Esox Quest 2019

[Musky hunter]

Opening day weekend was more work than fishing. Picked up my repaired motor from Brian at Lakeside. Got the boat in the water and tried out my new lures and my new left knee. All seem to work OK.
Stocking up on supplies for camp.
No fish in all the old hang outs as there are no real weed beds filling out yet.
Water is pretty low for the time of year.
Only spent about 6 hours on the water.
Didn't have time to get my hair done in Edwardsville.

[Musky hunter]

16 manhours on the water. Zero muskies found. Caught 1 pike on Saturday. Harassed by a gar pike that struck at and missed 2 surface plugs and repeatedly followed spinner baits to the boat.
Water temp is still a little low for best hunting.

[Musky hunter]

26 total manhours chasing the fish of 10,000 casts. One small one (22") boated and a 30"er follow-up. The biggies need water warmer than 71 degrees for feeding to resume post spawn.

[Musky hunter]

About 15 total manhours on the water. One muskie follow to the boat and a small walleye boated. First one in a LONG time. Hit a pretty big spinner.
Water temp got to 80 on Saturday.
Unable to fish on Sunday, so packed up early.

[MrSimon]

What's your opinion on fishing for muskie in such warm water?

[Musky hunter]

Cool timing
Just landed the first musky of the year! 30" or so.
Water temp is 70F.just a bit low for the big girls to bite. Returning home tomorrow. Later.

[Bob-O]

picture please

[Musky hunter]

Done for this trip. 30 man hours expended.
2 missed strikes and 1 hooked and landed.
Of the 3 muskies 2 are 30" class and one is closer to 24". Water temp is rrunning 78F., not the 70 previously reported, ( Damon Russian hackers).
Until the temperature gets inginto the high 80s for prolonged periods I don't believe the fish have an excellent recovery rate provided the fisherman does his job.
Muskies are a bit tougher than trout in that regard.
As for a pic of today's 30"er, I'll need Plil's help getting it to you. I'm alot prouder of my 50"ers though.

by Phil
Ha ha - Here it is

[Musky hunter]

This phone is giving me fits.
I DON'T believe the present temps are a factor in a released fish's recovery.
I should only use the forum from my laptop at home, as we don't have WI-FI at camp.
Sorry.

[Bob-O]

Thanks for sharing the picture. I know I like to see a fish caught that I did not get yet from BL 30" or not, nice fish. I just wish the lure was still in his mouth, I like to take the picture with the lure so myself as well as others can see what was being used. Very cool to read your reports for just targeting muskies and the effort it takes. Good job!

[Musky hunter]

For those interested in the "Bad Old Days" of muskie fishing, a visit to the Gateway Museum in Morristown is a must.
At one time there was a cash incentive to bring in the heaviest fish.
Local legendary muskie guide, Jim Evans is featured and several of his favorite lures are on display.
Today, it's catch and release and the fish are coming back strong.
The sturgeon industry was also a living for many in the area.

[Phil]

Musky Hunter, that is correct. I can remeber Evans being a legend and now, legendary in the Muskie fishing arena of the St. Lawrence River. My Dad had a good friend that was also pretty good at Muskie "catching". Went out with him several times and never missed catching a decent fish. Nothing near recordbreaking, but nice fish. AND, they were very good eating. No more - like you say, catch and release.
I remeber him taking my pole and rig, placing the lure in the water, then changing it out with one of his. Told me my $15 (a lot of money in those days) lure would not catch a fish. He let me know that he bought his lures by the gross, from a local shop, "testing" each one for correct "swimming action" and returning those that did not meet his standards. Only to be returned to the shelves of the shop!

[Bob-O]

I can remember when my kids were small, they are adults now going to a place on rt 37 called Mare's Wares. It was an old motel she had set up a pottery shop where the kids would make bowls and stuff she would ship them to us after firing. She had a section of the motel set up as a museum to her dad named musky Jim. I spent hours reading and looking through the display cases and loved it! She said he was a guide and would guide for people such as Leonard Nimoy. If you are around that area, headed north on 37 on the right side before Ogdensburg stop in and check it out. Maybe this is Jim Evans you speak of?

[Musky hunter]

That would have been the Evens House while Mr. Evens was still active.

[mikeroc]

Was reading this post and it brought back memories. In the 70s with my dad and the 80s we would buy bait from Mr. Evans at his store on RT37. I always loved looking at those huge lures with teeth marks in them hanging on the wall but most of all peeking in his chest freezer for the big Musky's. We mostly were bass fisherman but caught one Musky in 1983 about 24lb.