Look Out Muskies, There's New Kids On The Block

My Friday morning this week was the same, but yet also very different than the past few.  I was still on the water chasing muskies with clients, however the clients are what was the very different part for me.  On this particular morning I would be guiding two great fishing buddies as normal, but at a much, much younger age than I typically get to take out.  At ages 15 and 14, Mike and Ryan saved for weeks to get out on the water after what everybody seemed to be holding in the pictures on my website (muskies).  This would be their first adventure after the toothy critters which got me excited, yet nervous at the same time.  While I love having people experience their first muskie, it always worries me when dealing with younger fisherman whether or not they have the drive to cast for possibly hours without much action.  Believe me when I say, I wanted these boys to land a fish possibly more than anybody I've taken out this year for the simple fact that I want them to have a memorable experience with the sport that so many of us love to do. 

Our morning started out by teaching them the normal stuff about what we were going to be doing for the day, while we were still on shore.  After realizing that these boys probably could outcast me with a baitcaster, we were quickly on our way.  When we got to our first spot, The boys instantly threw out their baits, and while I was still explaining a few more things I managed to have one come after my bait (on the first cast!).  I instantly told the boys to cast at the fish and while Ryan said "wow I don't think I want that to bite after seeing that explosion" it as you could imagine grabbed on to Mike's line and the battle was on.  After some great fish fighting by Mike, we had our first muskie of the morning,  ON MIKE'S 3RD CAST!!!  I couldn't have asked for a better start to the day, and by the way the boys were talking, they couldn't either.  While luck seemed to be on our side, the fish did a pretty darn good job of avoiding these two new muskie fisherman for the rest of our adventure.  We saw a few more fish, but nothing in the boat and one that tail danced a circle around the boat before spitting the hook out. 

 I believe that a few years from now these two will probably be out throwing muskies in the boat left and right, and possibly teaching me a thing or two about catching the big ones.  They picked up on all the techniques and tricks at such a quick pace, not to mention that I can probably only count the backlashes on one hand for our entire morning.  Nice work boys and congratulations Mike on your first muskie.  Don't worry Ryan, Mike will run out of trophies to catch in front of you eventually and it will then be your turn.  Fishon!