MUSKIE Magazine

Transcription

MUSKIE Magazine

Photo Contest – October
by Brad Waldera, Photo Editor • [email protected]
Give Yourselves Some Credit
I
Check out the
M.I. Membership Challenge
on page 33. One winner
will take home more than
70 awesome prizes,
including over 50 muskie
lures, other great tackle
items, and a guided muskie
trip on Green Bay!
Photo #2 If only we could all start out like this. Here is Chapter 24
member Miranda Johnson with her very first muskie. It measured 42.5 inches
and looks like a nice healthy fish. It looks like she was toughing it out through
some less than spectacular fishing conditions as well. Congratulations Miranda
on a great beginning to the sport. This photo was taken and submitted by her
dad Derek (Duck) Johnson of Chapter 24.
▲
▲ Photo #1 Here is a great
shot of Chapter 21 member Tanner
Wiese with a 37 inch fish caught
trolling a firetiger Depthraider. He
fought the fish completely by himself
and successfully released it. This was
the third muskie that Tanner has
caught and his first one of the 2009
season. Tanner’s dad Max tells me
that Tanner really enjoys getting our
magazine every month and looking at
all the fish pictures. Tanner’s mom
Tami took this nice photo, and I’d say
it was a great way to start the season.
Congratulations Tanner, nice fish.
n August almost every photo submitted for
the Member Photos and Photo Contest
pages did not include the information
required by our photo guidelines. A couple of
members submitting photos to me by e-mail
even forgot to mention their own names. Please
try to include all of the required information
whenever you can, as it means a lot less work for
us at MUSKIE Magazine later on. Many times
I have to send e-mails back and forth to ask
which chapter members are from, what the
length of the fish was, members last names, who
took the photos, etc. All of this information
should be submitted when you send in your
photo, per our guidelines.
Please try to keep this in mind the next
time you submit a photo, and do keep those
photos coming in. In the past couple of months
I have received more photos than I ever have
before and I really appreciate it. Thanks and
good fishing. ❖
MUSKIE magazine is published monthly and is the
Official Publication of Muskies, Inc. International
Office: Ellen Wells, International Sec., 1509 Stahl
Road, Sheboygan, WI 53081. Ph: 1-888-710-8286.
© Copyright 2009 by Muskies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Contents
MUSKIE • VOL. 43, NO. 10
Departments
IFC Photo Contest, Brad Waldera
2 President’s Message,
Dan Narsete
10 The Changing World of Muskie Management,
Kevin Richards, et al [Part Two]
3 Magazine Notes, Juris Ozols
4 Index of Advertisers
12 Up in Flames, Ace Sommerfeld
4 MUSKIE News
14 Project Noble Beast, Sean Landsman
5 Figure 8, Kevin Richards
16 Taking on Ma Nature…and Winning,
Patricia Strutz
6 Lunge Log, Jim Bunch
19 Fall Trolling in Green Bay, Kevin Pischke
25 Chapter News and Views
22 Warm Feet, Hot Bite!, Patricia Strutz
34 Member Photos
Join Muskies, Inc. ...
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as a gift.
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Junior Membership (Under 18): ❑ $20.00
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(to find the number of the Chapter you wish to join, see the Chapter News & Views section)
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www.muskiesinc.org
October 2009.....MUSKIE 1
International
Officers
President, Dan Narsete
Email: [email protected]
Vice President/Finance, Jim Shannon
Phone: 612-670-8943
Vice President/Fisheries, Research & Youth,
Dr. Tom Betka, MD
Phone: 920-544-5868
Vice President/Internal Affairs,
Perry Peterson
Phone: 253-850-5889
Vice President/Membership & Marketing,
Greg Wells
Phone: 920-457-3720
Vice President/Communications,
Dale Vercauteren
Phone: 920-826-5810
Treasurer, Kathy Goon
Phone: 419-945-2940
Members Only Fishing Contest, Jim Bunch
Phone: 715-226-0295
Web Master, Ron Groeschl
Phone: 262-271-1002
Int. Administrative Secretary, Ellen Wells
1509 Stahl Road, Sheboygan, WI 53081
Phone: 888-710-8286
Regional Directors
Region 1
Term Expires
Brad Waldera . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Fall 2009
Rory Potter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2011
[ Vacant ] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2011
Region 2
Bob Timme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Fall 2009
Will Schultz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fall 2009
Fred Brogle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2011
Region 3
Joel Johnson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fall 2009
Doug Dibble . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fall 2009
Larry Besant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fall 2009
Region 4
Kimberly Cates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fall 2009
Rich Gallagher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fall 2009
Earle Hammond . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fall 2009
2 MUSKIE.....October 2009
The President’s Message
by Dan Narsete
Muskies, Inc. International President
A
fter having written a year or so worth of social change and progression for our
organization I figured it’s time to turn over a new leaf and showcase some other
knowledge. What I am referring to is not the meaning of life, but rather some
fishing advice. I mean as the President of Muskies Incorporated I should probably demonstrate some proficiency in fishing, right?
