|
|
Posts: 7090
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | We seem so focused lately on rumors of monster fish, arguing about how to hold a fish, when to talk about where and how you caught a fish, etc. that I think sometimes we forget about the POSITIVES of the whole fishing experience. Fish with me for any length of time and you'll see that I'm as much about having fun and enjoying the day on the water, as I am about actually boating fish. Me and Lambeau boated two fish this weekend, but the best memories of Saturday arent getting those fish, but him yelling at me for drinking his coke, and me watching him almost take a header into the dock while getting in the Tuffy.
Which brings me to my question: what are your favorite muskie MEMORIES of this year, or last, or years past? |
|
| |
|
Posts: 2378
| This year...
Jonesi doing his best Babe Ruth and calling the shot on The Woods
My 14 year old cousin putting his first in the net
A couple of the adventures that PK and I had this year
Getting absolutely douched by a wave in Treats' boat
Years past...
My first 50
Taking a header OFF the dock on Minnetonka in front of about 100 people
Crazy Old Man Bay on the Goon with Sorno
Edited by BALDY 1/8/2007 11:03 AM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 2691
Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin | Triple Play Muskies............Catching 3 muskies in just minutes with my kids. I will never forget that!!! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1086
| Most of my memories are about the experiences and the trips that we go on vs. the actual fish. The fish are just a bonus to the experiences and a trip with friends and relatives.
Fishing is an adventure where the results aren't a measurement to the success of the trips.
If we get some fish in the boat: great. If not: no big deal.
What happens in the boat and conversations in the boat or at the cabin or around the bon fire are so much more memorable and make it all worthwhile.
But to the specifics of those best muskie memories:
- My first muskie and my first northern on the same trip many, many moons ago
- Personal bests
- Boating other peoples fish - putting others on fish
- The candid moments and conversations that lead to mass confusion in a boat when a fish is on which lead to many big laughs
But...I wouldn't trade the experiences and memories of what takes place and happens on the fishing trips overall for the exact memories of every fish...no way. |
|
| |
|
| It will always be the first musky I caught. It was and still is the largest I have caught. Came on about the 10th cast of the first musky trip I went on. Caught it on a bucktail I made. Beginners luck I now know, but I haven't picked up a bass rod since. I still thank/cuss the guy that took me every time I see him. There is a picture of him holding that fish on my website.
Don Slagle
Hoosier Handmade Musky Baits |
|
| |
|
Posts: 880
Location: New Berlin,Wisconsin,53151 | Opening Day - Hearing this snoring sound in the back of the boat late afternoon and turning around to see SANKS dead asleep on the rear casting deck. He did go to bed late and get up early.....
2nd was fishing with my daughter (first time muskie) and watching the look on her face when this fish followed in a slamr crankbait right to the boat and hearing her say "what do I do DAD", She actually did do as taught and turned the fish on a 8, it took a snap at the bait and disappeared. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 8834
| Almost killed my uncle:
Pewaukee Classic, 2004... Nasty cold day, wind blowing out of the North. Dead battery, no trolling motor. Casting into the wind, blowing a good 25 MPH. Wind lets up just as I'm throwing a cast, bucktail wraps around the corner of a dock on shore. Motor up to the dock, I'm reeling in line while my uncle is reaching out over the front of the boat trying to unhook my bait. Just then this huge gust of wind blows the boat backwards, and before I can get to the throttle I hear this grunt -- here's my uncle, nothing left in the boat but his feet, holding on to the end of this dock with his arms stretched out as far as they'll go. Somehow he didn't go in. I think he's about 2" taller since then, though.
FRV Tournament, November 2005 -- raining so hard we couldn't see the boat next to us, rain hitting the water was so loud we had to yell from the front of the boat to the back.
Cave Run, 2006, fishing with Mikie. No action all day, after a long silence Mikie says "oh look, I got a follow!" sure enough, there it is -- charging up on his lure with all the ferocity it could muster is a tiny little bluegill. Must have been really hungry!
