Category Archives: Musky

Muskie : Dues Paying Off

September 15, 2020 tcujsp303 Leave a comment

The annual muskie trip has become a staple for my dad and me now going on 5+ years. As we have done every year since first going after these fish with a fly rod, my dad and I headed back up to Wisconsin in September ready to tangle with these big, green, mean machines. Although our trips to the Northwoods have always been a blast with muskie being caught, the last trip or two had been a grind in terms of sheer numbers of muskie to the net. For those who have fly fished for muskie, this is of no surprise in that these fish are in no way a cake walk with a fly. They can drive you nuts in that when you time it right, multiple fish days are possible, but at other times catching one or two in a week would be considered a major success. But truthfully I’m probably being greedy in that we have always left Wisconsin with some muskie slime on our hands! No matter how many casts it took!

I mention all of this in that it seemed as if we lucked out this year. Whether it was good mojo in our favor, dues being paid, or just happy fish everywhere, we had one of our most productive muskie trips ever this year. Only able to fish 3 full days, we were able to get 6 to the net which is as awesome as you could ask for!

We couldn’t have asked for better weather (minus some crazy wind at times). Early September was warm enough to keep us comfortable on the water, but the water temps had cooled enough to get the muskie active and moving around. We knew we were in for some fun within 5-minutes of leaving the boat ramp on day 1, in that a massive fish boiled on my fly within the first couple of throws towards the bank. Although it missed the fly, it gave us the wake up call we needed to keep us alert. Throughout the day, action was constant with 3 muskies landed (!), and with a couple of follows mixed in as well. It appeared that one of my home tied fire tiger colored “river pigs” was doing the trick in getting these fish amped up. Although the fish were willing to chase the fly down, the majority of our fish came pretty close to the bank this day.

As for Day 2, we got humbled with no fish to the boat. Not a surprise after an insanely good Day 1! I am about honesty on this blog, and the muskie once again showed us their middle fingers on this day. But the good news is that our final day would allow us to leave on a high note.

Day 3 was almost identical to Day 1, except for the fact that the weather was cloudier and a bit chillier. We were able to get 3 more fish to the boat on both fire tiger and all black “river pigs”. We made the right call and went back to the same stretch of river from day one, and it was clear that the fish in this system were willing to put the feed bag on. It is really such a special day when it call comes together like this, in that these fish require such a grind that it makes you cherish every one you get (or even get to see).

Words can’t explain how much my dad and I’s annual muskie outings mean to me. Very grateful to have this time with him every year, and we lucked out this year with the sheer number of fish willing to cooperate. Hoping that the muskie let us keep the good momentum again this year!

Joe

Musky, Uncategorized

Annual Muskie Outing

September 1, 2019 tcujsp303 Leave a comment

Although any fly fishing trip gets my blood plumping, there has been one specific trip that for the past four or five years that has become a staple in the annual lineup. Fly fishing for muskie up in the Northwoods of Wisconsin is not only an intense challenge, but features some of the most beautiful and scenic country that you will ever see. As has been the theme for trips this year, due to work obligations, we only had a couple of days to fish. For anyone that has fly fished for muskie knows, this can be a recipe for a let down, but we were fortunate enough to find some fish and have a great time per usual.

The first day of fishing was a typical day of muskies doing what they love to do – being stubborn and difficult. Although we had a handful of follows and fished some perfect looking water, the fish weren’t wanting to cooperate. Throwing 12-inch bufords to smaller bucktail baitfish, we tried it all and did not end up with the mean greenies that we were after day one. Fortunately enough, we still were able to get into some by-catch with some pike and smallmouth bass (one being a total pig that had us convinced at first that we had a muskie). After a tough but fun day on the water, we even took out a pontoon boat to a local lake to try our luck – same story, led to some pike but no muskie.

However, the following day was looking promising, in that we were seeing muskie blow up on bait and feeding actively. We also had an eat, the fish just didn’t stick (the strip set on my end was a bit suspect!). Honestly had never seen anything like it with these fish. With that said, we knew we were coming back the next day.

