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Posts: 8780
| The trophy thread got me thinking...
This is a three part poll:
1. Where do you do most of your fishing?
2. What in your opinion represents a "really big fish" in that particular area?
3. What would you say your chances are at a 50" fish there, on a percentage basis?
I've spent the most time fishing in the Madison area, and for that system, I'd say really big is 46" - 48". They don't come around often, and I don't believe there has ever been a 50" fish taken from there. I'd put my chances at 1% of a 50, only because I think in the next few years you will see some of those fish finally getting to that size. |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | 1. oneida and vilas counties of wisconsin
2. in vilas county the 50 pounders tom gelb caught ... caught my eye
the 52" i caught in oneida county was pretty stout with room to grow
3. depends on how much time i want to spend on the water and when ... a few of the lakes i fish here if i put in the time and effort should result in at least a few chances each year ... % shot i put in the time is low due to work, kids, golf, motorcyles and chicks ... % shot i could if i did put in the time would be pretty high. last year we had a 48" (caught by andy) ... and about 3 if i remember right at 50" + that were close encounters so it's hard to complain.
i play the percentages by spending a week a year at eagle lake
the ultimate goal at least at this point is to have a 50" plus fish in wisconsin, minnesota and canada ... 2 completed and just need to get a 50" from minnesota ... so far for me over there my biggest is like mid-forties over there but last year i only spent 3 days on the minnesota water.
where do you come up with your numbers?
edit ... addition: ... also, look at the fish jlong posted a few weeks ago too ... his heaviest wisconsin fish is a vilas biggie too (i think?) ... there's another one on a refrigerator that i saw and am not allowed to comment on that is pretty impressive too 
Edited by jonnysled 2/14/2008 10:56 AM
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Posts: 2691
Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin | I don't know why it showed up Bold.
Anyway, this is a good thread. Where you fish most has a lot to do with your size expectations. I believe my area can produce fish into the mid 50's but they are very rare and to catch one can be a one time shot for someone. Big fish are hard to catch. Top end fish are almost impossible because they move so deep quickly and fishing deep can cause delayed mortality most of the summer season. Spring and Fall are the best chances for a huge fish around here.
Okauchee is your best bet around here for a monster because of the forage and depth. |
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Posts: 5874
| It's bold because that is your vote.
I guess to me, a really big fish from Green Bay would be 53+. Perhaps I should have said 54+, because of the resolution I helped author. hehehe Anyway, I'm not sure on the percentage. Is that on any given trip, which is the way I interpretted it. Or is is it your chances of catching a really big fish, no matter how much time you put in.
I agree with Capt Shoulder. Okauchee is the place down there in the fall, hanging a sucker over the side when the ciscoes are staging. If you could have seen what KLY and I saw, you wouldn't even fish the others lakes in SE WI in the fall!
Edited by Shep 2/14/2008 10:49 AM
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Posts: 96
| 1. Minnetonka
2. Anything over 50 - my longest is 54.5", which is also the biggest I've heard of coming out of there. BUT, I have caught heavier fish in the low 50's & seen high 50's class as well.
3. As far as chances, I catch about 1 50+ per year (~30 times on Tonka/season).
Area average (for me) has been roughly 40-44. The small side would run 36-38", which I've only fell short of a small handful of times.
Minnetonka is my pick for where the next state record is landed...hopefully by me! I know I've seen & lost it at least once! |
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Posts: 8780
| just to clarify the percentage chance part:
In any given day, what do you think your chances are at encountering a 50" fish? If you say 1%, for example, that would mean that in 100 days fishing there you will almost certainly have a crack at a 50.
p.s. This is not meant to be a "what you've caught" poll as much as it is a "what's swimming around out there" poll.
Hope that clears things up. |
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| 1. Where do you do most of your fishing?
Madison Chain...
2. What in your opinion represents a "really big fish" in that particular area?
47" and up
3. What would you say your chances are at a 50" fish there, on a percentage basis?
.05%, less than 1 percent for sure...I saw 2 last year I know were 50, one or 2 is about all I see per year out there over 50".
That's why I go to MN and Canada...feed the hunger for really big fish there... |
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| 1. Where do you do most of your fishing?
