Once in a lifetime fish.....

[MJBo]

Who all here feels like they've caught their "one fish". That one fish that was the biggest you've ever seen and you're pretty sure you'll never get another bigger. Does it make you sad or do you keep your hopes up.

I caught a 49 this year and I felt strangely glad it wasn't fifty. Can't explain it. Whoever caught that leviathon on the photoboard CONGRATULATIONS! But sadly I guess its only downhill from there.....Personaly I hope I get a 57 incher when I'm 97 years old and die just after the flash goes off for the picture

[RuKiddingMe]

I haven't caught my once in a life time fish. But if I had it wouldn't be a problem, for me a Musky is Musky each and everyone is a prise in my eyes whether it be 50" or 25". Granted the 50" + are special and very few and far between. Every Musky fishermans quest is for the largest fish in waters they fish, but there is so much more that keeps me going out, the preperation, the hunt, and the friends I fish to name a few. This summer I caught my personal best, 48" with a kind of crappy measurement so no real positive is was quite that long, but man was I stoked and couldn't wait to get back on the water.

RU

[Random guy]

It never seems stop, the quest for another couple inches longer or maybe a little fatter in the belly. I have been lucky enough to latch on to several fish over fifty, and my personal best of 53.5". Although I can't wait to catch my 55"!

Once you have put "the one" in the boat the pressure is off and you can truly enjoy the rest of the "mystery that is muskellunge". What really does it for me is figuring out a pattern on a day to day basis. Will they be up shallow ambushing out of the weeds because of the sun and chop or will they be hanging off the deep weed edge in a comfort zone. What will they chomp that day, are they feeding on ciscoes along the rocks or is it attacking sunnies going from weedbed to weedbed? This is what keeps me driving towards the lake every chance I get, just as pumped as the first time I went out chasing those toothy grins!

[LEECH21]

My first and only muskie is at 39" so I have a lot to look forward too!

[Muskydanno]

Last year like most people my goal was a fitty incher. But with a 52 , and a lucky 50-3/4 under my belt late in the season last year , all a guy does is set the bar higher. Like Jon , my quest would now be for the 55 incher. The hunt is what it is all about and not knowing if that big honker is the next hit you are going to have is what keeps you going through the dry times like the last two months of my season. I love it all though!! A buddy and i had six tullibees to show for our efforts on sunday (they evidently love jerkbaits), but we had an opportunity for glory and blew it. Nonetheless , i still love every minute of it.Ya can't forget about the mishaps, stories and comraderie that build with every outing thats what its all about.