MUSKIE Magazine

Transcription

MUSKIE Magazine

Photo Contest – July Winners
by Brad Waldera, Photo Editor • [email protected]
Photo Tip of the Month
Editing Photos for Effect
Dave Dawson’s photo shows one of the many
interesting effects that can be obtained with digital
photos by taking a little time to experiment with
your camera’s computer programs, or other programs. Many camera companies include photoediting programs with the purchase of your camera,
or you can buy stand-alone programs. There are
also many FREE photo-editing programs available
on-line. In the past I have used a program called
Picasa2, which features the effect Dave used on his
photo. It’s fairly easy to use, and should still be
available to download online. There are many other
programs to choose from; it just takes a little digging around to find them. If you take the time to
learn all of the available camera features you will get
much better results in the long run. The most profitable photo I ever took was with a very cheap camera model. I knew its capabilities and functions well
though, which allowed me to get the shot I wanted.
Good luck, and don’t be afraid of experimenting. ❖
▲ Winner #1: I really like this shot that Dave Dawson sent in. Dave is from Menomonee Falls, WI, and is a
member of the Milwaukee Chapter. Dave says this was a full color shot that he tweaked a bit on the computer to
change the background to black and white. Playing around with stuff like this can be a lot of fun, and in this case it
emphasizes the fish a little more. Dave said he caught this 48-inch muskie on Friday the 13th of July last year. He had
caught a 46 inch fish in the exact same spot almost a year to the day earlier. Take some time to experiment more with
your digital pictures. You may be surprised at what can be done, and end up with a great shot like this.
Winner #2
▲
Matt Royten of the North
Metro Chapter sent in this
terrific shot of his friend and
fishing partner, Nate Buck.
Nate is a member of the
Milwaukee Chapter. Matt
says they were just about to
head out for a day of fishing
on Bone Lake in Wisconsin.
How can anyone look at this
photograph and not want to
BE there? Thanks for sending this shot in Matt I really
enjoyed it. By the way,
check out this month’s
Member Photos page for a
great photo of Matt with a
very healthy 46 inch
Bone Lake Muskie.
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. 7
Features
IFC Photo Contest,
Brad Waldera
11 Seeing Muskies Moving Up
Murphy Creek & Lake Wingra,
Gary Engberg
2 President’s Message,
Dan Narsete
3 Magazine Notes, Staff
12 Lake of the Woods - An Oldie
But Goodie, Sean Landsman
4 International News
16 Muskies From the Inside Out,
Brett Waldera
5 Figure 8, Kevin Richards
6 Letter to the Editor
18 Focusing on Big Muskies,
Adam Oberfoell
6 Index of Advertisers
8 Lunge Log, Jim Bunch
22 Muskellunge Stocking and
Restoration in Ontario, Steven J. Kerr
29 Chapter News and Views
24 Muskie Casting Basics 101, Tom Dietz
33 Member Photos,
Brad Waldera
Join Muskies, Inc. ...
or give a membership
as a gift.
Contents
Regular Membership: ❑ 1 Year-$35.00 ❑ 2 Years-$65.00 ❑ 3 Years- $95.00
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Junior Membership (Under 18): ❑ $20.00
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MAIL TO MUSKIES, INC. 14257 Waters Edge Trail,
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www.muskiesinc.org
July 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,
Dave Rautmann
Phone: 262-643-9160
Vice President/Membership & Marketing,
Dale Vercauteren
Phone: 920-680-6093
Vice President/Communications, Jay Zahn
Phone: 920-660-7655
Treasurer, Pete Barber
Phone: 847-726-7267
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.....July 2008
The
President’s
Message
by Dan Narsete
Muskies, Inc.
International President
Email:
[email protected]
I
n May I was fortunate enough to visit our bright new chapter in Seattle, Washington.
It is really refreshing for me to meet with members across the country and get to know
them. The Northwest Tiger Pac is on fire in the Pacific Northwest. In one year they have
grown to over 100 members! President Perry Peterson and his wife Janice Kuper are really
wonderful people and set an example for all of us to follow. They are dedicated, thorough,
and demonstrate great leadership.
While in Seattle I had to partake of some fishing on Lake Tapps with Mark Wells (May
Cover of MUSKIE). I saw some impressive fish; I am convinced that one of them was a 4plus foot tiger! The point I am trying to make here is that muskie fishing and Muskies, Inc.
is growing. Muskies are now present in 41 of the lower 50 states and are one of only two
growing areas of the fishing world.
Many people are probably wondering what my vision is for the future of Muskies, Inc.
Combined with the SPC Plan that was overwhelmingly passed in April, I see our organization evolving into three areas; as a conservation organization, as a fishing club, and in the
way we conduct our business operations.
I foresee Muskies, Inc. becoming “the voice” for muskie anglers around the world. After
reading the first 25 pages of the book “History of Muskies Inc,” it is clear that we began as
a politically active group. In the beginning we had congressmen, state senators and governors involved with our organization, and I don’t see why we can’t pick up that pace again.
Granted some things have changed but we need to get back to the basics. A great example
of this are the efforts of people like past-president Greg Wells and research director Tom
Betka, who are working closely with the Wisconsin Conservation Congress to get a 54-inch
minimum size limit on Green Bay. To me this is progress and foreshadowing of events that
will come as a result of our reorganization.
Many people were concerned that we would lose our status as a fishing club when we
decided to reorganize. This cannot be further from the truth. If anything, our common
bond of muskie fishing should grow. We will still have outings, contests, tournaments,
fundraising and activities designed to build camaraderie in over 50 chapters. The Lunge
Log, Chapter Challunge, and Kids Fishing Days are but a few examples of how we will continue to have a fishing club and strong chapter development in the years to come.
The business side of Muskies, Inc. is not something people like to talk about. To run
an organization such as ours it takes time, money, and people to make it happen. There are
a number of people who work countless hours and keep our organization afloat. Everyone
who serves on the board is elected by chapter members to allocate funds and run day to day
functions of the organization. I want to be clear in my intentions as President with regard
to our finances. We will only use money that we receive to better our organization, we will
not fruitlessly waste cash on things that do not serve our mission. The donations, dues and
ad revenue pay a small amount to a couple of employees and the rest goes back into development of the magazine, chapters, research, development, and soon to lobbying efforts.
As you can see I am excited and very optimistic about our future. I believe we have a
bright one and cannot wait to boast about all the 50-plus inch catch and releases we will
have this year!
Tight lines, Dan ❖
The Muskie is in the center to
be sure. The fish creates
excitement in many ways,
whether in the prey it pursues
or the fishermen that pursue
it. Very few things in life give
one more excitement and joy
than catching or just seeing a
Muskie.
But Muskie fishing itself?
Exciting? Hardly.
Nevertheless, even with the
endless hours of tedium,
Muskie fishing puts us into
the middle of nature, a world
of quiet pleasure. We need
to be aware of that.
This month’s cover celebrates
the things in nature that come
with Muskie fishing. From the
bottom clockwise:
You’re out on one of the
northern lakes, come around
a corner, and there’s a parade of pelicans lined up in formation for your
enjoyment.
In Canada, if you’re really lucky, you stumble into a moose rooting around in the
shallows.
A black bear swimming from one island to another as you troll by in your boat.
Bears can almost “fly” up the side of a nearly vertical granite cliff. You have to
see that to believe it.
Eagles. They are now far more common than in years past. But to catch one
eating a fish in a tree or majestically flying close enough to photograph is a treat.
Herons might be the first birds to arrive at our lakes in the spring and last to
leave in the fall. But they seem to come only as adults. Have you ever seen a
heron nest or heron babies?
Loons - awesome birds! They dance on the water, sit on a nest, or float around
with babies on mommy’s back. Watching what they do is an absolute delight.
But even better: listening to loon calls on a still lake in the night or in fog. If
you’ve never heard those loon calls, you’ve missed one of the best parts of
Muskie fishing.
And other birds – ducks mirrored on a silver lake, or terns that hover around
your boat, flashing a silver wing and begging for a handout of bait minnows.
So are all those things exciting? Well, yes they are. Suppose we didn’t have
these birds, bears, moose, and many other creatures around us as we put in our
Muskie Time on the Water. Fishing would be sterile and much more boring.
So go ahead, enjoy the thrills of your encounters with Muskies. But for sure,
enjoy all the other things too. ❖
Credits: These photos come from the archives of the Muskies Inc. Photo Contest and
from more recent “Up North” fishing trips. Thanks to Brad Waldera, Steve Statland,
Dave Ledman, Sean Huset, and Rick Zieman.
www.muskiesinc.org
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, Bob Chochola,
Vincent P. Trotta, James W. Colgan,
Adam Glickman, 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.
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
NEWS
I N T E R N AT I O N A L
◆
NEWS
◆
NEWS
International News – July 2008
D O N AT I O N S
M AY
Next Month – The 2008 Commemorative Lure!
The 2008 M.I. Commemorative Lure willDennis
be aM.real
classic – the
DepthRaider
Doug
Foley
Blume
designed by Joe Bucher. We will have all the ordering
details in the Richard
next issue
Mech of
Matt Thatcher
MUSKIE. We hope the sales of the ever-popularLeon
commemorative
lure will
beM.D.
fast and
Thomas
Narsete,
Henrickson
Next
Month
–
Gregory J. Pagni
Bill Brunstad
furious, so get ready for this special purchase opportunity.
The 2008 Commemorative Lure!
Daniel Biwan
Nathan Kjellman
The 2008 M.I. Commemorative Lure will be a real classic – the
Earl Potjeau
Russ Warye
DepthRaider designed by Joe Bucher. We will have all the ordering
details
in the next issue Help
of MUaSKIE.
We hopefor
the sales
of the ever- Magazine!
Timothy Voeck
Advertising
Needed
MUSKIE
popular commemorative lure will be fast and furious, so get ready for
As mentioned
last month, MUSKIE isOnlooking
for some help from members to
this special purchase
opportunity.
behalf of Muskies, Inc., thank you for adding a bit extra
solicit paid advertising. Instead of having just
one
manager
we will be using
when
you advertising
renewed your membership.
– Pete Barber, Treasurer
Fall
Board
Meeting –sales executives. So far the team consists of MUSKIE Editor Kevin
a team
of advertising
Special
thanks
to Mylie’s
Place!Rory Potter.
Richards
and long-time
member
advertising manager we will be using a team of advertising sales execSo far too.
the teamYou
consistscould
of MUSKIE
Editor your
Kevin Richards
Mylie’s Place,
on Lake
the Woods
in Morson, Ontario
was utives.
Kevin
is ofasking
individual
members
to help
extend
MI
inadvertently omitted from the list of donors for last fall’s MI Board and long-time member Rory Potter.
membership
freeresort
or perhaps
earnofaactivlittle cash!
youindividual
know members
potential
advertisers
such
Kevin isIfasking
to help
too. You could
Meeting.
Mylie’s Place for
is a family
offering a number
extend your MI membership for free or perhaps earn a little cash! If
ities,
in
addition
to
the
world
class
fishing
for
which
Lake
of
the
as a big tackle company, a home-based lure maker, a local resort, the local chamber of
Woods is known. Mylie’s Place is a long-time supporter of Muskies, you know potential advertisers such as a big tackle company, a homebased
lure maker,
a local advertising
resort, the local chamber
commerce,
or
commerce,
other
entity
which
could
benefit
from
with ofthe
worlds
Inc.
and we regret or
thesome
omission.
Check
out their
website:
some
other
entity
which
could
benefit
from
advertising
with
the
www.myliesplace.com for a tremendous amount of information, or
largest and most passionate muskie organization
please
contact
editor
at: please conworlds largest
and most
passionateour
muskie
organization
call them at: 1/866/395-3449.
tact our editor at: [email protected]
[email protected]
Here is a sample of our black and white ad rates, which are a
great value and will effectively present products or businesses to our
Here is a sample of our black and white adreaders!
rates, which are a great value and will
Of course color ads in MUSKIE will be even more eye-catching
effectively
present
products
or businesses
readers!
