Muskie Management in Minnesota

The muskie long has been recognized as special - a large, rare trophy. Its habitat requirements are more particular than that of its close relative, the northern pike. In many areas, the muskie's existence is rather tenuous - threatened by fishing, habitat loss, and competition from other fish species. So the goal of muskie management is to create or protect self-sustaining populations and to produce a few large fish for the angler skilled and dedicated enough to catch them.
Habitat Protection
In lakes where the muskie is native, the protection of habitat - especially spawning areas - is the key to protecting these fish. Removal of shoreline and aquatic vegetation denies the muskie cover it needs. Eutrophication from farmland and residential development hurts spawning success by consuming oxygen along the riverbed or lake bottom, where the eggs of muskie and some forage fish incubate. Drainage of wetlands causes siltation and exaggerates the effects of flooding and drought - all to the detriment of muskie. Increased turbidity makes foraging harder for the sight-feeding muskie.

Stocking
The DNR normally doesn't stock muskie in lakes and rivers where they are native and self-sustaining. It simply isn't necessary or effective. Stocking is used instead to create new muskie fisheries. The DNR introduces muskie only to lakes that seem particularly well suited to them. An ideal lake has adequate forage, no chance of winterkill, suitable spawning areas and a size exceeding about 500 acres. Muskie then are stocked as fingerlings. If natural spawning areas are limited, stocking will continue on a regular schedule. Ideally, however, the population will become self-sustaining.
Fish managers have begun paying much more attention than they once did to the genetic origins of the muskie they stock. Several strains of the fish have evolved in different regions and watersheds. Some grow larger than others, which is of interest to the angler. More important, however, is that the adaptations of some strains allow them to better survive in certain habitats. For example, the muskie of Leech Lake and elsewhere in the upper Mississippi basin has evolved to coexist with northern pike, apparently by spawning in areas different from "classic" northern pike and muskie spawning habitat.
Efforts to stock muskies to control stunted panfish populations generally have failed. Muskies seem as ill-suited to the task as do northern pike. When muskies were introduced to one Wisconsin lake, the number of largemouth bass dropped. The number of yellow perch increased while their size decreased. Muskie actually appeared to contribute to the problem they were thought to correct. In another Wisconsin experiment, muskies were stocked in a lake filled with runty bluegill. Though the muskie fattened up quickly, the bluegill population showed no effect.
Trophy Management
Because muskie are perceived as trophies - and because large fish are scarce and old - most states impose a minimum-length limit and low possession limit. In Minnesota, the possession limit is one and the minimum length is 30 to 40 inches, (30 inches on shoepack Lake).
While Minnesota allows spearing of northern pike, it bans the practice on many lakes where muskie might be accidentally speared.
Serious muskie fishermen are doing far more for their sport than the law requires, voluntarily releasing nearly all their fish, even those larger than the size limit, to be caught again. In the words of ichthyologist George C. Becker, "catch-and-release programs work by offering more fishing fun, and by providing the moral satisfaction that comes with leaving something for the next fisherman rather than contributing to the exhaustion of an already strained resource."
No matter how lovingly we treat the muskellunges, it is destined to remain uncommon and hard to catch. Its biology guarantees that. But with proper management, the occasional trophy will continue to thrill the dedicated muskie angler. - 50 inches or greater is a trophy muskellunge. - Virtually no male muskellunge reach 50 inches in length. - 45-49 inches is a trophy male muskellunge. - Most 50-inch muskellunge are 15 years or older.

Muskie vs. Northern pike

Minnesota's muskie apparently have evolved to avoid head-on competition with northern pike. If northern pike find their way into muskie water, they seem to proliferate at the expense of muskies.

Why does the northern pike compete better? That question continues to puzzle fish biologist, though many believe that the earlier-hatching northern pike prey on newly hatched muskie if the two species use the same spawning areas.

In waters where muskie evolved without northern pike present - such as the Park Rapids area lakes, Shoepack Lake and much of Wisconsin - the muskie chooses the same weedy, flooded wetlands that serve as northern pike spawning areas elsewhere. If pike are introduced to these lakes, as they have been in Wisconsin drainages, the northern pike spawn in these same areas - but about two weeks earlier. So when the muskie fry hatch, they may be eaten by the larger young-of-the-year northern pike.

To make matters worse, young muskie routinely hang just below the surface of the water, where they are easy prey for birds from above or fish from below. Where the two species have coexisted for thousands of years, as they have in the Mississippi River headwaters, the muskie seem to have adopted different spawning areas. In Leech Lake, for example, muskie spawn offshore in 3 to 6 feet of water. Northern pike, meanwhile, use the weedy shorelines of bays and presumably have less chance to prey on the muskie.

Other evidence suggests that riverine conditions help muskie hold their own against northern pike, which prefer slower, weedier water. Indeed, among the areas in Minnesota where muskie and northern pike coexist are the Rainy, Big Fork, Little Fork, St. Croix and Mississippi rivers. Researchers have speculated but haven't proved that northern pike-muskie competition may be affected by other factors, including disease, dissolved oxygen concentrations, water-temperature fluctuations at spawning time, and prevailing water temperatures.

Muskie Rampage

Here's an interesting article about the Muskie Rampage on Leech Lake in Minnesota in the 50's.
By Dan Craven

Many still remember the hot, calm week in July 1955 when Leech Lake gave up muskies like never before.

In 1955 one of the most famous photos in muskie fishing lore was taken: a stringer-shot of 20-some muskies caught in about a day and a half of fishing. A few midsummer days of 1955 became known as the Leech Lake Muskie Rampage, one of the most intriguing muskie "bites" of all time. The muskies on Leech Lake started giving themselves up like nobody had ever seen before.

The place was Federal Dam, a small town with a landing at the headwaters of Leech Lake River. The town was named for the dam that created the reservoir we now call Leech Lake.

Today Federal Dam has a population of about 100. It was a much busier town in the 1950s. Because anglers from all over the country used its landing, Federal Dam could support five launch businesses that owned a total of 15 boats.

The Neururer family owned and operated one of the launch businesses. The brothers did the guiding and launch operating; their wives handled most of the business in the office and at the cabins. "Tubby" (Sara) and Dana Neururer still live in Federal Dam today. Now in their 80s, the two women have clear memories of the rampage.

The year 1955 was a good one for the business. The walleyes had been biting consistently until a hot, calm spell set in. July 16, as walleye fishing slowed, guide Danny Chalich and Bob Neururer and his nephews Chucky and Peter set out for a morning's fishing.

Peter decided to troll a Red Eye Wiggler. He had only 40 feet of line on his reel, and he would need all of it.

The Chris-Craft made its way across Portage Bay and trolled the weedbeds out from Two Points. Before long, Peter was battling a 35-pound muskie. Danny and Bob used all of their skills to back the big boat toward the wild fish as the young boy held on. Amazingly, 10-year-old Peter won the battle. The fish was brought into the docks, and the "Muskie Rampage" was on.

Other muskies and heat-stressed tulibees had been seen surfacing, so a number of other launches went out to target the muskies. Witnesses recalled seeing muskies exploding on the baitfish. The second launch to arrive at Federal Dam had four muskies. So Peter's fish was more than a fluke.

For the next few days, the bite was on. Chucky landed a fish in the mid-20-pound range. Bob landed one about the same size as Peter?s fish.

The Neururer women started calling newspapers all over the Midwest. Lucky anglers called their friends. WCCO radio carried daily reports on how many muskies were brought in.

Launches out of Federal Dam were running morning and afternoon muskie trips and frequently evening ones too. All rowboats were rented, and parking lots were overflowing with cars.

Each launch could carry about eight clients. Only four could fish at one time, so they'd take turns, usually trolling the weedbeds on the west side of Portage Bay.

The best fishing was during the first three days, when anglers hauled in about 50 fish. But Danny recalls boating one or two muskies on every trip during about a 10-day stretch. He says just about everyone had success. Most fish were caught on Red Eye spoons, KB spoons, and Pikie Minnows.

Fifteen-year-old Jerry Bader was a dock boy at the time. He was so busy cleaning boats for his father's launch service that he had little chance to fish during the pandemonium. But one day he did make his way across Portage Bay in a boat with a 7.5-horsepower motor. When he got to Moscripp's old homestead, he started trolling and hooked a muskie on a brass and silver KB spoon. It weighed in at more than 42 pounds.

By July 23, most local folks say, more than 100 muskies had been caught in Portage Bay alone. But Tubby and Dana say the true number will never be known, because many people simply threw their fish into the back of their vehicles and went home. Most fish were probably 25 to 35 pounds. Many people recall Jerry Bader's fish being the largest, while others remember a 49-pound muskie being weighed in.

Danny said that around July 23 a massive storm blew in and put an end to the muskie fishing. The rampage was over.

Other Rampages.
Truth be known, the Leech Lake Muskie Rampage of 1955 has probably repeated itself a number of times.

As we check out statistics gathered by individuals and Muskies Inc., we find Leech Lake has had other extremely good years and periods. The lake can be the "dead sea" one week and offer tremendous catch-and-release fishing the next. Leech gives up fish in bunches. Guides and fishermen long gone such as Chan "Doc" Cotton and Dick "Perchy" Pence knew this. Guides and muskie anglers know this today.

Set the time machine. . . . Don Pursch recalls fishing a 10-day stretch in September 1986 when he boated multiple big fish every day. Leech was not fished very heavily in September in those days, and he was not saying much about the hot fishing. In November he happened to be eating breakfast with some other muskie addicts and learned that they had experienced similar results on the same dates on different parts of the lake.

Set the time machine. . . . Late July 1999 found guide Rusty Lilyquist's boat landing 14 fish between 47 and 53 inches long in five days. Four of those fish were over 50 inches! Others on the big lake were doing well at the same time.

July 16 -19, 2002, Leech Lake muskies were in a very cooperative mood again. In a wonderful half-day trip July 16, a client and I landed four muskies over 42 inches. The next morning we boated three fish in the mid-40-inch range, and on July 18, a muskie of 53.5 inches. I called Lilyquist to share my excitement (and brag a little). Rusty and a friend had been fishing that day. Together they had landed seven fish between 42 and 46 inches. He said Bob Landerville, a guide out of Huddle's Resort, had boated four. Al Maas, a very well-known guide and Minnesota Fishing Hall of Fame angler, called me that evening and said that his boat had landed two muskies. He also informed me that guide Gary Trimble had boated a 48-inch fish. Whew!

