Edward Walden Eagle Lake Fish

[Bill Hedden]

In his Compendium of Muskie Angling History (Volume 1), Larry Ramsell discusses the record muskies that have come out of Eagle Lake. John Coleman's 60.8 pounder in 1939 came out of the big lake somewhere out of Eagle River and a year later Edward Walden caught a 61 pound 9 ouncer fishing out of our own Andy Myers Lodge in Vermilion Bay. Does anybody know where these fish were caught? No doubt Walden's fish, at least, came out of a spot we all fish regularly. For the sake of the history of our sport it would be fun to be able to make a bow to the long time Canadian record when casting to that spot.

[DanR]

Maybe Larry Ramsell can chime in. However, I thought I had heard/read that Musky Point is named as such because of one of the Eagle 60lbers. If Walden was fishing out of AML, that might where it was caught.

I also thought I had heard somewhere that another 60lber was caught off of Three Sisters back in the day.

How many 60lber's have ever been caught off of Eagle? I thought it was 3. Number 4 this summer.

-Dan

[Scotty Jags]

Hey guys, I have a little insight into J.J. Colemans 60lber. It was caught from Mackenzies Big Eagle musky camp 1939. It was somewhere in the vacinity of Coleman's reef!!! I also have the original Photos of the fish, they are pretty amazing to say the least.

Scotty jaeger
AML guide

[Steve Herbeck]

musky point it was and obviously colemans was caught somewhere near colemans. have also heard the reports of the 3 sisters fish but to date no confirms.

there have been some tremendous fish reported and seen in recent history actually very recent also but untill one comes to net it is nothing more than a story but.....the potential is there and having been there i believe/know it can/could happen here any several ther fisheries. the good ole days of musky fishing are upon us not behind us!!!!

actually eagles future is very bright especially for MUSKIES now both in numbers and jumbos and WALLEYES in both numbers of eaters as well as trophys 28-32"+.

[DanR]

musky point it was and obviously colemans was caught somewhere near colemans. have also heard the reports of the 3 sisters fish but to date no confirms.

I guessed right!!! You gotta figure "Musky Point" is named for a big musky!!!

Yeah, I heard of the Three Sisters fish too. But if it's not on Larry's compendium, that probably means it more legend than anything. Given my experience there (never seen a fish), I'm guessing it's probably a really, really nice fish that's "grown" over the years.

there have been some tremendous fish reported and seen in recent history actually very recent also but untill one comes to net it is nothing more than a story but.....the potential is there and having been there i believe/know it can/could happen here any several ther fisheries. the good ole days of musky fishing are upon us not behind us!!!!

You guys and your guests keep at it, and it's gonna happen dude. I have no doubt. There's been a 55"+ caught each of the last 4 years, right? One of these times it's gonna be a 57-59" with girth to match. And then you're talking something approaching 60lbs or so. The good ole days ARE upon us Herbie; and the next 55lb+ Eagle Monster is going to happen out of your lodge.

actually eagles future is very bright especially for MUSKIES now both in numbers and jumbos and WALLEYES in both numbers of eaters as well as trophys 28-32"+.

It is bright. And don't forget the pike we catch fishing for Muskies. I personally got 41" and 42" (the latter with big fall girth) "incidental" trophy pike. Then of course there was Chuckie's 44" behemoth last year (how funny was that picture session? ). And it's my understanding your walleye guys pull up some great (40-48") pike too.

D@mn, the weather is like 72 degrees here, and we're talking big fish. I'm getting all fired up man. This means the season is right around the corner. Can't wait.

See ya soon (but as always, not soon enough!!!).

-Dan

[Alexnsw]

Scotty Jags????

nice name.

Next time I am up I would love to have a look at the pics of the coleman fish!!! I have heard of the 3 sisters fish too, and a while back someone told me a 60 was caught at brandings reef? I dont remember who said it but it stuck.

Cant wait to see you guys!!!

Alex

[DanR]

Hey guys, I have a little insight into J.J. Colemans 60lber. It was caught from Mackenzies Big Eagle musky camp 1939. It was somewhere in the vacinity of Coleman's reef!!! I also have the original Photos of the fish, they are pretty amazing to say the least.

Scotty jaeger
AML guide

Scotty "Jags"? LOL.

Dude, I'm still waiting for you to send the DVD of the old footage your parents used to show at their lodge (didn't you say you were goin' to get it transferred to DVD). I want to specifically see the 8mm film of the old "native" guide jumping into the water after that woman's fish broke off, and coming back to the boat with it!!!!

BTW, for the life of me I cannot remember what I said to you in the boat, when we were giving each other sh!t, that made you stop fishing and put your head down. Remember that? Haha, that Friday (the day after my 54") was me and you bantering for 8 hours while we watched Lane fish.

Then of course when you went to lift that one fish out of the net I said, "Scott, you're sure you know how to do this now, right?" And you looked at me like, "Yeah right."...and of course the rest is history.

See ya soon amigo!!!

