Landing the Big One by Danielle Dryke
Fishing has never been a Minnesota pastime that interests me, but last week when the DHS Waiver Review brought us to Park Rapids I had the opportunity to discover what all the fuss is about. An old friend of mine, who has devoted every free moment of his life for the past several years to the sport, offered to introduce me to the art of pursuing the elusive Muskie. For a time during the day it looked as though our outing would be thwarted between the rain and the fatigue Kyle was experiencing after unsuccessfully spending the past two days furiously casting and reeling on Lake Vermillion. But the draw of the new moon prevailed and we set off shortly after work for Mantrap Lake. After spending four hours in the rainy darkness we emerged successful! Just when it was starting to seem as though we were doomed and my casting skills were proving more likely to scare them off than lure them in…
Danielle and her cacth
We got two bites while trolling around, and Kyle, being a true gentleman, allowed me to get a true taste of the sport, and reel them both in. Reeling in the first one I was mostly afraid that the pole would snap, being a novice and all but of course it did not, even for a 43.5 inch long slimy Muskie. The second one, Kyle later informed me, was shorter than the first, but twice as feisty and put up quite a fight! These events conspired to make Hubbard County my favorite review after a year of site visits with the Waiver Review Team!
Kyle and his catch
Kyle Johnson works as a Muskie fishing guide in the Park Rapids area and can be reached at kjohnson50@msn.com for more information and rates.










