Sea Monster Season

A Narrative About The Addictions To Muskies.

By: Andrew Ragas

Date Posted: November 3, 2010

Let me ask you the following questions related strictly towards the game of Musky fishing:

Why do you do it?

Why do you enjoy it so much?

What makes you go back for more the following day?

If I was asked the same, my answer is that I am healthily addicted to Musky fishing in similar ways a junkie is addicted to crack or other drugs. But unlike those addictions and sicknesses of life, I consider this form to be healthy, completely ruthless, and an obsessively dangerous pursuit.

Musky fishing is for crack addicts. That’s the way I ultimately see it. Plus they are the elusive sea monsters of the freshwater.

I am not the greatest angler in the world, and neither am I the best at catching Muskies or any specific fish in general. I lose more Muskies near boatside than what I am able to actually land successfully. When I fish for Muskies, I take it to a personal level.

The fish do not like me, and I certainly do not like them in return.

Outside of thinking that these fish are so beautiful looking, rivaling in ways like the best women that are out there, I also do not fish Muskies to catch either. Rather, I think I only fish because Bass and other more abundant species eventually become boring. It’s been happening too often lately it seems which is fine by me.

It was roughly six summers ago when I caught my first Muskellunge. It was one of those “I think I shit myself” types of experiences. I was on the verge of entering junior year of high school and by then, I was already becoming a wildly-improved Bass angler. I remember how that 36-inch fish was caught while wading the upper Wisconsin River. It hit a #3 Mepps Inline from mid-river and was caught on a powerless six and a half foot spinning rod with six pound line meant for Smallmouth Bass. The most surprising part about it was the leader that was not used. Catching that fish was a miracle at the time because I did not have the proper gear in order to catch something of that magnitude on a daily basis.

Followed by mishandling a catch (if it ever happens), not having the necessary gear is the worst thing a Musky angler can do.

Six years later, with Bass fishing seemingly becoming more boring in general, and after several thousand dollars worth of new rods, reels and lures meant for Muskies, along with a new boat as well, Muskies now rank among the top of my personal interests in fishing.

A new game has begun.

Over the course of my last few years of combining Bass fishing and Musky fishing as the bulk of what I fish for on a yearly basis, I have come to learn that this style of fishing is not meant for everyone involved.

In order to catch Muskies on a daily basis like most of the true gamers and legendary anglers out there, it takes a special person to get the job done. I believe that knowledge is power and skills and individual experiences are far more important to the equation rather than plain old luck but I guess that all depends on your attitude, mentality, and approach to it. As I have found out, every day of Musky fishing is a learning process, and if you stick to the program, you might eventually get the hang of it.

This past fall, the game was finally coming together.

Like I do almost every year in order to maintain a high interest level, I set forth some individual achievable goals. One of the noteworthy for the 2010 season called for finally catching ten Muskies of any size before the time we close up shop for the year in mid-October. As a Bass fisherman since childhood and being used to catching one every few minutes, catching ten Muskies is a chore, and not an easy task. I had never done anything like this before. Living up north in Musky Country for much of the spring, summer, and fall months, I was long overdue.

Unlike my previous years of Musky fishing, 2010 was far different. Rather than fishing for the sake of catching and trying to feel productive, I was fishing for the purpose of kicking ass and finishing unfinished business. After the 2009 season ended, I was left a sour taste in my mouth because I fell short of getting my number-ten by just one fish. The consequence from that was being pissed off.

I was not going to let that shortfall happen again this year, and neither was I going to fish angry.

By the time the 2010 fall season came in early September, I had experienced, by far, one of the worst summer fishing seasons I have ever had with Muskies. Out of a total of 50 days of fishing thus far, I must have spent a quarter of them for Muskies. In part-time fishing, the end result was three fish boated, and more than a dozen that got away.

At this point I was really fishing angry.

Once frequent fall trips were taken starting in mid-September and lasting through mid-October, I quit Bass fishing for the year. I was all done, officially bored, and wanted no further part of it. If it weren’t for Muskies, I probably would not have fished at all. Muskies immediately became my full-time gig. After another twenty-something days of fishing, the end results were finally worthwhile and the transformation I made with myself was a success.

This past fall, four separate trips were made. Two of which were quick weekends with my dear dad, another weekend was with good friend and video guru, Dan Cahill, and a full week was with another good friend, Jacob Saylor.

During this period, I had experienced some of the best Musky fishing of my life in terms of overall numbers days, personal-best fish, and overall enjoyment. It seemed as if at least a fish was caught almost every day. In addition, everyone who was also fishing alongside of me was also catching, including some firsts and personal bests as well.

