"Trophy Sizes"

[SledNeck]

I see thanks for the advice Sled....so would you say if I did catch another 21 or get a 22" smallie to mount it or get a pic of it and get a replica?

Depends how much it weighs.

[Sandmannd]

Walleye - 28" (not one of those Mille Lacs 28er's either )

Pike - 40"

Muskie - 50"

Largemouth - 21"

Smallmouth - 20"

Crappie - 15"

Sunfish - 10"

Perch - 13"

I'm going with Matt on this one. I actually have a 10.5" Sunny in the freezer right now that I want to get mounted. It's a true brute and biggest I've ever caught.

[TrophyEyes]

Someone would also say that a 33 1/2" walleye is very very rare. Yet that is what I caught. I know there are 35" walleyes swimming around and I also know that there are 24" smallmouths somewhere in this state. I am only 26 and hopefully have a few years to find some of those missing monsters.

I have been hooked on trophy fish since I was five years old, when I caught my first fish, a 10lbs 3oz. walleye. I caught a 10lbs 11oz. walleye when I was 6 and it snowballed from there. I have fished some of the best lakes in Minnesota and Canada and have the numbers to back up the statement that these fish are out there, you just have to fish the right body of water for each of these species. My panfish numbers are very low because I just don't target those untouched lakes. It doesn't hurt to have a little luck too. But my standards are my standards and not everyone elses. I have 6 walleyes over 10#'s and 1 over 14#'s so it is hard to consider 10#'s a benchmark for me anymore. You have to be realistic, but also push yourself. That is what drives me to try some of these more difficult bodies of water and different tactics.

[SledNeck]

14 lbs is a HUGE walleye for MINNESOTA, congrats.

If you considered 10 lbs a trophy then you could say you've caught alot of trophies, right?

[MetroWalleye]

TrophyEyes-

I think you nailed it when you said that your standards are yours and not everyone elses.

Many people will never catch a 10+ lb walleye in their life. I've caught a couple between 9-10 lbs, but haven't cracked that 10 lb barrier, yet. So, right now, 10 lbs (30") is my trophy mark.

I'm heading up to Eagle Lake in Ontario on Saturday for a week of fishing and hope to crack that barrier and get a mount on my wall. If I do, then I'll raise the length and weight for what I would consider a trophy fish.

[TrophyEyes]

For big walleyes in Canada this time of year I would suggest vertical jigging the break from a sand or gravel flat that drops off into a large deep basin. I have even had success Jigging in 20-30 FOW. Use bigger than usual bait, 5" or larger. I would suggest some of the bigger Berkley Gulp minnows or a Lindy Muchies. I would also look at trying some of the 5 inch gulp leechs on a jig. I have caught most of my big walleyes vertical jigging or slip bobber fishing.

I would hit some of the following lakes/rivers for big walleyes

Pool 4

Saganaga (seagull river) at the end of the gunflint

Gods Lake in Manatoba (monster pike and lake trout as well)

There are some lakes up by Flin Flon that can be productive

Mille Lacs in the fall trolling cranks.

Really any lake can hold big fish, but you may have to be willing to walk away from catching a bunch of smaller fish and try to target some of those roaming monsters. And bring your lucky horse shoe.

I have a 7 month old son and his trophy will be whatever bites the end of his line. We will develop goals and trophy marks from there. My point is that it will always be a sliding scale for each angler. Just push yourself to try new things or places.

[fishinJohn]

I personally never plan on hanging a dead animal on my wall or a plastic look alike. I want my own body to return to nature somehow and wouldn't keep a great fish from the same natural destination. I don't need proof of my accomplishments beyond the smile that's on my face. However catching some true survivors is something I look forward to. No offense to those who like mounts.

[Nick Kuhn]

I personally never plan on hanging a dead animal on my wall or a plastic look alike. I want my own body to return to nature somehow and wouldn't keep a great fish from the same natural destination. I don't need proof of my accomplishments beyond the smile that's on my face. However catching some true survivors is something I look forward to. No offense to those who like mounts.

I like pictures. Just a little something to supplement the memory, and costs little if anything.

[Royce Aardahl]

I like dead animals on my walls. I sit in my easy chair and really enjoy the memories. As for my cat, he can't stand the deer heads, really freeks him out

[smallie_hawgin]

OK,

For those that know me.... I am a bugger when it comes to claims of trophy fish lengths..... Seems to me I have to ask exactly how you all measure your fish.....

Seeing as how the WORLD RECORD smallie was 27.25" and 11.9 lbs!!! I have a hard time believing all these claims of them approaching 24" legitimately... Sorry... just the natural doubter in me..

So, not that the fish we are catching aren't as long as you say, but, accurate measuring techniques are must if you intend to brag....

nose closed, tail pinched on a board....

For the record. Fish geeks across the country have a standard that is used to classify populations...

Stock, Quality, Preferred, Memorable and Trophy (developed by Don Gablehouse) that are different for each species

So for walleye 10" is stock, 15 is quality, 20 is preferred, 25 is memorable and 30 is trophy.

So "Memorable" and "Trophy" for popular species.....

Walleye 25, 30

Perch 12, 15

Northern 34, 44

Muskie 42, 50

Black crappie 12, 15

Smallmouth 17, 20

Largemouth 20, 25

Bluegill 10, 12

Channel cat 28, 36

Flathead 28, 36

Hope this helps.....

[SledNeck]

OK,

For those that know me.... I am a bugger when it comes to claims of trophy fish lengths..... Seems to me I have to ask exactly how you all measure your fish.....

Seeing as how the WORLD RECORD smallie was 27.25" and 11.9 lbs!!! I have a hard time believing all these claims of them approaching 24" legitimately... Sorry... just the natural doubter in me..

