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Posts: 162
Location: East Troy, WI | just wanna kwow your biggest follow of a fish that you didn't hook into... the one that you have nightmares about...
my story goes like this...
on eagle... dusk... 8pm or so... last week of june
tossing a suick in a great spot where i raised a bunch of fish earlier in the day...
had at least a 52" strike the suick and miss... quickly put that rod down... threw my black and orange bulldawg at the same spot where the fish swam off to
burning the bulldawg in.... i see her trailing behind... fast as a train... she turns away at the boat... i do a figure 8... 1 time, 2 times... 3 times... crap shes behind it again...
she followed the figure 8 all the way around the boat... and swam away again...
lol ruined my vacation...
not to mention i raised her 2 more times that next day and didn't convince her to hit
missed my first 50... |
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Posts: 434
Location: searchin for 50 | Fishing with Herbie on Eagle last day of trip up on east end. Monster fish Can you say HUGE!!!!!!!!!!!! I hate eagle too. So many follows not enough biters. Ihave seen some HUGEfish in that lake tho.It can be like an addiction. Huge follows and more huge follows and more. Then you try and figure out what it takes to make them bite. and sooooo frustrating. 
Edited by Raider150 1/9/2007 7:31 PM
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | fishing with Cal and Bette on Eagle last year .... WOW |
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Posts: 2037
Location: lansing, il | it was gross x gross sled! |
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Posts: 2865
Location: Brookfield, WI | Yes, Eagle. Darcy estimated 52" to 54", and FAT. Rolled on her side and showed me her big belly, then spit the XX at me.
When I got back I almost felt like giving up. That trip really beat up the old Psyche.
By a little rock island way down through the narrows.
Kevin
Deep Dish Pizza
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Posts: 40
| Fishing on Eagle Lake 1987 ,colmans reef 2 seperate 55"plus fish .My father and I seen them numberous time . I guess they had lock jaw. I'll never forget that evening.  |
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Posts: 4266
| Fishing alone on Cass last September throwing a 10" prototype glider.
I paused the retrieve when the lure was about 10-12 feet from the boat, and while it was hanging there a mid 50" fish came from the side and below and ate the entire lure sideways in her mouth. In one movement she turned to go back to where she came from, and I set the hook harder than I ever have in my life. She wallowed with her mouth open, and I could see the whole lure in her mouth. She surfaced near the transom, but I didn't have time to get the net and she swam toward the bow on a power run. As she went past, I could see the white of her belly extending out past the width of her back. She was fat!
This is when the hook set came back to haunt me. I hit the trolling motor and headed out to about 30' of water, but she couldn't take out any line. I looked down to see that I had buried the line deeper than any backlash when I set the hook. She couldn't take line and I couldn't reel any in. By now I was on my knees bent over the side of the boat and she started to thrash again. Then...slack line and she was gone.
If I would have had someone with me, they could have netted her many times while she wallowed on the surface near the transom, but ........shouldacouldawoulda.
I've had 50" fish in the net and in the boat, and she would have surpassed them all easily.
Oh well. At least I got to see her eat something that I made. That was cool. And I have the lure with the scars to remember her by. |
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Posts: 723
| I don't even want to talk about it.  unless this is a support group that helps get rid of imprinted images in the brain. very long, very girthy, big white spot on her back, she's kinda hard to miss. saw her 3 times in one day, no doubts about it, never seen anything like it. NO big fish in wisconsin. I mean, I was in minnesota, yeah, thats where I was......... |
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Posts: 199
| I think the biggest fish I ever had up was pre-fishing the WMT in Lac Veuix Desert tossing a Funky Chicken in the Bullrushes and there she was mouth wide open at the bow of the boat. That fish was over 50 but I am not sure how much wide fat and deep. No big fish in Wisconsin though....
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Posts: 1310
Location: Washington, PA | Eagle. I don't like to talk about it. Ask slamr.
Edited by tomyv 1/10/2007 8:28 AM
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Posts: 32930
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | So many...
One that is still clear as can be was on Pelican. I had caught a 54 that year, so had a pretty good frame of reference; this one was bigger by a bit. The big fish was living on the SE point of cabbage on the outside of Muskie Bay. I knew she was there, had seen her a few times and followed her from the Flats into the bay as fall wore on.
I was fishing a yellow Fliptail Creature. Pitched it to the edge, and just when it hit the water, she was on it. I burned it a few feet and let it drop, no dice. Repeated a couple times, and saw she was there again. As I got the lure to the boat, I stopped it about 4' down, and she came in, ate it, and simply swam off. When I set the hook, it was like there wasn't anything on the end of that line at all, WHIFF! She turned, blew out the Creature, and swam away as I watched my jig sink out of sight. That fish inhaled a leader over a foot long instantly.
