Quote Originally Posted by Chuck Schranz View Post
I have to concur whole-heartedly with Dan. Wouldn't think 50#ers unless I saw it first hand myself.
Well, Chuckie, you had seen fish like that before. I know when that happened, me, you, & Cal all were being "conservative" when we all said "Easily a legal, and easily 45lbs". In my heart of hearts, I believe that fish was more like 55+", with a very big build. I was quietly thinking to myself, "Gees, could that have been a 50#?". And I know you guys were also quietly thinking the same thing.

It wasn't until we saw Herbie, and told him where it happened. He had possibly seen that fish in that area recently...and he said, "If it was THAT one I saw, it's probably a 50# class fish." It just confirmed what we were all thinking, but not saying at that point. Nobody wants to exaggerate and sound like a jack@ss in the boat saying stuff like that. But when a guy like Herbie says it, then you know that what we all experienced was quite special.

Sure, I wish the outcome turned out in our favor, but I don't have any regrets about it. I feel truly blessed to have even witnessed & fought that magnificent animal for 15-20 seconds. And like I said, with the trajectory that the Eagle musky fishery is on, and with me being "only" 35 years old, I truly believe I will have another chance at a fish like that on that lake in my lifetime.

-Dan