A Few Great Moments...

As a fishing guide, I spend most of my time chasing muskies for my clients to catch.  This means the object of each outing is to land a fish on a customers line - not my own.  Over the past 11 years muskie fishing has changed drastically and so has my approach to guiding.  Even though I still enjoy casting baits, I rarely do it with clients in the boat.  The way I see it, I would hate to pay a guy a lot of money to watch him catch a fish.  It's for this reason that I focus all of my attention on teaching and preparation for my clients.  Nothing will prepare you mentally or physically for the mayhem that is a muskie strike, but I try, and we go over it time and again.  Casting, lure presentations, figure 8's and more.  It's always ongoing.

While I haven't been racking up the numbers this year myself, I do have a few recent moments that I can claim.  This week has been a lot of fun.  I was given a chance to hit the water for more play than work.  Since the pressure was off, I started tinkering with a new lure to the market.  Numbers under 5 have been magic with this new bait.  The first time I threw it I had a 50 incher destroy it on the 4th cast.  One night I snuck out for a quick sunset outing and caught a dandy on the 3rd cast.  The following day I hit the water and once again the same location and lure provided a heavy fish on the 3rd cast.  Not to be selfish, I also had a client throw the bait this week and it took him only 2 casts to get hooked up.  A lot of fast action with little work involved.  To say that it's been good would be an understatement.  Catching a few fish for myself helps me remember the excitement and thrill of the catch.  Trying new things helps to stay ahead of the game and keep the action coming.  Was it the lure, or lucky circumstances that lead to each catch?  I can't say for sure just yet.  All that I know is that it's been fun playing again.  I will spill the beans on the new bait soon, but not before some of my lucky anglers tangle a few more times.  Call me greedy, but hey, once in a while I have the right to do that.

The action has no doubt been awesome, but I do have one memory that stands out among them all.  Prior to the Vikings opener against the Saints, I snuck out on my local watering hole for a few minutes of casting and peaceful time alone.  It doesn't happen too often, but when I get out by myself, I really feel that I am in my best element.  I pay extra attention to details, and the fish always seem to bite.  I can't explain it, but God must enjoy my time alone with him and rewards me for it.  This time was no different.  About an hour into my evening I got rocked by a headshake that meant business.  A bruiser soon went airborn and I knew that I had something special.  After a long battle, I finally won and the fish was in the net.  Astonished at the length and girth, I decided to set up my camera for a timer set photo.  I don't do this very often, but this fish was special.  With the hooks out, I set the camera in place and hit the timer.  The camera allows ten seconds from button push to flash.  The perfect amount of time to grab a fish and stand up to pose.  After the flash, my ten seconds were up and the fish hit the bump board and the water in record time.   She was a dandy.  52 inches (pictured on top) of adrenaline and excitement!

The successful catch, photo and release of that fish by myself will forever remain in my memory.  Having a picture also makes it fun for me to share the moment.  When I look back at my muskie career, each fish seems to take a special place.  I remember them all.  I guess that is why muskie fishing is so addicting and why I love it so much.  Even on a bad day there are always a few good moments.  I'm very blessed that this week leaves me with only good memories once again.  Until the next muskie strikes, keep on livin' the dream!

Travis Frank - Travis@mnbound.com

Back In The Game...

Have I told you how much I love muskies?  The cool temps over the past few days have finally made fishing for them a reality again.  Prior to the cold snap, record water temps in the 90 to 91 degree range were reported in parts of my hometown lake Waconia.  Main lake surface temps on Tonka hit the mid 80's and most everyone with a muskie sense shut it down for a few days.  That all seems like a distant memory now.  Current water temps in the mid 70's mean it's game time once again!

