New Michigan State Record Muskie

[catfishhunter]

That is one awesome fish alright! But, Why is it dead? In this day and age when we can get terrific fiberglass mounts why kill the fish? Was it so they could verify the state record? That would seem counter productive to me, Muskies are a rare fish, BIG muskies are even rarer. Just my thoughts.

[Musky Buck]

Shows a guy the kind of horse needed to make 50 pounds. That fish really reminds me of the 1996 50 pounder out of leech lake that you may see on northland tackles bionic bucktail packaging. I wish I knew everything it ate over it's lifetime.

[luvin2fish]

wow.

[Shoot2Kill]

That is one awesome fish alright! But, Why is it dead? In this day and age when we can get terrific fiberglass mounts why kill the fish? Was it so they could verify the state record? That would seem counter productive to me, Muskies are a rare fish, BIG muskies are even rarer. Just my thoughts.

There have been links posted on every site that I've seen this fish telling the story....killing that fish was the last thing he wanted to do, if someone has the link can you post it? A few of the links with the story explain what happened....that guy is no rookie...he does not even own a car...he boats to work and fishes muskies probably more than most people on here could ever think about - at least the way the story tells it. Monster fish!

[mainbutter]

That is one awesome fish alright! But, Why is it dead? In this day and age when we can get terrific fiberglass mounts why kill the fish? Was it so they could verify the state record? That would seem counter productive to me, Muskies are a rare fish, BIG muskies are even rarer. Just my thoughts.

It's a losing battle to expect everyone to release every musky ever caught, especially trophies like that, unless you happen to get regs changed to not allow musky harvest.

I have kept enough fish in my life to not begrudge someone keeping a fish like that. I'm more than happy to congratulate him on his catch, and smile knowing that at least we've made incredible strides in promoting musky CPR across the country.

Another thing to consider is that these fish aren't sturgeons. A fish like that is already 15 years old I'd guess. Maybe older. Muskies rarely make it much past 20 regardless of being caught and harvested. They just aren't that long lived.

A friend has told me that a musky taxidermist he talks to has a theory that the big trophy muskies are so big because they're infertile females(saving energy for growth rather than egg production). He basis this that he has mounted many big muskies with black and shriveled ovaries. My counter theory is that these fish are just old enough that they're beyond breeding years.

There are plenty of reasons to not begrudge a couple trophy muskies being kept, even though I would prefer to release every musky I ever catch.

[catfishhunter]

I agree with the majority of the things you say and I'm not criticizing the guy for keeping the fish, in fact I congratulate him. But is it getting easier and easier for us to over look or take for granted all the work we've done to promote CPR? Even if the guy is a pro and didn't mean to harm the fish, he still did and if he is a pro I'm sure he feels very bad about it so let's send that message so that younger guys don't feel the need to keep those fish. In 1972 the shoot out at Saganaga almost cost us one of the states finest fisheries. So many big female walleyes were taken that even now we need more regulation there,and for various other reasons our other lakes are being heavily regulated also. Keep what you want to eat throw the others back.

[DHanson]

You might want to read more about this story. The angler tried to release the fish, but she wouldn't go. He had problems unhooking the fish and by the looks of it, he had a very cheap muskie net. Live and learn. I'm sure he will be looking into a better muskie net soon. Even with the best tools and release, sometimes they just die. It's rare, but it does happen.

[muskydeceiver]

Dude tried to release it......gill got ripped...$#!t happens and these fish die sometimes.....the ethics police need to move....

[Mike Stark]

here is the link

click through the pics and read what they have to say.

[RumRiverRat]

You guys are too funny. An officially weighed muskie with multiple good pics, and yet you guys still arn't satisfied.

Pathetic really.

[BlueLundFishrman]

Undoubtedly, jealousy is the biggest reason for these guys to play the coulda, shoulda, woulda card. They play that card everytime, just like some people play the race card every chance they get.

[BlueLundFishrman]

That is an awesome fish by the way.

[Hoffer]

mstark83

thanks for the link.

just read through that and enjoyed seeing the other photos. No doubt about it - thats the real deal!

Gotta love it being caught by a guy that spends that many hours fishing them, and doesnt own a car - just a boat!! Thats awesome!!

And he tried to revive and did what he could - so this guy is 100% cool in my book - and I am happy for him. And jealous!

[b1gf1sh1]

state record, world line class. nice few cast before work i'd say. i feel sorry for him though. anything he catches could be a dissapointment now. maybe not. nice to see he caught it exactly like i troll. within that 50 feet behind the propwash has always been my best times. right in the tail is my favorite. pretty fish though. even prettier when it was alive. really deep colors in that live pic. just upstream of the last record, lol. time to take a trip to that area maybe. sure is a beast.

[scsavre]

Great fish!! I don't see how anyone can give someone a hard time for keeping a state record fish. Some of you are just too outrageous.

Those pics are unreal. I am not looking at side to sides, but looks like the biggest fish i have ever seen pictured. Great catch, good story. Nice job again all you complainers.

[uplander]

AAAAAAAAAAAWSOME!

[urban cowboy]

Ya, I would keep a record catch. That fish is amazing looking.

[mrklean]

great looking fish, the colors are awsome

[Musky Buck]

Very few people are ever going to even have the chance of releasing a fish like that. Some are catching some 50 pounders here and there but do we here of them caught again as a 60 pounder ? Not to my knowledge. People have been releasing 40 and 50 pound bracket fish here and there in LOW for a number of years, I don't here about 60 pounders coming out of the woods. Trying to say I have zero problem with them keeping it whether it would make it or not. Personally, I'd release it but I can understand someone keeping it. I would guess a muskie has a life span like any living thing. At least this one can be honored for years and years to come. I would bet another like it roams that system it came from, let that one push towards the 60 lb range.

[Flakeoutdoorsguy]

What a story! That fish is amazing, and great pics! Now thats a guy who deserves a fish like that. No car only a boat. Fishes everyday. 4500 hours logged and 25000 miles on his boat in seven years. Thats awesome!