Keep Calm and Musky On

Last Tuesday was my last trip of 2014.  Nick and Patrick hired me for a full day musky on the fly trip.  It was their first time chasing musky and after I explained how to retrieve, figure eight, set the hook, and fight musky on the fly rod, we started fishing the first hole of our trip.  I was turned watching Nick’s fly come back to the boat when I heard a splash on the other side of the boat and saw Patrick’s rod bent.  Most folks yell fish on or musky but Patrick was cool as a cucumber.  I was excited and yelling out strip, rod tip down, etc while the fight was going on and Patrick did everything right while I was barking out orders.  Once his first musky was in the net I saw the smile on his face and just realized he is a quiet guy.  After the pics and high fives we were back after it for another and hopefully it was going to be Nicks turn.  After moving a few muskies that afternoon Nick came tight with a  musky that was hanging on the bank but unfortunately the fish shook loose.  Nick fished even harder after his first musky shook loose but he was not rewarded by a fish in the boat.  I was happy to end  2014 with a musky in the boat and looking forward to 2015!