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Posts: 1185
Location: Iowa | So I work for an outdoor retail store and occassionally people bring in pictures of game taken. This past week someone brought in a picture on their cell phone of a muskie shot below a dam here in center Iowa claiming it was a 59" muskie shot be mistake. Said he saw a shadow and shot, when it jumped he realized what he had done and reeled it in and killed it. I never saw the picture but was told by our achery manager who did that is looked 50" class fish. He fishes for muskies as well so I believe his word. First of all this is B.S. for two reasons 1. it is illegal to shoot muskies while bowfishing in Iowa and 2. if you aren't sure of the target aren't you not suppose to shoot. Iowa waters could not even harbor a 59" muskie, that would be pushing record potential and I'm sorry but central iowa waters just couldn't harbor that type of fish. Comments? Thoughts?
Big Perc |
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Posts: 550
Location: So. Illinois | Tuff topic to discussion without a photo or first hand information. What were your thoughts when you viewed the photo? Did it look like a trophy-class fish? Did you politely point out to the member what the bow-fishing laws were so he would not repeat the offense?
J |
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Posts: 7038
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | Not a comment, but a question: what do YOU think the reaction to you posting this will be? It's a muskie-focused website whose members feel very passionate about c&r and the growth of the numbers of large sized muskies throughout the United States. Do you think people are goinig to say "well, I guess stuff happens" or "people makes mistakes and this sort of thing is bound to happen. being that bowhunting is a legal and viable sport"? Or, do you think, being a long-time user to this site, that the reaction will be a negative one?
I'm not at all saying that we shouldn't talk about these topics, but what is your thought about what people will say? |
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Posts: 691
Location: nationwide | Without a doubt I would want to see the fish.
Corey Meyer |
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Location: Grand Rapids, MI | I'm not sure why you are worried about the size of the fish and that they couldn't grow that big in Iowa...
I would be worried about calling your TIP number in Iowa - TURN IN POACHERS: 1-800-532-2020
Next time the guy is in the store see if you can get him to send the pic to your cell, then you'll have proof for law enforcement AND they can track him down with his cell number. |
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Location: Rhinelander. | I would like to know why you say your waters could never give up a muskie that size. You'd be surprised at the size of some muskies in water you never would have thought this of.
Pfeiff |
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Posts: 1185
Location: Iowa | Let me ask one question of you (Don Pfeiffer), would you come to Iowa to target trophy muskies? I know our waters can support 50" class fish but 59" is just obsurd, I have seen some fish that the DNR nets during their spring sampling and I would be willing to say that if a 59" fish was in our waters and it carried the some girthy characteristics as these fish do, it would more than break the state record and give Ken O'Brien's fish a run for the money for sure. We don't have the forage base like the premier muskie waters in North America have (i.e. ciscos, whitefish, tulibee, perch), we don't have the quality of water that they do (to much nitrate, phosphate and other chemicals in our waters), and our waters get way too warm.
Big Perc |
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| who shoots bows at fish below dams anways? Think ffs. |
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Posts: 41
| I completely agree. China will never produce a 7' 6" center that will play in the NBA. They don't have the genetics or the forage. All those people eat is rice!!
It's a shame for sure, but to rule out the possibility of a 5 footer in iowa is just the kind of know it all elitism that stereotypes us musky fishermen.
Absurd for sure...  |
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Posts: 550
Location: So. Illinois | Perc,
You asked for feedback then you redicule someones opinion as absurd. What is the goal of your thread, only to optain opinions that support your own? If you choose not to believe the photo that was presented where you work, fine. If you choose not to believe your local systems will never produce a 59" fish... fine. Don't be critical the feedback you solicited. I agree that few, if any, would choose Ohio over Wisconsin, Minnesota or Canada to target a trophy, but don't discount those incidental catches that often occur where unlikely trophys are actually caught....
J |
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Posts: 909
| Have you ever heard the phrase "Freak of nature".... Its real! 
