Musky that Weighed 72 Pounds

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1939 – Fred Kirk’s Prize was a Musky that weighed 72 pounds

September 15, 1939

In around 1939 Jacob Kuykendall, Jr.’s grandfather Fred Kirk “caught” a musky that weighed 72 pounds out of the Chippewa Flowage, in the Blueberry lake area. As the prize was taken by spear, he did not record it as a catch but he did weigh it on an ice scale and recorded it with a Brownie camera.

Charles Kuykendall and Jacob Kuykendall, Jr. were six and five respectively at the time, and we posed next to the giant fish on the Fred Kirk farm in the Blueberry Lake area. -Jacob L. Kuykendall

Shown on the left of the musky is Charles Kuykendall, age 6, and on the right is Jacob Kuykendall Jr., age 5, sons of Jacob Kirk (Kuykendall).

The date of the picture was 1939. The musky was taken by Fred Kirk (Kuykendall) husband of Madeline Kirk (Kuykendall) DeMarr, a member of the Lac Court Oreilles tribe. Her mother was Zhen-o-Wa, a full native American.

The fish poles shown are for effect, but they can be used to gauge the size of the musky that weighed 72 pounds. The print was a black and white, with the age lines left in-tack.

The black object over Jacob’s head appears to be a bear pelt, who went to his happy hunting ground along with the monster musky.

-Submitted by Jacob L. Kuykendall, Jr.

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As muskies grow, they can reach lengths of up to 60 inches or more, making them one of the largest fish in North American waters. Their growth rate is notably influenced by factors such as water temperature, food availability, and habitat conditions. In environments with abundant prey and favorable conditions, muskies can grow significantly faster, often reaching trophy size within a span of 4 to 7 years. This growth pattern showcases their role as apex predators in their ecosystems, contributing to the balance of fish populations in lakes and rivers.