Will the record be broken?

[Cooter]

Just curious if you fellow muskie fishermen think the world record will be broken any time soon, and if so - where. I myself don't think its gonna happen. Even the big mid-50" fish with good girths are still 15 to 20 lbs short of the record. Not that there aren't some fish out there that big, but catching 'em is a different story. I'm gonna guess top picks to be Mille Lacs, a Canadian lake (LOTW, Eagle), or a Great Lakes fishery.

[RuKiddingMe]

I think it will be broken. The biggest problem in my mind is that the current record isn't real, I have seen the pics read the discussions and I just don't beleive the Spray fish should be holding any records (Sorry to those that disagree). So many big fish waters out there, Mille Lacs, Vermillion, LOTW, Eagle, Lac Suel, Moon River, Georgian Bay, Green Bay and the list goes on and on.

Good Luck all and may your next fish be the record breaker..

Think "RED"

RU

[Random guy]

I feel the chance of a record breaker soon is very likely. With a more conservation minded group of anglers practicing catch and release allowing fish to live a complete life cycle. Added to a more precise angler due to electronics, mapping systems and an endless supply of information increasing the odds in favor of the sportsman, as anglers we become more and more efficient every year. Remember a few years back trolling aimlessly across the deep basins of a lake was considered odd and a waste of time. Now we search for bait clusters with our high powered sonar and efficiently cover every square inch of water with our mapping systems. The big girls have no place left to hide making them more vulnerable. As for what body of water will produce the next biggie it is hard to say, I will bet my tackle box it will be a Cisco filled water.

[RK]

Hiya,

I think the window's open for a new record. Don't want to start the debate, but I'm also with RU - I think the Spray fish is a fraud...have for years.

As to where... Mille Lacs has an outside shot I suppose. My money's on the Ottawa R., Georgian Bay, or the St. Lawrence River. The dark horses are some of the bays on the Great Lakes and perhaps a couple offbeat Ontario waters. If I had to bet I'd say the Larry. Was out there a couple days last fall, and my God... Some of the fish they have there are unreal. Unbelievably beautiful fish too. Big spots - just pretty (Contact US Regarding This Word) fish. Saw lots of photos of legit 57" fish. Going back for a week in early December - yeeha

Cheers,

RK

[Quackaddict9]

as some of you say that you think the spray fish is fake/fraud... where would i happen to see a picture of it on the internet? I think the record will be broken at Cass/Leech or Mille lacs..

[MuskyBrian]

I personally think it will be hard for the WORLD record to be broken in Minnesota, besides the possible exception of Vermillion which has the forage makeup for it to happen. It seems the fish there are getting bigger every year( did you see Chad Cains 55"? yikes) Deep in the Depths of Whitefish Bay of LOTW I could see the record fish crusing as we speak. I would also be willing to bet it's in Eagle right now, and Lac Seul will not be too far behind. Green bay might be the new "sleeper" pick.....Let's start making bets now, ( If I get stuck with the Chip Flowage for my pick I QUIT!)

[Metroguy99]

Musky World Record Photo... Theres the picture. It does look a little strange for a 69lb. fish? I'm no muskie angler, looking to get into it, but just to keep on the posted topic; I'd say next World Record comes out of LOTW.

[eskay]

I'm gonna guess LOTW or the St. Lawrence, with Green Bay the sleeper pick. The 54" size restriction on LOW is creating some BIG fish, and I know where one BIG, BIG ol' girl lives. I just can't get her to commit instead of folowing and giving me a heart attack! (And she's not in Sabaskong Bay).

The Larry always gives up some giant fish, some day I'll get there.

Fall trolling is the best bet for a giant, but it'll probably be caught be someone crappie fishing on a 1/8 oz pinkie and 6 lb test!

[Quackaddict9]

I thought ya'll were talking about state record.. but world record to be broken in Minn, I dont know???

[ptkane]

Lake Miltona

[RuKiddingMe]

Miltona has some large fish, biggest fish I have ever seen was on Miltona, it followed my brothers suick to the boat, we about crapped our pants when we seen it, I can't even venture to guess it's size, VERY LONG AND VERY THICK.

I think the biggest problem out there is the Lake Association/Locals and their catch and KILL mentality. The LA/Locals do not want them in there and it has been a very heated battle for some time now, lots of council meetings too.

Miltona certainly has the forage to grow biggins, just not sure about world class.

RU

[Fisher Dave]

A state record has a good chance to be broken here in MN.. but the world record I think is pretty safe from Minnesota waters.. or Wisconsin waters.

I dont mean to sound so negative.. there are plenty of waters capable of growing a record fish.. but the human variable alone, even with the best fish handling skills and cpr ethics.. The odds of a mid 50" class fish of being released is a coin toss.. and throw in the slight chance it wont make it if released.. it starts to add up when fish are caught a few times in their lifetime... I know I have had fish get a few bruises in the boat when they went ballistic and I lost hold... trophy or not, I am not sinking 3 trebles in me.. its not goin to help the fish or me... and the overall number of people muskie fishing is a big factor.. It increases the odds by the number of baits in the water at all given times to catch that monster out there.. but it also greatly decreses the odds that the fish will survive to that record breaking size.. that 1 in a million fish that wont die of age 1st.

The record does have a chance of falling.. from a great lakes fishery, or even more likely some less popular sleeper lake out there in a slightly warmer environment.. somewhere off the wall like Conneaut Lake in NW Pennsylvania that doesnt see the pressure and has a number of big fish.... I witnessed the fish and game putting some of them in there from another reservoir when they had to drain the reservior to repair the dam.. Many fish were over 50" 5 years ago when they got transported to add to the numerous large fish that are already in there... they are not getting smaller, and not getting very much pressure... but harvest is an issue there when people do get lucky enough.

