mepps Posted June 20, 2009 Report Share Posted June 20, 2009 (edited) The other day, my wife asked me what I wanted for Fathers Day and my reply was simple. I want to catch a muskie. Of course, you all know that is easier said then done... Living in Nova Scotia makes somewhat hard to find muskie, impossible in fact, there are none. Luckily for me Fredericton, New Brunswick is only 4.5 hours away, and there are some big muskie being caught (www.muskiesnb.ca). I had made plans to meet up with Derek Rowe of Muskies Canada in the afternoon, but seeing as that this was one of my few days I have all to myself, I decided to make a full day of it. 24 hours. I left Halifax shortly after midnight. I had tried to get some sleep, but the combination of a splitting headache and visions of grandeur kept me awake. I figured I may as well start driving because I wont be sleeping any time soon. The drive was perfect, hardly a car on the road. I got into Fredericton around 4:30 am and made my way to the north launch. I made my first cast with the sunrise at 5am and didnt stop until the sun was starting to set. I started on foot and walked the shoreline near the launch. Started at one bridge, and made my way to the other and beyond. I used spinner baits in the shallow water, and switched it up to a 10 inch Suick (sucker pattern) in the deeper areas. Had plenty of follows...from bass and perch, but no muskie. I managed to get a nice size chain pickerel, but that was it. I grabbed a bite to eat around noon and then broke out the bass gear for an hour to give my arms a rest from casting muskie lures. Met Derek at the launch around quarter to 4pm and we quickly raced up river. Finally some good looking muskie territory! My selection of muskie lures is pretty small right now. I left most of it back in Ontario because I didnt know I'd be muskie fishing when I moved out east! I only had lures that are considered small in the world of muskie fishing (7-8 inches) The larger lures that I had recently made and intended to use were both lost to snags while shore fishing. After one look at Derek's lure selection I knew these Eastern beauties wanted a bigger snack. After about 30 minutes of casting my own lures, Derek suggested I try one of his - within minutes, his advise paid off, a 34 inch beauty, my first NB muskie! The first thing I noticed with these NB fish is that their girth, this 34 incher had a bigger girth then the Jack Lake and Scugog muskie I used to catch in Ontario Shortly after this fish was boated, it was Dereks turn. He made sure he wasn't going to be outdone, and landed this big girl that was just shy of 40 inches with a 19 inch girth! After he caught his fish we moved down river. Then it began to rain. Then the wind picked up. The fishing slowed down, but Derek took this time to give me some great tips and shared some of his serious knowledge of the river. Its a whole new world fishing a big river for muskie! We ended the day back near the spot where the fish were caught earlier. The rain had stopped and the wind was almost gone, but no more fish were caught so we called it a day shortly before 9. I jumped in the car and made may way home in the dark, another 4.5 hours. My stats for the day: Time spent driving: 9 hours Total distance driven: 900+ km Distance on foot: 6 km Time spent fishing: 15 hours Number of lures lost: 2 Number of blisters: 1 Number of perch caught: 5 Number of chain pickerel caught: 1 Number of bass caught: 1 Number of muskie caught: 1 Number of casts: 10001 Time spent sleeping: 0 hours Mission accomplished. Edited June 21, 2009 by mepps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drwxr Posted June 20, 2009 Report Share Posted June 20, 2009 (edited) awesome looking muskies, nice to see your trip paid off. Edited June 20, 2009 by efka Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyb Posted June 20, 2009 Report Share Posted June 20, 2009 Awesome stats breakdown...persistence and confidence obviously paid off! Pretty slick looking musky...very green. And talk about girth...their heads look too small for their bodies Thanks for the great report! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roy Posted June 20, 2009 Report Share Posted June 20, 2009 WTG Clive! Great report from the East. If you ever get hungry, you have a 10 fish limit on muskie there. Thanks for sharing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCTFisher9120 Posted June 20, 2009 Report Share Posted June 20, 2009 wow, what beautiful looking musky, love those strong green colors they show. Congrads on a great outing! MTBF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spiel Posted June 20, 2009 Report Share Posted June 20, 2009 Those are indeed some great looking musky Clive, as johnnyb said "very green". Good of you to point out the 10 fish limit Roy....LOL Over all a great report. I wish I had half of your energy and drive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Clemens Posted June 20, 2009 Report Share Posted June 20, 2009 That's a great specimen there Mepps and great coloring. Congrats and, oh yeah, HAPPY FATHER'S DAY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jediangler Posted June 20, 2009 Report Share Posted June 20, 2009 Great report Clive. I didn't know there were musky in New Brunswick. Learn something new everyday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
splashhopper Posted June 20, 2009 Report Share Posted June 20, 2009 amazing colours on your musky.. Thanks for the adventure splashhopper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musky or Specks Posted June 20, 2009 Report Share Posted June 20, 2009 (edited) Both of those fish look like tigers. What the history of the musky fishery on the St John's Some quick googling http://www.cbc.ca/news/story/2001/06/20/nb_dnmusk010620.html Edited June 20, 2009 by Musky or Specks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlowPoke Posted June 20, 2009 Report Share Posted June 20, 2009 Great report Clive! The family and I are planning a 'down east' vacation; I may have to bring the boat with me! Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mepps Posted June 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 20, 2009 (edited) There are some big fish to be had in the Saint John river, last years biggest reported catch was 52"x27" - and just minute from downtown Fredericton! Definitely bring the boat Brian, but be warned fishing on a river this big is really tough! The guy who took me out is a guide! Yeah Roy, the limits here are ridiculous! 10 muskie - size 10cm -170cm (thats 66.9 inches!) Also, no license is needed in this area because it is considered tidal water. The water level changes dramatically with the tides coming in from the Bay of Fundyy. Edited June 20, 2009 by mepps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joey Posted June 20, 2009 Report Share Posted June 20, 2009 Wow, what an adventure, but I'm sure it was well worth it. Way to go Clive Happy Father's Day. Joey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Victor Posted June 21, 2009 Report Share Posted June 21, 2009 I'm glad you caught one after all the effort you've put into it, guess now you can get some sleep ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motv8tr Posted June 21, 2009 Report Share Posted June 21, 2009 Awesome stuff Clive, thanks for sharing....now get busy making yourself some new lures and get some more pics to show us Maureen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ehg Posted June 21, 2009 Report Share Posted June 21, 2009 Musky in New Bruswick! Very nice, eh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alphaalpha Posted June 21, 2009 Report Share Posted June 21, 2009 Great to see all the effort paying off. Nice work!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superdad Posted June 22, 2009 Report Share Posted June 22, 2009 Congrats on your first NB Musky. I know several people who are fishing in the Fredericton area for' Mr Toothy" You can check this site out for further info on NB Musky. http://www.newbrunswickfishing.com/forum/ Cheers David aka Superdad Kingston ON Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mepps Posted June 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 22, 2009 Thanks superdad, I'll check it out. I actually joined muskies Canada a few weeks ago and have been getting some great info from their forums. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leighfns Posted June 22, 2009 Report Share Posted June 22, 2009 Wow.. They look so different then the ones around here. Congrats!! I had absolutely no idea they were in NB. Have you been able to get in some Striper fishing out that way? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mepps Posted June 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 22, 2009 I missed the main part of the striper run this spring while I was in Ontario, but I'll give it a shot next time! The same spot I caught that muskie also produces some nice stripers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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