September 2006, Brad falls out of boat while I'm fighting a fish, Summer watches whole thing in amusement, does not move.
October 2006, Twin Valley, throwing a bulldawg... *bump* Set the hook so hard I swear the earth stopped spinning. Had it only been a fish and not a log the story may have had a better ending!
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 110
Location: Albertville, Minnesota | Not a great memory from last summer, but its one I'll never forget....re-catching a seventeen inch walleye with my hands from the back of my nearly "fitzgeralded" ranger.
Long story short, Father Hennipen park with my girlfriend and another couple during the fourth of July. Was out on reef catching eyes until the waves really picked up. Decided to hit the beach for a bit and let the girls do their thing. Well, the waves starting coming over the back of the boat while parked, and starting taking on a lot of water. The bilge couldn't keep up. Got it turned around to put the front in the waves, stole some sand bucket from little kids, had a huge beach seen, and finally got the bilge outlet above water. Through the event, the live well must of came open. And low behold caught a walleye swimming in the back of my boat. The Crowd went nutz when I held it up, hilarious. We had sandels to tackles boxes floating everywhere, but the walleyes decided to stick around. Also, Proof that you can't sink a Ranger.
I did muskie fish that weekend....so it fits in a muskie memory for me. Its amazing how heavy a muskie bait box weighs when full of water.
Chris |
|
| |
|
Posts: 4266
| Every time that I fish with my kid. |
|
| |
|
| A blue heron landed on my buddies shoulder around midnight on a full moon night. UNBELIEVEABLE! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1764
Location: Ogden, Ut | One of my best is my son catching his first when he was 4; it was 40 1/2".
His fish stand out more than mine do. But I do relish my first purestrain muskie caught w/ SJ, Tawni and IAJustin. Glad Baldy and PK were there too.
I really enjoyed lambeau catching his first Utah tiger before I could even get the trolling motor in the water...
Many of my best memories also involve MFIRST outings, of which I have attended 2.
- pitching a Pacemaker about 3 rows into the trees - Baldy must have really thought he drew the short straw on partners about that time.
- pulling a northern about 7 feet forward on a hookset while w/ Slamr.
- catching my first WI muskie w/ lambeau and saint1.
- matchfishing in a snowstorm while soaking 6 (yes six) suckers.
- being papparazi for Jeremy's 49 on Lake...um, I'm not supposed to tell 
- hitting a rock while with Winston, but hey, who hasn't done that?
- lots of times off the water are just as important too, and just too numerous to mention; except saint1's grasshopper...
S.
Edited by sorenson 1/8/2007 6:49 PM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 1996
Location: Pelican Lake/Three Lakes Chain | Some of the more notables funnies from the boat.
- Troyz taking a header out of the boat seconds after I raised the biggest fish of my life on Eagle
- Troyz setting the hooks on a rock on LOTW, losing his rod, retrieving it out of the water, only to set the hooks again when he still felt "weight".
- Almost losing Saint1 out of the Tuffy while fishing the Alliance tourney this year.
One of my best memories was watching my wife deal with a boatside topwater explosion at dusk and boating her first topwater fish.
I could go on and on, but very few of the best memories involve huge fish. Probably a lesson in there somewhere. I should see if I can figure it out.
|
|
| |
|
| Probably the best memory I have is : Fishing with my brother in Canada and having a fish in the mid fifties follow my bait in and just stop and sit there for 15-20 seconds, while both of us frantically figure 8. What a huge head this thing had. The fish just sat there looking us down and then slowly turned and swam away. It is the best memory for a variety of reasons because A) I was fishing with my brother. B) Watching my brothers reaction, talk about funny. C) It was the biggest fish I have ever seen. D) I think of that fish more than any other because of the stare down. E) It's typical weird muskie behavior. F) I want to catch that %$#*^ %@ fish. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 32930
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Keith smacking me on the back of the head on the Goon with the net handle and screaming " You are going to NET that *$#@%^& FISH!!!"
