Lake Hopatcong Musky

[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 !