At New Wave Fishing Academy we believe that practicing catch and release as much as possible is an anglers duty to the sport! It is a group effort to ensure the health of our fisheries can be maintained for future generations to enjoy as much as we have. To promote practicing catch and release we are going to share some of our favourite stories of fish we have caught & released for someone else to catch one day and create memories like the ones we are sharing with you all. If you have a story you want to share please reach out to us and we will gladly share.
This weeks Throwback Thursday story comes from New Wave Fishing Academy founder Brandon & his muskie chasing friend Adam. These two were on a muskie hunt in the fall of 2022 that ended up being the last camping trip of the year. The goal was to catch a giant muskie as always and it was an interesting day full of ups and downs.
This story really started the day previously. The first day of the trip we hit the water just after sunup, dropped our gear off at camp, and quickly started searching for fish. After covering a ton of water, picking up a few decent sized pike, and meeting up with the other boat in out group we finally got a follow from a muskie (while Brandon was snagged and the boat up against the rocks). After following in the 8 for multiple turns it pulled the classic Georgian Bay disappearing act. Overall not a bad first day.
Day 2 is where the story really gets interesting. After returning to where we saw the muskie the previous day we covered water and at the approach of the major everything heated up. A 43" pike, multiple mid 30" pike, and finally a hit by a muskie. As soon as this fish hit Adam's line it took it off. As I went to grab the net both of us froze when the fish launched itself completely out of the water and threw, not spit, the bait back at the boat. I don't think I've ever seen a bait launched out of a fish mouth with such force before. Despite being nearly a cast length away we both got a good look at the fish and know it was over 40" in length. A disappointment but still something pretty cool to see. With the major ongoing we made a run to a known area where big muskie have been seen on previous trips in the area. A few casts in and Adam is hooked up again. This fish stays deep and heads out towards open water passing by the back of the boat. Just as we are about to lift it up and get a first look it pops off. Heartbreaking, but thats fishing.
We spent the rest of the day covering new water and trying to find more fish with nothing to show for it but a few 30" class pike. With sunset approaching we have just enough time to race back to where the first muskie of the day jumped off in the hopes of one more shot at a fish. As the darkness grows, hope is vanishing, and as it becomes almost too dark to continue fishing he's hooked up again. This time the fight lasts only a few seconds as we scoop this fish up into the net.
A beautiful 41" Georgian Bay Muskie to salvage the trip and break the skunk. I guess the 3rd time really is the charm. That or we finally hit our 10,000 casts; either way we'll take it. You never know when that next bite is going to come and the only way to get it is to keep casting. Fortunately, we were able to capture this entire trip on video. If you're interested in joining us on this adventure clink the YouTube link below.
If you or someone you know is looking to get into fishing or you just want to become a more successful angler be sure to check out our "Zero To Hero Fishing Masterclass" for courses on everything fishing! The masterclass is built to help you learn how to find and catch fish like the pro's by providing all the information you need and a clear development path! Don't miss out check it out now at www.newwavefishingacademy.com/zero-to-hero
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