Young Colorado Angler Catches Huge Tiger Muskie!
17 seconds ago by Chris Munchow
Modified 17 seconds ago at 17 seconds ago
By: Nick Sclafani
July 13th, 2024 was the hottest day of the Summer in Northern Colorado. My son (Griffin), nephew (Jaxon), and I went out to Lon Hagler Reservoir early to avoid the heat. We tied up our lines with Shad Rap RS, Countdowns, and other jointed Rapalas the night before not knowing what would happen the next day would have a profound effect on all three of our fishing obsessions.
We had caught a couple of average (20-25″) Northern Pike that morning, but the Bimini top had been put up as the temperature climbed into the mid 90’s. The boys had become restless and the water was dead calm. Jaxon said, “Can we go soon because it’s starting to get too hot?” Looking at my watch I realized it was just after noon and then decided to give in with one request. “We’ll leave after one more lap. We didn’t come out here this early to leave quite yet.” Knowing damn well we were going to be pulling off the water in above 100 degree temps and a stop at the gas station for cold drinks was imminent.
As we were trolling down the dam on our final lap with about 300 more yards between us and the boat ramp. My rod bends in half ferociously in about 14′ of water. My son, Griffin, immediately jumps on the pole ripping it from the rod holder and says, “This baby is mine!”
What ensued created a family memory that will last well beyond my years, into both of these young boys’ lives, and will be shared with their children long after I’m gone.
Griffin started cranking on that reel as if he was a seasoned veteran at the ripe old age of seven. Rod tucked under his armpit, right hand slowly and steadily moving in a circle on the handle of the reel, feet firmly planted on the back of the boat. Slowly but surely he started to gain line on whatever was on the other end. At this point, it had been a few minutes, but we had still not seen the fish. It would take line at times, but Griffin was winning the battle as he had with nearly every fish he caught all Summer long.
“Yeah, Griff!” Jaxon exclaimed as he kept working the fish to the boat. Then, we realized whatever was on the other end of that line was big. And maybe, REAL BIG!
“He’s taking line on you!” Jaxon quipped before we caught our first glimpse of the fish and sounded like a barbershop quartet. “Oh my God! OH my GOD!! and OH MY GOD!!! we all shouted as the fish dove straight down in the water after giving us a split second glimpse of its size. That is when I knew I’d better keep my hand close to my son who is all of 50LBS because this fish was capable of pulling him right overboard!
Net in hand, I missed the first chance I had to put this beast on the deck of the boat. It was too smart and had too much fight left in it to give in like that. The monster then tried to get us knotted around the motor before taking a couple of spectacular leaps out of the water and swinging around the starboard side of the boat. I was amazed at what was happening. I remember thinking there is no way we’re going to keep this fish on much longer. Griffin is too young, the line is going to break, I’ve never seen a fish this big in my life.
Maybe in an act of mercy, perhaps just being tired from the fight, or in a touch of fisherman’s luck the fish came back to the side of the boat with the hook barely in the corner of its mouth. It swam head first in my net and as I lifted the behemoth out of the water the pole bent and the fish thrashed so violently that it ripped through my rubber netting. All I could do is keep the frame of the net over the fish in hopes of calming and corralling it before I could get Boga Grips in its mouth.
I tried to get Griffin to hold his fish once it was on the Bogas, but there was no way he could lift it. I gathered my family, set up the camera to take as many pictures of us as possible, and measured the fish with a length of fishing line because it was too big to fit in my livewell, the net was in shambles, and there was no chance I was letting this fish die for our selfish glory.
We had done it!
The fish swam away with a swift kick of the tail and we all couldn’t believe what had just happened. Tears of relief, joy. and exclamation followed. I knew what had just happened may be the feather in my fishing cap. I also knew it had hooked two young anglers for life. We got home and relived the fight countless times. We measured the length of line at 48.5” and the boga grips had maxed out at 35LBS. Little did we know at the time, Griffin’s fish very well could have been the World Record Tiger Muskie. We’ll never know for sure, but that’s neither here nor there for us at this point. The pictures tell a story far beyond any record. A fish-tale we’ll never forget.