The start of the fall muskie season came in with a bang.  Instead of sharing every detail, I'll just hit a few of my favorite moments from the past few trips.  My first day back on the water brought ideal conditions.  Clouds and a little bit of wind greeted my guest Eric and I as we attempted to make it the ultimate "Eric" day.  I learned that the ultimate day for him meant a date with a muskie that was to be followed by another with a special girl.  To land a fish would be the first goal, a solid first date with his sweets was the next.  About 8 muskie encounters into our morning he spilled the beans on his hot date.  He said "it would be awesome if I could land a muskie and then have my date go well tonight."  That was all the fish needed to hear.  Moments later he was battling his first topwater muskie.  Shaking like a leaf, we headed for the next spot.  "If I get another fish today it's going to be the best day of my life," he chuckled.  As luck would have it, only a few casts later he was holding a slightly larger fish.  At that point our morning was pretty much through.  He spent the rest of the time texting his buds and sharing the news.  You couldn't draw it up any better.  It reminded me of my start to muskie fishing.  The reason why I'm out there every day, and  the reason why I continue to chase the dream.  You simply cannot beat the rush.  As far as the date with his girl, he checked in later that night with a facebook update saying. "Best day ever!"  I guess that was a success too.

In an attempt to beat the story of Eric's "Best day ever," comes another tale from the water.  A while back I had a lucky man catch his first muskie at 53.5 inches.  Everything about the fish, the strike and the lucky shoes made it a story to remember.  For Jeff, it turned out to be the beginning of a very strong muskie career.  For myself, it was a moment I'll never forget.  Fast forward to the present time and we find ourselves back in the ring.  Jeff brought a new partner in crime, and as the evening went along, he jokingly grabbed his lucky shoes out of a bag he had stuffed in storage.  Laughing histarically, I lost it and I instantly I knew we were in for a treat.  It just so happened that the moon was going to rise 6 minutes after he put on the lucky office footwear.  It didn't take 4 minutes and we had the mouth of jaws trying to eat his buddies lure boatside.  While the fish managed to avoid our net, Jeff seeled the deal on muskie number two moments after on the very next spot.  A fish that shocked us senselss on a blind figure 8 strike.  Jeff is now 2 for 2 in his muskie quest.  I'd call that a good start.  It now leaves me wondering.  Was it the moon that triggered the strike, or the lucky shoes?  I'm leaning towards the shoes.  Stay tuned for more of the action and more stories as I recap on all the excitement happening in the life of a muskie crazed lunatic.  Until then, keep on livin' your dream!

Travis Frank - Travis@mnbound.com

River Monsters!

Too hot for muskies?  That's fine.  The river levels finally dropped, and I can safely chase another freshwater beast.  Enter the sexiest fish in the river.  Aka: the catfish!  Since I personally haven't pursued any large fish for nearly a month, I couldn't have been more amped.  I have this urge inside that says, "Travis, you need to catch something huge today."  I can't control it and I certainly cannot explain it.  The only thing I know, is that I love every minute of it.

I could go into the details of the the catch, but I'll just sum it up right here.  There is nothing better than a bone crushing strike of a flathead catfish.  In the raging river waters, they have a mindset that if I don't get it right now, it will be gone.  With that said, my poor bait doesn't stand a chance when that big mouth decides to open.  In fact, I'm sure it's a terrifying situation to be in.  As the sun set last night I drowned a lively bullhead in a mass of sunken trees and logs.  It's been a while, but the incredible strike brought the past right back and I was able to horse the beast out of the log jam.  Man vs Beast, and this time I was the winner!

The cat last night was not a giant by flathead terms, but it was a good fealing to finally do battle again.  The heat and humidity that has sidelined the muskie fishing for most of the past month has made for a bit of a boring stretch.  I'm happy to report that a new option now exists.  The weather man says that the highs for the next several days will be in the mid to upper 80's.  It turns out that this catfish might be the best thing to hold me over until we get another break in the heat.  Either way, I just did battle again, so once again I thank God for spoiling me with another prize, and I will patiently wait for the next strike to occur.  Until then, maybe you should give catfish a try, or just keep on livin' your dream!

Travis Frank - Travis@mnbound.com

Hot Water & Dead Muskies

In the sport of muskie fishing there are two things that don't mix.  Hot water temperatures and big fish.  As an avidly obsessive muskie angler, I find nothing more gut wrenching than to come across my favorite fish floating on the surface.  Sadly, this has been an all too common occurance as of late.  My home waters in the metro have reached surface temps in the 80's.  A number that I have vowed as being too high to fish.  I have put the big rods away, and until things cool down, they won't come back out.  As a fellow musky fisherman, I am asking for you to do the same.

