The water temp reports are appreciated, helped me to get here today, where I haven't fished muskies this time of year in several seasons. Water temps 71-72, really nice day and water looked good. Fished 11am to 7pm.
Got a decent pike casting but no muskie contact a good while, tried trolling some but haven't got a muskie that way in a long time here. Went back to casting and finally got contact about 6pm, moonset, the only one all day but she ate good and hit the net. A redneck tried to talk me into giving the fish to him, including that there is no true size limit after I told him about the size limit, and he said muskies taste good too. He was more of a muskie hater than I'd talked to in a while, they kill all the bluegills, you know the story. I tried some careful education talk, he took it ok and didn't try to shoot me, but I could tell it was another hopeless case. I'm glad they're usually very tough to catch or there would be none here.
Later an old guy told me of a 72 inch muskie caught a few days ago. This is probably the 5th time people here have reported fish to me that would smash all world records. I should have told him I caught a ten-footer last year, he would be sharing that news next.
Saw Will's boat a few times and they were fishing in the water each time.
Lol the same locals that yelled at me for letting my monster go. By the way I've heard Muskie do taste good just like pike. My answer is panfish taste better! Ill be out there tomorrow evening and next thurs and Friday if the temps are down.. Hope your not fishing alone I would love to fish with other mma fishers my phone went in the lake but 269-838-1390 is my girls number when I'm not with her I'm usually fishing ow working call me if you want some company
I've heard stories of 70 inches… My answer is unless you catch big fish on a regular basis 45 plus can look like 70 inches. I thought for sure I had 2 50 inch fish to only realize that a 45+ Muskie looks bigger than anything I've seen in person in the water. I know there are monster fish in there but a big fish can turn into a monster story just ny pondering the what ifs….. Out of curiosity what's the biggest Muskie any of you have taken out of thorn??? It's an eerie lake perfect for fish stories I've heard 55 inches and I believe that.. But a 55 inch to the untrained eye would easily be called a 70 inch monster which was the last story I laughed at.
I have heard plenty of knuckle head stories of giant fish in Thorn…with the largest being 80". This spring a guy told me that he was there when they hooked a tow truck up to a fish to get it in….seriously! Nothing more dangerous than a man on an ether binge. Anyway, that same individual also asked me how long I had been coming out, because he wanted to know if I used to see him and his dad out there in their home-made submarine. I have to do more "huh"s and fake laughs at that lake than anywhere…tiring.
Nice job on the fish Joe!
"pikerule2" said:
Saw Will's boat a few times and they were fishing in the water each time.
I made the guys keep an eye out for you. Upon sighting, we would quickly pull away from shore so you couldn't see them casting in the grass.
"Tory" said:
Anyway, that same individual also asked me how long I had been coming out, because he wanted to know if I used to see him and his dad out there in their home-made submarine.
That's not a joke, there was a submarine.
"bails" said:
Out of curiosity what's the biggest Muskie any of you have taken out of thorn???
For me personally 54" in 1991. (edit: I don't want to hear how many of you weren't born yet…)
In my boat 55" – 2001. This fish was not on a bump board and was measured with a floating stick. After measuring her on a bump board the following spring at 53.75", with part of her tail worn off, my guess is she was really about 54". Despite what you'll hear from the locals about the DNR capturing giant 70" fish, this fish is also the largest the DNR has ever caught/handled.
These two were freak fish and were both an inch or two over the length most females are capable of reaching at their maximum age.
"Smada962" said:
[quote="Will Schultz"]
an inch or two over the length most females are capable of reaching at their maximum age.
What!?! They get to 64" in GB, and 70lbs in Hayward… 🙄
I was only referring to Thornapple of course. They measure/weigh fish differently in Wisconsin, especially Hayward. At least their DNR finally recognizes that the old records were false and now they will have modern day records.
Hey Will, are you using weedless hooks on shallow dawgs? I started trying the grass approach to Musky fishing but I keep getting all "grassed" up. [smilie=brickwall.gif] Can you help all of us with this new tactic? Maybe a seminar at the next outing….you can call it "Grassin' For Muskies!!! [smilie=biggrin.gif]
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