Thought Muskies Were Smarter Than This...

[wolfe]

Found this pic this evening while surfing some muskellunge sites. It's a pic of a Georgian Bay musky found dead after choking on a carp. (I didn't know muskies preyed on carp, but then I guess, why not?)



Greed: a deadly sin.

Or is it

Gluttony: a deadly sin.

Either one, the outcome is still very dead.

(Looks like a decent-sized fish, too, judging by the comparison against the dock's planks. I just wonder why they can't spit them back up, but obviously it's not that simple.)

W.

[carp-starter]

A very long time ago (between 1981 and 1986 - I think) in Ontario Out of Doors there was a photo of two dead pike - one was swllowing the other.

The interesting thing was - it was the smaller pike that was swallowing the larger pike.

I should look for the magazine.

[tallpaul]

The natural flow of the scales and fins make going head first best... if you try to reverse it mid-swallow... well, those things are basically brakes.
Nevermind biting off more that it can chew... I'm surprised that they'd eat such a fish... makes me wonder why they're so hard to catch!!

cheers,
tallpaul

[South]

I was actually there when this fish was found in Waubaushene. The ministry was there as well and took it away. The picture really doesn't do the fish justice. It was a big GB musky.

[wolfe]

South,

that's cool (that you were actually there for this incident).

At 1st glance, the musky doesn't appear too big. Then I took a 2nd look, based on the dock boards and thought it was probably a good sized one. Do you care to estimate based on your recollection? Just curious...

You can see a lot of abrasion on the scales of the carp where the musky must have thrashed about trying to disgorge it.


W.

[trexellunge]

I'll have to purchase some carp patterned suicks

[Fishhawk]

Greed: a deadly sin.

Or is it

Gluttony: a deadly sin.

Either one, the outcome is still very dead.

(Looks like a decent-sized fish, too, judging by the comparison against the dock's planks. I just wonder why they can't spit them back up, but obviously it's not that simple.)

W.

Wrath: a deadly sin.

Maybe the carp really ticked off the muskie.

[South]

I believe the dock boards you see there are 2 by 6. I guesstimate the fish was around 50”. If I recall the fish was found early in the year so it was a little skinner than the Musky I've caught there in the fall. Although the area is not what it used to be any pro will tell you Sturgeon Bay out towards Beausoleil Island (also Thompson Island/hole if you can find it) holds a number of 50”+ Musky. On two occasions I have fished that area for musky all day long with no results then switched to Boomer A longs (gold/orange belly) looking for twilight walleye and smack, monster Musky. Both times we managed to get the fish to the boat but failed to net them. The inner area (Sturgeon Bay) is shallow (4 – 12 fow) and weedy. As you work out (towards Beausoleil) it progressively becomes deeper to 130 fow. Fish can be found at all depths. The watch out is that the entire area is notorious for traffic and high winds between 1.30 and 5.00 daily. Both times wind played a part in losing the fish.

Oh well, that’s why they call them the fish of 1000 casts.

[wolfe]

Hey, South. That's interesting info and experiences you shared; thanks.

I thought the fish (pic) appeared pretty thin, myself. Maybe that's why he grabbed the carp...hungry, hungry, hungry.

Funny, you mentioned Bomber Long A's for big muskies. Both my son and I got a tiger muskie apiece on this lure this past June. I never would have fished for them with this lure, but someone from this site (BigFish, I believe) mentioned he used them for big pike. When I went to Charleston in May, we had some success with the Bomber Long A for pike. Then I figured, hey, why not give it a whirl for tigers, and we got 2 in one afternoon on them.

W.