Tony Buzolich
04-20-2015, 05:59 PM
At the last ISE Show in Sacramento I came across a fellow tying what I thought was an incredibly large striper fly. “Wow”, I said, “ that ought to take some nice size stripers”. “That’s not for stripers. It’s for muskies, Tiger Muskies to be exact.” The tyer I was talking with was David Goodrich, owner of Tumbleweed Fly & Tackle in Bluewater Lake New Mexico. Dave went on to tell me all about the incredible fishing they have for Tiger Muskies and the flies they use for them. I’d always wanted to catch a pike and now that Davis Lake was cleaned out of them this really caught my interest.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/037_zpsb2wc7yla.jpg (http://s22.photobucket.com/user/buzolich/media/037_zpsb2wc7yla.jpg.html)
Dave went on to say that the Tiger Muskies were brought in to help eradicate the goldfish which were introduced illegally to the lake and had been decimating the trout population by eating the same food the trout were feeding on. The Tiger muskies being a cross between a pike and a muskelunge don’t reproduce and are sterile. Having a life span of around eight to ten years they can be controlled by the game department when they feel the lake is in good balance again and left to die of old age or taken by regular fishing. The first plant in 2003 was such a success the New Mexico Dept. of Fish & Game has continued to add more of these fish to the lake and has now turned it into a trophy destination. Other states like Washington and Utah have also followed suit with lakes that are over populated by trash fish with great success as well.
Dave suggested that if I wanted to book a trip that I contact his partner Matt Pelletier who owns Fish Enchantment Guide Service and is also the president of New Mexico Tiger Muskies Inc.. A few days later after talking with my buddy Jim May we booked three days fishing with both Dave and Matt.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/014_zpsxy87hbcp.jpg (http://s22.photobucket.com/user/buzolich/media/014_zpsxy87hbcp.jpg.html)
After flying into Albuquerque we rented a car and drove to Grants New Mexico (about 85 miles) where we stayed before driving to the lake (another 28 miles). At the lake we met Dave at his shop where we got introduced to some more of his flies and how he sets them up. Leaders are short and simple, two feet of 50lb. butt tied to two feet of 80lb. bite. Yes,” 80 Pound bite”, which we found out later was not too much leader.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/008_zps4uwrbbbq.jpg (http://s22.photobucket.com/user/buzolich/media/008_zps4uwrbbbq.jpg.html)
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/010_zps8yx7dgaf.jpg (http://s22.photobucket.com/user/buzolich/media/010_zps8yx7dgaf.jpg.html)
The next morning we started out with Matt telling us about how these fish sneak on your fly before they pounce and attack. Really a stealthy grab often following the fly clear to the boat before striking. Even at the boat they need to be teased into taking the fly by making circles and figure 8’s to insight a response.
With lots of coaching from Matt, Jim was first to get a grab and have his first ever Tiger muskie come to the boat.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/033_zpspq0obunn.jpg (http://s22.photobucket.com/user/buzolich/media/033_zpspq0obunn.jpg.html)
Several grabs later I get my first muskie and plenty of high-fives all around.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/048_zps1fbids8v.jpg (http://s22.photobucket.com/user/buzolich/media/048_zps1fbids8v.jpg.html)
And so it went for the next three days with both guides. Blind cast, let it sink slow using intermediate lines, then only a slight jerk or twitch to get their attention, and continue to strip at half the speed you’d strip for stripers. Pause often and wait for a slight tap, then SET -SET-SET as quick and hard as you can. Hence the heavy leader and bite.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/110_zpsl4poakxv.jpg (http://s22.photobucket.com/user/buzolich/media/110_zpsl4poakxv.jpg.html)
Set, Strip, and lean sideways as the fish instantly turns. Keep your rod low to the water and keep tight. Then, if everything goes right, you’ll have a trophy of a lifetime.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/129_zpsw7v1krke.jpg (http://s22.photobucket.com/user/buzolich/media/129_zpsw7v1krke.jpg.html)
We were using 9w and 10 weight rods with intermediate lines. Jim hogged onto Matt’s black articulated fly which proved deadly for the first two days. I’m doing okay but black was the color they wanted. Here’s Jim’s fly and hand after handling a few gill rakers. The gill plate was safe but the rakers were like razor blades, and forget about ever lipping these things. Double rows of snake-like teeth were wicked.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/066_zps0ketwobk.jpg (http://s22.photobucket.com/user/buzolich/media/066_zps0ketwobk.jpg.html)
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/080_zpstqvlyv5n.jpg (http://s22.photobucket.com/user/buzolich/media/080_zpstqvlyv5n.jpg.html)
On the last day I decided to try something different and put on one of my own solid white flies with pearl flash-a-bou and double 4/0 hooks. Cast to the side of a rocky point with waves and wind bouncing us around like crazy. Try to maintain line control as the fly sinks and ,,,,,, Wham! No small tap, just a solid heavy grab and you get a glimpse of flash as she turns. Yahoo, she’s big. Jim had already taken one of 42” and I was hoping this girl would be as good. Putting all I could onto the 10 weight she comes to the gunnel where Dave grabs the bite and Jim grabs the camera. Before Jim can focus she turns, flips, and pops the 80lb. leader like it was thread. We all stand there briefly with our mouths open in awe. Easily a 43”-44” inch fish, and not even a picture to show.