I was fishing with a friend that day, and he still talks about the water moving everywhere from that fish taking the jig. That was an incredible week, I had 11 over 45 in 7 days, all on jigs.
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Posts: 2754
Location: Mauston, Wisconsin | If I told you, you would'nt believe it! But, bigger than Cal Johnson's fish by at least + 6".
Have fun in 2007!
Al
Edited by ESOX Maniac 1/10/2007 4:04 PM
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Posts: 1188
Location: Iowa | Fishing with my dad on Eagle last year 2nd night, I raised the fish before dinner and I witnessed dad miss her boat side within site of our camp...seemed like it took 20 minutes but probably only took 20 seconds...I can still close my eyes and see that 5 gallon bucket for a head/mouth engulf his double cowgirl...and I mean engulf...it was completely gone in this fishes mouth...drag froze and she was gone...never saw her again either...she was legit 54" at least and thick all down her back...definetly over 40 pounds...we're goin back next year though...last week in september...full moon week...
Big Perc
Edited by Big Perc 1/10/2007 12:21 PM
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Posts: 1996
Location: Pelican Lake/Three Lakes Chain | I have never seen a fish that would have threatened a world record. Maybe a few that could have stretched a scale to 50# but I would feel more comfortable calling them mid 40#ers.
The first was on Eagle, Dog Island to be exact. Herbie had warned us that it was there, apparently the warning hadn't sunk in because it still freaked me out when it came in. I never got to throw a cast back at it because Troyz decided that this was the perfect time to take a header into the lake.....but I digress!
Second one was on Pelican, ahh....the Queen of the island. Had her on twice, once on a Super TR in mid September, the second time on a sucker the last day of open water that year. I had to ask Steve Worrall how big it was, I had nothing to compare it too.
Third was last year on LOTW. Last night of the trip, last spot. Chasing a weagle moving a ton of water. I slowed the retrieve as I got near the boat and when I ran out of line I paused the bait (just like Dick Pearson taught me) and the fish sat just an inch below it flaring its gills for about 30 seconds. It was one of the most intense half minutes of my entire life. When it swam off I asked my buddy Todd Forcier how big it was, His response, "bigger than anything I've ever seen before".
All of these fish were in the same size range, 54-55 inches and probably between 45-50#. If I ever see anything bigger I don't know how I would react because those fish had me shaking!
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Posts: 484
Location: St. Louis, MO., Marco Is., FL, Nestor Falls, ON | I have seen only 3 fish over 60" in my 53 years of muskie fishing. One was on Kay Lake in the mid-70's. Two were about 100 yards apart on LOTW, but also twenty years apart. The most recent was year before last. I was fishing a pass between two islands with the wind really blowing down the slot. I had always fished the opposite bank, but this time fished the rather nondescript West side. As I reached a blow down, a HUGE muskie dashed out after my Crane bait. It followed about a foot back all the way to the boat, rested along side the boat as I twitched the lure. Followed around the boat as I continued moving completely around the boat. Jaws and gills were flaring, but it wouldn't bite. I had a 60" floating ruler that I threw into the water after the fish finally swam off. The muskie was at least that long. I moved on down the shore, around the corner and raised 5 muskies and caught three. Largest 46". I went back up above the spot where I had raised the big fish and let the wind carry me on past the spot. As I cast back to the tree, a huge muskie raced out and followed all the way back. I thought it was the same fish, but this one was only 52". I guess those 60" fish get that big because they aren't stupid. That was an amazing afternoon. I always go back to that spot when the wind is blowing hard from the North. I only see fish there when the wind is from that direction. The rest of the time....nothing. I know some of you will think I am exaggerating, but I have caught many fish over 50" and am pretty good at judging size while still in the water. If I ever catch it, I hope I can get a picture, because I fish alone most of the time. I'm sure I'll find a way. I'll post the picture and then wait for all the flack to begin. I am glad I had someone else with me to see that monster. Maybe this year........hope springs eternal.
