That time of year

As many of you know, this time of year is the time to pick up the muskie gear and go chasing the toothy critters.  The calls and emails for muskie trips pour in with everyone wanting to get hooked up with one of these giants.  With that said, I can tell you that I have had a string of bad luck the last week or two.  Most of my clients have had a chance to catch a muskie, or have even had one on....but NONE of them have come in the boat.  I am not sure what to say.  Muskies are very hard to catch, and very hard to land.  This is the ultimate frustration as a muskie guide.  I want more than anything for everyone that steps in my boat to catch a muskie.  The good lord seems to have another plan as of late. 

    

Over the years I have learned you just really can't do anything about it.  You have to just keep throwing and hope that the next one stays buttoned.  I decided that the best thing I could do was take a little time to myself and all my frustrations out on a muskie of my own.  Was joined for an evening of muskie "chunk'n" by a good friend from high school, Chris Ugarte.  At only our 2nd spot of the evening I was hooked up with a fat 44 1/2" fish.  It was the most rewarding fish I have caught in a long time.  The streak of bad luck and lost fish had to be broke.  Only about 15 minutes later Chris had a chance for his own giant but it just didn't get the bait. 

The muskies are putting a pretty good fall bite on.  I apologize you haven't been seeing more pictures of them here, but they haven't been making it in the boat.  Many more will be coming in the boat in the next few weeks.  I am going to be spending some time with trophyencounters.com chasing the toothy critters-together!  When we get together-magic happens.  Until next time, Fish On!  Looking for the next crush session.  :)

Day on the water with an MVP

Spent the morning on the water with 06' AL MVP Justin Morneau and he was able to catch a few bass.  It was a pleasure to get to spend another day on the water with Justin.  The last time we hit the water we also had Joe Mauer with us and we were rained out. 

We fished on Medicine Lake in Plymouth, which is a lake that Justin wanted to learn more about.  All his fish came throwing a jig worm.  As you can see he didn't catch any giants but he did get to do battle which made for a great morning on the water. 

Dreaming of big bites

Got to take 2 young boys fishing and they were able to boat some nice bass and had 4 chances at landing a muskie.  Will Nessa is a 12 year old boy that is crazy for fishing and asked his Mom and Dad for a trip to fishwithmatt for his b-day.  When his Mom contacted me to find out what she had to do to purchase her son his "dream" b-day gift I felt very honored.  It is always fun to get to get on the water with kids or young adults.  They are our future and are so much fun to fish with.  They never want to quit or give up! 

Will was joined by his best friend Conner Stevenson(pictured) for the evening of fishing on Lake Minnetonka.  Between chasing bass we would stop on a spot and I had the boys throwing the big rigs for toothy critters.  I wanted them to do some chunk'n and see if we couldn't put the biggest fish of their short lives on the end of their line pulling.  At the first stop, Will had a muskie come up and try to eat.  Conner threw back in the same area and the fish ate his bait.  Unfortunately, it didn't stay buttoned.  Over the next 4 spots the boys had 3 more muskies attempt to eat-but not stay buttoned.  By the time we left the lake I think the boys were "pro's" at throwing the muskie baits and have a bit of a new addiction.  Thanks for the great time on the water guys.   

Cali Boy Catches First Muskie

My good friend and fellow FLW Tour angler Justin Lucas came to MN to catch a muskie and a few "northern" bass!  As you can see he was able to catch his muskie.  On his first day here in MN he was able to land this nice 42 1/2" muskie.  Pete was able to assist in the landing and holding of this great fish. 

Justin is a National Guard Pro on the FLW tour and has had a very succesful short career so far.  At only 24 young years old he has over $250,000 in career earnings, has been on the Today Show, has a National Guard team sponsor, and fishes the FLW tour as one of the top Pro's.  He resides today in Alabama but was born and raised in Folsom, CA.  It was a pleasure to have him come to my stomping grounds and fishwithmatt!  

We fished many different lakes over a 4 day period and took lots of film.  We targeted bass the majority of our time on the water, with a little muskie chunk'n mixed in.  Justin was able to land 3 muskies on his venture, one of which was a tiger muskie.  It wasn't a giant but a neat fish non-the-less.