From reports by these guides and anglers, it appeared that during four days, more than 30 legal muskies were boated by four or five boats in Walker Bay and the Pelican Island area. Had another "rampage" occurred?

What would the tally be if every muskie caught on Leech Lake during this period had been counted?

Patterns.
We muskie anglers tend to think and operate in the here and now. We are quite an egocentric bunch. Just because we figure out a successful pattern, we usually think nobody has been there before us. There is nothing further from the truth. Neururers were probably there. Perchy Pence, Doc Cotton, Homer LeBlanc, and Frenchy LeMay were there, as were others before them. Learn from the voices of the past and respect them. Appreciate what they have to say about the history of your region.

Leech Lake gives up muskies in bunches. Have there been other muskie rampages? You can decide for yourself. Oh, and by the way, you might want to think about being on Leech Lake in the middle of July. You never know what might happen.

Musky Down Deep

By Dan Kiazyk

Musky madness, babbling incoherently as the angler hoists one of these mysterious fish for a shutter click and quick release. Then there are the long hours of nothing but a hope that you might see one. There’s also the effort to get into those lakes which are barely accessible and where the amenities are comparable to that once used by cavemen. Why so much effort for so few fish? Answer: I can’t say for sure. Perhaps it’s the discipline necessary and the rewards that come when one is finally boated. Yeah, there are the guys on TV who have the whole thing down to a science but they also have expense accounts which could even bribe a musky! From where I stand in all of this melee it’s not so much the catching as it is developing strategies and looking into different scenarios which makes fishing for musky a lot more fun than fishing for almost any other sports species.

As Karl and I pulled out on the lake we both had some ideas as to how we might catch a glimpse and maybe even catch a musky. Our tactics for the day included casting and doing the “milk run” of a number of spots where I had seen muskies over the years.

As a part of the “Western” fraternity of musky anglers I have a tendency to cast throughout much of the year. Finally in the late fall I troll for practical reasons such as avoiding freezing line and frozen reels. The latter two make casting “ a little less than feasible at that time of year. Casting, however, is what I like to do and do and do. And on this day I thought we’d cast as per usual.

When three pm had rolled around, we had only seen one mid sized musky that followed in that characteristic nonchalant musky manner. Ho… hum the fish seemed to be saying….. been here and followed that before…. Adios! We both looked at each other and wondered what we could do differently. Fortunately as we talked another angler moved through the vicinity --- trolling. Our initial reaction was “yeah, another, frustrated angler not having much luck”. But later we were to concur that that guy had a powerful insight.

We were fishing the "dog-days" of August and the water was at its warmest. Big fish (who could be in the shallows) could also be in deeper water. As simple as it sounds, our strategy had not considered the inclusion of the latter into our attack. Big fish could (on the day we were fishing) have been rooting on forage down in the depths .

Our first adjustment was to key in on what we presumed to be the forage these fish would be feeding on. Secondly we would try to pull our baits through schools of bait (at the level they were at). To accomplish this trolling feat we would adjust our lines and speed so that we could touch bottom at a desired depth. Finally we set off on our troll over deeper water in search of suspending baitfish.

Our efforts were soon rewarded. Rounding a point we saw on our sonar unit clouds of bait suspended at 20 feet. It was just at the moment when I suspect that our lures were passing through these bait fish that Karl felt a bone crushing “kerchunk”. As Karl put it, "that one scared me with the sudden aggressiveness of its bite". Karl was almost being too complacent after a “lazy” day of casting 2000 times. He almost lost the rod but was quickly able to gain his composure setting the hook with his usual eagerness and vigour A few minutes later, the smaller fish yielded to Karl. Our hunch had been correct: some fish were suspending out over deeper water and were foraging more aggressively than were those fish we had seen while casting into the shallows.. But continuing to apply our theory however, would have to wait….. a larger storm was on the horizon necessitating a quick retreat to our camp on an island 3 to 4 miles away.

The next day, we were up at a reasonable hour, met be a blue bird sky. The question that dogged us after the stormy night before was whether or not the mushy would continue to cooperate (musky do bite well before a storm but would they continue after it?). Our plan was to continue with the same game plan established the day before.

Our idea this day was to revisit those areas where we had seen fish over the years and even other spots which looked like they should hold musky, but his time we were going to fish deeper adjacent areas especially those areas which held baitfish. One of the challenges to fishing at any depth is to know where your hook is at any time. Our method for establishing the depth at which we saw baitfish was to get out over the deeper areas and establish at what level in general they were suspended. Following this we would release of deep diving crank baits and would move the boat in towards shore to find the bottom at the depth at which we saw the fish. Both Karl and myself would then proceed to release line and I would adjust our speed until we would start to feel bottom. It was at that point we would then move out to look for the suspended schools of baitfish (it would be remarkable that bait fish would be at the same depth throughout most of the lake on a given day so very little adjustment was necessary once their depth was established).

It wasn’t very long before we had our first good fish on, a solid forty incher. This fish was interesting for a couple of reasons. The fish probably had followed our trolling presentation for quite some distance. As Karl noted on a couple of occasion he had a few erratic “ticks” over 40 feet of water. Couldn’t be a snag because our cranks weren’t that deep and it couldn’t have been a musky because they usually crush something they wanted to eat or do they? When Karl finally subdued the fish we saw to our amazement the fish was hooked just through the lips suggesting that he was more interested in following and nipping at the bait than biting it. The following suggested to us that a pumping motion might also be incorporated into our troll to entice a following fish to bite.

After a few quick photos the 40-inch fish was released to swim another day. Our hypothesis was gathering datum to suggest the fish these days weren’t located where we would usually fish for them. On the contrary they were down deep feeding on suspended baitfish. I now think it all makes sense as the lake’s water temperature had reached its maximum and fish were going to be feeding as their body temperature and metabolisms had reached their peak … they were going to be where foraging and water temperature was the best for them.

We had only to continue on with our working idea to see if we could bring up another fish. About twenty minutes later, approaching a barren rock point, the boat inadvertently moved out over fifty feet of water. A moment or two later I said to Karl that it was time that we move over more productive water. Once again the idea that these fish were suspended over deeper water was driven home to us……a larger fish hit my hook as I was bringing it back up to the boat. I’m still wondering how I could repeat this approach (short of using an electric downrigger and changing depths with my lure every few minutes). Simple as it might sound, we had to go deep for the fish. Prior to this occasion I had been evoking reactionary strikes from shallow fish that probably weren’t feeding but were rather resting and digesting food they had been eating at a deeper depths.

A significantly different pattern had been born that day. It had come out of a hypotheses that we applied with some rigor. The chance sighting of another angling trolling (I ‘ll often wonder now if he was catching any fish) made a difference and that’s an important component to the musky puzzle (that keeps changing too). But perhaps more significant to our days success was an effort to adapt and hypothesize about what these great fish do… I suspect I’ve still got a lot to learn yet!

Eau Clair County Muskie Lakes

Lake Name Access Acres Class Category
Altoona Lake Ramp 840 B 0
Coon Fork Flowage Ramp 75
Dells Pond Ramp 739 B 2
Eau Claire Lake Ramp 860 B 0

Muskie Release Myths and Misconceptions

Both Muskies Inc. and Muskies Canada have done a fantastic job of opening the eyes of muskie anglers across North America to the benefits of catch and release. While both groups are to be commended for the hard work and education that has gone into this process, the job is far from over. Recognition of the need for catch and release is now firmly established in the minds of most muskie anglers. However, there is a big difference between effective catch and release, and tossing a fish over the side. Far too many fish are still being over handled, dropped, kept out of the water for extended periods of time, picked-up by the eyes, and held vertically by the jaw or gill cover. It is a pretty safe bet that many of these fish, although released, simply do not survive their handling experience due to lactic acid build-up caused by the stress of rough or over-handling, or due to injuries sustained during the handling process. What is the delayed mortality rate on these individuals? Nobody really knows. Hopefully in time, we will have an answer for this question.

The best way to ensure an effective release is to reduce handling to an absolute minimum. During the hot days of summer, reducing handling and keeping fish cool and wet is even more critical for their survival. Gills can dry out very quickly. Releasing fish in the water is THE best way to reduce handling and heat stress. This means you must become familiar with a particular release method (or methods), and use them consistently. For some anglers, a net, cradle, or hybrid release net is the way to go. Some anglers prefer to use their hands; others use their hands with a thick leather or kevlar glove.

There are specific agreed methods for using many of these release tools. If you are not familiar with the mechanics of a particular method, find someone who uses the device and ask for help. Most tournament pros, guides, or senior members of Muskies Canada or Muskies Inc. would be only too happy to talk to you or to point you to someone who can help you. There are also several good Internet Discussion Boards that might provide you with the answers you need.

Once the fish has been subdued, it is important to remove the hooks from the fish as quickly as possible. This means having the right tools for the job at hand. A couple of pairs of long-handled pliers or hook-outs keep your fingers away from those sharp teeth. Compound cutters are a definite must to quickly cut through large treble or siwash hooks. Jaw spreaders are also worth having nearby. Most hooks will come out quickly if you pause for several seconds and note their direction of entry. If they will not come out quickly, don't waste valuable time - just cut them as short as possible so as to avoid creating an impediment to feeding, and then quickly try to remove the cut-off hook from the fish. (This is not always possible.)

This is the point in the process where most anglers get injured. Show those teeth, gill rakers, and hooks the respect they deserve. Any or all of the above can put a quick end to your fishing day if you are careless!

The area where the majority of fish are injured and stressed is when they are brought aboard a boat, most frequently for photographs. Fish should be brought aboard ONLY when cameras are focused and ready to shoot. The photographer should be in place and ready to depress the shutter within seconds of the fish coming out of the water. Smaller fish (under 40 inches) can be held in a diagonal or horizontal hold for short periods (up to 30 seconds… less during the heat of the summer). Larger fish should be held horizontally to support their spine and internal organs. A good rule of thumb is that the bigger the fish, the less time it should be out of the water, because gravity and lack of oxygen are more debilitating to larger fish. While there is no scientific proof that vertical holds are harmful to fish, M.N.R./D.N.R. staff and co-op students who handle muskies, especially larger specimens, are taught by Biologists to only handle fish horizontally. This only makes good sense when we see the way gravity effects larger objects in the air versus under the water. Also, having two hands on the fish greatly reduces the chances of a fish being dropped to the floor of the boat and injured. Never allow to fish to thrash around on the floor of your boat.

