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Location: Athens, Ohio | ?I caught the biggest fish of my life today at Salt Fork Lake in Ohia. It took a couple
years to top the hog Mike Koepp trolled up for me a couple years ago at Pewaukee,
never thought I’d get a big fish in Ohia.
I wanted to get the Gambler out for the first time this season and get her limbered up,
the trip up and launch went well. I hadn’t been on the water an hour when I switched
to a flame blade tandem Giant Killer I got from the Kly auction last year (thanks, kid!). I
was fishing a slackwater area as I’d rounded a breezy point, when the lure stopped
about a dozen feet from the boat. The rod tip went way down and then back and forth. I
saw the fish turn, good fish!
I was by myself, so I figured we’d need to play a bit. She took out line, came in, and as I
was fumbling with the net handle in the rod saver, I heard the splash when she came
out of the water. Reeled up real quick, I still had her but she was not ready for the net.
Back out on another run, *yink, yink, yink* on the drag. She came back again and
decided to take up residence under the bow for a while. Got her back up, botched
another net job, she came around and I saw how huge her head was. This was a big-
headed fish, the class of which I’d not caught before.
Better net or lose her, a stretch with the Power Catch and she was in! Thank God and
Tony Grant for that net, anything smaller would not have worked. I could tell why I
didn’t lose her, she had two of the top hooks of the bucktail in her jaw. Release took a
while, but I did get a head-and-bait photo into the net first.
Muskies Inc. chapters were having a tourney, and I waved a troller over to take some
pics. (wh else would stop fishing to help take a trophy photo for a
stranger?) It was only when I pulled the fish from the net that I realized how long this
fish was. Girthy, too. I didn’t get too good of a measure, holding her with my bad hand wasn't bright!, but on my 48" ruler there were
only two inches not covered; she left a few eggs on the deck in the process. A couple
quick pics and I thought maybe I should put her in the net to get a better measure. I
opted to get her released quickly, and when she went back in the water she took off like
a scalded dog. That was worth losing maybe an inch or two, seeing a healthy release.
The pics are on the start of a new roll of film so it’ll be after the Mothers Day photos next weekend before I get them in. My kid tells me to winterize the boat and put it up for the year,
that’s the best I’m gonna do and I might as well hang it up now! Right. I wanted to break
45 last year and never, so I’m just getting caught up. Personal best just keeps getting
better. Thanks guys, for all your help and encouragement! m
Edited by mikie 5/2/2005 6:24 AM
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Posts: 32904
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Way to GO mikie! Nice fish, and a great story, too. Looking forward to seeing the pictures, sir! |
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Posts: 2691
Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin | Very, very cool Pal.......
This is going to be your best year ever.
I know your going to score some big fish where ever you go this season. Heck, you got to come back to Pewaukee again, we can take a shot at breaking the 50" mark.
Will this be the year......... |
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Posts: 724
Location: Southern W.Va. | Not only did I NOT get to fish with Mikie today, he goes out and beats my best by a inch . With his bad hand , I'm sure he did not perform the "South W.Va. Banjo Hold" to perfertion. Still I,ve got to hand it to the guy, One hell of a nice fish!!! Way to go buddy, next time we'll beat that and I'll be there to see your smiling face as I coach you on the hold!! Hope you had enough smarts about you to take off the lense cap. Man this is going to be the year of the pigs.
Way to go, dude, drink a beer for me and dream about this one for a while.
Mauser   |
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| hahehhehahah thanks for the smile ya HillBilly!
Nice job! |
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| awesome!
that's why fishing is so cool...i can SEE the smile on your face as i read that story. |
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Posts: 216
| Way to go Mikie you were long overdue . |
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Posts: 938
Location: NeverNever Lake | Wow, that's the same dream I had last night!
Dang, a Salty with eggs, had to've been a real porker. Can't wait to see the pics.
(worthlessthreadpics.gif)
Attachments
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 worthlessthreadpics.gif (41KB - 97 downloads)
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Posts: 2361
| Mikie, I love fish stories. I loved your fish story. Mikie, one thing I missed in there somewhere was the identification of the species you caught. I saw something about how big the head was. Gosh I am a bad cynic of the worst kind, but I just gotsta knows, was it a MUSKIE?
I am ashamed of myself for even asking. Well, not that ashamed... |
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Posts: 4266
| FSF, you are correct. The word muskie is absent from the report.
Also, I thought that the muskies would have been done spawning long ago.
If she was spilling eggs, perhaps it could have been fowl hooked......Did I really say that?
So Mikie, are we going to have to wait until after Mothers Day? Are you going to make us wait to see what you caught?
