Muskie Strike

Labor Day weekend of 2003 my friend Dave Cain and I had unusual success while walleye fishing at Dawn's parent's cottage in Merrill.  The cottage is on a section of the Wisconsin River called Alexander Lake, a manmade flowage created by the downstream Merrill Dam. We generally have good success on walleye trolling bright orange Rapalas in the 8-11 foot deep troughs.  This particular morning, however, would be different.  Our expectations were high as 5 minutes into the morning we had each caught our first walleye, one keeper and one fat 13 incher that we reluctantly released.

A short time later I laid into what I initially thought was a snag.  As I stopped the boat's forward momentum and put the motor into reverse, I realized that the snag was moving.  A battle ensued, culminating with Dave's excellent net job on the below pictured muskie.  After quickly removing the hooks, we measured the slender male at 38 inches and a weight of 11 pounds.  Biggest fish I ever caught!

Not more than 30 minutes later and 100 feet from the first catch, Dave hooked a "snag" of his own.  Another exciting, anticipatory fight ensued that resulted in my netting of our second muskie of the early morning.  Dave's fish measured 34 inches, and a very thick 8 pounds!  A great female that we released to catch another day.  

Walleye fishing is awesome when the muskie are biting!!!