This story is a lengthy one, feel free to skim.

Southwest Va fishing the New River just about 10 miles south of Claytor Dam. Stuck on the bank, but positive thoughts as I found a hole I know has to have fish in it. Time is about 2:45 pm. Sky is overcast with frequent light drizzle. Air temp is 75 degrees best guess is water is close possibly a few degrees cooler. Water is stained (green) from recent rains visibility is about 3 feet.

Spot I found is a concrete footing for a train trestle. Close to shallow moving water with a 7-8 foot deep pool out of the current hugging the bank. Three setups with me today, all spinning, one M with 12# mono, one MH with 12#, an my UL with 6#. Start fishing with a weightless senko in green pumpkin. Fishing close to lay downs and bank in a parallel motion. Nothing, not even a nibble. So I cross to the other side of the trestle fishing to deep pool, deadsticking the senko across the logs and weed beds I had identified on my first scouring mission. Nothing. Decide to try some top water figuring maybe with the overcast they might be responsive. Fishing the lay downs on the opposite side crossing over the top of the tree limbs. Nothing. Getting frustrated at this point, I cross back over to the other side. I start fishing over the top of the structure. Finally get the black buzz bait back into this hole where I want it and it disappears then reappears followed by a humongous fin. Something big just missed, first thought is a carp. Second though is why is a carp hitting a buzz bait. Figure what the heck lets catch it.

Continue pitting pressure on the spot, unfortunately I am doing it poorly and smashing the buzz into the water. At this point I figure I have scared whatever was around away. Boy was I wrong, next cast goes slightly past the spot I got my first hit and as I am bringing it I get a slow easy strike, one from a fish that knows it is in charge and I set the hook.

This is the moment I realize I am in trouble. I pull and start the fight and realize I have a fish that is easily 24 inches (if not larger) on my ultralight rig. I have no net and I am standing on a concrete footing above 5 fow. We start the battle and he is just calm as a cucumber. He has no worries he is king of this pool. I know my only option is to climb around the side of the footing and get back to where the bank is. So I start, it's at this point I realize I have a Muskie and that I don't know how I will get the hook out, but I will cross that bridge once I get to it. I start towards the bank and the Muskie is cool with it just filling the lure letting me pull him. I get around the edge when he realizes he his going towards shallow water, this angers him and he kicks,hard, trying to get away. I come back around the footing letting him play. Hoping to get him to tire some and realize my drag is set to closed. Now I am fighting this fish and trying to loosen my drag so it doesn't snap. I get the drag loosened and just in time he pushes away an the drag pays out. I continue this fight for another five minutes and decide it is time to try again to get him to the bank.

I crawl around the footing and make it to shore I pull starting to get him around the corner when I realize to my dread I have made my mistake. I pull him parallel to me and around the corner. He kicks and my recognition of dread becomes fact as he drags the mono across the concrete cleanly breaking the line and my dreams of my first Muskie.

Maybe next time.

That sounds like a battle man!! I would have been ticked too because I have never caught a muskie before

I don't know where to fish for muskie in FL. In NJ I knew a place but I never caught one just really big pickerel and the occasional bass. There were so many pickerel that it seemed like that is all you caught. I've had some monsters pickerel are smaller than pike and muskie but some of the ones I was catching could have passed for a big pike or a small muskie.

If I find out a place to fish for Muskie in Jacksonville I will be there and I will definitely share my story of my first muskie with everyone

That sounds like a battle man!! I would have been ticked too because I have never caught a muskie before

I don't know where to fish for muskie in FL. In NJ I knew a place but I never caught one just really big pickerel and the occasional bass. There were so many pickerel that it seemed like that is all you caught. I've had some monsters pickerel are smaller than pike and muskie but some of the ones I was catching could have passed for a big pike or a small muskie.

If I find out a place to fish for Muskie in Jacksonville I will be there and I will definitely share my story of my first muskie with everyone

There are no musky or pike in florida. You are to far south of their natural range.

There are no musky or pike in florida. You are to far south of their natural range.

thank you for that information because I was just on google trying to find some answers.

There are no musky or pike in florida. You are to far south of their natural range.

But they do have pickerel. Same family, just don't get as big.

I hate musky and pike. I only catch them during bass tourneys and they destroy every bass lure they hit. Funny, the musky guys say the same about bass. I've often thought about throwing musky baits for bass. Just don't really have the set-ups to make that happen. My home lake has musky in the 50" class and pike in the 40" class. They are fun to catch, I'd just rather not catch them.

I have caught those things on plastic worms, BPS stik-o, and rat-l-traps. Play them down to wear them out and don't try to pick them up by lipping them unless you have some band-aids handy.