Fishing Lake X at the crack of dawn with Beav, and seeing that huge Wolf on the way there.
Sue screaming at her first legal when it went airborne immediately, three times. She swore at it. Allot.
Fishing countless hours and talking about everything in the world with my wife.
My son Brian working the crowd for 'first muskie attaboys' at Lakeview Inn's bar when he was just a boy after boating his first legal on a Snodlow. He could hardly haul all the candy out to the truck.
Hot days and cool evenings fishing with my boys on the Goon over the years as they grew from kids to adults. The best part was dinner, I don't know why.
'Throw your lure over by that rock, there's ALWAYS a fish by the Rock.' Slamr busted me, right there.
Evenings on little, obscure Muskie lakes fishing with my son, Keith.
Looking at Jonesi's trolling motor during a Goon trip, all busted and shot to hell, and saying, " I can fix that, I'll have you back on the water in less than an hour" and actually being able to do what I said.
The Hideout has created lots of memories for me, all good.
Fishing Crazy Old Man Bay on the Goon with Sorno.
Fishing Lou's Bay with Slamr and Nikki, catching a muskie, a pike, and watching Slamr swim in celebration at the concept. The locals were pretty sure we had lost our Yank minds.
Sitting on an Island on the south shore of the Goon with Slamr and Nikki trying to assure Nikki the lightning that was decimating the treeline was OK.
Going seriously weak in the knees after a follow on a lake by my house fishing with Theedz, and then watching his reaction when that HUGE fish followed his CURSEDLY loud Boogerman.
More than I can list, I'm a pretty fortunate guy, I guess.
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 350
Location: WESTERN WI | Talking with Dick Pearson at the Minnesota show last year. What a genuine guy.
Catching my personal best this past year, the pics turned out great even though I was by myself and used a self timer, <--- see pic below Got Esox?
Listening to the Packers while soaking suckers.
On Lac Vieux Desert, having the boats wake disrupt the forming ice making the coolest sound known to man.
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 706
Location: Richland Center, WI. | Best memory was being the netman for my son's first musky. My second best was helping a friend from work who was a rabid trout angler catch his first musky on his first trip out. I love catching muskies but there is just something special about watching someones face when that water explodes and the fish is thrashing and all you hear is"get the net, get the net" Remember guys, breathe in, breathe out. It's all good! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 688
Location: Northern IL | Kids catching big fish, I'm in it for that!
Attachments
----------------
 aab1st5006.jpg (87KB - 108 downloads)
ab4606.jpg (73KB - 105 downloads)
jb5106.jpg (71KB - 112 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 40
| My best memories of musky fishing were always fishing with my father. From catching my first legal musky on North Twin on a Mepps minnow, 32" 9 pounds, to losing a nice fish on the net job that dad had on Eagle Lake. Also, fishing clay water on the goon and not seeing or catching anything for 2 days, that's 30 some hours! Oh ya........ dad fished hard. Most recently my son, at age 5, catching a 42 incher on Pioneer Lake on his third cast! C&R...nice healthy fish! I'll never get tired of him telling the story...............First catch weeds. second cast back-lash, third cast MUSKY! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 519
Location: Bloomington, IL | Excellent post Slamr! I'll go with memories, too many for just one:
1997 - Catching my first muskie 10 years ago. Went to Canada with some buddies. I had been to the same general areas in Canada as a kid, but never muskie fishing. (3 the first day, 9 my first trip, capped by a healthy 44"). Ah, the days where things were simple and I didn't know any better. Now 10 years, and several $100s, rather $1000s, later...
2001 - losing what would've been probably been my first 50 in Canada.
2002 - catching my PB (47") on the Manitou.
