Lake Sallie 57

[Shoot2Kill]

I tried to stay neutral last week, giving him the benefit of the doubt....but now, I'm sorry, his actions with that fish make me sick. Anything else I have to say will get edited.

Pioneer Press Updated Story

[goblueM]

i mean what he does with a fish is his own business, and I'd have done things differently...

but the kid doesn't know how to properly handle fish, period.

20 minute fight? what was he using, a snoopy pole?

[muskiemanAD]

Yep, if you forget the camera thats your bad, fish should not pay the price!!!

[Tragic_Mishap]

it's a shame...but hopefully some good will come out of this whole thing when it comes to education about proper handling and etiquite.

this serves as a cautionary tale for those who think a quick trip back to the cabin for a picture won't hurt the fish at all.

[CaptainMusky]

Well, if the accounts of his attempts to revive the fish were true, it does sound like he had good intentions of releasing the fish, BUT, it was a dead fish the second he made the decision to go back for the camera. If he had gone out to deep water and tried to release it perhaps the outcome would have been different. I do have a hard time believing this story since he already had several mounts, so my skepticism tells me he wouldve kept this one too.

Regardless, govt shutdown, no govt shutdown, this FISH WAS NO RECORD. Period. End of story.

[mrklean]

still a sad story, funny how he went from trying to revive it for 5 hours to they watched it float by the dock

[Zelmsdawg]

I have no doubt that this guy knows how to handle fish, as it sounds like hes caught a few. But the mortality of fish releases made me think about this weekend. I was walking the dog around a city lake and saw quite a few musky shore anglers (maybe a half dozenish and each year there seems to be more) but with none of them did I see a net. Made me wonder what would happen if they did hook a fish. Easy to imagine a conversation between a couple anglers "Sweet we got one, holy bleep look at those teeth, you grab it"

Its great that more people are getting into fishing, just hope that those that do come prepared. Hopefully anglers on this site that are more educated are willing to take a min or 2 and go talk when they see anglers like this and help them out.

Zelmsdawg

[HugoBox]

I know I'm about to kick a dead horse and I've sort of stayed out this so far but what the heck?

Shoot2kill, I know you've had a great first couple years chasing these fish because we've had the chance to read about some very cool outings and seen some great photos. I'm envious of your success!! With that said, you don't need to stay neutral. I'm a crappy example because other than paying for my MI membership I haven't really done jack for the fishery (just being honest). That being said, educating and god forbid being called an "elitist" is necessary. There are a ton of guys who have fought like heck to give us the fishery we have. I don't know all of them so I won't name names other than Kellet (cause I do know him) but these guys have given up family time and are constantly fighting to improve things for the rest of us. What they are doing IS working. If they were neutral and weren't "elitists" I don't think we'd have nearly the quantity and quality of fish we have now. Just look at all the reports of big fish. These are the good old days (even if Mother Nature is screwing us a bit this year). I can't quote the whole thing but read on of Muskiefools posts and you'll see a quote from Jack Burns - "Dead 50 inch fish don't follow...etc." This isn't intended to be a shot at you - based on your posts you're a good guy who gives folks the benefit of the doubt, both admirable qualities and it doesn't appear that this guy gave the fish the benefit of anything. I guess the point of the note to you is that you're a self confessed musky junky, its okay, there are others of us out there, and if you have to be a bit judgemental of others, its okay. I hope the rest of your season is good - mine has been pretty chitty so far!

This fish may not represent the success or failure of the future of all fish, but the discussion around the events surrounding this particualr catch are valuable. Its not bad to catch a big fish, and some of them will die. But... if the intent truly is not to kill the fish then take the right steps to try to ensure a successful release - a boat ride for a photo op is not one of those steps.

[Musky Buck]

Story kinda sounds like buck fever, I mean big musky fever, it's changed too many times but I think I have a pretty clear picture of how things went down. If he's handled x amount of fish he's 1 of few deteriorating in the ability to be prepared for anything and prepared for the release, hard to believe a 22 year old with money being little to no object didn't have a cell/picture phone ready.

[CaptainMusky]

This fish may not represent the success or failure of the future of all fish, but the discussion around the events surrounding this particualr catch are valuable. Its not bad to catch a big fish, and some of them will die. But... if the intent truly is not to kill the fish then take the right steps to try to ensure a successful release - a boat ride for a photo op is not one of those steps.

This paragraph pretty much summed it all up for me. It is a learning experience no doubt. Who would have thought you throw a 40 plus pound fish in the bottom of the boat and drive across the lake will kill it? Im being sarcastic, but the point being made here, by you is, be PREPARED! If your intentions are to release the fish you catch, make sure you have the tools to do it. You dont practice a fire drill in a fire, you do it in advance so you know an escape route.