For our last day of fishing, we were able to make some magic happen. Upon arriving at the lake, fish were everywhere and we were seeing muskies left and right. It was one of the most active days of fly fishing for muskie that we have had – seven follows for the morning. After a hour of fishing, we finally had a nice muskie in the boat. Although no monster by any means, a true beauty of a fish that put up a strong fight. The thing with muskies is that no matter how big the fish is, it is a well-earned reward seeing one in the net.

DF2D7698-D3B7-4690-ABDA-6D3ED3C87076 — Joe Petrow – Muskie

The highlight of the trip happened about 30-minutes later when I watched a massive gold flash explode on his fly. Funny enough, he was throwing about a 4-inch bucktail buford that is usually used for smallmouth (smartly on his end, we had been seeing smaller fish in the water, so he trimmed down the fly size). After a chaotic fight, my dad had his biggest muskie ever in the boat, and many cheers were to be had with our guide (friend now after these years) Brad. A great father’s day reward for my best friend, and it was one of my coolest fly fishing memories watching him get his biggest muskie in the boat. Super special moment.

Once again, the Northwoods didn’t disappoint. Although the numbers of fish were limited, the hunt was well worth it, and the final day magic kept everyone on their toes.

Tight lines,

Joe

Bass, Musky, Uncategorized

Return to the Northwoods

December 1, 2018 tcujsp303 Leave a comment

As I continue to fly fish, I am finding that there are certain species that are becoming more influential and special to my heart. Although in my book every fish is a good fish, certain ones get my blood pumping like no else. As many of you may already know, many of the saltwater species do this to me : tarpon, redfish, permit. However, the good ol’ muskellunge (Mr. Muskie) is a fish that I will continue to love throughout my entire life. This year, my Dad and I headed back up to the Northwoods to go on a search for muskie, as well as fish topwater frog flies for smallmouth bass. Deciding to go in the summer, we knew that the fishing would be more challenging than usual, but as we have learned with muskie, showing up and giving it a go is 90% of the battle. As we would find out, every cast was going to matter this week, and we better be ready to go come the fourth quarter.

The first day of fishing was beautiful, perfect weather, sun out, no wind. Within 30 minutes of fishing in one of our favorite river systems, we had one eat, and life looked good. But with that being said, that would be our only eat for the day. We threw bufords, river pigs, home tied massive deceivers, and nothing. Not only was this going to be our result for Day 1, but would end up being the same story for Day 2 of fishing as well. On top of this, huge weather fronts rolled in, causing us to be off the water by noon. With attitudes still high however, all was good and we didn’t lose hope. A couple of bass at the end of the day lightened the spirit.

For Day 3, we decided to get some of our mojo back and go after some smallmouth bass. And man did that turn out to be a great decision, not only in that it was probably the best day of fly fishing for bass in my life, but it got our morale high. Throwing foam frogs and four-inch streamers, we had consistent action all day, and probably boated 50 bass by 2pm. Watching 3-4 pound smallmouth come up and slurp the frog like a trout would to a grasshopper was a blast, and allowed us to see some fish come to hand. One of the best things about the Northwoods is that when a mental break from the muskies are needed, the smallmouth are willing to cooperate. With the occasional pike thrown in. Later on in the day, we decided to hit up a local muskie lake and had two massive hits on a topwater fly, but they didn’t stick. However, it was enough action and life to know where we would be fishing for our final day.

As for Day 4, this was our final day to make something happen. Although we had three eats in the previous couple of days, nothing had stuck, and the muskies were playing the infamous hard-to-get game. After hours of fishing on the last day, I finally stuck something huge. Powerful…diving deep…ate a 10-inch red and white buford. After a few minutes of fighting, we finally saw the fish, and a huge golden flash. It was the biggest walleye I had ever seen, measured at 27 inches – the largest I have ever caught, especially on fly. Although slightly heart broken that it wasn’t a muskie, this fish was remarkable in it’s own right.

