MUSKIE Magazine

Transcription

MUSKIE Magazine

Photo Contest – October Winner
by Brad Waldera, Photo Editor • [email protected]
Photo Tip of the Month –
Turn that camera sideways!
On a recent fishing trip to Lake of the Woods, my brother needed to remind me to take my own advice. Almost every time he caught
a fish and I was going to take the photo of him with it, I held my
camera in the regular position to take the picture horizontally. He
kept saying, “turn your camera” reminding me that I could better fit
the fish in the frame by taking a more vertical photo.
This can be important in many ways, as the photo will look better without all that dead space, and you can also get larger prints if
you don’t need to crop the pictures as much. In addition, we are
always looking for great vertical shots for the cover of MUSKIE.
I actually caught my personal best fish on that trip, and I’m glad
my brother helped me get a few great shots of it by telling me how
to hold the fish and to take a more vertical shot. Thanks bro, sometimes we all need a little reminder. ❖
Photo of the Month
Check out the size of this beast. Wow!
Sean Murphy of Chapter 12 sent in this photo of a 52-inch fish with a girth of 26.75. That puts the approximate weight
in the 47lb neighborhood. It’s a very impressive looking fish. Sean mentioned that he recently switched from the South of
the Border Chapter to the MI Chapter in Eagle River, Wisconsin as he’s got a home on Big Sand Lake in Phelps. I forgot
to ask if this fish came from that area or not, but it’s a true giant no matter where it was caught.
Congratulations on a great catch Sean, and thanks for the photo. Well done.
MUSKIE is published monthly and is the Official
Publication of Muskies, Inc. International Office: Ron
Groeschl, International Sec., 14257 Waters Edge
Trail, New Berlin, WI 53151. Ph: 888-710-8286.
© Copyright 2008 by Muskies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Departments
MUSKIE • VOL. 42, NO. 10
Features
IFC Photo Contest,
Brad Waldera
15 Blending Science and Proper Handling
Practices for a Better Release,
Sean Landsman with Marc Thorpe
2 President’s Message,
Dan Narsete
3 Magazine Notes,
Juris Ozols
13 Unusual Trolling Lures, Patricia Strutz
18 Finesse Trolling,
Colby Simms with Ray Simms
4 MUSKIE News
6 Figure 8, Kevin Richards
20 Only the Strong Survive,
Bob Chochola
8 Lunge Log, Jim Bunch
24 Trollin’, Trollin’, Trollin’… ,
John Skarie
12 Index of Advertisers
29 Chapter News and Views
26 Fall Metro Muskie Madness,
Adam M. Glickman
33 Member Photos,
Brad Waldera
Join Muskies, Inc. ...
or give a membership
as a gift.
Contents
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October 2008.....MUSKIE 1
International
Officers
President, Dan Narsete
Email: [email protected]
Vice President/Fundraising, Jim Shannon
Phone: 612-670-8943
Vice President/Fisheries, Research & Youth,
Dr. Tom Betka, MD
Phone: 920-544-5868
Vice President/Internal Affairs,
[ vacant ]
Phone:
Vice President/Membership & Marketing,
Dale Vercauteren
Phone: 920-680-6093
Vice President/Communications, Jay Zahn
Phone: 920-660-7655
Treasurer, Kathy Goon
Phone: 419-945-2940
Members Only Fishing Contest, Jim Bunch
Phone: 715-226-0295
Web Master, Ron Groeschl
Phone: 262-271-1002
Int. Administrative Secretary, Ron Groeschl
14257 Waters Edge Trail, New Berlin, WI 53151
Phone: 888-710-8286 or 262-271-1002
At Large Directors
Term Expires
Brad Waldera . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2009
Dick McPike . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2009
David Rautmann . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2009
Diana Mindar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2009
Dan Narsete . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2009
Tom Betka . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2010
Dale Vercauteren . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2010
Bob Timme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2010
Jim Shannon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2010
Gerald Bucholtz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2010
Adam Walsh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2011
Jay Zahn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2011
Fred Brogle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2011
Brett Knight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2011
Rory Potter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2011
2 MUSKIE.....October 2008
The
President’s
Message
by Dan Narsete
Muskies, Inc.
International President
Email:
[email protected]
“All the leaves are brown, and the sky is grey…”
were the beginning lyrics to California Dreamin’. Am I into music? Maybe just a little . . .
Instead of this being a theme song for leaving to LA, I think you should be humming it
while driving to the northern portions of the muskie world. October is here and so are really fat muskies. It’s time to bust out the heavy raingear, thick clothing, and hand warmers
while you put away the bug spray. Quick-strike rigs, jerk baits, and plugs now tend to dominate the landscape as we all compete with the forage to get into a big fish.
We also have the fall board meeting in Kentucky. After an already great season we find
ourselves in the coda of the season on Cave Run Reservoir. I think this meeting will culminate by leading M.I. to something great - change. Like the beautiful maple leaves changing colors up north we will change as well. Soon we will have a new board of directors and
a new focus for the organization. This does not mean we will not keep traditions, rather I
hope to grow new ones. Looking at the future I believe changing how we do business will
allow us to free up more time to get together and go fishing.
To help represent our growing needs I will hit the speaking trail. Next month I will be
traveling to the Land of Enchantment, otherwise known as New Mexico to help support a
potential new chapter. A few of you may know that I grew up out there and I’m really
amazed by our future growth potential. Already there is talk of us expanding into Idaho,
Oregon and Utah, not to mention the other 20 states that barely know what a muskie is.
No longer is the sport of muskie fishing limited to the Great Lakes region. In fact, I believe
we may see the greatest growth for Muskies, Inc. out west.
As I alluded to in last month’s article tiger muskies have become popular with many
Game and Fish Departments around the US. They are sterile and primarily feed on rough
fish like suckers, leaving a great option for Fish Departments and a great opportunity for
anglers. This has created an explosion of interest in very unconventional areas and techniques such as fly-fishing. There are also states that now have VHS-free eggs; this has
allowed stocking programs to be resumed in states like Colorado and Nebraska. Do you
have any fishing friends or relatives out west? If so CALL THEM . . . we are looking to grow.
Imagine landing a 30 to 40-plus pound tiger; it would be awesome! That assumes, of course,
that you are willing to go out into the “sticks,” a.k.a. out west, and try it for yourself. Who
knows, you might just land a fish of a lifetime.
There is a lot of information contained in these pages, please read on and enjoy it. As
always, I am proud to be your president and look forward to seeing many of you later this
month.
Tight lines, Dan ❖
How about this for a very
serious muskie tournament: no entry
fee, no rules, no “takeoff,” no leader
board, no weigh-in, no picture
requirements, no prizes, none of
that. How can that be serious you
ask?
Well, if you had been in Vilas
County, Wisconsin, in October the
last four years, on Crab and
Papoose and Presque Isle Lakes,
you would have found out. For you
see, that’s where the annual “Bob
Ellis Row Trolling Classic” has
taken place since 2004. And the
muskie row trollers are a highly
dedicated bunch, very serious about
their sport and particularly about
their boats.
Our cover features MUSKIE Field Editor Patricia Strutz row trolling one
cold October day on Papoose Lake during the third annual event. She came
up with the idea of a row trolling muskie tournament in 2004 and has promoted and organized it ever since. That first year some dozen boats participated, and it has grown every year.
The “Tournament,” where the term has to be applied loosely, lets the
row trolling community get together, admire each others hand-made wooden
boats, share tips and techniques, and have a great time. The things I mentioned in the first paragraph are irrelevant. There is a “Traveling Trophy”
that gets passed on every year, to be sure, a plaque with one of Bob Ellis’s
lures on it. But that’s the least of the matter - the other things are more
important.
Bob Ellis is one the legends of muskie row trolling, and spent a lot of his
time on Papoose Lake where the cover picture was taken. He met a tragic
fate in an accident on the lake, and the boat landing is dedicated in his
name.
This year’s event will be held on October 18th, and you can join the festivities at Skyview Lodge in Presque Isle, Wisconsin. Patricia will be there
again, running the tournament, and you can talk to her about the many other
things she does - muskie guiding, magazine articles, seminars, all of that. Or
go check out her web page at: www.ablondandherboat.com
Juris Ozols ❖
MUSKIE Magazine Staff
EDITOR
Kevin Richards
7618 Sunrise Ridge Road
Henley, MO 65040
Phone: (573) 280-2300
ASSISTANT EDITOR
Juris Ozols
Phone: (612) 747-0178
PHOTO CONTEST EDITOR
Brad Waldera
Phone: (701) 642-1952
LUNGE LOG EDITOR
Jim Bunch
Phone: (715) 226-0295
ADVERTISING SALES TEAM
Contact Kevin Richards, Editor
Phone: (573) 280-2300
PUBLICATIONS TECHNICAL MANAGER
Sunray Printing Solutions, Inc. - Dawn Larson
25123 22nd Avenue • St. Cloud, MN 56301-9189
Phone: 888-253-8808, ext. 154
MAGAZINE DESIGN
Sunray Printing Solutions, Inc. - John Windschitl
ILLUSTRATORS/CARTOONISTS
Richard Gross, Charles Weiss
FIELD EDITORS
Patricia Strutz, Colby Simms, Sean Landsman,
Adam Glickman, Bob Chochola,Steve Budnik
EMERITUS EDITORS
Rod Ramsell, Keith Ogden, Jim Smith
MUSKIE is published exclusively for the membership of Muskies, Inc. and subscriptions
come with a paid membership. Muskies, Inc. is
a non-profit organization. Membership classes
and associated annual dues are listed on the
form at the bottom of page one. Copies of
MUSKIE magazine are available at $3.00 each
from the Muskies, Inc. International Office.
Contributors grant rights for M.I. to publish
once in MUSKIE Magazine, both the print and
on-line versions, including archives and on the
M.I. Web site.
Submissions to
MUSKIE Magazine
Persons interested in submitting articles for
publication are directed to our website
www.muskiesinc.org for a link to MUSKIE
Magazine, where you will find links on the left
side of the page providing information necessary for submissions to MUSKIE Magazine.
Further questions will be answered by Kevin
Richards, Editor. Submissions may be sent to:
7618 Sunrise Ridge Road, Henley, MO 65040
or email: [email protected]. Phone:
(573) 280-2300.
www.muskiesinc.org
M AGA Z I N E N OT E S ◆ M AGA Z I N E N OT E S ◆ M AGA Z I N E N OT E S ◆ M AGA Z I N E N OT E S
ABOUT THE COVER
M U S K I E N E WS ◆ M U S K I E N E WS ◆ M U S K I E N E WS ◆ M U S K I E N E WS ◆ M U S K I E N E WS
Hugh C. Becker
2009 Foundation Awards
An Evening with George Wahl
Friends and family of George Wahl, long-time Muskies, Inc.
member and a fixture in the Twin Cities Chapter, gathered
Wednesday, August 20 at Mystic Lake Casino to honor him and
show appreciation for all he’s done for the chapter. George has been
the inspiration in many TC Chapter activities including the Muskie
Expo, Winter Picnic, Vets Home Fishing Opener, and numerous
others. He is now struggling with his health. Read more about the
evening in the TC Chapter’s News and Views article in this issue.
An overflow audience listened to tributes and stories by many of
George’s friends. The evening was emceed by Paul Hartman.
Josh Roundsley from Thorne Brothers presents George with a special
custom Muskie rod as Paul Hartman and John Olson look on.
Many MI members remember Hugh C. Becker. Before his
death, Mr. Becker worked with fellow MI member George Selcke to
establish the Hugh C. Becker Foundation. Sixty-five percent of the
dividends from this multi-million dollar foundation go to Muskies,
Inc. each year! The funds are channeled by the foundation board and
through the Twin Cities Chapter. Many worthwhile projects were
funded in 2008, the first year of the grants.
The annual grant application process is open to chapters and
conservation agencies throughout the North American muskie range!
The grants can be used for projects such as muskie propagation,
stocking, habitat, water quality, and professional research. The 2009
grant application period will open on November 1st.
What an amazing legacy Hugh Becker has left for the benefit of
muskies and muskie anglers! Here are the details.
All requests are to be received between November 1, 2008 and
January 31, 2009.
Address all requests to Hugh C. Becker Committee of Twin
Cities Chapter of Muskies, Inc., c/o George Selcke, 13004 Shady
Dale Road, Minnetonka, MN 55343-4904.
Requests are not to be more than five (5) legibly typed pages; send
an original and five (5) copies, to include all the following criteria:
1) Name and address of the group, and a history of group’s accomplished projects to date, if applicable.
2) Demonstrate need - how will this project benefit the Muskellunge
program(s) in area, region, or range (Canada included)?
3) What is the project and what is purpose of project?
4) Where is this project taking place?
5) What is the duration of this project? Include start and finish
dates.
6) What are the costs? Itemize equipment and labor, and provide
quotes.
7) Who will be involved? Provide names and contact information
(addresses, phone numbers, email) for the project team and project manager/coordinator.
8) Submit “milestone” dates for progress
reports and accountability.
9) Can the requesting group match
funds from another source? Please
list.
Other Considerations:
D O N AT I O N S
Rock Ripley
Robert R.
Christensen
Allen R. Foss, Jr.
Michael Bishop
Dan Moats
Greg Pirritano
Lawrence
McKermott
Jeff Sacco
Renee Porter
Victor Allen Fox
Steve Petree
John B. Murphy
John D. Gobbo
Juris Ozols
Brett Waldera
Gary Bennyhoff
On behalf of Muskies, Inc., thank you! – Kathy Goon, Treasurer
– Cap on any individual grant/fund
will be $10,000; incrementally within year or over the course of years.
– Credit to the Hugh C. Becker Trust
Foundation will be incurred in funding.
– The Hugh C. Becker has priority
rights to all press releases and publications.
– If this project fails to reach its purpose, through false reporting, deceit,
and/or other unprofessional acts, the
requesting group may be responsible
for restitution (committee determination).
Like projects/activities that may qualify per the wishes and conditions of Hugh C. Becker include, but are not limited to:
• Muskie propagation by chapters, similar to what the Twin Cities
Chapter #1 has done in the past.
• Stocking, by either raising muskie fingerlings or purchasing fingerlings, yearlings, or adults for public use in designated waters.
• Habitat protection and improvement.
• Clean water (quality) protection and improvement.
• Professional research by qualified personnel (not limited to
Minnesota, but must include accountable data).
• Expansion of the present muskellunge range (special consideration for the Missouri river system in North/South Dakota).