Often times I think people (including yours truly) tend to over think fish and the
fishing equation. When instructing people how to fly fish and cast I have learned that fish
are not smart, rather instinctive. They didn’t have to learn algebra, deal with awkward
middle school dances or figure out how to fill out income tax forms.
For this narrative I will use trout for demonstration purposes. When a trout is idling
in a stream it has the capacity to see objects at a 45 degree angle behind the location of its
eye, which is near the top of the head. This means it is looking at the various bugs flying
in the air, potential predators around them, and vacillating between the two. When casting to a trout I explain that the load of the cast and flight of the fly is just as important as
the actual fly itself. Now the trout will end up eating something regardless of what you or
I think. So your presentation needs to at least act like a fly. The next step in the equation
is the fly needs to look like a fly.
I don’t know about you but I’ve never seen a zero dive bomber fly (outside of a couple of very large mosquitoes) smack the water. Here you need to lay down the fly while
utilizing the surface tension of the water and the hairs on the fly. This is how bugs land,
skip, and dance on top of any body of water. It is also how you master a one-hundred plus
trout day.
Another thing to consider is smell. Now I will concede that most trout in a river setting don’t have the time to process this sensory input because if they don’t eat right away,
they lose their meal (it drifts away).
At this point you’re saying who cares about trout? My answer is . . . you should. Think
about it this way . . . let’s say you want to fish muskies in a river. Like trout, muskies will
seek out concentrations of prey in proximity to good cover and optimum flow conditions.
In my next column I’ll explain more.
Tight lines, Dan ❖
August 2005, you’re on Lac Seul, home
to monster muskies. You catch the fish
of your dreams, a 55-incher. You get a
good photo and release that fish.
Jump ahead to July 2009. That fish visits
the same boat again. This time it is
56.25 inches! You get another photo
and it’s released again.
Care to guess how big it may be in 2013
when it’s scheduled to be caught again?
The best thing about this story is that it
is true! Here are the details received
from Chapter 14 member Linda Rice,
who happens to own Moosehorn Lodge.
Greg Marino is Moosehorn’s top muskie
guide and also a member of Chapter 14.
On August 24, 2005 Jeremy Asselin caught and released a 55 inch muskie from a bay
on Lac Seul while fishing with me, Ken Graundal, and Greg Marino. Greg took the
photo of the three of us with the big muskie. It had a girth of 25 inches. It also had a
distinct deformity of the mouth and upper lip.
On July 19, 2009 this muskie was caught out of our boat again, nearly in the same
spot. This time it was 56.25 inches and had a girth of 24 inches. Greg Marino caught
the muskie and Greg Brown took the release photo.
It was pretty neat to see a big muskie again after that long and to know that the catchand-release system works.
NOTICE TO CHAPTERS: The deadline to send chapter reports to the
editor is the 25th of each month, or about five (5) weeks before the magazine is mailed to members. We are also offering chapters the opportunity
to submit 5 to 10 photos of chapter activities so we can feature your chapter on the monthly chapter banner. – Thanks!
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
Kevin Richards, Editor / Ad Manager
Phone: (573) 280-2300
Paul Baker, Advertising Sales Representative
Phone: (701) 866-9393
PRINTING ACCOUNT MANAGER
Sunray Printing Solutions, Inc. - Stacey Thielen
MAGAZINE DESIGN
Sunray Printing Solutions, Inc. - John Windschitl
ILLUSTRATORS/CARTOONISTS
Richard Gross, Sherry Hunt, Charles Weiss
FIELD EDITORS
Patricia Strutz, Colby Simms, Sean Landsman,
Adam Glickman, Bob Chochola,Steve Budnik
EMERITUS EDITORS
Rod Ramsell, Keith Ogden, Jim Smith
MUSKIE is published exclusively for the membership of Muskies, Inc. and subscriptions
come with a paid membership. Muskies, Inc. is
a non-profit organization. Membership classes
and associated annual dues are listed on the
form at the bottom of page one. Copies of
MUSKIE magazine are available at $3.00 each
from the Muskies, Inc. International Office.
Contributors grant rights for M.I. to publish
once in MUSKIE Magazine, both the print and
on-line versions, including archives and on the
M.I. Web site.
