Potential record Musky? (pics inside)

[Skunk City]

Pulled an all nighter on Monksville Reservoir last night. At about 9am while fishing in standing timber, we came across this monster floating. Most of the guts were missing/hanging out, but this fish was incredibly heavy. We measured it at 52". Did not get a girth reading due to the fact that it no longer had a girth lol. Kept a few teeth as suveneirs. The soda can was not a 12oz can, it was the bigger one. Comments?

[acabtp]

Big fish! Always good to know they are in there
I wonder what happened to it

[catfishonthelake]

Could have been caught and not survived the fight. They build up lactic acid during a fight and a prolonged fight in warm water temps can kill them. Also, if someone released it incorrectly, it could have went belly up. It also could have died from natural causes. I'm sure it got picked apart after it died.

[BIGRED2]

More importantly, did you catch anything (alive that is!)?

[Duffman]

Damn!

I've been chasing that bastard for a few months now only to find him dead and decomposing!!!

How'd you make out otherwise?

[Skunk City]

It was actually weirdly quiet there all night; no baitfish action AT ALL, no big splashes that this place is known for at night, completely DEAD. I've never seen it like that. Got the skunk until sunrise when it started to pick up. Ended up with 4 Largemouth and a Pickerel at dawn and after. Fished until about 9am then packed it up.

[Skunk City]

Anyone have an estimated weight and age for this thing?

[Duffman]

Looks long...but thin.

30-33lbs.