It doesn’t matter that it was 21° at daybreak here in the north of Wisconsin. Josh Hulbert, Brandon Judy and I went fly fishing for muskellunge because my “Windy” App had three fish bars all day long. Meaning, some computer robot predicted today would be an insanely good day of fishing.
Well guess what, “Windy” did not lie. We weren’t even 20 feet below the bridge where we launched the drift boat and a hefty musky took a swing at Brandon’s fly and missed. The large fish followed to the boat and ate the fly in the figure-8. Unfortunately Brandon didn’t hook up, but little did he know he’d make up for it later in the day.
Brandon took the oars from me shortly after his miss and I went on a tear. I landed a beautiful northern pike too big for me to eat – approximately 32”. All my pike over 30” go back with hopes of catching them again when they’re bigger. After I released the pike, it wasn’t 20 minutes later that I landed my first musky of the day. He was a small one but had stunning stripes. I’d go on to land another slightly larger later in the afternoon.
Our highlight of the day however came around 2 pm. Just when the boys were making fun of me for catching three fish to their none, that’s when Brandon went from zero to hero. He was working a log jam from the front of the boat and a monster grabbed his huge fly ten feet from us. He went tight and then began an insane rodeo.
If anyone tells you muskies don’t fight than you know immediately, they’ve never caught one. This is the second huge musky I’ve been on board for and both kicked the angler’s butt. This fish ran far. Spun around the boat. Went under the boat. And escaped the net three times. Finaly, we got him. Brandon’s massive fish was 47” and held a girth not often found on such a lengthy river muskellunge. A new personal best for Brandon.
Fishing was so good today that despite my need to work and get packed for Australia for which I leave for next week I suggested we go again because tomorrow “Windy” has three fish bars again. Without any hesitation Josh cancelled his sons doctor’s appointment and Brandon – well what could he say? We’re back at it again first thing tomorrow. And the good news is, the forecast is for a high of 45° which sounds like we’re headed to Florida after today!
And let’s not forget that Christmas is around the corner and I sell gifts for “The Angler that has Everything”. Be sure to visit my webstore and see the new whiskey glasses, my famous coffee mugs, frosted beer steins, sun shirts and hoodies. You can also order my durable vinyl decals from my friends at Pescador on the Fly.
That is one great day of fishing!
Tad
Great Musky! Yep, 47 inches is definitely worth the cold weather and doing it again tomorrow! You’re going to go into heat shock in the Wessels!