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Posts: 171
| Nope. 60" is another benchmark though. Louie Spray and only a handful of anglers have ever achieved such a feat. |
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| sworrall - 9/13/2013 9:08 PM
55" is not the 'new 50'. It's 55". 50" is a trophy, and so is 48' to the vast majority of Muskie anglers out there.
Very true. However, I think those, like Jerome, who fish trophy waters, and have already caught a 50+ fish, view 55" as their new benchmark. It's all a matter of perspective. Personally, the next fish I catch without a broken rod bigger than 44 is my new trophy. I will settle for another 50+ while trolling though. |
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Posts: 117
| I fish what everyone calls "trophy" waters. I have caught some decent fish over the years, with that said....I am still hoping for a 50 incher when I go out and fish. Only a select few guys have enough time on the water each year to consistently catch 50 inchers...so for them, a 55 is a trophy. It all depends on how much you fish and what your goals are. |
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Posts: 2026
| Timmy, when can I pick up that hat of yours? |
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Posts: 1530
| some folks just don't have those fish to catch. to me and many others its the HUNT.
I would rather be pulling baits then cutting lawn or raking leaves. |
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Posts: 77
| Tiger Cat's starting to grow some hawgs these days.....just saying |
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Location: Mauston, Wisconsin | ToddM - 9/13/2013 12:46 PM
Wont be long before there are guys pulling their baits away from a 50.
Todd, Heck I've been doing that for a number of years already, but didn't really think it would catch on with other muskie fisherman. You should try it sometime, its loads of fun! Now, I sneer at them when I do it!
I relish every muskie, every follow, every hit, every loss, and every sucess. Even those of my boat partner's. LOL- I remember Spencer Berman's expression when a muskie took the tail off his favorite 2lb Dawg. My own heart breaker(s) still haunt me, its all relative, its muskie fishing!
No 55" is not 50" or vica versa, unless you have a magic muskie stick. I'm on Mr. Worrall's side on this topic, a 48"-50" fish is still a respectable muskie in my book. I just like pulling the hooks away from them and sneering at them as they skulk off to reconsider their stupidy in trying to attack my lure's.
Have fun!
Al |
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Posts: 4080
Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | I asked this question after reading the post about " biggest fish that got away" Mid to upper 50 inch fish with 30 inch girths, that ppl are regularly seeing or hooking into....
It prompted me to ask: Is 55 the new 50 inch trophy mark.
I understand that it depends on where you fish,... I still think that a 50" muskie is a trophy anywhere.... I have however raised my expectations to chase the larger fish in the Lake, that I fish regularly on, to 55+ inches.....
I now blow by A lot of bays/spots that I know hold nice fish,... but not the Bigger Girls.... I'm after the larger fish in the system,....and they usually hang out in certain areas.....
Can't wait till November. Chances go way up for boating that 55 incher.....plus most of you guys will be in the woods Hunting ! Thank God.
Jerome |
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Posts: 192
| I have caught approximately 100 muskies in my lifetime and my largest so far is 47". Reading these internet forums is kind of sobering. I'm the only one that doesn't catch 1/2 a dozen 50's every summer.
Last year I was on a St Clair charter with a lady who had never caught a muskie. Her first two fish were 46" and 53".
Edited by LarryO 9/14/2013 1:55 PM
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Posts: 159
| Caught my first 50 this summer after 30 years of trying and untold numbers of Musky's in northern WI---this was a Northern MN fish....
I like Tony Rizzo's thoughts on this in his classic book--secrets of a Musky guide---IN Northern WI a fat 45 is a trophy---over 25 years of hard Musky fishing in N. WI no fifties---period....they just don't grow that long in the lake I fished on...
However in N. MN ---the fish do grow longer---that is a genetic fact--proven by net samples.....
What is missing in this discussion is the girth/weight factor of a fish--there are some 52-55 fish that are still real thin---long and thin.....
To me we have lost the wisdom of our fathers here----growing up --no one talked about length it was about weight---point being---I'll take the 50 I caught this summer that was a massive fish head to tail---pushing 40 pounds---over a skinny 52-55---
To me weight trumps length---Indeed many of the larger northern MN fish are also really girthy ----for sure the holy grail is a fat 55---I guess that's what keeps us all coming back.
But the answer to the original question---I say a 50 inch fish with girth is a true trophy in the mind of even the most productive Musky guys on here.....
Good thread!
We were just talking about this in the boat this summer....... |
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| sworrall - 9/13/2013 9:08 PM
'because you've been on these internet boards too much' says the guy postulating on an internet board.
55" is not the 'new 50'. It's 55". 50" is a trophy, and so is 48' to the vast majority of Muskie anglers out there.
Well said. |
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Location: The desert | I thought this was about average pants sizes in Wisconsin. |
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Posts: 4080
Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | Pointerpride102 - 9/14/2013 5:30 PM
I thought this was about average pants sizes in Wisconsin.
Pointer, your Talking about Wi. Females Right? ! Some fat Babes over there ...
Muskies of course?...
Edited by Top H2O 9/15/2013 12:01 AM
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Posts: 456
Location: Kansas City BBQ Capitol of the world | Raise your hand if you have ever caught a 50" Muskie. Yes their are bigger but 50" is the benchmark.
Ron |
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Posts: 734
Location: Watertown, MN | Jerome, yes 55 or 54 is to me that new magical mark, fished many of year in WI with grand hope of breaking that mark. Watch thunder on the water, and seeing bob and the magical 50 be that trophy mark. But into today day of fishing with people breaking that mark as often they do in a year, pending water fished 54 for me is trophy mark, but not discounting a 48 to 53 with big girths and fish that are just something special that u can define. calling the cast, your first cast on sport, But a 130 is what is pope for a buck, but still a fork is a trophy to a first time hunter. But always said I would mount my first 50", well a mid 50 still not on wall, 56 did got free mount for partner last year. So well let say no right answer, but personnel appreciations.