The Twin Cities Chapter #1 Committee will consider projects based
on their respective merits per criteria above; awards will be published
in the Muskie Magazine.
Get Smart, Get Healthy –
Eat Fish (but not muskies)
I recently read an article about a study in Australia which said if
you’re looking to boost your memory and concentration you’re better off eating oily fish twice a week than taking herbal pills or fish oil
supplements. The reviewer said most folks don’t eat enough fish to
get sufficient amounts of omega-3 (this is a fatty acid; if I ate more
fish I would be smarter and could tell you a lot more about it). The
spokesman went on to say that taking fish oil supplements could be
one answer, but “there are other ways to keep your brain fit and your
memory sharp as you get older. Eating well, staying socially connected and exercising the mind and body all count.”
After pondering all this I recognized some of the reasons my
treks to the Northwoods make me feel so good! I eat great, including lots of walleye and pike. I get socially connected with my old
fishing buddies. I exercise my mind as I ponder where and how to
catch my next muskie. I exercise my body to the max by casting big
muskie baits. No doubt about it, I feel better up there. Perhaps this
is why our fishing memories are so vivid.
The website for the Journal of the American Medical
Association notes other benefits, and risks, associated with eating
fish:
The foods we eat influence our health. Besides containing protein and
other nutrients such as vitamin D and selenium, fish (either finfish or
shellfish) contain a specific type of fat, omega-3 fatty acids, that may
reduce the risk of developing heart disease and other medical problems.
However, fish may also contain mercury and other contaminants that
may have risks for health. The October 18, 2006 issue of JAMA (Vol.
296 No. 15) includes an article about the health benefits and risks of
eating fish.
plies DHA, a specific omega-3 fatty acid that is beneficial for the
brain development of infants.
POSSIBLE RISKS OF FISH CONSUMPTION
Some fish contain mercury. For men and women not of childbearing age, it is not clear that mercury exposure from typical levels
of fish intake has any adverse health effects. In contrast, fish intake
has significant benefits for reducing the risk of death from heart disease, the number one cause of death. So, mercury exposure from fish
intake should not be a major concern for men or for women not of
childbearing age. The benefits of fish intake can be maximized by
consuming a variety of different seafood.
Mercury may have subtle effects on the developing nervous systems of infants. Therefore, pregnant women, women who may
become pregnant, those who are breastfeeding, and very young children should avoid 4 types of fish that are higher in mercury content:
shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and golden bass. Other fish should
still be consumed to ensure that infants receive the benefits of DHA
for brain development. Light tuna has relatively low levels of mercury, and other fish, such as wild and farmed salmon and shrimp, contain very low levels of mercury.
Chemicals called dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
can accumulate in foods, including fish. The levels of these chemicals
in fish, including farmed fish, are very low and similar to levels in
meats and dairy products. Compared with the health benefits of fish
intake, the health risks of these chemical levels are very low and
should not influence individual decisions about fish intake.
Compared with store-bought fish, locally caught freshwater fish may
have higher chemical levels, so local advisories should be consulted.
Overall, the health benefits of eating fish greatly outweigh the potential risks—especially when guidelines are used to reduce the small
chance of being affected by these risks ❖
HEALTH BENEFITS OF EATING FISH
Omega-3 fatty acids are found in fish—especially oily fish such
as salmon, sardines, and herring. These omega-3 fatty acids can help
lower your blood pressure, lower your heart rate, and improve other
cardiovascular risk factors.
Eating fish reduces the risk of death from heart disease, the leading cause of death in both men and women. Fish intake has also been
linked to a lower risk of stroke, depression, and mental decline with
age.
For pregnant women, mothers who are breastfeeding, and
women of childbearing age, fish intake is important because it sup-
www.muskiesinc.org
Assistant Editor Juris Ozols loves to muskie fish when he’s not too
busy working on MUSKIE Magazine covers and photos. Here is
Juris with a nice muskie caught during the 2008 Frank Schneider,
Jr. Memorial Tournament.
M U S K I E N E WS ◆ M U S K I E N E WS ◆ M U S K I E N E WS ◆ M U S K I E N E WS ◆ M U S K I E N E WS
Addendum:
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by Kevin Richards • [email protected]
First Year Thanks
This issue completes my first 12-month cycle as your editor for
MUSKIE Magazine. To me the time has gone by very quickly and
it has been a challenge which I seem to enjoy even more with each
new issue. I have met many members and new friends. I have reconnected with some old acquaintances. I have realized, as I expected,
that our dedicated chapter, board, and executive committee members
donate a tremendous amount of time and talent to keep Muskies,
Inc. moving forward.
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Figure 8
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During this past 12 months we have had major turnover in officers at the chapter and national level. We have a new national president, several new VPs, and most recently a new treasurer. Luckily
we have had a good number of chapter officers, RVPs, and ALDs to
maintain continuity. By the end of this month we will probably be
implementing a new re-organization plan for Muskies, Inc.
During this period MUSKIE Magazine has taken on a new
editor (me), a new photo contest editor (Brad Waldera), and a new
advertising manager (me again and I need your help). In addition,
we have added field editor Sean
Landsman, editor emeritus Jim Smith,
several new authors, and an additional
cartoonist (Charles Weiss). We have
been extremely fortunate to have a lot
of stability on the magazine team too.
Assistant editor Juris Ozols and Lunge
Log editor Jim Bunch have been two of
the most solid and consistent contributors to MUSKIE for many years. Add
in our long-term field editors, authors,
proof-readers, and our cartoonist/illustrator, Richard “Grossie” Gross, plus
our designer John Windschitl (Sunray
Printing), and we have quite a team.
I offer a great big MUSKIE thanks
to all of these folks and all the rest of
our contributors, advertisers, and readers for helping to make MUSKIE a
quality magazine proudly known as the
official publication of Muskies, Inc.
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As editor of MUSKIE I receive some very interesting correspondence. Normally these are stories of fishing success intertwined with
tales of friends and family. As I was preparing this column at the end
of August I received two pieces of mail that really touched my emotions.
Doug Foley from Chapter 47 sent me a photo of a TopRaider
hanging in a Michigan birch tree along side a small wooden statue of
Christ. The TopRaider was the lure his brother Ryan had used the
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Remembering our Muskie Fishing Buddies
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Over the past 12 months the typical number of chapters submitting reports for the News & Views Department of MUSKIE
Magazine has increased from about 8 to an average of 12 chapters per
month. Twenty-seven different chapters have used MUSKIE as a
communication tool during this period.
I want to highlight seven chapters that have contributed to
Chapter News & Views for at least 9 of the past 12 issues. They are
chapters 8, 12, 13, 19, 22, 28, and 39. The reporters for these chapters need to TAKE A BOW!
I have a favor to ask of every chapter. I am hoping to secure
executive committee and board support to make our January 2009
issue a little bigger and a little more colorful. We will use it again as
our special sport show issue and hope to print extra copies to distribute at some of the major shows. I would like to feature reports from
more chapters in that issue and I’d like each chapter to try to highlight some special activity or accomplishment which they are very
proud of. In a nutshell, let’s share some of your success stories with
our readers.
last time they fished this lake together and it has hung there undisturbed since Ryan died in early 2006. Doug wrote, “One day I plan
to return to this lake and ‘borrow’ this TopRaider and see whether or
not we might be able to summon the behemoth muskie that we feel
certain resides there.” Doug, we sure hope you get the big one on
Ryan’s lure!
Richard Schuit from Chapter 7 sent me a memorial for his
buddy Chuck Wortz who was a member of the South Side Muskie
Hawks for many years. Richard sent the memorial on behalf of himself, Matthew Cozzi, and Brian Wortz, Chuck’s son. They said
Chuck was “the solidifying anchor” of their four-man muskie tagteam. Here are a couple of lines from the memorial, “In the seasons
to come, our boat will be a bit lighter and our hearts much heavier .
. . You will no longer stand beside us in the boat, Chuck, but you will
be with us, and we will see you on the water every time we go fishing.”
How lucky we are to spend quality time fishing with good
friends and family. We treasure the memories from those trips and
look forward to really getting to know some new MUSKIE friends
on future fishing adventures.
After the thrill of catching your next muskie do your best to
carefully release it to fight another day; the future of our muskie
resource will literally be in your hands! ❖
– Kevin
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Chapter News & Views Reporters - Way to Go!
Friday Oct. 24 & Saturday Oct. 25
Morehead, KY and Cave Run Lake
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Ask for Muskies, Inc. rate of $75.99 double occupancy
Reservations must be confirmed by Oct. 3rd for special rate
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Room accommodations: Comfort Inn & Suites
2650 KY 801 North, Morehead, KY 40351 • 606/780-REST (7378)
Book on-line at: www.choicehotels.com
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Saturday: Breakfast at the Morehead Conference Center
Meeting and working lunch Saturday at Morehead Conference Center,
111 East First Street, Morehead, KY 40351 • Phone: 606/780-9694 or 800/654-1944
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Friday: Chapter #52 hosting member fishing on Cave Run Lake and
a hospitality room at Comfort Inn
Must confirm if you want to pair-up and fish with a #52 member
Contact Larry Besant at: 606/776-9896 or: [email protected]
Scott Smalley at: 606/584-0046 or email: [email protected]
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Hosted by Daniel Boone Chapter #52
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Muskies, Inc. Fall Board Meeting
Exit 133 off I-64 “Cave Run Lake” one exit west of Morehead, KY(300 yards south of Interstate)
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www.muskiesinc.org
Lu n g e L o g ◆ Lu n g e L o g ◆ Lu n g e L o g ◆ Lu n g e L o g ◆ Lu n g e L o g ◆ Lu n g e L o g ◆ Lu n g e L o g
g
nge L
u
L
e
o
h
t
by
Ji m B u n c h
Cross Country Charlie!
Charles Carpenter is from Harrisville, West Virginia and a
member of the West Virginia Chapter. He has been fishing muskies
for many years, maybe 30 plus. There are some big muskies in West
Virginia but a 43 inch plus is considered a monster. There have been some
fifties caught in that state but they are
not an everyday occurrence. So in
2007 Charlie and friends seek out a
trip for some really big ones. With the
information on the Muskies, Inc. web
site it was not hard to pick Mille Lacs
in Minnesota. That is one heck of a
commitment as it is about 1000 miles.
Considering the round trip, pulling a
boat at 15 miles per gallon and $4 per
gallon, that is about $540 just for gas.
Nevertheless they made the trip. Last
year they selected guide Steve Jonesi.
Everything was set, they made the trip
but Steve ran into some complications
with his other business and could not
make it. So other arrangements were
made they had a good time and one of
the guys got a 50 inch.
In 2008 Charlie decides to go
back, he calls Steve Jonesi and makes
sure everything is set, yes it is and here
they come. Steve explains that these
West Virginia folks are used to small
lakes and streams. They use small baits,
Crane Bait size and in general have a
small style of approach to the sport. So
now they are on Mille Lacs, can’t see
across it and using 13 or 14 inch bucktails. Well you know were we are heading don’t you. The contact is made. A
good muskie fisherman no matter
where they are from knows what to do.
Steve says he thinks the moon rise was
8:42 PM and the sunset was something
like 8:56 PM and this monster ate the
Double Cowgirl right in between those
times. Indeed it was a fish of a life time.
Charlie Carpenter, Chapter 9. 56.5 inches, 7/16/08 Mille Lacs, MN
Double Cowgirl. Fish I.D. 255727.
Mens–(Cont’d)
Jeff Stewart, Chapter 47 54.5 inches,
7/12/08. Lake St. Claire, ON
Loke Crank. Fish I.D. 255259
Stewart Family
Affair!
Jeff Stewart who is fairly new in
reporting his muskie catches to the
Lunge Log is from Lowell, Michigan and
the Michigan Muskie Alliance, Chapter
47. On July 12 this year he went out on
Lake St. Clair for a fishing expedition
with the whole family. This included 6
year old Chris and 9 year old Jon. These
are his two sons who have never caught a
legal muskie. Now we got to chat with
Jeff because in the process he caught his
largest muskie ever at 54.5 inches on a
Loke Crank bait. I sent him an email and
chatted with him briefly on the phone.
His muskie was very nice with a 22 inch
girth that put her at some where between
35 and 36 pounds. He was nice enough
to send us a really nice picture and we
share that with you.
Now Jeff kind of put down his capture a bit because as a father something
else happened on this trip that he was
very excited about. His boys Jon and
Chris got into the act. Both boys caught
and released their first legal muskies.
How he pulled this off is really neat
because both muskies measured 42 inches. Consequently he had the ultimate
fishing trip. And the proud father made
sure he sent the release pictures of the
kids and their muskies. Editor Kevin
Richards will show you these two rookies
and their pictures elsewhere in this magazine.
(Continued on page 10)
www.muskiesinc.org
It measured 56.5 inches with a 25 inch girth
which puts her nearly 45 pounds.
Charlie says this is the only picture I have of
it out of the water. Steve Jonesi assured me she was
OK but I didn’t want to risk keeping her out of
the water any longer for another picture. The fish
fought extremely hard and went completely air
born twice, what a sight. I just wanted her back in
the water and swimming away, which she did with
no problems. Steve says this ole southern boy sat
down in the boat for a few minutes completely
stunned by the event. Steve asked him if he was
OK, and Charlie responded with that slow southern drawl that everything was just fine.
LUNGE LOG
(Continued from page 9)
Swim Along!
The name is Matt (Catfish)
Firestein; he is from Gilbertsville,
Pennsylvania but a member of the
Capital City chapter in Madison,
Wisconsin. He is from Wisconsin and
still fishes with a lot of friends there.
The nick name is Catfish, we never really got into that but I’m sure there is a
story behind that also. This was a
trolling expedition on Lake St. Clair and
some of the details and language here
relate to that which may seem different
to us upper Midwest casters. However
in true humble fashion Mike tells it like
this.
“I really take little credit as I was
fishing with good friend Mike Pittiglio
of Muskie Mania Charters and two
other friends Chris and Johnny. The
driver and net man did an unbelievable
good job. On the rod we just had to
keep good pressure. One time she made
a run towards the inside planer line.