2004 - On another trip to Canada, taking out my buddies nephew (16 years old) for the day, watching him catch 3 muskies in a matter of 10-12 casts on a Skywalker: a 40", 38", and 44". This was his first muskie trip, and his 44" wound up being the biggest of the trip. I caught two within 5-6 casts before dinner (39",41"), then he pops those three at dusk after dinner - all on topwater! What a night!
2005 - Netting Chad Cain's 55"er from 2005. My son was with me - he still doesn't quite understand what he witnessed that day. That trip has definitely scarred him with muskie fever! Also on that trip:
- We saw a bear outside our motel an hour after checking in (after telling my son that I had never seen a bear on several trips to MN, WI, and CA - got a real good picture)
- Having two boats cheer us on during the fight and netting of Chad's fish, then seeing a bald eagle fly over head afterwards.
- Hearing my son say to me "Dad, my knees are still shaking", 5 minutes after a mid-40s blew up on a Mag LowRIDER he was casting.
This year, I had the pleasure of taking my son (10) and nephew (16) to Canada for their first time, and put them both on (and netting) their first muskies within the first two hours of the trip. My son caught a 32" on the 'ole Mepps Musky Killer, then about 10 minutes later and within 20 yards of my son's, my nephew pops a 43.5" (while unknowingly slow rolling a spinnerbait) - his only of the trip, but the biggest of the trip. Not bad for his first muskie!
These highlight many great memories. To me, half of the enjoyment of fishing for this awesome, elusive fish, is the camaraderie - the experiences/memories like those above are priceless - then when I boat one, a bonus to cap of a day I feel priviledged to be on the water! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 2384
Location: On the X that marks the mucky spot | OMGLMAO Baldy!!!!!!! "At least you'll be dry now..."
That was probably #2 favorite memory followed only by PK "winning" the casting contest we were holding. He hit the dead, stinky, bloated, funky channel catfish with his cast...and hooked it. It was the most absolutely fowl smelling thing we've ever seen. Too bad I lost my camera phone as I had pictures of him dry-heaving over the side of the Procraft trying to get it off his hooks. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 54
| Getting my wife to muskie fish for the first time! She is still waiting for that first follow or strike then I think she will be really excited to go. Also taking my 2 yr old daughter out in the boat a few times and fish for sunnies and having her call every fish a "big" muskie!!
Chad
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 260
Location: Lockport, IL | Without a doubt my best musky memory was this past October getting to watch my old man boat his first ever musky. He has taught me a lot about fishing and we have spent a lot of time together on the water. His love for fishing got me started into my love for wanting to catch a big fish. We vacationed one year to Lake Vermilion not to chase muskies, but to get away into God's country. This is where my love for muskies came from. I got a lot of help from Muskego Point Resort when it came to muskies and a game plan. I have to credit the owners for my first legal which was a 46" off a rock reef. My old man tried to catch one with me and had plenty of follows and plenty of misses. Finally, after way more than 10,000 casts he landed one. It was a 37.5" fish, but seemed a lot bigger than just a fish to a couple amatuers. I was happy to be with him that day on the boat to witness his first musky first hand. It was also our first two fish day ever. Since then I have been subscribing to Musky Hunter and won't miss an episode of the new show on saturday mornings. There is a lot to learn about fishing, but one thing that I already know is that even if no fish is caught...spending a day on the water with a good freind can't be beat. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 780
| I'll never forget it. The Chippewa flowage way back in the summer of 1977. I was 11 years old fishing in a rented boat with my father and sister. We were staying at New Bayview Resort, which I believe now is called R&R Bayview. The three of us were walleye fishing in a small bay near the resort. My father took a cast near some shoreline bulrushes using a very productive but not well known bait called a sparkletail, a small jointed crankbait, which resembles a jointed Shad Rap of today. My father began to reel when he said "I think I got one". When I looked up , a musky leaped at least 3 feet out of the water. To an 11 year old, the fish looked as big as the boat. Anyway, my father was able to bring the fish up to the side of the boat and I was in amazement. Because of the light tackle we were using, the fish broke off. That was it. That's when I caught "Muskie Fever". Even though I have caught big fish since then, I can never forget how it all began. Kdawg |
|
| |
|
Location: The Yahara Chain | 1) My then seven year old nephew having a low 40" fish eat his pacemaker and get airborne 4 times, it got off the fourth time it jumped. Cole looking at his Dad and me with the biggest grin on his face, "Did you see that?". He was so happy he didn't care that he lost it. The fish is now 48"es when he tells the story.
