If I am not mistaken Pittsburghs own Doug Pavick has had the largest musky reported to gf in PA in 04 05 and in 07 these fish were over 40 puond I can not remeber the wieght he told me . The one fish was to say have a 26 inch girth. these were river fish I believe I think up near kinzu and caught casting doug very rarely trolls. I wil ask him to confirm size and length and were I think he even said were in the pa article . 26 inch girth is whaler, I caught one that had a 25 inch girth casting also and it was ungodly a monster ,when they have that girth they are around or climbing over or 40 pounds . Kinzu has some big fish in it but not a good stable population the ratio is very low per acre I just read a article on it they were saying this. The bigest this past year for me was 46 casting it was a lake fish. I had less time this year but that day in 7 hours I stuck 5 it was a good day ,the other 2 guys caught one each and total combined catch and hook ups were 11 . It was great a father and son first time musky fishing they were in aww and tired at the end . the boy age 12 caught a 42 1/2 incher casting hes hooked for life.
There are many big fish that are not reported to the PFBC for obvious reasons. Some that are published in there have only been seen/verified by a witness (unless the format has changed over the past several years) and supposedly on accurate scales. Hopefully, the witnesses are honest guys.
The fish being held in the PFBC article by Mike was actually caught by Dave Bradley from Warren. I think there was a misprint in the caption beside that fish. Either way, it was a hog. Dave caught it trolling over 70 feet of water, I think.
Here's a picture I have saved on my work computer of a PA fish caught out of a Western Pa lake. Close to a 40#er. I don't know the angler, hence the blocked out face.
That fish has some serious girth! Gotta be 40# unless the guy is 3 feet tall.......
I remember a big fish (from last year maybe) that was caught the opening day of trout season and it was HUGE....maybe 51 or 52 but fat...came from somewhere in the Central part of the state.
Anyone remember it?
Last edited by Red Childress; 02-25-2009 at 12:51 PM.
Your correct about that 47pounder,Red.I believe Mr. Pavlicks two biggest fish that I'm aware of were 42 pounders,one from a lake and one from a river.I also recall seeing a 51 pounder caught out of pymatuning in the mid 1970's.And then there was another pymatuning fish caught in 1988 that was 46 pounds,both these pymatuning fish were caught on nightcrawlers!In 1991 there was a 45 pound muskie caught out of east branch lake in elk co.These fish as far as I know were documented by the Fish and boat commision.Howard Wagners Allegheny fish just a couple of years ago is worth mentioning.And one documented fish from out east was a 49 pounder caught in lake wallenpaupack in 1985.
Here's the Central Pa fish from Canoe Creek Lake, caught on a trout this fella was reelin in on opening day. It was something like 42 pounds I believe.
That is a serious musky guys. Its like a football the shap and structure of the fish looks like a lake fish. I think that was confirmed?? the Pa record came in 1924 53 pounds . How would they determin pymatuming if one came out of there wich is just a matter of time there would be alot of debate . I think that it has the ability to provide it. I just do not think that a river system would provide such a fish because of current. I know Red and Steve we all like the rivers ,I like them the best .but from the west branch of the susquhanna were I come from I do not see nor have I seen a fish that could break that barrier.I have spent half my life on it and I have seen them over 50 only by 1 or 2 icinch but never to amount to 53.1oz wieght. 40 lbs is the biggest I have caught on the west branch I have caught fish that were 30 to 33 . I am still searching as we all are What do you guys think about were the next big things coming from ? heres a susky river musky 49 1/2 40lb 25inch girth its from years ago but I thought I would share it with you guys if it loads.thanks for the great discussion its been very informational .
I think there are big fish in both lakes and rivers. Now that we have no closed season, things could get very interesting if the timing is right (pre-spawn) for some lucky guy.
I have seen a legit 54.5/44lb. river fish and another that could have been larger........I just did not get to see her depth but very wide across the back......also in that middle-50" class.
55x30 is my guess to break the record. PA fish over 56" is something I have not heard of before (excluding the 1924 fish) so I am banking on the girth to set it apart from the rest.
My 2 cents.
Do you guys think there is a 30-inch girth swimming around in PA??
Last edited by Red Childress; 02-27-2009 at 07:58 PM.
Reply With Quote
