Caught And Released My First Muskie At 61

September 19, 2013 is one of those days I will smile about every time I remember it and yeah I will probably tell total strangers on the street about it. Why, because it's only once you catch that first muskie and I was lucky enough to catch a 31 inch muskie and not a 24 inch one. So it became my first muskie and my biggest fish ever, in more than 50 years of fishing.

Casey invited me along for a day of muskie fishing on the Saint John river at Oromocto New Brunswick. We have fished here together before and I have fished with Jamie here. The  Oromocto area is such a pretty spot, especially once Autumn has arrived on the scene.

This day most of the trees were still full of green leaves so the ones that were starting to change really stood out.

Like this tree I saw when we were getting ready to launch the boat. One red tree in a sea of green leaves.

One tree out of dozens has made the change to Autumn colours.

Eagle Eyes Staring Back At Me

We had a fantastic day with calm water and not a cloud in the sky other than a few wispy ones that gave no shade at all.

I put my sun hat on to keep too much sun from frying my brain, again. My new hat also helps keep the sun out of my eyes better than my ball cap does.

There were a few bald eagles around but they usually take off before I'm in position to get a good shot however today we were able to get a bit close.

There were two of them on this limb but one took off before I was able to get a picture of them both. All I got of that first eagle was a shot of his tail feathers as he flew up river to another tree.

Casey slowed the boat right down as we approached and went right under it. So glad the water was calm so we weren't bobbing around at all. I took a lot of pictures as we approach and went under the eagle but it never moved.

Each time I take a picture the view screen goes blank so for just a second each time I thought the eagle was going to dive out of the tree and knock me over backwards.

Oh, Did I Tell You I Caught My First Muskie?

When my friend Roland would be fishing he would use sentences that started with 'Did I Ever Tell You…" or "Have I Told You Today…" Well I was saying that to Casey for the rest of the day. Glad the didn't duct tape my trap shut or tell me to take a bus home.

I moved to New Brunswick from Ontario 30 some years ago but never learned that we have muskies living and breeding in New Brunswick waters. Since I learned that fact I have wanted to catch a muskie so it's been on my wish list.

I have now checked that item off my list and now I will focus on catching more and maybe some that are bigger than my first.

Here are some pictures from our day on the Saint John river.

I must have taken 30 pictures of this bridge over the course of the day. It just looks great from so many angles and the reflections in the water always look cool.

I love going fishing during the work week as there is usually less boat traffic on the river. This day was perfect with hardly any traffic. We did see a few other fishermen on the water, like this guy who looked like he was in the tropics. He must be out a lot and needs to protect his healthy skin.

They were on the other side of the river so I zoomed in on them. We didn't talk so I have no idea if they were catching anything or not or even what they were fishing for. When he was casting it looked like he had smaller lures so I'm guessing he was fishing for chunky smallies.

We saw this plane circle and prepare to land on the water. I took a couple of pictures and then clicked record. I had the perfect angle for to watch him come in and land.

Again the water was calm so there was no bouncing around.

Just as he was about to hit the water he disappeared behind some trees. Oh man what a drag we weren't on the main river at this moment and I didn't realize it. So it kind of looks like he just crashed in the trees.

We didn't catch a lot of fish, just a fat little smallmouth bass and of course my first ever muskie at 31 inches. Did I mention that before? Ha Ha

All too soon it was the end of our day and time to pack up.

I thought I would end with another tree that has changed colour before all its neighbours.

Friday was my first day striper fishing and I was so excited to be going I didn't get much sleep. I slept fine until about 2am and then it was mostly awake so finally I just got up at 4am. Not unusual when I go fishing.

I have wanted to fish for striped bass for more than 10 years and had an opportunity to go to Rexton with Casey for a day.

I was thinking this was my first time fishing at Rexton until we got there and I recognized a church and an old ship skeleton. Then I remembered we came here ice fishing for smelts. That was my first time catching smelt as well.

