Last Few Trips...

I guided for walleyes last week on Waconia and struggled to put any numbers of fish in the boat.  The fish were not thinking it was fall yet or had not gotten the memo that they should be biting.  We followed that up with a day of muskie fishing that invloved a lot of lazy fish.  We raised four muskies with only one taking a swip at our baits and it was half-hearted.  The fish were not aggresive at all.  I will be back chasing the muskies again tomorrow morning.   Pete and myself will  be guiding together for a group of 5 tomorrow.  If everything goes as planned you will see pictures of some Tonka giants on here tomorrow.  Check back for pictures and stories. 

I had a great weekend of four wheeling and relaxing in Wisc celebrating Joe Ringus's bachelor party.  I still can't believe that 16 guys can get together in the woods to four wheel and nobody go hurt or killed.  It was a great time fella's.  This is a shot of most of the guys outside a great little bar we went to.      

    

Teaching The Guide A Thing Or Two

Was joined Monday morning on the water by good friend Peter and as you can see he boated the only Muskie and this fish came in at 39".  It was no giant by any means but was a nice fish.  The cool part about this fish was that it was very spunky.  It went air born many times in an attempt to throw the bait. 

Pete grew up fishing on Minnetonka so it was fun to have him in the boat.  He wouldn't give up to many of his secret spots though.  It was also fun to see him get excited when the fish came up behind his bait and missed it, only to come back and crack at it again.  The second time around the fish was hooked and Pete was doing battle.  Hope to get on the water again soon with this living legend.  Until next time, Fish On!   

Jim The World Traveler

This is a bit of a continuation from the last entry.  This past Thursday my brother Jim from Switzerland calls me from Atlanta and wants to know if I could take him muskie fishing if he flew in for the weekend.  I figured I could squeeze him in but it would be tough since I was booked on Saturday morning.  Next thing I know I get an email form Jim with a flight itinerary that says he will be in MPLS at 5:45 Friday evening and he wants to go straight to the lake. 

Friday evening we hit the lake for a few hours trying to get Jim his first muskie.  Second spot Jim has a nice fish come hot on his bait but miss it.  We ended the night with a zero.  Saturday morning I had to guide Joe and Collette so I couldn't take him.  So my roommate volunteered to drive a second boat with my brother Dave and Jim.  We shared info that morning as to where we would fish and we both ventured out.  As you can see below we had great success and the other boat had three chances they were not able to capitalize on.  We headed in and decided to rest the afternoon and be back on the water early Sunday morning. 

 

Sunday morning Jim, Dave, and Myself met at the ramp shortly after 6 and were set on boating a muskie or two.  We fished a few spots with no luck, and then that all changed when a giant 48 1/2" muskie grabbed my bait and took off with vengeance.  The battle was intense.  I told the boys after a few head shakes that this was a giant ski.  Jim laughs it off like, "I bet you say that every time!"  Then the fish came to the surface jumping with its mouth wide open and the laughing was all over.  He says, "holy smokes, that is a giant!"  After a nice fight and Jim trying not to drop it out of the net, we were once again taking pictures and high fiveing.  I had this fish on twice before and it never stayed hooked up, so it was time for me to finally win it over.  As you can see these fish are all eating very well.  They are not on the Jenny Craig diet.  They eat like pigs.

After leaving this spot we headed out onto the main lake and with in 10 minutes of fishing our next spot I had a boat side attack from a mid 40" fish but I pulled the bait right out of his mouth.  Rookie mistake but it is very hard to stay calm when one of these giants is attacking at your feet.  We fished the rest of the morning with no more sightings.  We headed in for a bite to eat, a cold one, and a bit of trap shooting.  Come about 5:30 last night the boys were ready to head back out and try there luck again.  Jim was not going to give up until he caught a muskie.

 

The sun was getting low last night and he was still sitting on a "skunk" when it came to the muskies he had caught.  That almost changed when he got a 45-46" fish to eat boat side after it followed right to the boat.  He hooked up, battled it for a bit, and then it tore off.  Jim did not get to land it and take a picture but he can now say that he has done battle with one.  He was very excited one second and quickly disappointed the next when the line went slack.  I held nothing back this last few days, I left it all on the lake.  The fish Gods rewarded me and were good to me as usual.  I would have liked to get Jim his first muskie but I am just glad that we all got to spend some time together on the water.  Jim and I share the passion for fishing.  He is a skilled angler with many years experience.  I look forward to doing it again when he comes to town next year.  

I have to say thanks to all those that I got to fish with this weekend, Joe, Collette, Jim, Dave, Nick (Nig), Dennis, and Eddie.  There were memories made that will last forever.                  

Not One, But Two Trophy Encounters!

Not sure where to start.  But here we go!  Here a few months ago I get a call from Collette and she asks if she could buy a guide trip for her husband to be (Joe) for his b-day present.  So Joe booked it for the morning of Aug. 25th to chase a few muskies on Lake Minnetonka.  

The 25th had finally come and it was time for Joe, Collette, and myself to pursue the toothy critter.  We hit the water about 6:45 Saturday with energy and a good attitude.  Joe made mention that when he goes fishing it is usually "casting" for muskies rather than catching.  I reassured him that I would put him in front of some fish.  I wasn't sure if he would catch one but I would do my best to give him the opportunity. 

About 20 minutes into our first spot and I said out loud, "it's about time we catch one!"  With in seconds of saying that I was hooked up and doing battle with a 45" ski!  After a few nice runs and a good fight we had the fish in the boat.  Got a few quick pics and put her back to fight another day. 

Now that I had made Joe a believer and Collette was in shock of the fierceness of the muskie we were ready to head to another spot.  We continued from spot to spot in hopes of getting Collette her first muskie.  We had a few hours of casting, digging out a few "kids messes", and  laughs but no action.  We were ready to bring some excitement back in the boat.

Pulling into Crystal Bay Joe says, "this bay is full of good spots!"  I looked over at him and told him that I would put him and Collette in front of a muskie or two in Crystal Bay.  Whether or not we would put any in the boat.....ok so I hooked up on this super fat 43" muskie on our second spot in Crystal Bay.  As you can see we were super stoked because the sun had come out and fishing was getting tough.  

Collette had never seen a muskie much less touched one.  She was able to hold the "super fatty" 43" fish until it revive.  Once again it is important to get a few quick photos and get these great fish back in the water.  The fish swam right out of her hand.  It was a pretty cool experience for Collette.  I have to say thanks to Collette and Joe for a great day on the water.  I look forward to doing it again soon.