Forget the old wives tale about how holding a fish up by the eyes paralyses them. It sure does! But you'd be paralyzed too if someone picked you up by the eyes. You'd also be permanently blinded as a result of the experience… so don't do it!

Picking up a muskie can be best accomplished in one of two ways. Grabbing the base of the tail, and cradling the throat area of the muskie works well. Lastly, slip your fingers carefully under gill cover and place your thumb firmly in the "v" shaped groove under the jaw, while cradling the mid section of the fish. This latter hold is the most dangerous to the angler if not done with reasonable care. The placement of the thumb is critical to maintaining a firm hold on the fish.

When the photo session is over, gently place the muskie back into the water. The fish may quickly scoot away, delivering you a refreshing dousing of water, or it may struggle to maintain an upright position. If the fish seems to be struggling, firmly grasp the base of the tail, and cradle the throat area of the fish. Move the fish forward in an "S" motion. If you must pull the fish backward while stationary, do so very slowly and gently so as not to damage the gills. If you can keep some forward motion into current, or using either your gas or electric motor very slowly, this will eliminate the need to pull the fish backwards. Once the fish is able to hold itself in an upright position and begins to show more energy, gently but firmly push the fish away from you.

In most cases the muskie will slowly disappear from sight. Other times, the muskie will return to the surface and either slowly move along the surface, or simply lay at rest there. It is critical that you remain close to the fish until it swims below, as the fish is susceptible to be hitting by other watercraft, or to being scooped from the water by unscrupulous anglers. If after a maximum of five (5) minutes, the muskie has still not submerged - slowly move your boat towards the muskie. In the majority of cases, this is all that is needed to encourage the fish to retreat to the safety of the depths. In the unlikely event that the fish returns to the surface after the push-off, and still appears to be struggling, you may have to repeat the initial resuscitation process. In the event that the muskie came from deep water, you may have to maneuver the boat into a shallow water bay, or the lee side of an island, so that the fish will be in shallower water and can expel the air that has filled its bladder, and is making it difficult to submerge.

Muskie fishing… exciting! Make the future bright for our children and practice C.P.R. - Catch, Photograph, and Release.

Steve Wickens is a Muskies101.com Guide Association Member - Click here for more info

A Fish Tale (muskie) Gone Wrong

Here's an interesting article by Steve Sarley regarding the Louis Spray debacle. It makes for an interesting spin on things.

The arena is the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame Museum in Hayward, Wis.

The title at stake is the heavyweight championship of the world, also known as the all-tackle record for largest muskie.

Let's go down to the ring. In this corner is the champion, having held the belt since Oct. 20, 1949. Hailing from Hayward, Louis Spray. In the champ's corner is his second, John Detloff, president of the NFWFHF.

In the other corner is the challenger, the world record Muskie Alliance, hailing from Illinois and seconded by photogrammetrical analysis provided by Dan Mills of DCM Technical Services.

Normally the referee would have a quick run-through of the rules, like, no scratching, no biting, no hitting below the belt. But not in this bout.

This is a no-holds barred, bare-knuckles contest. May the best man/group/fish win. And there's the bell!

Spray is the holder of the current record for the world's largest muskie. The fish is listed at 69 pounds, 11 ounces and was caught on the Chippewa Flowage. Spray previously caught two other world record muskies.

During the 1940s, the muskie title changed hands frequently. If the monsters registered in that era were not works of fiction, it is surprising Wisconsin's swimmers were safe in the water and not merely dinner fare for these monstrous, toothy beasts.

Spray provided affidavits to prove the legitimacy of his catch, but there always were challenges to Spray's veracity. Spray was a product of the era, somewhat of a fast talker who always was looking to cut a deal to direct a few dollars into his bank account. His personality and reputation are primary examples people who dispute the record use to try to downplay the size of his record fish.

Since 1949, Spray's record has been debated. This is not unusual, as the records for bass, perch, walleye and other fish are often questioned by disbelieving anglers. In fact, the old record in the smallmouth bass category was reinstated to the 11-pound, 15-ounce fish caught in 1955 by David Hayes on Dale Hollow Lake in Tennessee.

After decades of verbal jousting, the fish was tossed out in 1996. This year, after review of evidence, the fish was given back its title.

The photogrammetrical evidence developed by Mills and DCM Technical Services is compelling. Mills does not inspect and analyze fish. Spray's record was his first attempt at converting his scientifically accepted methods to the angling arts. He did not have an axe to grind. On the basis of his work, I believe Spray's fish is not the size it is claimed to be.

In presenting Mills' report to the NFWFHF in an attempt to overturn Spray's record, the World Record Muskie Alliance made what I think was a strategic error.

In addition to the report, the WRMA included page after page of anecdotal evidence in an unnecessary attempt to bolster their claim that Spray's fish was a fraud. They cap the report with a statement by noted attorney and master angler, Kim Presbrey

"The photo analysis provided would be admissible in a court of law and the conclusions drawn from the photo analysis conclusively prove the photos provided of the alleged world record muskie do not represent a fish of the size stated by Louis Spray," the statement reads.

By filling in the tail end of the 93-page report with "he said, she said" allegations, no matter how good they sound, this takes away from the validity and the professionalism of the scientific portion of the report. For every anecdote and allegation the WRMA provides, Detloff and the Hall of Fame are able to return the volley with their own salvo of affidavits and stories. They tend to negate each other.

Often whispered, but never published are the allegations that Detloff defends Spray's record because he has a financial interest in the matter. Yes, Detloff has published a book, "Three Record Muskies in His Day – the Life and Times of Louis Spray."

Detloff also owns a bar/resort called the Indian Trail in the Hayward area, which is a long cast from where Spray's muskie reportedly was hooked. But is Indian Trail sold out of room space because of the legend of a fish caught in 1949? I think not. No one goes to Hayward any longer because of the 1949 world-record muskie, they go there because it is an excellent vacation area and still provides quality fishing with plenty of opportunities for catching big fish.

I think Detloff's financial rewards are quite exaggerated.

One point his detractors gleefully bring up is the manner in which Detloff has overruled records on other fish over the years. In regard to another purported record fish, Detloff writes, "Spray, and most muskie fishermen for that matter, were far from jealous about the Lawton muskie."

Detloff's zeal to disregard any other fish than the Spray fish certainly raises suspicions.

I think Detloff thinks Spray's fish is the true world record.

Over time, though, legendary stories tend to become exaggerated. I think that is how it is for Detloff and Spray's fish.

Spray's fish and the legend that surrounds it is part of the fiber of Detloff's existence. He grew up idolizing Spray. He has told the Spray story countless times. I never would expect to hear Detloff question something that is almost as much a part of himself as any of his internal organs. Does that make the fish legitimate? No.

Going back to our arena, we find the battle ended without a knockout punch having been delivered. As substantial as the WRMA case is, the panel of judges would not award a victory on points to the challenger. The voting members of the NFWFHF allowed Spray's record to stand.

The Hall ruled "the report lacks sufficient merit to overturn the Spray record. The report's primary piece of evidence came as a result of a computer software program that relied on multiple assumptions to be inputted before a result could be yielded. Because no control was ever done to test the approach that was used and so many assumptions had to be made, there exists too much reasonable doubt as to the accuracy of their result."

Was the voting done fairly? Again, allegations are bandied about. Though the vote passed on an 8-0 margin, with one abstention and two members recusing themselves, Detloff is targeted as having steered the vote even though he did not take part in it.

So we are left with a tainted record in the logs of the NFWFHF and a horde of angry fisherman burning up phone lines and Internet message boards with their arguments.

The solution is for someone to go out and catch a new, provable world record muskie, but the current record is so large that a fish of new record proportions might never be captured.

To solve the dilemma, I call upon Detloff and the NFWFHF to establish new categories for world record fish.

The first would be a historical record fish and the second a modern record, beginning immediately.

Cameras and scales are much more accurate today, and I think that advances in technology warrant a new set of records, but not the abandonment of the old ones.

I think this is the best solution, and I solemnly hope cooler heads prevail and this recommendation is considered for the best interests of the sport of fishing immediately.


* Steve Sarley's radio show, "The Outdoors Experience," airs live from 8 to 9 a.m. on Saturdays on AM-560. Sarley also runs a Web site for outdoors enthusiasts, www.OExperience.com.

Pieces of the Muskie Puzzle

By Steve Heiting

September 10, 1998, will forever stand out in my memory as well as my musky catch records. I hope to experience another day like it, but I doubt that I’ll ever enjoy such a great day again.

On that day my buddy, Kevin Schmidt, and I caught 16 muskies ranging in size from 34 to 45 1/2 inches in length. Eight of these fish were over 40 inches, and another two were just shy at 39 1/2 inches. It was the kind of day every musky hunter dreams of experiencing, yet few do.

In the years since I’ve tried to understand what went right that day in an attempt to duplicate the success. Sure, the muskies were hot and we didn’t see another boat containing musky anglers all day, so we were able to take full advantage of the feeding spree. But what set the fish off?

Warm, windy conditions were a part of it, but our observations of the conditions failed to reveal any “smoking gun.” The only thing that did stand out was the action occurred during a last quarter moon, the period that occurs between the full moon and new moon periods.

An event like this certainly flies in the face of the records of Joe Bucher, whose detailed catch data of more than 2,000 muskies led to the creation of Joe Bucher’s Moon Secrets, which appear in every issue of Musky Hunter. Joe’s records indicate that the best musky times occur during the full and new moon periods, and the effectiveness of the first and last quarter moon periods was considerably less. Joe once told me his moon charts are even more effective when targeting larger muskies, those measuring 40 inches or longer.

So, what gives? Was September 10 an anomaly, something unlikely to be repeated anytime soon? At the time I wasn’t sure what to believe, but I decided to pay more attention to the “lesser” moon periods. Five years later, my own records indicate that the last quarter moon period has been given a bum steer, and that the first quarter moon period, for lack of a better term, sucks. While my sample of muskies considered for this statement is but a fraction of Joe’s data base, the last quarter moon period is a time for musky fishing you should consider when planning trips.

First, I tallied all the muskies measuring 40 inches or longer in my boat from 1998 through 2002, then broke them out according to moon period. Then I threw out the eight fish caught on September 10, 1998, so those fish didn’t skew the results. With four moon periods per month, obviously an “average” moon period should account for 25 percent of the 40-inch and better muskies in my boat during the past five years.