So, not that the fish we are catching aren't as long as you say, but, accurate measuring techniques are must if you intend to brag....

cough

[Wookiee]

Quote:

nose closed, tail pinched on a board....

How did you close their nose? Did you plug it with your fingers?

[SledNeck]

If you close one of their nostrils and push on their belly, will fish boogers come out?

[Hoffer]

Just commenting on the walleyes - I would think that any walleye over 30 inches has to be in the top 1%. A 32 inch has to be even more rare. 35 inches - that would have to be crazy rare

[Tippman]

Quote:

nose closed, tail pinched on a board....

How did you close their nose? Did you plug it with your fingers?

I think he meant mouth.

Smallie Hawgin does know what he's talking about though. He's a fisheries specialist with the DNR and has some very interesting articles out there.

[smallie_hawgin]

Quote:

nose closed, tail pinched on a board....

How did you close their nose? Did you plug it with your fingers?

[rodmaker]

Matt,

My standards are a little lower than yours, just because I'm not on the water as much as you are.

Here are mine:

Walleye - 29 "

Laregemouth - 21-22"

Smallie - 20 ++ (I have a 21 " replica and soon to order a 22 1/2" Ely)

Crappie 16" (I have a 16" - Ely - same lake as the Smallies)

Sunfish 11"

Perch 13 1/2 "

Replicas of course. As far as I'm concerned Matt @ Artistic Anglers is the way to go. VERY GOOD WORK!!!

[Basseyes]

Think what Smallie hawgin is getting at is how many of those fish are put on a sticker tape on the side of the boat and how mamy are put on a good solid ruler with a snout stopper on it. Have seen people put fish on sticker type rulers and claim it's a 2o"er + then put it on the judge and it's tail is barely touching 19 1/2"s. I don't trust it when some one measures off sticker type rulers I gots to sees its nose up agaisnt something solid.

[ANYFISH]

here are my trophy sizes (personal best's).

Walleye-30" (32")

Northern 40" (41 1/4)

L. Bass 21" (20 1/2)

S. Bass 20" (20 1/2)

Channel Cat 12 lbs (11lbs 8 oz)

Bluegill/sunfish 1 lb (10 1/2" 15oz)

Crappie 15"/2 lbs (14")

perch 15" (17" I know sounds unreal but is true, I was too young to realize what I had caught and mom thought it was a walleye, dad set us straight later! I am now bummed)

Muskie 50" (41")

rockbass- 2lbs (13" 1lb 13oz)

[rodmaker]

I have the ruler with snout stopper. So I know my measurements are accurate. Easier and a faster way to measure VS the rulers on the side of the boat

[HOT SPOT]

I dont go by just the length I also go by the weight. I have caught a 29 in walleye on one lake that weighed 8.5 lbs and then the next fish the same day same length weighed 10 lbs 6 oz.

I personally dont only go off teh length it has to have the weight in it to.

Trophy size

Walleye - 30

Pike - 42"

Muskie - 50"

Largemouth - 21"

Smallmouth - 20"

Crappie - 16"

Sunfish - 11.5"

Perch - 15"

Personal best

Walleye - 29 weight 10.6

Pike - 43 Canada tho MN 39.5

Muskie - 36

Largemouth - 21.5

Smallmouth - 21.5"

Crappie - 16"

Sunfish - 11.5"

Perch - 13"

[TCon17]

Walleye: 33 1/2"

Pike: 45"

Crappie: 16"

Smallmouth: 24"

Sunfish: 11"

Muskie: Gotta catch one first (new to the Ski's last year)

Personal bests:

Probably should have gotten the walleye done last weekend as she was still good and fat, but I didnt even have a camera with me conviently, and I would have done a replica anyways, so that made it kind of hard.

Walleye: 32 1/2" (last weekend)

Pike: 42"

Crappie: 14 1/2"

Smallmouth: 22"

Sunfish: 10"

[fishuhalik]

Crappie - 15

Eye - 30

Northern - 44, in the Metro 42

Muskie - 55

Smallie - 22

Largemouth - 23

I think a big part of it has to do w/ the body of water I'm fishing. When I was fishing upper red in the heydays, we caught several crappies in that 15" range. Granted I was up there every weekend, but a fish like that wasn't extra-ordinary. If I got one in the metro, though, I'd definitely put it on the wall.

I remember the first time I ever went smallie fishing, I was 13 in the BWCA fishing w/ my dad, we caught several in the 19-21" range in a day. My dad said I better remember this day, cuz it'll never happen again. I still have yet to break the 19" mark on a smallie.

I did catch a largemouth that was 23 1/4 a few years ago, but it was so old and skinny that I doubt it went 6lbs. It was almost black, like a mississippi smallie. Had she been healthy I woulda definitely put her on the wall.

[lucy1205]

keep em commin. I want to see a hundred more people post the same thing. I know you probably hate me and i woulndent even put my 2 cents in but when i read somthin like this its hard not to comment. as 4 the guy who likes dead animals on his walls, well ill bet hes a republican to. Hmm, see the connection. i LIKE MOUNTS TO IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES BUT If u have more then a couple u may need your head exaimined. As 4 deer heads, I mean come on. deer are like ants these days. I had a 200 pound plus buck in my back yard on wednesday and I see prolly dozens in a month. wooooo.

[TrophyEyes]

Lucy, I don't know what to say.... I guess I could make the analogy to counter act your republican statement. I would bet that the guy that doesn't have anything on the wall (picture or mount) lacks the skill or passion for the outdoors. Some people are proud of their accomplishments, and some people consider mounts art. I personally have 2, but they were from when I was 5 and 6 years old. I have not or will not have another mount made unless it is a state record or something that is very significant in my life, like the first deer my son shoots or trophy fish.