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Muskie Fishing
Ontario Muskie Fishing
The Next
Bite
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  World
Record Muskie - Nobody believes it.
by Pete Maina
Recently, the World Record Muskie Alliance
( North American group of dedicated muskie
anglers – formed to end the confusion on
legitimacy of record muskies
www.worldrecordmuskiealliance.com ) came
out with its scientific, peer-reviewed report on
the Cal Johnson muskie (currently recognized as
the all-tackle record by the IGFA) – proving the
fish to actually be nearly half the claimed
weight of the fish – was released. Its release
created much discussion again – on the official
world record (now it’s certain to be Canadian)
and the “actual” state record in Wisconsin. John
Detloff, of Hayward Wisconsin, as well as the
Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame – can be
credited with creating the issue itself – and
eventually the WRMA forming. Years back Detloff
appointed himself as head researcher of muskie
records, and essentially, through amateur
research, eliminated some claimed record fish
from the list (the FFHOF reacted by immediately
eliminating some of these from their list) in
other parts of the country. The heavy scrutiny
seemed to end though – when it came to claimed
records from the Hayward area. In its place were
“research” and articles to prop-up local records
from Hayward … and eventually, to specifically
twist the story just a “little” so that the
world record muskie was actually caught right in
front of the resort of the self-appointed
researcher. And, on the heels of the
announcement of the World Record coming back to
Hayward by Detloff and FFHOF – came a book on
the local hero entitled “Three Record Muskies in
His Day”, about Louie Spray, by John Detloff.
I wrote this article back then – with
information I found in the book. It’s more than
interesting reading (I recall scratching my head
reading it) – as it proves the timelines and
affidavits of what is still recognized (though
proven otherwise by actual science) by FFHOF and
Detloff as the World Record muskie to be
completely impossible via the story of the day
of the “catch” and affidavits signed.
Anyone who has any doubt about the Louie Spray
claimed World Record muskies and/or the
legitimacy of John Detloff’s research – and what
should be a lack-of bias – should just read John
Detloff’s book about Spray “Three Record Muskies
in His Day”.
Initially, you’ll find out that Spray was a
hoodlum: running booze, game infractions,
brushes with the law … the author calls him a
“character”. You’ll also hear that Spray was an
exceptional muskie angler too – by far the best
of all time (in his spare time). And, that
although he did lie about where he caught his
third world record muskie … as did his boat
partners who later signed the affidavit
confirming the claimed third World Record was
legit … readers are assured though, that this
was the only “fishing-lie” Lou was ever guilty
of (just protecting his spot - the author says).
Interesting that the location the author Detloff
– claims Lou (actually) caught the fish is
within spitting distance from the resort he owns
on the Chippewa Flowage.
With that in mind, let’s look at the account of
Spray catching his biggest, old Chin Whisker
Charlie (Lou had named him prior to capture),
currently recognized all-tackle muskie record,
by Detloff and the Fishing Hall of Fame. As the
story goes it was real cold that day. The trio
left Herman’s Landing at noon. Supposedly one of
the boat partners, Ted Haag, got real cold while
fishing. This might seem weird to some readers,
since the story goes – they’d been fishing for
this fish for over a week by then … think a guy
might be prepared for midday fall weather by
then? Because Ted got cold – they elected to go
in to a nearby resort. Indian Trail resort (now
John Detloff’s). There’s a photo in the book –
with caption that says Louie and party stopped
in just before catching the fish – to warm up.
In Lou’s words in Detloff’s book: “About
3:30 pm, I knew Ted was freezing
because he was not dressed for the cold (odd,
after a week of fishing in it?), so I suggested
we go in and have some hot drinks …” Later in
story, Lou says “The battle lasted 40 minutes
and we finally landed the fish around 4:00 pm.
(Anyone starting to see a time issue here?)
Nixon Barnes signed an affidavit stating that
the trio arrived at Herman’s Landing with the
fish at 4:15 pm. (This is the
same Nixon Barnes that also witnessed Spray’s
first record; the guy was always in the right
place.)
Louie Spray with the mount of his World Record
Musky.
If any readers have ever been on the Chippewa
Flowage, you’d know that the trip from the
location of supposed capture to Herman’s Landing
would take an absolute minimum of five minutes
in one of today’s rocket-ship, super-fast boats,
60-plus-mph boats, but I’d expect longer. How
long would it take in the wooden boat with three
grown men, a supposed 70 lb. muskie and tiny
outboards? They fit a lot in from noon to 4:15
that day. They had exactly 5 minutes to discuss
Ted’s being cold, drive to Indian Trail, get
warm and drink drinks, get back out, get
organized and get fishing … get CW to bite … and
then get to Herman’s Landing (which
realistically had to be a 30 minute trip at a
minimum at the time).
Oh, and then after celebrating there, they took
the fish to Pastika’s in Hayward, but Pastika’s
had no scales to weigh the fish. Charlie Pastika
and Jake Jordan signed an affidavit that they
brought the fish in at 6 pm … I
suppose they didn’t chat much or show the fish
off. Next, they headed to Stroner’s Store in
town, where they showed the fish off and
supposedly tried to weigh it … they had a scale
but not one that would weigh anything over 35
pounds. They bought gas there. Would all of this
require some time? (This is all Spray talking in
the book.)
Seems odd, in a town that by now, had claimed 3
World Records in the past decade – ranging from
591/2 to 671/2 pounds – that no one would have a
scale to weigh a fish of similar proportions …
especially with King Lou around, having claimed
two previously – AND having predicted beating
the record again – after being
set in July by Cal Johnson - before the end of
the season.
They then went down Hwy 27 to Karl Kahmann’s
place, the taxidermist who mounted Louie’s first
two records. Finding no scale (though Kahmann
had a scale a few months prior – to weigh the
Cal Johnson record!), they had a discussion
about why Karl refused to mount the fish (real
long story that’s in the book—that involves a
rutted-up yard, which they toured before
leaving). After this ordeal, Spray asked Karl
where he could weigh the fish, but Karl had no
advice to offer.
So they headed down the road to “Rice Lake”, not
certain of where to go there necessarily either,
supposedly. When they got to Stone Lake, Ted
Haag said he was thirsty for a drink of water,
so they stopped at Smock’s Tavern (water?) to
get Ted ‘water’ and “show off the fish”. There,
the story goes, someone told them that the Post
Office was nearby, and that ‘maybe’, Jack Reinke,
the postmaster, might come down to weigh it. So,
somehow they found Jack (no mention of “how” as
he was off work) and had him come down to
“officially” weigh and measure it. The affidavit
that Reinke and Spray’s boat partners signed
stated that they did this at 6:45 pm.
Keep in mind that it was 1949. They sure got a
lot done quick those days.
Just like the timeline of the capture of the
fish – the trip to Hayward … eventually to Stone
Lake, the timeline from stated arrival to
Hayward – to “official” weighing in Stone Lake –
is simply impossible.
 
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