-Dan

[Bill Hedden]

Thanks to Herbie and Scotty for confirming the locations of the Walden and Coleman fish, and to Dan for his correct intuition about Musky Point. I stupidly never put Coleman together with Coleman's Reef. I think the reason that we are so excited about big fish past and present is because we actually see the big ones from time to time. That is highly unusual in fishing these days. I have fished all over the world and caught almost every variety of big game fish you can think of, and almost nowhere else can you realistically say that the good old days are now like you can on the best musky waters. I can tell you for sure that people in marlin camps aren't sitting around talking about Alfred Glassell's 1,560 pound black marlin very much because they never see a fish of that caliber these days. It would be too sad to fantasize about it. But just during my all too short stays at AML last year I boated a girthy 53" and saw at least four fish that were substantially larger than that one. My nephew had a monster follow to the boat three separate times during one very exciting afternoon and evening. Now I can add the thought of Walden's big fish to my own memories of Musky Point. On one pass along there last year I raised five separate fish, all but one of which were in the 45-50" range. At last light one evening I had an enormous wake pile up behind a jackpot on the still, silvery surface inside the weeds at the Point. The fish took a huge swipe at the lure, missed, and disappeared. That fish can be almost any size in my imagination. No wonder we dream about getting back to the lake.

By the way, Scotty you ought to find a way to post some of your historic stuff on the website. I bet you have some amazing photos and memorabilia that would be hugely interesting to the rest of us.

[Scotty Jags]

To everyone who has chimed in the last few days. It makes me crazy as well talking of fishing miskies on eagle again this season at Herbies. His resort makes even the most addicted musky angler more addicted. I will scrounge up some old photos and post them. I will make a copy of my old musky footage from eagle some 40+ years ago and give it to Herbie. It is pretty cool but also very sad to see how they treated these amazing fish back then. All of my old footage came from a lady named Ethel Knapp who used to fish eagle the whole month of september with her nephew Glenn. The old 8mm film my dad used to show once a week at the resort i now have on dvd. What everyone calls Coleman's reef today, is what I actually call Knapps hole. Her personal best came from there and was around the 50lb mark. I know i like to ramble on as many of you know who have fished with me.

Scotty

[DanR]

It is pretty cool but also very sad to see how they treated these amazing fish back then.

I see what you are saying. However, as you know, times were different back then. People just didn't know it was a limited resource.

That sort of historical treatment of this amazing fish is part of our "heritage" as Musky Fisherman, and therefore I accept it. I don't "like" it, but it is what it is, and it's important to understand it. Heck, it should serve as a reminder to us all what can, and will, happen if we slip back to the "old days". And they all used to do it; don't let anyone tell you differently. Watch the old videos of some of the best known pros/guides (even the Lindners)...they all are smacking fish around and you can see em dropping the fish into the bottom of the boat, etc. Thankfully 1.)most all musky fisherman these days know better 2.)Ontario is aggressive with its Musky Mgmt 3.)AML will not allow the killing of a fish (54"+ legal or not).

I play poker sometimes on Facebook. My picture is me holding my 54". You would not believe how many people comment on it, and ask "how many people did it feed?", etc. When I try to explain it's catch and release, I usually get a response like, "Oh, that's stupid." OR "What is wrong with you?" I don't let it bother me. They just don't know better...like the people in the old days. We must all remain vigilant in the management and support of the resource. If we don't protect it, we cannot assume others will (do it for us).

It is true that it is a much better feeling to let the fish go. Call me crazy (or a dork, or whatever), but this winter, from time to time, I do wonder what "my fish" is doing under the ice. And I'm glad that 1.)she can keep her genetics in the system 2.)maybe someone else, hopefully out of AML, can experience the thrill of catching her this summer (or next year, or whenever). She's right there in Vermilion Bay.

I'll keep going to Eagle, cause I know there are "more giant giants" in there. I'll keep plugging away, and getting better. And who knows, maybe one day the musky gods will smile down upon me again. If not...then oh well. It's still a pleasure to be there and experience the thrill of everyone catching/seeing Muskies, see all the people/staff, and spend a week or two in God's country. I wouldn't spend my vacation any other way.

-Dan

[Shane Spencer]

You? Ramble on? Noooo.

Seriously, if you've ever fished with this guy you know he has the history of Eagle Lake down as well as anyone. From the famous spots, the past fishermen, legendary fish, etc., he has it logged in his long term memory. He's a great guy to fish with when the fishing is slow. Not much of a fisherman but great guide and net man.

[esoxaddict]

For any of you who haven't fished with Scott, it really is a pleasure. Fun times, and a LOT of cool history to share. Gotta watch that guy, though. If you're not quick, he'll catch the fish right out from under you!

Dan, you think it's weird wondering what the fish you actually caught is doing under the ice? I'm still wondering about some of the ones I barely got a look at! One in particular, I'm calling it Scott's fish. It was a good 54", easily a 35# class fish. Had her up 13 different times over three days. Last day, second or third time through the spot it finally decided to eat going into my second figure 8. Thought we had her for sure. Watched her flare her gills, opened her mouth, charged at the bait, and then *bonk*... Not sure if she tried to eat the trolling motor or if I just led her right at it and she missed the bait, but MAN what a heartbreaker! Gotta give credit where credit is due here, because when I looked back at Scott a few minutes before he was just sitting there running the boat. I said "Scott, what are you doing? Aren't you fishing?" "nope" he says. "No way. You're catching that fish. I'm not even going near it..." Class act right there. Not many guides would do that.

All this talk about Eagle, and big fish? Man, you guys are killing me!

[Scotty Jags]

Shane Spencer, i was wondering if you were still alive. I can honestly say that over the last five years i've netted by far more big fish for you, than you for me. That just goes to show you that i like to see everyone catch fish.

Scott