Muskies can be fun. I've caught a number of them over the years. Actually caught 4 in one outing at evening time in Southern Wisconsin. 3 were in the high 30-inch range. They fought well enough, but the guide had some really long rods that took the real fight away, IMHO.
Then, I caught a 51 incher. it didn't fight as hard as the smaller 'skies. Hot water, stupid guide, and the fish died needlessly. His live-well wasn't working. Instead of just taking a quick picture or two, as I requested, he tried to keep the fish alive so his buddies could come and help revive it.
His buddy's live well wasn't functioning very well, either. So, after a half hour of sliding the fish back and forth, she just died. Never should have happened. We headed in. He wanted me to have it mounted.
After I thought about it overnight, I decided that seeing that fish on the wall would just bring back bad memories. I even wrote one of the muskie magazines about the incident, but they just blew it off. "Old fish, hot water, it happens"...not at all my opinion of the experience.
Anyhow, I live about an hour or so from Melton Hill TN during the Summers. If you want to go and meet up, it's OK with me. May through September.
regards, richg99
p.s. I found the picture of the 51 incher,
