Waving Goodbye – Throwback Musky Trollin' – Ugly 'skies
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See Ya Next Time! 👋
I think we can all agree that the best part about the "chase" is not only the thrill of the catch, but also preserving the resource by getting a good, healthy release.
🥂 Cheers to the best view in fishing! #thewavegoodbye
Here's a few good ones:
This big ole beauty is going back home after a fierce fight with Ryan Pinkalla:
You gotta love when they kick off like a champ 💪 (via @justinhfishing)
Not gonna lie, this is one of the "prettier" release videos we've seen. Big props to Ben Stone on capturing the beauty of the release:
Here's one last good "see-ya-next-time" wave from Jeff Andersen 🔥
Throwin' It Back
Anyone watch those classic back-in-the-day In-Fisherman musky shows??
I just noticed In-Fish is adding some of their old TV content onto their website.
There's some fun throwback stuff on there now, including this segment featuring Al Lindner and Dan Sura trolling for 'skies:
A few things we noticed while watching, outside of the vertical holds that were common back in the day.... 😬
(For those that aren't aware, always make sure you're holding muskies horizontally, supporting their weight with the hand under it's body!)
LOTS has changed over the decades, especially the landing & releasing tools.
Here's a quick clip of Al hand-landing a big 'skie #NoNet
Not gonna lie, no one is more calm and collected while grabbing a giant musky at the side of the boat than Al 😅
I also noticed their pliers looked a little something like this:
These days, we hope everyone chasing muskies has some longnose pliers, among other things. But back then, they rocked channel locks. Here's a few go-to's:
Thank goodness for modern release tools!
Speaking of "modern", the electronics world has changed quite a bit since Al was rocking this bad boy in the tiller:
But one thing that has aged like fine wine is the old In-Fish side-bar graphics.
Here's one from the video, with Al explaining how he likes to plan his contour trolling routes:
It was a fun blast-from-the-past, watching Al and Dan Sura poke a few fish on the old trusty Super Shad. I'll have to watch some more of these old vids, just for nostalgia sake.
Not-So-Pretty 'skies
We temporarily changed the name of the "Ugly Muskies" segment, so we wouldn't hurt any musky's feelings... 😉 #TheTruthHurts
Here's a very, very not pretty one from Luke Bogdanovic. Folks talk about "shovel- head" muskies, but this nasty river 'skie is more of a "shovel lip":
This tiger musky from Grady Codd is seriously gorgeous, but we had to throw her in here with a snubby snout like that!!
This giant from Robert Karpiak is not only an absolute brute of a Lake of the Woods musky.... she's about as cute as a hammer-headed fruit bat 😂
This last musky, caught by Brian Skaife, isn't "ugly" per se. She just needs to eat a few dozen ciscos to pack on some pounds this fall! (video via @benstonefishing)
This Week's Mashup:
Mashup time!
#1 – Check out this crazy cool wood carved musky sent in by Charles Weiss. Here's a few details he added:
"I created this with my brother George about 20 years ago. It's 67 inches (170cm) long with a girth of 28 inches (71cm). This represents my artistic idea of a 70 pound (32kilo) musky."
#2 – If you're planning on doing some tubin' this fall, check out this video from Insider PRO instructor Kevin Cochran. Lots of good info, including how he's riggin' his tubes, and also how he works them:
#3 – Our buddies at Ezoko are running a good deal on their inventory of St. Croix Mojo Musky rods. 20% off (or better) on a bunch of different models:
#4 – Okay, we had to sneak one more let-em-go shot in here....
Hot off his Frank Schneider win, Alex McLean is still on 'em! Lovin' this low-light boatside release shot 💪
QUICK HITTERS:
– "Lawmakers approve audit of Wisconsin’s fish and wildlife account" (link)
– Tips on setting & managing your drag w/ Jeremy Smith (video)
– September musky fishing update w/ Todays Angler (video)
– MORE Leech Lake musky action w/ Luke Ronnestrand (video)
– Lake St. Clair musky chasin' w/ Smiths Fishing (video)
This Week's Monster Muskies:
Congrats to Lucas Black on poppin' this 56-inch Goliath-sized Georgian Bay giant fishing with his buddy Reel Nauti Angling. Ridiculous....
We gotta give a huge congrats to Jay Janssen (one of our Musky Inside PRO members) 0n busting his PB with this plus-sized Pink Day leviathan (50.5 inches).
Great job, Jay!
Check out this 50-inch bruiser boated by Greg G.'s son on a trusty Llungen DC-8 🔥
Props to @tylers.fishing on boating this porky, low-light monster in Minnesota:
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