Edited by rpieske 1/10/2007 3:57 PM
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Location: Northern Wisconsin | probally 45 inches |
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Posts: 281
Location: Girdwood, Alaska | Oh man... it was HUGE, and it resides in Pelican. |
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Posts: 380
Location: Il | Up in Norther Wisconsin I was throwning a jerkbait and had a small pike hit it and get hooked. As I was reeling it in, a monster came at it like a bat out of hell. Right when it got to the pike it sniffed it looked at me a waved see ya. I will get her someday. |
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Posts: 189
Location: Hoboken, NJ / North Webster, IN | Surprise....Eagle lake!! With Herbie. Throwing my homemade topwater which Herbie had nicknamed "Goofy F@cking Thing"(GFT).......As in he'd say, " Get out that G.F.T. here and throw it" Anyway, throwing the GFT long cast, within 3 turns of a walk the dog I had a 50"+ a few inches behind my lure, back almost out of th water....snaking along with the lure......blue bird day so i could see it clear as the back of my hand.
I had time to try every trick I knew......Speed up, slow down, pause t-boned in front, etc.......and still had 20-25 feet left to calmly say, "any other thing I should try?".....at that point Herbie and my dad look up, and are surprised to see this monster inches behind my lure.
Turned off at the boat...didn't follow a turn....bastard!!!!!
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Posts: 69
| My son was trying to hold our boat with a undersized trolling motor in a channel between two islands,while we tried to fish a saddle in heavy winds at.As his yellow buck gets close to the boat a big wave slams us,and the lure comes flying out of the water as the boat lurches to the left.I'm standing there on the right side watching this fish slowly go by the boat that had followed his buck,not more than 6" under the surface.Wow,you talk about shock,I never even casted a lure at it.The girth was big,but the length was just not right.I trully have no idea.I know I've never seen one even close to that since,and really don't think I ever will.If I hadn't seen this fish,I would doubt some of the fish stories I've heard,but now I really have an open mind on just how long they will get. |
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Posts: 1106
Location: Muskegon Michigan | Mine was a little more than a follow. It was the most savage thing my wife and I have ever seen in the wild. It was late in the day on a small lake in Michigans upper peninsula september. I had just lost a nice low 40s fish on a SS shad. Year was 2003 I did not have either of my new St. Croix rods. My wood rod was a little to soft for good hook sets. I tossed the SS. Shad up into about 1 foot of water in a trough through a big lilly pad patch. I jerked it one time and the water exploded. The fish had no where to go but up so she proceeded to destroy 30 feet of Lily pads. There were pads flying, water flying ,mud flying and then she turned and ran right at me. The water was gin clear and when I first saw her I almost buckled at the knees. The tail hook of the SS Shad was holding a tiny strip of skin on top of her nose and she was still quite pi##ed off. I hit free spool as she passed the boat and I turned the boat and followed her out into deeper water(about 4 feet) I gently turned her and she came towards the net my wife was holding in the water. She tried to swoop her but the big girl darted away and I hit free spool again and followed her. This went on for 7 minutes and three tries to net her when she gave a little head shake and tossed the hook. I was crushed. She just glided down to the bottom and layed there in full view of us. I quietly backed away but kept her in view for another 20 minutes. I threw a black Bucktail past her and actully turned her head twice but she didnt strike again. It got dark and we left her. I had to leave for home that night and it haunted me for months. We had her along side the boat and we know she was 54 to 56 inches long but kind of thin maybe 35 lbs. I went back to this lake for the last 3 years and fished that area and the rest of that lake hard and never saw her again. My wife told me it was the coolest battle she has ever whitnessed . The SS.Shad still bears the deep holes from her massive teeth that I failed to move. The soft rod cost me a hook set inside of her mouth. I use a hard rod now for those soft pork chop baits. My wife also has a story for you. We were fishing last fall on a lower Michigan Musky lake when my wife caught a nice 29 inch Pike. We were using our little Jon boat so we didnt have a live well. We wanted to keep the pike and take it home and eat it. We tied it to our rear anchor line and put it over the back next to the motor. So we are casting along and my wife yells holy #### and I hear some thumping and the water is boiling behind the boat. Our 29 inch pike was dog boned by a fish that was about 51 inches and it was determined it was going to eat our pike. The rope held and the pike came back in with a blown eye and some pretty good cuts from the Musky. We tossed all of our lures at her but she kept stalking the pike. I wanted to put a couple of trebles in the pike and let her eat it again but the wife didnt want to risk losing our supper. As it was this Musky stalked us for over an hour watching that pike and followed us almost 30 yards before turning and going back to the weed edge she was holding at when she first ate the pike. I pulled a mag Bulldawg less than 2 feet in front of her nose and she did not take her eyes off the pike. Cool or what? Kingfisher |
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Posts: 724
Location: Southern W.Va. | 2 fish that I've hooked makes me shake when I think about them, 1 on LOTW on the 1st outing to Sab bay off the north side of Blueberry Island, the second at a small Lake X that mikie and me fished last year. Both fish were unseen and as strong as any fish I've ever hooked.
