With a brief slowdown at the job, and a stable weather pattern well in place, the time was right for Hawg Hunters G.S. to break away and get back on the water. Saturday found Bob Bowman, good friend Mike Berg, and myself exploring some new water around the Twin Cities area. The morning agenda included local favorite Independence, and our afternoon session was on virgin water Sugar Lake near Clearwater. Neither lake would disappoint, with Bob scoring a 45” and 35” on Indy, and me driving hooks in a 42” on Sugar. Wow, what a day!
The morning on Indy was crisp and cool to say the least. With air temps hovering in the low 60’s at 6:00 a.m., a sweatshirt was a must. But like all metro lakes on the weekend it didn’t take long for all the recreational boats to show up. Bob found his fish in relatively shallow water, with both fish taking his Tiger Tube in less than 7’. It is important to note however, that in each scenario depths in excess of 20’ where never more than a cast away. Water quality on Indy right now is not great, with visibility less than 2’. Taking that into consideration, darker silhouettes seemed a logical option. Black with Red Fleck was the tube color of choice. For the morning 2 fish where boated, another lost boat side, and a lone lethargic follow to round out a great morning trip.
Taking refuge from the mid-day sun, we didn’t hit Sugar until about 6:30 that evening. This is the first time we had ever fished this lake, so with Minnesota Musky Lake Guidebook in hand, we set out to what looked like a great starting spot. Thick veggies – cabbage, reeds, and pads, seemed ideal adjacent to a steep break into deeper water. Ideal it was with what was eventually to be my 42” following on Bob’s tube on his first cast. This fish was layed up on the edge, hanging just inside the 10’ mark where the cabbage started to thin out. With the boat sitting in 12’ Bob had just seconds to react as this fish came HOT at his tube while swimming it in. Running out of real estate was the only thing that kept him from boating his third of the day, an absolute oddity in Musky fishing. This was where experience kicked in. Knowing the fish was active we opted to let her cool off for 10 minutes and explore a little farther down shore. We ran into another boat fishing Skis coming towards us down the same shore, so we turned around to protect our fish and worked back to where we had seen her before. The second time we where on the spot we didn’t see the fish but witnessed a small bass blast out of the water, in effort we can only assume to save his own life. So again we fished down shore a bit, knowing that we would have to give it one more shot. After another 10 minutes we returned, and on my second cast to the area we saw her before, she crunched my Tiger Tube, the fish broke the surface 5 times with Marlin-like dance moves, and eventually ended up tucked soundly in the Beckman net. With darkness fast approaching we explored a few other areas, including a mid lake hump topping out at 14’ that extends for hundreds of yards, and is surrounded by 40+ feet of water. Even with the little time we had to spend on the lake, I can definitely say that this lake is a Musky Nut’s dream. Clear water, awesome weeds, and plenty of steep breaks to glue Muskies to. It will definitely be on our list from here on out.
With fall almost upon us, I would have to encourage anyone considering giving Musky fishing a try to get out and toss some baits. The adrenaline rush that comes from butting heads with these brutes simply cannot be compared to anything else. Even after doing this for more than 10 years my hands still shake after letting one of these “freshwater sharks” swim off to fight another day.
Good Luck!! We hope to see you on the water.
Previously unpublished, Bob’s 40 from Plantangenet
Nice report Dan
Great to see you get a break away from the job and hit the water 
! You gotta love the first pic, with a beautiful big toothie and 2 kids in the background tubing 
I hope the kids didn’t see what was swimming below them, or is that why they are not dangling anything in the water and screaming “DAD take us to shore quick” 
The future of Musky Fishing. Alex Bowman, in the drivers seat.
Rob, it was funny to see those kids scramble to get back on that tube when that fish came out of the water the first time, after a few pics I was in the process of releasing her, the kids said “They are going to put that fish back”.. it was classic. It was a pleasure boat zoo out there on Saturday…
Nice Report and Pics.
Really like the last pic it is a Classic.
Pricless.
Great job
Bob, that might of been funny enough to charge admission. It seems weird that somedays with all the recreational traffic of the local lakes and the fish don’t seem to care. Not sure if they just get used to it or what
. I bet those kids are still telling stories of tubing wih that fish 
Some of the best days I have had on the water around the metro have been on very heavy recreation days. I think that the fish just adjust to it, after hearing that noise all summer long I really don’t think that it has any direct corrolation to the fish. One of the best fish I have pulled out of forest lake was on a recreation day from hell
Great fish guys! your two always seem to get monsters when you go out. Is it the new boat??
I don’t think it has anything to do with the boat!!! Most of the big fish that have hit the boat for Dan and I have come on plastics. Not that this is a big secret or anything, but there are baits out there that not a lot of people are using, and the fish are not seeing them buzz over their heads everyday. Take for example the Tiger Tube(our favorite). I don’t fish with anyone that has used these, with the exception of Mr. Larson, the fish don’t see them often and I think are more apt to take a stab at them. Also if you think about the baits on the market for muskie fishing. You have the bucktails that get burnt over the weeds, you have top waters that walk the dog, you have jerk baits that walk the dog but suspended, and you have jerks that up and down. Of all of the baits that I can think of that are on the market, not one of them can duplicate the action of a tube bait, and I believe very firmly that is what has made our muskie fishing so good. A little bit of luck may have a little to do with it too
I have been fishing for muskies for about 10 years now and have not been lucky in my search until yesterday. I was about to give up, I told my dad that I needed a new hat because it wasn’t the lucky charm I needed. But judge from the picture if it was worth the wait! This hawg is 51 inches long and 34 pounds, caught on Lake Winnibigoshish – it was too heavy for me to hold, so the picture is of my dad who couldn’t be happier for me!!!
Now I don’t know what to have as a goal for fishing? Am I supposed to retire when I am at the peak of fishing, or do I continue to look for something bigger? Oh, by the way, it was released back into the water for someone else to enjoy!
Fishing-Girl- Wow what a beast
. Congrats on the fish and great job on the release. Now you have a new personal best to beat. Great job