Dave (our guide) feels terrible for loosing the fish and calls his shop to bring down some tying materials to the boat. He wants to match and replace my fly as he has nothing like it. At the dock the materials arrive and off we go to another point. We stop for lunch and while eating Dave begins tying me another big white fly while holding his vise in his lap.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/086_zpsf3lisksl.jpg (http://s22.photobucket.com/user/buzolich/media/086_zpsf3lisksl.jpg.html)
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/087_zpsf68gmzlm.jpg (http://s22.photobucket.com/user/buzolich/media/087_zpsf68gmzlm.jpg.html)
Half an hour later I’ve got the new fly back on my line and I’m hooked up again. They really liked white that day. Jim finally changed colors and he was hooking up as well on one of his own flies in black / white.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/116_zpsxo820bns.jpg (http://s22.photobucket.com/user/buzolich/media/116_zpsxo820bns.jpg.html)
We moved to one gravelly area where suckers were spawning and they liked white there too. Jim wasn’t doing too bad either with his black/white. At one point we had six hook ups and two fish in the boat in a matter of five minutes. Talk about a Chinese fire drill (no offence intended). Here’s where you don’t want to trip over your guides fly box.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/097_zpsu2ajzsww.jpg (http://s22.photobucket.com/user/buzolich/media/097_zpsu2ajzsww.jpg.html)
Toward the end of the day we move closer to the dock hoping for one more last fish before heading home. Jim gets another grab but can’t get tight. I make a last cast and get another big grab. Set, set, and set hard, and she goes airborne. Mouth open with gills plates slapping like a tarpon. I’m putting all I can into the ten weight before she comes to the side of the boat. Dave puts his hand solidly under the gill plate not wanting to loose another one of my fish in one day. Then, without warning she twists like an alligator in a roll, turns Dave’s arm in a knot, and dislocates two of his middle fingers forcing him to let loose of the leader. Fortunately, I’m still tight on the leader and continue to play her hoping she’ll tire out. Matt (the other guide) sees the action and comes to our aide in his boat with a bigger net. Still fighting we get her into the net, remove the fly, and get a splash in the face from her tail as she heads for the deep.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/140_zpsdmwim5cq.jpg (http://s22.photobucket.com/user/buzolich/media/140_zpsdmwim5cq.jpg.html)
High fives all around, even with Dave’s busted hand, and what a way to end a truly great trip.
Tony
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/037_zpsb2wc7yla.jpg (http://s22.photobucket.com/user/buzolich/media/037_zpsb2wc7yla.jpg.html)
Dave went on to say that the Tiger Muskies were brought in to help eradicate the goldfish which were introduced illegally to the lake and had been decimating the trout population by eating the same food the trout were feeding on. The Tiger muskies being a cross between a pike and a muskelunge don’t reproduce and are sterile. Having a life span of around eight to ten years they can be controlled by the game department when they feel the lake is in good balance again and left to die of old age or taken by regular fishing. The first plant in 2003 was such a success the New Mexico Dept. of Fish & Game has continued to add more of these fish to the lake and has now turned it into a trophy destination. Other states like Washington and Utah have also followed suit with lakes that are over populated by trash fish with great success as well.
Dave suggested that if I wanted to book a trip that I contact his partner Matt Pelletier who owns Fish Enchantment Guide Service and is also the president of New Mexico Tiger Muskies Inc.. A few days later after talking with my buddy Jim May we booked three days fishing with both Dave and Matt.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/014_zpsxy87hbcp.jpg (http://s22.photobucket.com/user/buzolich/media/014_zpsxy87hbcp.jpg.html)
After flying into Albuquerque we rented a car and drove to Grants New Mexico (about 85 miles) where we stayed before driving to the lake (another 28 miles). At the lake we met Dave at his shop where we got introduced to some more of his flies and how he sets them up. Leaders are short and simple, two feet of 50lb. butt tied to two feet of 80lb. bite. Yes,” 80 Pound bite”, which we found out later was not too much leader.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/008_zps4uwrbbbq.jpg (http://s22.photobucket.com/user/buzolich/media/008_zps4uwrbbbq.jpg.html)
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/010_zps8yx7dgaf.jpg (http://s22.photobucket.com/user/buzolich/media/010_zps8yx7dgaf.jpg.html)
The next morning we started out with Matt telling us about how these fish sneak on your fly before they pounce and attack. Really a stealthy grab often following the fly clear to the boat before striking. Even at the boat they need to be teased into taking the fly by making circles and figure 8’s to insight a response.
