50+ fish, view 55" as their new benchmark. It's all a matter of perspective. Personally, the next fish I catch without a broken rod bigger than 44 is my new trophy. I will settle for another 50+ while trolling though. |
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Posts: 117
| I fish what everyone calls "trophy" waters. I have caught some decent fish over the years, with that said....I am still hoping for a 50 incher when I go out and fish. Only a select few guys have enough time on the water each year to consistently catch 50 inchers...so for them, a 55 is a trophy. It all depends on how much you fish and what your goals are. |
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| Timmy, when can I pick up that hat of yours? |
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| some folks just don't have those fish to catch. to me and many others its the HUNT.
I would rather be pulling baits then cutting lawn or raking leaves. |
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| Tiger Cat's starting to grow some hawgs these days.....just saying |
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Location: Mauston, Wisconsin | ToddM - 9/13/2013 12:46 PM
Wont be long before there are guys pulling their baits away from a 50.
Todd, Heck I've been doing that for a number of years already, but didn't really think it would catch on with other muskie fisherman. You should try it sometime, its loads of fun! Now, I sneer at them when I do it!
I relish every muskie, every follow, every hit, every loss, and every sucess. Even those of my boat partner's. LOL- I remember Spencer Berman's expression when a muskie took the tail off his favorite 2lb Dawg. My own heart breaker(s) still haunt me, its all relative, its muskie fishing!
No 55" is not 50" or vica versa, unless you have a magic muskie stick. I'm on Mr. Worrall's side on this topic, a 48"-50" fish is still a respectable muskie in my book. I just like pulling the hooks away from them and sneering at them as they skulk off to reconsider their stupidy in trying to attack my lure's.
Have fun!
Al |
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Posts: 4080
Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | I asked this question after reading the post about " biggest fish that got away" Mid to upper 50 inch fish with 30 inch girths, that ppl are regularly seeing or hooking into....
It prompted me to ask: Is 55 the new 50 inch trophy mark.
I understand that it depends on where you fish,... I still think that a 50" muskie is a trophy anywhere.... I have however raised my expectations to chase the larger fish in the Lake, that I fish regularly on, to 55+ inches.....
I now blow by A lot of bays/spots that I know hold nice fish,... but not the Bigger Girls.... I'm after the larger fish in the system,....and they usually hang out in certain areas.....
Can't wait till November. Chances go way up for boating that 55 incher.....plus most of you guys will be in the woods Hunting ! Thank God.
Jerome |
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Posts: 192
| I have caught approximately 100 muskies in my lifetime and my largest so far is 47". Reading these internet forums is kind of sobering. I'm the only one that doesn't catch 1/2 a dozen 50's every summer.
Last year I was on a St Clair charter with a lady who had never caught a muskie. Her first two fish were 46" and 53".
Edited by LarryO 9/14/2013 1:55 PM
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Posts: 159
| Caught my first 50 this summer after 30 years of trying and untold numbers of Musky's in northern WI---this was a Northern MN fish....
I like Tony Rizzo's thoughts on this in his classic book--secrets of a Musky guide---IN Northern WI a fat 45 is a trophy---over 25 years of hard Musky fishing in N. WI no fifties---period....they just don't grow that long in the lake I fished on...
However in N. MN ---the fish do grow longer---that is a genetic fact--proven by net samples.....
What is missing in this discussion is the girth/weight factor of a fish--there are some 52-55 fish that are still real thin---long and thin.....
To me we have lost the wisdom of our fathers here----growing up --no one talked about length it was about weight---point being---I'll take the 50 I caught this summer that was a massive fish head to tail---pushing 40 pounds---over a skinny 52-55---
To me weight trumps length---Indeed many of the larger northern MN fish are also really girthy ----for sure the holy grail is a fat 55---I guess that's what keeps us all coming back.
But the answer to the original question---I say a 50 inch fish with girth is a true trophy in the mind of even the most productive Musky guys on here.....
Good thread!
We were just talking about this in the boat this summer....... |
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| sworrall - 9/13/2013 9:08 PM
'because you've been on these internet boards too much' says the guy postulating on an internet board.
