Monster Metro Muskie!!!

[Mayfly]

Blue Ribbon Pro Staffer Chico Rodriguez Catches a 53.5?, 33-lb Musky!

By: Josh Stevenson
   

All month I have been raving about how great fishing can be in the month of July. I have told several success stories this month and have discussed how to fish in the metro during these ?hot? times.? The fish that landed on Blue Ribbon?s doorstep last Wednesday night epitomizes the success of fishing in the metro lakes in the month of July.? In this week?s column, I will share the success of a very special fisherman by the name of Aaron ?Chico? Rodriguez.? Not only is Chico a Blue Ribbon Bait & Tackle pro staffer, he is also one of the most talented young anglers I have met.? ?

I have known Chico and his dad Art for about six years now.? I first met them when they came into Blue Ribbon to buy bait and tackle.? From the very beginning, I could tell that Chico was passionate about fishing.? He was so eager to learn and grow as a fisherman that I could not help but take him under my wing.? Chico was an avid fisherman and this made it all the easier to teach him the ways of fish.? We spent a lot of time fishing and it was clear from the way he applied the concepts that he had grasped them well.? I was very impressed by his voraciousness for fishing and recently, added him to our pro staff.?

Although Chico has had many great catches in the past few years, I do not think he was quite prepared for the magnitude of the one that he made last Wednesday night.? I got a very excited call from Chico and Art telling me that I had to stay at Blue Ribbon and wait for them.? I was confused but they would not reveal why it was so important for them to see me.? Even Chico?s best friend (and a Blue Ribbon employee and prostaffer), Kevin Kiewel would not spill the beans.? When Chico and Art pulled into Blue Ribbon?s lot, I could tell that something big was up.? My first clue as to how big this something was came from the time and effort it took both Chico and his dad to pull a giant bag out of the car.? From the size of the bag, I was sure that they were bringing in a deer or something to that effect.? It just took only a tug at the zipper to reveal the mystery: a 53.5? musky that weighed in at 33 lbs!? You should have seen Chico?s and Art?s faces glowing with pride!? I now understood the urgent request for me to stay at the store until they arrived and the wait was well worth it.
 
Chico had made quite the catch.? The musky had two huge battle scars and it looked like it was at the end of its life span.? The fish had a humongous head and a normal looking body.? Its tail was also huge, but the length of the fish was its most impressive characteristic.? It is probably the longest musky from the metro area that I got to measure since guiding and working at Blue Ribbon.?

Now the best part for me:? I got to interview Chico and Art after the best fishing night of Chico?s life.? I could sense the overflowing excitement that they shared and I could not wait to figure out what was going through their minds.? Here is a piece of that interview:
   
Josh: How do you feel after your big catch?

Chico:   Shaken up.? I am shaking still. I can?t even describe it ? all the hard work has paid off.? It?s the greatest feeling in the world.

Josh: How were you fishing when you caught it?

Chico: I was casting a super shad rap, cranking it down, and giving it an occasional twitch.? Then I felt it bump bottom, so then I ripped it hard and the fish crushed it. ? I?d like to thank my dad for getting me into fishing and taking me out all the time.? He was always there to take me when I wanted to go.? I would also like to thank you for being my fishing coach and trainer.? Finally, I?d like to thank my best pal Kevin for helping me stay positive about fishing and keeping me inspired.?

Josh: Art, how do you feel tonight?

Art: I was driving home from work, got the call from my son and I just started screaming!? I am so excited for him because he has been trying to catch a giant fish like you his whole life.? He looks up so much to you.? The first thing he wanted to do was for me to bring him here to Blue Ribbon so that he could show it to you. ? I am so high like a mountain for my son.? That fish is scary looking.? Today is a proud day for me.
   
 
I could tell Chico was on cloud nine.? His facial expressions alone were telling the tale of his monstrous fish.? He was so excited and he reminded me of how I felt when I caught my state record tiger musky.? It is hard to describe the feeling that overtakes the mind after reeling in such a huge fish.? The excitement of a giant musky is unmatchable and infectious.? The feeling anglers get after huge catches seems to spill over to the people surrounding them.? Everyone close to them somehow gets affected by it.? It is inevitable that some people will get jealous while others will appreciate the moment and be happy for the angler.? I hope that people will be inspired to fish after hearing about Chico?s catch right here in the metro region.? ?
   


And a couple Pics of the Monster!

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[Mayfly]

Here is another one....


These guys over at Blue Ribbon catch muskies! That is what they do. All Metro Muskies! I'm jealous.

This one was caught a week ago.

[JohnWester]

not that I am one of those guys that preach catch and release, I am not...
just curious, were the above fished released?  I am assuming the top one was not, since the one picture looks like its in the driveway or something, but that last one was?

unless mounting, people don't keep these fish do they?  You don't eat them.

[Mayfly]

No people don't eat Muskies.....C'mon BFG you know the answer to that.

Well maybe someone somewhere does....I don't know of anyone.



The first fish: he is putting that one on his wall. Congrats to him.



The second one is still swimming in Lake X. The lake will be revealed along with an article in next weeks Outdoors weekly

[jebadia]

To answer the question about people eating muskie. They do actually. It is kind of considered a delicacy. I personally have to do catch and release on the big dogs but then again I have only almost boated one. From what i was told they are really tasty. There is a picture in a pizza joint of a major muskie catch in Walker Minnesota. A really neat pic from the thirtys. They have a huge doc just full of the big dogs. If I recall right it is probably 3-400lbs of muskie on the doc. Back in those days they considered them a nuisance.

Jeb