Catch was 'pure adrenaline'
Thursday, October 20, 2005
CHELSEY IAQUINTATHE SAGINAW NEWS

Like anglers anywhere, they fish for the excitement as well as the relaxation.
Connie L. Beamish and Diane L. Frost also fish together because their husbands don't care for the sport, and Frost won't touch anything they catch.
Until recently, that is.

Beamish, 56, and Frost, 50, both of Bridgeport, caught a 48-inch muskellunge Saturday in Sanford Lake during their weekly fishing trip. The state record for the species is 51 inches.
The duo caught the muskie in their usual fishing spot near the lake's public swimming area. Beamish held the pole, while Frost used a hook to get it in the boat — their net was too small.
"It was the best four minutes of my life," said Beamish, who cites "pure adrenaline" as the only way they were able to land the monster.
Even Frost found herself wrapped up in the excitement. She usually swings her pole backward until her catch hits Beamish in the back of the head — their unspoken signal for Beamish to remove the fish, Beamish said.
In the two years that Beamish and Frost have fished together, the muskie is their largest catch. It weighed in at 24 pounds Sunday, though it lost about seven pounds of water weight overnight, Beamish said.
Frost and Beamish met while working together at Garber Buick of Saginaw, where they transport cars. Beamish, who owns their fishing boat, said she has fished for more than 50 years, but gave it up because she didn't have anyone with whom to share the sport. Frost hadn't fished since she was 12 years old.
"I used to think flower gardening was a good hobby, but fishing is so much more fun," Frost said.

From late March through November they make time to go at least once a week to Sanford Lake. Rain or snow, they fish about nine hours or until the lake closes for the night.
"The park rangers know us pretty well, so they'll flicker the lights to tell us that we have about 15 minutes 'til close," Frost said.
"It's the excitement and fresh air that keeps us coming back," said Frost, who is hopeful they can inspire more women to get involved in the sport.

Fishing also offers down time for busy mothers, Beamish said.

"I took up fishing because I knew my kids couldn't walk on water," she said. "They couldn't get to me or call me when I was out on the lake."

In addition to fun, Beamish and Frost have encountered a considerable amount of success. Their freezers are filled with pike, bass, perch and bluegill, which they will serve to friends at a fish fry this fall.

The prize muskie is now getting smoked — most of it anyway. Beamish said she saved the head, a tradition that dates back to her childhood.

"I'm going to mount the sucker above my barn door," she said. v

Chelsey Iaquinta is a staff writer for The Saginaw News. You may reach her at 776-9682.

I measured a washed up dead muskie the other day in holland…..it was 72 inches….yes 72 inches….I took it home to eat it so it wasn`t a complete loss….. 🙄

Dave

Grandma. " Can I have another piece of mercury I mean musky. Signed the mad hatter."