She was close to getting tangled up so
we had to lay some lumber to get her
head turned back towards the back of
Muskies, Inc. Past
Presidents
Gil Hamm
Edward T. Peterka
Robert Hill
Robert Shoop
Frank Schneider
Peter Hadley
DuWayne Bakke
Lou Cook
Peter Hadley
Bob Schmidt
Larry Ramsell
Lou Cook
Keith Ogden
Bill Davis
Steve Statland
John Hotle
Jim Blaubach
Steve Budnik
Jim Smith
Paul Framsted
Perry Smith
Greg Wells
David Cates
Matt (Catfish) Firestein, Chapter 8. 55.25, 7/20/08
Lake St. Clair, ON. Spanky Fireball. Fish I. D. 256398
jumped in with her. After a short time in the water she kicked loose
and was gone to the depths which was the best sight of all. Maybe
we’ll get a shot at her in November or December. Thanks Muskies,
Inc., MOMC, anyone who releases their fish with care, some great
fishing partners, and a very understanding (enabling) wife!!!”
Matt thanks for that really neat picture of this super 55.25 inch
muskie. With the size and condition of muskies we’re seeing this
year from Lake St. Clair it appears that the health of this population
is very good.
Keep a tight line
Jim Bunch
[email protected]
715 226-0295
Purposes
of Muskies,
Inc.
• To promote a high
quality muskellunge
sport fishery;
• To support selected
conservation practices
based on scientific
merit and carried out
by authorized federal
and state agencies;
• To promote muskellunge research;
• To establish hatcheries
and rearing ponds and
introduce the species
into suitable waters;
• To support the abatement of water pollution;
• To maintain records of
habits, growth, and
range of species;
• To disseminate muskellunge information;
• To promote good
fellowship and
sportsmanship among
men, women and
children.
www.muskiesinc.org
the boat. Chris was driving and kept kicking the boat in and out of
gear to reduce the fight time as well. It definitely was a team effort.
We had a lot of success running my side of the boat on Spankys
and KG Musky Magnets, The day before we had caught a 52 incher
and a 51 incher along with a number of other fish on these. The fish
came on an outside board rod 45 feet of line with 4 ozs. of weight.
It was on a yellow Spanky bait. It was a relatively short battle as
we never want to overstress the fish. The hook popped out while it
was in the net. On the release the boat was rocking pretty bad, so I
The Stewart Kids’
Jeff Stewart, from Chapter 47, took his
family fishing on July 12th on Lake St. Clair.
Both of his sons caught and released their
first legal muskies and both fish were 42
inches – what a way to start filling their
muskie memory banks! If you check out this
month’s Lunge Log you’ll notice that Jeff
got a pretty fine muskie the same day, a
beautiful 54.5 incher.
Chris Stewart with his dad, Jeff.
Notice to Muskies, Inc.
Grant Recipients
From late 2007 through early 2008 about 20
M.I. chapters were awarded grants. These
were to be used for Fisheries, Research, and
Youth projects. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the final 6 chapters to be awarded
grants had to wait a very long time to
receive their funds. Muskies, Inc. apologizes
to those chapters; we regret that it took so
long and we thank you for being so patient!
Jon Stewart with his dad, Jeff.
INDEX OF ADVERTISERS
GOOD SEARCH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
INDIAN LAKE LODGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
LAX REPRODUCTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
MUSKIES, INC. 2009 CALENDAR
FUNDRAISER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
MUSKIES, INC. FALL BOARD MTG . . . . . . . . . .
7
TAYLOR COUNTY TOURISM COMMISSION . . . 28
TUFFY BOATS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
USDA - STOP AQUATIC HITCHHIKERS (VHS) . . 14
YOUNG'S WILDERNESS CAMP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Muskies, Inc. Joins
Good Search... spread the word!
What if Muskies, Inc. earned a penny every time you searched the
Internet? Well now we can! All you have to do is click on this link
www.goodsearch.com/?charityid=830274 and start searching the
internet as you normally would! You can save this link as one of
your favorites. Each search raises a penny for Muskies, Inc.
You can also go to the main website for GoodSearch at www.goodsearch.com; then where it says “enter your charity here...”, under
the box labeled “Who do you search for?”, just move your cursor
inside the box and type Muskies or Muskies Inc, then click verify.
MUSKIES INC (BARRINGTON IL) will appear. That way you know MI
will get the credit.
Help us spread the word!
Jeff Tilkens and his buddy, Tom, show off the two different 50-plus
inchers we landed one day last fall while motor trolling Swim'n Joes.
ast fall I was invited to go fishing with Jeff Tilkens of Roberts they sink if I stop but they don’t seem to get hung up as often as crank
Outdoors. We motor trolled “Tilky’s” home waters—the big baits do.”
*Motor trolling guru Musky Mike concurs that trolling soft plasbay of Green Bay. Tilky is a character; he’s a passionate, hard
can
be deadly. “I’ve been trolling Bulldawgs and Curly Sues with
tics
working fella whose enthusiasm for the sport clearly shows. The day
we headed out in his 1968 Shell Lake boat, affectionately dubbed great results. The data (speed, lure depth, line type and distance, etc.)
is all listed in the 2nd edition of “Musky Mike’s Trolling Secrets” avail“The Musky Tug”, we were joined by his cousin Tom.
Tilky’s tackle box appropriately held a wide variety of Joe Bucher able through Drifter Tackle. Other motor trollers that I spoke to note
tackle. Having trolled Depthraiders and baby DRs for many years, I that their greatest success with soft plastics have been holding onto the
figured that’s what he’d be tying on. But, he surprised me as he took rod and ripping it to induce the strike while trolling.
*Several trollers, motor and rowers, have been experimenting
a Swim’n Joe, actually several Swim’n Joes, and started motor trolling
with sinking lures. With the trend of trolling the deep basins in open
the vast waters.
“Those aren’t trolling lures,” I kidded him. “Oh, yeah? Tell the water, sinking lures can access areas where deep forage, like ciscoe, are
muskies that,” was his response. Within the hour we had our first hanging out. One drawback to the sinking lures, however, is that the
fish—a small musky that chose one of the Swim’n Joes over the other moment the boat stops one must quickly retrieve the lure before it
sinks and gets snagged up on the bottom. Setting
traditional trolling lure offerings we had out on
up a sinker on a free line (not a planer board) is the
Musky anglers have long
other lines. By day’s end we had boated two othbest option. Inside turns at very slow speeds can
ers...one 50.5” and one 51”! And, had another
been known as anglers
cause the lures to drop to the bottom also.
solid 50” up to the boat before she came off. An
who try unconventional
*I’ve personally used oversized crankbaits for
unbelievable day...all on Swim’n Joes.
tactics. Choosing lures
many years—with great success. My favorite is the
Most other fishermen that day remained fishwhich are not considered
original Hooker bait. Years ago I thought I’d have to
less. I was stunned and tried to figure it out. It was
trolling
lures
is
just
one
be crazy to purchase such a big, expensive lure. Now
very windy and the wind direction was driving the
more
tactic
that
can
it’s a staple in my tackle box. These big profiles have
water out of the bay; thus, we were dragging lures
accounted
for some of my biggest fish late in the
garner
great
results
in
around in very shallow water (around 3’). The
fall—both
muskies
and walleyes! Other big cranks I
other lures (i.e. Shallowraiders) were being poundcertain circumstances.
use include the Big Foot Depthraider, Big Games,
ed into the lake bottom—often just plowing
through the sand. Swim’n Joe, however, trolled just under the water’s Jakes, and Legend Plows. Lakewood’s Extreme Tackle Box is the only
storage box I’ve found that houses these large lures efficiently.
surface where the hungry muskies could find a tempting meal.
*Do you fish heavily pressured waters and believe the muskies
Thinking Outside of the Box
have seen it all? One lake that I troll seems to follow this pattern. I
Musky anglers have long been known as anglers who try uncon- started experimenting with saltwater lures and have enjoyed positive
ventional tactics. Choosing lures which are not considered trolling results. In particular, Mann’s saltwater cranks have put some nice
lures is just one more tactic that can garner great results in certain cir- muskies in my boat. I do not care for the saltwater hooks (I find them
cumstances. Here are a couple of other examples:
difficult to keep sharp) so I switch them out to Eagle Claws.
*We held the first Bob Ellis Classic (a row trolling tournament) Conversely, I have used Depthraiders with great success while saltwain early June. Rower Craig Niermann was plying the pristine waters ter fishing down in
of Crab Lake. He relays, “Crab has some great rock reefs and I Florida and the Bahamas!
thought...hmmm...this early in the season the muskies should be Banging DRs along the
lying there on the shallow rocks, sunning themselves. The only thing reefs has produced many
I figured I could troll in the shallow rubble without getting snagged tasty groupers in our boat.
was a topwater. So, I tied on a Hawg Wobbler.” Niermann ended up
So, the next time the
catching a nice fish and winning the inaugural event.
muskies seem fickle, try
Since row trollers can employ extremely slow speeds, slow presen- trolling a spoon, a jerktations such as the Hawg Wobbler, Creeper, and Believer are viable bait, or another “non-trachoices in those circumstances.
ditional” trolling lure. You
*Another row troller, Jim Olson, has trolled jerkbaits around with just might be surprised at
success. “The Sledge has been one of my top producers. I’ve also caught the results! ❖
fish on a Reef Hawg and know others who use Bobbie baits. Jerk baits Patricia Strutz is a Field M.I. member “Musky Mike” caught this big
have a side to side action when rowed—not as much action as when you Editor for MUSKIE hawg trolling the “Pounder” Bulldawg with 8 oz.
lead attached to the swivel at the head of the
cast them— but sufficient action—and a good hook up percentage.”
Magazine. She can be of
leader. Trolling about 3.5 mph, he let out 50
“I’ve also started row trolling soft plastics. The Huddleston has reached at:
feet of line on the inside rigs and 65-70 feet on
been very successful. If I set it about 30’-40’ behind the planer board [email protected] the outside rigs. Adding lead gets them deeper
and row under 2 mph, it generally stays off the bottom. Of course,
with less line so you can still feel the bait.
L
www.muskiesinc.org
There’s Nothing Fishy
About Healthy Fish.
here’s danger in the waters. Viral hemorrhagic septicemia
(VHS) is a serious disease of fresh and saltwater fish that
has recently been found widely throughout the Great Lakes
region of the United States and Canada. VHS is not a threat
to human health.
T
VHS spreads among fish through urine and reproductive fluids
released into the water, and also through the eating of other
infected fish. Infected fish and water can easily spread the virus if
they are released into a new body of water. Appropriate hygienic
or other routine biosecurity precautions are necessary to protect
aquatic animal health and prevent further spread of the disease.
The Healthy Way
• Thoroughly clean and dry fishing equipment, bait buckets,
boats, and trailers before using them again.
• Empty all water from equipment before transporting.
• Remove all mud, plants, and aquatic life from equipment.
• Do not move fish or plants from one body of water to another.
• Do not introduce fish of an unknown health status into
populations of farmed fish.
To learn more, visit
www.aphis.usda.gov/healthyfish
United States Department of Agriculture
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Blending Science and Proper Handling
Practices for a Better Release
by Sean Landsman with Marc Thorpe
The Science
Fish mortality is typically divided into two categories: initial and
delayed (Arlinghaus et al. 2007). Initial mortality is often achieved
when a fish is hooked in a location that causes massive bleeding and
irreparable damage to fragile structures such as the gills. However,
when a fish is not mortally wounded by hook location, an accumulation of sub-lethal stressors can result in delayed mortality.
Once a fish is hooked and the angling event commenced, important energy stores are quickly consumed and lactic acid build-up in
the muscle begins. Increases in lactate and depletion of energy stores
are greatest in fish angled for long durations (Schreer et al. 2001).
When a fish is finally captured it may be removed from the water for
measurements and photos. This exposure to air significantly increases the time required for heart related processes to return to normal levels (Cooke and Suski 2005). Normal body function is typically
achieved after an ample resuscitation period in a well oxygenated environment.
Most physiological changes are magnified during periods of
extreme water temperature. As cold blooded creatures, fish experience
changes in water temperature throughout their bodies which can
affect everything from metabolism to cellular function. Furthermore,
warm water retains less oxygen which makes it increasingly difficult
for fish to recover from exhaustive exercise.
A successful release can be significantly influenced by hooking
location, water temperature, duration of battle, and amount of air
exposure. Though you may not be able to control hooking location,
you can control the other factors. By taking extra steps to ensure the
survival of your catch, you are helping preserve the resource so future
generations can enjoy it as much as we do!
The Tools
First and foremost is some kind of landing device. Large landing nets with coated mesh can reduce fin splitting and other skin
injuries. Another option is a cradle which can quickly subdue a fish,
The large landing nets available today can act as a small "pen"
that can keep fish fully submerged and help reduce stress.
www.muskiesinc.org
though usually takes two people to operate and may be too difficult
to use when fishing solo.
The Boga-Grip is another tool that allows the angler to gain control over the fish and remove the hooks quickly. Tools like these
should be used only if they have jaws that can swivel 360 degrees, thus
preventing serious damage to the jaw if a fish decides to roll.
A good pair of long-nose pliers or channel locks allow the angler
to reach deep into a fish’s mouth while maintaining good leverage to
extract hooks. These tools also help keep the angler safe by minimizing contact with the fish’s sharp teeth.
Recommended release tools (left to right): large needle nose
pliers, jaw spreader, Knipex bolt cutters, Hook Pick, channel
locks, Musky Armor "Release Glove."
Knipex or other high quality hook cutters are often faster and less
stressful than using standard long-nose pliers. If you are concerned
about losing your expensive cutters while unhooking a fish, famed
Ottawa/St. Lawrence River guide Marc Thorpe suggests trying this:
attach a piece of nylon rope
(roughly five feet long) to your
cutters, tie the tag end to a keychain clip, then attach the clip to
your net or somewhere inside your
boat. If you lose your grip on the
cutters they will simply fall away,
but remain attached to your net or
boat.
If a pair of long-nose pliers or
cutters cannot reach hooks deep
inside a fish’s mouth, a new product called the Hook Pick is an
invaluable tool. Its simple design
coupled with an overall length of
15 inches allows the angler to
Hook removal must be done
push or pull on a hook wedged as fast as possible! Don’t hesdeep inside a fish’s mouth.
itate to use your bolt cutters to
(continued on page 16)
cut hooks when necessary.
HANDLING PRACTICES
Many folks employ the “Leech Lake Lip Lock” which puts the
angler’s hands in very close contact with the fish’s razor sharp gill rakers and sensitive gill filaments. A glove such as Musky Armor’s
“Release Glove” protects the angler’s hands from sharp gill rakers,
affords the angler excellent dexterity, and more importantly minimizes the bulk of other gloves that can damage the fragile gill filaments. If crushed or torn, these filaments can prevent the fish from
obtaining necessary oxygen once returned to the water. Please use
caution when handling muskies near their gills.