2) My brother and I were working a 50" class fish that we had raised on this spot the previous two evenings. On this night we had our uncle in the boat, who was a complete novice. Uncle Jack is throwing a small globe that I gave him, about five minutes in he gets crushed....huge swirl, rod is in a U, my brother is yelling at him...SET THE HOOK. He never sets, the fish is gone. Jack looks at us and says, "What was that?"...My brother gives him a major verbal tongue lashing, he is a basketball coach so he is really good at giving tongue lashings. When he was done Jack thought he was swimming back to the cabin.
Great thread!!! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1916
Location: Greenfield, WI | 1) Getting both my kid's their first legal muskie;
2) Getting their best muskie so far;
3) Getting anyone else their first or best muskie! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 405
| Getting my girlfriend into her first musky only 28" but was pretty sweet! She still likes bass fishing more  |
|
| |
|
Posts: 16632
Location: The desert | First memory is landing my first ever musky. On Pelican with my grandma. She did the perfect net job! Then me having to explain why we were letting it go.
Second is all the time fishing with my dad. I got to get him his first musky (no dad that fingerling you caught doesnt count)
Third is fishing with Becky, she might not enjoy it like I do, but she enjoys going and will fish on and off throughout a day. Its fun watching her catch fish. Now I have to get her on a musky!
Last would be the 47 I stuck with my roommate this season. He isnt a big musky fisherman and rarely goes. First cast on our spot I miss a 40" fish. Second cast I miss what we think was the 47, drilled the bait right at the boat! Third cast I put the hooks into her and she wasnt going anywhere! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 327
| Best memory of a fish had to be my PB on the Presque Isle M1ST outning and being able to share the experience with Lambeau , Sorno , Gruter , and of course Muskie Mike !! He's responsible for my addiction to muskies , so most of the memories are things about fishing with him that I won't get into now , but they're funny !!! Getting my wife her first was somrthing I'll never forget , her smile for day's was awesome !!! Can't wait to get my son his first this year , not sure if I'll be able to contain myself when that happens !!! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 785
| So many but I'll just say a couple:
The first weekend ever fishing in Iowa, my partner caught a 34"er on Sat. which was cool for Iowa, and we hooked and lost a 38,40,43, and a 47 Sunday afternoon. I was jumping up and down and cussing after losing number 3 & 4, and even worse I had to leave at 4 P.M. to get home at a decent time. It still was one of the first times I encountered good fish, and being in my home state makes it that much better. I also realized that craddles are worthless and went and ordered a landing net (would've had two in the boat if we had a decent net).
The other is netting my mothers 40" tiger at mille lacs lake, being the biggest hybrid in my boat so far and watching the thing strike and see her twitch the bait to make it commit was awsome. I like catching fish, but even more than that is when its on the line of a close friend or loved family member. |
|
| |
|
Location: Des Moines IA | Wow, "best" is hard to decide, from the first one in the turd, that August day @ Shabb, with Jeremy, and Kenny ..........the 4 fish day on Webster with thedude, and Golden ...... can't forget "the coolest follow ever" at the Rhinelander outing ......Lisa's first fish was pretty cool ...... then there was Jeremy's 49X23 on the PI Outing ...... it's hard to pick just one ......
Edited by MuskieMike 1/12/2007 12:05 PM
|
|
| |
