Sad Day...

I apologize to all of you die hard fishwithmatt.com readers and followers for not getting you fun and exciting updates.  I am sad to report that I have been out of commisson.  Last week I fished Wednesday for bass and Thursday on Lake Calhoun for bass and muskie.  I do not have any killer pictures from either trip but it was fun while it lasted.  Everything ended on a bad note on Friday. 

From the top.  I started Friday morning at Lake Minnetonka at 5:30 for a morning photo shoot with FLW Outdoors.  After an extensive morning shoot that went really well we took a short lunch break.  About 3 pm we headed back out on the water for an evening shoot that also went well until it started raining and ruined our lighting and sunset.  It was a little after 7 and showed no signs of letting up so they called it a wrap.  My day was over and all I had to do was get my boat back to the ramp, get it loaded, and head home.  As I was running across the main lake I felt my boat loseing power and what felt like slipping.  Moments later it lost all power and stalled out.  I was not able to get the motor started again.  After trolling back to the ramp and having it looked at on Saturday it was determined that I had blown out my lower unit.  They were able to get the motor to run but the gears were completely gone in the gear case.  So I am off the water for the time being.  I am going to try and get another gear case on the boat and back on the water in the next few weeks. 

I am still going to be offering guide trips through the fall if you would like to go.  Ranger is going to step up and get me a boat for the days I need it.  I also have two other great guides that I work with that I can set you up with if I am booked or am not able to get on the water. 

I am headed to Wisc. over the weekend to do a little bow hunting.  There are some real giant whitetails on the farm and I hope to have pictures and stories to post here as soon as I return.  This site might turn to huntwithmatt.com for a short while.  Regardless I will continue to report all my fishing and hunting success or mishaps here...stay tuned.         

It Comes To An End

All good thinigs really do have to come to an end... I ran into a road block when it came to makeing it 12 trips in a row.  I was out on Monday with Jim and Frank on Lake Minnetonka and we did not boat a fish.  About 3 hours into our trip I told the guys that the streak was on the line and I really wanted them to boat a fish.  They did have a couple chances but unfortunately were not able to capitalize. Since Frank was in town from Florida and I really wanted to get him his first muskie I asked them if I could take them out on Tuesday Morning on Lake Waconia to give it another try.  So yesterday morning we were back at it and ready to start a new streak.  I figured since they broke the streak I better give them a chance to start it again at 1.  We did not have a ton of chances but when it comes to muskie fishing you may only get a chance or two.  Frank did have a chance at catching his first muskie and starting the streak again at 1.  Some how when the giant fish ate his bait he did not get it hooked and the fish swam off.  No one says muskie fishing is easy and most would agree that the challenge is what draws them to the toothy critters.  So now I have started a different kind of streak.  I have gone 2 trips without a fish and hope to break that tonight.  I will report back with pictures and info after tonights trip.        

Streak Hits 11!!!

Kept the streak alive this morning.  It has now hit 11 trips in a row!  After losing one and then missing one I was able to hook up on this 46 1/2" fish.  There was a point in the morning when I thought maybe today the streak was going to end.  I thought to myself that all good things have to come to an end....that thought only lasted one second.  I put my head down and contiuned to fish hard, I was not going to except no for an anwser.  My moral was down but I wasn't beat yet.  I brought the confidence and energy back up in the boat and it was what we needed.  We got into an area and I said we would catch one.  It doesn't always work but this time it did!  I am happy to say that we have boated muskies on 11 consecutive trips.  We have seen over 30 muskies in 3 days and had 25 try to bite.  We have landed 12 fish in 5 days!      

After boating his first muskie ever while fishing for them yesterday Mike backed it up today with his second fish ever.  This fish was 42 1/2" and put up a great fight.  This fish attacked so hard Mike dropped his rod....after fumbling to get his grip again he was able to get a good hook set and land the fish.  Good job Mike!  I know he is addicted.  He wants to go tomorrow again.  Fish On!  I will be taking tonight off the water.  I will be back at it tomorrow and will keep you all posted on trip #12!  Wish me luck. 

Two New Personal Bests And The Streak Hits 10

Some one pinch me....is this really happening?!  I am starting to wonder if I am living a dream.  Every fisherman dreams of days like we have been having.  I was joined tonight by Tim for his 29th B-day and he was rewarded with a 46 1/2" muskie!  It was the first muskie he has ever caught muskie fishing and his new personal best. 

This was my second fish of the day.  I caught the 43" in the morning and followed it up with this 44" in the evening.  I lost one over 50 on the cast before this fish hit.  It was nuts.

This is where the story gets good.  I was able to catch my new personal best tonight.  This fish measured a strong 52" long and had a girth of 23'!  It was a true giant. 

I am still shaking.  I will finish the story tomorrow.  I just had to get a few pics up from tonights trip!  I am headed back to the water in the morning.  Will report back soon.  Fish On!! 

Update on Friday, September 12, 2008 at 1:00PM by Matt Peters

Here are a few better pics of the 52" fish from last night!

What a rush! 

Catch Photo Release!  Always want to practice CPR with these great fish.