Submissions to
MUSKIE Magazine
Persons interested in submitting articles for
publication are directed to our website
www.muskiesinc.org for a link to MUSKIE
Magazine, where you will find links on the left
side of the page providing information necessary for submissions to MUSKIE Magazine.
Further questions will be answered by Kevin
Richards, Editor. Submissions may be sent to:
7618 Sunrise Ridge Road, Henley, MO 65040
or email: [email protected]. Phone:
(573) 280-2300.
www.muskiesinc.org
M AG A Z I N E N O T E S ◆ M AG A Z I N E N O T E S ◆ M AG A Z I N E N O T E S ◆ I N D E X O F A DV E R T I S E R S
ABOUT THE COVER
M U S K I E N E WS ◆ M U S K I E N E WS ◆ M U S K I E N E WS ◆ M U S K I E N E WS ◆ M U S K I E N E WS
letter of encouragement, perhaps an offer of financial support upon
a CPR transition would speak volumes. With the ever increasing
pressure on the muskie fishery, a change of direction is needed. By
working together, individuals and organizations can promote a
healthy muskie fishery here in Maine. You can visit the Fort Kent
International Muskie Derby website at www.fortkent-muskie.com
or the town of Fort Kent, ME at www.fortkent.org. The Fort Kent
town office phone number is 207-834-3136.”
CPR Movement for Maine Muskies
Editor’s note: I received two letters from Paul Best, a muskie enthusiast in
Maine. The letters were quite similar. One was directed to muskie
anglers and publications; the other was directed to the folks who run the
Fort Kent International Muskie Derby. I have included excerpts from
both letters below. After reading this material I also suggest that you take
a look at the website for the derby to get their perspective. This is a sensitive issue in Maine and, as Paul requests, you may want to send a very
constructive letter in support of CPR to the event organizers. Taking the
high road normally gets us to our destination just as fast and we seem to
gain some new friends along the way!
Excerpts from the letter to muskie anglers
“On an annual basis, Fort Kent, Maine, along with sponsors,
hosts a muskie fishing derby. Unfortunately, the event results in the
harvest of many fish. I have encouraged the Fort Kent International
Fishing Derby to promote the event as Catch, Photograph, and
Release (CPR). With your influence, the influence of the sponsors,
and the will of the event organizers, a progressively better event may
be held without the loss of fish. Your help is needed!
“Your letter of constructive support addressed to the Fort Kent
International Muskie Fishing Derby and the event sponsors asking
them to transition to a CPR event is appreciated. In addition to a
Here are some excerpts from the second letter; it was sent to
the Fort Kent International Muskie Fishing Derby, Town of
Fort Kent, 416 West Main Street, Fort Kent, ME 04743
“I respectfully urge you to advocate CPR at your next Fort Kent
International Muskie Fishing Derby. . . A CPR event would bring
more prestige to your derby and greater economic prosperity to Fort
Kent, Maine, and the sponsors for generations.
“Maine has a great opportunity to be a leader in the fishing
world by developing a world class trophy muskie fishing destination
as developed in Wisconsin, Minnesota, New York, and Canada.
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service estimated that $425
million was spent on muskie fishing in Wisconsin in 2006. This
figure does not include indirect economic impacts, such as wages
and tax revenue. Muskie anglers will travel great distances and
spend freely to catch and release a trophy muskie of 50 inches or
larger. Make your event CPR, and grasp this opportunity.
“…Working together, you can find the resources to make the
Fort Kent International Muskie Fishing Derby a CPR event and
promote a world class trophy muskie fishery here in the great state
of Maine. . . Include the Fort Kent International Muskie Fishing
Derby in a muskie fishermen’s destination for trophy sized muskies
by going CPR. Respectfully,
Paul W. Best, D.D.S, 198 Morton Road, Yarmouth, ME 04096
INDEX OF
ADVERTISERS
BIG WOOD MUSKY LURES . . . . 21
DUCKTAIL LURES . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
LAC SEUL
FLOATING LODGES . . . . . . . . . 23
MUSKIES, INC.
MEMBERSHIP CHALLENGE . . 33
MOREHEAD TOURISM
COMMISSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
TAYLOR COUNTY TOURISM
COMMISSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
YOUNG'S WILDERNESS
CAMP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
FIGURE
8
Figure 8
8
FIGURE
Muskie Management
and Research Updates
◆
I’ll try to do the same and I’ll let you
know how it goes. I’m going to keep this
month’s Figure 8 column really short so I
can go sharpen hooks and pack my favorite
fall baits!
