Grandson catches 30 pound 47 inch muskie on Lake Ida, remembers grandpa's love

• Big muskie

Kyle Herr held a 47-inch-long muskie he caught-and-released on Lake Ida over Memorial Day weekend. The big fish bit on a small crappie jig. The Herr family was staying at Pam and Kraig Carlson’s summer cabin. The Carlsons live in Andover.

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The nephew of Pam and Kraig Carlson and his family had a memorable fishing trip on Lake Ida when they came here for a visit on Memorial Day weekend.

Kyle Herr reeled in a muskie weighing about 30 pounds and measuring 47 inches long.

He battled the fish for 20 minutes on eight-pound test line before landing it in the boat.

The family took some photos and then released the big fish for “someone else to experience the same feeling,” Herr said.

The catch was bittersweet. Herr’s grandfather passed away just two days before the fishing trip after suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.

“We all felt this fish was sent by him to let us know that he made it home to heaven,” said Herr.

Herr, whose family runs a taxidermy shop, plans to have a replica made of the Ida muskie and put it into a tank with a 44-inch muskie replica that his grandfather caught.

“I plan to have both fish in a scene swimming together as it should be,” Herr posted on his Facebook page. “Thank you, Grandpa, for all the amazing memories and love you gave all of us.”

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