Angler Hooks Bass, Muskie Eats Bass, Angler Catches Muskie!
Dave Maas 08.17.16
Ask any fishing guide, and he or she will tell you that no 2 days on the water are exactly alike. And no matter how many times you fish, you can still be surprised by something new.
Case in point: Longtime FLW Tour bass tournament angler Jim Moynagh (left in photo above) from Minnesota was guiding on some local waters near Minneapolis when one of his clients had a strike.
“We were fishing for largemouths on the deep weedline with plastic worms fished on 10-pound-test Gamma fluorocarbon and spinning gear,” Jim wrote on a recent Facebook post. “Josh hooked a bass and immediately this musky latched onto the bass’s head so that the bass’s body was sticking out to the side. The muskie refused to relinquish its meal, swimming around and near the boat for a few minutes. I thought it was just a matter of time before the bass was released and the muskie splits. But no! The muskie made a fast and furious power dive, and when Josh wrestled it back up from the depths, the bass was gone and now the hook was stuck in the corner of the muskie’s jaw! What am improbable event! Josh skillfully played the muskie, and on my fourth attempt, I hand-grabbed it and brought it aboard. Well done, Josh!”
The 44-inch muskie was the largest of Josh’s life.
If you’re ever in Minnesota and would enjoy a day on the water with Jim, he does have some openings in his guiding schedule. The best way to reach him is by private message on his Facebook page. He fishes many lakes around the Minneapolis metro area and also in north/central Minnesota – think Mille Lacs Lake for giant smallmouths!
Hiring a fishing guide is a great opportunity to learn new techniques, and it can also be a memorable outing for parents/children, couples and even business clients who enjoy the outdoors. So what does a day on the water cost?
Jim charges $250 for 4 hours for one person, $30 per hour for each additional hour, and a $50 flat fee for each additional person fishing no matter how long of a trip. And here’s the best news: kids under 18 and spouses are free with a paid adult!
Editor’s note: If you book a trip with Jim, be sure to ask him about his life on the tournament trail, including the time he won $200,000 – the largest purse in competitive fishing at the time – during the 1997 FLW Forrest Wood Open.
