What's your first muskie?

[Tony Scime]

I remember mine quite well. I trolled and cast for a good 200 hours before I caught her. Of course, this was before the NMA or anyone else who would teach you much. Most of my early muskie info came from Fishing Facts magazine. Including all about Buck Perry's spoonplugs. And I caught him/her on a spoonplug. Frog colored. West side of Strawberry. A gargantuan 22"er! I have a picture of her somewhere. I was very excited. That was 35 years ago. I can't imagine trolling spoonplugs in the summer anymore. Weeds and moss must have been a much lesser problem then.

I had to wait for my first 48"er. By then I was fishing Nipissing. Had action when casting but the big girls would just follow slowly or miss the bait. Then I read "The Summer Muskie" by Tony Rizzo. Something about speed trolling, if you can. Have to go fast in the summer.  And Homer LeBlanc wrote about trolling in the prop-wash. Nipissing is big and weedy, so I thought I'd give it a try. Speed-trolled an old wooden bait pikie, in perch, ten to 15 feet back. Took about 15 minutes ripping through heavy weeds when she hit. Thought it was a snag. It was a thick 48"er! That was quite a thrill, and really opened up a great way to catch big muskies at the big Nip! That was 1983.

My first big Niagara River fish was caught in November. Nobody but me and my dog Charlie fished for muskies on the Niagara in November back then. We were the only boat on the water. Charlie began whining that he had to take a wicked piss (he was a talking dog, we had many and long conversations about many facets of existence, but this was short and simple and limited to pissing). So I said ok, we'll speed troll up to Strawberry (where he could find relief), and I rev'd the motor up to about 5mph going upstream. Charlie seemed satisfied, though somewhat anxious. I was trolling  a Bagley DB06, perch, bouncing bottom in about 15 feet of water. The lure stopped, the drag zinged, and Charlie and I boated a gargantuan (by 1980s Niagara River standards) muskellunge. It had a 48" fork length (I think Larry Ramsell suggested that as a fairer measurement - no problems with tail pinching and the such). Tip of the tail might have been 50. In the excitement Charlie forgot all about what initiated the event. Funny, my largest Niagara River musky would have never had happened but for a dog who had to take a wicked piss. That was 1986. Charlie and I fished together for 15 years. So many Charlie stories. He was big and lean and scared people. I still miss that dog.

Incidentally, the numbers of mid to upper 40s caught this June in the Niagara could never have happened in the 1970s and 80s. Fish averaged 30"s, and a 40 was a rare and powerful beast. Catch and release made it happen.

So what was your first?    

[John Miller]

Great story Tony. I started musky fishing on the niagara in 2005. I had recently bought my first boat and always dreamed of tangling with the storied musky. My only source of advice was capt Larry's site. Larry had recommended casting Leo jerk baits in the humpy dumps in front of strawberry. So I got busy with my perch colored 6 inch Leo and cast the humps, 23fow to 13 fow. I had action, follows and missed strikes. The later of which had me boarding on insanity and obsession. I added a treble to the back of the bait because I had seen a few fish grab the bait by the back without getting hooked. One even launched out of the water and hit my bow with the bait inits mouth, but still missed the hooks. At the end of the summer if I recall I finally felt my first ski on the Leo. I thought my heart was going to explode out of my chest. The fish was only about 35 inches, but I will never forget that adrenalin rush. I joined the NMA shortly after.

[Scott McKee]

Great stories Tony!  I like your use of zero tangents.  Not my style mind you, but you'd have agree with me when I say you have to appreciate the comedic style of the late Redd Foxx.  My mother was a big Redd Foxx fan chiefly because of the success of Sanford & Son.  She attended a performance at the...  sorry!  Let's just day there was significantly more profanity in Redd's stage show than she could ever anticipate.

[Scott McKee]

More participation equals less of my ridiculous posts.

[Carrie Keane]

Great idea and great story Tony! Before I met Scott I had gone fishing 3 times in my entire life. My Dad wasn’t really into the great outdoors other than camping. He took us fishing once on a camping trip, most likely because that’s what he thought he was supposed to do. The other 2 times, my Mom’s best friend’s husband took us to the fishing hole where my Grandparent’s camp every year, his goal was to get us all our Girl Scout fishing badges and he actually fileted and cooked our catch (Bluegill, I definitely wouldn’t take the time to filet and cook them now.) My first Musky was caught the first time I went out on the boat with Scott and Skinner (definitely beginners luck, I had no clue what I was doing, I didn’t even know what a Musky was until I met Scott). We were casting the weed edge along the wall at the 190, I was fishing a Mepps Maribou bucktail, black (of course! Is it obvious now why this is my favorite casting lure?) and I was pulling in load after load of weeds. So, when I was reeling in and never felt any pressure, I just assumed the mass I saw behind the lure was weeds. As it got closer Skinner pointed and I said, “I think I have aaaa…” I didn’t get the rest of my sentence out. It was a nice 32” fish, which the guys released boat side without netting, because the dummies FORGOT THE NET! (I am never going to let them live that down! If that would have been a giant fish, someone would have went overboard over that.) I remember being so stinkin’ proud of myself for that little fish, and every time I remember how I couldn’t get my sentence out I smile. Needless to say I was hooked on Musky fishing and fishing in general. I love the rush of adrenaline when a fish hits, and the absolute joy when all of your effort pays off. I didn’t join the NMA until the year after I caught my first fish, and I believe my initial reason was so that I was eligible for the Top Ten (I am still jealous of all Scott’s plaques!) Whatever my initial reason, I am so glad that I spend the $20 every year. I have made so many great friends, and learned so much about fishing and conservation throughout the years, it has made me a better person as well as a better angler.
P.S. Is that what you were looking for Scott? Can you please stop with the asinine tangents now?

[Scott McKee]

As you wish.  (Princess Bride reference)

[Frank Stachowiak]

Guys,  I think I will try to get a super deal on good rain gear for the club.  I need recommendations.  Gore tex is the best but really pricey.  I need input so I can contact the manufacturer directly. I see Carhart makes nice stuff. 

 

Frank S.

[John Pensyl]

Those frabill stormsuits look awesome, I planned on picking a set up somewhere in the future. Probably about $400 for bibs and jacket but I've always found cheap raingear is useless.

[jojo wilczewski]

Good Day

My favorite is PVC rain suits by Grundens.  The fit is not the  best  but they are bullet proof, tough, and you do not have to take your boots off to get them on.  I call my oil skins ( nick name of the first rain coats because they were)   my Full Metal Jacket FMJ.  Professional fishers have used them for a long time. Average gear less then a big buck each half. Harvester pro grade just over.  Mine have lasted many years of repelling hooks and dogs claws.  

ALA BALA BALA jojoout

[Scott Kitchen]

I have found the best rain suit to be a tee shirt, shorts and a pair of flip-flops.

 

 

[Scott McKee]

The Frabill suits do look great and I've heard excellent things about them.  Every time I think about getting new rain gear, I remember how much I love my Cabela's Guide Wear (I refer to it as my armor).  I've owned it since 2001 and besides the jacket stinking on ice, it is still bulletproof.  If I was going to be planted upon my demise, I would be buried in it.

[Scott McKee]

Scott, I always respect your opinions, but you also like trolling reels for casting!

[Carrie Keane]

Boys......First fish?  White space filler?  Great idea via Tony... we may have gotten a little off track, I for one would LOVE to hear more first fish stories.