Tiger Muskie - June 22 to July 2, 2025
Adventures make great memories. But in the end a fly fisherman's adventure isn't complete without a catch. Therefore tiger muskie on the fly attempt three!
Back to Utah where they stock several lakes with tiger muskie (muskie X northern pike). Google Utah tiger muskie and the internet points you towards Pineview reservoir, Joe's Valley reservoir, Scofield reservoir, Cottonwood reservoir and some others. My focus this trip was on the four lakes mentioned above. This time nine full fishing days to chase the powerfull, frustratingly fickle feeding tiger muskie. Goal; catch one tiger muskie on the fly!
Hot weather and low to moderate winds in Utah during this trip. Compared to mid May the water levels were up big time. So the investment in the inflatable sup-kayak was a good one. Easy bank spots in mid may would have been completely unreachable without the sup-kayak. That doesn't mean the use of the sup-kayak brought me the expected succes. Tiger muskies were around but on the big lakes I saw very few. It was the tip of a young man that steered me into catching my first tiger muskie on the fly. A spot I would haven never fished if it wasn't for his tip. So thanks a million to my new American friend Kellen.
I can still see the tiger muskie pushing out from the weeds chasing my natural coloured finn raccoon streamer (tied on TMC600SP #3/0 hook) fished about 10 inch under the surface. It followed for several meters and two thirds into the chase it looked as if the tiger was loosing interest. A sharp jerk changed the game and she completely inhaled the streamer while turning away. I felt the pull and set the hook. Tiger on! She jumped three times clear of the water. While playing her I took off the backpack and installed the Rollei with GoPro on the bank. Shortly after I landed her with the gill grip. I was euforius! 🍀
She measured 97cm and was a beauty. Perfect fins, perfect color, perfect shape. I filmed the release and it was very cool to see her swim away. She'll grow even bigger and maybe fight again another day. The fish of 10.000 casts was now off the bucket-list. I can honestly say I had tears in my eyes of joy. This tiger muskie had been the most intense chase and catch of my life and the relieve after the catch & release was huge. 😅
This trip I got another tiger muskie on the fly. It didn't take 10.000 casts. Caught it from the sup-kayak and without that I would have never caught it. On that particular day I had 8 followers that wouldn't eat. Only one take. Never saw the fish and the strike was extremely hard. For a moment I thought it was a big one until the tiger muskie first surfaced. The power for such a small fish is increadable. Explosive short runs and acrobatic jumps. A picture perfect tiger gem in my hand just moment later.
On my tiger muskie trips I used Airflo Gear. Airflo Elbi Greentooth 9ft #7/8 fly rod, Airflo V3 #7/8 fly reel and Airflo Elbi Pike lines (mostly WF7/8F). It is my favorite setup for pike and also perfect for the chasing tigers.
The three tiger muskie trips I learned a lot. An aweful lot. And although I don't think you ever completely figure out the tiger muskie I do believe I learned what time of year and what waters to fish to maximise the chance of getting a tiger muskie on the fly. So in time I might be back to give it another shot to see if I'm right...
Enjoy your adventures...
Tight lines,
Peter Elberse
