Thanks to Everyone at AML!

[DanR]

Steve & Co.,

Chuck and I got home safe yesterday. Let me say again that AML is the best, and thanks to everyone there for making it THE fishing destination in Canada. Some people who specifically deserve mention...

Theresa, Tracy, & the rest of the kitchen staff!!! You guys are the best. There with anything a guest needs. Great food...I always gain a few pounds when I am up there!!

Cal (x 3), Scott J. (x 2), & Mike (x 1) who all guided us this week. First, great seeing you guys again. It's always fun to see you guys on the dock the first morning and shoot the sh!t. Scott, special thanks for guiding me to the 51"...we now have our retribution for the one of similar size I lost back in 2007! Cal, wow, we really gave the fish hell this past week and oh my what could have been Thursday AM; it was truly special to share that moment with you and Chuck even though it didn't end the way we would have hoped. Mike, congrats on the marriage!

Herbie...well, thanks for just being you man. It is a privilege to call you a friend. You continue to amaze with your insight and knowledge into these great fish. You run the best camp in Canada.

My friend Chuck. We have proven to be a great combination. Helping each other out, watching each others baits, swapping the hot bait of the day, switching positions in the boat, etc...all to make sure everyone is getting chances at these great fish. See ya soon, and cannot wait til next year!!

Finally, it was great chatting with our friend Rob in the evenings. It was also cool to meet Bill Hedden. What a nice guy Bill is. I think a lot of Musky fisherman could learn a lot from Bill. He quietly goes about his business, fishing secondary & lesser known spots with his home-made baits...and he outfished EVERYONE in camp this week. I hope to see Rob and Bill up there again next year!

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I've posted about Eagle Lake in the past. But it is true! The Musky fishery is on fire. It really does keep getting better, year after year. Whatever the Ministry of Resources is doing...i hope they keep doing it!!! There are so many 42-46" fish in there is it amazing. Then, I wouldn't hesitate to say that 46-52" are there in NUMBERS. And of course there are always the Eagle Lake "jumbos"...they are in there and available!!! Our final stats for the trip were...
Dan: 51", 48", 44", 39"
Chuck: 47", 46", 45", 43", 41.5"

That above is what was caught. We could have very easily had a few more in the 48"-50" range too, with a little luck. We also lost more in the mid 40" range. But you cannot with them all!

So, what happened Thursday morning? Well, the biggest fish I have ever seen, easily a 45lb class fish & possibly a 50lb class fish, decided to eat my bait at boatside. We had her on for about 15-20 seconds, but she won by barrel rolling the hooks out. I am honored to have been in the presence of such a great fish. It was a privilege to even have the chance to fight her for a few seconds. With the trajectory that the Eagle Lake Musky fishery is on, I have no doubt that in my lifetime that I will get to tangle with another great fish like this!! I believe this 100%!

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So there it is. What a week with old friends, new friends, and big fish!! You cannot ask for more than that.

-Dan