As mentioned last
month, MUSKIE
is looking
for some help to
andour
will also
introduce products or businesses to over 5,000 muskiefrom members to solicit paid advertising. Instead of having just one fishing households at very competitive rates! ❖
Advertising Help Needed
for MUSKIE Magazine!
Black and White Ads in MUSKIE
Ad Size
Width x Height (inches)
Full Page
9 x 11 ½
2/3 Page
5 1/8 x 10 ¼ (horizontal)
or
7 13/16 x 6 15/16 (vert.)
½ Page
7 13/16 x 5 (horizontal)
5 1/8 x 7 9/16 (vertical)
1/3 Page
7 13/16 x 3 1/8 (horiz.)
2 ½ x 10 ¼ (vertical)
5 1/8 x 5 (square)
¼ Page
3 7/8 x 5 (horizontal)
5 1/8 x 3 ½ (vertical)
1/6 Page
5 1/8 x 2 ½ (horizontal)
2 ½ x 5 (vertical)
Monthly Rate
1 time 3 times
$425
$405
$340
$325
if ad runs:
6 times
12 times
$395
$385
$315
$310
$280
$265
$250
$225
$210
$200
$195
$175
$180
$170
$165
$145
$150
$145
$135
$110
Of course color ads in MUSKIE will be even more eye-catching and will also introduce
figur e
8
◆
figur e
8
◆
figur e
8
MUSKIE Magazine at it’s best?
◆
Speaking of our writers sharing their expertise
and secrets, make sure you read this issue of MUSKIE
thoroughly. You might even want to take it along on
your fishing trip so you can review it again at night,
after fishing.
MUSKIE has some great features this month. In
fact, I’ll put the stories and photos of this month’s issue
up against any other magazine which highlights our
favorite quarry, the mighty muskellunge.
Special thanks to our long-term contributors and
field editors. Special thanks also to those of you who
figur e
8
www.muskiesinc.org
◆
I love muskie fishing in July. It is the month of
my annual summer expedition to the northwoods.
This year I will be fortunate to fish back-to-back weeks
on Lac Seul and Lake of the Woods. My anticipation
is high, my PFA (positive fishing attitude) is strong,
and my tackle will be ready. If we are lucky we will see
and perhaps catch some big fat muskies! We will enjoy
the sights and sounds of the north. The trip will allow
me to fish with family members and old friends.
There will be plenty of time in between chasing
muskies to catch and fry a few walleye, enjoy a cold
Molson, tell stories around the campfire, and listen to
the loons. And maybe, just maybe, catch that supersized muskie I’ve been dreaming about for decades.
This year I will also visit some current and potential advertisers during my trip. I’ll try to remind them
of the important role they play in bringing MUSKIE
Magazine to our readers and thereby helping to protect and enhance the muskie fisheries we all enjoy.
I’ll also get to share some tales (and possibly tails)
with at least three of the authors and anglers who contribute to MUSKIE on a regular basis. We have a
great mix of professional and novice writers who contribute to MUSKIE. Most are willing to really share
their expertise and secrets with us, which is a real benefit to our readers.
8
July – Prime Time for Casting!
figur e
8
by Kevin Richards
[email protected]
◆
8
Figure 8
Our outstanding assistant editor, Juris Ozols, continues to be one of the
most essential members of the MUSKIE team. He is a very dedicated M.I.
volunteer. Juris retired in May and immediately went on his annual trek to
northern Minnesota. After his trip he shared some of his wonderful photos
with me and others. When it was time to decide on a cover for this July issue
I asked Juris if he could make us a collage of northwoods photos. I hope you
enjoy it.
I hope you make the time to fish during the month of July. Enjoy some
of the best casting time of the year, especially in the northern portions of the
muskie range. After the thrill of catching that 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 ❖
8
Thanks Juris!
figur e
accepted my challenge to submit features for muskie. Over the past few
months we have had some insightful features from first-time contributors.
Keep those good stories coming our way. Who knows, if we can increase the
number of advertisers along with the number and quality of features which
are submitted we may be looking at an increase in the size of MUSKIE in
2009.
By the way, how do you like the new, heavier cover for MUSKIE this
month? We tried it for June and July and would like to know what you think.
You can post a note to the magazine thread on the M.I. bulletin board or drop
me a note via email.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
LETTER TO THE EDITOR ◆
INDEX OF ADVERTISERS ◆
LETTER TO THE
EDITOR
Muskies, Inc. Member John Skarie submitted this letter to
several publications. The first printing was in The Next
Bite – Esox Angler. MUSKIE appreciates the opportunity to share John’s point of view with our readers.
A
s I look back on the 2007 fishing season, I’m amazed at the
success anglers all across the state of Minnesota had. The
sheer number of big fish being caught is mind-boggling to
those that have been in this game for more than a few years. The
opportunity to catch large fish, and numbers of them, is also creating
a tremendous amount of interest, which results in another factor I
observed on my home waters last year - increased fishing pressure.
That is something that muskie anglers need to take very seriously. The number of big fish and the number of new lakes with muskies
stocked in them are not going to keep pace with the number of new
anglers. Not even close. The Minnesota Department of Natural
Resources (MNDNR), along with countless hard-working Minnesota
Muskies, Inc. members, has created a muskie paradise. The responsibility for keeping this fishery as one that continues to offer anglers not
only numbers of fish, but record-class fish, is in our hands.
There was another trend in 2007 that bothers me a little. That
is anglers having very large fish which are not released, or die, or however you want to put it. Now, I realize that fish can die on anyone at
anytime. But the fact remains that there are reasons why a fish dies.
It could be one or several reasons, depending on each individual case.
As anglers we need to look at the reasons why fish die. Only by
INDEX OF ADVERTISERS
FITTANTE REPLICAS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
GOOD SEARCH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
INDIAN LAKE LODGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
LAKE ST. CLAIR MUSKIE SHOP . . . . . . . . . . .
understanding that can we make informed decisions about when and
how we fish.
To get some insight on muskie mortality from a fisheries biologist’s perspective, I talked to MNDNR biologist and The Next Bite –
Esox Angler contributor Dr. Dan Isermann.
“Discussing the survival of released fish is a tough topic to navigate, murky water at best,” says Isermann. “There is no real way to
predict the fate of a muskellunge brought to the boat and subsequently released. The risk of mortality is related to the individual fish in
question and the situation at hand. Each ‘tug’ on the end of our line
is a new trial.”
Certainly, we know that certain key factors greatly influence the
survival rate of released fish. Many would argue that fish size and
water temperature are the two most critical factors in the release mortality equation. For example, a big ‘lunge in warm water has a higher
risk of mortality than a smaller fish or a fish of the same size caught
at cooler water temperatures. A good general rule, but stress-related
mortality is the culmination of a cumulative process and releasing a
huge fish in the dog days of August is by no means a death sentence
and the sustained quality of many popular muskie fisheries suggests
that release-related mortality is not a crippling issue. In short, there is
a certain level of stress that a fish can endure before mortality becomes
a likely scenario. It may be that no single factor pushes a fish to this
threshold stress level, but the right combination of factors or series of
events might.”
A lot of this is common sense,” said Isermann. “For example,
catching and subsequently releasing a four-footer on a hot summer
day when the surface temperature is hovering on the warm side might
not result in mortality of the fish, but add four-foot waves and a prolonged fight to the equation, and we might find ourselves in a place
we’d rather not be. And, more likely than not, you may not even realize it as the fish swims off to expire without an audience. Release mortality is very often delayed. And this is muskie fishing. We are not
unhooking dainty walleyes and chucking them back to the drink.
Freeing a muskie from your bait of choice is never a sure thing and for
many fish there is the subsequent photo session to
endure, so certainly there are other factors besides size
and temperature that are part of the formula for survival.”
Certainly, a few of these factors are to some degree
. . 14
beyond our control (i.e., hooking location). Also realize
. . 24
that no matter what you do, if you stick at it long enough
you are going to kill a fish, even with the best of inten.. 5
tions and it may happen when you least expect it. But we
can certainly hedge our bets and weigh the odds when
. . 21
making decisions regarding when and how we fish.”
LAX REPRODUCTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
MOOSEHORN LODGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
RED WING LODGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
ROWAN LAKE LODGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
ST. CROIX RODS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
TUFFY BOATS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
USDA - STOP AQUATIC HITCHHIKERS (VHS) . . . 20
YAKIMA BAIT COMPANY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
YOUNG'S WILDERNESS CAMP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
I think Dan’s message is a clear one. Big fish can’t
tolerate stressful conditions as well as smaller fish. Going
a step further, the cumulative impact of multiple stress
factors increases the odds of a fish dying, especially a
larger fish. Knowing this, anglers need to be aware of the
stress factors and how to deal with them. I think it’s
important to differentiate between environmental stress
factors, such as high water temperatures, and “angler”
stress factors such as keeping fish out of the water too
long.
High water temperatures lower the amount of available oxygen (a simple function of the physical properties
of oxygen dissolved in water - the warmer the water, the
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
www.muskiesinc.org
and smallmouth. I have yet to find a fish species or technique where
I feel using barbless hooks costs me fish to any significant degree. I
will qualify that statement, however, with the need for fighting fish
properly, or maybe differently is a better term. Using longer rods and
applying constant, even pressure to the fish will increase your landing
success rate. I find little need for a powerful hook set when using barbless hooks. They tend to dig in quite easily, which also allows one to
back off the drag a little compared to when using conventional hooks.
I’ve actually released fish by just giving them slack at boatside. In
many cases the fish can just shake off the lure. The ease of unhooking
fish (not to mention unhooking the occasional angler) make going
barbless a very important and practical thing to consider.
Other areas of fish handling should also be changed in hot, cold,
or windy conditions. Fish should be kept in the water, period. With
today’s large nets and floating measuring sticks there is absolutely no
reason for fish to be taken out of the water in extreme temperature
and wind conditions for unhooking or measuring. Photos are a matter to be decided by the angler. Of course everyone wants a picture of
a personal best or otherwise special fish. There are many anglers who
do not need more photos of fish just for the sake of having them.
Release photos look great. Big fish still look big in the water. If you
have to take a photo in stressful conditions, then be quick about it and
get the fish back in the water. When night fishing, make sure your
boat is clear of clutter and that everything is in an easily accessible
place. Everyone in the boat should have a headlamp and extra lights
should be considered to make the job easier.
I’ll be very blunt. As anglers, we need to be more concerned
about the fishery and less with our own personal desires. We need to
ask ourselves whether or not the conditions even warrant going out
that day. If you do decide to go out in heat, extreme cold, or strong
winds, make the right decisions in regard to how you are going to
handle landing and releasing the fish.
I would rather have a continued muskie paradise well into the
future than a few more photos and numbers in the boat at the end of
the season. ❖
less dissolved oxygen it can carry) while increasing the fish’s metabolism. Another way to put it is that the fish’s need for oxygen increases while the availability of oxygen decreases. The potential stress here
while landing and then releasing a big fish should be obvious.
Fighting a muskie in these conditions is akin to taking a sprinter from
low altitude and making them run the mile at high altitude.
The flip side of this is fishing in sub-freezing air temperatures.
Eyes and gills of fish are not protected against these conditions. Fish
don’t have eyelids to protect tissue from freezing air. Gill tissue as well
is meant to be in water, not exposed to air, especially freezing air.
Here again this stress factor should be obvious.
Another environmental factor would be high winds. In both
warm water and sub-freezing temperatures high winds amplify stress.
In sub-freezing temperatures high winds cool exposed tissue at a faster
rate, making time out of water even more critical. In both of these
cases of extreme temperatures, high winds can cause difficulties in
landing and releasing fish. In the case of anglers fishing alone, a
strong wind can result in an angler dragging a fish as the boat gets
pushed along. The danger here is that muskies are physically designed
for short powerful bursts of speed, not prolonged periods of exertion.
Fish can literally die of exhaustion from the constant fight of being
pulled by the boat.
