Fish of a Lifetime !!!

[Mr. Pike1]

As some of you may know I primarily target smallmouth when fishing Vermillion. I have also over time documented many run ins with Musky. From hitting my paddle while kyaking, attaching my senko's while fishing docks, and yesterday one splashed at the side of my boat and almost gave me a heart attack when I was lifting my bait.

Today I was chasing smallmouths in the shallow bays and the water was crystal clear. I was fishing a dock and a monster musky slowly swam from the dock to the sandy shallows. I decided it was time. I slowly dug out my musky pole and tossed a bucktail right at him and on tht one and only cast if was fish on !!!! The fight lasted 15 minutes or so. Once I had him beside the boat I realized one key thing. My net that I use for walleye was of little help. I tried but all that really fit was his head. He was tired out so I tried getting my hand under his gill to lift but he took a snap and I decided this was not a good idea. I then tried to lift by the tail. This was another bad,bad idea as he took off and I almost fell in and lost my pole. I tried to wave a couple of boats over so they could help and do a quick photo but they thought I was simply waving and forged ahead.

I measured the best I could with the fish at the side of my boat and it was 50" without the tail pinch. I had not brought my tackle box so no camera to at least take pictures of by the side of the boat.

Anyway I got the lure lose and let the monster swim free. This is now offially my biggest fish to date and will be great memory from this years vacation.

[Fishin4Life]

Very cool! that would be fun to catch!! I bet you have a camera everytime from here on out! I know there have been a few times I wished I had mine with.

[TNFL]

Its one of those once in a lifetime things that happen every so often!

Congrats. I hope this doesn't draw the wrath of true muskie fisherman about how you should have the proper equipmentfor CPR in the boat before you cast for one.

[stmichael]

Congratulations Mr. Pike1,

Just from reading your post I am pumped up to go Muskie fishing...I do not Muskie fish. ( I figure I have spent enough money on Bass and Walleye equipment). Man what a time.

[CodyDawg]

It actually sounds like he did a good job of thinking about the fish given the tools he had. The fact is, people catch muskies when not muskie fishing. I dont blame him one iota, in fact I say good job. He had a great experience and the fish is swimming, a success on both fronts. I bet if he decides to go out and target muskies in the future, this experience will have taught him what he needs. Dont forget about a replica...they can bring it back to life for ya!

[Little John]

I live in SE MI and fish Lake St. Clair frequently. Many of my friends are die hard Muskie Heads, but not me. I know what it's like to really be face to face with a fish like that. I had a similar float tube experience many years ago...God Bless those of you that love those fish. They are cool! But to me, they're just a pain. You can't walleye or bass fish on St. Clair with out catching those toothy, stinky, slimmy critters. Heck, I've even caught them on crappie spreaders and worms...

But they sure do get your heart pumping, don't they! Glad no fingers were shreaded and memories were made. Maybe it's time to mount a waterproof camera to the front of the boat??

[hanson]

Awesome!

[Slyster]

VERY fun to read that story! Congrats! I've been there too.. by accident.. what a crazy feeling to fight such a fish and have no net and fishing alone.

[SledNeck]

No camera. That SUX

[Mr. Pike1]

I am a catch and release guy by nature and truely was thinking of what was best for the fish. I gave my wife a quick call the hand held radio and she was waiting at the dock to take a picture.

I actually measured my live wells and they are only about 44 or 45 inches so even if I had dragged him aboard I may have done more harm then good bringing him back.

What was really amazing was the thickness of the fish and when on its side the true beauty of the coloration.

I generally always have my cell phone with to take pictures or my tackle box which has a digital and waterproof camera. Going forward I am going to keep a camera in my boat. I have tons of various fishing pictures and this would have been a nice keep sake. That being said I have no complaints. The trip to the family cabin on Vermillion for our wedding anniversary was an overall success. The weather was picture perfect, I spent the week with my wife and daughter, I hammered the small mouth (my sport fish of choice), and I got a trophy Musky on one cast.

Next time I come up I may toss a few more of the musky baits in the shallow bays and next time I will at least have the camera and maybe just maybe a bigger net....

[Corey Bechtold]

Well done!

Congratulations on a successful trip!

Have a safe trip home,

Corey Bechtold

[G_man]

Awesome Cord!