In all honesty, I doubt this guy had ANY intentions of releasing the fish. Just my opinion. I know the story says otherwise, but 4 other skin mounts on the wall, along with this being his largest pretty much sums it up for me. Either it is completely terrible at handling fish and they die, leading him to "not waste the fish" so he mounts it or he is just saying some bogus story to sound like a conservationist and not get flamed for it.

One of the biggest muskies I caught I dont have on film because I left the camera in the truck. Its kind of the running joke now, that if I forget the net or camera, we catch big fish. The thought never crossed my mind about going the truck to get the camera.

[Shoot2Kill]

I know I'm about to kick a dead horse and I've sort of stayed out this so far but what the heck?

Shoot2kill, I know you've had a great first couple years chasing these fish because we've had the chance to read about some very cool outings and seen some great photos. I'm envious of your success!! With that said, you don't need to stay neutral. I'm a crappy example because other than paying for my MI membership I haven't really done jack for the fishery (just being honest). That being said, educating and god forbid being called an "elitist" is necessary. There are a ton of guys who have fought like heck to give us the fishery we have. I don't know all of them so I won't name names other than Kellet (cause I do know him) but these guys have given up family time and are constantly fighting to improve things for the rest of us. What they are doing IS working. If they were neutral and weren't "elitists" I don't think we'd have nearly the quantity and quality of fish we have now. Just look at all the reports of big fish. These are the good old days (even if Mother Nature is screwing us a bit this year). I can't quote the whole thing but read on of Muskiefools posts and you'll see a quote from Jack Burns - "Dead 50 inch fish don't follow...etc." This isn't intended to be a shot at you - based on your posts you're a good guy who gives folks the benefit of the doubt, both admirable qualities and it doesn't appear that this guy gave the fish the benefit of anything. I guess the point of the note to you is that you're a self confessed musky junky, its okay, there are others of us out there, and if you have to be a bit judgemental of others, its okay. I hope the rest of your season is good - mine has been pretty chitty so far!

This fish may not represent the success or failure of the future of all fish, but the discussion around the events surrounding this particualr catch are valuable. Its not bad to catch a big fish, and some of them will die. But... if the intent truly is not to kill the fish then take the right steps to try to ensure a successful release - a boat ride for a photo op is not one of those steps.

Son of a gun I just saw this as I’m about ready to hit the road for the day.

Thanks Hugo…nicely put and thanks for the words. I just kind of feel like a goon for half way giving that clown the benefit of the doubt when in all reality he appears to be a detriment to all the work so many have done.

I mean seriously – HE PUT THE FISH ON THE FLOOR OF HIS BOAT and drove across the lake! Good grief.

I am a musky junkie…there is no disputing that!

[HooknHorns]

Well said Hugo. There is alot of good coming from the discussions on this single event. If I caught a fish like that and I was 22 that fish would have ended up on my wall. As of today Ive only boated 3 because of limited time and the distance I have to travel to fish. Just wouldnt be in for it for the mount. Maybe just getting wiser and hopefully this guy will too.

[DTro]

Well the fish is dead, it aint comin back.

Perhaps a good lesson to others for redundancy. I have a camera, a backup camera, and worst case scenario, the phone that is always tethered to me has a decent camera. If the ultimate goal is a picture fish, well then the camera is pretty darn important.

[PropsterII]

Well said Box. Shoot2Kill, shoot me (no pun intended) an email if you would please. kedberg at frontiernet dot net

[Nick Kuhn]

Well the fish is dead, it aint comin back.

Perhaps a good lesson to others for redundancy. I have a camera, a backup camera, and worst case scenario, the phone that is always tethered to me has a decent camera. If the ultimate goal is a picture fish, well then the camera is pretty darn important.

I carry about a 7 year old digital camera in my tackle box (it is never otherwise used, 3.2 megapixels I think) for this very reason.

[RumRiverRat]

His fish his business.

If he wants to kill a musky and put it on the wall he has that right.

Apparently he intended to release this one, but forgetting the camera probably doomed the fish.

[workin4bait]

The part of the story that always makes me say "what the **** ",the state shutdown has nothing to do with this fish not being a state record. There is not a time limit to take a fish to a fisheries office to have it verified that it is indeed a muskie.Yes, the guy is from out of state,but his parents have a cabin they could take the fish and the witnesses names to have it verified. Just saying if I killed a state record, it would be in the book.

[brad coin]

did he try to release it or not Im not making a call on that

Im reading on two other muskie websites that this 22 year old or any other 22 year old harvesting fish is an investment in their angling future????

so if by chance there would have been a 60 inch minimum on this lake we risked driving this kid away from the sport by not allowing him to keep any fish???. Which suggessts that NO minimum size limit should be used for muskies because a "Trophy" is ones own decision. If we get the nod to go to 54 inch minimum on the big lakes we should not go for it because a kid could get a 53' and not be able to claim his trophy?????

or

is the reason this young man chose to fish muskies instead of walleyes or sunfish is the thrill of a large trophy fish which needs to be released has it takes many years to produce for future 22 yr olds,,with what apears to be 5 on the wall now from a lake that I dont think gets stoocked lets hope the invesment was worth it.