For additional information
please contact Editor Kevin Richards
email: [email protected]
or call: 573/280-2300
8
Help us add a few new
advertisers for MUSKIE
Magazine.
These individuals will work directly with the Editor to solicit
advertising to support MUSKIE Magazine. Commissions will be
based upon the value of paid ads sold.
FIGURE
Sign up some new members
for Muskies, Inc.
We would like to add 2 Advertising Sales Representatives to the
MUSKIE Magazine Advertising Sales Team. We are seeking dedicated and focused individuals who can effectively communicate
with potential advertisers.
◆
Stay safe and warm.
Advertising Sales Representatives
8
Catch some muskies!
HELP WANTED!
FIGURE
As I’ve said before, October is my
favorite month for muskie trolling. This
issue of MUSKIE has some extremely useful tips for all of us who enjoy time on the
water in the late fall. Please do me four
favors during your fall muskie adventures:
◆
October Reflections
8
by Kevin Richards
[email protected]
8
◆
This issue continues our effort to
bridge the gap between muskie anglers and
muskie research and management folks.
Communication is the key to success in
every relationship. Please check out the
agency updates plus the Project Noble Beast
report from Sean Landsman.
Special thanks to all our contributors
from the fisheries agencies of North
America. We appreciate your efforts to
protect and enhance the aquatic treasures
we all enjoy.
After the thrill of catching your next
muskie do your best to carefully release it
to fight another day; the future of our
muskie resource will literally be in your
hands!
Kevin ❖
FIGURE
8
◆
FIGURE
8
www.muskiesinc.org
Lu n g e L o g ◆ Lu n g e L o g ◆ Lu n g e L o g ◆ Lu n g e L o g ◆ Lu n g e L o g ◆ Lu n g e L o g ◆ Lu n g e L o g
g
nge L
u
L
e
o
h
t
by
Ji m B u n c h
Hard Work Meets Opportunity!
58.5 Inches!
Bruce Wisner is a member of Chapter 39 which is the Fox River
Valley Chapter. He lives in Wheaton, Illinois which is just west of
Chicago. This of course puts him in range of the famous
Fox River Chain. Those lakes are kind of neat and have
some decent muskies. However our man Bruce over the
years has searched long and hard for a true long green
swimming machine. He started in the 80s and started
reporting muskies to the Lunge Log in 1987. Since then
he has fished muskies in Rowan, Lake of the Woods, The
English River, Cave Run, Woebegone, Lake St. Clair,
Kincaid, Vermilion, Mille Lacs, the Ottawa River, Green
Bay and the St. Lawrence River. This list is broad, if a
lake in Wisconsin, Illinois, or any where was boasting big
muskies, Bruce made a visit. As a matter of fact, the
Lunge Log shows some Not Specified lakes when we
allowed that. Heaven only knows where they are. When
I heard of this long, lean muskie I started searching for
Bruce. He was on the Ottawa River in Quebec. He had
caught 10 muskies on this trip which included June 29 a
50.25 inch, July 1 a 54.5 inch, July 2 a 50 inch, and July
3 the 58.5 inch. After a few days he popped to the surface and his email came through. He tells us the story.
Hi Jim, now in Hayward. Not going out until later so
have a chance to get off a few words. In general I work
very hard for each of the fish I catch. Al Lindner has
defined luck as when “hard work meets opportunity”.
After decades, they met for me during the first week in
July. We were greeted with this year’s cold front, storms,
and falling water temps on arrival. Our first day had
strong south winds, 2-plus foot waves, and storm cells all
day. We got soaked. We were casting rock bars with lots of
adjacent weeds. I put on surface bait remembering some
similar conditions when I had caught fish. My fishing
partner was throwing the large blade buck tails.
He caught fish on them and I saw fish on the surface
baits. During the week we continued to dodge storm cells
with winds shifting to anywhere northeast to southeast.
Sometimes things were calm, before the storms, and sometimes we faced 2, 3, or 3-plus foot waves. For the most
part the surface baits were welded on to my rod.
Throughout the week nice fish were caught on bucktails
but they attacked surface baits also. All my strikes were
away from the boat. On July 1st the 54.5 inhaled a
Bruce Wisner, Chapter 39. 58.5 inches, July 3, 2009.
Ottawa River, Quebec. Globe. Fish I.D. 271700.
globe. It was awesome. I did throw cowgirls just to switch baits, but
they didn’t stay on long. On our last evening storms were moving in but
we went out to try and fish ahead of them. Winds switched to strong
south and cells were moving in. I had action from a good fish but it
Amber’s First Muskie Leads
Women’s Longest!
Amber Smith, Chapter 52. 56X25, July 24, 2009.
