Seems most people that actually fish for tigers go to some lake calles "Tapps". No need =). Head to Newman lake and throw a bluefox supra vibrax, black with a red streamer.....

I went to work Wednesday for gold seal plumbing like normal, but I knew I was working on a house on Newman lake so I brought my pole =). Took my 15 minute break first thing when I got there, around 7:40am and cast once from shore across the corner of the house owners dock before I moved out onto the dock to try a few casts. Nothing on the corner so I walked out on to the dock and threw my over sized rooster tail along the left shore from the middle of the dock. Three cranks on my bait caster had my rod doubled over and the other apprentice working with me running down the hill to see what I had.

The fish was heading out deep but in the direction of the dock I was on so I kept heavy tension on my 14lb test and started walking off the dock to shore to keep the beast from getting under the dock and breaking me off on the owners diving board/swimming ladder. I knew I had a musky, I just knew it and by the time I got to shore and started moving away from the dock to turn him he was already bee-lining for the dock. That damn swimming ladder was going to be the end of this battle and the fish was well aware of it so I had to take a chance. He had been taking drag most of the time, so I thumbed down and pulled as hard as I thought I could get away with. Luckily it worked! He turned away from the dock and launched full body into the air heading deep! Oh my god what a site! My fellow apprentice' mouth dropped open but no words came out, he was stunned, his eyes were huge.

Once the fish was out of dock swim ladder range I played him a bit before bringing him to shore. As soon as I let off tension the 30lb steel leader I was using dropped off my buck-tail, leaving the fish a flop and tail flip from escape. I grabbed him with both hands and pulled him out of water range. The leaders swivel part, the part that hooks to the lure was nearly straight, only a bit of the tab was not, thank goodness.

I kept this fish. I kept it because I have been trying, very very hard to catch a tiger for three years now and this is my very first one ever. 42" 19lbs6oz. I caught it while "at work" and its by far the biggest freshwater AND saltwater fish Ive ever caught. I'm 31 and been fishing most all my life. I took it to Garry Blew of Blew's Taxidery. Its gonna cost me a ****load of money but its gonna be well worth it when this guys on my wall. Garry was nice enough to skin the fish for me AND fillet it so I could have the meat right then and there.

The next tiger I keep will be state record or nothing.

My god I love fishing!

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