July 20, 1955: Muskie fever

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An angler’s dream unfolded one hot weekend in July 1955. Huge muskies began hitting “anything and everything†in the northeast corner of Leech Lake, a 175-square-mile reservoir in north-central Minnesota. Before a storm blew in a few days later and ended the run, anglers swarmed the headwaters of the Leech Lake River and landed more than 100 trophy muskies. The Minneapolis Star described the scene:

 

It was like shooting fish in a barrel. (Grand Rapids Herald-Review photo)

 

NOBODY KNOWS WHAT CAUSED IT BUT IT’S A DREAM

Fantastic Musky Mob Scene Panics Leech

 

By JACK CONNOR

Minneapolis Star Outdoor Writer

 

This is a fantastic story about that fantastic fish – the muskellunge.

 

Only those who have seen or caught the evidence can believe it.

 

The little town of Federal Dam, Minn., where Leech Lake river empties into Leech lake, is wild with excitement.

 

Since Saturday, huge muskies from 15 to 43 pounds have been on a rampage. No one can explain why – not even state fisheries bureau biologists.

 

The action started, quite by accident, Friday afternoon. From then until noon Tuesday a total of 83 big muskies have been landed.

 

They were hitting anything and everything.

 

And they were in an area of the lake where no one thought there were muskies before. At least none had been caught there in years.

 

The area is five miles south and west of the five boat landings at Federal Dam among a field of bulrushes in 15 feet of water.

 

Today proprietors of the five boat landings were booked solid for the rest of the week and into next week. Launches were converging on the area from all parts of expansive Leech Lake.

 

The fantastic story goes back to last Friday afternoon when Mr. and Mrs. Al Storer went out fishing walleyes on nearby Boy river. Mrs. Storer had a minnow and spinner walleye hookup. But a muskie estimated at 25 pounds took it. She lost the fish when it got near the boat.

 

That evening they drove over to Merle Wescott’s landing below Federal Dam on Leech Lake. They were fishing for walleyes again. But they got two muskies instead.

 

Next day, Saturday, there were back on Leech with Morris Cohen and Art Green, both of Chicago. The four of them got nine more muskies. Westcott, his son, father and a cousin also were out. They got five.

 

That started the muskie rush. The word passed like a prairie fire out of control.

 

“It was like a dream,†Mrs. Storer said today. “You could see those big muskies lying right on top of the water.

 

“There were boats everywhere and in every one somebody was landing a big muskie or playing one at the end of his line. They were leaping all over the place.â€

 

From Saturday until yesterday 20 big muskies were brought into Neurer’s landing. The largest weighed 42 pounds, 6 ounces, and was caught by Walter Kreutner of Shellsbury, Iowa.

 

That one set a new season record for this or any other state.

 

Twenty-four more big ones were brought into Stillman’s landing, 20 into Wescott’s landing, seven into Warren’s landing and 11 into Bader’s landing.

 

The best at Wescott’s weighed 39 pounds and was caught by Walter Foster, Harvey, Ill. George Durkee, a Federal Dam guide, brought a 38½ -pounder into Bader’s. Rusty Lego, another guide, came into Stillman’s with a 37-pounder.

 

Warren Bridge of Warren’s landing brought a small one in, only 24½ pounds.

 

Dick Spadafore, Deer River editor, checked all landings today. “You couldn’t get a boat. But there’s a public landing at Sunset bay on Leech lake.

 

“I don’t know how long this will last, but it’s been a merry-go-round since it started. No one knows what caused it. Even the guides have no idea.â€

 

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[poacher3161 1,766]

Just a shame they had to kill them all:( Theirs some great pics of these fish in Fred Bullers Pike and the pike angler one of the best books imho wrote on the subject of pike and fishing for them i highly recomend this book and found it very intresting.atb dell