A much needed fix!

[Yoda]

Great weather,  finally some water,  and the weekend off.......what's a guy to do? Head to Musky Country! !!
I got off work early Friday, got camp  set up, and went scouting water. Water looked way better than I expected. ..STOKED! !!!!!





I got back to camp and tried to sleep through the excitement of what tomorrow might bring. 


On the road early the next morning!!


I launched the Towee and ran WAY up river. Although I wouldn't be watching football today, I  had to send my sons a picture to let them know I had our lucky belt buckle in hand!!

I started my drift back, water clarity was perfect,  I had high hopes!! My first follow came early, and hot.... but I couldn't close the deal! I spent the next couple hours casting and beating myself up about that missed fish! Oh well.. lunch time!!


Well I guess all I had to do was ring the dinner bell, cause just a couple casts after lunch this beauty came out to play!







Moved a couple more fish throughout the day,  but no takers.

Got back to camp that night to meet my buddy that came up from down South.We had some dinner, and then tried to sleep through some of the craziest coyote noises I have ever heard!!!!
We got up broke camp and hit the water. I guess Jacky didn't take me seriously when I was telling him about these beasts..... 5 minutes into the float.I hear  Oh my god oh my god!!!!! It's Huge!!!!!! And fortunately he froze...... as he was throwing a chatterbait on braided line! !!! When he froze his bait sunk just out of the jaws of a lunging Musky!! That was a close one!!! My buddy was as interested in catching smallies as Muskies.(until then...) he went on for the next hour about that fish.  (After letting me tie some 80 lb on his line.)
I got a little guy early!


We spent the rest of the morning casting, had a few follows but no takes.

Let's try lunch....... it worked yesterday!!!

Jennifer had made us some white chili!!!



And it worked......
Jacky threw his "Bullshad" in a likely spot,  and was rewarded with his first Musky!!! ( he'll never be the same)


I missed another "grab" late afternoon,  and then I was time for that LONG drive home.... can't wait til next time!!!!

[grumpy]

Neat, what are the spot's on your friends fish?

[Yoda]

Not sure Grump. some kind of lesions? It didn't effect her spunk any, that fish tail walked so close to the boat she got us soaked!!!!

[TWiles]

Great trip Eric...glad you got out on the Chase and got a few 'Skis.  I hope to maybe head up that way in the new year.
Grumpy, I'd say those spots are likely unhealed spawning scars from Spring---the slime coat doesn't always do so well in low water years. Also my buddies have had Jumbo Muskies chew on their smaller fish after releasing them.
Another possibility is lampreys...I've caught 2 Muskies with red round sores, and  lampreys latched on making the lesion.

[gaspergou]

Funky spots are a parasite. No records of parasitic lampreys up where you were.

[Steve H]

Awesome TR Eric. Looks like a good time was had by you and your friend.

[Luke Warmwater]

Good to see you on Sunday. You didn't say squat about chili!

[Yoda]

Good to see you on Sunday. You didn't say squat about chili!

Haha, sorry man I didn't realize that was you!! There was plenty of chilli too!! How did y'all end up?

[Luke Warmwater]

We had a good day, but that chili would have made it even more enjoyable...

[Yoda]

yeah, Jenns Chilli is the Bomb!! Maybe I'll see ya out there again soon!