Plans were set. Jake and myself had found a day that we could both be on the water pursuing Tiger Musky. Another friend, Derek, and myself sent a phone call out to Jake from the boat ramp late in the morning. Jake who had been serving time behind his rod all morning in pursuit of Tiger Musky met us in short order.
As he rounded the shoreline into view, a musky size net sat perpendicular to his person across his back. The net bag was clearly carrying a burden. One not typical of a fishing net. My first guess was that Jake's shore lunch was too large to fit in his pack and he had made convenient use of the depressed and empty net. It was clear when he arrived at the boat that he not only brought the tools and skills to entice an eat from a Musky but he was building karma to close on a musky as well. His net was full of garbage and flotsam! Boom! Look out musky, you will eat! TODAY!
Fast Forward.
Musky appears, Beast! It seems that it has just come off a good run at Jake's fly.
No eat. Musky! Here! Gone!
Fast Forward.
The boat crew has now built to 4, with the addition of Phil.
Jake's fly has not been out of the water long enough to catch its breath. If his fly were a terrorist, it would have relinquished any information Jake asked of it and then started to fabricate information long ago.
"Here's one!
Here's One!
Here's One"
said Jake.
I looked over the gunwale from the console and there it was. Nearly 4 feet of it!
All 4 of us, now peering over the side intently, studying every move this marvelous fish was making!
All 4 of us, peering over the side intently, studying every move Jake's fly was making!
The musky was on the verge! 4" of water was the only obstacle preventing the musky from ending Jake's fly.
Jake killed his fly and let it sink. The musky maintained it's 4" buffer!
Jake accelerated the fly. The musky maintained it's 4" buffer!
Jake figure-eighted his fly. The musky maintained it's 4" buffer!
These scenarios repeated over and over again as the boat coasted about 50 yds. All 4 anglers, hearts pounding out of their chests, leaning over the fly and musky, absolutely enraptured!
After an extremely short eternity the monster settled back into its abyss, leaving a boat full of shaking knees and pounding chests!
MUSKY! One word, shouted as both an expletive and a jubilation!
Terribly awesome!
So much success and so much failure experienced in the same moments. A truly fearsome monster raised from the depths with craftsmanship, skill, and karma. So close to capture and so far.
Truth be told, what a wonderful fish to take four grown men back to the youthful anticipation of Christmas morning only to rip it from their grasp!
The musky can give you everything you've ever desired of fishing and take it all in the same moment.
And we LOVE them for it!
PS.
Karma collected this day! Jake stuck a hog musky 20 mins after the rest of us hit the road! Some people deserve fish. Not only because what the fish means to them personally, but because they have put in the work, time and effort to be rewarded. Musky are-----Work, Time, and Effort!
Congratulations Jake!
You can find more of Jake's good work at The Colorado Trout Devotee.
Derek and Phil are part of a site known as OutSmartingFish.com. They put together tremendous content!
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