So with these environmental stresses in mind, what can anglers
do to help ensure fish live to be caught again? Well, the easy answer
might be to avoid fishing in stressful conditions. During periods of
high water temperatures, cold air temperatures, or high winds do
something else that day or fish on the calmer parts of the lake (if high
winds are the only factor). That’s the easy answer. For some that is a
harder choice to make than others. Understandably not everyone has
the luxury of only fishing in “perfect” conditions. People plan vacations months in advance, and when on vacation they want to fish as
much as possible. We all have busy lives and can’t pick and choose
when to fish. Life often dictates when you can go.
One thing anglers need to consider when fishing in tough conditions is lure choice. By lure choice, I’m not talking about whether it’s
a bucktail or a jerkbait. When
fishing in stressful conditions, or
when I’m alone, my lures will
only have one or two hooks, and
often be barbless. The logic here
is simple. The more hooks you
have, the longer it will take you
to unhook a fish.
There are many single and
double hook baits available on
the market in all lure types.
Many baits that come with three
hooks fish just fine with only
two. This is especially true
when trolling, as well known
Leech Lake guide Dan Craven
will attest to. Dan removes the
rear hook on most trolling lures,
with minimal increases in
missed or lost fish. Muskies tend
to hit the head of a lure and the
last hook quite often gets buried
somewhere outside the mouth
of the fish. Going barbless is
something I had already been
doing for years fishing for trout
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
Let us back up to January and show you the two muskies that
tied for January Lunker of the Month. The January Lunker is a real
crap shoot. Some years it is in the low forties. One year it was 54.5
inches. It depends on the weather, ice, etc. The all time January
Lunker at 54.5 inches was an extension of some great fall fishing in
a river in PA.
Several years ago at a spring awards banquet I noticed Will
Hardy of Alexandria, Minnesota talking to Danny Kurttila of
Nashville, Tennessee. I do not remember who I was talking too but
I told them, something’s brewing there. What a match up that would
be? Will is a Muskies, Inc. veteran. He has won everything in our
contest, multiple times.
His age starts with a 7, but he sure doesn’t act like it. He has
entered more muskies in our contest than anyone else in the world.
(1945). One year I did a study of how many different lakes he has
caught a muskie in, it was staggering.
Danny Kurttila is a shore fisherman. His first piece of tackle is
his hip waders. Unless things
have changed, he does not
own a boat. In the mountains of Tennessee, he will
cast for muskies where a
boat does not belong. If a
boat does enter into the picture, it rides upside down on
a car and is shorter than the
car. Danny fishes the Collins
River, Great Falls Reservoir,
and the Green River in
Kentucky. He has also
caught
muskies
in
Wyoming, Montana, and
Utah wearing his hip
waders. When Danny and
Will met, Danny said come
on down.
Afterwards Will told us
Tennessee has a great muskie
fishery, but is very fragile.
Carolina,
Like
North
Tennessee has had good
muskie rivers for many years
but the word didn’t get out.
I was down 2 years ago but
couldn’t fish because of high
Craig Brewer, West Virginia Chapter. Tied Jan 2008 Lunker
44 Inch, 01/08/2008. Dunkard Creek, PA.
Jerk BaitFish I.D. 251772
(see release photo on right facing page)
Will Hardy, Fargo Moorhead Chapter.
Tied Jan 2008 Lunker. 44 Inch.
1/08/2008. Great Falls Res. TN
Grandma. Fish I.D. 252013.
last month’s magazine. The April Lunker is still pending but appears
to be Kevin Johnson of the New Jersey Chapter with a 49 inch out
of Greenwood.
On Line Fish Submission and You!
Each summer I find a need to preach to you a bit, so here we go.
Actually since we went to on line entries it has worked pretty well.
There are three areas that I need to touch on. They are Lakes, Lures
and Gender.
When you want to enter your lake, click on state/province first.
If it is a state, now click on the county. Now click on the lake name.
With so many counties and lake names, once you click on the pull
down menu, you may type all or a portion of the name and it will go
right to the name or very close. If your lake name is not listed in that
county, one of two things is likely. Either you have the wrong counThe 42 inch February fish came from a hole between
rapids. I was fishing with Dwayne Hinkey, a muskie
guide fishing out of his River Ranger, a cartopper john
boat with only an electric motor. Dwayne took a picture
of the 42 incher but it didn’t turn out. He also took a picture of 40 and 33 inchers and the pictures turned out
great. Cannot believe a 42 inch would hold up for Feb. in
the age of winter fishing.
Now remember the January lunker was a tie. The tie
goes to Craig Brewer of the West Virginia Chapter. He
lives in Mount Morris, PA and lives on Dunkard Creek.
The amazing thing is that both his 44 and the one caught
by Will Hardy were caught on January 8th. Craig says, “It
was a very warm January day, everything was perfect. I
caught 3 this day; it was my best day ever. As a matter of
fact the 44 was my biggest ever.” He added that his ten
year old son has caught 3 this year already. His picture
was in the May magazine on the last page.
So we now have the January, February, and March
lunkers taken care of. The 51 inch March Lunker was in
www.muskiesinc.org
(Continued on page 10)
water. One inch of heavy rain will raise
the Collins River 3 feet and 2 days later
Great Falls Reservoir will raise 3 feet and
get so dirty it cannot be fished because of
runoff. Tom Kelly & Dwayne Hinkey
found a summer pattern on Great Falls
that was unheard of and will not work in
the north.
The 44 inch January fish was caught
at Great Falls Reservoir trolling for suspended fish. Lots of fish but too many
shad and the muskies were not in the eating mood. The girth on the 44 inch was
unbelievable. The Collins River is something else, a small river up in the mountains with rapids that a small boat cannot
navigate with an outboard. We tried it
with a 15 HP motor and it didn’t work.
LUNGE LOG (Continued from page 9)
ty or the spelling of the lake is really off. Please try again. It is very
possible that your desired lake name is in that county but not listed
as no one has ever entered a muskie from their before. That should
be a clue, if you know members have caught muskies there before,
please back up and start over.
If your entry is from Canada, we do not use county names for
Canada. So for example if you want Ontario, click on that, then
instead of looking for a county simply click on Ontario again, it will
now bring up every lake name in Ontario. Here remember with so
many names, type a portion of or the whole name and the computer will get you close. On occasion, you will have to enter a new lake.
If it is in the U.S. remember, we need, state, county and lake name.
If you find yourself needing to add a lot of lake names, please stop
and ask somebody who knows the system, you are probably looking
past something. At least once a year somebody tries to enter Lake of
the Woods like it was a new lake. In reality it has more entries than
all others and has been in our data base since day one. If you hit a
snag, most of the time it is a spelling thing. Vermillion with two L’s
is in Ontario, Vermilion with one L is in Minnesota.
Gender is just across from your name on the fish submission.
Many members just plain forget it. It is preset on Men’s or Male so
most Women who forget it are listed incorrectly. Please help us out
here.
Lures quite frankly are a mess. We have so many names from our
basement work benches; I have a hard time keeping up. We start with
the Lure Type, click on that, at this point you must decide what lure
type your lure is. When you then click on the lure type the computer will show you a complete list of lures in the category. Select your
lure or type a portion or all of your lure’s name and the computer will
get you there or close. If you do not find your lure name, back up
and try a different lure type. This can be confusing. Let’s look at the
Bull Dawg. The very same lure can be called a crank bait, a jerk bait,
or a jig. The manufacturer even states this on their packaging. In any
event, if you cannot find your lure name, please back up and try
again. It is probably a spelling thing or a misplaced lure type.
Keep a tight line,
Jim Bunch
715 226-0295
[email protected] ❖
See Muskies
Moving Up
Murphy Creek
& Lake Wingra
by Gary Engberg
E
very year muskies will move from Lake Monona, which borders the Wisconsin capital of Madison, and make a mock
spawning run up Murphy Creek from Lake Monona. They
attempt to jump the waterfall going out of Lake Wingra which is
connected to the creek. Though the spawning temperature for
muskies is still weeks away, the muskies get active around the beginning of April when the water temperature is in the low 40s. Few fish
make it over the waterfall from Lake Wingra, but the muskies will
continue to try, fueled by warmer temperatures and a shining sun.
The reason muskies get active at this time is because the creeks
and surrounding marsh water is warmer than the water in Lake
Monona, according to DNR Fisheries Technician, Scott Harpold. A
degree or two in warmer water is a “big deal” to fish and that, in
combination with current flow from melting snow, attracts the
muskies early in the spring. Though, their spawning temperature is
in the mid 50s the muskies are still attracted to the warmer water.
This same behavior is shown by many fish in the spring when most
species of fish seek out warmer water and, if possible, water with a
flow and some current. Often, spawning by northern pike, walleyes,
and muskies can overlap with some fish spawning at the same time.
This is a great site and location to see some big muskies up close
and personal. The Capital City Chapter of Muskies Inc. has helped
make the grate in front of the water more fish friendly, so they don’t
www.muskiesinc.org
injure themselves as they try to make the jump. Remember, that this
is a fish refuge and fishing is prohibited. The activity continues for
up to two weeks and is well worth seeing if in the Madison,
Wisconsin area. Give it a look next spring! ❖
You can reach Gary Engberg at:
Gary Engberg Outdoors
10106 Hwy., Mazomanie, WI 53560
Phone/Fax: 608/795-4208
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site: www.garyengbergoutdoors.com
The fog of dawn sparkles in the
sun’s first ray and the day is full of
promise as you go out on the water.
blueberries whose flavor simply cannot be rivaled
outed as one of North America’s premier
by anything purchased at a grocery store.
muskie destinations for decades, Lake of
Want to tangle with species other than
the Woods offers anglers the complete
“The fishing is not the
muskies? World class pike, smallmouth, walleye,
package – nature and fishing at its finest!
only feature that makes and lake trout make Lake of the Woods truly a
Spanning parts of Ontario, Manitoba, and
diverse body of water. The bays and small
Lake of the Woods a
Minnesota, Lake of the Woods’ 900,000 acres
hold pike of all size ranges and often most
and 14,000 islands provide anglers with an
world-class destination; islands
prime muskie habitat doubles as terrific pike
unlimited number of spots to fish and plenty of
you’ll experience some
habitat as well. Reefs, rocky shorelines, and
water to support a sizeable muskie population.
boulder points provide both superb spawning
Sometimes you can go an entire day without seeof the finest fishing in
habitat and hunting grounds for smallmouth
ing another muskie boat.
North America and
bass making this fishery exceptionally good.
As is the case with just about any Canadian
Again, it is not uncommon for muskie and giant
witness awe-inspiring
muskie water, the scenery on Lake of the Woods
smallmouth to occur in the same locations. Lake
is breathtaking. From the soft purple, foggy sunnatural beauty.”
trout are primarily confined to the deep, ginrises and blaze orange sunsets to the flickering
clear waters of Whitefish Bay where ciscoes also
green of the Aurora Borealis, Lake of the Woods
thrive. Lake trout are not the only predator in
will never cease to amaze. You’ll share company
with otters, bears, moose, and – if you’re lucky – wolves. Many Whitefish Bay; big pike and even bigger muskies are also found.
islands and portions of the mainland have terrific patches of wild Many anglers believe the low density muskie population of Whitefish
Bay, coupled with an abundance of large prey, make this area a likely candidate for producing a new world-record muskie.
T
Of course, no mention of Lake of the Woods would be complete without talking about the walleye fishing. Can you say, “big
walleye and lots of them?” If so, then you’ve just described the Lake
of the Woods walleye fishery in a nutshell. Not only will you find
big fish, but good eater-size walleye in the 14-16 inch range are
quite common. Nothing’s tastier than freshly caught walleye,
unless you happen to add homemade tarter sauce, fried potatoes,
summer vegetables, and fresh blueberry jam! Needless to say, I’ll
bring some walleye gear this year on our annual journey to Lake of
the Woods!
White pelicans on Lake of the Woods scan the horizon as a
boat patrols the rock bar beyond.
Now, for the best part…muskie fishing! This is where I believe
Lake of the Woods separates itself from the crowd. Yes you can find
pike, walleye, and smallmouth in nearly every Canadian lake. Yes,
the scenery is breathtaking on every lake in Canada. Yet, while
some Canadian lakes cater to those looking specifically for quality
You just know there’s a Muskie waiting
to be caught here!
and others quantity, Lake of the Woods offers both.