Don't know if I've ever seen a 50 but these 2 were by far the strongest.
Mauser |
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Posts: 1636
| My signature is totally sarcasm. I will be the first to say I have never caught a 50 incher, however, I've only made two trips in my life to "trophy" waters. Both trips I came back wishing I could go back in time and correct whatever mistake I may have made to keep those huge fish on or entice them to strike. Catching those fish would have been sweet, but the challenge of catching them is what keeps me addicted. Whenever I have a friend tell me they are having some emotional problems (depending on what they are) I look at them and say... try muskie fishing. Joking of course... maybe Some friend I am. |
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Posts: 785
| North End of Mille Lacs in 4' of water. Had one in the boat and raised about 10 others that morning already when this low mid 50"er came swimming up to the boat behind my orange manta. It came all the way to boatside about 4" below the surface and I tryed to figure eight but it was so big I couldn't get around the fish. It swam off so I pitched out a baby bootail and burned it in and the fish came after it with a vengeance but turned off about 20' out. Of course a boat motored by going over the top of it before I could get in another cast. It was one of those days where the North end looks like a parking garage with all the boats. It may of been longer but I don't like to overstate things, what I can say is this was the thickest musky I have ever seen across the back and would have easily been a 40+ pounder. Can still see that one in my head along with many other almosts. |
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Posts: 317
| This year on Oconomowauk. Early July. Ripping a HRT deep diver off the reefs when I had a hit so savage that it litterally took me to my knees. Two massive head shakes, me almost overboard trying to set the hooks fro my knees and shes gone. I never saw her and I have never felt anything like it.
October on Chicagon, in the UP. She followed a big doble bladed tinsel buck I tied 4 times over 2 days. Clear as day in the gin clear water. I don't think she was much over 50", but with massive shoulders and a broad side. I couldn't have gotten my hand around her tail wrist. An upper 30's, maybe 40# fish. |
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Posts: 332
Location: Neenah, WI | I was on Pelican and saw the largest muskie I have ever encountered in my life .
The queen had my sucker t-Boned and my buddy was yelling at me to set the hook .
However the flourcarbon sucker rig snapped on the hookset. I learned a valuble lesson
that november day never use flourcarbon .
Any one reading this post please learn from my misfortune. 100LB flouro can fail
SAINT 1
Edited by saint1 1/12/2007 5:07 PM
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Posts: 550
Location: So. Illinois | I hired Cady for a day while staying at Cass. I took my brother Jim along as a b-day present. The first guided trip for both of us and Jim's first time fishing for ski's. Jim was throwing a topwater toward some cabbage. Cady picked up the follow long before Jim or I saw the fish and the conversation went something like this.
"Jim you have a follow" --- 12 yards out
"Jim looks to be a good one" --- 9 yards out
"Jim it's a big one" --- 5 yard outs
"Jim its a F&^%ing Super Tanker" --- 3 yards out
"Jim -- figure 8 Figure 8" --- Boatside
Jim goes into a figure 8 and the fish followed through the left sweep -- then cooly went about his business.....
Largest fish I have put eyes on.... and a great memory for my brother. Jim was speachless as his knees were knocking. If you want a great day on the water .. hire Cady
Edited by AFChief 2/14/2007 2:18 PM
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Just wondering: What lb. test was the flouro?
Okay, here's my story...
I'm strictly a caster. Twice in my life I was followed by fish whose size literally stunned me. I actually (momentarily) stopped reeling in both cases! Not a good thing to do while burning a bucktail. While I've never seen a musky as big, I would guess the larger of the two was 50lbs or more. To see a fish of that size (girth was not to be believed) was a thrill and a privilege. Fished her spot many times that day and in the days, months, and years since - without seeing her again.
So, what was special about her spot on that day? She was up on top of the end of a rock finger with direct and immediate access to the deep, main lake basin under very extreme weather conditions. Clouds, intermittant squalls, and sustained winds of 25 - 30 mph w/ higher gusts. This particular spot was taking the brunt of the wind and waves focused right through an island neckdown area. I can't imagine the wind-induced current being stronger any where else on the lake.
BrianF |
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Location: WI | Summer of 99, North end of Green Bay, I wont even throw out a guess as to how big she was, but that summer we had 4 over 50" including one 53 " that went 51# on the scale, and this fish could have eaten her. I start shaking just thinking about that fish. Just knowing there is a fish out there like that will keep me going untill I can no longer hold a rod. |
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Posts: 3912
| Interesting the comments about the UP. No one should go there, the fishing is terrible, so are the bugs and all the women are real hairy. |
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