Shelbyville in Central Illinois
2. What in your opinion represents a "really big fish" in that particular area?
47" - 48" and bigger
3. What would you say your chances are at a 50" fish there, on a percentage basis?
Less than 1%, it will increase in years to come
I fish all over, but the best chances for trophy muskies are Quebec, Ontario, Green Bay, and MN |
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Posts: 32886
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | What about on Shelbyville where you spend most of your angling time MB? |
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Posts: 1996
Location: Pelican Lake/Three Lakes Chain | The majority of the waters I fish have the ability (and do) cough up a few 50" class a year, some more often than others. I pick these lakes to spend my time on because I hate the idea of not having the chance. With new size limits in place, the odds will go up on a large chunk of what I fish.
Four footers find there way into my boat every year off these waters. What percentage????, hard telling.
Is 50" likely right now, no, are there 50" fish there, yes. Will the numbers improve, oh yeah baby!
Edited by nwild 2/14/2008 1:09 PM
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Posts: 4080
Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | I live in mpls. but in the last 2 years I've only fished there twice..
I'll drive 4 hrs. to fish V because I have seen way to many huge fish there and its also a numbers thing for me, and its also a beautiful place to be at any time..
Last 2 yrs I've boated 3- 49.5 fish there but have lost (Blown) at least 7-8 mid fifty inch fish.
As far as % goes for catching a 52-56" muskie on this water, I'd say for those who knows the lake and puts in the time their chances may be as high as 2-3%....... I know some guys that put 2 or 3 fiddys in the boat on a regular basis......
How do they do that ?
I'm still looking for that fiddy, but knowing what I do about V, I have a feeling that the next big fish I boat on Vermillion may just well be 54 or larger.
Jerome |
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Posts: 159
Location: Stevens Point, WI | Pointer, 38-50 inch range for "really big fish" on the WI? Thanks for making me feel like more of a man when i hold my 40s for the camera. |
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Posts: 19
| bn - 2/14/2008 11:03 AM
1. Where do you do most of your fishing?
Madison Chain...
2. What in your opinion represents a "really big fish" in that particular area?
47" and up
3. What would you say your chances are at a 50" fish there, on a percentage basis?
.05%, less than 1 percent for sure...I saw 2 last year I know were 50, one or 2 is about all I see per year out there over 50".
That's why I go to MN and Canada...feed the hunger for really big fish there...
Exactly the same |
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Posts: 136
| 1: Where do you do most of your fishing?
Indiana waters
2: What do you consider a "really big fish" in that particular area?
48" and above
3. What would you say your chances are at a 50" fish there, on a percentage basis?
Very slim, way less than 1%, on average it seems there is one 50" fish caught a year, and there are ALOT of fish caught every year. |
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Posts: 376
Location: Lake Vermilion Tower, MN | 1. Where do I fish?
Lake Vermilion,MN
I can't agree with a 1.5% chance of a 50+
on Vermilion. There are days where all I see are fish at or near that mark. You may not catch one on every trip, but if you see 10 fish in a day, 3 or 4 of them will be in that 50+ range. Especially at the summer peak in late July and early
August. It won't be that way forever but right now, it may be the best opportunity
you'll ever have.
"Ace" |
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Posts: 1906
Location: Oconto Falls, WI | 1. Where do you do most of your fishing?
Vilas County
2. What in your opinion represents a "really big fish" in that particular area?
It really depends on what the definition of "really big" is. I didn't agree with 45"+ being really big so I added the 50"+. I wouldn't consider 50" being really big, but I think I know the point that is trying to be conveyed. Really big to me is Gelb's fish!
3. What would you say your chances are at a 50" fish there, on a percentage basis?
It's hard to put a percentage to this as I feel everytime I hit the water I have a chance on most of the lakes I fish. Put yourself on big fish water and you have to feel you have a good chance evertime out to at least contact a 50"+ fish. Now if I was to strictly go off of how many 50"+ I contact (not caught) during the year I would have to say anywhere around a 5-15% chance any given year.
