NEWS FLASH:  June 19, 2004.   Gram Shirley lands 45" Musky.
(Nobody could make this up, so you'll just have to trust me.)

From the Quality Street Retreat at Long Lake

Grama Shirley (with Grampa Bill an accomplice/witness to the event) recently caught the "BIG ONE" and did so on 6 lb test with a tiny panfish hook.  Ian and Addison couldn't believe that small hook could catch such a big fish.  She had actually hooked a small panfish that the musky then hit.  How the tiny hook then got embedded in the corner of the great fish's mouth is anyone's guess.  And according to the fisherwoman, the only reason the line didn't snap on his teeth is that she had just broken the line and lazily tied on a leader.

Getting it onto the pontoon boat was a trick, since the big net is not normally a part of daily fishing.  After hooking the fish across the lake (near Addison's cove, for you Long Lake enthusiasts), Grampa drove the pontoon boat ever so slowly back to the dock (towing the fish - thus tiring him out) and ran up the hill to the garage to get the net.  Netting the exhausted fish was the easy part, or so I'm told.   Rachel was suitably impressed.   Grama had to look closely to be sure it all wasn't just a dream.  Grampa was sure it wasn't a dream, because at 20+ pounds it was heavy in the net!

This fish is currently at the taxidermist's shop and will eventually adorn a wall in the cabin.  The taxidermist says it's a 45 inch fish.  (It is worth noting that he charges by the inch.)  So you'll all be able to see this monster when you visit us.

NEWS UPDATE:  September 3, 2004

The fish is back from the taxidermist, and now decorates the north wall of the cottage-house!  This is one fish story you have to believe!

HEY - Send Grama Shirley an emaill of congratulations! (billnshirley at sbcglobal dot net)