I would like to see how many of you have met your goals and or set personal bests. Was this a rewarding season and will it bring you back for another year of Chasing these beasts?
My goal this year was to catch a 40 lber. It has not happened but there is still open water and I am going to fish until it freezes. As most of you know Michelle and I did not go bonkers this year for several reasons . We grew our lure company and dog breeding buisness and did a lot of bluegill and Crappie fishing this past spring. I still have fillets in the freezer. I did accomplish something this year that I didnt expect. I guided three others to catch Muskies two of which were their first Musky the other his personal best. Opening day I took my dentist out who is an accomplished Fly fisherman. He has taken Tarpon, Snook, Redfish, Bonefish and most of the other fresh water game fish but he didnt have a musky. On Opening day He got his first Musky on my boat fishing a tarpon Fly. It was 45 inches. Ron was thrilled like no one I have ever seen. We get spoiled when we start catching 47,49, 52 inch fish and dont realize what a 45 can do on a fly rod.
My next guy was discouraged after fishing at the Detloff camp in Wisconsin . He payed all kinds of money and never even saw a Musky. His name was Robert Waterman. I got him to go for a day with me on Murray just about the time things were really picking up. He had fish all over everything he threw. It was a blast watching his excitment over every follow. He finally connected with a nice fat 41 incher trolling and once again I got to see that thrill of a lifetime look in another persons eyes.
When I posted the trip on the auction board I was hoping for a newbie who had not caught a fish yet. Jeff was not a newbie and had caught several nice fish already. I did not want to fail on that trip but I also wanted to show him the rest of the story about Michigan waters. Also there is something to be said about taking your shots when you can. When he chose to go up to the chain I was nervous to say the least. Like you all saw when Michelle and I went back up it took us 5 days to catch one fish. Jeff was a great guest and worked hard when we were casting but the big water demanded all out trolling tactics so we went for broke and it paid off with his 48 inch sweetheart.
Those three days showed me something else and that was that every one of the Muskies I have caught is a precious resource from my first 30 incher to my 52" replica and every one inbetween. I have had the privledge of fishing with many of you and will continue to find time for the young guys coming up. Some of the best times Michelle and I have had have been exploring new lakes. I encourage you all to try at least 2 new lakes next year. To Me there is no better excitment than the first time on new water. So far it looks like Michelle will kick my butt this year. It will be the first time she has done this. She deserves every fish she catches and this year she just plain outfished me. Next year ,well lets just say Im fishin . Mike King
Fished walleye in April, May, and a bit in July. Better than average year
Fished muskie in June, July and then again in October. Pretty average year
Fished steelhead in July on Erie for the first time – What a hoot! Waves were big… The fish cooperated.
Fished Manitoba in August for Pike – We caught some pike.
Fished The Larry and The Big O and got a couple decent muskies. High preasure made it a bit slow.
Still have a couple muskie trips on the books, but will shift back over to Walleye for the rest of the season on the water. Plan to do a little rifle deer hunting as well.
Not a bad year. More quality time at home with my wife and daughter, and more productive time on the water fishing for multiple species. Next year I hope to add Smallies and Perch to the mix.
Didn't fish with any new folk this year.
I told myself if Im still not working,I want to catch more muskie than I did last season.Well,..Im a couple ahead with a little time still left.
Another goal was to not measure and take pictures of the smaller fish.
I feel Ive done a good job at that also.Lets be real,how many pics of
32-36 inch fish do ya need.
My last goal,was to get a spot on Big Will's boat.Ive been pushing and
challenging him for like two years to no avail.I finally got the call and
we hit Murray for a few hours,pretty cool!!
This was my second year of "real" muskie fishing. With two years of trial and error before finding this website. It has payed off. Thanks for all the help ans suggestions.
Not a lot of fish caught, 6 to date this year, with more to come when I get my lures from the kings, but a lot learned. Caught my first over 40 a few weeks ago. Still have chills. Too many goals to list.
I still want to know where Osterhout (don't know spelling) or if real name is located. Any help?
I did get to fish a few new lakes, but as I said most are new to me.
