Links r Us
05-22-2004, 09:58 PM
MANSFIELD -- Alfred Canan-kamp wanted to avoid anything fishy about his latest fish tale.
So the Mansfield resident brought proof of his husky muskie to the News Journal on Monday at 7 a.m. Canankamp said he measured the female at 51 inches and weighed it at 42 pounds. He caught it in the creek off Clearfork Reservoir Dam below Gass Road.
"I would've turned her loose, but she was pretty bad off," the 34-year-old Canankamp said. "I think she had just laid her eggs.
"She was pretty old, that's about as big as they get."
There could be a debate on the beast, too. He didn't register the creature at Clearfork. Had he done so, and the measurements were correct, it would've been a lake record.
"The biggest one we have on record at Clearfork is 50 3/4 inches by Harold Schumauch in 1993," said Ed Lewis, fish biologist at the Division of Wildlife's District Two Fish Management Section. "But I can't say this is a record because I don't have it registered in front of me."
Canankamp tried to keep his catch alive, but couldn't. So, he slung the beast into a bucket and made his way to the News Journal.
"I can't say because I haven't seen it, but it's the biggest one I've heard of this year," Clearfork Reservoir manager Gary Johnson said.
According to Canankamp, the muskie put up quite a fight before being lifted into the boat. He used a rooster-tail lure and 80-pound test line to hook the fish.
"When I first felt the tug, I thought it was a log," Canankamp said. "It was about 8:30 and it probably took me a half hour or 45 minutes to bring it in."
Once the muskie neared the vessel, Canankamp pulled out his largest net, which triggered another fight.
"I've got a big dip net, but it probably took me another 15 minutes once I dipped her," he said.
Ohio Game and Fish Magazine rates Clear Fork as one of the state's top five lakes for muskie fishing. The others are Leesville Lake, West Branch Reservoir, Salt Fork Lake and Alum Creek Reservoir.
Canankamp, who works for Cunningham Trash Service, said he's also hauled in muskies of 48 and 50 inches during his angling career.
"If that measurement is correct, 51 inches is the biggest I've heard of," said Greg Wasilewski, the Richland County Wildlife Officer.
The state-record muskie was 55 pounds, 2 ounces and 50 1/4 inches.
"It's just a little hobby I've got," Canankamp said. "I like to go out in the boat around the dam and go after them."
Canankamp said he won't have the fish mounted. Instead, he plans to filet it for several meals.
"They're as good as walleye if you fix them right," he said.
lbphillips@nncogannett.com
(419) 521-7238
Email this story
Originally published Tuesday, May 11, 2004
http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/news/stories/20040511/localsports/394648.html
So the Mansfield resident brought proof of his husky muskie to the News Journal on Monday at 7 a.m. Canankamp said he measured the female at 51 inches and weighed it at 42 pounds. He caught it in the creek off Clearfork Reservoir Dam below Gass Road.
"I would've turned her loose, but she was pretty bad off," the 34-year-old Canankamp said. "I think she had just laid her eggs.
"She was pretty old, that's about as big as they get."
There could be a debate on the beast, too. He didn't register the creature at Clearfork. Had he done so, and the measurements were correct, it would've been a lake record.
"The biggest one we have on record at Clearfork is 50 3/4 inches by Harold Schumauch in 1993," said Ed Lewis, fish biologist at the Division of Wildlife's District Two Fish Management Section. "But I can't say this is a record because I don't have it registered in front of me."
Canankamp tried to keep his catch alive, but couldn't. So, he slung the beast into a bucket and made his way to the News Journal.
"I can't say because I haven't seen it, but it's the biggest one I've heard of this year," Clearfork Reservoir manager Gary Johnson said.
According to Canankamp, the muskie put up quite a fight before being lifted into the boat. He used a rooster-tail lure and 80-pound test line to hook the fish.
"When I first felt the tug, I thought it was a log," Canankamp said. "It was about 8:30 and it probably took me a half hour or 45 minutes to bring it in."
Once the muskie neared the vessel, Canankamp pulled out his largest net, which triggered another fight.
"I've got a big dip net, but it probably took me another 15 minutes once I dipped her," he said.
Ohio Game and Fish Magazine rates Clear Fork as one of the state's top five lakes for muskie fishing. The others are Leesville Lake, West Branch Reservoir, Salt Fork Lake and Alum Creek Reservoir.
Canankamp, who works for Cunningham Trash Service, said he's also hauled in muskies of 48 and 50 inches during his angling career.
"If that measurement is correct, 51 inches is the biggest I've heard of," said Greg Wasilewski, the Richland County Wildlife Officer.
The state-record muskie was 55 pounds, 2 ounces and 50 1/4 inches.
"It's just a little hobby I've got," Canankamp said. "I like to go out in the boat around the dam and go after them."
Canankamp said he won't have the fish mounted. Instead, he plans to filet it for several meals.
"They're as good as walleye if you fix them right," he said.
lbphillips@nncogannett.com
(419) 521-7238
Email this story
Originally published Tuesday, May 11, 2004
http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/news/stories/20040511/localsports/394648.html