Landing the Muskie
As soon as the fish is landed, take a deep breath and compose
yourself! Make sure the fish’s head is in the water. If the fish’s head is
above the water because the lure has tangled in your net begin
unhooking immediately. Your goal should be to remove hooks in as
little time as possible. Thorpe notes that there are two visual queues
anglers can use to determine if a fish is undergoing excessive amounts
of stress. If the sides of the fish and/or the eye or eyelids turn a reddish coloration, this is may be a sign of severe stress. If the angler sees
this, Thorpe advises not to remove the muskie from the water; the
release should commence immediately.
Bump boards allow the full weight of the fish to be supported and
evenly distributed while measuring. However, air exposure is still
an issue when using this method.
If you choose to take a muskie which is not severely stressed out
of the water for photos and/or measurements, give the fish a little time
to recuperate after removing the hooks. Immediately removing them
from their only source of oxygen heightens stress and increases the
time it will take for stress levels to subside. Furthermore, you must
grip the fish as tight as humanly possible when handling the fish or
removing them from the water. Dropping the muskie can result in
serious external and internal injuries.
The longer your catch is held in this position, the higher the likelihood of inflicting damage. Therefore, it is advised that the fish is lifted horizontally out of the net or cradle and supported with fingers
spread or the entire arm positioned near the mid-section of the fish to
support the fish’s mass and prevent internal injury.
Measuring the fish should be done quickly and with little to no
air exposure. Measuring a fish vertically is never recommended for the
dangers listed above plus the additional air exposure it would cause.
Another popular measurement method is the use of a bump board.
While this method keeps the fish’s mass fully supported, it still
requires additional air
exposure. I cannot
emphasize
enough
that it is crucial to
minimize the duration
of air exposure as
much as possible.
Therefore, it is highly
recommended that all
measurements
be
taken in the water.
This is the absolute
safest form of measuring that can significantly minimize stress.
After using a large
landing net to secure
the fish, Thorpe uses
the built-in ruler on
Frabill’s “Pro Tech
Muskie Cradle” to
measure fish in the
water. A simple floating ruler or cloth tape
In-water measurements can be just as
would also work for accurate as bump board measurements
in-water
measure- and eliminate the additional air exposure
associated with out-of-water measuring.
ments.
Air Exposure, Measurements, and Photos
The Release
Give your catch a period to rest before removing it from the net
for measurements and pictures.
If you choose to take measurements and/or pictures, your goal
should be to keep the fish out of water for as little time as possible.
You and your boat partner should be familiar with how your camera
operates before hitting the water. Keep in mind how you hold the fish
if a photo session is desired. A vertical hold can severely damage a
muskie’s spinal column, gill structures, jaw bones, and internal organs
as connective tissue tears and organs slide or rupture inside the fish.
The biggest mistake I see anglers make when releasing fish is
when they force the fish forward and backward. This puts unnecessary strain on the fish’s fragile gill plates. Simply hold the fish upright
by the base of the tail and allow it to recover on its own. Periodically
release your grip to make sure the fish has gained full equilibrium and
is not rolling over on its side. Once equilibrium has been achieved,
let go. The less handling that takes place the less stress the fish will
undergo. Do not slap the fish on the tail to get it to
“take off.” This forces the fish to burst swim which is
the very type of exhaustive exercise that you are trying to help the fish recover from. Remember, just
because a fish swims away quickly does not necessarily mean it will survive.
Releases in High Water Temperature
on bass, trout, and salmon; there are very
few physiology studies focusing on
muskies. Testing the effects various handling techniques have on delayed mortality is an important step in revealing what
specific practices are most beneficial for the
preservation of this resource.
The muskie is a fish that provides
great value both as an apex predator in
aquatic ecosystems and as quarry to those
of us who love to pursue this beast. Please
practice catch-and-release with care –
remember your goal is to release a healthy
fish which will live to grow, spawn, and
perhaps fight again! ❖
When fishing in high water temperatures, everything must be done faster. The duration of the fight,
the unhooking process, the handling period, and the
time out of water must all be shorter. In fact, it is
advised that the angler not remove the fish from the
water during periods of extreme water temperature,
particularly when the water is above 80 degrees F. If
you must, Thorpe suggests limiting time out-of-water
Sean Landsman is MUSKIE Magazine’s
during this period to 20 seconds or less. It takes fish
There’s no need to move your muskie newest Field Editor. Sean will finish his
significantly longer to recover from exhaustive exerBachelor of Science degree next spring and
forward and back during the release
cise during periods of high water temperature (Suski
process. Simply help the fish stay
plans to start a graduate program in Fisheries
et al. 2006), and removing them from the water will upright and when she is ready to go, shortly thereafter, possibly working on muskie
only prolong the recovery period. Furthermore, there
release your grip!
catch-and-release methodology.
is a positive relationship between bacteria production
and water temperature (Sander and Kalff 1993), increasing the likeliReferences and Acknowledgements
hood that fish with lowered immune systems (as a result of exhaustive
exercise) could contract water-born illnesses. A total-water-release
Special thanks to John Underhill and Marc Thorpe for giving the
where hooks are removed and measurements taken in the water is author permission to use their photos.
highly recommended. In fact, many anglers choose not to fish
A total water release marks the future of fish handling. Many
folks, particularly under extreme water temperatures, employ this
technique. Eliminating or significantly reducing air exposure will
increase the odds that your catch will survive to fight again!
Arlinghaus, R., Cooke, S.J., Lyman, J., Policansky, D., Schwab, A, Suski,
C.D., Sutton, S.G., & Thorstad, E.B (2007) Understanding the complexity of catch-and-release in recreation fishing: An integrative synthesis of global knowledge from historical, ethical, social, and biological
perspectives. Reviews in Fisheries Science 15: 75-167.
Cooke, S.J. & Suski, C.D. (2005) Do we need species-specific guidelines for
catch-and-release recreational angling to effectively conserve diverse
fishery resources? Biodiversity and Conservation 14: 1195-1209.
Sander, B.C. & Kalff, J. (1993) Factors controlling bacterial production in
marine and freshwater sediments. Microbial Ecology 26: 76-99.
Schreer, J. F., Cooke, S.J. & McKinley, R.S (2001) Cardiac response to variable forced exercise at different temperatures an angling simulation for
smallmouth bass. Transactions of the American Fishery Society 130:
783–795.
Suski, C.D., Killen, S.S., Kieffer, J.D. & Tufts, B.L. (2006) The influence of
environmental temperature and oxygen concentration on the recovery
of largemouth bass from exercise: Implications for live-release angling
tournaments. Journal of Fish Biology 68: 120-136.
muskies once water temperatures reach 80 degrees, and instead switch
to other species or pursue muskies at night when water temperatures
are cooler.
Preserving the Resource
Humans have a responsibility to protect and care for nature’s
resources. As stewards of nature, particularly as anglers, taking every
step possible to ensure the successful release of your catch helps fulfill
this obligation. On the spectrum of handling procedures – from
harvest to total-water-release – the guidelines in this article fall
somewhere in the middle. Educating the public on proper
handling procedures becomes imperative as the sport’s popularity
increases. Our handling procedures will never ensure 100 percent of
our muskies will be released successfully, but there are certain techniques you can employ that will dramatically decrease delayed mortality and keep survival rates high. Most studies on fish physiology focus
www.muskiesinc.org
Proper handling can lead to lots of memories of muskies swimming
away from the boat. However, to minimize delayed mortality of
released fish remember to reduce fight times, keep durations of air
exposure short (if at all), and minimize handling.
F
inesse trolling may seem more like a technique employed for
other species, but with some adjustments, this seldom used
tactic can be employed to tackle the kings of freshwater in a
way most people have never tried. Bodies of water seem to vary when
it comes to catching old esox with specific presentations. Some produce much better results with casting techniques during most of the
season, while
trolling may be
a better option
much of the
time elsewhere.
When these presentations fail to
produce, finesse
trolling is often
a good option.
Standard casting
and trolling tactics are considered the primary presentations to use
when chasing
our
favorite
species,
but
when they don’t
produce results
make sure you
think outside
the box.
Casting
I’ll readily admit that
Finesse trolling allows an
I’m a caster at heart.
angler the opportunity to
There’s nothing like the
feel of a muskie slamming
present a lure with a
your bait with a bone jartrolling approach, but at
ring strike, or seeing a big
fish cruise right up to the
a much slower pace than
side of the boat following
could be accomplished
your lure. Casting for
with a gas powered
these big, toothy predators is a thrill. Casting
motor, thus making it
offers distinct advantages
even more ideal for
to trolling. Casting allows
us to slow down and
neutral and negative fish
work an area thoroughly.
than standard motor
Casting allows us to spot
trolling.
following fish and nail
down a pattern more
quickly. Casting also gives
us the opportunity to react to a fish that shows interest in our presentation in a wide variety of ways.
One of the biggest advantages to casting is the ability to pick
apart cover. With accurate casts, we can place our lures right on that
weed edge, we can work down the length of a fallen tree, or we can
steer and walk a bait right through boulders that come to the surface.
We can effectively place our lures where we cannot safely operate our
boats or where we would get hung up when using planer boards.
When targeting cover and hitting those tight places, casting usually
reigns supreme.
Trolling
Trolling allows anglers to
quickly cover great distances
in the search for muskies.
Trolling gets our presentation
away from the boat, which at
times may spook our quarry.
Where legal, trolling allows
the use of multiple rods and
multiple lures per angler.
Trolling also allows anglers to
fish deep, but fast at the same
time.
When most anglers refer
to trolling, they are referring
to the method of dragging
lures behind a boat at speed
with the use of a gasoline
powered motor. Today, speed
is becoming more and more
popular with trollers. Speed can be a great trigger, another advantage
that comes with standard trolling presentations, but it can also deter
a lot of strikes as well. I believe that deterring strikes from less than
aggressive fish is offset by the ability to contact greater numbers of
fish, thus increasing the opportunity to tangle with a muskie that’s in
the mood to chase prey.
Location
There are a great deal of fish that will position just inside or very
close to the edge of cover, taking up residence in places where trollers
www.muskiesinc.org
can’t get to them. They’ll position right on or just inside the
weed edge or they might set
up on weed flats where the
vegetation comes almost to
the surface. They might hang
tight to the outer limbs of laydowns. They may be in
between boulders that can’t be
negotiated in a boat, except at
a snail’s pace with the outboard raised out of the water.
Many times, however,
they will simply position in a
tight spot, such as a small
cove or pocket of water where
a troller can’t swing in when
cruising at several miles per
hour. When fish position
themselves in this way, the
most logical approach is to
cast for them. Many times this will work, and anglers can get these
fish to strike; but if not, here is another tactic to try.
The Technique
Finesse trolling involves the use of an electric trolling motor
instead of a gas powered engine. An angler uses the trolling motor to
drag lures into the strike zone of fish positioned outside the path of
where power trollers can go. Anglers hold the rods instead of placing
A
t high noon the thermometer on the sign in front of the bank
in International Falls, Minnesota read minus eight degrees
Celsius (about seventeen Fahrenheit). It was just before
Halloween and even colder temperatures accompanied by snow and
surface ice were expected in a few days, but that didn’t discourage our
group of die-hard muskie hunters from making one last trek into the
Canadian wilderness in search of a trophy or two.
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Every year, just after
Labor Day, when the kids
have returned to school, it’s
pretty common for the
rush – a race even - to see
who can get their boat winterized and into storage
first. Some anglers (especially muskie hunters) are
going to argue that point, but generally speaking there is considerably
less-and-less pressure the deeper into fall you fish.
You can also bet that there aren’t too many people willing to risk
extreme and sometimes dangerous conditions to head north of the
border into Canada, where a miscalculation of weather or mechanical boat failure in a remote location can spell disaster. If you are
brave enough, careful enough, and some might say “loopy”
enough, a trip of this nature can payoff with some big muskies. It
could turn into the trip of a lifetime.
This particular late October adventure took place about four
hours north of the border and required a seven mile boat tow from
the main road over a rugged pothole and boulder maze that resembled the road into Baghdad after it had been bombed. That just got
our crew to the boat launch. It was another fourteen miles by boat
and then a two mile hike through thick woods (carrying gas, supplies, and other necessities for a four day trip) just to reach camp.
First on everyone’s mind was the forecast for much colder
temps with snow and ice. In order to get out of camp four days
from now, the boys would have to backtrack the same way through
heavy snow, ice, and raging wind added to the mix – or stay until
spring thaw. They weren’t scared, they forged ahead.
Once in camp the crew tried to stay warm with a single oilburning stove that produced the heat equivalent of a lit book of
matches. The propane cook stove added a little extra warmth before
breakfast and dinner, provided they could all huddle close enough on
the screened-in porch/kitchen. They fished, cooked, dined, slept, and
communed with nature (so to speak) for four days wearing their snow
suits all the time. At this time of year the indoor plumbing was shut
down, so the boys were forced to use the outdoor facilities.
On the water things really got cold. Surface chop created a steady
fine mist that turned the deck of their vessels into an ice skating rink
As winter approaches everything, from rapid changes in
condition to massive schools
of migrating forage, can
trigger muskies to kick into
gear for one last hurrah.
or whitefish the muskies won’t be far
for the duration. As the trip progressed,
away. These fatty prey fish migrate every
so too did the mercury – in a negative
fall
between
Halloween
and
direction. Sub-zero (Fahrenheit) temps
Thanksgiving and to be on the water
bottomed-out at night by trip’s end.
when they make their move is to strike
Frozen line spooling onto equally frozen
muskie gold.
reels made it necessary to bring several
others as back-ups. Trolling for hours on
Good things happen over
end in the bitter wind made them dream
fondly of being back at camp.
time . . . Great things
It was cold! It was North Pole cold.
happen all at once!
And it got colder by the minute at a
Our frozen crew set up on a steep
steady beat the whole time. Looking at
rock wall that dropped straight down
the bright side of it, Pat Elza told me, “At
into very deep water. Points, ledges,
least we got lots of rest. It didn’t get light
small reefs, and tons of ciscoes stackinguntil 10am and it was dark by 5pm – it
up all the way along the structure made
was too cold to do anything else but
this place very well suited for trolling. It
sleep.”
was a prime target as were four or five
In an article titled Last Chance
other similar rock walls in the area.