Call me doubting Thomas, but we've been hoodwinked on this board before by dogfish, carp, catfish..........
Beav
Edited by Beaver 5/1/2005 9:36 PM
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| Way to go Mikie, nice fish and great story. Let's see if you get your pictures on here before the pictures of the big Green Bay fish? |
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Posts: 1936
Location: Eau Claire, WI | Mike....
Whooo-hoo... Way to go buddy, what a great story.
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Location: Athens, Ohio | ok, ok, the film goes to the shop tonight. I said it was a "fish", now let's go back and review with Dr. Cady the "reasons you might be a musky nut". Wasn't one of them that you discuss muskies as "fish" like they were the only species? This weren't no freakin northern, Gene!
Sorry, I had a serious case of BMS last night - big muskie shock. Told the wifie I'd be very difficult to live with the rest of the week. thanks again, guys, for all the learnin curve help. Man, I thought I'd never get that bucktail away from the girl. She never stopped fighting, even during the measure, so that's why I'm a bit iffy on the 46, I think I could-a stretched another inch off her easy, but she needed to go back home. m
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Posts: 2089
| Way to go Mikie!Congrats on an early season fatty!Loved the story as well. Steve |
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Posts: 2091
Location: Stevens Point, WI | Yeeeehaaawwww! Awesome Mikie!! |
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Posts: 1769
Location: Algonquin, ILL | Woooooo Hooooooo way to go Mikie
Hope you took the pics to a 24 hr place
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| i also think Mikie should get a huge slap on the back for worrying more about a successful/low-stress release than about getting a perfect measurement! hard to do on a personal best... |
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Posts: 743
| MIKIE MIKIE MIKIE MIKIE... (can you hear the chant?!!)...MIKIE MIKIE MIKIE
you are THE MAN this week!!! be proud. that's a true hog and it sounds like she fought you like crazy.
Mikie and and that troller know what you caught..you guys were there....that's all that matters. if your measurement wasnt 100% accurate..it's OK. you know the fish is still living and that's what counts. Man, i quite proud of you! keep the good work. NEVER BAD IDEA THROWING MEPPS!!! MIKIE MIKIE MIKIE MIKIE..
tomcat |
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Posts: 147
Location: Leech Lake, Walker, MN. | Way to go Mike, missed you at the Cave this year. Have a great season. We still have a month to go up here.
Good luck, Murph |
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Posts: 1769
Location: Algonquin, ILL | Does this mean that Mikie will now host a Muskiefirst Fall Outing
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Posts: 1245
Location: Madtown, WI | Great Story Mikie!!!
Awesome catch! Glad a fellow muskies Inc'er got your pic for ya!
Congrats man!!!
Cory |
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Posts: 2384
Location: On the X that marks the mucky spot | Way to go Mikie! Nice way to start the year off. |
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Posts: 3242
Location: Racine, Wi | Way to pin 'em up Mikie!!!!!!! That is gonna keep ya going bad wrist or not, for years to come. Great Job!!!! Always great to hear of a good story like that. |
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Posts: 1996
Location: Pelican Lake/Three Lakes Chain | Attaboy Mikie,
What a difference a couple of years makes. Once you pop that cherry the rest come a lot easier, don't they.
Very well deserved fish, I tip my hat! |
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Posts: 392
Location: KY | Good job Mikie! I can’t wait to see the pictures. Perhaps a cover photo?
You make us southerners proud. |
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Posts: 686
Location: Tomahawk, Wisconsin | Congrats Mikie, thats what it's all about!!!! |
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Posts: 724
Location: Southern W.Va. | Now taking deposits for"M&M Guide Service" ( Mikie & Mauser).
Please send deposits to:M&M Guide Service,
Athens, Ohio Attn: Sue
His wife won't let him handle the money, neither will mine. He can be bought off in musky lures.
Can't wait to see the pics.
Once again, job WELL done
Mauser |
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Posts: 938
Location: NeverNever Lake | Cover Photo? Now there's an Idear! As his acting manager, I've already lined him up for several magazine shoots......................
Now get yer hiney down to Walmart and get me some pics........... |
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Posts: 938
Location: NeverNever Lake | We're also working on a line of Mikies own "Cornbread" signature series baits!
Edited by RAZE1 5/2/2005 4:42 PM
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Posts: 724
Location: Southern W.Va. | Just talked to Mikie and he said that he's in the process of putting out a NEW topwater lure called the "'Tater Bug". By the time RAZE and I get our cut of the earning from this new venture, he'll have to take out a new loan or 2 from the bank.
Mauser |
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