Northwest Reel Life June 2024 Volume 3 Issue 8 - Flipbook - Page 16
When we were ready, Don
removed his seemingly fully
recovered muskie from the
live well and we measured
it at 36 inches even. Then
a few quick photos were
snapped and the big
beauty was thanked for
the memories and gently
released. Satiated, by the
experience, Don and I just
sat down and relaxed in the
boat. We celebrated with
a cold beer and recapped
the catch as the boat slowly
drifted in the breeze.
Don offered me the front
seat of his boat and first
opportunity at prime
casting areas. I declined,
16 | NWFISHING.net
preferring to relax in the
back seat while Don ran
the electric motor and
controlled the boat. We
started fishing again,
starting where Don had
hooked his muskie. After
only about a dozen casts
later, Don cast to the end
of a large log near the
shoreline and started his
retrieve. I watched his cast
and then cast my crankbait
to the middle section of
the same log. The fishing
gods surely smiled at me as
the twin to Don’s beautiful
muskie smashed my lure.
“Dad, you’ve got a muskie,”
Don yelled only seconds
after I had seen the fish hit
and had set the hooks.
Fortunately, this muskie
also had the crankbait in its
mouth and was unable to
bite the line. (Wire leaders
are a very good idea for
these fish.) It too, was
beautiful in the clear lake
water but fought little with
its mouth almost pinned
shut by the treble hooks.
The big fish was landed
and put into the live well
for a rest. Again the tape
measure stretched to 36
inches. We snapped a few
more photos and the big
beauty was released to
continue his job of eating