With only about two hours of sunlight left, we decided to go into a secluded two acre lake that required paddling and no motor through a very shallow stretch of a creek. The lake was small enough where we knew that it wouldn’t hold many fish, but for a large fish to get back in there, it would require effort and hunger to drive it to find new water. So we began to throw our massive flies yet again. And after about ten minutes…boom. It had happened. A nice muskie stuck. After a jump and several heads hakes, we had this beautiful fish to the net, and I let out one of the loudest yells I have ever done. Relief. Blessed, beautiful relief. This was a well earned fish, and tells the story perfectly as to never giving up and keeping the faith baby!

Muskie. Nothing can describe them with enough justice. All I know is that on this trip, this one fish, on day four, in the final hours, will forever be a fish I remember.

Bass, Musky, Uncategorized

Return of the River Wolf

September 8, 2017 tcujsp303 Leave a comment

The first of September. Yellow sneaking into the trees, a cool morning breeze trying to break free like a running back between the tackles. As for fly fishing, September can be one of the best months out there, it that it is a transition period. Predators are out and about due to the cooler water, and know that work needs to be done before winter comes in full form. For the beginning of this fall, we decided to return up to the North Woods in search of one of the most challenging freshwater fish on the plant: musky. Pure, full-strain musky.

The last time we traveled to the North Woods in Wisconsin, we did a five-day fishing excursion. However, with work now more than a reality, we were only able to break away for three-days using the Labor Day weekend to our advantage. Upon arrival, the rivers were in great condition, and the weather for the most part appeared as if it was going to be cooperative. With a plethora of 12-18 inch flies in the boat, and 10-weights rigged up, we headed out to search for these elusive fish (day one being on a lake).

With clear conditions and very little wind, day one consisted of dark and natural patterns. Black, purple, tan, and off-white flies (Buffords, Hangtimes) fluttering through the water as if they were asking to get killed. I swear that just watching the flies swim when musky fishing is a sight to behold in itself. After a couple of nice follows to the boat, we arrived along a stretch of some wood cover that looked more than fishy. A throw tight to a shelf and WOOSH! A musky storms over and inhales the fly. After a chaotic fight, we had the musky in the boat and the weekend had truly began.

With one fish in the boat on the first day (we also had three more eats/strikes, unfortunately just weren’t able to stick), we decided to do river floats on days two and three. In my opinion this is probably the most fun way to fly-fish more muskies in my opinion: dark water, fast riffles, structure everywhere. You never know which pocket or stretch could potentially hold a fish of a lifetime.

As for day two, the weather was cooler and there was rain upon us. However, prior experiences of fishing in the rain for musky have been positive, so to be honest I was glad to put on the raincoat! Clouds and the rain also provide opportunities to throw some bigger and flashier flies, especially in the tea-stained waters of northern Wisconsin. After about a hour of casting and casting, we arrived to a faster stretch of river with a good amount of cut bank. I was throwing about a 14-inch creamsicle fly (orange and white), and had a gut feeling that something special was about to happen. After slinging this big ol’ creamsicle into a pocket right along the bank, I stripped twice, paused, then another strip…all of a sudden the fly disappeared, and a gold flash like no other erupts the water. Big musky on. Being in the fast moving water, this musky had plenty of spunk and kept dodging the bow of the boat methodically. After a couple of jumps and one flop out of the net boat side, we finally got the fish in the net and celebrated like no other. After a couple of pictures, we released this beauty (below) back into the dark underworld it came from, and a huge sigh of relief occurred. It’s not every day you get to see (let alone) catch a fish like that on a fly. What a sweet life this really is.

