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| Somewhere under the giant pike is the measuring trough |
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| Brett Styve with replica of his trophy fish |
Brett knows this spectacular 45-inch pike can put on a rod-warping, drag-screaming fight, and the pike knows that Brett is no novice with a rod and reel.
They might meet again next summer because Brett is coming fishing with his dad, Paul, once again and the enormous pike is still out there. Only now it is probably even larger.
The saga did not end when Brett and Paul finally boated the leviathan in August of 2012. Instead, after grabbing a quick photo of the fish in the measuring trough -- as you can see the fish wouldn't even fit in it -- the magnificent creature was released back into the waters of Red Lake.
And a replica of the pike, not the skin of the real fish, now graces the walls of the Styve household in Iowa.
The Styves are perfect examples of today's enlightened angler. They keep only the fish that can be harvested sustainably -- the ones beneath the slot size -- and release the big spawners with the genes for large size and fast growth.
By following these practices anglers can not only enjoy the thrilling fishing of Red Lake today but forever. They simply are harvesting that part of Nature's bounty which is available annually and not destroying the foundation of the entire system.
Almost all Bow Narrows anglers are like these two -- intelligent, mindful conservationists. It is wonderful to see.
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2 comments:
Who did the taxidermy for this fish? It looks very realistic and I also love the board and info.
Was it someone in Red Lake?
I've been told that it was made in Wisconsin at Lax Reproduction. Their website is www.laxreproduction.com and their phone number is 715 547 3710.
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