55" is not the 'new 50'. It's 55". 50" is a trophy, and so is 48' to the vast majority of Muskie anglers out there.
Well said. |
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Location: The desert | I thought this was about average pants sizes in Wisconsin. |
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Posts: 4080
Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | Pointerpride102 - 9/14/2013 5:30 PM
I thought this was about average pants sizes in Wisconsin.
Pointer, your Talking about Wi. Females Right? ! Some fat Babes over there ...
Muskies of course?...
Edited by Top H2O 9/15/2013 12:01 AM
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Location: Kansas City BBQ Capitol of the world | Raise your hand if you have ever caught a 50" Muskie. Yes their are bigger but 50" is the benchmark.
Ron |
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Location: Watertown, MN | Jerome, yes 55 or 54 is to me that new magical mark, fished many of year in WI with grand hope of breaking that mark. Watch thunder on the water, and seeing bob and the magical 50 be that trophy mark. But into today day of fishing with people breaking that mark as often they do in a year, pending water fished 54 for me is trophy mark, but not discounting a 48 to 53 with big girths and fish that are just something special that u can define. calling the cast, your first cast on sport, But a 130 is what is pope for a buck, but still a fork is a trophy to a first time hunter. But always said I would mount my first 50", well a mid 50 still not on wall, 56 did got free mount for partner last year. So well let say no right answer, but personnel appreciations.
Troyz |
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Location: Hayward, Wisconsin | No, just as 50 wasn't the new 48, which was considered a true trophy when I was growing up (admittedly a long time ago!).
It is all relative to the waters being fished. As I have said so many times in seminars, if the lake record where you are fishing is 33 pounds, guess what? You are NOT going to catch a world record there! Quite simple actually.
If the waters where you are fishing produces numbers of mid 50 inch fish and larger, then you have a shot...otherwise, not so much. |
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Posts: 69
| 40lbs is the mark to beat |
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Posts: 160
| I agree 40lbs plus!!! |
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Posts: 559
| 55 is the new 50 if you are Jerome"s age.
fish on G rome good luck to you at LSC we will be pulling for you.
Edited by bobbie 9/15/2013 6:05 PM
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Location: Maple Grove, MN | I guess that I'm sort of old-school, but I still think in pounds and not so much inches. Which fish is larger - a fat 52 that weighs over 40 lbs or a skinny 55 that barely weighs 35 lbs? To me, 50 lbs is the new 50. Length is secondary.
Just my opinion. |
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| Well dang I hope not....I am new to musky fishing...let me boat a 50 incher first. |
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| sworrall - 9/13/2013 9:08 PM
'because you've been on these internet boards too much' says the guy postulating on an internet board.
55" is not the 'new 50'. It's 55". 50" is a trophy, and so is 48' to the vast majority of Muskie anglers out there.
Thank you. |
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Location: Hayward, WI | Langkamp's Guide Svc - 9/14/2013 6:24 AM
Tiger Cat's starting to grow some hawgs these days.....just saying
I don't get it??? |
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Posts: 95
| Cory Painter & Steve Worrall hit it on the head... we've all caught Jumbino's in Canada that HAD GIRTH and I've caught Jumbino's in Minneota, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, and about everywhere muskies swim... whether it's a 38"er or 55"er... a trophy is in the eye of the beholder... my oldest son Weston's first muskie was a 38 1/2" hybrid... truly a trophy to him at 5 years old!! One of the greatest days of my life... |
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| To this day my favorite musky, and only replica mount, is not my biggest one caught. She was a girthy tiger with some of the most beautiful colors and markings I've ever seen. |
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Location: Contrarian Island | a 50" is still the # to shoot for in my opinion... we don't talk about how many 46s, 47s, 48s, or even 49s we have...we talk about how many 50s we have! 50 is still a trophy but I know back when I got in the sport in the early 90s a 50 was 'the fish of a lifetime', the ultimate goal, almost seemingly unattainable. a 50 is still 'the mark' to shoot for when i go on trips... fortunate enough to have 25 and another 25 by guys in my boat since 06...heck some guides do that in a season...so it's a lot easier now than I thought back in 1993...
but for those that fish true trophy waters, Vermilion, Eagle, Lac Seul, St Claire, GB, etc etc etc....the bar should be set at 55". Look how many 50s are coming out of St Claire lately... honestly a 50 is not really that hard if you hit it right.. but 50s are still trophies tho for sure.....and as others have said, it's all relative to where you fish and what swims in the lake.
