Angler who shot fish with pistol retains muskie record

HAYWARD, WIS. - The National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame's board of directors today upheld angler Louie Spray's claim to the world record muskie, a 69-pound, 11-ounce specimen he landed on Oct. 20, 1949.

Spray's record had been challenged by an Illinois fishing group. Spray's catch had unseated the previous record-holder, a 69 1/2-pound fish caught by Cal Johnson of Minneapolis. Had Spray's record been invalidated today, the honor would have reverted to Johnson, unifying the title between the Hayward hall and the International Game Fish Association.

The IGFA has refused to recognize Spray as record holder, despite having landed the larger fish, since he shot it with a pistol before pulling it into the boat. The Hayward hall of fame recognizes that shooting fish to land them was legal at the time, a hall of fame spokesman told the Star Tribune in 2003.