I spent Friday hiking upstream from my house to explore some promising musky water. I got a late start, but found some neat holes that I know will be future places to entice me as the weather gets warmer. Saw a fellow floating solo who had landed several smallmouth. He confirmed my plans of owning a German Shorthair pointer one day as I saw his dog obediently ride in the cata-raft with him. It's hard to believe they made it down Class III and even IV rapids together...but that's what I love about this place---it draws some die-hard adventurers. I cast every bait imaginable in the evening shadows and murky water..but no luck---my hopes are strong for this water this spring. Two of my patients came this week with great musky stories from these holes.
On Saturday, my buddy John and I decided to float a several mile stretch down from the house in his Star EZ Fish Raft. More of a scouting trip than anything. That's what we called it, but we kept waiting for a monster to scare the hell out of us. Threw mostly large plugs, gliders, and swimbaits in the deep holes. The water was still a bit high and silted, but we had a blast getting splashed by some respectable rapids. We lost a nice musky net off the back of the raft through a rougher stretch. After several hours and no glimpses of a fish, my hopes dwindled for a hookup as we fished areas that I have spotted fish in the past. It didn't matter...the scenery was awesome, we found some great water, and just enjoyed the experience.
As we neared the takeout, I took the oars and gave John the flyrod to hit some bankside cover. At the last possible moment to sneak in a cast, John starts panicking..."Hey Man!, I've got a fish!" His line starts racing upstream as our boat nears the ramp. I swung the boat upstream, and I could see a huge tail beside the bank racing upstream. The line kept swimming toward midchannel and headshakes unfolded. Soon after...the line goes limp, and the fly comes emerging from the depths.
"SHIT!!!!!!!! I never even strip set!" John learned the painful lesson of musky paralysis...when you can't believe one just ate the fly.
I can't wait until the next moment of panick these fish give me.
Travis
