How many is a good year????

[BrianLucky13]

I just got serious about muskie fishing this summer. I went out and got the rods, reels, more then 3 lures, etc.

I was just wondering whats a good year??????

Ive landed six this year between the end of July and now. Is that good??? I have know clue????? All my fish have been between 43 and 47 inches.

I know theres guys out there that go every week and some everyday but what about the guys that go every couple weeks????

Also how often does a 50 incher get caught??? ITS GOTTA HAPPEN SOMETIME DOESNT IT!!!!! I would give back my last 5 fish for a 50!!!!

Thanks

Brian

[BrianLucky13]

I see I had some problems there!!!! OOOPPPPSSS

[cliffy]

Considering you had not even caught ONE muskie your entire life until this past July....I would say you are having a fine season. Dont get greedy, the muskie gods give...and also take away.

[BrianLucky13]

Hey now!!!! You also forgot to say I never fished for them until this year. Until this year I just guided!!! You know Cliffy, Ill never forget you cause I caught my first fish with you!! HA HA how does that make you feel!!! As far as the muskie gods; I feel that if I think about muskies all the time and cant get them off my mind, that he will be nice to me!!!! But who knows.

[esox addict]

For your first season of muskie fishinng, it sounds like you are doing great. I didn't catch one my first season and my second and third I only caught one. It took me a few years to actaully start catching them with some consistency. You should be glad that you're off to a great start.

[markkstanley]

You have had an excellent year. I spent 10 years fishing Wisconsin lakes before I broke 40". That 50" is for most of us a once in a lifetime fish unless you fish LOTW, Eagle, Georgian Bay or the St Lawrence a lot. Mille Lacs is getting there

[AWH]

You're having a great first year. How often does a 50" come along? A lot of it depends on where you fish. I've been trying to increase my odds by fishing a lot more big fish waters over recent years. Lots of time spent on lakes like Mille Lacs, Leech, Cass and others over the past 4 years. I finally cracked my first over 50" last year. It took 15 years and 210 muskies to get the first one. It better not take that long to get the second one. My overly optimistic mind tells myself that I'm going to get at least 2 more over 50" before the year ends. I better get going!

Aaron

[buzzsaw]

Son, you've now set your standards pretty high for next year! Good job, I'm sure you have a nice photo album going.

[shamalex72]

I have been keeping track of how many muskies per year since 1999. Started out good many multiple fish days, now I relly struggle to catch 1 or 2 a year.

1999-15 (second number is how many are my wifes)

2000-21(3)

2001-27(12)

2002-6(1)

2003-5(2)

2004-2

2005-4(3)....hopefully we can add to this total and stop the trend of single digit totals

We are still waiting for a fifty too.

[BrianLucky13]

Thanks guys. I feel better now!! I think muskie fishing is all about confidents. If I dont feel right about the spot im fishing I know my chances are not good. Same with lures.

Jeez there Shamalex!!! Were most of those fish from the lake I see you on???? I think if you catch 3 muskies there in a year that is awesome!! I think its a real tough lake and it gets pounded!!!

Also how is that lake going??? Have you bought the hot lure that I caught all my fish on???? I think I might make it up there one more time!!

[shamalex72]

Most were from there. No, I havn't baught one yet. Trying not to buy any more lures, too many already We fished it a few times last week and picked up a little 35". It was the only one we caught in eight straight days of fishing. It was a tough week.

[Stratosman]

It depends how often you fish them, sounds like you've had a good year to me. I would be happy with it.

Shamalex- I know the lake you speak of, and I had great success those same years you did, my dad has a place there and I have fished it for 20 years. Direct correllation between fishing pressure and # of muskies. I remember when I would only see one or no boats casting for muskies, now I bet on an average Saturday, there will be 10 or more. I havn't even bothered casting for them this year, maybe in late October when the weekend warriors are gone.

[Random guy]

Brain "lucky" 13-When you have been able to get out on the water, enjoy yourself, and learn something new every day. That's what makes a great year. Although you do not seem to be starting out bad at all with the amount of fish in the boat so far.

[Fish-n-Freak]

Well said Jon -- It's all the experience. Everyday on the water should teach you something. Catching a fish is kind of a bonus and sometimes you're not really sure what you did different to make it happen. Time on the water makes a good year. The more time you spent on the water the better. My best year was 2003 with 31 legals caught and 3 of those were over 50". I spent a lot of time on the water and learned a ton. This year I have spent about 6 hours on the water and have not seen a Muskie. Many family commitments this summer, that took priority. I do have a trip coming up and will be fishing until I can't bust ice and find open water. Still time to learn and boat something.

Take Care,

Steve

[delmuts]

since i only get the chance to fish for muskies once a year, and usually for only one day, my exsperiences are limmitted; BUT! four years ago i caught a 39 incher. three years ago my son got a 41 1/2. last year our only action was having one following right behind the prop of the boat. this year it was one follow and watch a guy play one until the fourth jump.limmited, yes, but i love every minute of , when i get the chance!

[David Swenson]

A good year is getting the first one in the boat. Everyone after that is a great year!

David Swenson

http://muskieguide.homestead.com/

[porterhouse]

Brian,

Your doing very well!!!!!! As for numbers of muskies it depends on alot of things. Kind of lakes you fish(action or trophy), time on the water, weather, and your boat partner.

For how many fish you have to catch before boating a 50".

Thats up to the Muskie Gods. I was lucky. My first year I boated a 51" and a 46" Tiger(Both release). That was in 2000. I've lost a few also. I think that every 15 muskies that I have on the line maybe one of them are in the mid 40" range. So good luck and keep casting.

Brian

[DTro]

I think the real mark of success is in the eye of the beholder, but the number you really want to focus on is fish per hour.

So say you fished 100hours and caught 3 fish thats .03 fish per hour.

It's pretty tough to compare annual numbers with others because the time spent varies so much.

Having said that my number is .00, course I didn't musky fish at all this year.

[RK]

Hiya,

You know, it's all relative. Relative to how much time you put in for one, but also where you put your time in. If you spend all summer on trout water in Canada, you might only catch a dozen fish, but three of them might be 35 pounders, while your buddy goes and beats up on 'numbers' lakes somewhere else in Ontario and catches 150 in the same timeframe (if you think 100+ fish is far-fetched, it's not on some bodies of water, but the size average is in the low 30s - once again, relative.)

I used to be really adamant about keeping records, but I've sort of let that slide over the last few years - just don't take the time to do it these days (3 kids might have something to do with that...heh). Back when I did keep real detailed records though it seemed like over the course of an entire year, things would always seem to average out to a little over a fish a day. Sometimes 1.1, sometimes 1.3 or 1.4, but usually right around 1 a day. So you tear it up one day and catch 5 or 6, and there are 4 or 5 days somewhere else in the season where you zero. It's the way it goes. I can't back it up with the hard numbers now, but my gut feel is that hasn't changed much. Most of the good fisherman I know would probably say the same thing. My best season numbers-wise was maybe 3-4 years ago. I think I ended up somwhere in the 80s for fish caught. The next year I probably caught 50, but size average was way way higher. So which year was better? Eye of the beholder. The last two seasons, my year has been made when my wife caught big fish - a 50 last year, and a 47 this past weekend. At this point, those fish mean more to me than any of my own do. They're all line drives in the box score. Most important things are: did you have fun? Did you learn something? If the answer's yes, it was a "good year." Always.

cheers,

RK