Your quest for a big muskie will be interrupted by plenty of “smaller” muskies; mid 30 to mid 40-inch
muskies will help keep you on top of your game
throughout your trip. The 54-inch size limit on Lake
of the Woods increases the potential for going toe-totoe with a 50-plus incher. Even if you don’t catch one
during your stay you will most likely see at least one
monster. Multiple fish days are not uncommon, and
barring serious inclement weather, you can anticipate
at least one multiple-muskie day each week.
Like fishing weeds? You’ll be right at home casting
bucktails, spinnerbaits, and topwater over the tops of
cabbage, coontail, and sandgrass beds. Typically the
best weed action takes place from the season opener to
late July.
Last light topwater is hard to beat at the end of
long day on the water!
Any fishing day is better with a shore lunch
of freshly caught walleye.
How about rocks? Muskies will begin transitioning out and away from traditional spawning bays starting, on average, in mid-July and making the complete
transition typically by August. Reefs, boulder shorelines, rocky points, isolated rock piles, and boulder flats
adorn the water of Lake of the Woods creating a paradise for rock fisherman. Is trolling your bag? Some of
Lake of the Woods’ biggest fish are quite susceptible to
this technique during fall, with true brutes taken this
way every year from September to ice-up.
A quick look at the Lunge Log records for Lake of
the Woods indicates a tremendous fishery that kicks
out both numbers and big fish each year. The fishing
is not the only feature that makes Lake of the Woods a
world-class destination; you’ll experience some of the
finest fishing in North America and witness awe-inspiring natural beauty.
Consider Lake of the Woods as a destination for
your next big trip, it’s the complete package. The memories you make will last a lifetime! ❖
www.muskiesinc.org
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.
This 50.5” came off a small rockpile in 3’ of water
inside a cabbage bed; it hit a topwater.
ou know the drill. You ease the boat from the deep to the break late summer to early fall is one of the best times to work this pattern
line and start moving shallower until the weed bed starts to due to the weed growth being at its mature state. However, I’ll fish the
show on the sonar. You then back off a few feet, grab your inside weed line earlier in the season when the shoreline has been
pounded by high winds for a few days. Late fall
favorite bait and start pitching away. You know
is another time worth checking out the inside
the spot well and position the boat perfectly as
edge for cisco chompers waiting to ambush their
you fire cast after cast into every nook and crannext meal. It surprises me every year how shallow
ny in the weed line and across the points. You get
“Next time you’re
I will find muskies, the best time has been just
to the end of the spot... nothing! Not one strike,
struggling
to
move
fish,
pre-turnover, but even post turnover can be awenot even a follow. Time to hit the next spot.
Before you pull up the trolling motor and blast to
try spending some time some.
another spot, try making a pass back through, but
working the inside
fishing the inside edge of the weed line casting
parallel and/or outward towards deep water.
Fishing pressure is the other factor that may
weed edge . . .”
Many times muskies will be shallower than
push the muskies shallower. I have caught fish on
you may expect. There are a few factors that tend
spots after watching three or four boats work the
to make muskies utilize the inside weed line to
outside edge of the weeds all day with no success.
feed. I think baitfish and fishing pressure are two of the most preva- I believe the fish may get pushed shallower from the intense pressure.
lent factors.
Sometimes these fish that are pushed shallower are not accessible by
casting from the conventional break line. Also the different cast angle
and way the bait is presented can trigger a pressured fish into eating.
There are times during the year when baitfish move shallow and
the muskies will not be far behind. In MN many lakes experience a
shallow perch movement in early September. This is a great time to
I like to position the boat parallel to the inside weed line. The
start working the inside weed line. This time of year is usually when caster up front will be using a spinnerbait, jerkbait or topwater
the big muskies start using the sand. The inside break line is where depending on the depth of the weed line. The caster up front casts
they will set up on the sand to weeds transition areas. I believe that straight ahead of the boat and tries to work parallel to the weed edge.
Y
Pressure
Baitfish
Boat Position
The caster in the back of boat will cast perpendicular to the weed
edge and work a bait though or over the weed bed. A bulging bucktail or spinnerbait is a good choice for the second caster. Sometimes
when fish are active, both casters will be throwing the same style
bait. I have had really good success with topwaters being worked
both parallel to the weed edge and perpendicular to the weed edge.
Baits
Most of the time the inside weed edges that I am fishing are in
6 feet of water or less. I really like to use baits that ride high in the
water column and won’t foul with an occasional bump into a weed.
Topwaters have really been good, mostly because they don’t get
fouled much, and I think they are great baits anytime muskies are
utilizing shallow water. I like to start out throwing propbaits like the
Slam’er Thunderhead, Topraider, and Tauchen Waterchopper. I feel
these are good topwater search lures. If I know there is a fish on a
spot, or I am getting follows and no strikes, I will switch to a slower topwater presentation such as a Hawg Wobbler or zig zag type
lure.
Spinnerbaits are my next mainstay. They can be fished high
over the weeds or you can run them low and grind them through the
weed bases. I really like to use spinnerbaits over bucktails because
they are so weed free. I generally throw Ruff ’s Raddogs or Pearson’s
Grinders. Both are well built spinnerbaits.
Bucktails are always a good choice for muskies but they are not
the most weed-friendly lures. However, I like to throw bucktails when
the fish are active due to their good hooking ability. When working
the shallow weeds I like bucktails that run high with little effort. I
mostly throw double bladed bulger style bucktails like Double
Cowgirls, Shumway Flashers and Sneaky Petes. These can be worked
right at the surface and seem to be about as weedless as you can get
with a bucktail. Bulging the big double #10 bladed bucktails has been
really good the last few seasons.
There are times when a jerkbait really shines on the inside weed
line as well. I have done well on Suicks, Phantoms, and Sledges. I like
to tune them to work them just under the surface. In the fall when the
fish move up on the sand I will give diving jerkbaits a few hard rips
and bang them into the sand and then let them back up and give
them a few more hard rips and let them float back up almost break-
This fish hit a Shallow Invader twitched on an inside weed edge.
www.muskiesinc.org
This muskie ate a Double Cowgirl worked shallow over a thick
clump of junk weeds. Low light periods are good times to try the
inside weed edge.
ing the surface. This tactic has been a good trigger when fish are following the jerkbaits but not eating.
Next time you’re struggling to move fish, try spending some time
working the inside weed edge; you will soon develop patterns and
know when the fish will be using this shallow water. This will definitely put a few more fish in the boat for you, and some surprisingly large
muskies as well. ❖
A nice muskie caught on an
inside weedline.
This big fish hit after 3 complete figure-8’s.
This fish ate at boat side on a foggy day in November.
Focusing on Big Muskies
by Adam Oberfoell
I
f your goal is to catch a very big musky on
your next musky hunt, you will want to pay
close attention to these guidelines. Everyone
wants to catch big fish; however there is a very systematic approach to doing it consistently.
Choose your lake wisely.
Do your homework up front. Choose a lake
that suits the way you like to fish. Do you enjoy
fishing shallow rocks or deep weeds? Do you prefer to cast or troll? Do you handle fishing pressure
well or would you prefer to be one of only a few
A giant late fall musky.
“Catching big muskies
can become a habit if
you really concentrate
your efforts in the right
places, at the right
times, with a solid
game plan.”
anglers fishing for muskies during your trip?
Make sure the lake contains the proper forage
base to produce the quality of fish you are looking for. Everyone has a different idea of what
they consider a big fish. Ask yourself, before you
choose a lake. Is it a well known big fish producer or one that only produces a big fish on occasion? Once you have chosen a lake that fits your
style it is time to determine when to be there.
Plan your trip around peak times.
Talk to other musky nuts and get on the
Internet. If you are a member of Muskies, Inc.
you have access to the “Lunge Log.” This is a giant database of
detailed musky catches from anglers all across the county. You can
simply look up any lake and find out tons of information. This
information includes date of catch, fish length, bait type and color,
water temperature and time caught, etc. The Muskies, Inc. website
is: www.muskiesinc.org
Try to determine the best times of year for big fish to be on
the type of structure you want to fish. Every lake has peak times
that make catching a big fish much easier than other times of the
year. For example, many lakes in the northern regions have peak
times for catching big muskies shallow when the water temperature first gets into the low 70 degree range. This usually occurs in
early to mid July. This is usually one of the first big fish trips of the
year for many anglers and for good reason. Many big muskies can
be shallow and feeding frequently due to their high metabolism
during this time period. The same conditions usually occur again
around early Sept. when the heat of summer begins to give way to
the cooler temps of fall.
Another example of a peak is near the end of the open water
season. Some of the heaviest muskies caught every year come from
lakes with a high population of ciscoes. Ciscoes will first show up
on rock bars and shallow areas to spawn when water temps drop
into the low 40s. This is typically late October and November in the
northern region. Many big fish that have spent most of the year suspended over open water are now accessible to casters. If you can put
up with the cold and sometimes brutal conditions you have a great
chance at catching a fish of a lifetime! Planning your trip around
peak times will greatly increase your chances at landing a monster
musky.
Purchase the best map you can
find long before your trip.
Take the time to really study the map. Get familiar with every
nook and cranny. Learn the names of all the major islands and bays.
Keep your ears pealed when you hear other fisherman
talking about the lake. You will greatly increase your
odds if you remember that big fish will want deep
water nearby. This alone will eliminate a lot of water
for you. Focus on what the muskies primary forage
will be doing at the time of year you have chosen to be
on that lake. Look for structure with some complexity
to it. A group of connecting islands or humps will generally be better than an isolated lone hump. Rock reefs
with several high spots, points or spines are far better
then flatter featureless reefs.
When considering a resort to stay at, try to find
one that is close to the area of the lake you want to
focus on. This will save you a lot gas and driving time
over a week long trip. Don’t just book a place because
it is cheap. If it is a long distance from where you want
to fish it may cost you more in the long run when you
factor in boat gas and lost fishing time.
Steve Imhoff with a nice early season musky.
Adam with another big musky taken
while targeting trophies.
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
FOCUSING ON BIG MUSKIES
(Continued from page 19)
Focus on your presentation.
Research what colors are best for that lake. Is the water clear or
stained? Are you likely to encounter an algae bloom? Is there a good
night bite? The more you can learn about that lake before your trip,
the less time you will need to figure out a pattern when you get there.
After you spend the time to learn what bait colors and styles are hot
for that lake, you can begin your trip armed with those baits instead
of searching for them when you get there.
Make sure your equipment
is ready for the battle.
When your goal is to catch very big muskies you need to be
extremely picky about your equipment. This is not the time to be
using cheap hooks that may bend under the weight of a big fish. Your
rod, reel, line, leader and baits must be ready for the encounter. Big
fish find ways to expose the kinks in your armor. Check your line and
leader often for nicks. I personally will not throw any bait unless
every single hook point is as sharp as a needle. If even one point starts
to get stubby from repetitive sharpening or bumping rocks, I will
replace it. I carry a variety of pre-sharpened hooks in a rust proof
container. This saves valuable time when replacing a hook, especially during a short feeding window.
Stay on top of the local weather.
Carefully watch what the weather is doing before you get there
by using the Internet. This will help you to determine the mood of
the fish. For example, if your trip is during the summer months and
the weather is warm and stable for a few days prior to your arrival
then you may want to begin fishing fast presentations to cover water
and find some active fish. On the other hand, if a severe cold front
pushed through just before your arrival and is still lingering, you may
want to use that first day to scout out spots to really learn them
before fishing. Use your GPS to drop icons on key elements of the
structure, so when it’s time to fish your boat control will be excellent.
If you are ready to fish, you might want to really slow down and
finesse some of the very best looking spots.
Fish smarter.
If you are the type of angler to fish every minute possible, you
too should be watching for the same peak times. Be sure to go back
on those big fish you have raised at peak times to maximize your success. Timing is everything when it comes to getting a big fish to bite.
Be there anticipating the feeding window.
Big fish in the net!
When you have finally caught that fish of your dreams; you will
probably be shaking and extremely happy! Force yourself to think
clearly about what is best for the fish and to ensure your own safety.