My main goal is to catch a muskie up on the torch chain before my brother. Then the true family "King fisherman" will be decided. [smilie=trophy1.gif] I guess I should have put up the dough for the trip with the kings. Maybe next fund raiser.
Plus I have been able to take some of what I get off this website to use teaching my high school classes. VHS and such.
I had a great year! The spring started out super hot, then came the summer. With bear hunting in Canada, having the doc noodle around with my knee, and family stuff- the summer came and went! I did get that pig with the King & Queen (Thanks!!!) but I also got the bug to try new lakes! I will be on the road in 08, fishing new spots! I also need to hook up with the Kid! We have some metal to review!
[smilie=jamminz.gif]
it has been a pretty good year for my dad, brother, and I so far. We've caught a lot more fish, learned lakes better, and accomplished some goals for the year. Here were our goals for the year: catch a 45"+ in michigan, catch more fish than last year, catch a fish in november, catch a fish trolling, learn lakes better, fish new lakes, and get a lot better at the figure 8. We got a 45"+ a little while ago out of murray, we've caught around 3x as many fish as last year, we've learned lakes a lot better and have caught more fish because of it, we've fished austin, osterhout, and thorne (catching some fish as well out of austin) and have gotten extremely better at figure 8s (around 30% of my fish have come at boatside). We have not caught a fish trolling this year yet (waiting until it gets really cold to troll) and havent fish in november either, but there is still time in the year and hopefully we can accomplish those as well. Hopefully this weekend I can get a fish at thorne which would be my first fish there (first seen there as well lol) along with my first in november. We also were hoping to get a 50"+ up at AML but that didnt happen this year, but we are still improving and every year our odds get better and better.
Well, put a fork in me, I'M DONE! [smilie=bangtard.gif] I fogged and changed the lower unit oil today and will get the rest of the junk out tommorrow [smilie=giveup.gif] Get the old gal shrinked wrapped Monday!
Had a few first's this year. The first time I fished in a tournment. First fish on Thornapple in about a half dozen tries. Took A second place. Meet alot more guy's from the club [smilie=2thumbsup.gif] Caught a 25" catfish on a crankbait!
Got a 46" at 6:30am on the figure eight. Won't forget her head popping out from under the boat, her gills flared and she took off after it. We meet in the middle of the figure eight! What a rush!! (will post picture, when I figure out how to do that) Had to replace all three hook's on the bait!
Came up a little short of what number I wanted but I did good. Partner had a tough year on Muskie's, but got a 22 1/2", 7 1/2 to 8 Lbs. Large Mouth(will post picture, when I figure out how to do that) . Raised a 50" fish in WI., couldn't get her to go .
But all in all I did good. Will try to raise the stakes next year, more fish in the boat, fish Ovid and get more people interested. Steve
Well this was a "re-building" year for me. I bought a Pontoon Boat and spent a lot more time with the wife and dogs on the water instead of killing myself every time I get a chance to fish muskies. I remebered that I like watching a bobber go down and that Walleye don't suck quite as bad as I remember. I found a new Wally spot that on its best day gave up 29 fish to 22 inches. Caught some fat Smallmouth and enjoyed it immensely. I also introduced two new guys two the addiction known as Musky angling. We spent some time at Intermediate and One of them caught their first which was really cool as it came on about the 6th or so figure 8. I also finished my fourth summer semester and am wrapping up my last semester of classes so that I can student teach in the Spring semester. I have been going to college continuously since June of 04' this is my 11th consecutive semester so there has been a bit less of all recreation than I would like. I fished LSC for the first time during October in 96 degree heat. Mostly I learned that the fish are great but not the reason I go fishing, life is too short not to enjoy every opportunity. Heres hoping I continue to learn and grow in 08' and I hope I get the chance to fish with a few new people next year.
Kevin
Now that the boat is put away… I have had a very fun season. I was very happy to fish with a few new people (Kid, Tom, and Jason)!!! Fishing with Larry in the "Match Fishing" was a great time!
I came very close to meeting my goal for fish caught (missed by one fish). I caught my personal best… and put a my brother and a buddy on their personal best.
