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Silver Lake Report
Spokane County, WA

Details

06/08/2007
Top Fishing From Boat
Tiger Muskie
Spinner
All Day
06/09/2007
3
600

Skunked again! Went out for a couple hours early morning, didn't see a thing. Went back out about 6:30 and pulled one from about 15 ft of water. Problem is I was pulling my spinner from the water when all I see is a mouth headed straight towards the surface. He came from straight underneath the spinner almost completely vertical. His mouth just broke the surface of the water but it was too late! The lure was clear of his reach and I was left to regret not using the figure 8 on that retrieve. Isn't that the way it goes? I figure 8 80% of the time with nothing but there have been 3 occasions now where I didn't figure 8 and just after my lure comes from the water I spot the silent stalker. O well, I was more disappointed when I saw two guys with about a 30 inch tiger on a stringer at the boat launch! I pulled in behind them and asked them what the length on their muskie was. They told me "36 on the button". Now, I know what my buddy's muskie looked like and it was about 36-38 and I know what mine looked like at 33 inches and all I have to say was mine was bigger and there is no way that their fish was close to 36 inches.


Comments

Fisherman_max
6/9/2007 9:41:00 PM
i hate when dumb fisherman take those awsome fish home without them being legal size, its a shame
babyhueymx
6/9/2007 9:44:00 PM
Yeah, that happens out at Silver fairly often. You get some yahoo fishing for crappies who some how boats a tiger and gets excited by his "huge"fish. They can very easily convince themselve that their prize is easily a legal fish. This is one of the reason's we (Muskie's Inc.) support a 50" minimum size on "keeper" tiger muskies and have submitted the rule change to WDFW. It is very hard to rationalize keeping a fish that obviously is not 50" long.
Get a name (if you can) and plate number next time if you suspect there has been an infraction. Bill Langtine is a great, very dedicated game warden in our area and he will pay them a visit, just need to give him the info.
Sound like you are picking up on this muskie fishing stuff though, nice work!
Noah
6/9/2007 10:04:00 PM
Hey, just thinkin' maybe you were jealous of the folks who actually boated their muskie! Maybe it was a legal fish, you don't know for sure. Some members are starting to sound like Nazi's or something, informing on your fishing neighbor on the basis of pure allegation! No photo, no measurement, no proof. Gimme a break. Let's try to believe the best about people unless there's clear evidence of a crime, in which case it really is a shame.
Wilkstr
6/10/2007 1:40:00 PM
I agree with Noah........

babyhueymx Quote - "Get a name (if you can) and plate number next time if you suspect there has been an infraction.

Noah Quote - "Some members are starting to sound like Nazi's or something, informing on your fishing neighbor on the basis of pure allegation!"

Enough said...
Gone Fishin
6/10/2007 7:30:00 PM
I am not certain it wasn't legal and that is why I just went on my way. I have only seen a couple muskies out of the water in person so I could have been mistaken, But I don't think too many 36 inch muskies are as big around as a baseball, possible but who knows. I'm sure it happens more than we would like, but you can't convince everyone to obey the laws that don't exist. Not sure 50 inches is appropriate but I definately think it should be larger than 36, 42 maybe.
muskie guy
6/11/2007 11:59:00 AM
I don't think there's anything wrong keeping an eye out for rule ifractions. I do it on the water and when archery hunting. I have helped 4 different people measure fish that were sub-legal then helped release them properly. They all said "thanks". I've even given away tape measures to people. The guys that told me to go to hell, deserved a ticket for their tiny kept musky. I'll bet most infractions are done unintentionally, and the angler just needs to be told about a certain rule by a friendly fellow angler. Some times they just don't care and want to keep the biggest fish they ever boated. I think it's up to the angler to make their own choice concerning catch and release of all species, as long as they are of legal size. I wish everyone would release the muskies and post a report with a good picture though.
It's too bad when a muskie is removed early in it's life, they provide a valuable balance to the fishery. The current 36" limit can be filled by a 4 year old fish, as the WDFW studies of Silver lake show. 36" muskies don't effectively prey on the 14" - 16" tench they were planted to control.
A larger minimum size restriction will allow muskies a long life, maximizing the impact on non-game fish species they prefer to target. It will give the muskies an opportunity to reach a true trophy size, state record is 51". If the new size rule is adopted, then a legal fish will be near the end of it's natural lifespan and will have served it's fisheries management purpose well.
I have boated BIG muskies and little one's too. I enjoyed each one and I hope everyone gets a shot at a 50. I hope I don't sound like a nazi.
Wilkstr
6/11/2007 2:47:00 PM
Muskie Guy,
You are one of the VERY few who doesn’t sound like a Nazi concerning tiger’s . Babyhueymx’s comment about calling in their license plate and all that is absolutely ludicrous. He said it was a legal fish, so let it go, ya know…… At best one should try to educate Instead of running around like a bunch of sue happy lawyers. . You guys might not want to hear this or admit it, but there are a lot of people – fisherman, who don’t give a rats behind about tigers. I personally would have snapped a few pics and let it go. Advising someone to turn them in on hearsay is going a little too far, much like calling Dr. Hook’s work. Harassing people is not only poor integrity but it is libel.
KUP
6/19/2007 1:03:00 AM
As individuals, we all have, and can express, our opinions. (God bless THAT freedom!)
But as a non-profit group, here is the OFFICIAL word:

“While it is Muskies Inc.'s policy
to encourage the careful release of healthy Muskies
that are not personal trophies to the angler,
it is not our policy
to intimidate or pressure any angler
or group of anglers
into releasing Muskies.”


We can encourage.
We can lead by example.
We can teach.
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Available Guide

Available Fishing Guide:
Website: Darrell & Dads Family Guide Service

Phone: (509) 687-0709