3. Muskie Mount

MUSKIE BRAGGING RIGHTS

BRAGGING RIGHTS?

Who holds the record for the ‘fish of 10,000 casts’? There appears to be some debate. Of course length, girth and weight are the key factors. According to Fishbase.org two different fish hold the world record for either length or weight. The longest documented length is 183 cm (72.04”) and the heaviest is 31.8 kg (70.10 pounds). BUT, record fish are often caught by researchers, commercial fishers or amateur naturalists. Some are even found washed up on shore. And so while museums may be interested in the longest and heaviest, sport fishers focus on weight.

Some History

In the early 1900s Field & Stream magazine and the American Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. began keeping big fish records. The museum passed on all of their records to the magazine when they stopped their program.

In 1939 (beginning of WW2) the International Game Fish Association was founded. IGFA and Field & Stream continued to keep records independently until 1979. However, at that time most of their interest was with salt water fish.

In 1976 the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame opened in Hayward, Wisconsin partly dedicated to the Great Lakes, muskellunge in particular, and the museum created their own record program dedicated to freshwater Sportfish.

In 1978 Field & Stream ceased its record keeping program and passed on its records to IGFA. In 1980 the FFHF transferred all of its records to IGFA so it could “serve as the single universal source for such information.”

Whereas incorporating the F&S records went smoothly for IGFA Twas not so for the FFHF records which were called “inaccurate and quite obsolete.” Taking exception the FFHF resumed its own record program in 1981. As a result both program records differ over the largest muskie ever caught by hook and line.

The Controversy

A well-known outdoor writer, Calmer “Cal” Johnson caught a 67 pound, 8 oz. muskie on a lake near Hayward, Wisconsin. Photos were taken; witnesses watched the weigh-in and F&S accepted Johnson’s submission. But before this fish could be vetted Louis Spray submitted a 69 pound, 11 oz. muskie from the Chippewa also near Hayward. BUT, there were no pictures and there was apparently some discrepancy with the weigh-in. Then Larry Ramsell who was an IGFA representative for 16 years and then developed the FFHF record keeping program argued that Spray’s reputation as a bootlegger and one willing to purchase illegal catches made his claim questionable. However F&S accepted Spray’s muskie as the world record holder.

In 1957, Arthur Lawton caught a 69 pound, 15 oz. muskie in the St. Lawrence River. The submission to F&S was accompanied by photos and weigh-in witness information for the new world record.

About two decades later John Dettloff, president of the FFHF, cast doubt on the Lawton record and a non-professional photographic review proved that Lawton’s fish was not as large as reported. In 1992, using modern photographic analysis IGFA set aside Lawton’s fish and the world record reverted to Spray.

In fairness muskie fishers argues that Spray’s fish should be scrutinized as Lawton’s was. It was so and as a result Spray’s claim was set aside and suddenly “Cal” Johnson’s muskie was recognized as the new world record.

However, the FFHF disagreed and continued to promote Spray’s muskie.

January 2004 witnessed the creation of the World Record Muskie Alliance whose goal was to reach as consensus regarding the world record muskie employing the most modern technology and unbiased investigatory techniques. The results were published in 2005 – Spray’s fish was smaller than claimed.

The anticipated consensus was a no show. The FFHF still recognizes the Spray muskie whereas IGFA declares the Johnson muskie as the world record. And the controversy continues.

In summation the state of Wisconsin recognized Spray’s muskie – 69-pounds, 11 ounces, 63.5 inches caught in 1949 as number one. New York recognizes Lawton’s muskie – 69 pounds, 15 ounces, 64.5 inches caught in 1957. And the Ontario Federation of Anglers & Hunters records indicate that Ontario’s record muskie was caught October 16, 1988 on Lake Huron, near Blackstone Harbour, on a Rapala Countdown by Ken O’Brien. That muskie weighed-in at 65 pounds, 58 inches and a girth of 30.5 inches.

  1. LAWRENCE MUSKIE

The River Institute and Environment Program at the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne annually conducts a near-shore survey to determine the year’s fish hatch and as for muskie they were rare. According to Matthew Windle, research scientist with the Institute, there are pockets of muskellunge in the St. Lawrence but that isn’t the way it used to be when the river was home to a healthy muskie population and potential world record. In the mid-2000s VHS (Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia) killed a lot of the river’s adult muskie.

Muskie spawn at ages 5-7 years and do not guard the eggs but spread them in shallow weedy bays making them vulnerable to the invasive round goby.

AND FINALLY…One More Church Bulletin Gaffe

At the evening service tonight the sermon topic will be “What is Hell?” Come early and listen to our choir practice.

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