The full moon period produced the most muskies in my sample and accounted for 34.7 percent of my total of fish over 40 inches. Next up was the last quarter moon, with 33.3 percent, new moon at 22.7 percent, and first quarter moon at 9.3 percent.

Are these totals skewed by my having scheduled fishing trips to prime big fish waters around full and new moons? Yes and no. I spend two to three weeks in Canada each season, but two of those weeks are locked into the same week of the year, regardless of moon period. Other trips, regardless of destination, were often scheduled to coincide with the full or new moon.

Why is the last quarter moon a prime time, at least in my experience? I really don’t know, but it is curious to note that some full-time guides on famous waters in northern Wisconsin, Minnesota and Canada have told me they can tell when a prime moon period occurs by the amount of fishing pressure they see. Has fishing pressure conditioned big muskies to feed more regularly during what formerly were non-prime times? I can’t say for sure, but it is interesting conjecture.

I must admit that in 2001 I started scheduling trips around last quarter moons. The pinnacle occurred in September of that year when Jim Saric and I boated four quality fish during a filming session booked during a last quarter moon. These fish were topped by a 51-incher, and added high quality footage to my first video.

Targeting the last quarter moon is one of six ideas that may yield the final piece of your musky fishing puzzle. Individually, none of these have yielded enough data to warrant full-blown articles in Musky Hunter, but one or several of these may fit in the coming season.

TOPWATERS IN THE DAYTIME

There are a lot of myths regarding topwaters, and among these are the beliefs that topwaters should only be fished in calm conditions and during periods of low light. We’ve discussed using topwaters in the wind numerous times in Musky Hunter, but their use during the day is new stuff.

Anytime and anywhere you encounter shallow-holding muskies, a topwater is another presentation to cast at them. And during the last few years I’ve come to the belief that if you’re fishing a dark water system and the muskies are shallow, you may actually be costing yourself fish by not having one person using a topwater at all times. This presentation typically requires strong faith on behalf of the user, because he/she will not likely be seeing many follows. The muskies they do see, however, will likely be chewing on their lure.

Need proof? Combining the results of the 2001 and 2002 University of Esox musky schools at Monument Bay Lodge on Lake of the Woods’ Northwest Angle, there were 232 muskies caught with 52 coming on topwaters. Of these, 23 (44 percent) were caught before 4:30 p.m., including muskies measuring 50, 48, 46 and 44 inches. Considering that more topwaters are likely being used by students and U of E staff during the evening than day, the figure is more startling.

YESTERDAY’S WIND

I am a firm believer that if you fish wind-blown structure, you will catch more muskies. Typically the most active fish will be positioned on the windward side of structure, and if you stay in the wind you will thus contact more active fish and likely catch more. I believe in this so strongly that I have given entire seminars on the subject.

Occasionally, however, you will encounter situations in which a stiff wind has blown for several days, followed by a day in which the wind undergoes a major directional shift, in some cases 180 degrees. Suddenly, the newly-windblown stuff isn’t holding active fish. In these cases, it pays to check the areas where the wind was blowing the day before, or as some call it, “yesterday’s wind.” If there is a constant to this pattern, it’s that the best chance to find a “yesterday’s wind” musky is relatively early the second day, before the fish have moved on.

I’ve boated numerous muskies following this pattern, but during each of the last two seasons this pattern has yielded a hawg. While fishing on a northwestern Wisconsin lake in November 2001, Kevin Schmidt and I made a trolling pass over glass calm water outside a weedline that had been wind-buffeted for several days. A 9-inch Grandma dragged through thick cisco schools suspended off the weed edge turned up what we called the “Gilbert Brown Musky,” a 48 1/2-inch beast with a cisco-bloated 24-inch girth.

Last October, early on the first day of our annual week-long trip to Andy Myer’s Lodge on Eagle Lake, Ontario, I stuck a 30-pound fish on a Shallow Bull Dawg cast to an island shoreline that had been heavily slapped by wind the day before. The wind had switched completely from north to south overnight, and the musky was caught off the island’s northern edge.

SHOCK THERAPY

You’ve just bought a new fishfinder boasting 3,000 watts peak-to-peak power and the thing bangs away at the bottom, showing you fish and bottom contours like you’ve never before experienced. Is this a good thing?

While there’s nothing more than anecdotal evidence that muskies can be conditioned to high-powered electronics and trolling motors, I can recall a trip to Andy Myer’s Lodge a couple years ago when the success of a group of four guys was the talk of the camp. The guys pretty much kept to themselves, but as the week progressed each ended up catching a big fish with three exceeding 50 inches. Camp owner and Musky Hunter Field Editor Steve Herbeck paid a visit to their cabin one evening and learned what he had suspected — that they had positioned their boat well upwind of the structure they intended to fish, turned off the fishfinder, and drifted to the structure. This practice falls in line with what a handful of northern Wisconsin musky guides still practice, in that they position their boats with oars in the belief that a trolling motor may spook a big fish. While I can’t even begin to think about rowing my Ranger and have to rely on the trolling motor, I have found myself almost regularly shutting off both fishfinders while casting to familiar structure. I can’t say for certain that I’ve caught more muskies because of this practice, but it probably does help and certainly can’t hurt.

WHITE SKY

Thunder on the horizon is music to a musky’s ears, and an approaching black line of clouds can often trigger a big musky provided the storm is devoid of lightning and it’s safe to remain on the water.

But take a look at your fish photos sometime and take note of how many muskies were caught under the heavy, dark overcast of a storm, or under the “white” sky that is an indicator of an approaching storm. Usually on such days the air pressure will be moving downward or “bouncing” up and down.

After you’ve given your photos a thorough examination, I’ll bet you’ll soon be like me — you can’t wait to fish in white sky conditions again. There’s not anything more to add here outside of what your photos are likely telling you. White skies are a condition in which to fish fast and fish hard.

RESERVOIR SCOUTING

For years I’ve scouted a reservoir near my home whenever the water was low, looking for gravel, boulders, trees and stumps that may hold walleyes later during periods of high or normal water levels. With what would later be fishable structure high and dry, this practice enables me to see first-hand what existed beneath the surface and helped me boat thousands of walleyes over the years. When I extended this practice to musky fishing, I found that my knowledge and ability to analyze situations skyrocketed.

With lake map in hand, I slowly boat along the shoreline of the lake and write or draw in the potential fish-holding features I find. You can also take photographs of exposed structure, or videotape it for later review. Doing so helps me visualize the spot-on-the-spot, and has helped me understand why certain areas hold fish more often than others, and why some hold bigger fish than others. Last year I spent a day scouting a drawn-down reservoir I’d never before seen, and though I didn’t get to fish it until two months later my markings on my lake map showed me exactly where to go. I boated three muskies that day, including a 30-pounder, largely thanks to the scouting effort.

Whether you call them reservoirs or flowages, and they were created for flood control, hydroelectric power or recreation, this tactic can be used to your advantage. All you need is an occasional drawdown, a lake map, and the initiative to spend a day just looking around and taking notes.

If the puzzle you’re working on will feature a picture of you with a big fish when completed, one or all of these tips could be the final piece you’re looking for.

Spray's Muskie will always be controversial

In Ohio, state of the steamy summer waters, muskies grow fast and die young, at least compared with their cool-water kin.

Joe D. Lykins caught the largest Buckeye State muskellunge so far recorded when in April 1972 he overpowered a 55.13-pounder that measured 50¼ inches long. Caught in Piedmont Lake, which lies in northern Belmont and southern Harrison counties, Lykins’ muskie indisputably was stockier than most.

At least a dozen muskies 50 inches or longer were caught in Ohio waters last year alone, reported Don Weaver, president of the Ohio Huskie Muskie Club. But among the four landed at Salt Fork Lake, the three at Leesville Lake, the two at Piedmont, and the one each at West Branch Reservoir, Alum Creek Reservoir and Wills Creek, none came close to outweighing Lykins’ fish. Such has been the case every year for nigh on 34 years.

In 2000, Gary Amie landed a 54½-inch muskie at Salt Fork, but though more than 4 inches longer than Lykins’ fish, it weighed a meager 41 pounds. As far as the weightiest contender, a 53¾-inch muskie ambushed by Dennis McQuillan at Lake Milton in 1982 turned out to be, at 47 pounds, 3 ounces, several boxes of doughnuts less hefty than Lykins’ record.

Let’s be clear. Weight being the sole criterion set by the Outdoor Writers of Ohio, the designated keeper of state records, a fish that grows short and stout, relatively speaking, can outclass one that grows long and lean.

Fair enough, even though such a system appears to favor for record contention egg-laden females caught in late winter or spring.

Not that any sportsman would ever let an outright lie pass his lips, but stretching the truth when it comes to a fish has been around since Mesolithic man began holding his hands this far apart to show just how big was the giant gar that swallowed his mate at the riverbank.

Such claims invariably have been countered by the scoffers with the question, here translated from the ancient tongue into English for clarity: "How big did you say?"

With that, the hands typically move some inches closer.

Sometimes, when the fisherman refuses to move his hands closer or can’t because he’s no longer flexible, someone will try to do it for him.

Which brings us to the case of the late Louis Spray, a bootlegger back in the day when a guy could earn a few extra bucks and a year’s hard time by making bathtub hootch. After Prohibition, Spray had claimed a couple of world muskie records in the late 1930s and early 1940s, but he outdid himself in 1949 when he reportedly winched in a 69-pound, 11-ounce monster measuring 63½ inches in northern Wisconsin.

The mount of the world-record muskie, known as Chin Whiskered Charlie, went up in flames in 1959. To hear Spray’s critics tell his story, it can be assumed they figure Spray went the opposite direction when in 1984 he died, age 84, by his own hand.

Apparently aware that the legalistically best time to kick a man is when he’s down, a group calling itself the World Record Muskie Alliance, in challenging the recognized record fish, called Spray in a published paper "a clever and successful liar, cheat and con artist." In October, after two years of research on Spray and after some software calculations based on a photograph of the record muskie, the alliance presented a 94-page report disputing Chin Whiskered Charlie’s world-record status.

In offering its report to the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame, keeper of game fish records in Hayward, Wis., the alliance made two primary charges. One, it said Spray and an accomplice had poured 25 pounds of ice chips down the muskie’s throat to increase its weight. Two, it said analysis of the photograph showed the fish would’ve measured far less than the claimed length of almost 70 inches.