Finding good (45-49") size fish to BIG fish in Vilas isn't always the hard part. Getting them to eat, and keeping them on, is a different story. |
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Posts: 250
| I have to concur with BN on this one. Closest body of water to where I live. Need to spend more time on the big lakes and less on Wingwa. I love that little lake but for a shot a good un' I will have to fish Wauby and Monona more.
Steve |
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Posts: 734
Location: Watertown, MN | 1-Tonka probably the most, just close, I really don't focus on one lake, like moving around to hot bites
2-48"+ is what I would consider big for tonka,
3-If reading your latest is what the % of seeing a 50+, I would say 30%, and even higher on other lakes.
Troyz |
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Location: The Yahara Chain | 1. Where do you do most of your fishing?
Lake Waubesa (Yahara Chain)
2. What in your opinion represents a "really big fish" in that particular area?
46"-49"
3. What would you say your chances are at a 50" fish there, on a percentage basis?
.001%... Nobody has ever caught a 50 out there. I have scene three fish in the 50"class. I know of two 49's that were caught last year. The fish haven't peaked yet out there. In the next two or three years somebody should get one.
Edited by Bytor 2/15/2008 1:17 PM
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Posts: 1185
Location: Wishin I Was Fishin' | Second place I fish is Green Bay, it is only 1/2 hour from my house. I agree with Shep a 53" is a true trophy, but a replica at that. I'm batting 28% on 50"+ on Green Bay. Please remember I have spent many days out there to get that (I started fishing it in 2001). |
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Posts: 16632
Location: The desert | 12gauge - 2/14/2008 4:48 PM
Pointer, 38-50 inch range for "really big fish" on the WI? Thanks for making me feel like more of a man when i hold my 40s for the camera.
My mistake...I didnt read the 'really big fish' part, just looked at the poll thinking it was what was the range in those waters. |
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Posts: 331
Location: Stevens Point, Wisconsin | I fish many different waters like everyone else but spend about 16 days each year on LOTW. So a really big fish to me on LOTW would be in the 55-57 inch range but I know they get bigger there. I have seen a couple in that 55-57-inch range that dwarfed a couple 52-inch fish that I boated there.
As far as what is your percentage of boating a really big fish? Good question, I think encountering a 50-inch fish during a trip to LOTW is probably 50% but encountering a really big fish in that 55-57 inch range is very low. Considering I have encountered 2 such fish in 8 years says something I guess. It really all depends on the fisherman, just because your fishing a prime body of water doesn’t mean anything unless you know how to fish it!
I feel that you’re percentage is dependant upon you’re skill and knowledge as a musky angler. You up the percentage each year because you learn more and more each year. Some guys have great success on a body of water while others struggle, so it’s not always easy to rate a body of water.
Ed
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Posts: 1430
Location: Eastern Ontario | I answered before I read your complete post. I'm not sure what you meant the percentage of fish caught that are over 50 like I answered of your chance at a 50+ which is over 80% on a 4+ days trip with me.
Ok now that I have read the rest of the post i would have to change my percentage to 20%.
Edited by Trophymuskie 2/16/2008 8:05 AM
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Posts: 159
Location: Stevens Point, WI | Pointer, what would you say is a "really big one", and what percent chance of catching her? By my records, it's probably about 48 inches and 3-4% chance of a fish being that size. What do you say? |
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Posts: 16632
Location: The desert | 12gauge, I'd agree that a 48 is a really big one. It'd be the higlight of my day thats for certain! I think your percantages are about right, maybe a bit higher, but not by much. I know of a few 50's and hear reports of 50's throughout the season, so a 50 is definately not out of the realm of possibility. |
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Posts: 401
| I do almost all my musky fishing during the summer on Leech. Just because I have a place there and it is so easy to get in the boat and go. Plus there is lots of water to learn there with less and less people hitting it.
Really big is over 50 or over. It seems to me that Leech has a bunch of fish in that 44-48 inch range.
I am still to catch a 50 there or to have one caught in my boat. There are some tanks that I target through the year on small spots but have yet to put one in the net. So my percentages are not so good. |
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Posts: 159
Location: Stevens Point, WI | I think you're right, Pointer, but maybe we ought not talk too much. The local clubs do a good job of keeping us stocked, eh? Mille Lacs, Vermilion, Green Bay, Eagle Lake, Biron Flowage... |
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