World Record Muskie catches Mille Lacs Minnesota Musky

On October 29, renowned fishing record hunter Arthur ‘Art’ Weston reeled in a potential world record muskie in Minnesota’s Mille Lacsaccompanied by the local muskie legend Nolan Sprengeler. Weston, who holds nearly 40 active fishing records, teamed up with Sprengeler to achieve the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) record for muskellunge.

Sprengler advised that fishing in the dark would likely increase their chances of getting the “right” fish to bite. On the second night of casting huge lures into the darkness, their plan paid off with a huge 57.5-inch muskie, which he and Sprengeler carefully measured and released. IGFA requires a minimum of two centimeters above the current record length, which is 135 cm (53.15 in) measured to the inside of the tail fork; Weston’s muskie measured 138 cm (54.33 in), making it a likely candidate to claim the record.

The catch, documented with an IGFA-approved measuring device, came after a tense battle. The fish hit one Bondy Royal Orba lure 30 yards from the boat and surprise Weston. “It was like a Mack truck took my bait and went the opposite direction,” he said. Use a stout, 9′,3”, Thorne Brothers Stealth rod and a Abu Garcia Revo with the drag secured, Weston was able to reel in the fish in less than a minute – a strategy Sprengeler encouraged to reduce the chance of losing this giant muskie. , the more likely it is to get off,” Weston explains.

Sprengeler expertly caught the fish and the two fishermen celebrated what they thought could be a record breaker. After confirming the length and taking a few quick photos, Sprengeler revived the monster fish, held her upright in the water until he was sure she was ready, and then watched her swim back to the depths of Mille Lacs .

The IGFAThe assessment process will determine whether Weston’s catch officially surpasses the global record, a judgment he expects within the next 60 days. If approved, this milestone will be Weston’s 79th record on the IGFA books, marking an impressive achievement in the world of competitive fishing.