Earlier in January, after nearly three months of examination, investigators representing the hall found the alliance’s evidence insufficient to overturn Spray’s record. Spray no doubt would drink to that decision, and he could certainly use a drink by now.

The alliance has offered no hint that it is about to come after Lykins’ Ohio record muskie, although rumors survive to this day that the muskie was found floating belly up. Envy sometimes sires rumors. But as Pontius Pilate and a few others have asked, what is truth? Sometimes not even the participants in the battles between fish and men know with certainty what has transpired, and only the one capable of concocting fiction can speak.

If Spray’s fish had been disqualified as a result of the latest challenge, a 67½-pound muskie, also caught in 1949, would have ascended as the world record. The fish was reeled to papa by the late Cal Johnson, a former Minneapolis sportswriter. If only such would be so, there could be no controversy. It’s a known fact that sportswriters never, never, ever embellish. Never. No. Not ever.

outdoors@dispatch.com

Douglas County Musky Lakes

Lake Name Access Acres Class Category
Amnicon Lake Ramp 426 A2 2
Bear Lake Ramp 47 C 1
Dowling Lake Ramp 154 A2 1
Eau Claire Lake,
Lower Ramp 802 B 2
Lyman Lake Ramp 403 A2 2
St. Louis River
Estuary and baysRamp 11000 B 0

Dodge County Muskie Lakes

Lake Name Access Acres Class Category
Fox Lake Ramp 2625 C 3

Dane County Muskie Lakes

Lake Name Access Acres Class Category
Kegonsa Lake Ramp 3209 C 3
Koshkonong Lake* Ramp 10460 C 3
Mendota Lake Ramp 9842 C 3
Monona Lake Ramp 3274 B 3
Upper Mud Lake Water 223 C 3
Waubesa Lake Ramp 2080 B 3
Wingra Lake Ramp 345 B 3

Tip-up tips for pike

By NICK SIMONSON Thursday, January 19, 2006 2:30 PM CST

If you are tired of finicky panfish or walleye with lockjaw and the slow bite that the area has been experiencing throughout this unstable portion of the winter, turn to an old favorite to heat up the action on the ice.

One of the most exciting fish to catch in our area is the northern pike. The pike, for many anglers, has gone from a childhood trophy to a secondary fish. However, winter is the time of the water wolf, there's no better time to rediscover tip-up angling for northerns.

Pike are readily available in many lakes throughout southeastern North Dakota thanks to stocking and great spawning over the last decade. Furthermore, when other fish shut down during the fickle winter weather, the pike seem to always be on the prowl. The sight of a blaze orange tip-up flag tripped by a northern is a challenge welcomed by all ice anglers.

Getting started

It doesn't take much to get in on the action for pike in winter. A $30 stop at the fishing section of any department or sporting-goods store for tip-ups, some line, leaders and trebles will have you all set for tip-up fishing. I prefer to use a single treble hook attached via 12-inch leader to 25-to-40 pound test nylon line on my tip-ups. Others may prefer heavier line or longer leaders depending on clarity of the lake being fished. If you're fishing catch and release, try a variety of quick-strike rigs to lessen impact on the fish.

Set 'em up...

The legal number of lines that can be used in North Dakota is four. This provides tip-up anglers with a chance for some hole-dashing action.

By setting three tip-ups in high-percentage areas such as channel edge flats, or along last summer's weedline, anglers can capitalize on known pike cruising strips. By drilling holes in other areas nearby, an angler can jig spoons or baited hooks for pike and hop around while still keeping an eye on the flags.

There are several brands of tip-ups, but the one I recommend and use primarily is the classic Polar Tip-Up. Its simple design and bright color make it a shoe-in for inclusion in any angler's arsenal. Its flag-holding notch also prevents the wind from tripping the flag and sending out a false alarm.

Other options, like a variety of hole covering thermal tip-ups and the new Jig-Up, which mechanically moves your offering up and down, are available. Take a look at several different models and see what is best for your angling style.

...Knock 'em down!

You may be dozens of yards away, in the truck, on shore, or in the icehouse when a flag trips on the tip-up. Don't worry about missing the fish. Pike, by nature, tend to grab bait and run with it before turning it and swallowing it.

As you approach the tip-up you can see the spool turning the flag trip mechanism as the pike runs. Watch for the spin to slow or even stop. A good idea once the flag pops up, is to count to twenty and then grab hold of the line. If you can see the line angling off under the ice, there's a good chance the fish is on. Feel for tension and prepare for battle.

The hook is set with a swift upward pull on the line. Make sure to lay the line as neatly as possible next to the hole as the pike nears the surface. In case of a quick run by the fish, the line will smoothly flow through your hands and back down the hole, instead of tangling on the tip-up, your leg or other obstructions.

Once the pike is iced, look for any serious damage to the gills or gullet. If the fish is bleeding, keep it; if not, you have the option of releasing the fish, especially trophy pike. It is a rush to remember.

So when the walleye won't bite, and the perch are a pain, try some tip-ups on the pike-filled waters…of our outdoors.

Seven Trolling Tips

These are some good trolling tips. Although point #1 is a little different for muskies. Power trolling at 3.5 to 4 mph for muskies is more effective than slow trolling.

(1) Heed the Speed
Note your exact speed when you first get a fish. Guides and tournament pros will tell you that a change of as little as a tenth of a mile per hour can affect your hookup rate, especially in cold water when walleyes are least active.

(2) Mark the Depth
The key factor influencing lure depth is the amount of line you have out. Line-counter reels are the easiest (and most expensive) option for keeping track of this. Cheaper alternatives include marking the line on a standard reel with a laundry pen or half-hitching a rubber band onto the line.

(3) Run Two Boards
Learning to detect strikes when using planer boards is an acquired skill. To make it easier, run a pair of boards side by side. When one acts differently than its mate, it usually indicates a bite.

(4) Run a High Line
Electronics often fail to detect fish that are suspended over deep water. To catch these walleyes, run a separate planer board dragging a bait just a few feet under the surface.

(5) Mix It Up
Interrupting the steady action of a trolling rod will often trigger a strike from a following, curious fish. Pump the rod, shake it, and let the bait drift back. Then give three steady pulls, and be ready.

(6) Exploit the Bite
It’s fine to start trolling with a specific plan or pattern in mind, but if you pick up a fish or two in a particular spot, mark the location on a GPS and immediately revisit it before the fish move on or the bite turns off.

(7) Work the Crowd
On popular waters, a cluster of boats usually indicates a hot bite, which may tempt you to join the fray with a jigging rod. Instead, troll on the outskirts of the armada, as packs of boats often displace fish to their fringes.

Muskie Hunt

Here's an article from Field & Stream and a reason why muskie hunting is so addictive.

by Scott Bestul

The follows are what get you. One second you’re watching your bait gurgling toward the boat. The next you’re staring behind it at the outline of a fish that’s large enough to maim the family dog. The strike, should it come (it often doesn’t), is spectacular, and the resulting battle can be dogged and brutal. But no other fish speeds toward, glides behind, or hangs beneath a lure with such seemingly evil intent as a muskie.
Of course, anyone content to simply watch fish should be tending aquariums, not taking up space in a boat. Thankfully, that often repeated adage about muskies—that they’re the “Fish of 10,000 Casts”—has been proved to be highly exaggerated. Catching them requires time, but if it took the legions of modern fishermen that many attempts to hook a keeper, rotator cuff surgeons would work out of bait-and-tackle shops. These days, it takes about 20 hours for a decent muskie angler on a good lake to boat a legal fish—still a huge commitment compared to the amount of time it takes to catch a trout or a bass. But a savvy muskie hunter can lower that figure significantly. I know a few guys who, given five days on prime water, fully expect to boat a 30-pounder and catch several lesser fish en route.

Terry Moulton is one of them, though he’d likely never admit it. Once a successful accountant, Moulton chucked the 9-to-5 routine two decades ago to open Mouldy’s Archery & Tackle (715-723-3607) in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, a sports shop catering to muskie aficionados and bowhunters. Besides chasing muskies all his life, Moulton has designed several popular lures, including the Hawg Wobbler and the Topper Stopper, each of which has accounted for hundreds of trophy fish.

Ironically, Moulton’s accounting background has allowed him to find the key to catching huge muskies. He recognizes muskie hunting as a numbers game, which means exerting the greatest effort when conditions are prime. “Perhaps the best thing a fisherman can do to reduce the hours between fish is to focus on two seasons,” he says. “Here in Wisconsin, we get an excellent bite right away in early summer, usually starting in mid-June and lasting until about July 10. Water temps are warming [muskies are most active in 65- to 70-degree water], there’s new weed growth, the females are recovered from the spawn, and young baitfish are active.

“The second spike in activity comes in early fall. Any time from late August on, the days shorten, the waters cool, and muskies begin to concentrate. Plus, fish are simply heavier then, and your chances of getting a big one are very good. This bite usually lasts through September. If I had just one month to fish—” Moulton stops short, clearly disturbed by the notion of fishing for muskies only 30 days a year.

Bad-Weather Fish
Weather is another influence. “I tell everyone that the best time to catch a huge muskie is just before a tornado,” Moulton says. He’s only half joking; his biggest fish was caught in the hours preceding a bona fide Wisconsin twister. “I do pay attention to weather reports, and if there’s a front approaching, I’m on the water, particularly if we’ve had an extended period of hot, dry weather. A cloudy day or a wind that puts a chop on the water can also make it happen. These are predator fish that feel more comfortable under cover.”

Locating muskies is all about identifying habitat. “If I had to create an ideal spot, it would be a large bed of cabbage that ends just below the surface. That allows me to work not only the edges, but the top. Most big fish will orient toward weedbeds adjacent to deep water. And of course, any time you can add other structure, like islands, points, or timber, you increase your odds. Muskies are ambush predators that wait near structure for food to come to them.”

The Night Bite
Sometimes, Moulton adds, darkness is the cover a muskie craves. “Night fishing can be excellent during that window between the early-summer and fall bites,” he notes. “The key to doing it well, of course, is knowing the water intimately. Then you keep everything safe and simple; the boat deck is clean, you wear a headlamp, and you bring a partner. I like a dark surface bait that shows up well against the night sky. When a strike comes it’s often close to the boat, so have your drag set light or there won’t be a fight. Just a big pop when that fish takes your lure.

“The other thing about night fishing is to not set the hook on sound alone. Muskies make a big ruckus chasing a topwater at night, but wait until you feel them take the lure. I take out people every year who hear a slashing blowup behind the lure and yank it out of the water before the fish can hit it.”