With lots of coaching from Matt, Jim was first to get a grab and have his first ever Tiger muskie come to the boat.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/033_zpspq0obunn.jpg (http://s22.photobucket.com/user/buzolich/media/033_zpspq0obunn.jpg.html)
Several grabs later I get my first muskie and plenty of high-fives all around.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/048_zps1fbids8v.jpg (http://s22.photobucket.com/user/buzolich/media/048_zps1fbids8v.jpg.html)
And so it went for the next three days with both guides. Blind cast, let it sink slow using intermediate lines, then only a slight jerk or twitch to get their attention, and continue to strip at half the speed you’d strip for stripers. Pause often and wait for a slight tap, then SET -SET-SET as quick and hard as you can. Hence the heavy leader and bite.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/110_zpsl4poakxv.jpg (http://s22.photobucket.com/user/buzolich/media/110_zpsl4poakxv.jpg.html)
Set, Strip, and lean sideways as the fish instantly turns. Keep your rod low to the water and keep tight. Then, if everything goes right, you’ll have a trophy of a lifetime.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/129_zpsw7v1krke.jpg (http://s22.photobucket.com/user/buzolich/media/129_zpsw7v1krke.jpg.html)
We were using 9w and 10 weight rods with intermediate lines. Jim hogged onto Matt’s black articulated fly which proved deadly for the first two days. I’m doing okay but black was the color they wanted. Here’s Jim’s fly and hand after handling a few gill rakers. The gill plate was safe but the rakers were like razor blades, and forget about ever lipping these things. Double rows of snake-like teeth were wicked.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/066_zps0ketwobk.jpg (http://s22.photobucket.com/user/buzolich/media/066_zps0ketwobk.jpg.html)
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/080_zpstqvlyv5n.jpg (http://s22.photobucket.com/user/buzolich/media/080_zpstqvlyv5n.jpg.html)
On the last day I decided to try something different and put on one of my own solid white flies with pearl flash-a-bou and double 4/0 hooks. Cast to the side of a rocky point with waves and wind bouncing us around like crazy. Try to maintain line control as the fly sinks and ,,,,,, Wham! No small tap, just a solid heavy grab and you get a glimpse of flash as she turns. Yahoo, she’s big. Jim had already taken one of 42” and I was hoping this girl would be as good. Putting all I could onto the 10 weight she comes to the gunnel where Dave grabs the bite and Jim grabs the camera. Before Jim can focus she turns, flips, and pops the 80lb. leader like it was thread. We all stand there briefly with our mouths open in awe. Easily a 43”-44” inch fish, and not even a picture to show.
Dave (our guide) feels terrible for loosing the fish and calls his shop to bring down some tying materials to the boat. He wants to match and replace my fly as he has nothing like it. At the dock the materials arrive and off we go to another point. We stop for lunch and while eating Dave begins tying me another big white fly while holding his vise in his lap.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/086_zpsf3lisksl.jpg (http://s22.photobucket.com/user/buzolich/media/086_zpsf3lisksl.jpg.html)
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/087_zpsf68gmzlm.jpg (http://s22.photobucket.com/user/buzolich/media/087_zpsf68gmzlm.jpg.html)
Half an hour later I’ve got the new fly back on my line and I’m hooked up again. They really liked white that day. Jim finally changed colors and he was hooking up as well on one of his own flies in black / white.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/116_zpsxo820bns.jpg (http://s22.photobucket.com/user/buzolich/media/116_zpsxo820bns.jpg.html)
We moved to one gravelly area where suckers were spawning and they liked white there too. Jim wasn’t doing too bad either with his black/white. At one point we had six hook ups and two fish in the boat in a matter of five minutes. Talk about a Chinese fire drill (no offence intended). Here’s where you don’t want to trip over your guides fly box.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/097_zpsu2ajzsww.jpg (http://s22.photobucket.com/user/buzolich/media/097_zpsu2ajzsww.jpg.html)
Toward the end of the day we move closer to the dock hoping for one more last fish before heading home. Jim gets another grab but can’t get tight. I make a last cast and get another big grab. Set, set, and set hard, and she goes airborne. Mouth open with gills plates slapping like a tarpon. I’m putting all I can into the ten weight before she comes to the side of the boat. Dave puts his hand solidly under the gill plate not wanting to loose another one of my fish in one day. Then, without warning she twists like an alligator in a roll, turns Dave’s arm in a knot, and dislocates two of his middle fingers forcing him to let loose of the leader. Fortunately, I’m still tight on the leader and continue to play her hoping she’ll tire out. Matt (the other guide) sees the action and comes to our aide in his boat with a bigger net. Still fighting we get her into the net, remove the fly, and get a splash in the face from her tail as she heads for the deep.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/140_zpsdmwim5cq.jpg (http://s22.photobucket.com/user/buzolich/media/140_zpsdmwim5cq.jpg.html)
High fives all around, even with Dave’s busted hand, and what a way to end a truly great trip.
Tony