I know that there are no laws being broken and I have no right to do this, but I ask this anyway.  In a growing sport that has more anglers than fish, I think it is only fair for us to consider the resource before our very needs.  The fact that my livelihood has been put on hold and I have cancelled all of my muskie guide trips until it cools down should tell you where I stand on this issue.  If we think that we have no effect on the overall resource of our lakes, then we are wrong.  The truth is that we are recycling the fish with proper catch and release, and the current water conditions are making this a tough task to correctly do.

Here are a few things to consider when it comes to hot water and muskie fishing.  A muskie will battle to death when they are hooked.  This is no secret.  Having a good gameplan ensures that they are quickly put in the net, unhooked, measured and released before they fight too long.  When a muskie goes into battle they give it their all.  Similar to a human going from a resting position to running a 2 mile sprint.  Consider this anaology in that at the end of the 2 mile sprint, someone dunks your head under the water for 45 seconds.  While this might seem dramatic, it might be a fair comparison to what takes place when we battle a muskie.  Now consider doing this exercise in extremely hot temperatures.  I think you get my point.

Some other things to consider is the oxygen level in hot water.  I'm not a biologist, but research has shown that oxygen levels decrease as the temperature rises.  When we catch a muskie, they need time to recover.  This usually occurs boatside and on the surface, which is the hottest water in the lake, with the least amount of oxygen.  During a battle, muskies build up lactic acid in their bodies, and if the conditions don't allow them to appropriately recover it ends in death.  The hardest fact to consider in this equation is that it doesn't always occur immediately.  Studies have shown that muskies caught in hot water have been released only to die days later.  A sad fate for a fish that we cherish.

While I have put an end to my muskie fishing until the temps drop, there are some things to consider if you still plan on fishing.  First, plan your trips during cooler periods.  Night fishing can cool the surface slightly.  If you do choose to fish for muskies, come extra prepared and know exactly what you will do once a fish is hooked.  Time is of the essence.  Limit the amount of time you handle the fish.  A dozen pictures with your trophy will likely result in a dead trophy - even if you watch it swim away.  If you must take a pic in hot water, then a shot of the fish in the water is the best choice.  Leaving the fish in the water is by far the best option.

Next, fish with a friend.  I don't want to step on any toes here, but if you plan on fishing solo, I would strongly encourage you to wait a few weeks until it cools down.  Another set of hands can make a huge difference in getting the fish back in the water and on its way to a speedy release.  Plus, if a picture is what you are after, trying to do it solo is a tough chore with a struggling fish.

This should apply all year long, but especially now - once you catch and release a fish, wait around for a while to make sure the fish is doing okay.  I can't tell you how many times I have seen fish swim away and resurface a short while later.  They need time to recover and we owe it to the fish to make sure they get back on track.

Lastly, become an educator.  If you are a musky fisherman that has the opportunity to be an influence on your friends or other anglers, then you should take the time and be the difference.  Become a positive mentor for another angler who simply might not know right from wrong or proper techniques.  You would be surprised at how a few technques and ideas can positively influence an angler that has never handled a 35, 40 or even 50 inch fish.  Positive encouragement goes a long way to preserve our resources.

On a positive note, this can be the best time of the year to head north.  All reports and personal experiences have indicated a good bite happening on big time muskie lakes up north.  I'm not saying you need to spend a bunch of money, but lets be honest here.  A tank of gas is the same as 2 muskie lures and we all have way too many of them in our box to let money get in the way of our passion.

Whatever your plan, please consider that we are responsible for the state of our muskie fishing.  I am just one of the many muskie addicts that have taken the stance to wait until the water cools down.  I think I speak for many when I ask for you to do the same.  Besides, the wait will be over before we know it and the fishing will only get better.  Until the temps cool, catch a bass, a bluegill or a catfish, just keep on livin' your dream!

Travis Frank - Travis@mnbound.com

A Muskie Worth The Wait!

Sometimes they come easy...and then there are the others.  In  muskie fishing, it's often the latter.  I usually don't like to talk about the "ones that got away," but this story has a happy ending so it's worthy of sharing.

