Line class records?

[eyeballs]

Can anyone tell me where I could find line class records that pertian to muskies?

[SpikeRoberts]

eyeballs,

The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) has the line class records for each state on-line. I've put an extra space between each part of the URL because I know Rick doesn't like unauthorized links:

www. igfa. org/ records

It looks like the MN state record for a muskie on 4lb test is 14lb-0oz. Do you think yours was better than that?

[GullGuide]

Hey Spike,
I'm sure a link like that would be ok, it's the ones to competing sites and commercial stuff that is a no-no.
Good info!!
>"////=<

[hawgTime]

spike

eyeballs fish easily topped that record. His 40" fish would weigh 'bout 20lbs. Now that's hawgTime.

mike

[SpikeRoberts]

I figured eyeball's catch beat that record as soon as I made my post (again well done eyeballs). That would be pretty cool to own such a record -- at least you know in your own mind that you beat the record and I believe you did the right thing by releasing the fish. After looking at the existing line class records it seems that many of them are well within reach for the average angler -- apparently not many folks take the time and effort to go through the application and verification process.

[Guest]

There are two different record systems. The IGFA as mentioned above and the records kept by the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame. You cannot get National records online. You must order the record book. The charge for that is $9.00. Their records date further back and have many more line classes and fish species. The IGFA currently only has the five most popular gamefish (as determined by them) per state and 4, 12, and 20lb classes. The National Freshwater Fishing also has catch and release release records. If you look into it maybe your fish could still get in. The 2lb line class record for Muskie is 19-4 and the 4lb line class record is 41-0. You'll find that the NFFHF records are more known and thus are more competitive....

[AWH]

Not to burst anybody's excitement, but most people way over estimate the weight of pike and muskies once they get to be near 40" or better. It all depends on the girth of the fish. I would say an average 40" fish will go about 15 to 16 pounds. If it's a 20 pounder, you're looking at a very fat fish.

I've caught quite a few muskies, and have only weighed one, which was about 10 years ago. Since then I just get accurate length and girth measurements and get an estimate. When plugged into the proper formula, these estimates are very accurate. I should say, on your smaller (less then 50") fish, it's very accurate. Once you get bigger then that, I believe the formulas have a much greater error rate.

But back to the one fish I weighed. It happened to be a 40" fish, a very solid fish, not skinny at all. It went 16 lbs 4 oz on my digital scale. Plugging it into the formula, it was just a matter of a couple ounces off. The shortest 20 pound fish I've ever caught was a 42". And this one was extremely girthy. Probably the girthiest musky I've caught to date.

Just a little food for thought when it comes to fish weights....

[Guest]

Great catch eyeballs! Sounds like a respectable fish on any equipment. Must have made a few good runs. Why would anyone put a fish like that on a scale anyway. I think the weight of the bigger fish should be left unknown and put back in the lake.

[Zimm]

Hey great fish Eyeballs,
You have done something most fishers dream of. If you got pictures, I am sure people on the site would like to see them. Great catch and glad to hear you released her!
Zimm

[eyeballs]

Thanks everyone,
I will be sending a picture to the HSOforum as soon as I get them. I was the longest fight I have ever had! Way over an hour and about twenty drag stripping runs I thought the fish would get tired alot faster than he did. He came up to the hole three times before we realized the hook was in the back corner of his mouth, so everytime you would try to pull him up the head wouldn't turn up. So I had my buddy drill two more holes to connect to each other. When he did that , I loosened the drag almost completely and by the time the holes were scooped out he had run into a weed bed about twenty yards away, and there he sat. With no pulling power on my part I just let him sit there for almost twenty minutes (enough time to drink a beer and calm down). I finally got tired of waiting and decided to pull until the line broke or the fish came. To my disbelief the fish came out! He made about four more runs and when he finally got to the much larger hole he basically swam up the hole and sat there with the his head about two inches out of the hole. niether one of my two friend would reach down and grab him so I grabed him with one hand and pulled him right out. Nice tiger! We snapped aquick photo and revived him. HE didn't seem the least bit tired! He thrashed right out of my hand and shot through the hole! The coolest part was, one of my friends was visiting from South Carolina and he had never been ice fishing, seen a muskie, or even knew you could really walk on ice (he thought "Grumpy Old Men", was an exaggeration)! So great day! Like I said, pictures coming soon.

[Guest]

Nice story....just one question: Did the beer work to help calm your nerves?

[Guest]

eyeballs, have you heard if you beat the record yet? Just curious. It would be pretty cool to hold a record like that. You must be pretty pumped.
Good Fishing, Matt.

[Guest]

What kind of beer was it? Was the beer cold?.........nice fish

[Guest]

eyeballs,
How big of fish was this? How much pound tests was the line you caught it on? Thank-you

[Guest]

There are no line class records for fish caught thru the ice -- at least the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame (Hayward). They have only one category for ice fishing-- the largest fish.

Also, when taken in open water, the fish has to be verified by a fisheries biologist (or other professional), weighed on a certified scale, witnessed by two impartial persons, and 25 feet of the line must be mailed in so it can be tested for break strength under lab conditions. Photo is also required -- angler holding fish.