Brian
Edited by muskie24/7 5/31/2008 11:16 AM
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Posts: 1185
Location: Iowa | I am not ridcling anyone...just simply asking a question about a post and supporting it will known facts based on my education and background in the field...I studied Iowas watersheds for an entire year while in school and know just a little bit about the quality of water that Iowa has and the size fo fish we can support based on the results of our studies...if my response came across as ridculing I am truly sorry, I meant nothing of the sort...I will just stop posting controversial subjects about sub par muskie waters since I have to deal with the pathetic excuse for a muskie fishery everyday that I live in Iowa...sorry for expressing my opinion...
Matt
Edited by Big Perc 5/31/2008 11:55 PM
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If you asked 1000 muskie anglers if Iowa was likely to grow a 59" muskie 99.9% of them would say no. So why bust Matt's chops for thinking it probably wasn't the big?
As far a "crap" happens in hunting (we are talking about shooting something here), that excuse doesn't cut it when you kill people.
If you don't know your target, you don't shoot.
If you don't live by that code you have no business with any weapon.
John |
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Posts: 1529
| john above hit the nail on the head. if you dont know your target, dont shoot. we seem to have that problem in todays society, now dont we. |
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Posts: 468
Location: Not where I wanna be! | Possible in Iowa? you bet, Iowa has very healthy fish, every one i have seen is FAT! however, most fish are not of the age-class to reach that size yet. IGL's might, but those fish may never see an anglers bait as they live and feed deeply, or are very educated....... who really knows....
i would also agree that most Iowa waters have too much run off thus creating poor water conditions to support many fish of that size. so if one does exist, i most certianly wouldnt doubt it, but id say in this state, and with the quailty of muskie waters, or lack there of, id say the possibility is extremely unlikely. but still possible.
I bow fish below spillways containing muskies all the time, it is not hard to differenciate between the carp, drum and muskies...... that mistake only happened due to irresponsibility and lack of restraint. id be willing o guess it wasnt an accident......
i agree whole heartedly, if you cant recogonize your target, DONT SHOOT! |
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Posts: 355
Location: Wausau, Wisconsin | I think this is a two part issue. 1.) Can Iowa produce a fish like this? 2.) News about a violation. I am a musky fisherman first and a bowfisherman...oh...4th or 5th. I think the truth of the matter is that is unlikely, but possible the fish was 59". Freak fish happen in freak places, and regardless if it was 34", anyone who bowfishes will tell you that mistaking a 59" fish for a carp should be grounds for loosing your license. This is just very, very poor sportsmanship and ethics on the part of the shooter. If your not sure if it's a carp, wait, there's only...about...1 gazillion more fish to choose from. We see a pile of big pike and a few muskies while bowfishing on stained water, and at many times, below dams, no reason for this mistake. It's like mistaking your uncle for a deer. No room for it. This shooter should be found and given a citation. |
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| I love all this commentary on a fish no one has ever seen, and the ensuing arguments over how big it was, coulda woulda shoulda been. ROFLMAO.
Put it in perspective.
These "some guy" stories are always great.
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Posts: 2015
| Big Perc - 5/31/2008 11:46 PM
I have to deal with the pathetic excuse for a muskie fishery everyday that I live in Iowa...sorry for expressing my opinion...
Matt
Hmmm .... I have 2 over 30lbs and 50+ fish in the net from Iowa waters in the last 5 years. Yah we only have 1/2 a dozen lake with muskies in them - but the lakes that are stocked have plenty of fish. |
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Location: In the slop! | IAJustin, one of the lakes that is stocked has a good population. Put as many hours in on Big Creek as you have on your home waters and see how your numbers compare. |
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Location: Stones throw away...finally!! | IAJustin - 6/3/2008 9:43 AM
Big Perc - 5/31/2008 11:46 PM
I have to deal with the pathetic excuse for a muskie fishery everyday that I live in Iowa...sorry for expressing my opinion...
Matt
Hmmm .... I have 2 over 30lbs and 50+ fish in the net from Iowa waters in the last 5 years. Yah we only have 1/2 a dozen lake with muskies in them - but the lakes that are stocked have plenty of fish.
Come fish Big Creek for a summer and tell me how good the fishing is. Feel luck that you live near the lake that you do and have a great fishery guy that oversees the program over there. But as far as "stocked lakes in the Iowa musky program" go, you live near the exception to the rule. Not taking away from your catches, which are great, just making a point that one or two lakes out of 8 in a state managed program that are decent doesn't make a good fishery. IMO. |
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