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Posts: 7105
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | With as many muskie fisherman as we have here, I hear alot about the range of years experience chasing muskies that our members have. How long have YOU been chasing muskies? Thinking where muskies consume at least 51% of your time chasing fish as a whole. |
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Posts: 89
| year and a half |
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| but what constitutes "chasing skies?" Does that mean going musky fishing 1-3 times a year or strictly fishing for muskies every week and fishing for nothing else, or somewhere in between? |
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Posts: 654
Location: MPLS, MN | I think he means years fishing where Muskies are usually your main target. Don't think it matters how much you actually get out. |
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Posts: 1168
| Slamr - 9/29/2008 10:51 AM
Thinking where muskies consume at least 51% of your time chasing fish as a whole.
Is this meant to be "51% or more of all time fishing is devoted to muskies?" If this is the case then even though I have been fishing for muskies for a number of years I would have to click on less than 1 year by that definition. I'm just fortunate to be in a position career wise and family wise where I can muskie fish well over 100 days a year and yet I still am afforded the ability to fish for other things much more than that. |
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Posts: 7105
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | Sorry, mistype: meant to type "Thinking where muskies consume at least 51% of your time chasing fish as a whole.". But, I'll change that further to say....how long have you been considering yourself a muskie fisherman? |
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Posts: 2686
Location: Hayward, WI | This is my 3rd year specifically chasing muskies. I've loved fishing since I was 3years old, 19 years ago. Got out as much as possible and was serious about it all my life. Turned 16 and bought a boat, and was really able to get into it. I love fishing for other stuff, but when the musky season opens that takes up probably 95% of my fishing time now.
curleytail |
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Posts: 8856
| Hmm..
I've been pretty hard core into fishing since some time in the 70's. I've been spending most of my time muskie fishing (figure 30 days/year for muskies and 10 everything else) for about the last 5 years.
But I wouldn't go as far as to call myself a "muskie fisherman".. To me the "muskie fishermen" are guys like Herbie, Howie Meyer, Doug Johnson, Dick Pearson... guys with more days on the water than most of us have hours. +/- 30 days a year for the last 5 years doesn't put me anywhere close to being in a league with the real "muskie fisherman"...
Edited by esoxaddict 9/29/2008 12:19 PM
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Posts: 122
Location: Bloomington, IL | wow...im the first one with < 1 year....lame-o. Go newbies!!!
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Posts: 1086
| esoxaddict - 9/29/2008 11:49 AM
Hmm..
I've been pretty hard core into fishing since some time in the 70's. I've been spending most of my time muskie fishing (figure 30 days/year for muskies and 10 everything else) for about the last 5 years.
But I wouldn't go as far as to call myself a "muskie fisherman".. To me the "muskie fishermen" are guys like Herbie, Howie Meyer, Doug Johnson, Dick Pearson... guys with more days on the water than most of us have hours. +/- 30 days a year for the last 5 years doesn't put me anywhere close to being in a leage with the real "muskie fisherman"...
Now see..that's where I differ in opinion.
Just because someone might have a career that mandates them to be at work 8 hours a day, five days a week and might have a family that requires a lot of their time and attention to the point of only allowing this type of person to get out only 20-30 days a year does NOT dismiss the fact that they are a "muskie fisherman" if they have the true interest, passion and attention to it on other ways.
There is no "label" out there that is earned or not earned based on hours or days on the water. It's all a mindset.
I know my passion is into muskie fishing 95% and my desire is to be muskie fishing each and every day, but in the reality of the matter, I have a lifestyle that does not permit me to get out as much as I'd like to. Does that make me any less of a muskie fisherman? Not in my opinion. I still live, eat, breath, sleep muskie fishing each and every day in one avenue or another. Whether that's maintaining gear, purchasing gear, research through reading by use of books, magazines, internet, etc, etc, maybe attending seminars in favor of spending a day on the water, talking with other muskie fishermen on or off the water, etc, etc.
I think people put way too much thought and effort into labels and what constitutes who is or who isn't a true "muskie fisherman." That's all bar talk.
I've been bleeding muskie blood for well over 26 years now, but, in the reality of the matter, I haven't been able to get out those 100+ days a year on the water to chase these things. I've chosen a different lifestyle which means a professional career doing other things to provide a roof over my family's head and food on the table for my family and yes, I've chosen to have a family over some that purely just choose nothing but muskies and that's all that they do, day in and day out, is muskie fish.
Sure. I'd love to do that too. But that's not realistic for me. I've found other things in life to be more important. But it doesn't dismiss the fact that I consider myself a "muskie fisherman" even though..I do still enjoy fishing for other species as well to keep a well rounded interest in just simply being outdoors and for the thrill of the hunt that comes with general, overall fishing, regardless of what species I go after. But...at the end of the day, if you were to boil it down to what has my main focus and interest in regards to which species I prefer and if I was to choose one and only one species to go after for the rest of my life for whatever reason: hands down, it's the muskie.
But I love fishing for all species. But muskie fishing always has and always will get most of my attention and focus when "free time" does allow for me to get out on the water. But to me...the muskie isn't the most superior fish in the fresh water. Sure, it's a fun fish and it's a blast to go after and they do provide a lot of mystery and a challenge and do put up a good fight from time to time...but...it's not the only fish that provides all of that. I like to mix it up from time to time.
But...if I were to wear a "label"...it'd be that of a muskie fisherman. Regardless of whether or not someone gets to spend only 30 days on the water vs. someone else that gets to spend 130+ days on the water.
