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Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | An all new really great read from our friend Larry Ramsell! This is a great read, and Larry will be offering more information and answers to questions here.
Throughout the history of organized muskie angling, beginning in and around the 1880’s and continuing through today, there are certain places throughout the North American muskellunge range that have become famous muskie “hotspots” (some locally only). These spots or areas have become legend and have, over the past (up to) 140 years or so, drawn muskie anglers from far and wide.
Most serious muskie anglers like to “name” many of their favorite spots. This has multiple reasons. First, anglers can talk among themselves at days end and all in the group will know whereof they are speaking. In addition, by naming their spots, they can talk safely without fear that someone outside the group will overhear and jeopardize their “secrets”. However, many named Hotspots in the muskie range cannot be kept secret as they have, over the decades, produced so many muskies that their fame has spread far and wide. CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE !
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Posts: 1783
| Nice read, thanks for posting it. |
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Posts: 35
| World Record Point up on Eagle! |
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| Good read. Couple years ago, we spent a lot of hours cruising the Chippewa Flowage on my brother in laws big tri-toon. He has been fishing the Chip for over 50 years, walleye and panfish. But, when we went over Pete's Bar he told me it was a favorite with musky fishermen and was a little surprised no one was on it fishing. |
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Posts: 66
| 40 Acre Shoal comes to mind... |
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Posts: 1296
Location: Hayward, Wisconsin | At long last, I've eliminated this article idea from my writing "Bucket List". And it has been fun working on it and I am currently working on Part Vi with lots of input yet to come from some of the top muskie sticks in North America! Should be a fun ride.
"Twinkle-Toes", did you read Part I yet?
Fear not "Shroomski", "Muskie Point", aka "World Record Point" is coming soon, along with another Legendary Eagle Lake "Hotspot".
Looking forward to input from you the readers, so sharpen your pencils (or more appropriately loosen up your typing fingers) and jump in. Let's have some winter fun! My contact information is at the end of the article. |
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Posts: 1760
Location: new richmond, wi. & isle, mn | Thanks Larry. Coleman's Reef and Muskie Point come to mind on Eagle. Although, you could write a book just on Eagle spots. |
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Posts: 66
| Just got to read it... busy day here at the fly shop in Colorado. Glad to see a Windmill get the nod as well!
-Cory |
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Posts: 402
Location: WI | Great read. Brought back memories of fishing 2 of the 3 spots. Reliving those days sure helps when it's below zero outside. |
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Posts: 44
| Great article Larry and thanks for posting Steve.
I spend a lot of time on LOTW, and as many know, most islands, points, reefs... on maps on this huge body of water are not officially named. Over the years and fishing with many different groups, it is always interesting to hear names of spots, and how over time, these names become very well known, almost "official." Other times, after a long day of fishing and telling stories in the cabin, we find ourselves talking about the same spot but with different names.
It would be awesome to go back in history and know the story behind the names of these spots, just like Larry did in his article.
I take my boy (18) and his buddy (17) every year to Canada. They find it very humorous on the names I use for certain spots, many of which are inappropriate. We started a tradition, that for new spots we explore, the first person to catch a muskie has naming rights. When it was my boy's buddy's turn to name a spot, he blurted out "penis point". I asked why and all he could say was that we the first thing that came to his mind. After a few more names, I had to provide some guidelines.
One of my favorite stories is "Chris' Pile". On a very windy day, we pulled into a secluded, sandy bay for shore lunch. Boys hopped out and immediately directed an immediate exfiltration for the spot because there was a pile of crap on the shore. Later that night back in camp, my boys told the story. My buddy Chris, who had his own boat, was in tears because that was his pile of crap he left just before we pulled in. Even funnier, he commented how his shoes and pants got wet when he was standing in the water and crapping on the shore. At this point, my boy peed his pants and yelled, "why would you stand in the water and crap on the shore?"
That special bay, which produces many and big fish will forever be named "Chris Pile" |
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Posts: 35
| Awesome Larry. Of course someone had to mention Coleman's Reef! Never failed to leave me with nightmares but so did every other #*^@ spot on that sea. Looking forward to the whole thing!! |
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Posts: 1296
Location: Hayward, Wisconsin | Couple of Eagle spots will be in the next three spots in Part II. |
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Posts: 1783
| Larry Ramsell - 2/7/2021 9:27 AM
Couple of Eagle spots will be in the next three spots in Part II.
Any idea when you might drop part II? |
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Location: oswego, il | ViperAce - 2/7/2021 7:19 AM
Great article Larry and thanks for posting Steve.
I spend a lot of time on LOTW, and as many know, most islands, points, reefs... on maps on this huge body of water are not officially named. Over the years and fishing with many different groups, it is always interesting to hear names of spots, and how over time, these names become very well known, almost "official." Other times, after a long day of fishing and telling stories in the cabin, we find ourselves talking about the same spot but with different names.
It would be awesome to go back in history and know the story behind the names of these spots, just like Larry did in his article.
I take my boy (18) and his buddy (17) every year to Canada. They find it very humorous on the names I use for certain spots, many of which are inappropriate. We started a tradition, that for new spots we explore, the first person to catch a muskie has naming rights. When it was my boy's buddy's turn to name a spot, he blurted out "penis point". I asked why and all he could say was that we the first thing that came to his mind. After a few more names, I had to provide some guidelines.
One of my favorite stories is "Chris' Pile". On a very windy day, we pulled into a secluded, sandy bay for shore lunch. Boys hopped out and immediately directed an immediate exfiltration for the spot because there was a pile of crap on the shore. Later that night back in camp, my boys told the story. My buddy Chris, who had his own boat, was in tears because that was his pile of crap he left just before we pulled in. Even funnier, he commented how his shoes and pants got wet when he was standing in the water and crapping on the shore. At this point, my boy peed his pants and yelled, "why would you stand in the water and crap on the shore?"