Lake Erie has some monsters in there and they are not pressured.. it is a good bet for the next record... probably going to be some guy fishing smallmouth that lands it.

[Random guy]

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.. it is a good bet for the next record... probably going to be some guy fishing smallmouth that lands it.

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My vote is on a Nine year old, snoopy rod and a white jig.

[The Grebe]

Nah, if the record fish is the one they have a replica of at Gander Mountain, I don't think so, not anytime soon anyways.

I don't know about those old records? I don't think some of them are valid? The fish that that the guy is holding is big, but it does'nt seem to me that it is 60 some pounds big? He is holding it up with one hand and pushing it forward with the other, or so it seems.

I'm thinking about putting a 69 pound weight on the end of an oar and holding it up with one hand, to see if I can do it as effortlessly as he seems to be doing it? Just some thoughts.

[Swimmer]

Ya I've read the research and such (Musky H. Mag, ect.) and John Detloff makes a credible case for the legitimacy of Sprays 69 pounder. If you consider that Spray was 6'4", a big man for his time, then the photo's make a little more sense. However, it should be pointed out that while Detloff uses some form of scientific method to discount or legitimize past "records", he also owns a resort on the Big Chip. All in all I like the Spray story and the Detloff research so I'm thumbs up.

State record: Mille Lacs in the next two years.

World Record: Some part of Great Lakes System within 5 years.

Personal Guarantee: I won't catch it.

[Aj10]

I dont think it will ever be broken but who knows.Theres probably 70 pounders who have never seen a lure but like i said i dont know.The state record has a better chance of being broken.

[Hoffer]

Spray is not holding the fish up by one hand. The fish is tied to some kind of a "post" and his hand is just laying on top of the post and he is holding the fish out with his other hand. One of the things that really stands out with the photo of the Spray fish is how thick that fish is from the dorsal/back to the belly. It is REALLY thick. I think that fish is probably true to its measurements. I dont see the next world record coming out of minnesota - my best bet is on the St lawrence. The next record for Minnesota?? toss up between vermillion, LOW or Mille Lacs - with Leach getting an outside chance.

[Cooter]

It is amazing how big some of those old muskyies are. Other than Spray's, Robert Malo's fish from Middle Eau Claire Lake is absolutely immense as is Cal Johnson's out of Lac Courte Oreilles. Don't know what I'd do if a fish like one of those came cruisin in behind my lure boatside!

[Cooter]

Here's a pic of Malo's fish. What the heck was that thing eating?

[cmoredrakes]

That fish is gigantic!!!!

I heard, I think it was last year, A guy and his kid were fishing in a river for lake trout, and ended up catching a huge muskie. The fish weighed about 70lbs. But, the fish was caught out of season and didn't count as a record.

That's a major BURN. {not to be mean}

[Random guy]

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What the heck was that thing eating?

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I would have to say anything it wants!

[FigR8'EM]

I dont know about the World record being broken anytime soon but i believe the state record will be broken either this year or next year. I have personally seen 2 state records follow my bait on a certain "secret" (haha) lake up north. Guess what color they were chasing... yes you guessed it, RED!!!!

Im pretty sure it will be a walleye guy who catches it though. But thats allright, then i wont have to make the decision to release it or bring it in for an official measurement.

Kano

[David Swenson]

I do not believe the record, state or world, will be broken anytime soon. They have stood so long now (if you believe them), it is hard to fathom them changing.

I believe Leech Lake strain will never break the world record, let alone the state. There are so few confirmed 50 pounders in Minnesota (guessing a 55+ incher without girth measurement as a 50 pounder is just that, guessing), the odds are against breaking it (but as soon as I say this some walleye guy will break it!).I do believe though Vermilion, Leech, Mille Lacs, and other Minnesota Lakes hold great opportunities for 40 pound class fish (maybe the best in North America right now?).

As for the world record only the Great Lakes or maybe a Canadian Trout Lake would give up such a pig. Genetics and food are the only thing that could create such a thing. I think only the Great Lakes and a Canadian Trout Lake have them both.

I keep my sights low and just hope I can have the opportunity and be lucky enough to catch a 40 pounder someday like my wife has .

David Swenson

http://muskieguide.homestead.com/

Only my two cents from a man who has no sense at all!

[CommonSense Guy]

The world record will be caught. The question is will someone be willing to kill the fish? It may already have been caught. Did anyone see the picture of that fish caught in Green Bay by a walleye fisherman? The fish was 55' by 33 1/2". Run the calculations and it was low end 63 lbs, and high end 77.15 lbs. It will be caught and whoever catches it will probably kill it is my guess.

[CaptainMusky]

How many "confirmed" 50 pounders come from anywhere else? Over the last 5 years I have seen, well documented fish come out of Mille Lacs that were in excess of 50 pounds. The Terry Blood fish, Jason Hammernick fish (he guided the person who caught it), and there was one that was 51 inches and weighed 50 pounds caught by a walleye angler on a launch (snagged it in the tail). There are also two fish from '96, both in the 50 and 52# class, one from "Leech" and the other from Bemidji.

I know for a fact there was a 52# fish caught on a tiny lake in Northern MN 4 years ago. The state record has been broken in MN, I believe several times over that last 10 years. We can thank all of the sportsmen for releasing these fish. The Leech strain or Mississippi strain is in Mille Lacs, vermillion and pretty much every other lake that the State of MN stocks non-hybrid muskies in.

I don't think there is much chance the World record will fall from a MN water, but the state record will fall. My bet for World Record would be Georgian Bay.