50-inch obsession

No matter the catch, anglers want to know “How big?” Our obsession with size is nothing new, and whether it’s weighed or measured, bigger is better. Every fish has a gold standard: a certain mark of achievement for that species. For bass it’s a five-pounder, while walleye fishermen eye the 30-inch mark. Unquestionably, for the muskie crowd, it’s a fish that measures 50 inches. The hype and brou­haha surrounding this number in the muskie world is nothing short of obsessive — at times to a fault. Join the club Admittedly, my own quest for a 50-inch muskie reached feverish levels. The first two muskies I ever witnessed being caught surpassed the 50-inch mark. While thrilling to be a part of, it made me want one for myself even more. Catching some fish in the mid- to upper-40s only made the fever worse. One night my wife awoke to me sitting up in bed yelling “Get the net!” All I could think about was the next chance I’d have to go muskie fishing. I was completely consumed. The muskie-fishing rollercoaster reached a low point one afternoon when I lost what was surely a 50-plus inch fish just feet from the net. It was total devastation. As fate would have it, however, later the same day, I landed a big one. I remember the guys I was with (both 50-inch club members many times over) saying things like “There it is, that’s your 50!” and “That’s over 50, for sure.” I pulled it out of the net and laid it on the bump board, with a tail pinch it measured 51-and-a-half inches. Finally, I was a member of the 50-inch club — I was the happiest guy in the world. But now I wanted another one — a bigger one. Chasing 50 I’ve addressed the muskie fishing obsession — for some, it’s an all-out addiction. The only way to feed the addiction is to chase after more and bigger fish. More 50s and bigger 50s become the new focus. After guiding muskies for more than 15 years, I’ve seen every side of the obsession and with the number 50. Every year I’m offered incentives to get someone a 50 incher. Every 50 incher is a memora­ble experience — an adrenaline rush for everyone in the boat. I’ve shared deep embraces with people I’ve just met after netting their first 50. I remember