What You Didn't Know About Muskie Fishing!
Sunday, June 20, 2010 at 10:49PM 
Fishing has been pretty good with this up and down weather and I'm not complaining, but it looks like summer is now upon us. I was joined by my lovely girlfriend for a morning of muskie fishing and well let's just say I learned a few things that I'm sure you didn't know either! It was an early start to the morning and I went to pick up Hanna around 4 and she was "happy" to be awake at the moment. We got out onto the lake and hit the first spot with not too much action and she was quickly losing interest which would surely send her back to her book. I finally got a signature bump and told Hanna to take a look at my lure and sure enough I heard a whisper. Well I'm not sure why she was whispering, but I will get to that later. Not too long after I felt a thwack and saw my bait starting to move sideways in the water, I set the hook a couple of times, but as soon as she was on it was off. Hanna was pretty excited, but also I could see a little disappointment in her face.
We moved on to the next spot and we worked around the area with no avail, but as soon as I got to a certain point, it broke loose. I was halfway through my retrieve when I was slammed and the plan all along was to give the rod to Hanna, but as all of you know things happen fast. It was rapidly in the boat and it felt good to have the first fish on board. We got a few pictures and the fish was on its way. A few casts later I was facing the opposite direction when all I heard was "Ben, Ben, Ben....I think I have one" It was almost so quiet it was barely audible and this was one of the most shocking reactions I have ever heard to catching a muskie. Well this thing was on mission and did not want to submit so easily. It darted head on at an incredible pace and all that was going through my mind was reel faster! Everything was under control until it started to head to the trolling motor, at this point it took a massive jump coming completely out of the water. I kept telling her to keep her rod tip down and she just kept whispering back to me. After another leap out of the water it finally got into the net and then the celebration started. It was a solid 38''+ and a great first time fish. She did a wonderful job at keeping that fish buttoned down, congratulations on the excellent catch! After a little apprehension and one glove later the fish was hollywoodized and set free. A muskie virgin dethroned and the fish did almost everything to take that title away from her.
Now to the interesting part, why all the whispering? Well it was quite the explanation, and I couldn't help but laugh. Deer hunting, a game of waiting still and quiet was something that Hanna has done quite a few times so doesn't the same apply to muskie hunting? She figured that if the fish heard her talk it would decide to become unhooked and swim back into the depths. An interesting concept if I do say so myself! We cruised around the area and then went back to our original stomping grounds. It seemed to be slow with the sun high and the winds light, but I had to make the infamous last cast. Well about 3/4 of the way in, I said "well that was fun wasn't it? Lets head out" as soon as the words came out of my mouth I was drilled by a nice fish.
This one was pretty green and lively when it was in the net, but we made a quick turn around and the 44" was back in action. We left the lake in high spirits, what another day on the water. Just another quick thing to think about, wouldn't be easier to just hook a Bass on so they would bite faster, its dumb that we throw these big shiny things that don't even look like fish. Another interesting concept, a bit illegal, but a valid point. Next time, we have a large fish that ventured its way onto the boat, so stick around. From the "quiet" waters of Minnesota.....Keep Livin' the Dream!
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