Too hot to go outside today? Here’s a pretty cool fish story

By VDC staff

Many Vermont anglers can’t wait to get out on the Lake for some fishing over the long Fourth of July weekend. A few hate the heat and can’t wait for Lake Champlain to freeze so they can walk or drive out to their favorite ice fishing spots.

Either way, the muskellunge is waiting. Vermont is the only New England state with a muskellunge population – thanks to Lake Champlain. While spring and fall are prime seasons, muskies can be caught throughout the year on Lake Champlain. Hot weather or cold, they’re waiting and legal, for anyone with a Vermont fishing license. 

Just ask Cayden Graham. 

As reported on a Vermont Fish & Wildlife Facebook post this spring, Graham set out his tip-ups in Missisquoi Bay for a day of ice fishing on March 1. He never would have imagined the surprise that was in store for him. Expecting to catch a bass, pike, or perch through the 8″ hole he’d drilled, Graham wound up hooking and pulling up a 32 pound Muskellunge measuring in at 49.25″ long with a 23″ girth. 

To put this catch into perspective, let’s do a quick math exercise: how did a Muskie with a 23″ girth come through an 8″ auger hole? The circumference of a circle with an 8″ diameter is 25″ (8 x Pi = 25). The girth, or circumference, of the fish was 23″. That’s not a lot of wiggle room (literally!) to land the fish. But land it he did, and after a few photos, Graham released the large female and called Fish & Wildlife staff to share the exciting news.

Graham’s catch is a great sign that the stocking program to restore this amazing native fish species to Lake Champlain has been working. Apex predators like Muskies help keep the lake healthy and in-balance, and Graham can attest to the wonderful fishing opportunities they provide, as well. 

In fact, Graham’s catch came in just 3/4″ short of the 50″ benchmark many Muskie anglers consider to be a true “trophy” sized fish. Not to mention, a female Muskie that big will lay up to 225,000 eggs during the spawning season in May. 

“We’re at the cusp of what could someday be a world-class fishery,” Fish & Wildlife enthused.

Photo courtesy of Cayden Graham. Excerpts of this article sourced from Vermont Fish & Wildlife Facebook page.