Muskies, Noel Vick of Game & Fish
Once set up on a trolling pass we
Magazine wrote:
were able to make our way from one end
“One would assume that ice-fishing
to the other in about thirty minutes.
entails the most disagreeable, core-chillThen we would simply turn the boat
ing conditions in the entire sporting
around and go the other way, back-andworld. After all, its winter, with all that
fourth until it was time to try another
goes with it: sideways snowstorms,
spot, or head in for dinner.
frozen five-gallon buckets called seats,
Trolling in the big chill produced a
and ice-covered reel spools and rod
few
small scattered fish over the first
guides. But ice fishing isn’t the worst
Mike Ponder took this 51.5-incher about two rod
three
days and just when the cold was
“weather” you can fish in. Nope, it’s the
lengths off the rock wall; it was suspended
about
to get the better of the frost-bitten
wickedness of late fall, with days spent
over very deep water.
trio, the boys hit the jackpot.
fighting damp northeasters and whitecaps. Bar none, that’s the coldest a man can be. Even winter’s harshest effort cannot outdo a frigid and saturated gale on the open water.” Big Bait… Big Fish!
On the last and coldest
No doubt about that. The weather up north can get pretty nasty
day,
eight consecutive passes
in the fall, but that’s what trophy muskie fishing is all about. It is rare
of
the
great wall produced
to hook up with the largest fish in the system in the summer, when
eight
monster
muskies
pressure is high and you have to compete with pleasure boaters, jet
between
47
and
52
inches
skis, and hundreds of other fishing vessels. If you’re a night fisherman
long
–
bellies
stuffed
fat
and
you might have a shot, but fall is the best time to go after the big ones.
Just wait for the kiddies to head back to school and the summer to the gills with ciscoes.
Sound advice on the
anglers to put their boats in dry dock and the muskie world is your
fall troll would be to target big
oyster.
fish with big bait. Team
Bobzilla started mixing 14Do you have to go all the way to
inch crank baits into the mix
Canada to have a great fall trip?
last year with solid results.
No way! Some of the best fall muskie hunting can be found south Large baits have always paid
of the Canadian border. Chances are good that everyone has a favorite big dividends in the fall and
lake close to home and all of these lakes will experience improved fish- the biggest producers so far
ing as the shadows get longer, the weather cools, and fishing pressure have been 10 and 14-inch
eases. With that “news flash” out in the open, I’ll bet everyone read- Jakes and large custom
Believers. In my opinion
ing has at least one fall destination in mind.
What is important is that you embrace the coming winter as a there’s no doubt that these
time of great potential. Big muskies get that way for a reason – they two lures work better than the
eat a lot. As winter approaches everything from rapid changes in con- rest and they work well under
dition to massive schools of migrating forage can trigger muskies to any conditions.
kick into gear for one last hurrah. It isn’t unusual to find groups of
muskies wolf-packing in areas and chasing schools of baitfish and Casting Call
bulking up for winter. It’s called “strapping on the feed bag” and when
Much has been said in
you find the pack, hold on for dear life.
favor of trolling in late fall. Pat Elza is all bundled up holding
Forage is always a key factor in muskie hunting, but maybe never This is a tactic that produces a beautiful late fall muskie. He’s a
as important as in the fall. When you find schools of ciscoes (tullibee)
lot colder than he looks!
www.muskiesinc.org
ONLY THE STRONG SURVIVE
big fish time-and-again, while giving anglers a chance to ride-out bad weather sitting
bundled up in the boat. Wind and big waves make casting tough sometimes and frost
bite on the fingertips is no picnic either. But don’t abandon casting late in the season
– no matter how cold you get.
Reefs and rock points close to deep water are going to hold fish all the time.
Casting allows you to work these spots with greater efficiency than trolling. It can’t be
stressed enough that trolling indeed allows you to cover more water, but it is also true
that casting gets you tight into the cover and lets you probe it efficiently. Fish that are
hugging cover may not chase a target swimming twenty feet away, but drop it on their
head and they may not be able to resist. Use big diving baits and BANG those lures
into the rocks.
Git ‘er Done!
Dryberry Falls Resort owner Louis Hall grips
a nice 47-incher.
Our crew made it out just in the nick of time – breaking surface ice as we cruised
to the launch where we had parked. It was a once in a lifetime experience, as are many
adventures where big muskies play a starring role. Eight very cold trolling passes produced life-long memories. How cool is that?
What will YOU remember from this muskie season? Have you done it all? Are
you ready to get that boat winterized and start planning ahead for next spring? If so,
have a nice winter!
If not, better keep the boat in the water a little longer. Pack warm clothes and
your big trolling baits and give it another try. Remember to do some casting too.
What’s important is that when fall conditions get tough, tough muskie hunters get
going. ❖
▲
Bob “Bobzilla” Chochola has been a musky hunter for twenty years. He is a member of the
Chicagoland Musky Hunters and lives in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. Bob is a freelance
writer, photographer, and video editor. You can contact Bob at: [email protected]
Our author, Bob, says "Driving the boat is the coldest job on Earth."
FINESSE TROLLING
them into holders, which allows for solid hooksets at lower speeds.
Anglers are required to help steer the lures right into the path they
want to follow, by extending their arms, raising or lowering the rod
tip and increasing or decreasing the speed of the trolling motor.
Advantages
By using a trolling motor, anglers can quietly move through an
area instead of churning everything up. There is a theory that
muskies are attracted to boats powered by an engine. The theory goes
that, when top predators hear a noisy boat coming, they get excited.
As a motor boat quickly powers through an area that contains lots of
baitfish, it’s likely that the baitfish will flee. The schools may break
up and scatter, some of the baitfish might become disoriented and
even injured if struck by the boat or prop, creating additional feeding opportunities for animals in pursuit of this prey. I agree with this
theory in certain situations, but there are also other factors to consider.
Muskies that are not spooked by a boat, but rather attracted to
it, are more than likely in an active feeding mode. Fish that are in a
neutral or negative mood, however, might not go for this noisy presentation. When trolling for fish in these less active moods, the quiet,
subtle finesse trolling presentation with a trolling motor might just
be the hot ticket for success. I have had many instances in which it
certainly seemed to work very well. Finesse trolling allows an angler
the opportunity to present a lure with a trolling approach, but at a
much slower pace than could be accomplished with a gas powered
motor, thus making it even more ideal for neutral and negative fish
than standard motor trolling.
When an angler does swing off course and into an area where a
lure will likely snag, it’s a quick and easy fix. The operator simply
stops the trolling motor and raises the rod tip high in the air. Because
the boat is traveling at a lower speed sinking lures can quickly be
pulled in and floating lures can easily be allowed to float to the surface instead of hanging up. Most of the time, a floating bait can be
walked ever so slowly through or over the cover. As soon as the boat
clears the danger zone, the operator quickly gets the trolling motor
back up to full speed. This can trigger a vicious strike as the bait
speeds away after being slithered over or past the cover. In the case of
a sinking lure, an angler immediately casts back to the edge of the
cover as soon as the boat gets moving again.
the bottom of the
trolling motor are a
big benefit as well,
especially to anglers
fishing in somewhat
stained waters. A
depth alarm is a great
feature to have on one
of these units. The
depth alarm can be set
to warn the operator
that the front of the
boat is crossing into
shallower water in case
they are paying more
attention to their lure
than the depth finder.
The Bottom Line
What finesse trolling boils down to is a quiet, subtle and different way to present lures to muskies that can’t be reached with standard trolling methods and won’t take a bait on the cast. More than
likely, they’ve never seen a lure presented in this way before and will
be quick to jump all over it. Give finesse trolling a try and you’ll be
glad that you did. Good luck! ❖
Colby Simms
www.simmsoutdoors.com
618/521-0526
Tips
This can be done from the back of the boat, but it’s much more
effective when the operator is positioned in the front, using a bow
mounted motor. This has many advantages, but the most important
is being able to see ahead of the boat and down into the water. This
will help the operator to precisely follow the edge of the cover as close
as possible so as to get the lures tight into the cover.
Equipment
Good polarized sunglasses and a hat will allow the operator to
see deeper into the water at longer distances, which is critical for this
approach. Another major advantage is employing the use of a foot
controlled model trolling motor. A foot control motor will allow
operators to effectively fish as they use their hands and arms to move
their rod into the best possible position. Long rods are better for
steering lures away from danger and into the strike zone. Sonar units
mounted on the front deck of the boat with the transducer affixed to
www.muskiesinc.org
TROLLIN’
TROLLIN’
TROLLIN’…
From the muskie season
opener thru late Fall this
technique works.
by John Skarie
An early June muskie caught trolling a 10” Jake over 60 feet of water.
I break up my trolling year into three disike many of you, when I first started
tinct time periods. Keep in mind that I’m fishmuskie fishing casting was my primary
I think the main reason
ing in central and northern Minnesota. Your
technique. Back in the early 1990s
home area may have slight or significant differtrolling was not a common practice among
more people don’t troll is
ences depending on location.
muskie anglers in central MN. I suppose much
they
just
don’t
know
how
of that had to do with the visual aspect of muskie
At the opener
fishing. Seeing follows and coaxing fish into
effective it can be.
Perhaps the most under-utilized period of
boat side hits is certainly an exciting part of the
the year by trollers in MN is right at opener.
game. In fact I would go so far as to say that the
This is a time when many anglers concentrate
muskie’s boat side manner is one of the main reasons many of us chase
them. But what about the days when you aren’t seeing follows, fish on new weed-growth in shallow, warmer water. While that can be a
productive tactic, it often results in smaller fish and lazy follows. I’ve
aren’t active, and your arms and shoulders are sore?
I think the main reason more people don’t troll is they just heard many times through the years that a particular lake doesn’t get
don’t know how effective it can be. While it’s true more and more going until July. Well, maybe the fish just aren’t in the shallows yet.
Many lakes in central MN, WI and Canada have expanses of
anglers are taking up trolling in the late fall, much of that just has to
deeper
water with pelagic forage. Species such as whitefish and cisdo with it being to cold to cast. The majority of anglers still are not
coes
are
abundant in many muskie waters. These baitfish are not limtrolling throughout the whole season and are therefore missing out on
ited
in
range
by warm water or low oxygen levels. They can be found
some great opportunities from the opener until season’s end.
riding high in the water column in early summer. Along with them
you can also find foraging muskies.
At this time of year I fish lures at two depths, 4-5 feet and 15-16
feet.
Active fish either seem to be riding high or staying down around
18-20 feet. I don’t think I’ve ever caught any muskies when my electronics suggest they are deeper than 20 feet down. Lures which run
deeper than 18 feet have very rarely been productive for me when
trolling over deep water. You can use your electronics to help you
determine the depth of baitfish and muskies. Keep one thing in mind
though, a blank screen can mean you boat is scattering baitfish or
muskies that are using the upper water column. Transducer cones are
very small right under your boat.
Acquiring the correct depth for a shallow presentation can be
done several ways. Running a bait on a short-line can keep them riding high. Otherwise crank baits specifically designed for shallow use
and jerk-baits both work well. Running a short-line behind a planer
This August fish was caught trolling a Rad Dog spinnerbait in board works very well early in the year with all lure types.
My preferred equipment for deepwater trolling is a 9-foot heavy
six feet of water
L
glass rod with 25-30 pound mono
spooled on a line-counter reel. This
set-up works very well with barbless or
barbed hooks. Many anglers also prefer
to use mono with planer board applications. I prefer a longer leader, 3-4 feet
to help prevent bite-offs when fish roll.
Trolling with bucktails is much the
same as spinnerbaits, but you have to
deal with line twist and with more fouling due to weeds. Anglers can modify
bucktails with weights to act as a keel to
help keep them upright. Large fish are
being taken successfully by trolling the
big double bladed bucktails in many
Mid to late summer
northern waters.
Summer trolling is not limited to
As the water temperatures increase
spinner-type baits. Topwaters and jerkwe hit the mid and late summer peribaits can also be effective. These baits
ods. By this time muskies are relating
have inherent difficulties with catching
to healthy weed beds and rock strucweeds however, and can be frustrating
tures on many lakes. Fish are becoming
to use. Shallow running gliders would
more available to casting now, so what
be a good choice until fall when the
is the point in trolling, right?
weeds start to die-off. Shallow running
Well, there are several reasons to
crank-baits can also be effective while
troll during the summer period. One is
trolling on weedlines and over rockto compete with fishing pressure. If
piles, especially in windy conditions.
you’ve been muskie fishing for more
than 5 years the increase in numbers of The author holds a late October muskie caught trolling Large top waters trolled just outside the
weed-edge can also produce impressive
muskie anglers on many waters isn’t
a Believer outside a deep weed edge.
strikes.
news to you.
Trolling allows you to cover water quickly and hopefully pick off
aggressive fish and fish that may be turned off to casting presenta- After fall turnover
The period after the fall turnover is the start of a new set of tactions. With increased pressure fish can become disinterested in slow
moving lures. A bucktail reeled in as fast as you can is still slow com- tics for me. For the rest of the year I’ll primarily troll jerk baits and
pared to trolling. In many situations speed can turn a slow day into crankbaits. Jerk baits get the nod in shallow water out to the deepest weed edges.
a great day.
At this time of year I use weighted dive and rise type jerk baits,
In my opinion, heavily-pressured fish can also become boat-shy.
I see more and more fish veering off before they get close to the boat. or slash baits as some anglers call them. The technique for this is to
Trolling can help overcome that.
Trolling during this time of drive 1-3 miles an hour and pull your bait forward every 10- 15 secyear can also fine-tune your casting attack. Using a GPS an angler can onds, while standing. This can be a very physically demanding tactic
map out weed edges, small points, rock piles or anything else that you to use, and if you decide to try it while sitting down you’ll soon realize why I recommend standing!
may not have been aware of.
I prefer a fairly stiff 7 1/2 foot rod as it is physically easier to use
Last but not least, with the growing popularity of bigger and
heavier lures, trolling can just give you a break physically and mental- in this manner. You can set your drag a little tighter than if you were
ly. Now that’s not saying trolling isn’t mentally tough, but it’s a trolling with the rods in rod holders, but not much. The weeds
change of pace that can help you get through the day and stay fresh should be dying off now, and the rise and dive baits won’t give you too
much trouble weeding up. The technique causes a very erratic action,
for when the muskies do get active on casting presentations.
Trolling during mid-summer really has limitless possibilities. and will produce voracious strikes. Be ready!
My other main tactic during this time of year is trolling cranks.
While I like to concentrate on shallower structure at this time, there
are still fish to be had over deep water. Most lure types will work now The same forage that we keyed in on early in the year comes back into
play now. Ciscoes will be spawning in late October or early
as well.
