Larry A. Smail's Blog

We left the dock early in the morning prior to sunrise over the background hill. A slight fog was encircling our boat as we slowly edged out into the Allegheny River. Although foggy visibility was not very much curtailed. I have been out when a dense fog covered the river.

The fishing had just begun before Frankie hooked a Muskie on a surface lure. I grabbed the camera and took some pics in the still dreary morn. We shook hands and were extremely happy to had already had some “Ski” action. We wondered what the rest of the day would bring.

We quickly released the nice fish to avoid unnecessary strain. Then the surface fishing began again in earnest. Unfortunately, we failed to get any quick action and eventually moved upriver to a favorite spot. Fishing was about to get good again!

We continued with surface lures when I had a sixth-sense about me. I, somehow, knew I was going to get a fish with a cast and a millisecond later a Muskie grabbed my lure and the battle began. It is always a great experience to battle a Muskie.

The above two photos were taken later once the sun came out to enhance the fishes beauty. As before Frankie released the fish as I held the pole in place to ensure the fish was alongside the boat. We didn’t want to stress the fish anymore than we needed.

Fishing slowed and eventually we began trolling to finish out the day.

We saw some deer along the way. Ducks were viewed here and there. At various places one could see the brilliant scarlet red even at great distances. I knew these were Cardinal Flowers. At one point while casting near the shore I managed some photos of the beautiful native flower.

The day would reach to about 90 degrees by the afternoon. We were hot, but we didn’t care for we had a good day on the Allegheny River.

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Joe Houck placing muskies into his boat.

I knew of the scheduled muskellunge stocking for this day. The Pennsylvania Fish Commission stock truck was to be at Rosston, Pennsylvania at 12:30. I arrived on site about ten after twelve and much stocking had already taken place.

Joel Morrow helping fish commission to empty truck of remaining muskies.

Crooked Creek and the Allegheny River at Rosston

My friend, Frank Maus was already “out to sea” with his boatload of the muskie fingerlings when I arrived on site. Other muskie fishermen such as Joel Morrow and  Joe Houck were loading up to go out into the waters of the Allegheny River to scatter their future catches. These men and others were on hand to stock the fish throughout  various areas of the river. They are members of Muskie.Inc. The organization adds financial aid to help the fish commission with the raising and stocking of the young muskies. This is joint effort. Their web site is: www.muskieinc.org                                                                                              

The estimate of survival is somewhere around 10%. Predation is high on all fish. Other musies will eat these fish whenever the opportunity exists. A total of around 1400 fish were stocked this day at several locations.

     In a few years we will be catching these beauts!

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   My friend, Frank “The Muskie” Maus and I spent some quality time on the great Allegheny River  in our quest for the muskellunge! Frank has had a dry streak and he was hoping his “good luck charm” would change the fishing.

The morning was a beautiful fall-like one with cool temperatures. Beautiful wisps of fog could be viewed lifting from the still waters of the river. We saw a small flock of turkeys and a deer while traveling to the fishing event.  Would these sightings be a positive omen.? Time would tell!                                                                                                                                    

The method of fishing this day would be continuing casting lures hoping some hungry ‘ski would chase and gobble up. We casted and drifted for a long time catching up on the many stories of spring gobbler hunting and fishing and other friends and past working partners.

    At one site, Frankie had a swirl of a fish coming close to his lure and, later, I felt a bump and saw the flash of some unhooked fish!

later while retrieving my lure I felt the tug and in short saw a muskie. Unfortunately, the muskie threw the hooks and swam away to fight another day. (We were fishing near Dan’s favorite place!) We, laughingly, kept saying that we didn’t want to catch any skies anyway for then one would have to remove them.                   

Well, that would be it for any fish action. In a way, the good luck charm worked for we had three potential times when fish could have been caught. So, I will take credit for that!

Frank battening down the hatches!!!

Other critters of the day were a great blue heron, buzzards, geese, and an osprey.

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A view along the Allegheny.

My good friend, Frank Maus and I spent some quality time fishing for that elusive muskie on the Allegheny River. Frankie is an exclusive muskie fisherman. His determination is routinely proven by his knowledge and skill with that specie known as the muskellunge. He catches  plenty of them. I have read in the past that some say catching this fish is the equivalent of 1000 casts per fish. That thought may be accurate!    

We began the fishing excursion by using surface plugs at a couple of spots. We fished this way for about one and a half hours before we starting trolling. The day, although later warm, was beautiful with blue skies and low humidity.    

Quiet waters.

We kept talking and discussing the old jobs we retired from and the laughs we used to experience there. Suddenly, the sound of line rapidly exiting a reel was heard. I remember saying , “Which pole?”  There is always a small amount of time that occurs when this happens until your mind hones in on reality.   

Frank immediately sped up the boat to help set the hook.  He grabbed the rod and the water exploded behind the boat and we both realized that a nice fish was on the end of the line. Frank landed the fish and I held the pole as he attempted to get an accurate measurement.  

The muskie!

The muskie was at least 46 inches. Have you ever tried to measure a fish of that size while it is yet  in the water and moving? Frank always works at playing the fish for a short time, getting a photo; measuring and releasing it quickly. A sign of a true conservation-minded individual.  

Frank releasing his muskie.

Top of the line predator...notice the eyes and teeth.

The plug is about 7 inches long.. to compare.

"La belle riviere"

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