Local Woman Reeling In the Muskie Fishing Life
/Some people use fishing as a way to relax but for Megan Patterson, she seeks the thrill of catching the biggest muskie possible.
Patterson was born in Kingston but moved to Peterborough at an early age. Photo Courtesy of Megan Patterson.
Patterson has fished for over five years and took up the sport after meeting her now-husband who also is an avid fisherman.
Every time she fishes, her goal is to always catch the biggest muskie possible and embrace the thrill that comes along with the catch.
“It’s feeling like the drop of a rollercoaster, there’s a drop in your stomach and so much adrenaline at the same time,” explains Patterson. “It’s an overwhelmingly exciting emotion.”
Patterson works at Trent University as a team member of the Careerspace and Office of the Registrars departments. Photo Courtesy of Megan Patterson.
Patterson fishes at Chemong or Katchewanooka Lake (near Lakefield) during the week but travel out to more faraway places for bigger muskies. Lake St. Clair near Windsor is where she began to fall in love with the sport after having her early fishing experiences there.
Despite Pattersons high angler skill, her goal of catching a 50-inch muskie still eludes her.
“My biggest fish is 49 (inches) and a bit,” she said. “I’ve had so many 48 and 47. I never try to have any expectations when I go to these lakes.”
Despite not meeting her goal, Patterson typically catches at least one muskie a weekend and can have days of catching over 10 in the same timeframe.
Patterson graduated from Trent University with a joint major in business administration and cultural studies in 2015. Photo Courtesy of Megan Patterson.
