Why I Musky Fish

The muskellunge (Esox masquinongy) is the target of many fisherman. Musky fishing is not the easiest type of fishing at times especially when done with a fly rod.  Musky often are referred to as the fish of 10,000 casts. There’s been times when I often wondered if I’d catch another fish and at times I’d reach way over 10,000 casts with nothing not even a follow by a curious fish.  Casting 10-12” flies all day is hard fishing especially when your not catching anything.  I’ve sometimes sat in a boat and wondered what am I doing why am I even doing this what’s the point.  If it was to easy though what would be the challenge, what would drive us to become better and make us work that much harder to become that better fisherman.  The rewards of fly fishing for everyone is always different.  For some the reward may be just spending time on the water, fishing with a good buddy, the reward of a follow, or the actual take and landing a fish.  Musky are apex predators and will gobble up a tasty T-bone steak when presented in a good manner.  The why is easily explainable to have a Fish chase a Fly that’s bigger than the size of Fish some people catch creates an absolute rush.  Having a large fish follow, then glide after your fly on a figure 8 gives people the shakes that hunters are so commonly used to when a big buck gives them a case of the shakes.  That rush of emotions the case of the shakes that high you get when you finally have a fish come chasing after your fly.  The absolute flood of ecstasy when the fish takes you strip set and before you know it it’s in the net.  The celebration of a Musky on the fly is unlike any other high fives, euphoria, screaming jubilation, then the tribute of releasing the Fish to see another day!  That frustration, zero fish days, casting pain, and the elements mean nothing when that musky is in the net!  Landing a Musky gives a sense of intoxication like no other.  That sky-high sensation makes it easy to understand why one keeps going back for that fish we call a Musky!