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Posts: 314
Location: Bristol, IN | Well this morning I lost the biggest muskie I have ever had on the end of my line. It was a 52" to 54" class fish. Lost it by having my rod break and the line going slack for a split second. That's my new "Nightmare" fish.
That's why they call it "fishing" and not "catching". At least I know where that baby is located. |
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Location: Northern Wisconsin | How long did you have it hooked for? |
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Posts: 314
Location: Bristol, IN | Approximately 60 to 75 seconds. She stayed down with some massive head shakes. She finally came to the surface 10' away and promptly dove down and beneath the boat. I had the drag torqued down too tight, but wanted her in the net ASAP. Live and learn. Lesson learned...free the drag a little more. |
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Posts: 720
| Oh, Mike I'm sorry man.
Having an equipment failure and costing you a big fish has got to be a tough one to swallow. But I love your attitude. Yep you know where she's hanging out and you kind of remind me of myself. Musky fishing or anything else in life is like being a batter in baseball. You can't hit it if don't swing the bat. So just keep swinging man. Your going to connect at some point. |
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Posts: 66
Location: Tomahawk, WI | She's not lost. She knows exactly where she is. 
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Posts: 16632
Location: The desert | Sounds like it is time to switch rod brands. |
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Posts: 8834
| Mine was somewhere in the 51" - 52" range. Operator error. I lost sight of the fish in the figure 8, fish caught up to the bait and ate it just after the first turn and just as quickly opened her mouth. Never felt the fish. The stupid part was the guy I was fishing with yelled "you got her!" and since I couldn't see the fish and didn't feel any weight I basically pulled the lure right out of her mouth instead of setting the hook in the other direction. It was a big fish, well over 50". I've had encounters with bigger fish, but this was the only one I definitely should have caught. I swore a lot that day. A LOT.
I had another fish of about the same size swim up behind a bucktail and bite all the tinsel and feathers off the back of the bait. Saw the fish, felt the fish, set the hook, nothing. Watched it swim away with orange feathers sticking out of its mouth. Not much I could have done on that one. That's the kind of stuff that makes muskie fishing exciting. The first one? Not so much!
When it comes down to it, though, you pretty much have to make mistakes out there in order to learn. You hope the mistakes are on the smaller fish, but somehow the little ones always seem to hook themselves no matter what you do. |
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Posts: 1023
Location: Lafayette, IN | Aw Mike! I'm sorry about the bad luck. Sounds pretty thrilling though. You'll get her next time buddy. Hope the rest of your season is awesome. |
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Location: Latitude 41.3016 Longitude 88.6160 | Sorry U lost that fish, I hope all U guys that lock down the drags take note of what will happen  |
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Location: Sun Prairie, Wisconsin | Mike,
Great story... It sounds like it was a tremendous battle. May you have a second opportunity soon.
Pat |
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Posts: 80
Location: Geneva, IL | All is not lost... It will be 2" bigger next time you take that awesome picture! |
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Posts: 576
Location: nappanee IN | didn't have me in the boat did ya? maybe you didn't lean over the side far enough. remember what happens then don't ya  good to see your still around, give me a call or email me would be good..karol |
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Posts: 1887
Location: syracuse indiana | boy that suck mike, been there and done that before. well now i have to say that that fish taught you a very good lesson. you will be a better fisherman becouse of it. too bad about the rod. if your using a good company they should take care of it for you. . see you on the water sometime...bill |
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Posts: 556
| Wow tough loss---sounds like you have the right attitude about it--I have had a rod break on me also---Quality custom made unit-- sometimes stuff just happens--at least you know what to do differently next time. Maybe you will get that second chance at her---Good Luck. |
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Posts: 305
| Thats got to hurt. Love your positive muskie attitude. |
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| This will probably win the the one that got a away competition
http://little-mountain.com/bigmuskie/pics.html
Sorry I couldn't resist but one a serious note sorry to hear of your loss but a great fishing attitude for sure. |
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| I lost two 50+ within 90 minutes of each other last year on LOTW.
For the naysayers ... yes, they were 50+. I've been fishing LOTW for 10 years and MN for 13, so I know what big fish look like. These 2 fish I lost were a couple of the largest fish I have even seen on LOTW.
Both fish bit on the figure 8 at boatside and I only had both on for probably 5 seconds or so.
Those big fish have so much leverage at boatside, I didn't know what else to do.
My boat partner was far more upset than I was. I was just thankful to have a chance and know that those huge fish have the advantage at boatside! |
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Posts: 314
Location: Bristol, IN | Thanks, Steve. And I suppose you wish all my kids are born naked, too. Lol. |
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Posts: 171
Location: indiana | you would have just stepped on it and made it 55 mike. .I lost a 50 plus the last day of my lotw trip and was rewarded with a 48 a half hour later. i had boated a 51 earlier in the week and i was really pounding myself for losing the second one. these fish make you crazy at times. the chance to hook one is worth the trip. you'll get another chance. confidence is huge. todd |
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