Springtime in Northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan can't be equaled anywhere.

I took the above picture on April 19th when the temperature was 65 degrees. While the air was dry and warm, you have to keep in mind that this lake still had floating ice a week ago. I would estimate that the water temperature is probably about 40 degrees. On a day like this a hike in the woods or a little canoeing or a nap in the sun listening to the arrival of migratory birds would be a great way to spend an afternoon. The local residents, the Cardinals, Pileated Woodpeckers, Barred Owls, Red-tailed Hawks and the like are already nest building. The Loons, Mergansers, Wood Ducks and Mallards are a story in themselves.

But the truth of it is that Spring brings the beginning of Musky fishing. These monsters are definitely older and probably smarter than most of those who try to catch them. The lucky novice, "Jerkbait John", my brother, is a perfect example. We catch and release, of course, as we believe the fish should live to thrill another angler.

The lakes here are teaming with Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye and every sort of pan fish, but to do battle with the Musky, the undisputed champion of freshwater game fish, is the experience of a lifetime. They call them the fish of 10,000 casts.

A Musky by any other name, it still means the same...

"Muskellunge are known by many names, including mascallonge, mascallunge, mascalonge, mascanongy, mascilinga, mascilinge, maskallonge, maskalonge, maskalunge, maskenonge, maskenonza, maskenonzag, masknonsha, maskenozha, maskinauga, maskininge, masinoje, masnkinonge, maskinonje, masquallonge, masquallongee, masquealonge, masquelongue, masquenonge, masquenouge, masquinongy, modkalonge, moskallunge, moskalonge, moskinlonge, moskinonge, muscalinga, muscallonge, muscalonge, muscalunge, muskalinga, muskalinge, muskallinga, muskallonge, muskallunge, musalonge, muskalunge, muskelinge, muskelonge, muskellunde, muskellung, muskellunge, muskige, muskinlonge, muskinonge, muskinongis, muskinunge, musk-a-longe, muskullunge, musquallonge, musquallunge, musquellunge, muskie, musky, muskey, 'longe, 'lunge, kionge and Kentucky river pike. So, what's in a name? Not much, really, but it all depends on where you live."  Dave Richey

King of Fresh Water Fish !