Remember to keep the fish upright in the net and its head under
water while you gather the release tools, bump board and camera.
Don’t hesitate to cut hooks if necessary, it is a small price to pay to
ensure that fish swims away in the best shape possible. One thing
to keep in mind is that muskies are not designed to support their
entire body mass by their jaw, not even for a second. Even in the
short time of getting the fish from the net into your arms you should
fully support the belly.
Communicate with your boat partner every step of the way.
Before you lift the fish out of the water, let your partner know what
you expect for photos. Explain how close the pictures should be and
what angle you would like. Here is where a quality digital camera
really shines. You can see what you have for photos before the fish
swims away. After all, years after releasing that muskie the photos and
memories are precious.
When it is time to release your giant musky, take the time to
hold it upright in the water while it regains its strength and is able to
swim off on its own. If you are in big waves, it may be better to let
the fish stay upright on its own. Big waves make the fish struggle to
maintain its equilibrium and may further lengthen the release
process. Be sure to keep the boat close to the fish to protect it until
it swims down and out of sight. Once it is gone; smile, high five your
partner and repeat.
Catching big muskies can become a habit if you really concentrate your efforts in the right places, at the right times, with a solid
game plan. Go ahead and put the contents of this article into
motion. Stay focused and enjoy your success! ❖
Adam Oberfoell is the owner of Get the Net, LLC. He guides on south
central Wisconsin lakes. You may find out more about Adam at:
www.getthenetmuskyguide.com or call 608-220-3406.
Some anglers are not the type to go
and really pound the water day after day.
If you are not a sun-up to sun-down kind
of angler, you need to fish smarter. If you
are only going to fish a certain number of
hours you really need to focus on peak
feeding windows. Make sure you are on
the water during key times such as sunrise, sunset, moon rise, moon set or ahead
of incoming frontal weather. Chances are
you will find which environmental
changes tend to trigger fish to eat in the
first few days on the water. Once you discover what that trigger is, you can continue to take advantage of those conditions
for the duration of your trip.
www.muskiesinc.org
T
he first record of muskellunge (Esox masquinongy) being
propagated in Canada was in 1876 at Rice Lake, Ontario
(Kerr 2006). Other early efforts, involving the use of temporary facilities, occurred in the Kawartha lakes region until a
provincial facility was constructed at Deer Lake, in south-central
Ontario, in 1938. Between 1900 and 2004, over 112 million
Muskellunge yolk sac fry. (Brad Allan photo)
muskellunge (most of which were fry) were stocked in Ontario
waters. More than 275 Ontario waters were stocked with muskellunge over a fifty year period. The majority of this stocking activity
was done on a supplemental basis. It was eventually realized that this
type of activity had little effect on natural reproduction or on the
number of fish in the creel.
During the 1950s and 1960s, there were also been
several muskellunge transfer projects in an effort to
expand the range of muskellunge in Ontario. The majority of these efforts were conducted in northwestern
Ontario.
The Deer Lake fish culture station was closed in
1990 as a result of operating expenses, the overall inability to rear large quantities of muskellunge and the recognition that muskellunge in Ontario should be managed on
a self sustaining basis.
The only muskellunge stocking in recent years has
occurred for the purposes of restoring muskellunge to
native waters.
The first project involved the restoration of muskellunge in the Spanish River delta in the North Channel of
Lake Huron. Muskellunge were abundant in this area in
the early 1900s but had been extirpated by the 1950s as a
result of habitat degradation and over-fishing. When
efforts to improve water quality and habitat conditions
resulted in favourable conditions, a muskellunge re-intro-
duction was initiated. This project involved the assistance and
cooperation of numerous partners including Muskies Canada,
Friends of the Spanish River,
Domtar, Inco, and the Fox River
Chapters of Muskies Inc. Wild
egg collections from adjacent
areas of northern Lake Huron
were conducted on an annual
basis. In total, five different
donor stocks (McGregor Bay,
Bay of Islands, Serpent Harbour,
French River and Magnetewan
River)
were
utilized.
Muskellunge were reared, under
a cooperative arrangement, with
Fleming College in Lindsay,
Ontario provides a variety of high quality angling
opportunities for muskellunge (OMNR photo).
Table 1. Muskellunge stocked during the Spanish River
re-introduction project, 1996-2004.
Life Stage
Fry
Summer fingerlings
Fall fingerlings
Spring yearlings
Age (months)
0
1
4-5
12
Length (inches) Number Stocked
1.5
6-9
11-12
4,000
1,400
8,902
1,660
Ontario. The first stocking occurred in 1996. Between 1996 and
2004, a total of 15,962 muskellunge were released (see Table 1).
Stocking assessment has consisted of spring spawning surveys,
trap netting and electrofishing. Results of these efforts have been
encouraging. In 2005, 59 yearling muskellunge were captured during electrofishing. All of these fish were assumed to be the result of
natural reproduction. There have also been numerous anecdotal
reports of anglers catching muskellunge in the area but, because the
season is closed, these fish are returned to the water.
The second project involves the re-introduction of muskellunge
to Lake Simcoe. Historically, muskellunge were abundant in many
areas of Lake Simcoe however they had almost disappeared by the
1950s. Based on a muskellunge restoration feasibility study conducted in 200 (Buchanan and Lebeau 2000), it was determined that conditions were suitable to attempt a re-introduction. Egg collections
commenced at Gloucester Pool, downstream from Lake Simcoe, in
2005. Initial attempts at culture were relatively unsuccessful but
recent efforts have been more successful. To date, 1,615 muskellunge
have been stocked into Lake Simcoe (Table 2). This project will continue for several more years and post stocking assessment will be conducted.
Life Stage
Table 2. Muskellunge stocked in the Lake Simcoe
re-introduction program, 2005-2007.
Fry
Summer fingerlings
Fall fingerlings
Spring yearlings
Age (months)
0
4
6-8
11-12
These two projects had
many similarities. An ecologically comparable population
was selected as a donor stock in
order to minimize genetic and
disease risks (Butler and Wilson
2004). Great care was taken to
ensure that young muskellunge
were released at low densities in
suitable habitat which minimized predation risk. Finally,
both projects could not have
been completed without the
assistance and support of many
partners and sponsors.
References
Buchanan, I. and B. Lebeau. 2000. Muskellunge restoration feasibility, Lake Simcoe. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and
ESG International. Aurora, Ontario.
Butler, M. and C. Wilson. 2004. Genetic considerations in the
assessment of broodstock for the stocking component of the
Lake Simcoe
Kerr, S. J. 2001. Records of muskellunge (Esox masquinongy) stocking in Ontario, 1900-1999. Fish and Wildlife Branch. Ontario
Ministry of Natural Resources. Peterborough, Ontario.
Kerr, S. J. 2006. An historical review of fish culture, stocking and fish
transfers in Ontario, 1865-2004. Fish and Wildlife Branch.
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. Peterborough, Ontario.
Length (inches) Number Stocked
7.5-8
11-12
www.muskiesinc.org
62
16
1,537
69
In Ontario, all muskellunge
populations and their respective
fisheries are managed on the basis of natural reproduction.
In the future, muskellunge stocking will only be considered
in situations similar to the Spanish River and Lake Simcoe
where the objective is to restore severely degraded populations.
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
MUSKIE CASTING
BASICS 101:
Practicing good casting
fundamentals will put
more muskies in the
boat each year!
Tom Dietz poses with Kelly Stevens and his first ever muskie,
which was released.
by Tom Dietz
T
he mid-summer day on Lake of the Woods was hot and sunny, typical of late July in the Northwest Angle. My fishing partner Coach
Kip Cramer and I were fishing a classic neck down area in the famous Big Narrows region where I had caught numerous fish on previous trips to the Angle.
I was easing the boat towards a little micro-bay of cabbage weeds that had deep water access close by, plus current. It seems to hold an
aggressive musky or two every season. We were about fifty yards from the spot, and I was casting a copper/red Buchertail along a steep rock
wall that dropped into twenty-eight feet of water while Coach Kip opted for a crankbait. While easing down the shoreline, I spotted three
little cabbage weed tops barely protruding from the surface under a
small overhanging birch tree. On a hunch, I fired a perfect cast just
to the left of this tiny clump of weeds, and as the bucktail neared the
boat, I watched in awe as a chunky forty-seven inch musky shot out
from that little weed pocket and engulfed the lure in front of my
eyes!
After a fierce but brief struggle, the fish was resting in the
Frabill, ready for pictures and release. The key to this musky
encounter was my ability to make a perfect cast to a tiny piece of
cover. I believe many musky anglers, especially newcomers to the
sport, overlook the importance of proper casting fundamentals. I
believe this oversight costs them numerous muskies in the boat each
year.
What if Muskies, Inc. earned a penny every time you
This article will discuss a number of key situations where an
searched the Internet? Well now we can!
angler’s casting ability makes a big difference, and will stress the
importance of time on the water along with knowing your equipAll you have to do is click on this link www.goodment and setting it up properly.
search.com/?charityid=830274 and start searching the
Muskies, Inc. Joins
Good Search...
spread the word!
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!
Equipment needs for
optimum casting performance.
It is important to note that your rod, reel, and line set-ups will
be very important factors in your casting ability. An old reel that has
not been lubricated or maintained, a short “pool cue” type rod, or
old, stiff monofilament line can all be negative factors when looking
at casting performance.
To maximize my casting efficiency, I personally use quality
graphite St. Croix rods that are a minimum of seven feet in length
and good quality bait casting reels loaded with a premium super
braid line such as Cortland Spectron. Combining these items makes
for a great casting combination that enables distance or accuracy,
depending on the situation at hand. It is also crucial that all three the lure just barely falls at a slow speed down to the ground.
cogs in the casting chain match the three items I suggested above, or Conversely, if your lure doesn’t fall at all, the setting needs to be loosyou risk poor performance, even if you might have two out of the ened to reach the proper setting needed. This setting will have to be
three items necessary to make good casts. I definitely prefer today’s adjusted frequently due to the varying weights of today’s musky lures.
new spectra fiber lines for optimum casting and hook setting perThe reason I prefer a longer rod is rather obvious. The longer
formance. These high tech lines seem to cast
the rod, the further the cast will travel. There
farther and smoother than the older braided or
are times when you need distance for casting
mono lines we used. It is important that you
your lures, and certainly times you do not, such
place the right amount of line on your spool
as night fishing a weed line or fishing in stand“. . . you never know
too. Too much line means frequent backlashing timber, but at least you have that ability to
es. Not enough line means short, abrupt casts.
when a fifty pound musky do so when needed with the longer rod.
Fill your bait casting reels so that you have
Make sure you set up and match your
might decide to come up
approximately 1/16 to 1/8 inch of spool showequipment properly to help your casting
and eat your offering so
ing for peak performance.
prowess. For example, if you are throwing a
Double Cowgirl or a DC-10 bucktail, I recomstrive to make every cast
Knowing the proper way to adjust your
mend a St. Croix TM80MHF Series rod, and
count . . .”
bait casting reel is also critical for casting pereither a Garcia 6500 C4 or 7000 Series reel
formance. The little tension knob normally
equipped with a power handle. This set up
located on the right side of the reel beneath the
should have eighty pound braid and the power
star drag is every musky angler’s “best friend”.
handle will pick up line a little more efficiently
If this adjustment is set correctly prior to fishing you will minimize to create less fatigue for the angler. Also, as big as these bucktails are,
backlashes and maximize casting performance. The proper way to they are musky catching machines, and when you cast these lures
set this adjustment is to attach a lure to your leader, reel it up to the out, make sure you point the rod tip straight at the lure or on a slight
tip of the rod, and depress your casting button. If the lure falls very downward angle while retrieving it, rather than off to one side or the
quickly, your setting is too loose and needs to be tightened down so other. This simple step will give you a much better hook setting posi-
Over
ies
7,000 Musdk
Release
On Sabaskong Bay
Six-time Muskies, Inc.,
Chapter Challunge Headquarters
1983, 1986, 1993, 1997, 2003, 2004
• Ultra-modern one, two, three, or four bedroom cabins
• American plan, housekeeping or camping
• Floating docks, electricity for charging batteries, Lund Boats with swivel seats
and depth finders, Honda motors with electric start
• Dining room with food and liquor available for registered guests only
Call or write for data on musky catches:
1 (888) 488-5601 or (807) 488-5601
Red Wing Lodge, Box 1008, Baudette, MN 56623
The author holds a fat forty-eight inch muskie from
Clear Fork Lake in Ohio that ate a jerk bait cast tight
to shore on a wind blown point.
www.muskiesinc.org
www.redwinglodge.net • www.redwinglodge.on.ca
Family owned and operated for 40 years
MUSKIE CASTING BASICS 101
tion and will also be a lot less tiresome to you on the water while
retrieving these big baits. The eight foot rod will also enable you to
make longer casts and is unmatched when executing figure eight
maneuvers at boat side.
