The Pineview Muskie

It's not too often you get to hear your fishing buddy scream like his 6-year-old daughter.  The opportunity came for me when Mortensen--thinking he was snagged on the Fish Master trolling motor--lands about a 28-30" long 10-12lb Muskie on Pineview Reservoir.  The Mortensen's & Gourley's went camping August 16-17 at Anderson Cove Campground.  Erin & Eric went out fishing Friday evening after camp was set up.  The fishing was slow.  The water level was low, and the boat traffic was ridiculous.  We were fishing on the west end of the lake by the dam.  Eric caught two Small Mouths, one of which was on a fly rod.  That was a first.  Mortensen puts on his killer #4 Mepps spinner as we are goofing around a few feet from shore.  Eric starts backing the boat away with the trolling motor when Mortensen's rod bends more than in half.  Eric stops, as Mortensen thinks he's caught on the trolling motor.  Then he says he has a fish.  Eric says, "I think your snagged."  Then his rod starts moving, and Mortensen again says it's a fish.  Eric doesn't believe him for some reason, even though the "Mortensen Magic" always pulls out the big ones.  I just could not believe a fish that big would come out of Pineview.  Eric says, "Are you sure it's not a rock?" to which Mortensen exclaims, "IT"S A FISH!!!"  Then the drag sings, he fights, and finally we catch a glimpse of the fish.  Mortensen yells, "I've caught a Tiger Muskie!"  Eric tells him it's a Carp!   The drag sings again as the fish runs towards the shore.  Finally, it surfaces, and we get it in the net and on the boat.  We're yelling in celebration at the size of the fish and the fact it is a Muskie.  Eric tells Mortensen to flip it out of the net and unhook it.  He's screaming like his little daughter, "It's going to bite me!" and dancing around the boat.  Luckily it unhooks itself, we snap the pics below, and toss it back in the lake.  We estimated its size and weight.  What an amazing fish!  What fun!  Mortensen does it again! His biggest fish yet!