As for the rest of the day (and ALL of day three), the muskies did what they usually do. Stayed hidden and made us seem crazy to be out there blind-casting massive flies into the dark water. However, this is part of what makes fly fishing for these fish an unforgettable experience. There are no guarantees, and more often than not you are going to get humbled. They also reward you for remaining focused and attentive; they will finally decided to cooperate the minute you lose focus or don’t watch the fly come all the way in. As for us, we find that when we begin to have some doubt, it’s a good idea to tie on a bass popper and catch some smallmouth to keep the brain wired! Although putting in the time and energy is only way to have a chance of catching a musky on the fly, seeing big smallmouth crash a frog or gurgler provides a well needed spark (below).

I still am chasing a 45″+ monster, but I know that with diligence and with effort, any opportunity with these fish is possible. I’m itching to get back up to the North Woods as soon as possible, and who knows…maybe we have one more long weekend in us before winter comes in full force!

Tight lines as always,

Joe

Musky, Uncategorized

Tigers in Utah

September 6, 2017 tcujsp303 Leave a comment

Yes, you read that title correctly. Big, toothy, ferocious beasts terrorizing prey opportunistically. Although they are hard to find and are beyond intelligent, these predators can be sought after on a fly. Tiger muskies provide a challenge like no other, and being able to catch them in a Rocky Mountain state is a sight to behold.

First things first, my experience with tiger muskies in Utah has been unreal. This was a fish species that had been on my bucket list to catch for years, and to be completely honest, I had not done much to educate myself with the species. Having fished for full-strain musky up in Wisconsin, I knew that these fish are the epitome of an aquatic predator, but I had not learned necessarily where and when to fish for tigers specifically. Let alone in a transplant environment (i.e. stocked reservoirs).

FullSizeRender — Joe Petrow – Tiger Musky

Although I am going to keep my locations personal and somewhat of a secret, I have found that the bigger the water body, the better. Tiger muskies are known to feast on a variety of fish species, and I have found that the most consistent locations to fish are those with a multitude of prey, and a variety of structure. This is because it allows fly fishermen to have a variety of options when it comes to fly choice. So whether the bait is bass, perch, suckers, catfish, or even ducks (scary right?), bigger water bodies provide more food. And then matching the hatch becomes more important than ever! As for structure, tigers love rocks, wood, weeds, and drop offs. Larger water bodies usually will have one of these four options, and if you can get a combination in one spot, get ready to see some fish follow.

Another aspect of fly fishing for tiger muskie revolves around the eat. These fish are infamously known for chasing a lure or fly all the way up to a boat, and as for me, I have had these fish eat a fly literally two feet away from me. Mind you, I also am solely wading…not in a boat. The adrenaline rush is something that is unforgettable, and the key here is to make sure to keep the fly in the water as long as possible. I have even had a fish physically jump out of the water to eat my fly when I am pulling it out to recast! Reading the body language of the fish is also critical, in that based on the level of aggression, the fly needs to be sped up, slowed down, or change in depth when a fish is chasing. Below is a picture of my personal best tiger – 38 inches on the dot. I watched it follow the fly all the way in before it ate less than five feet away from me.

Keep in mind that muskies are known as the fish of 10,000 casts for a reason. They are difficult to find, and are very picky when it comes to their eating behavior. Although possible to catch on a fly, more often than not a proper “skunk” may occur, but don’t let this dissuade you. Keep at it, maintain the faith, and when doubt begins to sink in, change your fly and keep the brain engaged! These fish know when attention is not being paid, and will make you pay for it the hard way (see what I did there?!).

As always, tight lines, and I will continue to provide updates with my tiger encounters here in Utah.

Joe

Bass, Musky, Northern Pike, Uncategorized

Musky Madness

July 11, 2016 tcujsp303 Leave a comment

Well, it’s that time of year. 90 degree days, darkness arriving past 9:00PM, parents trying to figure out what to do with their hectic kids; summer is here. As any avid fly fisherman would agree, each season presents it’s own perks and challenges, but there is always one season that fly fisherman will favor indefinitely. For me, this season is summer by far.

