Have U Ever Trip Up North To Wisc

[eric1978]

Plus, I keep hearing that Gar backstrap is delicious, so the next one I catch I'm gonna try it.

Better sharpen the blade on your chainsaw so you can fillet that bad boy.

[flytyer57]

Flytyer57, I've seen Musky caught, just never caught one myself.

I was just saying, since Clark is jonesin' for some hammer-handle sport he's probably better off targeting Gar than Musky while he's stuck here in Missouri.

I hooked into one recently on the fly and I can't imagine that a Musky could be much better sport as far as fighting ability goes.

If they had colorful spots and stripes they'd probably be more sought after. LOL

Plus, I keep hearing that Gar backstrap is delicious, so the next one I catch I'm gonna try it.

I've never caught a gar or a musky. I have caught northern pike, a close relative to a musky though. "Hammer Handles" is what we call a small pike/musky usually less than 15 inches.

As for targeting gar or musky, I don't know how big musky get in MO, but I do know the world record musky was over 60" and up in WI 50 inchers are quite common.

As for fighting ability goes, they do not just roll over and give up. They will fight and you better have some backing on your reel cuz they will run. Their long sleek bodies are made for speed. You can get them next to the boat and think the fight is over, then they will launch into another long run and start the fight all over again.

There are plenty of folks up in Wisconsin, Minnesota etc., that target musky exclusively. The Wisconsin State fish is a musky.

As for color, most true musky have olive colored bodies with vertical bars along their flanks. I've attached a color chart showing their markings.

I quit fishing for them a long time ago because of their teeth. Not only do they have teeth along the jawline, they have them on the top of their mouths. They destroy lures and flies in short order. I can't count the number of times I've lost flies to pike/musky while fishing for smallies up in WI. Sure, there were quite a number of times that I was lucky enough to land one, but without jaw spreaders, it's almost impossible to get your lure or fly back, even if they are hooked in the corner of their jaw. I learned rather quickly to carry a spreader in my vest pocket just in case.

As for taste, I know that northern pike are very delicious. Just have to watch out for the "Y" bones along the back. And they fillet with a regular filleting knife.

[fishinwrench]

I've never caught a gar or a musky.

Sure, there were quite a number of times that I was lucky enough to land one.

I'm confused. You've never caught one ? Or you have, a number of times ?

"Long sleek body, fights like hell, jumps like a tarpon, sharp teeth, taste delicious"....Sounds just like a Gar

[flytyer57]

I'm confused. You've never caught one ? Or you have, a number of times ?

"Long sleek body, fights like hell, jumps like a tarpon, sharp teeth, taste delicious"....Sounds just like a Gar

I've never caught a musky. I have caught northern pike, a close relative to the musky.

[MOFishwater]

been up to Hayward WI the last 5 summers. Only one musky hooked up (that we know of) by our whole party that was lost at the boat. If we'd been using fly fishing gear I think we'd be one less hookups

Seen a few follows, lost some big fish i still have nightmares about, no idea what they were.

I'll stick to normal big game tackle to catch my first, then I'll work on my flyrod.

Godspeed on your quest! It ain't the fish of 10,000 casts for no reason.

[flytyer57]

I'm confused. You've never caught one ? Or you have, a number of times ?

"Long sleek body, fights like hell, jumps like a tarpon, sharp teeth, taste delicious"....Sounds just like a Gar

Let me be a little more clear on my statements.

I have never caught a musky. That is, I never hooked one and landed it.

I have caught a lot of northern pike, got them in the net, in my hands etc.

I have fished a lot of waters that contain musky and have had my lures/flies bitten off by some toothy critter. Could have been musky, could have been northerns.

I hope that you are no longer confused. If you are, I'm sorry. I'm not the professional you need to be seeking help from.

[fishinwrench]

Let me be a little more clear on my statements.

I have never caught a musky. That is, I never hooked one and landed it.

I have caught a lot of northern pike, got them in the net, in my hands etc.

I have fished a lot of waters that contain musky and have had my lures/flies bitten off by some toothy critter. Could have been musky, could have been northerns.

I hope that you are no longer confused. If you are, I'm sorry. I'm not the professional you need to be seeking help from.

Gotcha, and let me be a little more clear on mine....

Since you haven't caught either (gar or musky) why, after responding to the following question...are you suggesting that I'm the one that might need help overcoming confusion ?

fishinwrench: To those who have caught both, how would you rate (compare) the fight between a Muskie and a Gar ?

Have you ever pee'd on anyones leg ?

[flytyer57]

Gotcha, and let me be a little more clear on mine....

Since you haven't caught either (gar or musky) why, after responding to the following question...are you suggesting that I'm the one that might need help overcoming confusion ?

Have you ever pee'd on anyones leg ?

I guess maybe I should have deleted the "To those who have caught both, how would you rate (compare) the fight between a Muskie and a Gar ?" in my reply so there would have been no confusion over my reply to the "Do Musky get air ?"

Sorry again if I made you become "Dazed And Confused."

[Wheatenheimer]

Have you ever pee'd on anyones leg ?

[MOFishwater]

I've caught 4 tiger muskies on my in-law's lake in upper N. Illinois and they've all be dynamite fighters. THe biggest was 27 inches, so no absolute monsters. Its funny, I fished that lake for a good 4 years and never caught one, then I nailed 4 in two weeks. Granny lives on a shallow cove offset from the main lake, must've just been the right conditions or something. First one I caught on a tx-rigged tube flipping docks for largemouth and it really surprised me. Was a short small one but about knocked the rod out of my hand.

The next 2 came on swimbaits out in the middle of the cove, saw some big swirls/darting around and winged the big swimbait out as far as I could and they both took off like a tarpon, jumping and thrashing like mad as soon as I set the hook. Awesome strikes and fights!

The 4th one was a funny one, I was in my canoe next to the dock, rerigging some lures and saw a bunch of baitfish go sailing out of the water about 15yrds away. Had a big white zoom fluke rigged up weightless...tossed it right where the bait jumped and just let it sink....THUMP. Line took off to the side, set the hook and had my 4th one on. For small fish, the sure can knock the crap out of a lure when they hit it, much like their cousin the pike. Always a welcome surprise, my next goal is one on my flyrod, havent been up to fish in a while though.