Another good example is when you are casting jerkbaits such as
Savage Gear’s brand new Freestylers or Deviators, be sure to use a
good quality straight wire leader for the optimum action. I stay away
from fluorocarbon for my jerkbaits, and you will find that using a
good wire leader will give these side to side action jerkbaits the best
action and overall appeal to muskies.
Casting Techniques
ders for casting performance since you will be able to see underwater
obstructions and weed edges much better, and therefore make a
much better presentation to the fish. The thing to remember is you
always want to be in control of the lure while casting, rather than
blindly lobbing the lure out there and hoping for the best.
Another integral part of making the best casts on a given spot is
knowledge of how the spot is laid out. Obviously, the more you fish
a spot, the more intimate your understanding is of the particular
structure, and the more apt you are to make better casts and catch
more fish there. This comes with time on the water and often
through trial and error. Let’s talk now about fishing various structures and how casting performance and ability comes into play.
Weed Edges
When fishing a weed edge always try to be in control of your
My preferred method of casting is to depress the casting button, lure. You want to avoid sloppy casts at all costs to minimize fouled
rear back and let the lure fly while maintaining a very slight thumb hooks and wasted casts. I prefer shorter casts to the weed edge with
pressure on the spool. I obviously don’t want to impede the lure’s lures like bucktails, crankbaits, or jerkbaits to maintain optimum
travel, yet I want to be able to control the flight of the lure instanta- control. Surface lures can be thrown as far as possible if the weeds
neously if I have too. I then use my thumb to stop the lure’s travel a are not matted up on the surface that could kill the action of the lure.
split second before the lure hits the water. This enables me to “hit With crankbaits or jerkbaits, I recommend casting out your lure parthe target” so to speak, and also lays out the lure flat just prior to hit- allel to the weed edge. During the retrieve, if you contact weeds on
ting the water minimizing fouled hooks and wasted casts, especially your lure, give your rod a hard rip to “clean” your bait; you will feel
on windy days. This technique is definitely needed when fishing on the lure working properly again if it is weed-free. Using shorter casts
Lake of the Woods or other bodies of water with complex structural with braided line gives you the control, feel, and power you need to
elements. I have seen less experienced casters hang up their bucktails clean your lures effectively. With bucktails, this is not as critical since
or other lures numerous times on prime spots, forcing us to ease the the lures inherently travel shallower, but it is still important to strive
boat up to the reef to free the lure. At the same time, we were spook- for precise casts to indentations or pockets along the weed edge,
ing away active muskies that were
using your polarized glasses as a
present on that piece of structure
visual aid the whole time.
and thereby wasting a fish-catchWhen night fishing, short
ing opportunity.
casts are extremely critical to
There are certain times when
avoid wasted casts. The whole
fishing tight to structure that I
presentation when fishing a
will use a flipping technique simcrankbait along the weed edge
ilar to what bass anglers use, since
after dark is based more on feel
the heavier weight of the musky
than sight. Joe Bucher, Jim Saric,
lure makes this quite simple to
and Steve Heiting are all masters
do. Excellent casting accuracy is
at this game, and their records of
also a must when sight fishing for
night catches certainly reflect
early season muskies, as the proptheir prowess in lure control and
er presentation of the lure makes
casting abilities.
or breaks the opportunity to
catch the fish.
When casting lures under
Anyone who has made the
very windy conditions, it is usualpilgrimage
to fish a Canadian
ly best to throw a heavier lure so
Shield
lake
has
probably at some
you can maximize lure control
point
fished
around
rock reefs.
and minimize backlashes. Windy
These
spots
can
be
deadly,
espedays are usually frustrating for
cially
if
the
reefs
have
little
beginning
musky
anglers,
clumps
of
brown
cabbage
thrown
because it makes casting much
in for good measure. To fish
more difficult. The key again is
these spots most effectively one
lure control, so you have a better
needs to be a proficient and conchance of reaching or hitting
fident caster. These spots are full
your intended target on windy
of huge boulders and crevices, all
days.
potential hiding spots for
A good quality pair of polarA forty-five incher that hit a Depthraider cast into deep standing
muskies. If you make one poor
ized sunglasses will also do wontimber; the muskies were suspended about twelve feet down.
Rock Reefs
she was flinging her lures with the
cast and snag a rock, you will
confidence of a seasoned veteran.
have to free up your lure and
We eased into a deep water
there is a good chance you’ll
cove that was full of standing
spook any shallow active fish.
timber, the majority of which
However, utilizing good techstood in thirty-five feet of water.
nique and good equipment can
Since this was a donated trip, the
put you in position to catch the
couple urged me to fish as they
biggest musky of your life! This
really wanted to see a musky up
is why we travel to Canadian
close and personal. I typically do
waters in the first place. When
not fish while guiding clients, but
you spot these little weed clumps
in this case I said thanks and
on top of the reef structure, this
rigged up a rod for myself. We
is the time to put your casting
hadn’t been casting more than
skills to work. Your goal is to hit
five minutes in the deep tree tops
all sides of the weed cover while
when a thirty-eight inch musky
working around the reef, yet
engulfed my Baby Depthraider.
strive not to snag your lures on
After an acrobatic leap at boat
the shallow rock cover.
side, Kelly eased her into my
Let’s talk about another very
Frabill and the couple got to
important element when it
watch their first musky get phocomes down to casting to a partographed and swim away.
ticular reef structure. Since most
A half hour later I caught a
reefs have multiple hiding spots
really chunky forty-five incher on
for muskies, when I fish a good
a full sized Depthraider. This fish
looking reef I always make three
Tom shows off a forty-nine incher caught while making short,
was suspended right along a tree
to four passes around the strucaccurate casts to the weed edges, parallel to the cover.
that was positioned next to the
ture prior to moving on. This
main lake drop off that plunged
method of attack gives me and
my boat partner ample opportunity to make the perfect cast to a hid- into fifty-seven feet at the mouth of the cove. This fish gave me seving fish nestled in a crevice in the rocks of that given reef. Here is a eral hard head shakes after my initial hook set and stayed deep and I
prime example of what I am talking about. My friend Todd Hess knew this was a much better fish. We soon netted the beautifully
and I were up at the Northwest Angle on a trip and fishing a famous
structure called “Devil’s Elbow”. This is a cool little spot that usually holds a fish or two, and occasionally some real big ones. We slid
in one calm evening on our way back to camp and fished around the
structure two times without any action. My gut feeling said give it
one more try, and as I approached the exposed rock that marked the
pinnacle of the reef with my trolling motor, Todd threw his Super
Topraider to one side of the rock, and I threw a bucktail to the other.
The calmness of the early August evening was interrupted by a large
audible swirl of a forty-four inch musky sucking in his lure. This was
immediately followed by large thrashing sounds as the not so happy
muskellunge tried to free itself of the hooks with vicious head shakes!
If we fished that spot once and left, we would have missed this active
musky that simply didn’t see or react to our offerings the first pass
through. I want to stress the importance of this tactic for all of you
who fish Canadian Shield lakes or Lake Vermilion. Fish these reef
structures thoroughly, especially if you have been moving fish on
them consistently or are fishing them at prime time hours of the day.
Standing Timber
Last June, I was guiding the husband and wife team of Heather
and Kelly Stevens on Caesar’s Creek Lake near my home in Dayton,
Ohio. The couple had won this trip which I had donated as a
fundraiser for the Lymphoma/Leukemia Foundation. These folks
were very excited about their trip, but were concerned that Heather
had no experience using a baitcasting reel. After about fifteen minutes of casting over open water and starting out with short casts, she
was able to build her confidence and within a short period of time,
www.muskiesinc.org
MUSKIE CASTING BASICS 101
marked musky and took several quick pictures before
letting her go. Kelly was literally shaking with excitement. Well, even though I had boated two nice
fish, I was starting to feel pretty bad that my clients
hadn’t caught either of these muskies when I heard a
small scream from the back of my Ranger. A second
later, thirty-seven inches of silver fury came rocketing
out of the water with a full sized Depthraider dog
boned in its mouth!
Heather had thrown her crankbait perfectly
between a solitary standing tree top and a submerged
stump that was a foot under the surface, and the
musky pounced on her offering within the first few
cranks. Suddenly I noticed Heather’s line had gone
limp and as I was trying to figure out if the fish came
off, I noticed the line moving sideways in the water. I
said “reel, reel, reel” in an excited voice, and as Heather picked up the
slack, the musky felt the hooks again and jumped high out of the
water, only to be matched by another excited scream from Heather!
After a nice tussle, I got her first-ever musky in the net and we all
exchanged high fives prior to picture taking and release.
The motto of this story is that fishing timber effectively requires
casting accuracy. Had Heather not been confident in her casting
abilities, it would have been very difficult for me to put this couple
on this particularly hot spot. Not to be outdone, Kelly later connected with the last musky of the day - a forty-nine inch giant that as of
this writing remains the longest confirmed musky caught and
released out of this relatively new fishery. He also caught his musky
on a full sized Depthraider. He is getting a graphite replica in the
near future from Lax Taxidermy.
We really had a special day on the water and it was Heather’s
quick study of using a baitcast reel that helped make the day successful. Another important factor when casting lures into fallen tree tops
or lay downs is the blend of choosing the right lure for this situation
along with casting proficiency. This factor is what separates the men
(and women) from the boys (and girls) on our local fishery at
Caesar’s Creek Lake.
In order to stay in the game, an angler has to have the confidence and skill to cast this woody cover aggressively. If you or your
boat partner snags a lure the very first cast to a prime lay down along
the shore, then the game is over. I use bucktails with fluted blades or
Colorado blades for maximum lift and spinner baits such as the ones
made by Grim Reaper. I also throw a lot of shallow running jerk baits
tight to this cover such as the Deviator.
“Gut Feeling” Casts
I want to talk about this subject even though there is no scientific data correlating ESP with muskies!! Many of you know what I
mean when that little voice goes off in your head saying, “cast over
there!” This hunch or “gut feeling” has produced a number of
muskies for me over the years, including the forty-seven inch fish
mentioned at the onset of this article. The best way I can explain this
phenomenon is that your brain is sizing up the water in front of you,
draws up the best play, so to speak, and executes it. It’s similar to an
offensive coordinator sizing up the opponent’s defense and calling a
The author casting to a classic inside turn
on Lake Vermilion in Minnesota.
play. My point here is to always follow your hunches when casting
to a particular spot or structure. I truly think there are times when
your thought process becomes automatic and your next cast reflects
the decision your brain conjured up in a matter of seconds; even if
your ability to control the cast still leaves room for error. This is
where your hours of practice, lure control, and quality equipment all
pay off! Another good example of this “gut feeling” occurred to me
a few summers ago up on Lake of the Woods. My partner and I were
fishing some weedy saddles in between islands that year with a lot of
initial success. I happened to spot a little point across the narrows
from a saddle we were fishing that had some bull rushes and cabbage
stalks visible. Without further thought, I shot across the narrow
channel with the trolling motor, sized up the spot with my polarized
glasses, and tossed my trusty ol’ red/copper 700 Series Buchertail to
the little inside turn on the point that held the cabbage weed. A fat
forty-three inch musky came sliding out of the spot on the first cast
and I caught her in a perfectly executed figure eight at boat side.
This fish was caught because I had a strong hunch on the spot, and
reacted to it with a perfect cast to the structure. Always follow your
hunches while musky fishing. This is one thing I have learned over
the years that definitely pays off.