Someone could go out and spend 130 days on a body of water fishing for muskie and catch 100 fish..or...someone could spend 30 days on the water and catch only 30 fish....take a look at how the average/ratio number of fish per days on the water adds up. Using that example...who's a muskie fisherman and who's not? The answer is BOTH are muskie fishermen. Who cares how many fish a person catches a year? Who cares who catches the biggest and most fish in a given year? Again...just bar talk. That's, again, not a fair measurement as to what constitutes a muskie fishermen from one that is not. If the other person that isn't catching many fish or may not catch as big of fish...that doesn't mean they can't be considered a muskie fisherman if their true heart, soul and passion is into these fish, but maybe the only times they get to be out on the water are not the most productive times of day or year or maybe not be able to fish as productive lakes, etc. Way too many factors come in it.
I'm fortunate, thankful and grateful that I have my health and a career and a family that supports my desire to chase these fish...even though I may only average 20-25 days on the water but maybe only average 30 fish a year. But I know my heart and soul and passion are into this sport 24/7/365...without a doubt.
To each their own I guess... :shrug: |
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Posts: 7105
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | esoxaddict - 9/29/2008 11:49 AM
Hmm..
I've been pretty hard core into fishing since some time in the 70's. I've been spending most of my time muskie fishing (figure 30 days/year for muskies and 10 everything else) for about the last 5 years.
But I wouldn't go as far as to call myself a "muskie fisherman".. To me the "muskie fishermen" are guys like Herbie, Howie Meyer, Doug Johnson, Dick Pearson... guys with more days on the water than most of us have hours. +/- 30 days a year for the last 5 years doesn't put me anywhere close to being in a league with the real "muskie fisherman"...
Gotta agree with Mack on your post, but I'll distill my thoughts a bit: your comment reads like "my friends and people I admire are real, the rest of you (and me) suck".
Very high brow and idiotic. But, just my opinion.
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Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Way over 30 years for me, and a happy addiction it is. |
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Location: minocqua, wi. | leave it to a bunch of musky fishermen to even argue over this one ... lol. slamr ... your 51% looks more like a 47% |
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Posts: 138
Location: Utah | Fished for them as a kid in Canada...then picked back up fish'n for them as an adult when I found they had Tiger Muskies out here in the good ole state of Utah Been actively fish'n for them the last 4 years....
And the OCD habit has allowed us to make significant contributions stimulating the economy at Thorne Brothers, Cabelas, Bass Pro Shop, Sportsman Wharehouse etc. But I agree it is a very wonderful addiction and way too much FUN as all other Utah fish (outside of Walleye) are just BAIT IMHO.  |
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Posts: 8856
| Ok, Andrew, you're right -- I'm a muskie fisherman. So are the guys I mentioned. In fact, I think I'm gonna get me a guide license and start guiding. $400/day. I mean since I'm in the same league as the guys who forgot more about muskie fishing than I've learned, why not, right?
Taking reservations for 2009... |
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| esoxaddict - 9/29/2008 11:49
But I wouldn't go as far as to call myself a "muskie fisherman"
so then please explain why you chime in with an answer to every musky question known to man on here??? |
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Posts: 32951
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | The question was not who is or is not a 'muskie fisherman', it was how long everyone has been at it at whatever level they are willing and able to, based on the idea one fishes muskies 50% of their time on the water.
I think Addict is defining the term 'Muskie legends', but that's me. |
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Posts: 1316
Location: Madison, WI | My check book and debt says I'm a muskie fisherman, does that count? |
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Posts: 1996
Location: Pelican Lake/Three Lakes Chain | I think I am a muskie fisherman....and have thought so for over half of my 38 years. |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | Punt! |
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Location: Des Moines IA | and there isn't even ice on the lakes yet ............. gonna be an interesting winternet season coming up ....... |
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Location: Twin Cities | I don't spend my entire existence muskie fishing, I have a job, marriage, hunting. When I do fish it's for muskie's. But I guess i'm not a muskie fisherman by someone's definition here since i'm not a guide or pro??? I'm really confused now... |
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Posts: 415
Location: madison wisconsin | I AGREE WITH MAGRUTER!!!!!
4-5 yrs REALLY chasing them for me.
Edited by wers4455 9/29/2008 2:41 PM
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Posts: 299
Location: Ontario, California | I think I would qualify as Ive used up 175,000 frequent flier miles since 2006 to chase these things. So much for the family vacations. |
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Posts: 1168
| Things are clearer but still muddy...hehehehe.
5 years of over 100 days on the water. Still doesn't break that 50% +1 threshold. Journals and logs support this.
Based on the idea that muskies take up 50% or more of my time on the water I still fall short of this. The trout, bullhead, catfish, carp, panfish, etc. time combines to add up to more time on the water than the muskie time does. Probably a 60% to 40% type of deal.
So I fail the 50% mark. |
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Posts: 1460
Location: Kronenwetter, WI | Umm......it's musky season....pipe down and go fish....save the inconsequential squabbling for winter... |
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Posts: 1168
| Cowboyhannah - 9/29/2008 5:09 PM
....save the inconsequential squabbling for winter...
Better yet, use it when talking about SLR cameras. |
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Posts: 2323
Location: Stevens Point, WI | ulbian - 9/29/2008 4:26 PM
Better yet, use it when talking about SLR cameras.
That's funny! |
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Posts: 1086
| I think it's safe to say you don't have to be a "guide" or a "pro" to be a muskie fisherman. You are what you believe in your heart that you are. Who cares what anyone else thinks or says?
Lots of chest thumpers out there that think differently...and that's fine too. So be it. Let them live in their world with their opinions and the rest of us can live in our worlds with our opinions. It takes all kinds to make the world go around... |
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Posts: 83
| 87 to 93 with a rod and reel. Since 1998, and still going with fins, tank and lens. |
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