With the “real world” now upon me and work beginning soon, my dad and I decided that we had to have one last “hoorah” fishing trip before moving began and before scheduling became a pain in the you know what. However, we did not want an ordinary fly fishing trip. We wanted an adventure, a new target species, and a new location all in one giant bread basket. Thus, we decided to travel to Hayward, Wisconsin and fly fish for arguably the most voracious, predatory, and simply mean freshwater fish: the muskellunge (musky).

After a non-stop flight from Denver to Minneapolis, we drove three hours into the Wisconsin wilderness in hopes of having a week for the ages. We would be fishing with the famous Musky Country Outfitters, led by musky “legend” Brad Bohen and his number one guide Weston Thier. With expectations on our end being relatively uncertain, this week would turn out to be one of the best fly fishing experiences we have ever had, and some big, beautiful, toothy fish were landed.

We fished two rivers for the week: several parts of both the Chippewa and Flambeau rivers. As for the fly fishing itself, hundreds upon hundreds of casts were taken everyday, and with every cast came the hope that a giant musky would be following our 8-12 inch flies towards the boat. With six total fish landed between my dad and I for the week, we were extremely successful and immediately became hooked to the anticipation that fly fishing for musky offers.

Day one of fishing for the week turned out to be the most productive, in that we managed to land three muskies, including a monster that will be classified as a fish of a lifetime to me. Appreciate, every day of fishing throughout the week also consisted of several smallmouth bass and the occasional pike or walleye, but we are here to talk musky! After a couple hours into our day, I managed to catch a juvenile musky that got the “monkey off our back” and got our hopes up. What amazed me immediately was how a small 20 inch musky was eager to eat a 10 inch fly. Although this fish was a shining moment for the week, it was roughly an hour later that a true monster would be landed, and I would learn in a 20 second period what fly fishing for musky is really about. After throwing a massive baitfish pattern at the end of some faster moving whitewater, I watched my fly as I stripped it all the way to the boat. With about five feet remaining between the boat and the fly, I saw a massive creature flare it’s gills and inhale the fly…my heart immediately raced, and we had a monster musky on. After an insane minute of this fish jumping across the river, dodging the net, and snapping it’s teeth as we removed the fly, I was able to hold a fish of a lifetime and truly say that I had caught the musky fever. After taking a picture with our 40 inch beast, we continued casting away, and my dad was able to land his first musky on the fly as well. Not only did he land his first musky, but he also managed to catch this fish on a massive topwater fly, AND on Father’s Day. What a Father’s Day it was.

After being truly spoiled on our first day of fly fishing for musky, we learned on day two and day three why these fish are so difficult to catch, and why this fish has been historically referred to as the fish of 10,000 casts. Although we were able to catch many smallmouth and a decent number of pike, the muskies were alluding us, and some mental insanity began. However, as Brad Bohen told us the first night we arrived, the method to the madness is to truly believe that the next cast will have a fish, and to keep hopes up always. And boy, would he turn out to be right.

As for days 4 and 5 of fishing, we were able to get three more muskies to the boat, along with a follow from a massive fish that chased my dad’s fly all the way to the boat. We consistently noticed that the majority of our fish took the fly right at the boat, and we both began to realize that in this dark, stained water, you never know what could be lurking feet from your fly. As for the fight itself, picture a minute of raw insanity in which everything that can go wrong will, in that these fish sincerely do have an attitude and will do everything in their power to assert their dominance. On day 4, I was able to land a solid 32 inch fish, and my dad and I were EACH able to stick into 37/38 inch beasts on the last day of fishing. With the famous “River Pig” patterns that Brad and Weston tie up daily, we had finally found a reliable pattern, and ended our trip on the highest note possible.

Although we both were bummed when our week of fishing came to an end, we knew that we would be returning back to Wisconsin soon to take on Part 2 with this amazing fish. To spend the week of Father’s Day on the water with my Dad was a memory that I will never forget, and I am truly beyond blessed to have a best friend that takes me fishing as much as he does. Below is a picture of two, new musky addicts, who fortunately took the time between hundreds of casts to get a picture worth a thousand words.