Angler who shot fish with pistol retains muskie record

MPLS Star & Sickle ^ | 1-16-06 | Paul Levy

[Rakkasan1]

HAYWARD, WIS. - The National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame's board of directors today upheld angler Louie Spray's claim to the world record muskie, a 69-pound, 11-ounce specimen he landed on Oct. 20, 1949. Spray's record had been challenged by an Illinois fishing group. Spray's catch had unseated the previous record-holder, a 69 1/2-pound fish caught by Cal Johnson of Minneapolis. Had Spray's record been invalidated today, the honor would have reverted to Johnson, unifying the title between the Hayward hall and the International Game Fish Association.

[Rakkasan1]

of someone caught Fat Teddy, they'd have land him the same way.

[dirtboy]

of someone caught Fat Teddy, they'd have land him the same way.

Wrong. You can shoot a muskie, but you have to harpoon a whale...

[garyhope]

It's what I like about the Freep. All the really important news.

[Paleo Conservative]

[Emmett McCarthy]

Fishin' with a pistol - hell, that'd make it a lot more fun! But some sissy would probably make you leave your beer in the truck.

[verity]

[Howlin]

This sounds like an episode of Boston Legal.

[Squantos]

Clearly this fishy wa weighed afte a magazine of 230gr slugs was added ! Fowl ! errr Foul !

[freedomlover]

We wrestled with a 6 foot shark for 2 hours until our guide said that the fish was just toying with us and we were never going to get it in the boat with the tackle we had.

The fish was tired and we could get it alongside the boat but the boat was only 20ft.

I told the guide I had a .45 in my bag (Speer Ammo)and he said "well get it the f&ck out and shoot the bast@rd" along with some other salty language. I got really lucky with a double tap in the noggin (one in the eye), and blood went everywhere.

The fish went into a spasm fit and in 20 seconds everybody was covered with blood and water. I emptied the pre-ban mag into him and went 7 for 11. It was pure chaos for about 1 minute after that and then it rolled over on its side and the guide mauled it with the gaff and that was that.

What a rush.

[Spruce]

Yepper. An almost 70 pound muskie's a keeper.

[MotleyGirl70]

I couldn't find a picture of the muskies mentioned above, but here's a picture (circa July 16, 1919) of a tiger muskie that weighs 51lbs and 3 oz. (Tiger muskie is a cross between a northern pike and muskie.)

I can only imagine what a 69 pound natural muskie looks like.

[MotleyGirl70]

Was this your guide? :)

[Grut]

Here 'tis:

This is Louis Spray and the record fish.

[freedomlover]

That was a great character. Unfortunately I didn't have a scuba tank in my arsenal.

[MotleyGirl70]

Thanks for finding it for me :)

Someday I hope to go muskie and/or northern fishing.

I doubt I'd catch a lunker like that though.

[R. Scott]

Anyone who has ever seen one of these monsters would heartily endorse using a pistol – or at least a weighted shark billy. They got some teeth.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Man, a 69 pound muskie! They're just fresh water baracudas with camo clothing. I'd feel justified drawing down on that with a .458 Lott!

[Oztrich Boy]

"and how that fish got a pistol, I have no idea"

[Dutch Boy]

I've been bitten several times by northern pike < 30 inches when removing the hooks. I can't even imagine having a muskie clamp down on me.

[R. Scott]

Around the lake I grew up near every boathouse had a muskie head nailed to the wall. They impressed me.