5 Great Big Freshwater Game Fish

If you’re a sportsman, you probably use your boat for more then just sunning on the deck. And if fishing is your sport, chances are you’ve always dreamed of catching the big one. You know that one elusive fish that’s bigger than all others. The “one that got away.” If you do go after the big ones, make sure that you’re fully covered with boat insurance and that you have all the equipment you need to land one of those bad boys. Here are some of the biggest freshwater fish you can pursue:

Catfish: believe it or not, there’s some reason to believe these just might be among the biggest things in fresh water. Never mind the stories of Mississippi River divers who refused to go back in the water after allegedly encountering 6-8 foot catfish; in Thailand, anglers actually caught one that was over 9’ long. Unfortunately, big catfish like that don’t take the bait very often.Muskellunge: generally regarded as the largest freshwater fish in North America, muskies typically reach lengths approaching five feet. In most places, you’re only allowed to keep one of them, but that’s OK. Five feet of fish produces a lot of filets. Muskies are generally found in the northern waters of the United States and Canada, particularly in the Great Lakes, though they have been stocked as far south as Georgia.Salmon: 50-60 pound fish are not terribly unusual, and an 85 pound specimen that measured nearly 6 feet in length was captured near Battle Creek, Michigan in recent years. There are several varieties of salmon, with Chinook typically being the largest.Sturgeon: with lengths of 18 feet being reported for Beluga sturgeon, there’s nothing that even comes close to touching the largest specimens outside of salt water. These fish are so prized that it is a matter of law in England that any sturgeon caught must be offered to the reigning King or Queen. Oddly enough, these fish aren’t prized so much for their meat as for their eggs. Caviar, anyone?Loch Ness Monster: OK, it may not exist and, if it does, it probably isn’t technically a fish, but it does live in fresh water. And even if you do manage to land one and live to tell about it, you’re going to have one hell of a time figuring out where to put the 35 foot long mount. But, can you imagine the fishing story you’d have? Personally, we just hope that anyone who gets their hook into Nessie has their boat insurance in order.

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