| CiscoKid wins the Frabil Net for the most interesting reading of them all. With honorable mentions to Mikie, Reef Hawg, Hunts and Commanchee Jim.
It was a close race, but being a teacher I looked for a well worded story that was able to describe the day as well as hold my attention. Congratulations CiscoKid you get a B+ (A's are hard to get from me)
Connie Smith
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CiscoKid
Member
Total Posts: 186
Last Post: 1/2/2003
Member Since: 1/21/2002
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!
"Let em go, Let em grow"
Travis Kopke
Kopke's Guide Service
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