Moose Lake Musky, Sawyer County Wisconsin

This adventure is about two grown men that get more excited about the second weekend in October than a youngster just before Christmas morning waiting too see what the white bearded fat boy brought for under the tree. The vacation starts Thursday but, while working the weekdays before, there is not a whole lot being accomplished. It is because of a sickness that only lets the brain paint pictures of vicious Musky strikes on the backs of there eyes, along with plans being made for the upcoming event for these two gray haired friends. It’s the one and only Musky tournament of the year which is made up of a small group of friends still working or retired from the same company. It is the one time a year this group of compatriots all get together to unwind, heckle, share tails from the past year and, hunt for a trophy Muskellunges, hoping for braggin’ rights on most toothy’s caught and the biggest beast to be boated and released

Thursday 10/08/09, the ride started out of Sparta 10am with the temps hovering near 50 degrees and a calm wind. The two grumpy old men were tossing banter back and forth and still trying to put together a game plan that might put them into a winning situation. With the communicating never ceasing and while watching colorful fall scenery from the windshield, the 4 hour trip seemed to be over in no time. Once arriving at a favorite souvenir shop (can never have enough baits) near Moose Lake in Sawyer County, there was a noticeable change in weather conditions. The air was holding some moisture and the West wind was starting to shift and come straight out of the North. By night fall the temp had dropped into the freezing range putting a chill in the air. Come wake up call early Friday morn, the earth was covered in a white frost, past experience has proven this condition makes for a great Musky bite, especially while pulling suckers on quick strike rigs.
It wasn’t until after nine o’clock that the eyes on the casting rods stopped freezing over. Cast after cast produced nothing and then at 9:45 the excitement started when one of the monster bobbers revealed a slammed sucker causing a wild dance from the old timers as the oldest Mike was first up to bat, and the other, myself was clearing off floor and getting the net to the ready. With a powerful hook set making sure to get the rigging in motion, there was a swing and a miss. Letting the rig just sit produced a second attempt at the sucker and this time a hook on the quick strike rig found its mark. The first toothy critter was boated pictured and released.

When fishing suckers if they are missed or dropped at first don’t just crank the bait in, let it sit. An aggressive Musky will keep coming back after the bait until he has what he wants. Reeling in the sucker right away will just make for a missed opportunity.
All in all, four healthy fish were boated and released this day by the dynamic dual on suckers. No monster Bowman fish or first place fish but, after arriving back to the Mystic Moose Resort and taking a tally, these two matured dudes did picture and release the most to be caught out of one boat on the first day
Watching the lake map on the locator and staying in 5-10fow while oaring along contour lines or over cribs produced strikes on suckers, huckin’ baits all day towards shoreline didn’t even raise a fish for any of the group.
After a great round of camaraderie with the troops it was off to slumber land and still yet images of bigger fish danced through these two aged minds not knowing what to expect for day two on the water, even with wicked weather in the forecast, hopes were high.
Why is it when you listen to a weather man predict a wild a cold day at home it is the opposite but, when you are on vacation and fishing they seem to hit bad weather on the head

Saturday just looking out the window made some of the group head right back to bed, not these two tough coots though. Even with a temperature well into freezing, a good inch of snow and then some, and white caps busting the surface in a solid 25mph wind, the Yamaha was fired up and propelling the boat towards a location that has stuck some bigger fish in the past.
Boat control in these winds while oaring made for sore shoulders and pecks during a tough bout with boat control. At one point a drift sock went over board to slow the sucker presentation down. Not giving up, these two birds put in a full day and never landed a fish My how fast things can change in just one day.
The winning fish this advent was a little over 41 inches. Moose Lake holds a great number of Musky and there are bigger fish than what was caught this trip. As a group, the timing might have just been off a bit, but I can tell you everyone did catch a fish and had a great time. If you are new to fishing this Esox’s family or just fishin’ for fun and want to put a kid on ski’s…….Moose Lake Sawyer county WI will do just that for you.
The best weather was encountered Sunday as the gear was being loaded up for the trip back home, go figure
Even with a tough couple days fishing, I know two grumpy old men that can’t wait to hit Moose Lake again next year