That special bay, which produces many and big fish will forever be named "Chris Pile"
I left one on shore in the tug. Not sure why you don't run into the woods and find a laydown. I always keep a roll of TP in the boat. |
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Posts: 323
| ToddM - 2/7/2021 1:17 PM
ViperAce - 2/7/2021 7:19 AM
Great article Larry and thanks for posting Steve.
I spend a lot of time on LOTW, and as many know, most islands, points, reefs... on maps on this huge body of water are not officially named. Over the years and fishing with many different groups, it is always interesting to hear names of spots, and how over time, these names become very well known, almost "official." Other times, after a long day of fishing and telling stories in the cabin, we find ourselves talking about the same spot but with different names.
It would be awesome to go back in history and know the story behind the names of these spots, just like Larry did in his article.
I take my boy (18) and his buddy (17) every year to Canada. They find it very humorous on the names I use for certain spots, many of which are inappropriate. We started a tradition, that for new spots we explore, the first person to catch a muskie has naming rights. When it was my boy's buddy's turn to name a spot, he blurted out "penis point". I asked why and all he could say was that we the first thing that came to his mind. After a few more names, I had to provide some guidelines.
One of my favorite stories is "Chris' Pile". On a very windy day, we pulled into a secluded, sandy bay for shore lunch. Boys hopped out and immediately directed an immediate exfiltration for the spot because there was a pile of crap on the shore. Later that night back in camp, my boys told the story. My buddy Chris, who had his own boat, was in tears because that was his pile of crap he left just before we pulled in. Even funnier, he commented how his shoes and pants got wet when he was standing in the water and crapping on the shore. At this point, my boy peed his pants and yelled, "why would you stand in the water and crap on the shore?"
That special bay, which produces many and big fish will forever be named "Chris Pile"
I left one on shore in the tug. Not sure why you don't run into the woods and find a laydown. I always keep a roll of TP in the boat.
Some days a roll of TP is the best thing to have in the boat!!! |
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Posts: 415
Location: SW Ohio | Thanks for posting the link to the article. Being new to musky fishing (only five years into it) and not having a great amount of time to travel, reading about some of the history of these locations is very interesting. |
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Posts: 1296
Location: Hayward, Wisconsin | Brian: I will be sending Part II to Mr. Worrall in a few days, so it should be up in a week or so. |
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Posts: 32924
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Article number two in the series is up!
Read it now, click here!
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Posts: 331
Location: Stevens Point, Wisconsin | I have a spot on LOTW not far from Monkey Rocks, small sandy bay on an island. Both my boat partner and I had to instantly go! I made a B-line for the closest bay and we both scrambled out of the beached boat and ran to separate ends of the beach. We named it #*#* bay. While approaching the beach I noted a great underwater rock point and tobacco cabbage in the bay. Caught some nice fish there and have used that beach again! 
Edited by MuskyTime 2/10/2021 3:18 PM
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| Can only imagine what a fight that was with a bait caster that had no drag, a rod about 5 feet long, fishing line that was maybe 25#? |
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Posts: 1296
Location: Hayward, Wisconsin | When I started muskie fishing in the 50's it was still "knuckle buster" reels. Got many a skinned knuckle in those days. Was sure happy when the ABU Garcia 5000 reels got here...what a great improvement. Today's reels are a dream!
Part III will be ready in a few days... |
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Posts: 1285
Location: Stevens Point, Wi. | And a burned thumb from the dacron line while using thumb as a drag on a hard pulling muskie. |
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| Larry Ramsell - 2/13/2021 8:45 AM
When I started muskie fishing in the 50's it was still "knuckle buster" reels. Got many a skinned knuckle in those days. Was sure happy when the ABU Garcia 5000 reels got here...what a great improvement. Today's reels are a dream!
Part III will be ready in a few days...
Yep, I even remember the "leather" box the 5000 came in. It was like something from Tiffany's. When I was a kid in the early 60s, a retired guy that lived next to the cabin my family was renting fished muskies and he took me out and showed me how to use one of the old reels and that was the first thing, watch out for that spinning handle. Second was how to use your thumb on the reel for casting and if you hooked a fish, something we didn't do. Saw a couple giants (this was his phrase, and he had caught a lot of musky). |
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Posts: 153
Location: MN | I have been enjoying this thread. Thanks Larry. |
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Posts: 112
| Great thread, and articles Larry. I've fished a few of these spots myself, and thought about all the stories surrounding them.
"The Bus Stop" on LOTW should be another one on the list. I'm sure there has to be a few stories around that legendary spot. |
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Posts: 1296
Location: Hayward, Wisconsin | Eastman03, write it up and send it to me and I'll include it in a future Part.
I see Part III is up now on a new thread...enjoy! |
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Posts: 112
| Thanks Larry - Part III is just as good. I wish I had a story about the Bus Stop other than getting skunked. I'm sure someone here could tell me why this spot is legendary? Other than the Bus Stop sign in the water. |
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Posts: 2308
Location: SE, WI. | MuskyTime - 2/10/2021 3:13 PM I have a spot on LOTW not far from Monkey Rocks, small sandy bay on an island. Both my boat partner and I had to instantly go! I made a B-line for the closest bay and we both scrambled out of the beached boat and ran to separate ends of the beach. We named it #*#* bay. While approaching the beach I noted a great underwater rock point and tobacco cabbage in the bay. Caught some nice fish there and have used that beach again! :) Ed; and here all Along I thought it was Pelicans or Monkey Dung I smelled  JD |
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