Warning, this story will be a bit long.
We kicked this trip off with a bang. In the first few days we caught several pike over 10 pounds with four 14-17 pounds. Somewhere around the fourth day fishing was okay but a definitely slower. Pulled into a spot we don’t fish regularly but looked fishy. Not much going on but we continued to work the routine of cast and retrieve, cast and retrieve, repeat.
After another cast hit the water I glanced over and see my buddy set the hook hard. Lure was about 20 feet from the boat but couldn’t see the fish. Only knew it wasn’t a hammer handle and was coming in nicely. Then just before the boat it rolled a bit so we could see. “BIG FISH” “BIG FISH” “BIG FISH” yelling from both of us like we were complete rookies. The fish decided game on too after seeing the boat!
I’m reeling in as fast as possible so I can grab the net. He’s running back and forth on the bow trying to hang on. I’m chucking my rod on the floor of the boat and then I hear him yell, “It’s a musky!” After more big fish panic we’re in the bow together, the fish is getting closer to being ready, and then we get a really good look. Then we both wonder out loud, “I think our net’s too small, what are we going to do, That’s going to go 45″-50″. After a little convention and a very cooperative fish we gave the net a scoop and the fish folded right in. Exhale!!!
How big was it? Good question. We don’t do bump boards but did try to tape it. Without being picky we’re confident to call it a 45”. On a board it might have gone another inch or two. Just the size of the tail was something to see. Few quick photos and a super clean release.
Why a unicorn, isn’t there a population of musky in Rainy? We’ve heard there is a sustainable population way over in Redgut Bay.
For little background I’ve been going up on the north arm for 15 years. Most of which for 2 separate week long trips with a couple years with one week, have never seen a musky in person in any lake. My fishing partner has never missed a year in his life. He’s the third generation to vacation up there. In better years he would do a month or better each summer. He remembers a single low 20’s musky when he was in college. Stopped in the Fort to visit some friends who are in their 80s. One was part of running a small fish camp for 50 years, the other has lived on the lake most of his life, and both did commercial fishing when they were younger. When shown the pictures, they not only had never seen a musky on the north arm, they had never even heard of one. Then we catch this monster, totally made the trip!
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