Whether you are a newcomer to the pursuit of muskies, or a seasoned veteran, you need to always think about your next cast. If you
are still learning how to use a bait casting reel properly, the best
advice I can give you is to get out and fish as much as possible and
keep practicing. My former boss, Joe Bucher, once told me, “Tom,
we are all only one cast away from being a hero”. In other words, you
never know when a fifty pound musky might decide to come up and
eat your offering so strive to make every cast count and avoid mistakes and poor casts. This will make you a more efficient musky
angler and certainly put more fish in the boat for you! ❖
You can reach Tom Dietz via email at: [email protected] or
check out his website: www.tomdietz.com
ATTENTION
CHAPTER
CONTACTS:
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
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!
Special Events
2008
September 5-7
41st Annual Frank Schneider, Jr.
Memorial Muskie Tournament
21 lakes in the Bemidji-Cass LakeWalker-Longville, MN area.
More details at:
www.twincitiesmuskiesinc.org
September 24-25-26
2008 Gil Hamm Chapter Challunge
Hosted by First WI Chapter of Muskies
Inc., Chapter 06
Break on the Lake Resort, Cass Lake
Minnesota will be our headquarters.
Contact Jon Olstadt: 715-579-1300
[email protected]
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 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
414 Division St.
Excelsior, MN 55331
952-380-1218
www.twincitiesmuskiesinc.org
Twin Cities
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.
Chapter members are deeply involved in the
planning for the September 5, 6, and 7 Frank
Schneider, Jr. Memorial Muskie Tournament.
The classic is in its 41st year. It is the original
Muskies, Inc. tournament, started in 1967. It
was known as the International Muskies, Inc.
Tournament and, then, was renamed the Frank
Schneider, Jr. Memorial Muskie Tournament.
This year’s tournament, under the leadership of
Ron Sanders, has had more than a facelift.
With a new theme, Muskie Mania 2008, the
tourney has been revamped and aspires to be
the nation’s most exciting tournament. More
than $75,000 in prizes will be awarded. Prizes
include a $30,000 certificate for a GMC vehicle
provided by Lupient Buick/Pontiac/GMC.
Tournament proceeds will be used to address
fisheries improvement, Muskie Research and
youth outreach.
Famed outdoorsman, Ron Schara, will serve
as the Honorary Grand Marshall and Master of
Ceremonies for the 2008 Tournament. Schara is
the host of KARE-TV’s “Minnesota Bound,” has
a WCCO Radio program, and is an award-winning outdoors columnist for the Minneapolis Star
Tribune.
This family-oriented tournament will included
21 lakes in the Bemidji-Cass Lake-WalkerLongville area – the birthplace of Muskie fishing
as you know it.
For more information, please contact Ron
Sanders at: 612/386-1100 or check out:
www.muskiemania.org
Vince Trotta
P.O. Box 5
Hermitage, MO 65668
417-745-2381 – Carl Marks
www.missourimuskies.org
Meets: Various days-Call for schedule
Pomme de Terre
05
The Pomme de Terre Chapter’s Annual
Muskie Mayhem event took place on May 3rd at
Pomme de Terre. All new members were invited
to fish with one of our members to have an
opportunity to learn more about muskie fishing
and the lake.
One of the lessons learned was that the combination of water conditions and weather were
about the worst possible for fishing. The lake
level was high and had been falling as much as
6 inches per day. Water temperatures were
below normal for time of year. Muskies were
post spawn. A cold front went through Friday. I
didn’t check on moon phases but I am sure they
were out of whack also.
We had 22 participants in the event with the
following results: 1 follow; 1 fish sighted swimming by the boat at break neck speed; 1-15”
muskie caught by Carl Marks.
There was one muskie caught by a bass fisherman fishing flooded timer in Big Button. That
is also where the one speedy muskie was sighted.
The good news; I think everyone had a good
time and learned something from the outing.
Steaks, baked potatoes, salad and cheesecake
for dinner were a good way to end the day.
New members that participated were: Tommy
and Onedia Oldridge, John Hunter, Jon and
Sherry Hunt, Jodie Gordon, Jim Wilson, Joshua
Wilson, Boice Arnett, Paul Costello, and Paul
Williams.
Guides included: Denis Ledgerwood, Paul
Scharringhausen, Wayne Humphrey, Jim
Wilson, Dick McPike, Fred Vinci, John Hanley,
Carl Marks, Bill Hill, and Earle Hammond.
Our thanks to Todd Hardin for coordinating the
event and to Denis Ledgerwood for organizing
the dinner, picking up all the food and cooking.
For upcoming chapter events, check out our
website: www.missourimuskies.org
Wayne Humphrey
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
08
Capital City
The muskie season in Southern Wisconsin
opened May 3 and it seemed more like the end
of the season. Anglers were met with very chilly
temperatures, strong winds, and periods of light
rain. The success was poor although there
seemed to be a window about midmorning
where several fish were caught.
Our May meeting was held at the Eastside
Club in Madison on May 12. The featured
speaker was local guide and muskie catching
sensation Jeff Hanson who is consistently in the
top ten of the masters in the MI Lunge Log. Jeff
discussed his successful approach on the
Madison chain of lakes for each season (spring,
summer, and fall) that included types and size of
lures, lure depths, and where on the lakes he
fished. His take home message was to keep
those hooks sharp no matter the lure.
International division awards were also given
to Liz Hollatz (women’s), Kevin Pamalak
(men’s), and Jeff Hanson (masters).
The club’s third outing was the Monona outing
on May 17. There were 34 participants who
could fish on Madison lakes Monona or
Waubesa. The day ended with a dinner and
awards ceremony at Green Lantern restaurant
on Lake Waubesa. Even though the day was
nice, the muskies were not very cooperative.
The winner was Mike Milla with a 30.5 inch fish.
Second place went to Brad Nelson with a 30
incher. The only other fish caught was a 28 inch
Leech Lake strain fish (confirmed by the fin clip).
This fish was stocked in the fall of 2005 as a fingerling. A special thanks to Liz and Don Hollatz
who not only organized the outing but also provided three hand carved wooden baits to the
winners.
The lack of early fishing success may be due
to the late spring here in Southern Wisconsin
and we all look forward to warmer days ahead
that will hopefully make the muskies more active.
Gary Hoffman
1270 Federal Road
Little Hocking, OH 45742
740-667-3571
http://westvirginiamuskiesinc.org
Meets: No definite schedule-call
09
West Virginia
Despite limited fishable water due to heavy
March rains, registration was good for our Spring
Mail-In Tournament. Nelson Brown won this
event with a 39” on one of his own NJB
crankbaits from the Buckhannon River. The only
other qualifying fish was a 34” from the SF
Hughes River by Charlie Carpenter. Thanks to
Bob Hoce who served as chairman.
We appreciate the volunteer efforts of Jim
Moore, Ken Squires, David Kaltenecker, Dave
Powell and Bill Looney who helped DNR plant
aquatic vegetation at Sutton Lake, a flood control
impoundment on the Elk River. Water levels on
the Elk downstream from the dam fluctuate
sharply when water is released or held back as
determined by the U.S. Corp of Engineers. This
makes fishing the Elk, a native muskie stream,
very frustrating much of the time.
Early season was slow for most of our guys on
Stonewall Jackson Lake. However, it was
mighty fine for Kevin Kelley on April 8 when he
boated a 50 ?”. Remarkably, only a couple of
weeks later he caught another Stonewall 50”.
Kevin added a 49” and Marty Perri got a 50” from
Stonewall Jackson. Few fish were caught in
early spring this year from this lake but a large
percentage of them were trophy size.
We had an excellent turnout in May for our
Odie Cutlip Memorial Team Tournament. Larry
Robinson, who was instrumental in establishing
this competition several years ago, came home
from Cincinnati to join the fun. He was rewarded with a 44” on Saturday at Stonewall Jackson.
The other fish caught was a 39” by Ray Hensley.
On Sunday, the tournament site shifted to
Burnsville Lake where Carol McCauley boated a
43.5” fish. Ray Hensley caught his second fish
in as many days, a 46”, to propel himself and his
partner
Jason
Isaacs
to
the Team
Championship. Ray seems to work his magic
come tournament time. He has an impressive
record catching muskies in our WV Chapter
competitions. We are grateful to Darlene and
Kevin Kelley for their work as chairpersons.
Also, thanks to Sharon Crane for personalizing
special Crane Baits to be used as door prizes for
this tournament.
It was encouraging that several sublegals
were seen on Saturday at Stonewall. They were
possibly the result of increased stocking of
Advanced Fingerlings the last couple of years.
John Kaltenecker, Secretary
P.O. Box 652
Eagle River, WI 54521
715-477-2913 – Paul Hansen
www.headwatersmuskies.com
Meets 1st Wednesday 7:00 PM
Headwaters
12
Headwaters Chapter 12 held our regular open
meeting on May 7th. With winter finally leaving
the Northwoods all members attending our May
7th meeting were looking forward to getting busy
in our world of musky fishing. Our meeting
focused on our first club outing, Spring Classic
and other upcoming events.
13
P.O. Box 609
Hayward, WI 54843
715-634-4543
Hayward Lakes
The speaker for our June meeting was local
guide Scott Kieper. Scott had an amazing year
last year, he and his clients caught 221 muskies,
9 of which were 50” plus. Also, these fish were all
caught within an hour drive of Hayward . Scott is
a high energy person so his presentation was
never dull. Several points he made were: he
spends a lot of time fishing open water; he likes
big baits like the “Pounder”; he fishes long and
hard; and finally, 7 of the 9 fifty inch fish were
caught at the last moments of twilight. We want
to thank Scott for donating his time and if you’d
like to fish with him his phone number is 715865-6753.
In July our club is having a “fishing outing” and
picnic on Sunday the 13th. Fish during the day if
you want and then meet at the Lake Hayward
picnic area by the public beach at 6pm. The club
will supply the food and drink.
Our August event is our “annual kids fishing
day” on Sunday the 3rd. We meet at the “Dick-Sy
Roadhouse” on Upper Twin Lake and fish from
9-12 and then have a lunch for the kids and
adults and prizes for the youngsters. If you’d
like to help call Mike Persson 715-634-4543.
Our 31st Annual Fall Tournament will be
October 3rd,4th and 5th this year. Our major prizes
include a Lund 1725 Pro Guide on an E-Z
Loader with a 50HP Mercury motor. This prize is
given away as a door prize at our Sunday
awards ceremony. To win, you must be present
and entered in the tournament, so everyone participating has a chance to win a new Lund ! The
top fishermen and women can win 25hp and
15hp Mercury motors along with other prizes and
trophies to 10th place. The person catching the
largest fish gets a Ron Lax replica. Our major
sponsor is again, Hayward Power Sports, eleven
miles east of Hayward on highway 77 east.
Please stop and see them for boats, motors,
ATV’s and snowmobiles. For more tournament
information call 715-634-4543.
Good Fishing, Mike Persson
www.muskiesinc.org
19
10957 Northwood Ave. NE
Bolivar, OH 44612
Gordon Selden - 330-874-2773
http://[email protected]
Akron-Canton
Meets 3rd Monday 7:00 PM, Belgrade Gardens,
3476 Massillon Road, Akron, OH.
On May 17th and 18th, the Muskie Maniacs
held their Chapter Challenge at Saltfork Lake.
We had 42 participants that fished the event
which consisted of members of the Cleveland
Chapter 23, Central Ohio Chapter 41 and AkronCanton Chapter 19. The Cleveland Chapter was
the host this year for catching the biggest fish
last year. The weather was cold, windy, and
rainy both days. We were expecting a bigger
turn-out but despite the weather, we all had a
great time. Most of us camped together in the
campground which was a lot of fun but there
were some tents that were blown over due to the
wind and some things in the tents got wet.
Despite from the weather, there were 16 legal
fish caught during the challenge and Debbie
Crossley won the Challenge for the AkronCanton Chapter by catching a nice 44 inch fish.