Troyz |
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Posts: 1296
Location: Hayward, Wisconsin | No, just as 50 wasn't the new 48, which was considered a true trophy when I was growing up (admittedly a long time ago!).
It is all relative to the waters being fished. As I have said so many times in seminars, if the lake record where you are fishing is 33 pounds, guess what? You are NOT going to catch a world record there! Quite simple actually.
If the waters where you are fishing produces numbers of mid 50 inch fish and larger, then you have a shot...otherwise, not so much. |
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Posts: 69
| 40lbs is the mark to beat |
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Posts: 160
| I agree 40lbs plus!!! |
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Posts: 559
| 55 is the new 50 if you are Jerome"s age.
fish on G rome good luck to you at LSC we will be pulling for you.
Edited by bobbie 9/15/2013 6:05 PM
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Posts: 829
Location: Maple Grove, MN | I guess that I'm sort of old-school, but I still think in pounds and not so much inches. Which fish is larger - a fat 52 that weighs over 40 lbs or a skinny 55 that barely weighs 35 lbs? To me, 50 lbs is the new 50. Length is secondary.
Just my opinion. |
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Posts: 16
| Well dang I hope not....I am new to musky fishing...let me boat a 50 incher first. |
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Posts: 93
| sworrall - 9/13/2013 9:08 PM
'because you've been on these internet boards too much' says the guy postulating on an internet board.
55" is not the 'new 50'. It's 55". 50" is a trophy, and so is 48' to the vast majority of Muskie anglers out there.
Thank you. |
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Location: Hayward, WI | Langkamp's Guide Svc - 9/14/2013 6:24 AM
Tiger Cat's starting to grow some hawgs these days.....just saying
I don't get it??? |
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Posts: 95
| Cory Painter & Steve Worrall hit it on the head... we've all caught Jumbino's in Canada that HAD GIRTH and I've caught Jumbino's in Minneota, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, and about everywhere muskies swim... whether it's a 38"er or 55"er... a trophy is in the eye of the beholder... my oldest son Weston's first muskie was a 38 1/2" hybrid... truly a trophy to him at 5 years old!!  One of the greatest days of my life... |
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Posts: 68
| To this day my favorite musky, and only replica mount, is not my biggest one caught. She was a girthy tiger with some of the most beautiful colors and markings I've ever seen. |
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Location: Contrarian Island | a 50" is still the # to shoot for in my opinion... we don't talk about how many 46s, 47s, 48s, or even 49s we have...we talk about how many 50s we have! 50 is still a trophy but I know back when I got in the sport in the early 90s a 50 was 'the fish of a lifetime', the ultimate goal, almost seemingly unattainable. a 50 is still 'the mark' to shoot for when i go on trips... fortunate enough to have 25 and another 25 by guys in my boat since 06...heck some guides do that in a season...so it's a lot easier now than I thought back in 1993...
but for those that fish true trophy waters, Vermilion, Eagle, Lac Seul, St Claire, GB, etc etc etc....the bar should be set at 55". Look how many 50s are coming out of St Claire lately... honestly a 50 is not really that hard if you hit it right.. but 50s are still trophies tho for sure.....and as others have said, it's all relative to where you fish and what swims in the lake.
Edited by BNelson 9/17/2013 9:14 AM
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I've seen several mid 50 fish from very small waters, I think the pressure and the release philosophy go allot further than the water you fish. Unless the genetics aren't there, such as Shoepac fish. Your not going to catch a 55 in those lakes, and your not going to get one in lakes where they don't get to grow past 48. The issue of killing fish over 50 has a impact on how many 55's you'll catch. It seems people get a lil funny at 55+. If we don't protect them people kill them and find all sorts of excuses or reasons; and sometimes they do just die. Let'em all go. |
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Posts: 46
| I have fished lakes with some would consider quite different size limits. On the smaller side is Indiana (36 inches) and on the larger side is Eagle Lake in Ontario (54 inches). I am sure that there may be a better list of different states/lakes but I did not find one quickly online. I believe that 54 inches is the largest legal limit set thus far (same limit is set on LOTW).
I think a realistic goal in Indiana is 40 inches. Yes they do come bigger, but my true goal should not be something that is reached easily, and should be worked for. That being said, when I fished Eagle my realistic goal was a 50. My fishing partner had been on the lake all season (opening day to Early September) and had about 10-20 50 inch boated. Once during the week we had a possible 54+ but it did not see the net, but it gave us a look at why the limit was 54 and not 50. We did boat a 50 (my largest personally a 44-46 inch), but nothing larger.
I think that the goal of most is 50 inches (you can choose whether that is smart or not). If you do not change your goals of "the trophy standard" based on your water fished, then I think that you will just be disappointed more often then needed. |
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Posts: 2754
Location: Mauston, Wisconsin | Its obvious Canada gets it done with lots of 54" lakes- there is one lake that I know of that is CPR only, its on my bucket list. ....
http://www.lacseuloutposts.com/ontariowalleyepikemuskiefishingregul...
Yes, I know there are big fish in the USA and other water's. But if you go to Lac Seul you will be only be bringing back photo's of "your" WR catch! 
Have fun!
Al |
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Posts: 176
Location: Tomahawk, WI | Location. location. location. genetics. genetics. genetics. 45" N.Wisc. = 50" Min, Can,Lsc. My opinion |
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