What a catch: State Record For Largest Muskie Still Stands After 100 Years
Oct 1st, 2024 by Chris Munchow
Modified Oct 1st, 2024 at 3:24 PM
Sep 28, 2024
It was 100 years ago that Lewis Walker Jr. of Meadville went fishing on Conneaut Lake.
According to records, fishing was a favorite pastime of Walker’s. However, on Sept. 20, 1924, it was one of his better days fishing. Walker set a record for catching Pennsylvania’s largest muskellunge (muskie).
There is no record of anyone matching — or exceeding — it since.
Walker’s “catch” that day was a 59-inch muskie, weighing 54 pounds, 3 ounces.
In interviews at the time, Walker said it was no easy feat. He used an 8-inch rigged cross wire to spin from a cane pole spooled with a 42-pound line and a leader made of picture wire.
Describing his experience, Lewis said he was drifting with the wind when something “took the bait and began fighting savagely.”
“Finally after a half hour or more after I hooked the fish, it came to the top of the water for the first time 60 feet away from the boat,” according to the interview. “I will have to admit frankly when I saw what I had at the end of the line I had a few moments of buck fever even after all my years of catching muskies. It looks as big as the boat.”
For those skeptics of the “fish story,” the fish is still available for people to see.
It was mounted and hangs on the wall at the Pennsylvania State Fish Hatchery a mile south of Linesville at 13300 Hartstown Road.
Even though it’s 100 years old, it still draws a lot of attention, according to Nick Yaroszewski, manager of the hatchery.
“It’s been here as long as I’ve been here,” he said, noting that’s been 25 years. “A lot of muskie fisherman come to see it. They like looking at it.”
In the meantime, a replica of the state record fish is on exhibit at the Conneaut Lake Area Historical Society Museum, 150 N. Third St.
In 2010, Dave Lynch, then vice president, believed since the fish was caught in Conneaut Lake, it should be on display in the town. After he could not get permission from the state to move it to Conneaut Lake, he led a campaign to raise funds to have the replica made. With the help of the community and students of the grade school, funds were made and the replica made.
It now is mounted in the sports display at the museum.
Lynch said at the time the “fish deserves proper recognition and should be remembered and preserved for the people to continue to come and fish the productive waters of Conneaut Lake.”
Lynch had fond memories of fishing at Conneaut Lake with his father and grandfather.
The mounted muskie is a reminder of what size fish can be caught in Conneaut, which is the largest natural lake in Pennsylvania.
For those wishing to view the “real”mounted muskie, the hatchery is open seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Yaroszewski said the hatchery is even open on Christmas Day if people want to visit on the holiday. He said since the hatchery has live fish as well, it must remain open to take care of them.
The historical society museum is open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sundays from 2 to 5 p.m. It will be open through Oct. 13 and then open on special weekends leading up to the Ice House Festival on Dec. 7.
Special appointments may be made at the museum by calling (814) 382-8722.
Admission to both the hatchery and the museum is free.