More of this Feature

• My First Muskie, Part 1  • My Frist Muskie, Part 2

Join the Discussion

"The Ballad of Muskie Crocket! Ronnie tagged his second Muskie in a large bay in Crab Lake Thursday. I've attached photos of the bay, his battle,the swirl boat side on the fish's final run, the Muskie's mouth and the mandatory "trophy shot" Learnin2fishat41

Related Resources • Billy Finn Bucktails • G & S Guide Service  • Lakelink  Pictures • My First Muskie, Part 1 • My First Muskie, Part 2

Past Articles One Year Ago - 10/02/00 - Fall Flatheads Two Years Ago - 10/04/99 - Oil It Up Three Years Ago - 10/05/98 - Fall Patterns Four Years Ago - 10/06/97 - Fall Patterns

When we first started planning the Weekend X Up North in Wisconsin, I knew I wanted to catch a smallmouth and a pike.  Those I figured would be fairly easy.  A muskie would also be nice, but since they are a fish of 10,000 casts I figured my chances were slim.

I did go prepared for them.  I took a couple of big Billy Finn bucktails, some of my bigest lures like a saltwater Rapala and my flipping stick. I also bought some wire leaders to talk with me and when I got to Wisconsin I bought some Power Pro line based on Steve Huber's recommendation.  He is the S in S & W Guide Service, a muskie guide in Rhinelander, WI.

Since the first three days of fishing in Wisconsin would be practice and then a two day tournament, I did not rig up for muskie. I wanted bass those days!

During practice for the ROFB NWC I caught a smallmouth at the dam and liked the area.  The first day of the tournament Bob and I went there and found some current running from all the rain.  I let the boat drift against the buoy line and started casting a Shadrap and letting the current take it  across a drop and some rocks.

I thought I got a hit on the plug and set the hook and it pulled loose from something heavy. When I reeled in I had a huge scale on one hook, a scale that did not look like a carp, striper or gar scale, the only things in Georgia with scales that big. Bob and I figured is must be a pike.

A few casts later I broke off my Shadrap so I picked up my light 5.5 foot rod with 8 pound test line and started casting a tube jig, letting the current move it the same way as the Shadrap.  After a few casts something stopped it and I set the hook.  At first I thought I was hung up but then I felt the fish shake its head!

When I put a little more pressure on the fish it started moving.  Since it stayed down and shook its head, I had high hopes it was a huge smallmouth.  After a strong fight I got it close enough to the boat to see it was long and thin, not a bass but probably a pike.

It made a strong run and I had to back reel to keep from breaking the light line.  The next time I got it close to the boat, we could see its markings and realized I had hooked a muskie!  It was quite exciting for a few minutes as I got it to the boat and it went half over the cable on the buoys.   I was able to get it off that danger and Bob soon netted it for me.

We had time for one picture before the bottom fell out, pouring rain.  I eased the muskie into the live well and  put on my rain suit for a few more pictures, then weighed and measured it.  The fish was 30 inches long and weighed 8.25 pounds, just a baby muskie but a real thrill for me!

More of this article > Part 2 - My Second Muskie

Check out Coming Next Week - Next week's column topic, contest prize and new additions to the resources lists.

Previous Features