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Posts: 236
| Seeing the size of that beast makes me wonder how often 50lbers are caught. I think I remember reading that Dick Pearson said that he hasn't even seen one. how many do you think are caught each year? and is it all about genetics? lastly how old do you think she is?
slay em |
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Posts: 32958
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Not very often. They are out there in the right waters. The problem is finding them, getting them to hit, keeping them hooked, and getting them into the net. There are a couple a year, usually, in the class that might make that weight. Most are never officially weighed, because of concern for the fish. My guess is under 10 a year including the ones no one talks much about. No idea on the GB fish, but one Keith and I caught was was about 20, according to the scale sample. That get's one in the 'ball park'. The fish weighed in the low to mid 50# class. She was a road culvert, with amazing girth at the head and vent. Near identical to Mikes fish, with a really thick tail section; it was impossible to get my hand around it for the release. I spent over 20 years trying to get a fish like that, and will probably pass on still trying to better it. I lost one quite a bit longer the same day. I thought my son was going to chuck me in the lake. |
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Posts: 259
Location: Alexandria, MN | I don't think we hear about every 50# class fish caught, people don't want to draw that much attention to their "secret" spots. But even with the "secret" factor, I don't think more than a few actual 50 pounders are caught each year. You need a fish with a lot of girth and some great lenth to break the 50 pound mark. I have come close twice -- 1998 with a 57.25 x 26 and 2003 with a 51.5 x 27. According to the latest L x W divided by 25 minus 10 calculation from Larry Ramsell, I have a 49.54 and 45.62 pounder under my belt, both caught in October. both caught in MN. (different lakes)
I don't think that many of us are still fishing when the girth is there to break the 50# barrier. You just don't get those upper 20 inch girth measurements until this time of the year.
Keep fishing, I have held upper 40# fish and I have seen bigger ones! They are out there, and every year we are getting new and better tools to try and catch them. BUT -- we are talking Muskies here, and they play by their set of rules. |
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Posts: 2691
Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin | I think more are caught than people think. The fishermen/guides who catch these fish just don't tell anyone. They know what they caught and are happy to keep it a secret.
Look what happens when its posted on the internet. How many people know about it and talk about it in just a few days.
I was lucky enough to catch a 52 lb fish and it took me a year to post a picture of her on this site. The fish in the picture to the left is the 57 x 27 = 52lbs. Full moon October fattys from Canada. I have video and pictures of the fight and release. The replica of her and one other are on my wall to remember them by.
I think the bigger they are the more secret you got to be about them. Also it about respect. The waters they came from were not my local waters and I respect there fishery enough to help keep it out of the main stream of muskie information.
Please don't make this a bashing thread !!!!
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Posts: 244
Location: Mallard Island Lake Vermilion MN | Super Nice fish Mike K.!
Wow!
F&F, way to go.
Those are Really, really super great fish.
To fun.
Keep on Rock'en!
Tom Wehler
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Posts: 346
| On the age factor, someone was telling me of a fish (Kly? MNesox?) in the chatroom of a G-Bay monster that was caught and killed at 65IBs. The biologist who studied the fish claimed it could live to 85IBs IF it had lived its full life.
MJB |
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Posts: 172
Location: Chagrin Falls, Ohio | Mike, that is an absolute pig! Nice job! I had my chance at a fish near that size class last week but she missed my Top-Raider, hit really hard, and just pushed so much water at the surface that she knocked the bait out of line just enough. Even if I hooked her, I was in standing timber and there's always a chance that something could go wrong. Everything has to work in you're favor to land a fish that size. Tyler |
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| Hey tyler,i was looking for your post on how you did at the cave.My dad and i were talking to you at tonys place the day you got in and the day we were leaving.If you want email me at [email protected] you did good every day but saturday.{Chuckle} Bob Jones |
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Posts: 148
Location: DES MOINES, IOWA | MJB.You brought up that a biologist said that Musky could have made 85#s. I staid at Kimberleys at Eagle Lake years ago,on a Musky trip, and on the wall he has a Lake Trout mounted in the 20# range. When I asked him why he mounted such a fish, he had me look at it close.By the gill cover you could see where a fish had grabbed this Trout from behind. It had actually almost taken a fat 20# Lake Trout in one bite in a tug of war by the boat with a Trout fisherman fishing in 85 foot of water. The guy was use to catching large fish(40# Lakers), and swore this fish had to be pushing 100#s. He got a real good look at it, because the fish refused to let go of the Trout at the boat.I guess this has happened enough that the Kimberleys believe these size fish move to deep Trout holes, and feed on big Lakers.Less work to chomp down a 20# fish than chase a bunch of small fish all over the lake.True?Who knows?I don,t plan on trolling lures the size of a 20# Lake Trout in the near future.Good Fishing. |
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Posts: 7123
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | The biologist who studied the fish claimed it could live to 85IBs IF it had lived its full life.
Funny that just came up, talked to a guy about 2 days ago who works for the DNR, mentioned that very quote.....
Basically, we cant judge how big it MIGHT get, quick example of why not:
I was 5'10" at age 14....now I'm 29, and 6' tall. The Williams 61LBer was only 15 years old (correct me if i'm wrong), maybe it would have gone on to be 71lbs, or maybe would have ended at 63lbs?
Not bashing catch and release here, just making you think a little....
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| I think the Williams fish was 19 years and yes it would have been a monster fish (70 lbs +). I think in the near future someone will absolutely shatter the world record. A 70 - 80 lbers will come out of somewhere (I just think they will come from GBay). Only time will tell, btw I also think the record has been caught and put back by someone in recent years. Some people dont care what others think and just release fish, I on the other hand would love to share that fish with everyone (I hope I get that opportunity)
Musk. |
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Posts: 78
Location: Pardeeville, WI | I wouldnt think that a lot of them are caught at least in Wisconsin. Tony Rizzo hasnt even caught a 50 lber. |
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