What might have led to this success? We were too stubborn to fish for anything else, and our addictions as a unit within the boat were put into overdrive.

We were essentially overdosing ourselves with Esox Masquinongy.

A wide variety of Musky waters from large lakes and reservoirs to small rivers were fished, and a multitude of presentations ranging from fast to slow were applied.

Every day brought something new to us while we were out on the water. Without getting too scientific and in-depth in sharing of my fall fishing exploits and pursuits which might be best served for a future article, our methods of fishing and lake selections were determined by a number of factors such as the following: Proximity of the venue; Abundance of available Musky population; Water temperatures and clarity; Forage species; Weather, and time of day.

Rain or shine, and whether in sickness or good health, we fished in all types of conditions. We somehow caught fish in the calmest of all days with cloudless skies and zero wind, and we somehow caught fish while battling the flu and barely able to stay alive in the boat for a day. The cards were being played right, time was invested wisely, and we were finally victorious.

Multiple fish days were had, all-time firsts were caught, and personal best fish and record breakers were caught-photographed-released. This fall season in particular was one for the books.

One of the most satisfying aspects of fishing this fall, and knowing that we were fishing the right way, was the shear number of fish we had encountered. If I had to guess, we moved anywhere from 50 to 100 different fish on four trips combined, and while fishing 30 different bodies of water. This eventually resulted in catching more Muskies than I had ever caught in a period of just one month let alone in an entire year of fishing.

Through the trials and tribulations of Musky fishing, the best advice I can offer anyone is this. The success of Musky fishing and your individual pursuit of it usually results in whatever you make of it and how you approach it. It is that simple.

At this stage of my life with Muskies, I am not the most knowledgeable or well-seasoned. There are only a few guarantees I can make which will lead to individual success like I had this fall. Unfortunately, they will only prevent you from having a terrible day out on the water which is still a good thing.

My guarantee-for-fish advice is the following:

• Have the right attitude. If you don’t think a fish will be caught, then you truly are wasting your time. You probably shouldn’t be fishing at all. When fishing for Muskies, you are always casting with a purpose. Think positive and be optimistic at all times.
• Good expectations. Come to the lake knowing that you will catch something. This corresponds with the attitude.
• Have an open mind, don’t be stubborn. Approach your body of water by being willing to try a plethora of lures and techniques, and accepting curveballs from fish and the external conditions.
• Don’t fish angry. This is never acceptable in my boat at any point while fishing. If you lose a fish, or do something stupid and out of the norm, think of it as a positive mistake that can be learned from. That’s what the next cast and the following day of fishing is always for. Swear at and make fun of the fish and yourself or fishing partner if you have to, but never fish angry.
• Have entertainment and fish with an engaging partner. What’s so bad about sharing a laugh, ripping a fart, and constantly talking and being obnoxious assholes in the boat while constantly casting to nothing all day long? Nothing at all, it’s immaturity at its finest. Trust me these are the little things that will keep interest and motivation levels high throughout the day.
• Always fish with a plan. Know your limits, and know your spots and how to best fish them. This is an applied skill eventually learned through personal experience and behavior of fish.
• Patience and persistence pays off. Nuff said. There is no better feeling than catching and eventually having an “I think I shit myself” type of experience. Photos and video are the ultimate reward from Musky fishing.

Due to the dedication I made this fall season, the stubbornness and boredom with Bass fishing I experienced has made me a better all-around angler. While casting to virtually nothing for 95% of the time each day, my skills and attitude were put to the test, as was my personality and mentality as a multi-species angler.

Through these experiences, I have ultimately learned a valuable lesson. Never, ever, allow the fish to make you be their b-tch and drag you around by the line. Always take the initiative and show ‘em who is boss, but do it with respect as I hope you eventually release them clean and unharmed.

Having accomplished more than I would have ever envisioned in a month-long period of fishing, I am still nowhere near the level of an angler that I would like to be. Even the best out there are continuously learning and becoming better. To get more proficient on an every-day basis is my eventual plan.

Ultimately, that is what we have next year for: To make more casts and to catch more fish.

Thank you Bass fishing, for making me realize how boring and uneventful that you can be at times. Without the boredom I was possessed with in September, I am positive that the events and successful trips we experienced this fall never would have happened.

I heart Musky xoxoxo.

Disclaimer: If anyone ever happens to lose fish, or cannot get one to eat on the follow or figure-8 and then it suddenly disappears or never comes back to the boat again, I highly recommend checking out the 1970’s hit love-song by Player, titled, “Baby Come Back”. To make light of the situation and to turn any negative into a positive, play the soothing song on repeat if your boat happens to have a sound system.