Arrived at noon. Fishing was supposed to be best about 11am to 11pm. Fished east shore casting or trolling plugs until 4pm. No interest in large plugs Then I anchored over the shallow sunken island. Put on 1.5" perch F-3 Rapala to catch perch to cut out a strip of flesh to attach to a plug. First cast got a 14" bass. Then a 13", !2.5, 11.5", 8" and many 5-6". At 6:05 pm the light was going but the wind had quit and it was like a mill pond. I didn't want to leave.
Then I got another fish & it felt like another 14" bass, so I proceeded to reel it in. Half way to the boat the fish said no and started taking line and I knew it was a Tiger. Then he jumped and & with tail a foot above the water shook his 40 inches like a creature possessed, but he could not throw that little piece of balsa with two hooks in the corner of his jaws. He jumped 4 more times because 6 lb. line and a light rod was all he was all he was fighting.
Then he went to the weeds on the bottom and I couldn't move him. I pulled the anchor with 1 hand & 1 foot and pulled the boat toward him with rod & line, got the line loose and he ran again. Then I got him in and couldn't get my camera set with one hand so I put him on the stringer and revived him. When I got the camera working, I picked him up on the stringer and he gave a mighty shake and got off, so I lost my "Photo Opp." I was going to turn him loose any way, but I wanted a picture first. I did weigh and measure, 40 inches and 14 lbs. 8 oz. on my Rapala digital scale with the claws to aid landing. Use rope stringers for musky. I should have known enough to do the same but the experience was FABULOUS anyway.

PhilSoucy

10/19/2007 12:14:00 PM

According to my Northland Ruler Scale, that fish shold have weighed in at 18 lbs. My Rapala digital scale must have failed to work properly with this thoroughly unnerved old man running it. That fish was my first Musky and I don't mind admitting he had me "All Shook Up".
A couple of years ago someone told me of a Silver Lake Musky 38 inches long weighing 18 lbs. I should have realized this guy of mine had to be heavier.
Phil

phil cogley

10/21/2007 10:10:00 AM

Phil, I caught a 41" at silver earlier this year that went 22 pounds, it did have more girth than the others I caught, but I was curious to weigh it with my scale. that has been the only musky ive weighed. So your fish sould have been in the 18-20 pound range. Just go by the scale girth x girth x length divided by 800.
FEAR NO FISH!

PhilSoucy

10/22/2007 3:03:00 AM

Thanks for your response Phil,
I have figured it out. A normally fat musky to be sure would weight more but he was a racer. He made 5 jumps and 6 runs, and while very healthy, thick but not heavy, I do now believe my scale was close. Acording to the chart a 37" fish should be 14.5 lbs. Propably a relatively lean male of 40" may weigh the same weight. Buy the way, he was BLACK with vertical lines of oval white spots. If you catch him you'll know him. I intend to catch him again. It's always nice to have a goal and I'd like to take his portrait.
I have a blue Starcraft with a 40 horse Mercury outboard and would like to encounter any of you other "Musky Nuts" out there. I'm going again tomorrow afternoon.
I suddenly like Silver Lake a lot.

anthonylardino

10/22/2007 2:20:00 PM

Phil, I caught a 41" that was FAT as well, also the 2 other fish I have seen that were 40" were 20lbs+. But I have seen a 35" that was about 9 pounds, and a 36" that was about 11pounds, so I have seen long, thin fish too. Unfortunately, I have all the best pics on my phone, and a dial up connection at home! Sounds like your having a blast, keep enjoying yourself and good luck.

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