To make a long story short and get to the good parts, I'll recap and get to the point.  I've been craving Mille Lacs muskies for the past two weeks.  Hot water temps in the metro have limited my muskie desire around home to nil.  With big fish on the brain, I've had three opportunities at the big girls on the big pond.  The first time came a few weeks back with first time Mille Lacs muskie junkies, Ben Brettingen and Eric Wolf.  The action came fast and occured often, but after 4 hours of fishing, we found ourselves with 8 encounters and nothing in the net.  A night outing and a short morning before a storm revealed 4 fish that missed our topwater, 3 intense figure "8" opportunities and 1 hot follow that simply vanished.  A fun outing, but nothing to show for our efforts.

With all the action I was eager to return.  Fast forward to the 4th of July weekend and two new guests named Mike Ernst and Matt Hennen.  On our journey north to a Brainerd area cabin, we couldn't resist the chance to toss a few muskie baits.  Knowing we only had a short amount of time, we went right for the juggular and hit some "prime spots" that have produced countless times over the years.  Once again the action was there, and once again we had fish miss wildly on our topwater offerings.  Four to be exact.  Our 2 fishless hours on the water set things up perfectly for the climax of the story - Friday night.

It seems every time I am lucky enough to have Todd "Muskie" Mosher in the boat, good things happen.  This past friday was no exception.  Joining us was my other lucky charm, Matt Hennen for his second shot at the slimy Mille Lacs beasts.  This time we weren't on a time schedule, and this time we were going to fish until the muskies were ready to do the darn thing.  With two extremely lucky anglers in my boat, I was confident that my persistence would finally pay off.

As the sun started to fade, the conditions set themselves up for an epic night on the water.  You could feel the intensity with each cast, and for the first time in a while, I could sense that my "Muskie Mojo" had finally returned.  Todd was the first to thrash the surface with a ski.  Shortly after the lights went out, a muskie grabbed his bait boatside and took him for a wild ride.  Fortunately, for the fish, Todd was not on the winning end of the tug-o-war.

A few moments later came our first monster sighting.  A giant appeared like a ghost in the darkness and chased Matt around the boat several times.  The fish brought the game to a whole new level.  Knowing that we were in the presence of a giant, we were all on high alert.

With the increase in activity we knew that it was only a matter of time.  A few casts after the monster appeared I was throttled on my "8".  This time the muskie ran full steam into my rod while trying to T-bone my bait.  I assure you that I was more startled than the fish, and afterwards I had to check my shorts to make sure I was still clean.

Was it the big one?  That, I didn't know.  As I started to wonder that very thought, Todd stole the show when he hooked a beast.  A boatside strike that sent the water churning in every direction.  It was absolute chaos!  The monster threw water in every direction, and just when I thought that we had finally done it, she came unhooked and swam away.  Heartbreak was an understatement and I thought Todd was going to cry.  Deep down, I think I was too.  She was "the one" and all Todd was left with was a mangled bait.

Still, we pushed on.  Hopeful for another opportunity.  After all, it had only been an hour into the night.  As we circled our pod for another chance, I started to count up the number of fish that had recently won the battle.  In my head I was up to 16.  An astronomical amount over the last three outings.  Luckily, Matt was determined to win the boatside battle and make sure that the number didn't reach 17.  As luck would have it, we didn't have to wait very long.

A quiet grunt and a whisper revealed a muskie beneath our feet yet again.  I guess that was his cue that he was hooked up.  This time Matt was ready for the boatside game and this time he took the bull by the horns.  As I turned my headlamp on, I was surprised to see a dandy being drug around the boat like a dog on a leash.  A tactic that I was hoping to see when a big one ate boatside.  This textbook maneauver resulted in chaos at the boat, but also Matt's first night muskie and his first one on the figure '8.'  Not to mention the end to a horrific streak of "the ones that got away."  The second the fish hit the net we exploded with excitement.  It was like a 500 lb weight had just been lifted off our shoulders.  The skunk was gone, the jinx was broken, and we had finally taken back our spot as the top predator on the food chain. 

The picture will forever retain that memory, but words cannot explain the moment the three of us shared.  As Matt released the fish back into the darkness, I patted him on the back and said "thank you for bringing my mojo back!"  Our evening ended shortly after and as we drove across the dark water I thanked the big guy up above for such an incredible opportunity to fish, persevere and succeed.  In the muskie world, persistence does pay off.  Until the next monster strikes, keep on livin' your dream!

Travis Frank - Travis@mnbound.com