The most popular and most productive method during this time November. As the spawn approaches they will start staging, or conperiod is to troll spinnerbaits and bucktails. The obvious advantages gregating off breaklines. During the spawn they will come up shallow
of spinnerbaits are that they are very weedless and won’t twist your after dark and reproduce.
Muskie can be taken suspended off the breaklines and on the
line. They are available in many different styles and sizes to fit a variedges themselves. Fishing for suspended muskie this time of year is
ety of applications.
I recommend using an 8-9 foot medium heavy or heavy rod and very similar to doing it in early summer. Finding baitfish and expera line counter reel spooled with no-stretch line. A rod that’s too soft imenting with depth and lure type is the key to success.
Contacting structure on breaklines is another very good late fall
won’t allow you to visually tell if you need to clear weeds or your bait
fouls. You’ll notice a distinct vibration in your rod tip that will go tactic. In central Minnesota, I consider contacting structure as bang“limp” when your bait isn’t running correctly. Always remember to ing lures on obvious points, weedline fingers, rocks, humps, and
breaklines. On Canadian shield waters it usually means trolling in
set your drag light with no-stretch line.
By experimenting with different weights and blade types you can 10-15 feet of water off rocky shorelines, with banging rocks being a
effectively troll over deep weed edges and shallow sand flats with equal huge trigger.
These are all proven tactics that have put trophy muskies in my
success. Whether to run a long line (50 feet or more) or short line
(less than 50 feet from the boat) is a personal preference, and may be boat on many bodies of water. I’ve either caught or netted muskies
determined by what the fish in your area best react to. I almost always over 35 pounds in every month of the season while trolling in
troll with a long line and as fast as my baits will allow without blow- Minnesota. Some months are better than others, but the opportunity for catching big muskies by trolling is not limited to the fall. ❖
ing out of the water too often.
www.muskiesinc.org
FALL METRO
MUSKIE MADNESS
by Adam M. Glickman
This 47 inch Metro muskie has been in the
author’s boat on three different occasions!
I
As my sucker
rounded the point, it
In the fall, recreational
got nailed.
Line
screamed off my reel as
and angling pressure drops
the musky took the
off, the water cools, and
sucker quickly and
directly into 16’ of water
the muskie action heats up.
off the shallow breakline
and then just sat there.
It was behaving like a big fish. I quickly positioned my boat
over the fish. I put a little tension on her causing her to move
away from the boat. I then set the hook. I battled her to the
surface and quickly put her in the net. She measured 52” and
was my best of the season. After a few photos, she was safely
released.
It isn’t much of a secret that many of the metro lakes
around Minnesota’s Twin Cities have excellent populations of
muskies. Some are stocked with true muskies, others are
stocked with hybrid muskies, and a few have both.
Unfortunately, Twin Cities area lakes are very crowded most
of the year with recreationalists and anglers. I am from northern Wisconsin and was only used to the standard jet skiers,
water skiers, and pontooners. Water recreationalists in the
Twin Cities though take things to a whole new level. There
are cabin cruisers on lakes barely deep enough to keep them
from running aground, there are fast cigar boats, kite surfers,
and bigger crowds.
There is no shortage of anglers on these waters either.
Fishing pressure is high. Finding decent sized panfish or good
walleye action is a tall order. Basically, anything that tastes
good is at a premium as lots of anglers are hitting these lakes
for a meal. The largemouth bass fisheries in these lakes are
prolific. In fact they have the best largemouth fishing I have
ever experienced. Few area lakes have cool enough water to
grow large pike, but many have large populations of small
Author’s fishing partner Nicole with a fat 48-inch Metro muskie.
t was 3:00 p.m. on November 15th and I was down to my last
sucker. I had headed out to the west metro for a short afternoon
trip with three suckers, and now I was regretting not bringing
more. I started fishing at 1:00 p.m., casting a glider, but to no avail.
I couldn’t budge a fish on the artificial. I started fishing suckers at
2:00 p.m., and had already caught a 42” musky and missed one
other. It was one of those days that you couldn’t keep a sucker in the
water. So I worked my last sucker around my favorite spot, a point
on a well defined shallow weed edge with a few rocks mixed in.
pike which are more of a nuigradually down the tops of the
sance than any thing else.
vegetation. Look for concentraThat brings us last, but certions of muskies near irregularitainly not least to muskies.
ties on the weed edge such as
Metro musky lakes are stocked
points, corners, and inlets.
with Leech Lake strain true
Weed edges with a few rocks or
muskies and/or hybrid muskies.
boulders at their base are real
The metro area has an excellent
winners.
growing season and the lakes are
Once the water cools, slow
rich with forage which allows the
presentations shine. I prefer
fast growing Leech Lake muskies
neutrally buoyant jerkbaits and
to reach large sizes very quickly.
live suckers, but all presentations
The hybrids also do quite well.
have the potential to produce
In fact, the Minnesota state
strikes. If the weedline is exceprecord hybrid musky was caught
tionally shallow, even surface
from Lake Elmo which is just
lures have their time and place.
east of St. Paul. Even small
A large creeper can be deadly.
metro lakes have large muskies.
The use of live bait is
I have caught muskies over 50”
frowned upon by some, but at
in lakes under 300 acres in size.
times it produces many strikes
White Bear Lake and Bald Eagle
when muskies will barely look at
Lake are good places to start in
an artificial. Sometimes I feel
the east metro.
Lake
like a walleye fisherman, just
Independence
and
Lake
slowly dragging live bait.
Minnetonka in the west metro
Adam with a 52-incher taken in the Metro area.
have well established populations. Lake Harriet and Lake
Calhoun right in the heart of Minneapolis are also excellent.
Good numbers of large muskies live in the metro area, but
catching them in these lakes can be very difficult during most
I was a bit hesitant to run a feature which highlights live
months of the season. June through September, recreational
bait fishing as one of the primary techniques, but the fact is
pressure often chases muskies out of their normal shallow
the method has been used for many years and is still
water haunts, and heavy angling pressure makes them very lure
employed by quite a few anglers, especially in the fall. So
shy. High water temperatures in the middle of summer are
instead of avoiding the issue, let’s start discussing progresalso very stressful on them. Muskies can of course be caught
from June through September, but results can be spotty at
sive alternatives to standard live-bait methods. Adam’s artibest. In the fall, recreational and angling pressure drops off,
cle provides an interesting introduction to open such a disthe water cools, and the musky action heats up. It heats up so
cussion.
well in fact that it seems like the muskies were waiting to eat
Some biologists, and many anglers, believe we need to
for a long time, and in all likelihood, this may be the case. It
change
the way anglers fish with live suckers anywhere in
is not inconceivable that metro muskies under summer time
muskie
range
if we want to increase the survival of muskies
duress eat very little. After very hot summers, metro muskies
which are caught and released. For example, outlawing
are often thin, but fatten quickly as the fall progresses.
single-hook sucker rigs may help to reduce swallowing of
Sometimes it takes until mid to late October for true fall
like conditions to set in, but once water temperatures hit the
the bait. Proper use of quick-strike rigs can also reduce swallower 50s the magic begins and the wait was worthwhile. The
lowing. Circle hooks may help. And there are other innovahot action continues until freeze up. The predominant structive approaches that need to be discussed and studied.
ture in metro lakes is vegetation, thick vegetation with a well
States could consider restricting anglers to the use of
defined weedline. Water clarity varies greatly on metro lakes,
one
rod while muskie fishing, like Minnesota has done, so
ranging from very murky to quite clear. Therefore, weedlines
anglers would have to choose between an artificial lure or
end anywhere from 3’-20’. Often, the weeds grow to the surattentively fishing a live sucker.
face all the way to the deep edge of the weedline, so they are
States that ban motor trolling on most waters might convery easy to follow.
Muskies will be holding very tight to the edge so it is very
sider allowing it to give anglers an effective alternative to
important to keep presentations right next to the weeds. Work
fishing with live suckers in the fall.
presentations parallel to thick vertical weed edges instead of
I’ll try to get another discussion of this topic in our From
casting into the weedline in a perpendicular fashion. This will
the Muskie Biologists column, but what are your thoughts?
minimize fouling in the thick weeds and maximize the amount
of time your presentation is in the strike zone. If the weedline
Feel free to drop me a note at:
thins gradually into deeper water, presentations can be made
[email protected] Thanks, Kevin
in a more perpendicular fashion to the weed line and worked
Live Bait?
www.muskiesinc.org
FALL METRO MUSKIE MADNESS
I am not familiar with studies conducted on live bait and
muskies but I do know what I have observed in my own live bait fishing. Last fall I caught a 47” musky twice in 6 days, both times on
suckers on the same rig. I know it was the same fish because it had
a slightly misshapen and oddly proportioned body, with a hump on
its back. It was also in exactly the same spot. This summer, I caught
it again and then saw it swimming around the next day.
No matter what type of presentation you are using make sure
you follow good landing and release techniques. Get the musky in
the net as soon as possible and keep the musky out of the water as little as possible.
Work suckers well behind the boat under large slip bobbers.
This keeps them out of the weeds and away from the boat (which
muskies are often spooked by). Keep the distance from the bobber
stop to the sucker 2’-6’ less than the depth of the water at the edge
of the weed line. Sometimes, this means that the bottom of the bobber will be pegged to the top of the leader. It looks silly at fist, but
it works. Often, strikes are explosive as the suckers struggle to escape
their attackers. It looks like something from National Geographic.
Keep the reel in free spool with the clicker on to allow line to be
taken on the strike.
Large spinner harnesses (similar to those used by walleye fishermen) combined with quick strike rigs help attract and trigger
muskies; especially in lower water clarity. Fish these rigs on super
braid line with a medium slow action rod. These heavy, yet whippy
rods allow the suckers to struggle without working free of the rigs. It
also tires the muskies quickly at boat side which is where you want
to set the hook. Don’t set the hook from a distance. Sneak up to the
musky as close as possible and when it swims away set the hook hard.
To make sure you get the back bone of the rod in play immediately
on the hook set, let the musky put a good bend in the rod tip first.
Of course, Minnesota anglers are only allowed one rod a piece,
so if you are fishing alone you must make a tough choice between
which one to fish at any given time. I like to alternate at first and let
the fish tell me what they want. If I fish ten good days in the fall,
muskies will prefer live bait five of those days, artificials one of those
days, and four of those days they will strike both. I love using live
bait, but even for me it is tough to put down my jerkbait rod. I love
the artistry involved in working these lures, but sometimes it is
impossible to beat the real thing. Also, if temperatures are well below
freezing, continual casting will cause tackle to ice up past the point
that it can be used. Small ice flows are also tougher to work lures
around than suckers. You could troll an artificial, but if possible I’d
rather troll live bait. I save trolling lures as an absolute last resort, but
I have caught excellent fish in this manner.
Whether I am working artificial or live lures; I fish slowly,
methodically, and continuously. Keeping heavy motor usage to a
minimum will improve musky feeding, even on a large lake. Skilled,
knowledgeable, and successful anglers tread lightly on the environments they love and give other anglers the respect they would want
to be given themselves.
The best spots along a weedline will reveal themselves through
continual angling. Certain areas will consistently hold active
muskies when they come on in the fall. These spots will become
obvious very quickly if they are being fished properly. I have 8 great
fall spots in the metro, and if I work 3 of them properly with both
live and artificial presentations I can take a strike 90% of the time.
In 2007l, from October 15th to November 24th, my boat landed 26
muskies from 41-54” from metro lakes. I fished about 20 of those
days and averaged a 45” musky every four hours.
Of course I took strikes outside of those spots, but the vast
majority occurred within these locations. I never run-and-gun these
locations. It is the wrong way to approach hot areas in cold water.
Even if I have a monster raised that I think will go at dusk, I time it
so I can work slowly back to it and hit it at the perfect time. If I have to motor to a specific spot on
a weedline, I give it a very wide berth and start a
long way off (at least 75 yards) and slowly work my
way to the target area. If I run my outboard in the
fall, it is at the boat landing to go to where I will
begin, to move long distances between spots, and
then after dark to return to the landing.
I grew up in northern Wisconsin and learned
a lot from watching great old-school fishermen.
One of the most important things I observed was
their meticulous, thorough, patient, and quiet
methods. Anybody can run and gun and burn a
few spinners. If you mess up one spot, there will
be another. In the fall though, there is less room
for error. Presentations must be more precise. A
few yards in the wrong direction can ruin a presentation.
Another aspect of cold water fishing is safety.
Boat surfaces can become icy and slippery and the
water is always cold. When warm, heavy clothes
get wet it can be very tough keep yourself from
going under if you fall in. Use common sense and
be careful. Fall is probably the best time to catch
muskies, especially the big ones. Stay safe and take
advantage of this opportunity. ❖
ATTENTION
CHAPTER
CONTACTS:
Please make sure
your chapter address
and phone number
is correct on this page
AND on the M.I. website.
Whenever you update
chapter information on
the website, please send an
email to the Editor so we can
keep this page current. Thanks!
