October 15 Rideau Musky Hunt
- wolfe
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- Location: Marietta, NY & Wolfe Lake, Ont.
Bobber,
I want to say, firstly, what a fantastic report. Full of humor and excitement!
Secondly, most importantly, congratulations on a gorgeous muskellunge. Kudos on the good release, as well. And also congrat's to Cal, on his big beast.
One for each boat: way to go!
W.
PS: I guess I'd rather be tail slapped in the head than have that tooth sunk in somewhere or other. Wild!
I want to say, firstly, what a fantastic report. Full of humor and excitement!
Secondly, most importantly, congratulations on a gorgeous muskellunge. Kudos on the good release, as well. And also congrat's to Cal, on his big beast.
One for each boat: way to go!
W.
PS: I guess I'd rather be tail slapped in the head than have that tooth sunk in somewhere or other. Wild!
Thanks, Dad, for taking me fishing when I was a kid.
- Wall-I-Guy
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- iankrzyzanowski
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- Location: Metcalfe, Ontario
- iankrzyzanowski
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- JustinHoffman
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- Location: Ottawa, Ontario
Beauty stuff, Bobber!
Pretty fish to boot too....
Almost makes me wish I didn't sell all of my musky gear......almost!
Good Fishing,
Justin

Almost makes me wish I didn't sell all of my musky gear......almost!

Good Fishing,
Justin
Justin Hoffman
Field Editor - Ontario Out of Doors Magazine
Fishing Writer / Wildlife Photographer
www.JustinHoffmanOutdoors.com
Field Editor - Ontario Out of Doors Magazine
Fishing Writer / Wildlife Photographer
www.JustinHoffmanOutdoors.com
- Bobber
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Hey Bear,Bear wrote:My buddys ride, 14 foot green lund 25 evenrude, tiller.Bobber wrote:Hey Bear,
What were you ridin in? We may have passed you during the morning. There wasn't many boats out there and I pretty much remember them all. Seemed we were all playing leap frog at some point in time or another.
on the water from 7:30/8am til about 12:30
ran into 2 lads trolling as we were coming back to the launch, they had no luck up till then, we were close enough think i would have recognized you
but my glasses may have been frosted up![]()
Bear
We left at about 12:00 and stopped trolling at about 10:30, so pretty sure that was not us you saw. I think I do recall zipping by a green boat but not sure if it was you. Could have been though. In any case, I'll keep my eyes open next time.
Cheers,
Rob Atkinson
Site Admin (retired)
Site Admin (retired)
- Trophymuskie
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Congrats on the nice fish and the beautifull pylon.
Now please take this only as constructive critism and nothing more. Two things in your report put up a big red flag. First was the part about waiting to reposition the boat to set the hook, they are called quick strike rigs for a reason and hooks should be set immediatly when they bite. Those small suckers can be swallowed really fast by a decent muskie. The second one was taking the fish out of the net for hook removal. For the anglers safety as well as the fish hooks should be removed inside the net while it is still in the water. Naturaly having a pen style muskie net should be high on any muskie anglers must have list.
Once again, beautifull fish.
Now please take this only as constructive critism and nothing more. Two things in your report put up a big red flag. First was the part about waiting to reposition the boat to set the hook, they are called quick strike rigs for a reason and hooks should be set immediatly when they bite. Those small suckers can be swallowed really fast by a decent muskie. The second one was taking the fish out of the net for hook removal. For the anglers safety as well as the fish hooks should be removed inside the net while it is still in the water. Naturaly having a pen style muskie net should be high on any muskie anglers must have list.
Once again, beautifull fish.
Catch and release them all
Richard Collin
Richard Collin
- Bobber
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Thanks for the constructive information Richard.
I can guarantee the time I take to position the boat and prepare was not long at all, and every musky that I've caught using this technique has been caught on the stinger in the corner of the fish's mouth. Perhaps I've been lucky in the past 5 years. I can tell you one thing though, when I first started Musky fishing with this technique I did wait a lot longer and let the fish munch a bit on the bait before I set the hook. Some I lost, some I got, but none of them actually swallowed the bait and the hooks. Again, perhaps I was lucky. That being said, I currently do a much quicker hook set, giving the lunge less time to swallow anything they should not be swallowing, and getting the fish in before it is completely exhausted. I think we're pretty fast now, and will most likely continue this technique at my current speed, but will always keep in mind your advice.
Now you do have a point with removal of hooks while in the net. This is something I definately need to do more of, especially when they punch back. I suppose I was lucky it was only 43" and not 56". One that size could have ripped my arm off or slapped me right out of the boat.
Good advice and something for us all to think about.
I can guarantee the time I take to position the boat and prepare was not long at all, and every musky that I've caught using this technique has been caught on the stinger in the corner of the fish's mouth. Perhaps I've been lucky in the past 5 years. I can tell you one thing though, when I first started Musky fishing with this technique I did wait a lot longer and let the fish munch a bit on the bait before I set the hook. Some I lost, some I got, but none of them actually swallowed the bait and the hooks. Again, perhaps I was lucky. That being said, I currently do a much quicker hook set, giving the lunge less time to swallow anything they should not be swallowing, and getting the fish in before it is completely exhausted. I think we're pretty fast now, and will most likely continue this technique at my current speed, but will always keep in mind your advice.
Now you do have a point with removal of hooks while in the net. This is something I definately need to do more of, especially when they punch back. I suppose I was lucky it was only 43" and not 56". One that size could have ripped my arm off or slapped me right out of the boat.
Good advice and something for us all to think about.
Rob Atkinson
Site Admin (retired)
Site Admin (retired)
It was a good day for Cal - our AC Delco friend. Cal hooked into a whopper muskie and fought it masterfully - but when the fish got to boatside he lost it. Cal was sick to his stomach about the loss... that is until he hooked into this one. It was a solid 44 incher that made everyone feel better.

Then there's the robust river pylon - a gnarly specimen - the pylon that is.


Then there's the robust river pylon - a gnarly specimen - the pylon that is.

Fishhawk
"gotta run like a madman bye thanks see ya good luck"
"gotta run like a madman bye thanks see ya good luck"