Posts: 1302
Location: Hayward, Wisconsin | I am by no means trying to take anything away from this capture of an obviously GIANT muskellunge. But to ascribe an accurate measurement to it is impossible given the circumstances. Doesn't reduce the accomplishment. Following is something everyone should consider when measuring that trophy of a lifetime (which by the way includes consideration for the fish).
From "Handling Techniques and Survival of Released Muskellunge" by Rod Ramsell (MN DNR) written by Jack Burns (from TheNextBite library):
"Very little support is provided by the connective tissue on the underside of the head in the vicinity of the isthmus. As a result, a fish held (or hung) vertically has a tremendous amount of gravitational stress upon its mechanical physiology. This can best be seen by the amount of stretch of a fish’s length when it is held vertically. A 39-inch muskellunge, measured laying flat on a measuring board, will measure between 40 and 40.5 inches when held vertically; a 48 inch muskellunge will measure between 50.5 and 51 inches under the same conditions. This increase in length results from the stretching of connective tissues between some of the more anterior vertebrae and the articulation of some of the weakly "hinged" areas and skeletal structures within the skull. Using gill net mortalities or recently deceased angling release mortalities that I have recovered, I have demonstrated this physiological effect on Esocids to several student interns and new employees that I have been assigned to train over the years. By showing them this physiological effect first hand, I feel it has helped all of them to become better handlers of the fish they will be working with during their professional careers."
It is apparent that there are many variables in how anglers measure their fish and the end result that they get. Some methods make the fish longer than it actually is and some are oft debated, like pinching the tail (which by the way is the accepted method used by biologists). Which is correct is an individual choice as applied to released fish. For record purposes, the lying flat method is required using both fork length and total length without the tail being pinched.
It is my opionion that anglers, that use a vertical measurement length are doing the fish and themselves a disservice. As has been pointed out often, it is very hard to hold a fish and tape at the same time and get an accurate measurement...you "may" short yourself (as could have EASILY been the case with this fish, which as noted by the captor was HARD to hold up alone, let alone with the tape), OR you could be "claiming" a length that is not realistic, especially in the longest specimens based on the MN DNR data quoted above.
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I congatulate you on catchin it and telling your story. It took a lot longer to tell it in words than it happened in real life. 