Having seen the graphite replicas of trophy muskies lining the walls of Moulton’s shop—and having caught a few monsters myself—I can sympathize with the reaction. Having a 30-plus-pound fish attack a lure just a few feet away from your boat can shatter the nerves of even the most composed fisherman.




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Where to Go Top Muskie Waters
Muskie fishing used to be limited to a handful of specific regions, but aggressive stocking and management programs have broadened opportunities. The following is a list of some of the best waters, with a guide or a local tackle shop for each water. Contact each state’s fish and game department for season and license information:
Wisconsin
Oneida and Vilas Counties
Muskie fishing’s epicenter has at least 350 lakes in a two-county area. For sheer breadth of opportunity—from a rookie looking for his first “legal” to a hunter after a hawg—there may be no better place in the world. Contact: Roger Sabota, C&R Guide Service, 715-369-2283.

Minnesota
Leech Lake
This is arguably America’s premier state for trophy muskies, and it’s getting increasingly difficult to choose the top water. But the success of Minnesota’s stocking program can be traced to Leech Lake–strain fish, so Leech gets the nod for tradition if nothing else. Contact: Reed’s Sports Shop, 800-346-0019.

Michigan
Lake St. Clair
Trolling is the key to finding fish on this 200,000-acre lake on Detroit’s doorstep, where it’s possible to boat a dozen fish in an eight-hour day. Catch rates for legal (44-inch) fish average one per six hours, making St. Clair a true muskie factory, thanks to management efforts and a catch-and-release mentality fostered by the Michigan-Ontario Muskie Club (810-725-7237). Contact: Lakeside Fishing Shop, 586-777-7003.

Ohio
Piedmont and Salt Fork Lakes
The Buckeye State has had a fine stocking program since 1982. Ohio’s Huskie Muskie Club (web.tusco.net/ohiohuskiemuskieclub), which recognizes fish over 42 inches, is full of entries from these two lakes. Contact: Muskie Tutor Guide Service, 740-439-0429; www.users.clover.net/muskyman.

Kentucky
Cave Run Lake
The Licking River already held muskies when it was dammed to form this 8,300-acre reservoir. Now, ideal habitat and a sound stocking program have made Cave Run not only one of the country’s hotspots but also one of the few waters that allow year-round fishing. Contact: Cave Run Muskie Guide Service, 800-452-1600.

New York
Lake Chautauqua
At 17 miles long and 13,000 acres, this is big water that produces equally big fish. Like Michigan’s St. Clair, trolling is tops here if you have the equipment. Look for the largest fish suspended over deep dropoffs. Contact: Western New York Guide Service, 716-969-9059; www.wnyguideservice.com.

The Big (Muskie) Fish Monkey is off my Back

By: Patricia Strutz

Well, it’s been a long time in the making…but I finally caught my “big one.” Many folks have seen the photo and want to know the story so, here goes…


For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Patricia Strutz and I run a musky fishing guide service in Vilas county (northeast Wisconsin) called “A Blond and Her Boat”. I also write for several outdoor publications, work for Guide’s Choice Pro Shop in Eagle River and help instruct at Guide’s Choice Fishing Schools.


The first week of August I was enjoying one of Guide’s Choice Fishing Schools. We were up on beautiful Lake of the Woods, staying at Pipestone Point Resort. My husband, Jim Behm, happened to join me at this trip. Jim likes to fish but is not a total muskyhead like I am. He’s always a good sport, though, and puts up with my addiction.


One of the great things about the schools is that we all share information. We were all discussing that the weeds were starting to look pretty mucked up and that the muskies we were seeing were relating to rock structure. Specifically, we were finding them near rock that had reeds close by and deep water close by.


So, on Monday, August 1st, Jim and I headed out during the day to chase ‘skies. I’ve caught many muskies in my life but have yet to boat what I consider a true trophy.

At times this can get disparaging. So many hours spent…some would say wasted, but truly I do enjoy every moment of it.


We had a wonderful morning and afternoon together. We ended up seeing seven different fish-all of pretty decent size (low to high 40’s). Several of the fish followed our baits multiple times. We even had one, around a 46”, follow our baits up six times to the boat. But, alas, she wouldn’t eat.


So…we headed back to the resort for dinner and to relay what we had seen. Others in the group had similar stories. Re-energized with a good meal and some shared musky talk, we headed out during the “bewitching hour” (dusk) to entice one of those followers to eat. My boss, “Ranger” Rick, decided he would join us and he brought along his video camera “just in case…”


We hit the first island structure. We had one very aggressive fish working both my husband’s Suick and my Believer that afternoon. All three of us casted but there was no one home. So, we headed over to the next structure. It was merely a large rock reef, close to deep water, with a “garage” area behind it.


Rick says, “I think I’ll just sit down and relax. Patricia, show me what you can do.” Well, I’m always up for a challenge…so Jim and I worked the entire rock structure. This was the area where we had the 46” up six times that afternoon. I was sure she’d be hungry enough to commit by then, but…no one was home. We were about ready to pull the trolling motor and try another spot when Ranger Rick says, “Patricia, take a cast way back in there.” He pointed toward a little “garage” area. It was very shallow water just on the other side of the rock structure, with a few reeds in it.


I was throwing a TopRaider and this particular lure I am very consistent with. I can “land it on a dime.” So, I casted to the exact spot he mentioned: around the corner of the rock, shallow water, near reeds. Plop. Started the bait. Explosion. Big head with an open mouth but she missed the bait.


One thing I’ve learned over my bazillion casts is not to choke when this happens. I steadily kept reeling in the bait. A few seconds later the water exploded and the bait was gone. I set the hook hard. Well, I’m a girl so as hard as I can… She immediately swam out to deep water. Rick was yelling “set the hook again” so, I did. I could feel her down there shaking her head. I’ve lost fish to this head shake before. It’s a sickening feeling.


Jim was reeling in his bait and getting the net ready. Rick was struggling to get a Pacemaker out of his pants (don’t ask) and then get the video camera out. Jim was yelling get her up, pull her up! Easier said then done, there, hubby. Try horsing up a behemoth musky who wants to stay deep. Well, I finally got her up, he plunges in the net, she turns and goes back down deep. Oh, no…Luckily, Rick had not started filming yet or he may have had an editing job to do.


Well, after what seemed like an eternity I got her up and Jim got her in the net. Later he joked that if he had missed her again he may as well headed home and started with the divorce papers. J Anyway, there she lay in the net. Jim took out the hooks while I got the camera ready and tried to prepare myself to hold this incredible creature. My husband kept saying, “Okay, the first thing you have to do is relax…” Right…


You just don’t realize the enormity of a fish until you start pulling her out of the net. She kept coming and coming and coming. Yes, I am a small woman. I am 5’ 2” and weigh under 100#, so most fish look quite big compared to me. But, this fish was HUGE!!!! I’ve caught many muskies in the mid 40” range and never had any difficulty handling them. For many years I’ve worked as a dog groomer and regularly lift up heavy Golden Retrievers. So, even though I’m small I can hold my own…but this fish, WOW.


I gripped her huge head with my right hand and pulled her out of the net. WOW.

I leaned back and laid her on me, not wanting to hold her vertically. I then tried to lift up her belly with my left hand. Nope, couldn’t do it. She wouldn’t budge. Jim had to come over and place her in my arms. I tried supporting her with my hand-just like all the other ‘skies I’ve caught. She made one move with her tail, displaced the weight of that huge belly of hers and down she went. No, I did not drop her. I held on to the head but lost her body. Jim once again placed her in my arms, this time I wrapped my entire arm around her, right behind the dorsal fin.


She was HUGE. To say I was ecstatic would probably be an understatement. For those of you that have seen the pictures: that big ear to ear grin was plastered on my face for quite some time. It was a combination of both joy and straining to hold this big girl. This fish was the culmination of many, many, many, many hours on the water. Some with my husband, some with friends, some with fellow guides and instructors, some with clients, and many by myself. I know many of you have put this type of effort in, so you can understand what I was feeling. It’s really so difficult to put it into words: pure joy would be the closest thing I can think of.


Jim snapped a bunch of still photos and Rick rolled the camera. We were able to get fantastic footage. She was a huge, round, full, solid fish. She didn’t have a “drop belly”-just a solid mass from head to tail. The video best shows her features off. We then measured her. 54 ½”! What a beast! I grabbed my flexible tape to get a girth measurement…which I ended up goofing up. (Note: do not use a double sided tape!) Luckily, we had still photos of me measuring the girth so that saved the day. A huge 30” girth. What a pig!


I wanted to get her back into the water quickly. Yes, she was a Lake of the Woods legal, but I had no intentions of keeping her. We placed her back in the water and I held onto her. She never wavered. Almost immediately her head started searching for the deep water. Jim snapped a few quick release photos. I gently took my hands off of her and she quickly swam away. WOW and again WOW…what an incredible creature.


What an incredible moment. A fish-of-a-lifetime. My husband there to take part of this very special moment. Ranger Rick there rolling the camera. He’s been integral to my fishing career so it was wonderful that he was in the boat, too. We caught her around 8:00 p.m. We could have stayed out and fished another hour, but…it was time to celebrate. We headed back to the resort with me still wide eyed and grinning.


An hour later everyone from the school tied up their boats and joined us in the lounge to celebrate. Rick ran the video. It was almost surreal-watching myself catch this fish only an hour after I actually caught her. Pinch me. Another one of the great things about our school atmosphere is the sense of camaraderie. There is no competition-only sharing of information and sharing of successes. Lots of ‘atta, girl! And a little bourbon.


The rest of the week was wonderful, too. We all saw many muskies that week, they were very active. I believe all of us except maybe one or two of the participants boated at least one ‘skie. One young man, Ryan, caught his first musky. That’s always a great moment to be a part of. Beautiful Canadian sunsets, great fishing, and great fun. Thursday evening’s shoredinner was excellent, as usual. Pipestone Point Resort, where we hold this particular school trip, is a beautiful place. Pete, the owner, has it landscaped with gorgeous flowers, and it’s definitely not a “rough it” camp. Guys, I highly recommend that you & your wife sign up to join us next year on this trip. A great restaurant-complete with salad bar (sometimes difficult to find on an island in Canada)-waterfall in the lounge, Jacuzzi on the outside deck, whirlpool bathtubs in the cabins…oh, and need I remind you that there is world-class fishing at your doorstep? We catch great walleye, perch, bass, and pike there, too.


