Time on the water

[GEO]

I just finished reading 'Time on the water' by Bill Gardner-- I loved it. It took him 400 days on the water (in the early 80's) to catch a 30lber (which was 48", not 50" - sorry Bill). I hear a lot of talk about that first 50 incher. Are percentages still that slim, or have times really changed since then with more sophisicated lake management and availability of collaborative angling knowledge. Al Lindner says that now is the best it's ever been for big fish. I'd like to see comments.

BTW, I fish mostly walleye and bass. I think I'm getting musky fever. I spent less than a handful of days strictly musky fishing last season. I saw several, including one I think was easily over 50". I have yet to catch one--that dosn't sit well with me. Have I attained an incurable condition?

[cliffy]

Hi Geo:

I read the same book this winter. I even posted a similar message on this page…you can search the archive under the same post heading.

I would assume the musky fishing is getting better due to stocking and catch/release. It still takes a lot if time to catch them bad boys. I recently got into the sport and have spent a lot of money on rods & lures. My wife thinks that I am crazy but I am having a great time. Good Luck.

[Guest]

Hey,
don't get frustrated that fast......

I've had plenty of fish over 50 come to only follow my bait, just to pee me off.

I got one bad boy that is in the mid-50s, that has to be pushing 40lbs that I'm still chasing. I've had him follow to the boat 4 times so far, but he won't take it. Each time, he just slowly cruises in, right below my feet.......again, just to pee me off.

Keep at it.

PS: This is one fish that I firmly beleive that truely no one knows how to consistently fish for. People are still experimenting with baits and their presentations......No one even has the colors mastered yet.

There are folks who are better than others, but no masters yet! Those who claim to be masters, because they boat 200 to 300 fish a year are soley because that is what they do for a living. In other words, if you or I spent that much time on the water as those "masters" do, eventually, odds are with you that you will catch that big tuna. Also, those "masters" are bragging about the lake they live on. Just because they are good on one lake for scoring fish, doesn't mean they can go to another lake and score fish there!

Point is, it is a great fish to chase, because of the elusiveness. Don't give up!!!

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Let 'em go so they can grow!!!

[AWH]

Catching just ONE musky is not as difficult as some say. For example, when they say it takes 100 hours to catch a "legal" fish, I think that is very much exaggerated. That's not to say it's easy. But I think it's very far fetched unless you are a complete beginner. Even then, I feel 100 hours would be a stretch. Sure, there are times when it will take you 100 hours...even more sometimes. But then you'll have a day where they go nuts and get 2 or 3.

Big fish? My definition of big fish being 50"...those ARE very tough to come by unless you are very knowledgable on where they live and how to target them. I'm not there...yet!

I've been musky fishing for 14 years now and have yet to crack a 50" fish. The last two years I have fished for them much harder than ever before...1163 hours worth in the past two years and no 50" fish to show for it. Very very close, but not quite there. In my life I have 4 fish at 49" or better to my credit, 3 of those in 2002, including 2 at 49.5". The 50" fish will come, but they don't come easy.

If you decide to get into musky fishing seriously, be prepared. It can and will be frustrating. But it will also very likely become addicting. It can be like an incurable disease. (Not that I want to cure MY disease!) I used to put a lot of hours in bass fishing every year. But now my disease is full blown, it can no longer even be treated. If I fish for another species, it only lasts for a couple of hours at most. The mighty musky now rules my boat!

Good luck and my sympathies to your loved ones if you get into musky fishing!

AWH

[Gill]

I’ve read that book several times throughout a decade of musky fishing (usually right before the season begins). However, I don’t remember him even catching one over the low 40-inch range. And that was fishing nearly everyday for an entire season, minus some down time for motor repair. Big G has it right though, catching muskies is not an exact science. I’ve spent a few thousand hours flogging water and have had only a few encounters with 50+ fish. Meanwhile, a 7-year old kid with a sandwich in one hand and his Snoopy rod in the other, trolling a red/white daredevil (covered in weeds) catches a 52-incher. If you’re going to chase those unpredictable slime torpedoes, prepare for an emotional roller coaster. But, start with reasonable goals (Mr. Gardner’s hopes for a trophy were a gamble at best), and try to catch a few muskies on local lakes. It may take a while, but once things start to click, you will usually see fish and hopefully catch a few. However, the only way to effectively up your odds for catching a trophy-class musky is to put your time in on quality fisheries that are known to contain large fish. Head up to LOW, Rowan or the Winnipeg river every once in a while. Also, make a point to visit some of the less pressured musky lakes where you're not battling boat launch jams or getting bucked by constant wake. These quiet trips are critical to maintaining you enthusiasm. Unlike fishing for bass, the successes in musky fishing are too sporadic to outweigh the nuisances of heavily used lakes.

[Guest]

Very well said Gill;

Truth to the fact, is that I only have one fish that hit the 50" mark. It might even of been a bit shy, or even a bit over.....We didn't stretch it, just wanted to get her back in the water.

However, I do have encounters with big fish (I've been fortunate enough) that have followed my lures, or my boat partners lures. These fish over 50, are very, very smart. They are seasoned.

That fish I've been chasing that is 55" +, and weighs in the mid 40s is in a small body of water. I know where she lives. And I got her to follow in 4 different times. Unfortunately, I think each time has been just before or just after her feeding. I haven't met up with her yet when she has been hungry.

Now, you want to see a frustrated guy........If there would of been someone with a cam-corder on the day that I got my 4th follow from her, I think I would still be in jail for the vulgarity that was screaming out of my mouth. I worked that fish from 7am to 8pm that day, 4th day in a row, 4 days of having her follow just once each day............By the way, her follows didn't come right away. They came at different times each day. I'd work it hard for 1/2 hour.....let her rest for an hour......then go back at her again......

Her and I have a date, but just like chasing difficult women, she hasn't accepted my offer yet!!!! I ain't giving up either!!!

And when she does accept my offer for us to meet in the camera, she will be sent back on her way, so I can have a second date!!!!!!!

Don't give up!!!

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Let 'em go so they can grow!!!

[Aj10]

dude thats a awesome book my favorite yeah i cant believe he went that long with out a muskie its crazy.I LOVE THAT BOOK