Day 3 of the Esox Hatrick: It wasn't a monster........

[catfishonthelake]

..................but is sure as hell was a musky.

Pretty cool. I had this weird hunch that since the pike and pickerel were such a pain, that this one would come easy. We fished for over 9 hours, but this picture was taken after only 90 minutes. I have to say, that this is the absolute first time I've targeted musky for a day from a boat and I love it. The feeling of knowing that a huge fish could hit at any time totally kept me in the zone and the suspense is incredible. I knew we were going to put in a long day, so I "slept-in" and we were fishing by 7am. We actually had a follow and a miss in the first hour. A bit later, I was walking-the-dog over a submerged grass bed with a Saltwater Spook when I saw something smack at it. Before I could finish the sentence that something hit it, BAMMMM, it hit again. Awesome topwater explosion. Not too much of a fight and not a huge fish, but it counts. My first musky in open water and the first true strain that I've caught that wasn't 12-inches.

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/282517_2274178900192_1420277128_2603029_5458702_n. jpg

[njfisherman1975]

He'll of a job there catfish!!! All done in the state of nj too...great job!!!

[AJFISH13]

Awesome job! 3 days, all 3 main Esocids.

[catfishonthelake]

Thanks man!! All done within an hour and 15 minutes from my house!!!

[AndyS]

TRIFECTA COMPLETE !!

Next trifecta on da list, flathead, channel, bullhead.

Later in the fall I'll drag you out for rainbow, brook, and brown :D

[catfishonthelake]

Thanks Andy!!! I'll try the flathead, channel, bullhead, but in the fall, you may have trouble prying the musky rod out of my hands. I've been told that's trophy time.:D I wouldn't mind joining you for a trout trio though. We may have to do it in NJ though. I'd love to float with you at some point, but this fall is gonna be tough.

[Moz]

Congrats on the trifecta. :cool:

[AndyS]

It's called a mental health day, hello boss, cough, cough :D

[ChaosStarter]

TRIFECTA COMPLETE !!

Next trifecta on da list, flathead, channel, bullhead.

Later in the fall I'll drag you out for rainbow, brook, and brown :D


Trio? Make it a quattro with some Lakers. Since he knows Steve already and prolly owns some binski's. :D

[Skunk City]

Congrats man! Id be proud!

Where was the musky caught?

[ALK11]

I got one for you. Bluegill, pumpkinseed, and green sunfishes all in one day.

[catfishonthelake]

Yes Chaos, I could make it a 4-bagger...and Steve is the man. He also knows a thing or two about Hopatcong as well and put me into some nice action this year.

Skunk City, I sent the lake to your PM. Didn't want to post for the world to see. Not a huge secret, but would rather not have it in public.

[Lard Almighty]

Awesome! Any chance you'll try to keep the streak alive and try for a tiger musky tomorrow? ;)

[HerringKing]

Nice job man!!! You mind as well go for the grand slam and target a redfin. But I've been after a redfin for years and can't get one.

[catfishonthelake]

Lard, I'm wiped out and will not be venturing far from my house tomorrow. But.....if you must know, I actually tried. We went to the "other" lake at about 2pm. My friend caught a 16-inch tiger musky and I caught a nice chunk bass on the same Spook. We actually saw a few bigger muskies on the surface in an area where I know there's big hump and a massive submerged grass bed, but they wouldn't bite. I wanted to stick it out since I've heard the latter afternoon hours are good for musky, but after getting rained-on for over 2 hours and my back giving-out from sitting on the boat for 9+ hours, we called it a day.

[lunkertaker]

Hey Catfish very nice w/pics for proof!

IF ya say it is going to get done and it is done:cool: :cool: :cool:

Now time to target the elusive....bowfin, redfin pickerel, tiger muskey and don't forget the invasive species..snakeheads and flatheads

great job

[BIGRED2]

Amazing stuff....congrats!

[FASTEDDIE29]

Brook , brown , bow, gimme a break that trout BS can be done any day... fish wit teeth is what I wana see. I DO NOT wana see the stinkin trout reports. CATFIZZ, great job brother!!! I see the background in the picture and Ive fished it. AWESOME!!! Next time it needs to be done in 1 day and all fizz have to be keeper size!!!!!!!!!

[catfishonthelake]

Thanks guys. FE, I definitely would've liked bigger fish, but I'm happy with the results. After I started it, I immediately thought that I should have waited until the fall when the bigger fish are more active. I WILL try this again, maybe in one day, undoubtedly with legal fish and eventually through the ICE!!!!

[tautog]

Brook , brown , bow, gimme a break that trout BS can be done any day... fish wit teeth is what I wana see. I DO NOT wana see the stinkin trout reports. CATFIZZ, great job brother!!! I see the background in the picture and Ive fished it. AWESOME!!! Next time it needs to be done in 1 day and all fizz have to be keeper size!!!!!!!!!

Gotta do the wild trout slam which is more difficult. Getting the brookie is easy but browns can be pretty tough and not so many places with wild bows in NJ.

[FASTEDDIE29]

Thanks guys. FE, I definitely would've liked bigger fish, but I'm happy with the results. After I started it, I immediately thought that I should have waited until the fall when the bigger fish are more active. I WILL try this again, maybe in one day, undoubtedly with legal fish and eventually through the ICE!!!!LOL,through the ICE, HAHAHA, Ill definately join you on that adventure. Thats a tough challenge. I drill more holes in the winter than most DENTISTS!!!!! LOL!!! WHER DA ICE, IM SICK OF SWEATING, BRING ON THE FALL STRIPER RUN AND THE FALL WALLEYES!!!

[catfishonthelake]

We shall hang. I live for ice.

[jmurr711]

congrats man thats awesome maybe you can join us for a philly slam one day hahaahha

[bunker dunker]

congrats catfish!!!!!!! you the man.

[catfishonthelake]

Thanks guys!! What's a Philly slam consist of?

[dboyd101]

"don't act like you're not impressed" - anchorman

Congrats, sir!

[jmurr711]

Thanks guys!! What's a Philly slam consist of?
actually quite a few variations any 4 of the following

Pout
Bergall
sea raven
el diablo cokolla
Dogfish
Sea Robin

[catfishonthelake]

Jmurr....I owe my buddy a Thursday night on the Gambler. I think I could hack that. I didn't see squid on the list though....

BTW....wft is an "el diablo cokolla??????"

[Stumpy]

That makes for a great week end cafish.
Nice job on reaching your goal.
Congrats!!!!!!!!!!