Jump to content
  • GUESTS

    If You  want access  to member only forums on FM, You will need to Sign-in or  Sign-Up now .

    This box will disappear once you are signed in as a member.

Huge 'Tonka Muskie????


blackdog1101

Recommended Posts

I just got an email forwarded to me from a friend in Rchester. It's of a photo of someone who caught a huge muskie through the ice. The email claims it was caught on Minnetonka. From the photo I'd say it's about 50". Has anyone heard if this is legit? If so it's an incredible catch through the ice.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

i heard bout the 40 incher on mille lacs. he thought it was a big walleye when fighting it

Link to comment
Share on other sites

yea his story is on the mille lacs forum under "i just have to tell you guys this" or something like that. he was fishing for perch with a waxie. but yea if there was a 50 incher through the ice that would be pretty amazing because it was a pretty tight fit to get that 40 incher through the hole and a 50 incher is a lot bigger fish girthwise unless they drilled a couple holes

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here are two pics. I pixillated out the anglers face and numbers on his house since I don't know who he is, or if this is a legitmate photo. I'm not good at telling doctored photos from real ones. But, if this is a legitimate catch, and I really have no reason to believe it is not, my hat is off to him. That is one great catch.

Muskie2_1-13-08.JPG

Muskie1_1-13-08.JPG

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Wow,

I can believe it. My friend's dad caught a 53" Muskie out there about 1.5 years ago. I had a large one on for a while this last spring (may have been about 48"). I caught it after I caught a small bass on a Daredevil Skeeter in a back bay. I came up and grabbed the bass and let me circle her around the boat a couple of times before she let go. There are some real monsters in that lake.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It sure looks like a real photo. We have no reason to believe anything different, there are definitely 50s swimming in Tonka, my buddy guides down there and put one of his clients on a 54 earlier this year, mid summer so the girth wasn't there like this fish, but it is certainly possible. I would love to catch something like that through the ice. Did it give any info on the equipment used to haul that sucker up? If that was caught on a crappie/panfish rig with 2 lb test, he might be holding a new line class record there. Unfortunately it was caught out of season, so it probably wouldn't classify, but a catch and release record it may. I certainly hope the fish was released as it is out of season.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That is a huge fish. I wonder how long it took him to get it in. My uncle caught a 20lb sturgen that took 20 mins. I can only imagine for this pig.

The picture looks real to me and the background could definatly be Tonka. Thanks for posting it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If its the same fish I heard about on Sunday, it was 54" and he killed it. Why would it be illegal?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Effective Dec 15th, the Minnesota muskie season is closed. Keeping this fish would definitely be 100% illegal. By closed, you cannot intentionally target them, and if caught are to be returned to the water. Yeah, you can take a quick pic (I beleive they cleaned up that verbiage last year), but in no means keep it.

I hope it went back down the hole. Sure looks like a 'tonka coloration, but that would be the thickest 'tonka fish I've seen. Sign of good things to come I hope.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It's not illegal, just immoral. Musky season is open until Feb. 24th, so it's not out of season. But why keep it?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

ok, that post before my last one came up while i was writing the other one. I just looked at the DNR regs and it said the season closes on the 24th? Was this a special reg?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 Originally Posted By: SnipeZilla
It's not illegal, just immoral. Musky season is open until Feb. 24th, so it's not out of season. But why keep it?

Yes, some sort of special reg. IF it was legal, why would you consider it immoral? IF that fish was pulled up an eight inch hole, and put down the same hole it would likely die. Can't properly revive that fish in an eight inch hole. Also the cold air is very hard on these fish just after being caught. That is some of the "reasoning" behind the new reg.

It's too bad the people that pushed for the new reg didn't use the same energy to educate the public about how often these big fish die during "normal" ice fishing. As I often sight ice fish out of a spearers size hole, the new reg frustrates me much. If a muskie caught in the winter is kept warm in a fishhouse, and released properly in a large hole, I see very little difference than open water fishing. But now we have a December 15th closing date for Muskie.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I also got his picture emailed to me from a friend. His email said it was caught on Mille Lacs. Do we have the making of a "fish story" here:)?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Creators

Guys, haven't we learned yet that these pictures floating around the net could be from anywhere, at any time.