Saturday morning we headed back to the marina. I hated to leave. But, I know where she lives and I’ll be back next year. We’ve named her homespot “Patricia’s Garage.”


Back in Eagle River, Wisconsin. Lots of congratulations from my fellow guides and buddies who know just how much this fish means to me. Brought up the photos and video to show taxidermist Rick Lax who will make a replica for me. He was impressed with the size of the girth and how thick the body was all the way down. He ventured a guess at weight in the high 40# to even possibly 50#. WOW. I guess a person could have had a cradle and a weight scale, but you just don’t think of everything. But, it doesn’t matter. This girl is etched in my memory.


August 1, 2005, 8:00 p.m….The big fish monkey is definitely off my back! Best wishes to all of you who join me on this road. Chasing these elusive creatures can be exhausting, frustrating, and defeating. But, then there are moments like this...




***I don’t wish to sound like walking advertisement, but I do really stand behind our (Guide’s Choice) fishing schools. They are a fantastic way to learn a new body of water, a new type of fishing (we offer multi-species), or to hone up your musky fishing skills.

These past few school trips I’ve concentrated on bettering my GPS skills and locating structures that hold actively feeding fish. And I’m truly on a mission to get more women involved in these schools. That means: guys, I’d love it if you and your wife or daughter joined us! Also, any single gals out there…there is always room in my boat. I had two gals, Katie and Deb, in my boat for our NorthWest Angle trip a few weeks ago. We, “the chick boat” had the most fun (and caught a few ‘skies) of anyone!

I’m a patient teacher, so even if you’ve never musky fished I can help you.


Check out our website: www.guideschoicefishingschools.com

Or, check out mine and drop me an email with any questions: www.ablondandherboat.cominfo@ablondandherboat.com

Feb. 11th Jamboree still on in Pewaukee

DELAFIELD - If you had called Dick Smith’s Live Bait and Tackle for the local fishing report this week, you would have heard a recorded message just slightly dated.
Owner Becky Smith recorded the message Jan. 6.

She hasn’t had a reason to change the message because southeastern Wisconsin’s virtual winter has snapped the line on ice fishing, along with many other outdoor activities.

"If nothing has changed with the weather, I don’t know what to say to update the report," she said.

Smith also hasn’t bothered to calculate January sales revenue for her business at 2420 Milwaukee St., because, she said, "I don’t want to know. I’m not going to ruin my day. I know it’s horrible."

With some nice below-zero temperatures in December, Smith and other Lake Country business people who cater to the ice fishing crowd thought they were headed for a big catch this season in terms of sales volume. Then the jet stream shifted and winter crawled into a cave to hide.

"Christmas sales were great and we were having the time of our life and one day it started thunderstorming and raining," Smith said.

While January’s average low temperature in the Milwaukee area is 13.4 degrees, the average low this month has been a balmy 29.8 degrees, said Peter Speicher, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. Also, during the first 18 days of this month, the average overall temperature of 34.2 degrees was exceeded 50 percent of the time, or on nine days, Speicher said.

As if those statistics weren’t flaky enough, snowfall in January has added up to a scant 0.4 of an inch. That contrasts to the average January total of more than a foot of the white stuff - 15.2 inches.

Michael Nelson operates what he describes as "the ultimate ice shanty," or what most people would know as the Channel Inn, 34422 Delafield Road, town of Summit, on Nemahbin Lake.

During a typical January, ice fishermen drill holes and place tip-ups on the frozen lake his bar faces, then come inside for warmth, food and beverages.

This year, "We’re not getting any fisherman," Nelson moaned.

With the current from a channel flowing in front of his establishment, open water now stretches to the end of one of the two piers off the Channel Inn, a distance of some 80 feet from shore.

Nelson said he has lived in the area for 20 years and would not consider venturing on to the semi-solid lake.

"We need some cold weather, and I won’t be the first one out on it again after it refreezes," he said.

Mark Baldock, urban fisheries biologist for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, also called the lack of ice an unusual condition for mid-January.

"It is a very strange occurrence with all the rain," he said.

The DNR is warning ice fishermen that it is unsafe to go on area lakes, but Baldock said he still sees anglers on the ice.

"It’s not a law, but we definitely want to let them know they should not be out on the ice," he said. "You are definitely taking your life into your own hands."

Baldock said any rains may further weaken ice sheets, even following a prolonged cold snap.

Smith noted that although ice may be thick enough from which to fish, getting to that ice is difficult if not impossible on many lakes because ice along shorelines is absent or mushy at best.

Asked if he could recall a warmer January during his 24 years living in Lake Country, John Laimon, owner of Smokey’s Bait Shop, 129 Park Ave., Pewaukee, on Pewaukee Lake, said, "No I haven’t."

He said the unseasonably warm weather is "killing" his business and other businesses and nonprofits that rely on ice fishing, either for income or for fund-raisers.

Laimon stopped selling live bait at his second location two weeks ago - Smokey’s Muskie Shop, on Lakeview Boulevard on Pewaukee Lake - because of bad ice conditions and lack of fishermen. The store continues to sell artificial lures for muskie fishing.

Despite the warm weather, Smith said she will not cancel the Feb. 11 fishing jamboree she sponsors annually for fishermen on Waukesha County lakes. The event is in its sixth year, with the weigh-in held at the Channel Inn.

"If the ice is unsafe, we will have a party anyway," she said. "We’re selling tickets and we will have the food and door prizes.

"It will be at the fishermen’s discretion if they want to go fishing."

Making a Muskie Cradle

By Ian Smith

Muskie live 25 years or more, and many anglers now release them to grow, spawn, and be caught again, relying on photographs or replica mounts as mementoes. Muskie fishing is improving because of catch-and-release, but to be a useful management tool it must be done in a way that fish actually survive long-term.

Faced with handling these large toothy critters, fisheries biologists designed a mesh cradle strung between two poles to fit the body shape of muskie and pike. Fish lay straight and can be measured and have scale samples taken. Dr. Robert Strand of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is generally credited with developing the cradle 20 years ago. Since then, it's slowly gained favour among muskie anglers.

Should an angler always use a cradle instead of a standard big net? No. In some situations a big net makes more sense. In a large boat with high sides a net's long handle makes landing fish easier. A deep bag on a big net allows the handle to be laid flat across the gunwales while a fish is trapped in the water, where hooks can be removed. When you are fishing alone is also a good time for a net, because using a cradle is a two-person operation at the best of times, let alone in rough water or high winds.

Large nets, however, take up a huge amount of space in a small boat. A decent muskie net has a 36-inch (91-cm) hoop and a 6-foot (1.8-m) handle, making it tough to store. A cradle rolled up is 5 feet (1.5 m) long and no bigger around than a rod tube. It's easier to store.

Another problem with all nets, even rubberized ones, is that they split fins if a fish is hoisted into the boat - a temptation when water is rough or hooks are deeply embedded. Because a fish lies flat in a cradle, there's no fin damage and the soft mesh doesn't rough up the skin or remove its protective slime. Another advantage when unhooking a fish is that if you drop your pliers, glasses, or dentures, they often fall into the cradle and not to the lake bottom. Finally, a cradle floats flat, allowing a fish to recover next to the boat or until you've taken photographs. You can buy cradles. Expect to pay between $50 and $150, depending on the size, construction, and features.

Cradle manufacturers often use fabric to form sleeves, then sew mesh onto the fabric. Other designs place the mesh between two pieces of flat wood, which are epoxied or screwed together to hold the mesh in place. Others use wooden dowels.

You can make your own cradle from dowels in a couple of evenings. The major challenge is finding appropriate netting. Look for a 4- by 4-foot (1.2-m by 1.2-m) piece of soft, knotless .75- to 1.5-inch (19- to 38-mm) netting with .08- to .12-inch (2- to 3-mm) fabric. Muskies Canada members in Tweed and Ottawa bought a roll of minnow seine for cradle netting. When hooks put too many holes in it, they cut a new bag and re-use the poles. Other anglers have used soft netting such as the nylon mesh used for archery backstops or the top of hospital room dividers.

Start with two 5-foot pieces of 1-inch (2.54-cm) maple dowel and a piece of mesh 36 inches wide by 48 long (91.4 by 122 cm). You can use one 5-foot length of 1 1/2-inch dowel if you cut it down the middle to form two poles. Fold over the mesh along the long edges to form sleeves to hold the dowels, sew securely with heavy Dacron or other braided line, add a couple of screws to keep the netting from sliding off, and you're done. If you want to get fancy, cut out a second piece of mesh to form a bag blocking off one end and sew it into place. The finished bag should be about 12 inches (30.5 cm) wide between the dowels and as deep as the netting. Without a bag, fish sometimes scoot right through a cradle.

Other nice touches are marking a ruler on one dowel, so you can measure a fish right in the cradle, or adding a little pouch to hold a plastic seamstress' tape. A muskie measuring tape produced by the Ministry of Natural Resources is available from its information centre (705-755-2000) or local district offices for $2 and works nicely for this too. Finally, a 6-foot piece of rope with loops at either end to slip over the dowels allows you to weigh a fish suspended in the cradle. Just subtract the wet weight of the cradle. The rope can also be used as a leash to prevent the cradle from drifting off while you're getting a camera out and to wrap it up for storage in the bottom of the boat.

Whether you buy or make a cradle, a few tips will make it easier to use. First, make sure the person holding it wears eye protection. When cradling a muskie, you get down and wet with the fish, and if a hook pops out, you'll be glad you wore glasses. When you hook a fish, throw the cradle into the water early to wet the mesh so it sinks more quickly (some commercial cradles have weights in the mesh). Spread and sink one end of the cradle while the fish is led into position. Once fully into the mesh, simply close up the wooden handles. A high wind makes landing a fish more challenging if the boat is drifting, in which case point the cradle into the current so that it will stay down. Finally, don't worry about getting hooks tangled in the mesh, because the first thing the cradle handler should do is grab the fish by the tail and turn it onto its side to keep it from thrashing. Work the hooks loose or, better yet, snip them with bolt-cutters and then untangle the lure. If the fish thrashes, no hooks are attached to it.



A word on photographing muskie. After getting a fish to the boat, it will be tired. Leave the muskie cradled in the water while you unhook it. This allows the fish and you to recover somewhat. Once the camera is ready, you can lift the fish for photos while supporting its weight horizontally, but don't keep it out of the water for more than 10 seconds. Studies show that "air" time is a major factor in fish mortality. Lift, snap a pic, and then put the fish back into the cradle. With care, you can take several photos without overly stressing the fish.

