Monster Walleye CPR'd!!! MUST SEE!!!

[Justin Gaudry]

Just how big is this walleye? Well let's tell you about the man holding it first so you can put the fish in the proper perspective. Dick is 6'4" and 290 pounds. He played on the D-line at the University of Minnesota in college. He is no slouch of a guy. He has broad shoulders and big hands.

Dick is a recreational fisherman that enjoys getting out for a few hours from time to time when he's at his cabin on Lake of the Woods. His family has had a place up at Lake of the Woods for over 30 years. When he's out walleye fishing, he uses a measuring stick that is 18" long to decide whether to keep a fish for dinner or throw it back. Dick and his wife Cindy both verify that this fish used up this 18" stick twice plus a couple more inches. He put the stick along side the fish, then flipped it end over end and still didn't have enough to get past the tail of the fish.

I've known him for 15 years and he is one of the straightest shooters out there. With absolutely no reason to make up a fish story, I believe him when he says the walleye he caught was 38"!! Yes, people will say no way and holler that it's not possible, but who really cares if people think that way? It's a huge, monster, slob-a-saurus walleye that most people would have killed without a second thought. Dick released it without a second thought. The only thing he would have liked to have done is had a chance to weigh it out on the water before throwing it back for someone else to try to catch.

Does anyone want to guess the weight of this fish? Would it have been a possible Lake of the Woods record? Ontario Record?

No matter what you might say, you have to call it a great catch and awesome release.

Congrats to Dick and his wife, Cindy, on sharing an experience that few in the world will ever get to enjoy.

I've included some other 30+ inch walleyes for comparison purposes:

Dick's 38" Walleye - July 7, 2009 (CPR'd)
Mary's 30" Walleye - July 4, 2009 (CPR'd)
Vicki's 31" Walleye - July 3, 2009 (CPR'd)
Mark's 31" Walleye - May 24, 2009 (CPR'd)
Gene's 31.25" Walleye - June 15, 2007 (CPR'd)
Cliff's 30.5" Walleye - June 13, 2008 (CPR'd)

[Musky Old Man]

Thanks for sharing the Photo's of some GREAT walleyes. Now I am manly Musky but I have caught a few walleye but nothing over 28 inches but several years ago my wife caught a late July walleye at 32 inches, none match the looks of Dick's fish and the others. weight I figure to be 14.5 lbs? this is coming for a Musky guy and I am always guessing on the light side.
no matter how you look at it I would be proud to be standing behind that fish.
Thanks again for sharing.
M.O.M.

[Mr Musky]

I cannot agree with you on the 38" walleye. That is not even remotely close. That is equivilent to someone getting a 64 inch musky out of the Woods. It just isn't going to happen. 54" inchers yes. That fish is 30 to 32 inches at best and 9 1/2 to 11 lbs tops being all spawned out. Not to ruin your party here but dont buy it. The just do not exist that long.

Mr Musky

[Justin Gaudry]

Well it didn't take long for the first naysayer to surface! That's ok. Thank you for the fair minded comment. We're not trying to blow smoking up anyones backside here.

In the next few days, I'll be looking into the possibility that a walleye can get that big. I have access to some experienced fisheries management types that will surely be able to offer some insight.

A little experiment people might want to try is using a ruler to measure the width of the 3 fingers showing in the stomach of the fish and then see how many more times that space can be created to the tail and to the head.

We'll get a measurement of Dick's 3 fingers next time he comes in and see what happens.

I would certainly beg to differ on your opinion that it's 30"-32" at best. There is no way that's all that fish is.

I may be a pie in the sky optimist day dreaming wing nut, but I think Lake of the Woods is capable of producing a muskie over 60 inches!!

[Musky Old Man]

Like I said before 32 years 4-6 weeks a year and lots of witnesses and yes there are fish (musky) over 60+ inches in this lake I have had them on and would be willing to back it up with 9 guest at different times, just don't know how to get it them to bite. I know where they are------ and I will show a picture one of these times out before my maker comes calling.
But if I don't nothing to prove one day you might get the same surprise I got when I said another small fish on----then WOW look at the size of that MUSKY holly cow WOW --- then poof gone, and just another store shared between believers and the none believers... and this is what makes fishing so friendly. LOL
Keep dreaming and who knows????
Oh walleye on the other hand biggest one I saw caught was 35 inches early June and release from some other boat and a guide friend of mine. so 38 possible...

M.O.M.

[BB3]

Well Justin, after seeing this I had to sign up! That fish is what he says it is. I measured his fingers @ roughly .5" and the fish at 7.5" (on my screen)which would equal 37.5". Anyway you slice it, that is huge!! Oh by the way,I thought washing and vacuuming was included with storing my boat?? J/K. I wont be up until the 23rd so you have plenty of time-haha. Bob

[Justin Gaudry]

Well I'm glad we found out what it took to get you to register and contribute, Bob. I just may have to vacuum and wax the crestliner for you a few times a year if you start posting trip reports when you get home each time!

Yes, that fish is a monster. That is a fact.

I'll put your boat on my list of chores, but I have to warn you..my list is often long..between resort duties, "honey-do" (wife's requests) and "sonny-do" (mother's requests)....I tend to be a busy guy.

It's not so bad having to wait until 9pm to go out casting when it's light until 10, but as the season moves along, that 9pm closing time doesn't leave much time to be able to see anything out there...and the bugs can almost carry away a huge dude like me after dark.

Is it October yet? I wanna go trolling for lunkers for 9 hours without feeling guilty about neglecting anyone or anything!

See you in a couple weeks.

[BEAST]

Lowrance unit behind him 6.9 inch width

Using a ruler against the computer screen

Six of the lowrance units would fit into the length of that fish at minimum

6.9" x 6 = 41.4" Lowrance Unit is a couple feet behind him

YOU BE THE JUDGE

Justin I will be up with the Widmer group in a couple of weeks

Take Care

[Justin Gaudry]

Thanks for jumping aboard and joining the discussion. It will be great to have the Widmer crew back in camp for a week to show us where the big muskies are. We'll try to get the weather conditions right for you all to have a big, big week!

We should have our new colour brochure by then (FINALLY!!) and you might be familiar with a couple of the photos.

See you soon.