EAGLE LAKE MUSKY FISHING 2024 OPENER!! - Canadian Muskies on Topwater and Bucktails 

@mitchellgenz1373 Always good to have fish in the bag, regardless of size!

@thelonesomefisherman7425 Absolutely! I love catching them of all sizes!

@@AnglingAnarchy Yuppers 😊

@jdean1851 Thanks dude!

@nathanlodder1006 I appreciate the kind words, but I'd say I'm an average musky fisherman at best. I'm just out here trying to have fun and share my love for the sport with whomever will watch my silly videos. As for measuring the fish, holding them up for the video, etc., a few things to consider. I'm working with Muskies Inc. to help get people into the sport and help educate people (that may not be musky fisherman) on proper handling. I think there are quite a few issues that need to be addressed on proper handling before we get to the whole "when to measure a fish" question. I still see people that will net the fish (in an undersized net) and then hoist it into the boat to unhook it. Minutes out of the water with improper tools, too many pictures, only to be unceremoniously dumped back into the water without making sure the fish stays upright and swims away. Heck, I still hear stories of people in Northern WI that will routinely keep muskies to eat! These are the issues that still need to be addressed, in my opinion. Let's get to the point where more people are prepared to leave that fish in the water, get it unhooked (or cut hooks if necessary), get the camera ready for a picture, get the bump board wetted down (if the person wants a measurement) and be able to do it all in 30-45 seconds. I hope that people new to the sport will see the way I do it in the videos, and it will help them to do that process better and more efficiently. Can I look at a musky and estimate size accurately? Sure....sometimes. Usually within an inch or two, but I've also been off by 4 or 5 inches. I've had guys tell me not to measure them unless they're 40". Then the next guy will say he only measures them over 44". To which another person will say they have to be over 48". It starts to feel like people are virtue signaling. The higher your number, the better person you are. Here's where I'm at. I'm a scientist by trade. I like numbers. I like to keep track of the size fish we're catching on a spring trip to Eagle Lake as opposed to a late summer trip, for example. Did high water affect the size of fish we're catching? Higher water temps vs. lower water temps? There are lots of variables, and I like looking at it as scientifically as possible. So here's where I stand. If you can relatively safely (nothing is ever perfect), measure the fish, and you want to, go for it. I don't care if it's 34" or 34 pounds. It's up to the individual who may have 2 years of musky fishing experience, or 20. If it doesn't matter to you, then pop the hooks and go onto the next one. I've found that people outside the musky world are already looking at us like we're a bunch of Prima Donna's, and this infighting that's going on amongst our ranks about measuring fish isn't helping and it scares people away from wanting to musky fish. Unlike a lot of people, I want to see more people in the sport, especially younger people. It means in the long term we can get more stocking, people will buy more baits, more people will go to the expos, so on and so forth. I'm just trying to have fun, share my joy and experience with anyone who will watch, and get more people excited about musky fishing.

First of all, he’s filming so he has an obligation to show off the fish especially when it’s for educational purposes. Brian does a great job at teaching and setting an example that is unfortunately over shadowed by comments like this that need to gate keep the size at which you can measure a fish. It’s just such a strange thing to comment over, it’s done properly, it’s done to show his viewers how to do it right. I’m blown away by how many people get so offended by measuring a fish instead of advocate for how Brian and others carefully and properly handle fish.

Totally disagree. The only reason I watch is to see how big the fish are. People like you are why fishing videos suck. Go watch Pete Maina guess if you're into that kinda thing

​@AnglingAnarchy don't change a thing. You're authentic and your average musky fisherman appreciates it!

@@jonsvobodny9238 I appreciate it!

@sgangling Thanks Sam! I appreciate it!

@Mcgeissler88 I'm using a Hero 4 Silver. I use it more for the audio. It had one of the best mics GoPro ever had in their cameras.

@liamdoherty1233 I did, just edited it out because people get all touchy about it ☺️

@darcygross410 They're certainly anomalies in that lake for our section as well. I very rarely see fish like that!

@@AnglingAnarchy buddy had a camp on the west arm and the fish that came out of there were thickk.