Jig and Pig HAWG

[Pond Hopper]

Well I went with a buddy tonight to a local 5-6 acre pond that is full, and full of big fish. I told myself I was gonna fish a jig hard and the whole time(not like me at all). So I get there and my buddy has caught 3 nice keeper size fish and we fish the shallows, and I get one fish to bite 3 times, and never catch it. Then we fish out that finger towards the deep water and bigger structure and I get 2 more bites that I miss. Frustration is setting in, but I tell myself no switching I need to learn this jig. Mind you I am fishing 1/4 oz jig with a big daddy pork trailer, on an old shimano bantam mag with an abu garcia 6'8" Light rod that must of had a broken tip shortened to about 6 foot with maybe a medium light action. I left my rods and reels at home as I didnt want them sitting in the back of the truck all day ruining my new Revos. Anyways... we are getting towards this huge white oak that fell over years ago and produces lots of nice fish, and I throw the jig to the bank, land it within a foot of the bank and small trees are all around. I give the jig one good shaking, and let it sit, give it another good shaking, and as it falls, the lines moves, my muscles tighten, and I feel the tugs!!! I reel down and set the hook like Bill Dance (light rod I have to give it a good tug). When I set the hook I saw a good flash and felt the weight, I knew it was a good fish. I then told my buddy to paddle the canoe away from the structure to the middle of the lake so I didnt get wrapped up. I had the drag cranked down and was trying to loosen it for runs, but on that old baitcaster it was tough. Between using my thumb and playing with the drag I got comfortable in the battle. After a couple minutes I got the fish near the canoe and saw its tail, forked and all. Me and my buddy both start talking about the cat I hooked(nice big 10-20 lb cats in here). I get down for a minute then figure its a hell of a fight and better than what I had caught. So I relax and am bringing it in when my buddy sees the fish....MUSKY!!!! My heart races, knowing its big and there is only one musky in this pond that he put in 3 years ago when it was 44 inches out of a local lake. Longer story made shorter we couldnt get it in the canoe in open water. We paddled to the nearest dock where I dragged it towards him and with his hands and trout net, he got her in the canoe with as much caution as possible with the given gear. After I calmed down, cracked open a 24 oz cold one, and got her measured she went 41.5 inches, 2.5 inches shorter than 3 years ago but still a great fish. I accomplished one of my goals for '07. But I was worried she wouldnt make it, but after 10 minutes of her on the stringer and running her through the water she took off back into the depths. Best fight I have ever had. I feel like I have said too much but it was just too much detail to leave out. Pictures were taken with my phone/PDa so they arent the best but you get the point. I now know what musky hunters say when they say have the right equipment for the betterment of the fish, but in this situation I would of never dreamed of hooking my first SKI!!!!

Corey- Non Musky Virgin

[RockvilleMDAngler]

NICE FISH!  Next time be sure to hold the fish like in the 2nd picture and not hanging like the first pic.   Muskies are very vulnerable out of water and holding them vertically can damage their spines very easily.  

[Pond Hopper]

Im not a musky fisher and never have been, that was the only fish in the pond.  The stringer was the only way we got it on the dock because we were not equipped to catch the musky.  She revived fine and swam off well after a couple minutes.  

[Dan:]

congrats dude, that's awesome. I would love to catch a musky sometime.

[T-rig]

Good report and very nice musky! Are you sure there's only one in there? I can't imagine how a fish can shrink in 2.5" in 3 years? On the contrary that fish shold have grown at least 6" in 3 years with all those bass in there! Musky love eating bass!

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Man, those are a pretty fish.

King of the jungle.

[Bassassasin12]

that's weird, I didn't think it was going to be shorter either... that thing is a monster though. Sounds like a sweet place to fish.

[Gotta Love It]

That is a beautiful musky!

[roadwarrior]

Great story, beautiful fish.

Congratulations!

[KU_Bassmaster.]

Funny looking bass, long one though ;D

[New 2 Bass]

Woah!!   :o That is a mean lookin' fish.  Nice catch!

[Pond Hopper]

I dont know how long it was for sure when he moved the fish and I was shaking so bad I didnt even see him measure, but it was a hell of a fight and she wasnt small.  

King of the jungle is right, the only one(I think) that has its pickings off a huge panfish population.  

[ejtaylor822]

Great story.  Agree with KU, that's a funny looking bass.

Sure is a pretty fish, but, I don't know what I would do if I were to pull something like that out of my pond.  Probably throw my rod down and run.

Congratulaions on a great catch.  Thanks for sharing.

[WhiteMike1018]

Wow thats an awesome fish man! LOL dont go swimming in that pond or you might need some new toes and fingers!!  8-)

[Redlinerobert]

Now there's a fish I still need to catch.  Nice one!

[Lightninrod]

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwesome young man!!!  What a FISH!  And you caught it with less than steller gear!

Dan

[Pond Hopper]

Less than stellar gear is an understatement, if I would of had the Revo and St. Croix Premiere 6'6" MH I would of been in much better shape but I have never had a fish make those kind of runs.  The hardest thing was catching it in a canoe.  Thanks for the kind words.  

Corey

[Jimzee]

Atta Boy.  ;D I too have caught a Musky like that on a pig and jig.  Needless to say,  I wasn't expecting that kind of a fight.  Hardest fighting fish I have ever caught!!!