No. Chapter, Address
Phone #
01.....Twin Cities, 414 Division St., Excelsior, MN 55331..........................................952-380-1218
02.....Fargo-Moorhead, Box 2021, Fargo ND, 58107................................................701-298-9032
03.....Chicagoland Muskie Hunters, 7600 Kilbourn Ave, Skokie, IL 60076 ...............847-677-0017
04.....Titletown Muskies, Inc., 3097 Inverness Lane, New Franken, WI 54229 .......920-866-9705
05.....Pomme De Terre, PO Box 5, Hermitage, MO 65668 .......................................417-993-0035
06.....First Wisconsin, PO Box 122, Chippewa Falls, WI 54729 ...............................715-726-8896
07.....South Side Muskie Hawks, 5211 S. Narragansett Ave., Chicago, IL 60638......773-581-8650
08.....Capital City, PO Box 8862, Madison, WI 53708...............................................608-669-5046
09.....West Virginia, 1270 Federal Road, Little Hocking, OH 45742 .........................740-667-3571
10.....Heartland, 239 8th St SE, Mason City IA 50401 ..............................................641-424-0827
11 .....Mississippi Valley, 5301 11th Ave “C”, Moline, IL 61265 ..................................309-797-1803
12.....Headwaters, PO Box 652, Eagle River, WI 54521...........................................715-477-2913
13.....Hayward Lakes, PO Box 609, Hayward, WI 54843 .........................................715-634-4543
14.....South of the Border, 28926 W. Big Hollow Rd, McHenry, IL 60050.................815-385-9026
15.....Star of the North, 29957 La Plant Rd., Grand Rapids, MN 55744...................218-326-4958
16.....Three Rivers, 119 Bus Lane, Renfrew, PA15136 .............................................724-789-7866
17.....Quad County, PO Box 185, Plano, IL 60545....................................................815-695-1494
18.....Hopedale, 15 Township Rd 125, Dillonvale, OH 43917 ...................................740-769-7269
19.....Akron-Canton Muskie Maniacs, 10957 Northwood Ave NE, Bolivar OH 44612.330-874-2773
20.....Between the Lakes, PO Box 61, Sheboygan, WI 53085-0061 ........................920-564-3226
21.....North Metro, PO Box 41216, Plymouth, MN 55441 .........................................952-469-2155
22.....New Jersey, http://www.mi22.com/ ..................................................................................TBD
23.....Cleveland, 5608 Brave Chief Lane, Ravenna, OH 44266 ...............................330-296-2398
24.....Brainerd Lakes, 9143 Lone Pine Road, Brainerd, MN 56401..........................218-821-3669
26.....Central Wisconsin, PO Box 263, Medford, WI 54451 ......................................715-748-4874
27.....Central Illinois, 1191 Sandra Lane, Monticello, IL 61856 .................................309-264-3730
28.....Shawnee Muskie Hunters, 61 W. Jennings, Wood River, IL 62095.................618-610-5003
29.....Upper Great Plains, 1788 Hwy 4, Estherville, IA 51334...................................712-362-2501
30.....God’s Country, PO Box 1461, LaCrosse, WI 54601 ........................................608-786-4062
31.....Penn-Ohio, 309 Spring St, Jamestown, PA 16134...........................................724-932-5815
32.....Flatlanders, 5776 Vesper Drive, South Beloit, IL 61080 ..................................815-389-4622
33.....Lake Superior, 2031 Hwy. 33 S., Cloquet, MN 55720......................................218-879-2712
35.....Milwaukee, PO Box 28842, Greenfield, WI 53220...........................................262-442-6260
37.....St. Cloud, 312 18th Avenue N., Sartell, MN 56377 ..........................................320-656-1160
38.....Vikingland, 2909 Wicken Lane NW, Alexandria, MN 56308.............................320-846-7975
39.....Fox River Valley, 1253 Cobblers Crossing, Elgin, IL 60123.............................847-741-9771
41.....Central Ohio, 870 County Road 9, Fremont OH 43420 ...................................419-992-4504
42.....Hoosier Muskie Hunters, PO Box 501371, Indianapolis, IN 46250 .................317-577-8050
44.....Colorado, 3739 Sawgrass Trail, Castle Rock, CO 80109 ................................303-668-4089
45.....Kentucky, 212 Linden Ave., Southgate, KY 41071...........................................859-441-1666
46.....Bemidji/Cass Lake, 11551 Misty Meadows Rd, Bemidji, MN 56601................218-759-0098
47.....Michigan Muskie Alliance, PO Box 512, Caledonia, MI 49316 ........................616-447-1688
48.....Arrowhead, PO Box 603, Tower, MN 55790 ....................................................218-753-2612
49.....Webster Lake Musky Club, PO Box 670, No. Webster, IN 46555 ...................574-834-1669
50.....Penn-Jersey, 372 Kingwood Rd., King of Prussia, PA 19406 ..........................610-962-0632
52.....Daniel Boone, 813 US 62, Maysville, KY 41056 ..............................................606-759-7610
53.....Huskerland Muskie Hunters, PO Box 394, Valentine, NE 69201.....................402-376-2743
54.....Southern Crossroads, 1524 Country Club Rd, Albert Lea MN 56007 .............507-373-1818
56.....SW Ohio Muskie Ass’n, 524 Sterling Meadows Place, Brookville, OH 45309 ..937-833-1833
57.....NW TigerPac, 10517 SE 214th Place, Kent, WA 98031 ..................................253-850-5889
58.....Lake St. Clair, 22206 Kramer, St. Clair Shores, MI 48080...............................586-778-9136
www.muskiesinc.org
Special Events
2008
–– Deadline for Chapter Reports! ––
The deadline to send chapter reports to
the editor is the 25th of each month,
approximately 5 weeks before the
magazine is mailed to members!
October 3-4-5
34th annual Pomme de Terre MUSKIE
Tournament.
www.missourimuskies.org
or call Todd Hardin 636-296-6902
October 3-4-5
Hayward Lakes Chapter
31st Annual Fall Tournament
on 17 area lakes, $30,000 in prizes.
Contact Mike Persson: 715-634-4543
October 18
Guide for a day. Fish Pomme de Terre
with an experienced muskie angler. Call
Earle Hammond 417-993-0035
www.missourimuskies.org
October 24-25
Muskies, Inc. Fall Board Meeting
Morehead, KY and Cave Run Lake
October 25-26
8th Annual Fall Brawl Muskie
Tournament, Kinkaid Lake;
Contact Shannon Beaty-Dingus:
[email protected]
Special events listings are provided at
no charge to Muskies, Inc chapters.
To list your chapter's event, email to:
[email protected]
or by ground mail: Kevin Richards, 7618
Sunrise Ridge Road, Henley, MO 65040
Please send announcements
at least 2 months in advance.
CHAPTER NEWS & VIEWS ◆ CHAPTER NEWS & VIEWS ◆ CHAPTER NEWS & VIEWS
Chapter News and Views
01
Twin Cities
414 Division St.
Excelsior, MN 55331
952-380-1218
www.twincitiesmuskiesinc.org
Meets 2nd Tuesday 7:00 PM, Knights of Columbus,
1114 W79th St Bloomington, MN, near the SE corner
of the intersection of I-494 and I-35W.
George Wahl, MI Pioneer and
Hall of Famer, Honored
Thirty-six-year member of Muskies, Inc.
George Wahl, the inventor and manufacturer of
Eagletail lures was honored by a ballroom full of
relatives, friends, and Chapter members. A long
list of participants paid tribute to George from the
head-table microphone at a Chapter organized
and sponsored event. The words most often
repeated were “honest,” “loyal,” and “generous.”
George is well-known in the Midwest for his
annual presentations of the exceptionally successful Minnesota Muskie Expo. Paul Hartman,
the event MC, told of the Expo “partnership”
George had with the Twin Cities Chapter over the
years. The Chapter loaned George the $800
deposit needed to rent the site for the first Expo.
Since that time George has reimbursed the
Chapter with approximately $70,000 in contributions from the proceeds of the Expo.
George was inducted into the Muskies, Inc.
Hall of Fame in 2006. Among the many accolades listed at that time were his four years service in the Navy; MI membership since 1972;
1989-90 President of the Twin Cities Chapter;
and long-time service as a Twin Cities board
member.
The MC described George as the
“Mastermind” behind many of the Chapters’ “big
ideas.” Those include the annual Vets Opener,
the yearly Winter Picnic, and, of course, the
Expo.
George was accompanied by his immediate
family and many other relatives. The Twin Cities
Chapter was well represented in paying its
respect to this honored member.
Thank you, George!
- Vince Trotta
03
Chicagoland
Muskie Hunters
7600 Kilbourn Ave.
Skokie, IL 60076
847-677-0017 – Dean Rosset
[email protected]
Meets 1st Tuesday 7:30 PM, Park Ridge VFW 10
West Higgins Ave., Park Ridge, IL.
Greetings Thrill Seekers,
It has been a very good summer despite the
high waters in the Midwest for members of the
Chicagoland Muskie Hunters. Many of us have
headed out to Northern Wisconsin and Canada in
pursuit of trophy muskie fishing. August 5, 2008
meeting was an ‘On the Water” meeting at
Independence Grove in Lake County, Illinois.
Great time had by all and included some fishing,
burgers and an informal casting contest.
The muskie hunting trip to Long Legged Lake
in Ontario from September 7-13 was booked
solid and should be a great time for all who make
it. Now is the time to think about a trip next year
with the Chicagoland Muskie Hunters. Also the
2008 Gil Hamm Chapter Challunge will be at
Cass Lake, MN from September 24-26 and the
Fall Challunge on the Fox Chain, IL is October
25, 2008.
Tip of the Month: At the end of your retrieve
and before you lift your lure from the water, pause
with your lure still and in the water for a few sec-
onds. This gives a “hot” fish time to set up for the
“kill” This also gives you an opportunity to see if
you have a follow.
Meetings are the first Tuesday of the month at
the Park Ridge VFW located at 10 W. Higgins
Road at 7:30pm with pizza being served about
8:00pm. All are welcomed. Keep the calls coming with questions about joining Chicagoland
Muskie Hunters. It is always good to see all the
new faces and the opportunity to “talk fishin”. By
the way, we have some really good looking jackets for sale and tapes fishing tapes and DVD’s to
loan out at no charge. As always, feel free to
contact Dean at 847/677-0017 or [email protected] or me at 847/434-1400 (x100) or
[email protected]
Take care, Kevin M. Lynch
South Side Muskie Hawks
07
5211 S. Narragansett Ave.
Chicago, IL 60638
773-581-8650
Our meetings are held every third Wednesday of
the month at Mama Luigi's located at 7500 S.
Harlem in Bridgeview, IL starting at 7:00 pm.
The August meeting of the South Side Muskie
Hawks got under way with Vice-President John
Daley presiding. This was the first meeting after
our July hiatus, so fishing reports were first on the
agenda. Following the fishing reports, John had
some announcements, and then turned the floor
over to the members to offer fishing tips and
tricks that they had found to be productive during
the “Dog Days of summer”. Several tips on different ways to work your baits, different sizes of
baits to use, and different areas and depths to
fish were heard. Pictures of catches were circulated around the tables, as were many fish stories. It was nice to have a night that just turned
into an all-around bull session where members
could exchange experiences and ideas.
A selection of finger food was purchased from
Mama Luigi’s for the members to enjoy at the
meeting, and enjoy it they did! By the time the
meeting was over, the platter was totally empty.
Our annual seminar/fundraiser will be held at
Marie’s Ashton Place on Sunday, November 30th
(the Sunday after Thanksgiving). Ashton Place is
located at 75th Street and Clarendon Hills Road in
Willowbrook, and the doors will open at noon.
Our usual giant raffle, which includes a boat,
motor, and trailer, will be held following the seminar. In previous years, the value of the raffle has
totaled well over $20,000. We are looking forward
to seeing you there.
The South Side Muskie Hawks meet on the
third Wednesday of the month in the banquet
room of Mama Luigi’s Restaurant, which is located at 75th And South Harlem Avenue in
Bridgeview. Meetings start at 7 PM, and everyone is invited, as we are a family-oriented club.
Come out and join us!
Lynn Polyak, Vice - President
08
Capital City
P.O. Box 8862, Madison, WI 53708
608-669-5046 – Gerard Hellenbrand
www.capitalcitymuskiesinc.org
Meets: 2nd Monday 7:00 PM Park Ponderosa
McFarland, WI
The dog days of summer slowed the muskie
fishing some in southern Wisconsin. The water
temperatures had risen to above 80 degrees in
the Madison lakes and many of our members
have forgone local fishing for lakes further north
in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Canada. The
largest fish caught known to this reporter was a
55.25 inch brute caught by Matt Firestien on Lake
St Clair. Also of note was a 49 inch fish caught
by eleven year old Tyler Fitch on Mille Lacs in
Minnesota.
With the fishing season in full swing, the club
activities have been minimal. The major issue
was to find a new home for our monthly meetings. Starting in September the monthly meetings will return to Jingles Coliseum Bar at 232
East Olin Ave in Madison. Improvements in both
the facility and parking should now be able to
accommodate our meeting attendance which
wasn’t true in the past. Also, we were able to
secure Mr. Jim Saric as the principle speaker for
our spring fundraiser seminar which will be held
in April 2009.
The club held its second on-the-water meeting
on August 11th at Goodman Park on Madison
Lake Waubesa. Approximately 25 club members
attended the meeting although very few fished
since the water temperatures were above 80
degrees. Those that attended were treated to
grilled brats, hamburgers, and hot dogs prepared
by Karen Phillips and Gary Hoffman with help
from Gerard Hellenbrand. The highlight of the
meeting was listening to stories from members
that had caught or seen fish in places like
Canada or Minnesota.
With September just around the corner we
look forward to the local water temperatures
falling and getting back on the local lakes in
earnest. We expect a great amount of success
come the fall.
Gary Hoffman
Headwaters
12
P.O. Box 652
Eagle River, WI 54521
715-477-2913 – Paul Hansen
www.headwatersmuskies.com
Meets 1st Wednesday 7:00 PM
The Headwaters Chapter in Eagle River
Wisconsin had a busy August. On August 6th we
held our annual directors meeting. This dinner
meeting was very well attended. President Bill
Jacobs gave an excellent speech and special
recognition to all the hardworking directors, sponsors and benefactors. This handful of directors is
the key personnel that keep our 400plus membership active.
On August 13th we held our members only fish
any lake contest. This was a huge event put on
by Jim Rechlitz and Roger Sabota. We had 53
members present at Twelve Pines Pizza.
Congratulations to the following members as 3
fish were caught. Jim Korducki 40 1/2 inch, Bob
Jacobs 32 inch and Dan Voetter 38 1/4 inch.
Again congratulations to all.
On August 15th-17th the Muskie Club Alliance
of Wisconsin held there annual amateur Musky
tournament in Vilas and Oneida county. This
event is the world’s largest amateur Musky tournament, with 1074 anglers. There were a record
193 muskies caught and released. There were
many Headwaters members present. One event
at this outing is the coveted Bob James Memorial
Award. This award is given out to one individual
who is recognized for the endless hours and dedication for the improvement to our sport.
Congratulations to Art Anderson a director in our
club on receiving this prestigious award.
We are a very active chapter and anyone interested in additional information or joining our club
please visit our web site www.headwatersmuskies.com.
Regards, Glenn Matula, Secretary
P.O. Box 609
Hayward, WI 54843
715-634-4543
The Hayward Lakes Chapter’s 31st Annual
Fall Tournament is October 3rd, 4th and 5th, so
depending on when you receive this magazine
there may be time to enter. For more information
there was a full page ad in the last issue of
MUSKIE or call Hayward Bait at 715/634-2921. A
list of all the fish caught is sent to everyone in the
tournament and it’s also available at: www.haywardbait.com
On Sunday August 3rd the Hayward Chapter
hosted its annual kids fishing day. Club members
took twenty three youngsters fishing and then
met at noon for a picnic lunch. Each youngster
was given a bag of fishing “goodies” and some
larger items were raffled off. The event was fun
and everyone had a good time.
