Lake Hopatcong Musky

[catfishonthelake]

Hope I'm not blowing up any spots by telling people where I caught this musky.:p I saw the weather report last night and it looked like more musky weather. Just a day or so after the new moon, cloudy, windy...I took a shot. Rented a boat from Dows and headed to find some weeds and warmer water. After 3 hours of casting a big jerkbait, I got bit...and good. Landed her in short order, got her free, put my camera on my cooler and set the timer, and let it go. Something I want to mention is that I'm not screwing around with these fish. I use a XH action St. Croix Legend Tournament Musky rod with a Shimano Calcutta 400B and 80-pound braid. I have a Stowmaster net so the fish can stay in the water while it's unhooked and I only take it out for a photo and to release it. Most importantly, this fish would have died if were not for a pair of Knipex hook cutters. I would strongly encourage anyone who is considering musky fishing to make the proper investments so these fish can be landed quickly and released unharmed. What a day though. Fantastic. And I say GODDAMMNNN, IT'S ONLY FEBRUARY!!!!:eek:
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/416830_3394487707212_1420277128_3233714_1563323423 _n.jpg
http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/429388_3394487387204_1420277128_3233713_1592919378 _n.jpg
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/427526_3394488027220_1420277128_3233715_1830765304 _n.jpg

[Gerry Zagorski]

WOW :eek: That's one hell of a fish and some great pics. Thanks for posting it here.

[bunker dunker]

way to go catfish,your heart beat slow down yet.that a good one for sure.

[Wilson]

Get a job:D
Nice looking fish.
Was a bit blowey out there today...no?

[JerryC]

I'm impressed, shes a beast!!!!!!!

[Matt L]

How come I don't see a pic?

[Matt L]

nevermind. Saw it on my phone and holy crap. Wow.

[catfishonthelake]

Wilson, it was blowy, but that can be a good thing. It was supposed to blow from the West and I knew where I wanted to fish and knew I'd be somewhat protected. It seemed like the wind was coming more NW though but that was okay, it was perfect to help me drift along the weedline where this girl was sitting.

And bunker, if you heard a scream on the lake around 12:30pm, that was me. I was literally shaking after I released this fish. This one was no joke. I didn't get a measure, but some musky sharpies have put this fish in the upper 40's.

[shucker]

Much deserved action lately your on a musky streak.Really nice fish

[Tony Cav]

Awesome...truly awesome!

[Salt]

Nice picture, Great looking fish. CONGRATS.

[acabtp]

damn man, that's how you get it done! you are on fire this year

i will make you a deal... next time you want to go out in a boat, let me know and i will take you, any day of the week. no joke.

[HerringKing]

Nice fish dude! You been having some great trips out.

[River Birch]

Great fish Mark!.... You do your homework (weather, wind and moon) looks like ya sure have a knack for catching these elusive fish...Outstanding and thanks for sharing.

[catfishonthelake]

damn man, that's how you get it done! you are on fire this year

i will make you a deal... next time you want to go out in a boat, let me know and i will take you, any day of the week. no joke.

Thanks man. I'm gonna take you up on that one day.:)

And thanks Ed. It's good to know all the money I've spent on gear and the ridiculous amount of time I spend online researching these fish is paying off.

I appreciate everyone's feedback too. Thanks guys.

[Art Berkman]

Awesome catch !

Congrats !

[Wilson]

Awesome catch !

Congrats ! Hey look Mark, you got Berkman's attention. and he's no slouch from what I've seen on this board.:cool:
That was a nice healthy looking son a bitch fish.

[njfisherman1975]

A musky for the catfish...way to go!

[jmurr711]

the cameras really close and no weight or measurements maybe its just a light colored pickerel



http://a2.twimg.com/profile_images/111701446/chappelle-player-haters-ball_bigger.jpg





:D

[Happy]

Wow! Great job! That's an awesome looking fish.

[catfishonthelake]

the cameras really close and no weight or measurements maybe its just a light colored pickerel



http://a2.twimg.com/profile_images/111701446/chappelle-player-haters-ball_bigger.jpg





:D

Great comment. Better picture.

[FASTEDDIE29]

In my opinion thats gotta be a 44-46 inch fish around 25 lbs. Its friggin AWESOME!!! Thats exactly how it happens too, you fish for musky and there hard to catch and then all of a sudden your catching them like there nothing. Mark big congrats to you buddy, you definately seem to have stepped into some 'MUSKY SHIT' this year. Im truly AMAZED!!! F@#KING AWESOMENESS!!!

[BottomBouncer13]

Beautiful fish...I was happy with my catch at hopatcong today and yours simply blew mine away...

[rockdoc]

beautiful catch....mind describing the jerk bait you were using and technique?

[FASTEDDIE29]

Thats a monster MUSKIE!!! I can't stop looking at the picture. Somebody please take my MacBook AIR away from me.................... I say I say daaaaaaaaat beeez one helluva fizzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:D

[catfishonthelake]

beautiful catch....mind describing the jerk bait you were using and technique?

It was a gliding jerkbait. I was giving it slow, short pulls and letting it sink slowly.

