Big muskie caught on Lake of the Woods in Morson, ON on 7/12/2006
My wife and I were into the last day or our annual sabaskong bay trip in mid July. Throughout the week we had trouble getting hooks into fish, and struggled on may of the days to find a workable pattern for the fish. _x000D_ We tried multiple styles of lures and presentations, with topwaters starting to produce more and more activity. On the evening of the 11th, we were fishing a point full of weeds and rock. I had a really nice hit from a big fish, but after 5 seconds or so, the fish was off the hook, similar to how many of our fish hit through the week. _x000D_ the next morning, we went back to try for the fish again, thinking it would probably not be there since I had a very short battle with it the night before. In goes the same topwater and out comes the fish with it's nose right on the bait. Round and round she goes, but no hit. _x000D_ I decided to throw some different lures in there to see what I could get her to go on...nothing worked until I threw in a 6 inch rapala saltwater X-rap. I make a long cast parallel to the point, and started twitching it back. Two twitches into the retreive and BANG!! The fish is on. With a short deep battle my wife did a wonderful job of netting her. Out for a couple of quick pictures and back she goes to fight again. _x000D_ _x000D_ I have been fishing for these fish since 1980 and have really struggled to connect with big fish, mostly because the waters I fish are small and the fish don't get to be more than 45 inches or so. There are bigger fish out there, but they are VERY rare. This fish is my personal best. 26 years to get over 45 inches...I just hope a bigger one does not take this long to catch..._x000D_ _x000D_ Steve Vaerst_x000D_ Hastings, Minnesota
Where taken: Lake of the Woods
State/Province: ON
Length (in) or Points (#): 47.5
Date taken: 2006-07-12
By: vms