Man makes first muskie a monster
Now that’s a first muskie: 52 inches and caught while ice fishing. ‘‘As I reeled up and recovered some line, I saw the side of a huge fish, light in color, and for sure much bigger than the [39.5-inch northern pike] Tommy landed,’’ Luis Gonzalez messaged. ‘‘I knew I witnessed a muskie but was in disbelief as muskie, to my knowledge, didn’t bite during [ice-fishing] season. I didn’t want to sound like an amateur and misidentify a pike as a muskie, due to the fact that I’ve never seen one in person, but deep down I knew.’’
Gonzalez had been trying for his first muskie for the last year, often with Tommy ‘‘Netman’’ Krysciak, whose nickname comes from netting three Illinois-record fish.
As a birthday outing Jan. 12, Gonzalez went ice fishing with Krysciak and Mike Jarvis. They targeted pike on a lake in Lake County.
Like a lot of anglers, Gonzalez has superstitions. His is playing ‘‘Livin’ Part of Life’’ by Eric Church, which Gonzalez played anytime he fished with cousin James Bradley, who died Dec. 18.
Fishing was slow. They were about to pack it in about midday when Gonzalez caught a 28-inch pike, followed by Krysciak’s 39.5-inch pike and a 35.5-inch pike by Jarvis.
Minutes before they decided to quit at 4:30 p.m., Jarvis and Gonzalez thought their eyes were playing tricks on them when an Ugly Stik Jaw Jacker combo popped.
While Gonzalez played the fish for about 15 minutes, the others identified it as a muskie, too.
‘‘We had the fish at the hole a handful of times, and it darted off each time Tommy reached in for it,’’ Gonzalez messaged. ‘‘He finally said, ‘Lou, I don’t give a [bleep] if
I’m going to need stitches again, but we’re getting this fish.’ My hands were shaking in disbelief the whole time, but I just knew this fish had to be worn down before we would land it.
‘‘Finally, I see Tommy reach down for the fish . . . . He sunk his whole arm into the freezing cold water. Out comes his hand with the spade head of a muskie! Wrapping both hands around the fish, he struggled to get it out of the 8-inch hole, but the head and body were halfway there. It slipped back in a few inches, and my heart pounded. The inches looked like miles to me. One final pull, and the beast was out! I belted out a scream of relief as we quickly got to work unhooking the fish, which was perfectly hooked in the front corner of its lower jaw.’’
After a quick measurement, it was released.
Fisheries biologist Frank Jakubicek emailed that there are no special regulations in Illinois for ice fishing for muskie.
‘‘The biggest issue with catching a large muskie while ice fishing is getting it through the hole!’’ he emailed.
‘‘Certain ice fishermen — those that are prepared to catch big fish — have been catching bigger muskie and
northern pike all along. Those that aren’t prepared probably lose the big fish . . . . Tip-up fishermen use the right bait (large minnows or golden shiners) for muskie, northern pike, walleye, largemouth bass and dogfish. I wouldn’t doubt if some tipup guys put down midsize white suckers specifically targeting larger predators, but I don’t personally know of anyone spending that kind of money on ice fishing.’’
An idea for Gonzalez, who messaged: ‘‘Muskie fishing is forever ruined for me now, as I have no real obtainable goal for the near future.’’
Wild things
Hunters and non-hunters alike are reporting some bucks already have dropped antlers.
Illinois hunting
We will post overall harvest for Illinois deer hunters when it becomes available at chicago.suntimes.com/outdoors.
Stray cast
If your thinking aligns with somebody who goes by Baked Alaska, take an extended weekend without devices outdoors. Hike, bike, fish, hunt, wander or stare at your navel.