[catfishonthelake]

Thats a monster MUSKIE!!! I can't stop looking at the picture. Somebody please take my MacBook AIR away from me.................... I say I say daaaaaaaaat beeez one helluva fizzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:D

Lol. Thanks man.

[Chris_JC]

Holy heck, Mark, that is a beast and a half. but more importantly - was it spitting up crappie?

[catfishonthelake]

Holy heck, Mark, that is a beast and a half. but more importantly - was it spitting up crappie?

No, but I accidentally foul-hook a perch.

[Blackfish Doug]

Wow nice fish I would love to land one pf those fish.

[bunker dunker]

she is in the 40's for sure.they are really an amazing fish.with the perch and crappie starting to bunch up those monsters will be on the hunt.you deserve that one catfish,congrats!!!!

[catfishonthelake]

Thanks guys. Ed I was talking to your son at that show in Edison and told him where I thought these fish were gonna be this time of year. He confirmed my suspicion. I'm sure you can figure out where I was by the pic seeing as you've probably been there more than a few times. This was absolutely textbook where this fish was sitting and it gives me a lot of confidence to be able to go out and find one in February on such a big lake. And a note on the size, I've had a lot of big-league muskie guys take a look at these photos and they ALL agree that it was probably 48-inches and pushing 30 pounds. Take a look at some of the 41 and 42 inch fish online and note the distance between the first and second fin, then compare. This fish was no joke. I could have done a better job holding this fish and should have given it's belly more support, but I'm still fairly new at this and I was pretty much shaking at that point.

[bunker dunker]

ya did a great job catfish,and as far as all "the big musky guys" gose,welcome to the club.thats a fish of a life time.i had a big fish a few years back by brady,it was a great fight with lots of long runs and big head shakes but the thing i remember most is watching her swim away.great job!!!!!

[catfishonthelake]

Thanks a lot Ed. I really appreciate it. I'm still glowing from this fish and can't stop looking at it. What a feeling.

[bunker dunker]

now ya got a get that 50" better yet go get the state record.there are some
huge musky in that lake and i hope ya get the right one.eddie and chris say congats also

[catfishonthelake]

Thanks Ed. I'm still a pretty young guy and the way I see it, if I keep hittin' the gym and eatin' okay, I got AT LEAST 40 more years of musky fishing left. I dunno about a state record, but I'd gotta think there's a 50 in my future, even if it takes 20 more years.

[bunker dunker]

keep wearing those sun glasses catfish,i'll bet you have a very brite future ahead of you.;)

[catfishonthelake]

Thanks Ed.:)

[fishermanv]

Does anybody have an estimated age for that fish - just curious on how long you have to be around after beating the odds of not being as fry to medium sized fish and live to get that big!

[AndyS]

DAY 287 out of 365 will definately be one to remember.

You got the knowledge, did your research, got the proper tackle and tools and NEVER gave up = REWARDS !!

I guess you were around your 10,000th cast by then.

Gerry Z. should send you an NJF sweatshirt for that.

I vote you the new Howard Brant and I want you to write the freshwater column in the Star Ledger.

Take your honeymoon on the St. Lawrence river !!

I give this post 6 stars !

[Wilson]

DAY 287 out of 365 will definately be one to remember.

You got the knowledge, did your research, got the proper tackle and tools and NEVER gave up = REWARDS !!

I guess you were around your 10,000th cast by then.

Gerry Z. should send you an NJF sweatshirt for that.

I vote you the new Howard Brant and I want you to write the freshwater column in the Star Ledger.

Take your honeymoon on the St. Lawrence river !!

I give this post 6 stars !
I agree with all except the bold one.
Go to Hawaii, if you do it right you only have one honeymoon.
Good fishing there both salt and fresh;)

[catfishonthelake]

Lol. Thanks guys. Although I tried, I don't think I could get Lindsay to musky country, ever. I suggested Saskatchawan, but she wasn't having it.

We actually just booked our honeymoon to Costa Rica.

[acabtp]

no no, go to New Zealand! trust me, you will consider moving there and then want to go back the rest of your life if you don't...
here are some trout hanging out in a stream near Rotarua... just chillin... bein huge...
http://www.tombeauchamp.com/misc/nztrout1.jpg
http://www.tombeauchamp.com/misc/nztrout2.jpg

[dfish28]

nice fish dude!!! costa rica is really nice place as well, i just went there this august and stayed at the guanacaste... enjoy the cubans...congrats on the fish, and ohh ya definitely do the ziplining

[Moz]

Congrats, awesome fish and awesome picture.

[bronzeback]

What A Muskie... Fish Of The Year.. For Sure!!

[ReelErIn]

Great pic

[ReelErIn]

Nice job great fishhttp://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj295/reelerin/thumbsupjpg.gif

[wolf man]

Nice Musky Catfish!!!!!! next time dont waste your money on a boat rental! give me a call and you can come on my boat!

[acabtp]

hey, i shotgun catfish guide service first! :p

[wolf man]

hey, i shotgun catfish guide service first! :p


oops! sorry!!

[Polelock]

Released to fight another day. Congrats on a big gator..