It’s only been about 48 hours since I walked in the door from Belize but buddy Bob Butler was ready to go muskellunge fishing. Musky season opened about ten days ago and he’d already seen a few. We headed out on a smokey morning to where we did very well on the toothy predators last fall.
But there was a surprise waiting for us. While there should have been black flies and mosquitoes ready to drain us of our blood (which strangely there were none), there were millions of gigantic tadpoles. I didn’t think we had bullfrogs in northern Wisconsin but these were 2-4” long, well developed baby frogs. They were everywhere. They don’t move fast and meander brainlessly around the lily pads and weedbeds. There’s no doubt in my mind every fish in the lake was absolutely stuffed with these rascals.
Sure enough, it was hard to buy a fish. Bob and I got to know this lake well last year. We know the spots that regularly have muskies, however today there was almost nothing. Almost. We found one spot. A log where there was some splashing going on.
We got close enough to see there were some sizeable walleyes and at least two different muskies feeding here. One small musky about 25” and the other over 30”. There would be a splash and then small minnow would explode. Every once in awhile there would be a more graceful slurp. That was likely the death of a tadpole. Our big musky flies weren’t working so I put this fly on. In my eyes, it was the closest thing to a tadpole.
It didn’t take long to crack a fish. When it ate I thought it was the larger musky because she pulled hard. But in the end, I was surprised to see it was a hefty walleye. I was excited. Yeah, I’m a catch and release guy for the most part, but 28” pike are delicious as are all legal sized walleyes. Walleye between 20-24” must be released. This guy was 23.75 inches so he was lucky, he got released. No deliciousness tonight in the Currier house!
I eventually hooked a musky. I fought him to boatside and got one good viewing. It looked like one of about 32” but he spit the hook as Bob was going for the net. Other than a follow or two, the walleye would be it. But man it’s nice to start summer fishing in the Great Northwoods of Wisconsin!