Although it wasn't my PB, I caught what was the heaviest muskie of my life on my annual muskie trip.  On my first day on the water I chatted with a local that told me of a small, 220 acre, lake that had plenty of 40in.+ sized fish not far from the lake we were on.  The next morning I gave it a shot.  There was a tournament scheduled to begin at 7:00AM and I again struck up a conversation with a couple of competitors. Less than an hour later I tied into a brute that went 45in. Although shorter than my PB, she was heavier and much more of a challenge to bring to the net.  I was so pumped, I got her unhooked, measured and released without thinking that I could have called one of the other boats over to get a pic. I was fishing alone and that is my 'normal' chain of events.  I also raised two nice fish. Not bad for a novice compared to a lot of the guys on the water that day. I think that lake will be on my go to list next year.

   Like an old guy said years ago, "Bass are fun. Musky are funner."  ??            jj

Nice job @papajoe222. When I am alone and catch a big fish I take a photo of it laying on the measuring board.

2 hours ago, gimruis said:

When I am alone and catch a big fish I take a photo of it laying on the measuring board.

I prefer not lying a fish on my carpeted deck. What I do is hold them,as best I can, on the gunnel where I have a tape measure sticker. I get a measurement as I slide it over the side while hanging on to the tail.

Ya I can understand not laying them on carpet. I don’t have carpet in my boat. I had this very issue of getting an accurate length of a muskie last season and another poster told me about a plastic folding measuring board. I haven’t used it this season yet.

 

https://www.rapala.com/rapala/fishing-tools/rulers/60-magnum-folding-ruler-/RMFR.html

 

 

Congratulations on your new personal best muskie.

On 7/4/2021 at 7:23 AM, jimmyjoe said:

   Like an old guy said years ago, "Bass are fun. Musky are funner."  ??            jj

"Bass inhale. Trout Sip.  The musky bites."

On 7/4/2021 at 8:36 PM, gimruis said:

Ya I can understand not laying them on carpet. I don’t have carpet in my boat. I had this very issue of getting an accurate length of a muskie last season and another poster told me about a plastic folding measuring board. I haven’t used it this season yet.

 

https://www.rapala.com/rapala/fishing-tools/rulers/60-magnum-folding-ruler-/RMFR.html

 

 

I just ordered a 2nd one for the drift boat.

I'm going to try one of these, too: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07K91BNRR?psc=1&pf_rd_p=f26b9570-7132-4603-a0f8-76da046321c4&pf_rd_r=Z081BK2FKXTKRG9Z6S9G&pd_rd_wg=DTUEy&pd_rd_i=B07K91BNRR&pd_rd_w=ggOi2&pd_rd_r=6d93553a-7dc4-4ab8-aaa6-9b84a96e5bdd&ref_=pd_luc_rh_crh_rh_bxgy_reranked_01_02_t_img_lh

On 7/3/2021 at 11:11 PM, papajoe222 said:

Although it wasn't my PB, I caught what was the heaviest muskie of my life on my annual muskie trip.  On my first day on the water I chatted with a local that told me of a small, 220 acre, lake that had plenty of 40in.+ sized fish not far from the lake we were on.  The next morning I gave it a shot.  There was a tournament scheduled to begin at 7:00AM and I again struck up a conversation with a couple of competitors. Less than an hour later I tied into a brute that went 45in. Although shorter than my PB, she was heavier and much more of a challenge to bring to the net.  I was so pumped, I got her unhooked, measured and released without thinking that I could have called one of the other boats over to get a pic. I was fishing alone and that is my 'normal' chain of events.  I also raised two nice fish. Not bad for a novice compared to a lot of the guys on the water that day. I think that lake will be on my go to list next year.

I do the same, I seldome even bring them into the boat unless there's a need.

Most of my musky pictures, if I even take them, look like this:

If you can spare the space it requires for storage, get a bump board. Dunk it in water before laying the fish on it, much better than carpet. Should have a tall edge on two sides to keep fish in position to see the measurement.

https://www.muskyshop.com/products/tools-measuring-ts-tackle-bump-board?_pos=5&_sid=d4f200558&_ss=r

20 hours ago, Vilas15 said:

If you can spare the space it requires for storage, get a bump board. Dunk it in water before laying the fish on it, much better than carpet. Should have a tall edge on two sides to keep fish in position to see the measurement.

https://www.muskyshop.com/products/tools-measuring-ts-tackle-bump-board?_pos=5&_sid=d4f200558&_ss=r

Those are great, but no room on either of my boats.

I'm good with "...it was about XX inches."