That's about it. This winter, purchase or make a cradle. They might be big, green, and mean, but the next big muskie you catch and release would appreciate a little tender loving care.

Netting sources

ABC Netting Inc., Mississauga, Ont., phone 905-795-2520;
Le Industries Fipec, Grand-Riviere, Que., Phone 418-385-3631, website www.fipec.qc.ca;
or try your local yellow pages under "netting."

Columbia County Muskie Lakes

Lake Name Access Acres Class Category
Lake Wisconsin Ramp 9000 C 3
Park Lake Ramp 312
Silver Lake Ramp 74 C 3
Swan Lake Ramp 406 C 3

Clark County Muskie Lakes

Lake Name Access Acres Class Category
Arbutus Lake* Ramp 839 C 3
Mead Lake Ramp 320 B 3

Chippewa County Muskie Lakes

Lake Name Access Acres Class Category
Chain Lake Water 468 B 0
Chippewa Falls
Flowage Ramp 282 C 3
Cornell
Flowage Ramp 836 B 2
Holcombe
Flowage Ramp 3890 A1 2
Long Lake Ramp 1052 B 2
Old Abe Lake Ramp 1072 B 2
Round Lake Ramp 216 C 0
Sand Lake Ramp 12 B 2
Wissota Lake Ramp 6300 A1 2

Calument County Muskie Lakes

Lake Name Access Acres Class Category
Winnebago Lake* Ramp 137708 C 1

Muskie Hall of Fame Statement

The following is the full statement provided by the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame on rejecting a challenge to Louie Spray's 1949 world-record muskie.

Fishing Hall of Fame validates Spray muskie

Last October, a group known as the World Record Musky Alliance (WRMA) presented a report to the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame (NFWFHF) that alleged Louie Spray's 1949 all-tackle world record musky of 69 pounds 11 ounces had been falsified in size and should be expunged from the record books. After a careful and objective review of every aspect of the report during the past 3 months, the NFWFHF has ruled that the report lacks sufficient merit to overturn the Spray record.

The report's primary piece of evidence (which alleged that the Spray musky was only 53.6 inches long) came as a result of a computer software program that relied on multiple assumptions to be inputted before a result could be yielded. Although the software program that was utilized did indeed yield a result based upon the multiple assumptions that it was essentially fed, the arrived at result proves to be — at best — inconclusive. In fact, when asked if a control experiment was done to test the accuracy of this program with a fish of known size, it was learned that such a control test was never conducted.

Clearly, the "scientific method" (which requires any hypothesis to be tested by doing a control test) was not followed in this matter, a hard fact that throws serious question into the validity of the conclusions that were yielded. Because no control was ever done to test the approach that was used and so many assumptions had to be made, there exists too much reasonable doubt as to the accuracy of their result. In fact, while the report's primary photo analysis results prove to be inconclusive at best, other allegations contained in the report prove to be largely speculative, invalid, and, in many cases, outright false.

Countering the report's inconclusive results is much strong documentation supporting the size of the Spray musky. There are many sworn statements by credible witnesses; the mount of the fish was on public display for years; and the photos of this musky actually support–through the use of same plane, direct scaling techniques that were employed by two professors of Mathematics (both of whom hold doctorates in Mathematics)–that the reported length of Spray's musky (63½ inches) is right in the "ballpark" (the approximate range) of where it should be. The two professors who scaled the length of Spray's musky from the photo were, Dr. Joseph Gallian, Professor of Mathematics at the University of Minnesota in Duluth whoholds a PhD in Mathematics and is the president-elect of the Mathematical Association of America, and Dr. Dorian Goldfeld, Professor of Mathematics at Columbia University in New York who holds a PhD in Mathematics.

Using the same plane, direct scaling technique: Dr. Gallian's calculation for the visible portion of the length of the Spray fish in the photo was 62.75 inches and Dr. Goldfeld's calculation for the visible portion of the length of the Spray fish in the photo was 63.62 inches. The direct scale techniques that were applied to the Spray photo have also been subjected to a control test, which proved to be accurate to within three quarters of an inch, by the same two (above mentioned) professors. Repeated control tests have also proven this method of using the same plane, direct scaling technique to be highly accurate.

The sworn statements verifying the Spray musky serve as very hard documentation:

1) Postmaster Jack Reinke of the Stone Lake Post Office swore under oath on an affidavit that he had personally weighed and measured Spray's 1949 record musky in the presence of Spray's fishing partners, Ted Hagg and George Quentmeyer (who also swore under oath on their own affidavits that they had witnessed Reinke's weigh-in). Reinke, a man held in high regard in the Stone Lake community, swore that he had personally: weighed the musky in at 69 pounds 11 ounces, measured the fish at 63½ inches long, and measured the musky's girth at 31¼ inches.

2) Another individual who swore under oath that he had also measured Spray's 1949 record musky was Nick Barnes, a carpenter at Herman's Landing who happened to be one of the first people to see Spray's fish after it had been brought in. Barnes swore under oath on an affidavit that, while the fish was there at Herman's Landing, he had personally measured the fish and found it to be 64 inches in length.

3) Six other witnesses who all swore under oath that they had witnessed the Spray musky and that the fish appeared to be a freshly caught fish were Herman and Edna Ceranske, Charlie Pastika, Jake Jordan, Milton Stroner, and Karl Kahmann.

4) The taxidermist who mounted Louie Spray's 1949 record fish, Hugh Lackey, a stranger to Spray who ran a sport shop in the Wausau, Wisconsin area, swore under oath that he had done an internal examination of the stomach contents of the fish and found no artificial weight or foreign objects inside the fish. Lackey completed the mounting of the Spray musky in only 25 days. The mount of the Spray 69 pound 11 ounce world record musky was put on public display alongside Cal Johnson's mounted 67½ pound world record musky at the Milwaukee Sentinel Sport Show in 1950, where it was photographed and witnessed by literally thousands of people. Incidentally, photos taken of the display clearly show that the Spray mount was noticeably longer than the Johnson mount, a fish which is still on display today. Spray's fish remained on public display for the next nine years, until it was destroyed in a fire in Spray's real estate office in Rice Lake in 1959.

In additional to the ten above mentioned sworn witness affidavits, the Hall also conducted a video taped interview with Leonard Dorazio who vividly recalled witnessing Spray's fish at Herman's Landing shortly after it had been brought in. Dorazio stated in the interview that the musky had obviously been freshly caught and that he remembered it being clearly over five feet long because it was as tall as him at the time.

Louie Spray's world record musky is likely the most scrutinized musky ever caught. The additional scrutiny of this fish only serves to further support its validity.

For more detailed information about the Hall's decision to retain the Louie Spray world record musky, please see our website at: www.Freshwater-Fishing.org or contact Emmett Brown, Executive Director of the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame at 715-634-4440.

Burnett County Muskie Lakes

Lake Name Access Acres Class Category
Benoit Lake Ramp 297 C 3
Big McKenzie Lake Ramp 1185 A2 3
Danbury Flowage Water 256 B 3
Des Moines Lake Ramp 229 C 2
Fish Lake Ramp 356
Hayden Lake None 59
Lipsett Lake Ramp 393 C 3
Little Yellow Lake Water 348 B 3
McKenzie Lake,
Middle* Ramp 530 C 3
Rice Lake Ramp 326 C 3
Trade Lake, Big Ramp 434 C 3
Twenty-Six Lake Ramp 230 B 3
Yellow Lake Ramp 2287 A2 3

Beware the Mighty Muskie

By Paul Hartmann

Muskie fishing is a dangerous sport. There are great risks of damage to both the angler and the fish. By setting the hook, we can easily tear the gill or puncture the eye of the next muskie we encounter. There is also the probability that each of us will become hooked a time or two ourselves, not to mention suffer cuts from teeth and gill rakers of fish we catch.

The worst case scenarios often result in death for the fish and permanent damage to the fisherman. Regardless of the experience level, we all risk tragedy every time we hit the water. Consider the excruciating day where Rich Reinert had a customer hook him in the face while rearing back to cast a Suick. Three hours later he was leaving the hospital after having 4 of the hooks that had punctured his cheek and lips surgically removed from his gums. Even Dick Pearson received tremendous damage to his hand and arm when Steve Fuller handed him a hooked #47 muskie which flopped back into the water with Dick attached! If it can happen to the pros, it can happen to any of us, so beware.
There are two high-risk categories for being hurt while muskie fishing. First is the beginner that is handicapped by inexperience. No matter how many articles and videos they study on release, the adrenaline and excitement over their first big muskie makes for a dangerous situation. The other group that is at a high risk for being injured is the expert. While they know and abide by all the proper precautions and handling methods, but the numbers work against them. The more time you spend on the water and the higher the number of muskies that an angler handles the better the odds become that one of them will hurt you severely.

While nearly everyone is nervous about being hooked by a large muskie, reality is that a quick agile pike or muskie in the 1 ½ to 5 pound range are the most dangerous to handle. Due to their small size, the hooks will be in close proximity to your hands while unhooking the fish. All it can take one "wiggle" on their part and your hooked. Typically the angler is "gun shy" for sometime after, making things even more dangerous. The unhooking should be done carefully, yet firmly, with speed and confidence.

While every accident comes as a surprise, many of them are preventable. Keeping a neat boat should be every angler's top priority. Loosing your balance in waves, and falling hand first into an open tackle box will finish your season on the spot. Even tripping over a net handle can be a disaster if you land on the pile of baits set "out of the way" on the floor of the boat. Many anglers hang baits along the inside of their boat never thinking of what will happen as they lean over the side to life that "fish of the lifetime" for a few quick photos. Safety often comes down to thinking things through before you act.

Since statically we will all get hooked by a partner, fish, or ever a lure caught in the carpet, we must know what to do next will dictate how severe the results will be. Always have your bolt cutters and pliers right next to you before attempting to touch the fish. In the event that you do become hooked, get the fish off the bait and back in the water immediately. At this point, assess how badly you are injured and proceed from there. Most of the time you can twist the hook the rest of the way around and force it back out above the skin. There is no option but to go to the hospital if you can't stomach unhooking your self. The pros (doctor) can fix you up and have you back on the water before the Novocain wears off and the throbbing begins. Remember muskie fishing can be dangerous, so treat each and every fish with caution and respect.