About 15 minutes from the launch Casey hooked his first striper and it looked like it was going to be an exciting day. It was 14 inches and smacked the bait like it was 20 inches.

The next striper was about an hour later and that was Casey as well with a 17 inch striper. Love Casey's new rubber net so easy on the fish as well as easy getting the hooks out of the net.

I had my camera at the ready so we could quickly snap a picture and then get him back in the water as it was catch and release only.

Just a couple of seconds on the measuring board and right back into the drink.

It was an hour and three quarters later when I caught my first striper, ever. I love how hard they strike for their size.

There was no hesitation when he smacked my plastic Storm bait, he nearly swallowed the entire bait. The fact we were fishing barbless made it easy to remove the hook and release it. He was 14 inches and a scrapper. A nice experience.

My second striped bass was bigger than my first but not as big as Casey's second striper so I just let him go without taking another picture. Our day was rather slow but we did both get two striped bass and enjoyed the beautiful day we had.

I didn't think about my garden all day.

We didn't see many clouds all day. Very clear skies except for this shot of a bridge with a huge fog bank behind it.

Can't beat getting an online message at 5AM asking if you want to go fishing. Well as long as I don't have plans I can change and I didn't. Casey had checked the weather forecast and decided that this day was the best fishing day left in the week.

It worked out perfectly for me because Jenny and I had rented a car for Thursday and Friday so we would have been unavailable.

We were on the road before I even knew where we were headed but I didn't really need to know. But when Casey told me we were going to Colwell's Warf I was quite happy with that choice. Such a beautiful place to enjoy a day on the water.

Had a pickerel strike in those weeds but he didn't hang on so no first fish yet.

Nothing But Blue Skies Do I See

All the way there and for a little while on the water it was clear skies in all directions and not a bit of a breeze. The water was a mirror. So glad I had my new sunglasses with me again as it really made a difference to my eyes by the end of the day. My wide brimmed hat kept my brain from frying as well and that's always good. I need all the grey cells I can keep.

As soon as Casey backed away from the launch I cast into the weeds and had my first strike right away. Guess he was ready to make a commitment as he stayed in the weeds and didn't strike again. So I grabbed my sunscreen and plastered it all over my bare skin.

Lot's of weeds and pencil reeds, my favourite kind of spots.

It wasn't long before the temperature rose to a noticeable degree and I began to sweat a bit. That's when I realize how nice it is to have my new wide brimmed hat.

We started seeing the odd cloud and before we realized the sky was full of clouds, just not right over head.

We saw a huge cloud that kept getting close to blocking the sun but seemed to take forever to move between us and the sun. Instant relief but then the wind picked up and for the most part the calm water I love fishing so much was gone.

What!? That's An Island

As I was casting along the shoreline weeds for pickerel or bass Casey said he was looking for the entrance to the pond in the middle of the island. I had no idea we were moving along the shoreline of an island. Must be a pretty big island.

Sure enough a few minutes later there was a channel leading back into the island. There were plenty of pickerel in the channel which went back a long ways before we could get to the water on either side of the channel. What a beautiful spot in there. Dense weeds made it hard to get anything out of there. I need a fishing rod with a stiffer backbone and definitely stronger line for pulling them out of those weeds. Still had a blast watching how crazy they can bee.

Jim Gets The Most Fish Of The Day

I missed a pickerel within a minute of launching so I missed the opportunity to get the first fish while Casey was distracted.

Then I hooked into a nice pickerel and had it within an inch of being in my hand when it decided to make a run for it and managed to get off the hook. Missed a second opportunity for the first fish.

Finally on my third attempt at getting the first fish I succeeded so that's two days we've been out that I got the first fish of the day.

Casey was keeping right up with me but once the clouds moved in I watched for signs and as you can see in the photo above the sky opened and showed me where to cast. A few times like that I had the lead. Most fish of the day goes to me as well.

We saw a few bigger fish hitting the baits in the weeds but didn't get them to the boat. The only two we did measure were the same size so it was a tie for biggest fish of the day.