Edited by BNelson 9/17/2013 9:14 AM
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I've seen several mid 50 fish from very small waters, I think the pressure and the release philosophy go allot further than the water you fish. Unless the genetics aren't there, such as Shoepac fish. Your not going to catch a 55 in those lakes, and your not going to get one in lakes where they don't get to grow past 48. The issue of killing fish over 50 has a impact on how many 55's you'll catch. It seems people get a lil funny at 55+. If we don't protect them people kill them and find all sorts of excuses or reasons; and sometimes they do just die. Let'em all go. |
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Posts: 46
| I have fished lakes with some would consider quite different size limits. On the smaller side is Indiana (36 inches) and on the larger side is Eagle Lake in Ontario (54 inches). I am sure that there may be a better list of different states/lakes but I did not find one quickly online. I believe that 54 inches is the largest legal limit set thus far (same limit is set on LOTW).
I think a realistic goal in Indiana is 40 inches. Yes they do come bigger, but my true goal should not be something that is reached easily, and should be worked for. That being said, when I fished Eagle my realistic goal was a 50. My fishing partner had been on the lake all season (opening day to Early September) and had about 10-20 50 inch boated. Once during the week we had a possible 54+ but it did not see the net, but it gave us a look at why the limit was 54 and not 50. We did boat a 50 (my largest personally a 44-46 inch), but nothing larger.
I think that the goal of most is 50 inches (you can choose whether that is smart or not). If you do not change your goals of "the trophy standard" based on your water fished, then I think that you will just be disappointed more often then needed. |
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Location: Mauston, Wisconsin | Its obvious Canada gets it done with lots of 54" lakes- there is one lake that I know of that is CPR only, its on my bucket list. ....
http://www.lacseuloutposts.com/ontariowalleyepikemuskiefishingregul...
Yes, I know there are big fish in the USA and other water's. But if you go to Lac Seul you will be only be bringing back photo's of "your" WR catch! 
Have fun!
Al |
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Location: Tomahawk, WI | Location. location. location. genetics. genetics. genetics. 45" N.Wisc. = 50" Min, Can,Lsc. My opinion |
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Location: minocqua, wi. | PANTLEGGER - 9/18/2013 8:01 AM
Location. location. location. genetics. genetics. genetics. 45" N.Wisc. = 50" Min, Can,Lsc. My opinion
X2 ... makes one of my "trophies" that much more special.
now, i want to catch or a chance to screw up a 40-pounder ... or help others (kids/friends) get their first or PB. |
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| 50 is still awesome!!!!!!!!!!! |
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Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Genetics? Not so fast.... |
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Posts: 176
Location: Tomahawk, WI | Steve, Leech lake strain compared to Wisconsin pure, no comparison length wise! |
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Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Wrong-o, there. You need to look the 'it's the fish' debate up on the Biology board, plenty of discussion by biologists there explaining the entire debate. |
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| 53 and 3/4 is the new 50" |
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Posts: 216
| Up here I say any legal beagle 48 is a trophy fish that most don't get to see.when a 50"hits the net we are totally stoked and the trip is a success.55" is a dream but is a very real possibility these days.50" is still the gold standard. When we talk of great fisherman up here in these parts we talk of how many 50's were caught outa his boat this year. 55"will never be the new 50" it's a whole new ball game and a whole new level that one can't expect everytime we go out. We hope to catch a 50" everytime we go not a 55" I think that would b some lofty goals.thats like a lifetime achievement, not every fish trip |
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Posts: 117
Location: Northern Illinois | I think that a fish over 46" inches is a nice fish. A 50" fish is a trophy fish. And a 55" inch fish is a fish of a lifetime at least for in Northern Illinois, I'd love to have one of those at the end of my line... Crank |
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Is 55" the New 50 ?