Fly-fishing muskie for Fish of the Week 11-05-08

What a way to get your first muskie.

And have it be a fine 38-incher from the Fox River . . . while fly fishing for walleye.

That’s just what Richard Harris did Sunday while fishing near Yorkville.

To make it better, the Plano man was using a jig his wife Susan tied that morning. For that kind of story and catch, he earns Fish of the Week honors.

FOTW tops the Midwest Fishing Report each Wednesday in the Sun-Times. An extended version is posted here usually about midnight Tuesday.

Here’s the basic story from Harris:

On Sunday Mike Dale (another angler on the Fox yesterday morning) pulled a 38″ Muskie first ( we were thrilled for him). Within an hour I hooked into a second 38″ Muskie. I can’t believe it still. This is a beautiful coountry and the fishing is amazing!!

There’s an explanation for the “beautiful country” remark from Harris in a follow-up e-mail:

I am 38 and live in Plano (orignally from Britain). I’ve been in the US for 8 yrs. I have been fly fishing for one season in Illinois – fishing for Muskie, Smallmouth and Walleye every week since may of this year.

And he also sent the details of his equipment, which I found interesting:

Equipment: Gold Cup 9′ 10wt 3 piece rod Orvis Reel Rio floating fly line 1/16 jig head horizontal presentation (ball style, nickel) #4 Rainbow Flash Chartruese and White Marabou Chartruese rubber legs, 4-cut in half

E-mail FOTW nominations to outdoordb@sbcglobal.net.

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