[50inchpig]

did he try to release it or not Im not making a call on that

Im reading on two other muskie websites that this 22 year old or any other 22 year old harvesting fish is an investment in their angling future????

Those discussions being largely driven by our friends east of the croix, who just don't quite get it.

[10,000 Casts]

Quote:

Thanks Hugo…nicely put and thanks for the words. I just kind of feel like a goon for half way giving that clown the benefit of the doubt when in all reality he appears to be a detriment to all the work so many have done.

It's comments like this that give Muskie fisherman a bad name. IMO, comments and attitudes like this undo alot of the work that people have done.

And being and "eliteist" is NOT neccesary.. In fact, that word is being thrown around by all the polititians against future stocking and spearing bans.. Education is nessasry... Tell me, when you were in school, did you learn more from teachers that would call you names and were arrogant/eliteist or did you learn more from the teachers that cared and took the time to share thier experiences and relate to you. If one of my teachers called me a "clown, I don't think I would have learned anything.

Lastly, this is his fish and it isn't going to waste. I did the same thing for a good friend from California on a 49"er 4 years ago, it was his first Muskie, it was a thrill of a lifetime for that guy and I wasn't going to take that away from him. His dock was 30 secs away and we forgot the camera and both cell phones. He got his pictures and the fish swam away, if it hadn't he would have mounted it above his cabin's fireplace. Now he has a replica..

[Shoot2Kill]

It's comments like this that give Muskie fisherman a bad name. IMO, comments and attitudes like this undo alot of the work that people have done.

And being and "eliteist" is NOT neccesary.. In fact, that word is being thrown around by all the polititians against future stocking and spearing bans.. Education is nessasry... Tell me, when you were in school, did you learn more from teachers that would call you names and were arrogant/eliteist or did you learn more from the teachers that cared and took the time to share thier experiences and relate to you. If one of my teachers called me a "clown, I don't think I would have learned anything.

Lastly, this is his fish and it isn't going to waste. I did the same thing for a good friend from California on a 49"er 4 years ago, it was his first Muskie, it was a thrill of a lifetime for that guy and I wasn't going to take that away from him. His dock was 30 secs away and we forgot the camera and both cell phones. He got his pictures and the fish swam away, if it hadn't he would have mounted it above his cabin's fireplace. Now he has a replica..

Well, at least you started most of that post with a "IMO".

The decision to put that fish on the floor of his boat doesn't sit well with me, nor will it ever. Sounds like you got lucky with your buddies fish, congrats on that. Maybe we could refer to the other replies about "being prepared" before hitting the water I guess I'd rather be prepared than take the chance just because it's legal size and default to a skin mount if it died in the process.

Go read the other thread about this fish if you want to know how I really feel about this sport before you start spouting off that I'm giving any group a bad name.

[10,000 Casts]

Nothing against you S2K and I enjoy reading your posts and understand that you have alot of passion for our sport. I just don't like people calling him a clown having never met him.

We did get lucky 4 years ago when that fish swam but he was fully ready to mount that fish.. He now has a blown up picture in his CA house, a pic on his desk, a pic in his wallet, replica above his fireplace and a memory of a lifetime. I am a forgetful person and that doesn't mean I don't care about our sport.

One of these days I hope we can fish together. You name the lake and date.

[RuKiddingMe]

Tell me, when you were in school, did you learn more from teachers that would call you names and were arrogant/eliteist or did you learn more from the teachers that cared and took the time to share thier experiences and relate to you. If one of my teachers called me a "clown, I don't think I would have learned anything.

[jsondag]

I have been aware of this fish from the day it was caught thanks to local reporters emailing and texting for 2 days straight. The media circus is ridiculous and the story changes, shrinks, grows, different lengths, weights, reason for demise, blah blah blah. Forgot the camera? Come on! Are we all that gullible. Have you ever met a 22 year old that wasn't married to a cel phone. Then the taxidermist changed his modest song from admitting to outsiders that the fish was a great big fish that was rounded up to 55 inches for taxidermist pricing, but now that he's getting a little exposure he's on board with all the exaggerations!

It's all a sham created by a wide eyed kid that wanted his mommy and daddy to see what he caught. Hah, Camera...psshhh. He'll be laughed off the lake every time he launches.

It's actually the old mans fault. The kid just wanted some attention - The parents and family friends called the media and started this whole thing. He's gonna be the Steve Bartman (for all you baseball fans) of the musky world.

[10,000 Casts]

Quote:

Did you put said fish at the bottom of your boat? Or did you up the fishes odds by leaving it in the net? I sure hope the latter

correct, I would never lay the fish on the bottom of the boat.