Today's trophy tale

Dave Sdano, Eden Prairie • 51-inch muskie • Lake Calhoun

My good friend Rick Pike of Minneapolis and I had put in about seven hours muskie fishing on both Cedar and Lake of the Isles, and had six follows and no strikes. I wasn't ready to quit, so I suggested we try Calhoun for a couple hours. The sky turned heavy overcast and started spitting rain, conditions I love. This fish hit as my lure was about halfway back to the boat, and I saw the strike. I yelled to Rick to get the net. The fish made a few powerful drag-stripping dives, but eventually Rick was able to slide the net under her, and the celebration began. It was 51 inches — my largest muskie caught in Minneapolis. We released it.

LUCKY STRIKE

Jo Jackson of Brooklyn Park caught and released this dandy smallmouth bass off the boat ramp at the Coon Rapids Dam on the Mississippi River. "I was fishing for panfish on the shore, and had a bobber on my line," she said. "Then I walked over to the dock, took off my bobber and my line dropped into the water." And the big bass hit.

LAST CHANCE

Max Salden, 14, of Chaska caught this 30-inch walleye in the final hour of a weekend trip to Lake of the Woods. "Max [the most knowledgeable fisherman in the family] did not catch one fish Friday or Saturday," said his dad, Todd. He caught several small sauger and walleye Sunday afternoon, before hooking this monster.

TROPHY TALES

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