The final score for this day, 1 perch each, 11 pickerel for Casey and 17 pickerel for ME.

Wow, first Casey starts getting the first fish of the day. Then Jamie takes me fishing and catches the biggest smallmouth bass of the day as the first fish, in about 4 minutes.

I still managed to catch more fish but not the first or the biggest.

I try so hard. I make lots of casts into the right places and do my best to distract Casey or Jamie but something just wasn't right.

Then yesterday just as I lifted the first fish of the day into the boat I'm sure I heard Casey say 'The Spell is Broken' under his breath. Sure hope you can't put the same spell on a guy twice.

We didn't measure any fish as none were huge but I can say with certainty that Casey had the biggest fish by just a little bit so I had to catch more fish to make me feel better. Okay now on to some serious fishing in the weeds.

First turtle I've seen in years. Used to see them all them time.

Fishing Pickerel In The Weeds

95% of the time I fish in the weeds if there are any. I just can't get enough of the action that takes place in the weeds. If there is one weed sticking out of the water I will always cast to it before going for any open water. There's just a lot of fun and maybe some frustration but so much fun so fun wins out.

Example: I made a cast to, you got it, some weeds and a pickerel left the water and smacked down on my bait. But when his mouth hit the bait his head stopped moving and the rest of him kept going making for a pretty cool flip.

Then there's those wakes that immediately make me laugh and sometimes I get excited and set the hook before the actual strike.

So glad Casey has a trolling motor because it wasn't long before the wind picked up making it hard to stay in the zone. It's perfect for those time when the anchor just drags along the bottom.

It was hot so the wind was a relief but when the wind would stop for a little while it wasn't long before I was feeling the heat. So when the clouds moved in I was glad to see them come between us and the sun.

Drawing Pickerel Out of The Weeds

I love tossing something weedless way back in the weeds. I get some of my best strikes doing that and I miss a lot of fish but I sure have an exciting time. I also like to draw them out of the weeds before they strike.

Jenny and I just got knew glasses a couple of months ago and this time I didn't get the kind that go dark outside. Just clear glass. Jenny came home with a pair of polarized sunglasses a few days ago. For the first time I was able to see through the glare on the water and it was a fun experience.

It was so much fun watching the pickerel chase the bait. I could even see them sitting right next to the boat. A couple of times when I saw a fish sitting I lifted the sunglasses and there was no fish as far as I could see.

At the end of our day Casey had 8 pickerel landed and one clam. Me, I had 17 pickerel and don't forget that all important first fish of the day was mine too.

You can see that the rains we have been having are adding and once again the trees are standing in water. Most of the weed beds were submerged about 8 inches so it was kind of strange looking for this time of year.

Now there's a goal. Grab your fly rod, a couple of flies boxes and jump on your surfboard. Be sure you're on time because the tide waits for no man or woman.

The guy in the front looks like it's a walk in the park so I'm sure he would give it a try. I want to be there with my video camera.

Landing a salmon on your surfboard and keeping your balance might be a bit challenging.

Ten or twelve Canada geese were running along the bank on the other side of the river. They were pretty much running in single file like they didn't want to miss anything.

A couple of local surfers got in the water just down river from where I was standing and then paddled down river to meet the other two or three surfers as they were coming around the bend by the big red hotel.

I am really glad I decided to go and see what it was all about. I think there were two surfers from California, the two local guys and then I'm not sure but I think I saw at least five surfers.

There were two seadoos going back and forth helping anyone who lost the wave back to the front again so they could keep going. Near the end of it there was one surfer way back from the other. I think he lost his paddle and couldn't keep up.

I had my video camera setup in the direction they were coming and I just waited until the crowd got louder. Then I knew someone saw them coming towards the bend. There were a lot of people closer than I was so I could hear them a minute or two before I could see the surfers. Lots of time to turn on the video camera.

I don't do many videos so it's choppy and the wind is making a lot of noise.