The current standings in our member’s contest:
Juniors: Alex Spezia 1fish (47”) 21 pts., Anthony
Spezia 1fish (46”) 20 pts. (nice fish guys!)
Women: Sandy Hackbarth 1 fish-6pts, Roz Smith
1 fish-9 pts. Caroll Chinnock 1 fish-14 pts.
Men: Kris Gottwald 2 fish-16 pts., Brian Smith 2
fish-29 pts., Emmett Brown 5 fish-37 pts., John
Ryan 15 fish-275 pts, includes a 50” and a
50.5” WOW!!!
Masters: Mike Persson 8 fish-83 pts.
Senior Masters: Dick Minnick 14 fish-149 pts.,
Tom Muntz 20 fish-232 pts., Larry Ramsell 16
fish-281 pts, includes 50”, 51”, 53.5” and
55.25” WOW, WOW!!!
Send your paper entries to the club post office
box #609 Hayward WI 54843 or e-mail them to
[email protected].
The next club meeting is Tuesday November
4th at 7:30pm at Dow’s Corner Bar Highway 77,
13 miles east of Hayward at county road A. At
this meeting we will review the tournament
results and elect officers and board members for
2009. We will also have a “LURE SWAP.” Bring
any old or new lures or other fishing equipment
you no longer need. We did this last year and it
was fun and worked out well. If you have questions call Mike at 715/634-4543
Good Fishing, Mike Persson
19
Akron-Canton
10957 Northwood Ave. NE
Bolivar, OH 44612
Gordon Selden - 330-874-2773
http://[email protected]
Meets 3rd Monday 7:00 PM, Belgrade Gardens,
3476 Massillon Road, Akron, OH.
TOURNAMENTS FOR 2009:
April 11-12
Leesville Lake
May 9-10
Salt Fork (Chapter Challunge)
June 6-7
Salt Fork Lake
July 11-12
Westbranch Lake
August 8
Leesville Lake Nite Bite
September 5 Westbranch Lake (Memorial)
October 3
Leesville Lake
Gordon H. Selden, President
Central Wisconsin
26
P.O. Box 263
Medford, WI 54451
715-748-4874 – Jim Jacobs
www.centralwisc.co.nr
Meets 2nd Monday of the month at Happy Joe’s
on Hwy. 13 in Medford, WI - 7:00 PM.
The July outing on Rib Lake and the Aug. outing on Spirit Lake were fishless. JT, sorry I
missed you at Camp 28 in July but had a good
chicken dinner before you got there. Art reports
getting a good fish on in Spirit just before Labor
Day weekend. Nice to hear there are some worthy fish in there. He also found a musky jaw with
1 inch teeth. The canal between the Spirit Lakes
has not been dredged and is almost impassable.
The standings show Matt Brinkman in the
Master’s lead with 30 fish and Jason Schillinger
and Don Kempen close behind. Joe Siegler is
ahead in the Men’s followed by Marty Shield and
Art Klimpke. Mary Kay and Monica Schillinger
both lead the Women’s. Jason has the largest at
50.75. Updated standings will be on the website.
We have decided to have meetings on the second Monday of the month from the urging of
Three Rivers
16
119 Bus Lane, Renfrew, PA 15136
724-789-7866 – James P. Buss
http://threerivers.muskiesinc.org
Meets 2nd Monday 7:30 PM,
Sportsmans Club, Wexford, PA.
Northside
Our August meeting had a meager turnout
for the Lure Raffle; however, with only a few
dedicated members we were able to make
$200 on the raffle. Thank you.
The upcoming year for the club is a critical
one. As you all know, we need some fresh
faces and some new volunteers. In order for
the club to grow and prosper, we need your
help. It only takes a few hours a month and in
return you receive a lifetime of memories and
friends. We truly need your help and support
and are looking forward to hearing from you.
Please contact either Dave Huemmrich 724777-5748, email [email protected]
or Mike Yerman 412-766-3501, email [email protected] OR attend the next club
www.muskiesinc.org
13
Hayward Lakes
meeting on Monday October 13, 2008 7:00 P.M.
On October 11 & 12 we will hold our annual
Lake Arthur Charity Challunge at Lake Arthur.
This is a great tournament where a portion of the
proceeds are donated to Camp Kon-a-Kwee
which provides outdoor activities for a variety of
children with debilitating diseases. If you can
only make one tournament this year, this is the
one to make.
As of August 12th, the following are the club
standings. Lunker of the Month for July, Kevin
Goldberg, 53”, Lake St. Clair. Men’s Masters,
Dale Wiley – 39 releases, Adam Andresky – 33
releases, Bill Andresky – 22 releases. Men’s,
John Ryhal – 33 releases, Frank Alcorn – 16
releases, Mike Lamberto – 13 releases.
Women’s, Lynn Yerman = 24 releases, Sue
Marfin – 4 releases, Edie Buss – 3 releases.
Juniors, Levi Metheny-8 releases, Dominick
Lamberto-3 releases, Christorpher Esposito- 1
release.
Our next meeting is on October 13th where we
will be discussing elections, 2009 tournament
locations, speakers for meetings, fund raising,
etc. Please try to make a point at attending this
meeting and help us with the direction you want
the club to go in. At our November 10th meeting,
we will host another “Lure Auction” and we do
have some great lures to auction off.
Collectables as well as some hard to get lunker
busters! If you missed the last auction, here is
your chance to pick up some great lures at some
great prices and help the club at the same time.
We have Spinda Lures, bucktails and hard baits
that are no longer available. We have Wiley
Lures in colors you won’t find anywhere else.
Some lures are new and some have teeth marks
in them. Don’t miss out on this as well as some
great lures it is a fun time.
Don’t forget to check out our updated web site
which was just taken over by Lynn Yerman.
Thanks Lynn we appreciate your help. We wish
you all the best this fall and remember above all
else, BE SAFE on the water.
- Joe Marinzel
yours truly so not to conflict with other muskie
club events/meetings in our area.
I meet Jim Kurz on Lac Seul July 23. He had
been canoeing by himself since May 7 when he
put in on the Flambeau River near Ladysmith. He
has a website (www.sistersfarm.com) with a GPS
map of his adventure. It is not too late to sign up
for next year’s canoe trip.
- Gerald Bucholtz
Shawnee Muskie Hunters
28
61 W. Jennings
Wood River, IL 62095
618-610-5003 – Manuel Santa Cruz
[email protected]
Joe Bucher stopping by as our January featured
speaker. One of the most respected and knowledgeable people in our sport. Watch here, the
website and the newsletter for the date and
details. Joe will be “custom making” his presentation for this night and our club. You will not see it
at the Tri-Esox show or anywhere else.
Our regular club meeting dates are the second
Wednesday of the month at the Poplar Creek
Country Club. They offer buffet style dinner starting at 6 p.m. before the 7:30 p.m. meeting. The
week before the meeting the web site will have
the buffet menu and cost.
Until later, return ‘em to the water Healthy and
remember Our Troops.
JT
www.shawneemuskiehunters.org
Check out our website for lots of good information: (shawneemuskiehunters.org)
Upcoming 2008 Events
October 4-5: Fall Classic on Lake Shelbyville IMTT Event
October 18-19: Guide for a day at Kinkaid Lake,
Paul Ice Boat Ramp @ 7:00 AM
October 25-26: Fall Brawl Tournament on
Kinkaid Lake - IMTT Event
Nov 1-2: IMTT Championship Tournament at
Kinkaid Lake for qualifying members
Nov 8: Veterans Day Fishing Event, Kinkaid Lake
Walt Krause
Fox River Valley
39
1253 Cobblers Crossing, Elgin, IL 601230
847-741-9771 – Rich Gallagher
www.frvmuskie.com
Meets: 2nd Wed (Exc June/July) Poplar Creek Country
Club, 1400 Poplar Creek Drive, Hoffman Estates, IL.
October is here. In a few weeks we will be
passing out candy to the costumed “Trick or
Treaters” ringing our doorbells. Along with that
comes the beginning of the Fall Fishing Season.
Days will be shorter, water cooling down, live bait
rigs ready for a sucker. This is the time to scout
out your “money” spots and find one of those big
girls looking to fatten up!
Our “Fall Challunge on the Chain” is right
around the corner on Saturday October 25th. This
ever popular one day tourney on the Chain of
Lakes is one of the best times you will ever have
fishing a tournament. As always we have cash
payouts to tenth place. A big fish pool and a great
hot meal at the end of the day topped off by the
raffle of two picnic tables full of great prizes waiting to go home with you. If you have not done so
yet get your entry in ASAP. Spots fill up fast and
you don’t want to be left out. Entry forms are on
the web site and at the media table at the monthly meetings.
In November we will have our Pool Demo and
Pizza night. Stop by the East Dundee Park
District Pool for a night of free pizza and bait
demos in the pool. This is a good opportunity to
see how baits look in the water before you buy
them. At our December meeting we will have a
presentation by Lee Tauchen along with the club
Lure and Equipment Swap and the Food Drive for
the Elgin area woman’s shelter. Please remember to bring a donation of non-perishable food
items
Also in November will be the last of our club
outings for the year to North Webster Indiana on
the 21st to the 23rd. This is the right place at the
right time to tie into a “Fall Beast” from a very productive body of water.
Mark your calendar for this one. Kicking off
2009 in a very big way we are very happy to have
Webster Lake
49
P.O. Box 670
No. Webster, IN 46555
574-834-1669
Hello everyone. Fall is now creeping in on us,
and time for the fish to be going on a feeding frenzy. I do hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable
summer. Most of the league is coming to a close,
and we should have awards for the winners. The
awards will be presented at the February banquet. Now, if you have not fished any of the cash
tournaments, the last one will be November 1st
on Webster Lake. I hope to see everyone there.
Please remember that the MOFC chairperson is
Brian Rothbauer. You can enter “fish forms”
online, or mail them to: Brian Rothbauer, 54490
Hunters Court, Elkhart, IN 46514
The fall Guide-For-A-Day was on the 20th of
September and it was a good turnout, so our
stocking funds are growing. I would like to take a
second and give a round of praise to everyone
who has helped out so much this year. Everyone
needs to remember that its takes us all to make
our club work and function. REMEMBER THIS IS
YOUR CLUB TOO!!! Also, you should check out
the club’s new website:
www.websterlakemuskyclub.net
You can check out the newest fish pics there
and download all the forms needed (like MOFC
forms and tournament forms, etc.). Even check
out the forum, where other members talk to each
other about many things going on in our club and
just plain musky stuff.
We will be having a speaker (TBA) for the
December 6th meeting at the American Legion.
See everyone on the water, and remember, let’m
go and let’m grow.
Bill Bennett
219-201-6123
[email protected]
NW TigerPac
57
10517 SE 214th Place, Kent, WA 98031
www.nwtigermuskies.org
email: [email protected]
Hot line: (253) 850-5889
Perry Peterson, President
Hello Fellow Anglers. Another month has
passed! How quickly the summer passes us by.
We’ve had a lot of fun out here in Washington this
summer fishing our “Tigers”. We’ve also had a
couple of guests from other Chapters of M.I.
come out this year to visit and give our tigers a try.
It is always good to get some time to speak with
you fellow members from other parts of the country. Remember the door is always open here in
Washington!
What’s new you ask? Well, I just came back
from one of our Chapter Events on Merwin
Reservoir this past weekend. Everyone who participated had a wonderful time. We fished from
6:00 A.M. until 3:00 P.M. on Saturday. It was a
fabulous summer day with the sun high in the sky
shinning down upon our boats. A total of five
tigers were C-P-Rd with many other follows,
swirls, and close calls mentioned. The largest
fish was a 43.5 inch fish caught by
V.P./Tournament Director in the last minutes of
the Event! It was enough to take First Place.
Mark doubled that day with a 33 inch fish he had
caught earlier.
After all the excitement and heat of the day we
had a great “potluck” dinner where we handed out
awards to our winning anglers and enjoyed some
great food and each others company. As the sun
finally set in the West we had a fellowship campfire and traded fishing and hunting stories into the
night. In the morning many of us shared breakfast and then packed everything up because it
was time for us to leave and get back to the “real
world”. . . ahhhhh . . . Hey, there’s always next
time!
We will be helping out with our C.A.S.T. for
Kids Event on September 6th.
Our last Open Tourney will take place
September 12-14th on Lake Mayfield. I am personally looking forward to these next two events
because I know once again they will gather some
awesome people together and fun will be had by
all!
Well that’s it for now folks. Now go out there
and catch yourselves one of those XXL fall
muskies!!
Until next time,
Perry Peterson, President
Chapter 57, NW TIGER PAC
myspace.com
Be sure to check out
the Muskies, Inc. page
on myspace:
www.myspace.com/muskiesinc
This web page has
contact information,
photos posted by our
members, and links to
other web sites which
may be of interest to
anglers of all ages!
Chapter 38 Member David Anderson, who is eleven
Another photo sent in by Craig Brewer of Chapter 9.
years old, recently caught his personal best, a 45-inch
And check out the future pros in the background.
muskie. His dad Jeff is holding the fish in this photo, but
David reeled him in all by himself. Nice work.
Chapter 9 member Bailey Brewer and Levi Metheny of
Chapter 16 with a nice 42-incher caught by Bailey’s dad
Craig. On a recent 3-day trip these two guys put in 14hour days chasing muskies and even fished in their own Chapter 37 Member Brent Hilbert with a 50-inch fish
caught recently on Lake of the Woods.
boat for a while.
Chapter 49 member Bill Bennett with one of his personal
best fish. He says this one was caught from Webster
Lake. Nice fish Bill.
Chapter 01’s Todd Lorenz with a nice 39 inch
muskie caught from Fox Lake in Minnesota.
Here is Chapter 9 Member Craig Brewer
with a very nice 52-inch fish.
Chapter 57 Member Craig Bukowski with a nice
Tiger caught from Washington’s Lake Merwin.
A photo of the sun setting on Lake of the Woods in
August. It’s my favorite place to go to, and I know
some of you out there feel the same way. Photo by
Chapter 02 member (and MUSKIE photo editor)
Brad Waldera.
☞
Proper Muskie
Holding Techniques
for MUSKIE Magazine
Photos including Covers,
Article Support, Photo
Contest Entries
& Member Photos
www.muskiesinc.org

MUSKIE Magazine

Transcription

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