Way to go Debbie! She also took the big fish
pool of $195.00. Club member Jason Tentler
also caught a 44 inch fish but Debbie caught her
fish earlier. On Saturday afternoon, we had a
cookout with a lot of good food. Thanks again to
Chef Guy Bechter for some fine grillin! We also
had a door prize drawing of lures and also a
drawing of our Scotsman’s Point trip raffle.
Sherman Champlin from Chapter 23 won the trip
raffle. Congratulations Sherman! We want to
Thank Andrea from Scotsman Point Resort for
donating the trip raffle for this event!
We want to thank Mike Mordas for providing
our program for our May 19th meeting. Mike
gave us a lesson in lure making and showed us
the step by step process it takes to make his
lures.
Our next tournament will be June 21st and
22nd at Leesville Lake. We again will be camping for the weekend with a shore lunch on
Saturday afternoon. The last couple of years
Leesville have been hot in the month of June.
July 19th and 20th will be our third tournament
of the season. We will have the choice of fishing
West Branch or Lake Milton.
Until next time, get out there and catch a nice
fish!
Kevin Proffitt
22
New Jersey
http://www.mi22.com/
The first two sessions of New Jersey Musky
School 2008 were a huge success. Thanks to
all chapter members who helped out and lent
their time and talent to this fundraising event.
The May 17th and 18th Musky School was a big
hit among the students despite tough conditions. Heavy winds brought heavy rain and
heavy fish! Seventeen students attended and
three fish were boated over the weekend. Two
40” fish and one 45 incher! A big thanks to all
the members who came out and helped.
Everyone I spoke with was appreciative of our
efforts, had a good time and learned a lot. We
expect to see some new members to the chapter real soon.
No monthly meetings are scheduled for June,
July and August but will resume in September,
the last Tuesday of the month. Check the website for more information: www.mi22.com
Jeff Young, VP
P.O. Box 263
Medford, WI 54451
715-748-4874 – Jim Jacobs
www.centralwisc.co.nr
Central Wisconsin
26
Meets 1st Monday of the month at Happy Joe’s
on Hwy. 13 in Medford, WI - 7:00 PM.
Remember our meetings are the first Monday
of the month at Happy Joe’s Pizza on Hwy 13 in
Medford, WI except in June, July and August.
Team Schillinger (Don and Jasson) boated
two muskies each at the first annual joint outing
with Consolidated Musky Club on the Wisconsin
River south of Hwy 10.
Upcoming outings are Tuesday June 3 Lake
Holcombe (get together 8:00 or later at Big
Swedes); Tuesday July 8 Rib Lake; and Tuesday
August 5 Spirit Lake.
I spoke to the President of the Spirit
Lake Association, Joe Berger, who said the
finances are falling into place for the dredging of
the canal but exact date is up in the air. We need
some help selling Musky Alliance raffle tickets at
the Medford Car Show Sunday July 27 at the
park. Contact me at 715-457-2192 or Art at 715748-4874.
Jerry Bucholtz, RVP
On May 24th we held our first club outing. We
had 75 members attend on a beautiful sunny
afternoon at Hiawatha Hideaway on Duck Lake
.There were many new members and regulars
who attended. Big thanks to Jim Rechlitz and
Roger Sabota for putting on a great outing.
There were 9 muskies caught and released.
Congratulations to the following winners: Chris
Blicharz - 32 ? inch; Peter Blicharz - 35 inch fish;
Bill McMahon - 33 inch; Louie Dreger - 33 and
31 ? inches; Al Schroeder - 31 ? inch; John
Schmidt - 32 ? inch; Joe Koschnik with the
biggest fish at 37 inches; and Jim Ellerman with
a 34 ? inch fish. Congratulations to the lucky
anglers listed above.
Headwaters’ members are looking forward to
our next member outing on July 12th at Hiawatha
Hideaway on Duck Lake in Eagle River.
Additional information can be found on our web
site www.HeadwatersMuskies.com
Glenn Matula
29
1788 Hwy 4
Estherville, IA 51334
712-362-2501
Upper Great Plains
Meets 3rd Thursday , Legion Club, 1709 Okoboji
Ave., Milford, IA.
A big thanks to all the chapter members that
helped make Kids Fish Day a success on May
17th. If it wasn’t for the 25 mph winds the weather was perfect. Attendance for the event wasn’t the best ever but we appreciate all the kids
that did attend. Everyone had fun and learned a
lot. Kids Fish Day events are very rewarding, the
event reminded me what the chapter is all about;
Sharing our love and knowledge for fishing to
someone else. Thanks again for everyone’s time
and hard work at the event.
The 2008 season began on May 21 and the
chapter held muskie league on the same night.
Turnout was good, the weather was excellent,
and fishing wasn’t too shabby either. Several
fish were seen and two fish were caught by the
Blau brothers. Rod Blau landed a 39.5 inch fish
and brother Ryan got a 34 incher.
Congratulations you guys on the good fishing.
The next dates for league will be on July 2nd at
East Okoboji, July 16th at West Okoboji, and July
30th at West Okoboji. Meet at Triggs boat ramp
on Upper Gar Lake for all three league nights in
July. Fishing hours are from 6 pm to sunset
which will be determined by the head judge of
the evening. Please arrive at the specified boat
ramp between 5:30 and 5:55 and get signed up
with Rod Blau or myself to fish league night.
Last month I mentioned that you don’t have to be
a member of the chapter to fish league. Well, I
misspoke, what I meant to say was that a member can invite a non-member to fish with them
during league in order to introduce new people to
the club.
Good luck fishing and remember to send your
release forms into our Release Chairman Leo
Kofoot within 30 days of your catch. Have Fun,
Be Safe, and Take a Kid Fishing!
Pete Hildreth, President
www.muskieclub.com
2031 Hwy. 33 S.
Cloquet, MN 55720
218-879-2712 • Terry DeMenge
Lake Superior
33
Meets: 2nd Tues. 7:00 PM Mr. D’s Bar & Grill,
5622 Grand Ave., Duluth
Greetings all!
Time for an update from Chapter 33. Lots
going on but first and foremost is the passing of
the torch. Our now past chapter president Terry
(Woody) Demenge, after many years of very
capable and competent leadership, has stepped
down and handed the reins over to new president Dustin Carlson . Our thanks and appreciation to both.
Our new website is up and running due, in no
small part, to our new webmaster Jeff Dembroski
- check it out at: www.lakesuperiormuskies.com
Our chapter newsletter editor Keith Okeson
has also taken on the editorial responsibility for
the Minnesota Muskie Alliance newsletter. Our
chapter has begun to work with the Minnesota
DNR in a St Louis River genetic study by getting
a scale sample from any fish we catch on the
river. I’m not sure how long this study will last but
the results will be interesting and with our weekly league nite being on the St. Louis River there
should be a large sample provided. Rest easy no fish are harmed in this study.
Past president Terry Demenge worked with
the Minnesota DNR on development and implementation of Catch and Release signs at boat
landings on the Minnesota side of the St. Louis
River; the Wisconsin DNR was so impressed that
we will now do the same on the Wisconsin side.
There will also be signs placed at 4 locations at
an other local muskie lake.
The Wisconsin season has been open for a
few weeks now and Minnesota will open soon so
we are in full swing. Some nice fish are being
caught by some chapter members and there are
a few of us yet to get on the board, but we will!
Being a border water chapter we, simply put,
have it made. The awesome Hayward Lakes
area a hop and a skip one way and Big V. and
The Pond are just up the road - who could ask for
more.
Our annual Caribou Lake Youth Outing was on
June 21st and our Lake Vermilion Youth Outing
will be August 8th. Lots going on with our chapter these days so be sure to check out our updated website for events, chapter info, and board
member ID.
Respectfully, Roger Olson
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.
This is the second month of three for our
“Summer Fishing League.” You can fish till
Eleven when the league time stops, have some
lunch and finish out the day if you want to “Fish
On.” Either way at least you are on the water
having some time out.
The dates are:
Event #2 Sunday July 13th – 5 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Event #3 Sunday August 3rd – 5 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Meeting place is the Thirsty Turtle, fee, rules
and payouts can be found on our Web site.
When we resume our regular club meetings in
September our featured speaker will be FRV
member “Musky” Russ Schaller. His presentation
will be on the Fox Chain, Upper and Lower Fox
River. If you fish the Chain of Lakes you want to
listen to what this man has to say. He knows it well
and rarely gets “shut out” when he is on this water.
I would like to alert you to an upcoming meeting that you will want to be sure to join us for. At
our January 2009 meeting we will be joined by
Joe Bucher. That is correct folks, Joe Bucher.
Watch here, the website and the newsletter for
the date and details. We are expecting an overflow crowd for this evening. 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 a buffet style dinner
starting at six 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
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 Everyone. Things are finally starting to
look good out here in the Great Northwest. We
are starting to warm-up and the “Tigers” are getting active!
Muskies Inc. President, Mr. Dan Narsete, was
our guest speaker for the month of May. Dan
updated us all on what was going on with
Muskies Inc. He also spoke about his vision of
Muskies Inc. and in what direction his leadership
will take us over the next couple of years. We
appreciate his willingness to make some much
needed changes & we look forward to the challenge.
We managed to get Dan, Mike Floyd, our
Chapter 57 “Angler of the Year”, and Jani Kuper,
our Secretary on a local A.M. radio “Sports
Show” to talk about Muskies Inc. and our local
Chapter 57.
To show our appreciation we took Dan fishing
on one of our nearby “urban” muskie lakes.
Dan saw some “nice” fish while he fished with
our VP Mr. Mark Wells. One of them appeared
to be in that magical 50 inch range! Todd Reis,
our Director of Membership, released a healthy
45 inch and I managed to release a monster 26
inch that nearly pulled Mr. Bill Green’s boat, our
beloved RVP, backwards!!
It was a great day on the water with our fellow
Chapter 57 Members and Dan. I would like to
report that no “Toro feces” was exchanged….
mmmm o.k. just a little! Now for a little business:
We will be having an upcoming tournament at
Lake Curlew May 31st for our members. Lake
Curlew is a beautiful lake near the Canadian
border. This should be a fantastic adventure for
all.
On June 14th we will be having a “Combo”
event with one of our local Bass clubs. This
should be a lot of fun and give us both a chance
to learn, tolerate, and educate each other about
our favorite species. Muskies rule!!!!! There
will also be a tournament June 28 on Lake
Tapps for our members.
One last item of business. We will be having
a “Jack and Jill” chapter tournament on July 12th
on Evergreen Reservoir. Grab your “honey”,
get ready to spend some money, and let’s go!!!!
Until the next issue you all take care and get out
there and wet a line!
Perry, and his pal, >——-):< (Ol’ Toothy)
www.nwtgermuskies.com
myspace.com
Be sure to check out
the Muskies, Inc. page
on myspace:
www.myspace.com/muskiesinc
Here is Central IL. Chapter member Dave Frank
with a 39 inch muskie that wanted to remain
anonymous. Sometimes they just don’t want
to cooperate very well.
Member Jim Beaty sent in this shot of lures being
assembled for the Shawnee Chapter’s fishing day
event in June. Around 150 kids were expected to
attend.
Taking 3rd Place with this fish in the Larry Jones Tournament to
raise money for hatchery baitfish, was Josh Winger. Josh is
from Chapter 09, and caught this 45-inch beauty last June on
Chautauqua.
Three Rivers Chapter member Sam Butler with a
48 incher, his first fish of 2008. Good way
to start the year Sam.
Another photo from Jim Beaty. The local 4-H group helped
to add the parts to the Luhr Jensen lure kits for the June
event.
Matt Royten with a nice and healthy 46 incher
from Bone Lake, Wisconsin. Matt is a member of
the North Metro Chapter, and says this 46 is his
largest muskie so far.
Chapter 02 members after the annual on ice clean up day.
This year they cleaned up after the ice fishermen on three
area lakes and always pick up a bunch of stuff.
Check out the cool colors in these lures, painted
by Shawnee members Dan and Renee Johnson.
These were also used for the June Shawnee
fishing day event.
Webster Lake Musky Club member, and obviously dedicated muskie fisherman Randy Bush
took this photo on March 23rd while fishing
Webster Lake.
☞
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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