I fished St. Clair for the first time, and also the I-Chain. I'm already looking forward to next year.
Scott
Finished up the season fishing Ovid last weekend with Cooper. No fish but did see several deer swimming across the lake. The week before Karen and I spotted three deer swimmimg across Hudson….Pretty cool!
Had a fun season. Did well in July but it seemed to slow down after that.
I enjoyed a couple of great trips with Chad on LSC.
I fished some new water in the UP which I truly enjoy. I'll be looking to add more of the wilderness experience for next years outings.
This had to be one of the strangest years that I can remember. Some great days but outnumbering those were some of the most frustrating days I can remember. Wierd weather, weird fish… just plain weirdness all around. I should have known it was going to be a strange year when Dad tore his achilles tendon a few weeks before the Ice-Out in Indiana. Fortunately he healed quickly and we got some time on the water with a couple memorable trips, memorable mostly because weird stuff happened. The St Clair sysem fed me more than a season worth of humble pie, I'm crossing my fingers that it was just saving a couple great days for a weekend in September 2008.
So… here's how it went for me in 2007:
Total Hours = 465
Hours per fish = 3.2
Fish total 30” or larger = 145
30 – 35.5” = 17
36 – 41.5” = 65
42 – 47” = 56
47.5 – 55” = 7
Bucktail = 14
Crankbait = 48
Jerkbait = 64
Jig = 2
Surface = 17
I would love to have a 1/4 of the fish Will puts in the boat but this year was not too bad for me. I have 16 in the boat for the year with 7 in the 40's and I'm hoping to get out one more time at least yet this year. I only got out to LSC 2 times this year and got blanked both times…maybe next year that 50 has my name on it. Plus, with my Dad's condition this spring and summer, I missed out on my annual big fish trip to Georgian Bay…with any luck my Dad makes that one with me next year. For all the hours I put in doing this 16, in my mind, is not a lot of fish. However, since the majority of my time is spent on Sanford I'm hoping that in a few years the little Iowa fishies will be pulling on my line in the low 30 inch class.
Beyond fishing though, I have to say that one of my favorite aspects of this sport is belonging to this club. We do great things for the MI musky fishery and, I'm sure, will continue to do so. Here is to all of you for a job well done, not the least of which goes a shout out to Will for everything he does including getting us Midland guys some fish for Sanford. I'm hoping in '08 that I will finally have the privilege to share a boat with a number of you not the least of which are Pete and Duke, Chad, Trevor and the Kings. Finally, here's a shout out to my fishing buddy Greg–I enjoy our time out sharing a boat and appreciate the information we share so readily with each other.
All the best to everyone for a Happy Holidays and slimmy New Year.
"Will Schultz" said:
So… here's how it went for me in 2007:
Total Hours = 465
Hours per fish = 3.2Fish total 30” or larger = 145
30 – 35.5” = 17
36 – 41.5” = 65
42 – 47” = 56
47.5 – 55” = 7Bucktail = 14
Crankbait = 48
Jerkbait = 64
Jig = 2
Surface = 17
[size=200]
THIS JUST MAKES ME SICK!!!!!!!!!!!![/size] [smilie=brickwall.gif]
3.2 hours per fish! Multiply that by a hundred, and you get an idea how I do! 
But I just started in September…
However, since joining, I've identified MANY, MANY things I do EXACTLY WRONG. 🙄 I expect this year to be immensely better, but I have no hopes of even approaching 3.2 HPF! I'll be ecstatic @ 32 HPF…
"Hamilton Reef" said:
Will has earned his bragging rights and deserves credit due. I suspect Total Hours = 465 and Hours per fish = 3.2 must have been expensive with gas/lodging/equipment not counting a million dollar arsenal of lures. And all this is only one year!
[smilie=applause.gif]
I'm not meaning to take anything away from him! [smilie=2thumbsup.gif] Kudos!
But I feel ever so much more inadequate, now. Whatever happened to "The Fish of 10,000 Casts"? Can he make 10,000 casts in 3.2 hours?!?!?!?! 
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