Lets not jump to any conclusions here.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This is indeed a true story and the fish is every bit real. The pictures circulated through the Thorne Bros store. Sure is a big fish and I'd say it's right around that 50" mark. Where it was caught is not for sure, but people say Tonka....

And just for the record, the muskie season is closed... the MN DNR closed it on December 13 this year, so if he kept that muskie it was taken illegally...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.


  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • mulefarm
      With the early ice out, how is the curlyleaf pondweed doing?
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   The big basin, otherwise known as Big Traverse Bay, is ice free.  Zippel Bay and Four Mile Bay are ice free as well.  Everything is shaping up nicely for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th. With the walleye / sauger season currently closed, most anglers are targeting sturgeon and pike.  Some sturgeon anglers are fishing at the mouth of the Rainy River, but most sturgeon are targeted in Four Mile Bay or the Rainy River.  Hence, pike are the targeted species on the south shore and various bays currently.   Pike fishing this time of year is a unique opportunity, as LOW is border water with Canada, the pike season is open year round. The limit is 3 pike per day with one being able to be more than 40 inches. All fish 30 - 40 inches must be released. Back bays hold pike as they go through the various stages of the spawn.  Deadbait under a bobber, spinners, spoons and shallow diving crankbaits are all viable options.   Four Mile Bay, Bostic Bay and Zippel Bay are all small water and boats of various sizes work well. On the Rainy River...  Great news this week as we learned sturgeon will not be placed on the endangered species list by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.     The organization had to make a decision by June 30 and listing sturgeon could have ended sturgeon fishing.  Thankfully, after looking at the many success stories across the nation, including LOW and the Rainy River, sturgeon fishing and successful sturgeon management continues.   A good week sturgeon fishing on the Rainy River.  Speaking to some sturgeon aficionados, fishing will actually get even better as water temps rise.     Four Mile Bay at the mouth of the Rainy River near the Wheeler's Point Boat Ramp is still producing good numbers of fish, as are various holes along the 42 miles of navigable Rainy River from the mouth to Birchdale.   The sturgeon season continues through May 15th and resumes again July 1st.   Oct 1 - April 23, Catch and Release April 24 - May 7, Harvest Season May 8 - May 15, Catch and Release May 16 - June 30, Sturgeon Fishing Closed July 1 - Sep 30, Harvest Season If you fish during the sturgeon harvest season and you want to keep a sturgeon, you must purchase a sturgeon tag for $5 prior to fishing.    One sturgeon per calendar year (45 - 50" inclusive, or over 75"). Most sturgeon anglers are either a glob of crawlers or a combo of crawlers and frozen emerald shiners on a sturgeon rig, which is an 18" leader with a 4/0 circle hook combined with a no roll sinker.  Local bait shops have all of the gear and bait. Up at the NW Angle...  A few spots with rotten ice, but as a rule, most of the Angle is showing off open water.  In these parts, most are looking ahead to the MN Fishing Opener.  Based on late ice fishing success, it should be a good one.  
    • leech~~
      Nice fish. I moved to the Sartell area last summer and just thought it was windy like this everyday up here? 🤭
    • Rick G
      Crazy windy again today.... This is has been the norm this spring. Between the wind and the cold fronts, fishing has been more challenging for me than most years.  Panfish have been moving in and out of the shallows quite a bit. One day they are up in the slop, the next they are out relating to cabbage or the newly sprouting lilly pads.  Today eye guy and I found them in 4-5 ft of water, hanging close to any tree branches that happened to be laying in the water.  Bigger fish were liking a 1/32 head and a Bobby Garland baby shad.   Highlight of the day way this healthy 15incher
    • monstermoose78
    • monstermoose78
      As I typed that here came a hen.  IMG_7032.mov   IMG_7032.mov
    • monstermoose78
      So far this morning nothing but non turkeys. 
    • monstermoose78
      Well yesterday I got a little excited and let a turkey get to close and I hit the blind!!
    • smurfy
      good......you?? living the dream..in my basement playing internet thug right now!!!!!! 🤣 working on getting the boat ready.......bought a new cheatmaster locator for the boat so working on that.   waiting for warmer weather to start my garden!!!
    • monstermoose78
      How is everyone doing? Holy moly it’s chilly this morning I stayed in bed and will hunt later today when it warms up.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.