First Muskie, Current Womens Longest
Georgian Bay, ON. Boo Dadley. Fish I. D. 274528.
missed the bait. Waves were building. A large fish was spotted rolling
way out off the back of the boat. I was standing in the back so I threw
one of those mile long casts we all can make with a strong wind and a
surface bait. The waves were high. I couldn’t see the bait at all. On the
–(Cont’d)
www.muskiesinc.org
David W. Smith is a member of Chapter 52 and lives in Salt Lick,
Kentucky. Salt Lick is about 15 minutes from Cave Run. Since 2006
Dave has established a good lock on the muskies in Cave Run and has
run up some good numbers and a few big ones. He does not stray too
far from Cave Run. Oops things changed. He met John Dadson a
musky guide from Georgian Bay at a muskie show some place. They
became friends and Johnny came too Cave Run to fish with Dave. Yes
you realize a return trip to Georgian Bay is coming don’t you. Now in
the process late this spring Dave is renewing his membership in
Muskies, Inc. when his wife Amber says why don’t you add me to the
membership? Got any idea where this story is going. Hang onto your
boots this gets really good.
Amber had fished a few times and lost a couple on
Cave Run. So off they go to Georgian Bay, Ontario.
They are going to fish with guide John Dadson who also
makes the bucktail called Boo Dadley; Later on Amber
says it is a Boo Dadley Matrix. So here we are first day,
down to the dock come the Smiths. Johnny Dadson
being a pretty cool salesman says to Amber, I see you
have your make up on; this will be very good for a picture. What did this guy know, what did he have in
mind; it did not take very long. How about 10 minutes.
They head out into Georgian Bay and stop at the
first shoal they come to. It is about a 40 yard circle full
of cabbage. They are not even out to the famous blue
waters of Georgian Bay. Amber is casting a Boo Dadley
Matrix bucktail. No she is not trolling. You expect us to
say that when we talk about our female members. No
she is casting. It is the first day and the first 10 minutes
of the first day when Amber sees a muskie come up, she
sees it eat her bait. Her first thought was it is a muskie;
her second thought was do not fall in the lake. She says
it did not fight real hard at first, she did not realize how
big it was until it came into view. It made just a few
small runs but they were right at the boat. Husband
Dave said Amber was actually pretty cool through the
whole thing. Guide Johnny said if she would have been
an experienced fisherperson she would have lost it. It
headed under the boat by the kicker motor. It made it
through with out snagging on anything. At this point
husband Dave said the fish was just too big and fat to
make any great moves. So it came to the net rather easily. So they get a measurement of 56 inches, they take a
girth of 25 inches; they take two really awesome pictures. With this awesome muskie girth, with Amber’s
morning make up, and Amber’s awesome smile, we give
you the picture of the year.
No this picture does not show the full length, the
tail is wrapped around her body. However the mid section of that muskie is just massive. Just look at the distance between the muskies fins. Many times over the
(Continued on page 8)
second crank she ate it. It was a very long fish at 58.5 inches a great
muskie, but it was thin perhaps old. The length was called to me by my
partners; I never saw the numbers or the end of the tape. After a net
and release the storms became severe and we were forced off. It was the
last cast of the trip! Thanks, Bruce
LUNGE LOG
(continued from page 7)
years I raise an eyebrow when comparing a picture to a reported girth
measurement. However in this case we go the other way. The Smiths
and guide Johnny Dadson report this at a 25 inch girth. My first reaction is that is pretty conservative. In the end they kind of support my
thinking by something they did at the end. Guide Johnny Dadson
carries a Chatillion scale. They are very accurate and can
even be certified. They weighed this muskie in the net at 53
pounds, subtracted 5 pounds for the net and came up with 48
pounds. So the formula says 43.75 pounds and the scale says 48
pounds. We are kind of leaning to the latter. But we suppose the real
weight is somewhere in between. You know what is the neatest thing about this? Guide Johnny Dadson reports he has
seen her twice since the Salt Lick Kentucky Smiths removed
his bucktail out of her mouth.
Oh by the way, Amber got this one on Friday, they lost
a good one on Saturday. Sunday was a short day due to
weather. On Monday thank goodness husband Dave got a
50.5 inch. Whew, that would have been a long ride home,
hey guys.
New Mexico Tigers!
Joe Hardy Mission!
Joe Hardy is an awesome muskie fisherman. He started
reporting muskies to the Lunge Log in 1982. Joe since then
has caught 10 fifty inchers. While that is really neat, Joe is a
numbers guy. Joe has a number of lakes in Ontario where it is
not difficult to catch 10 muskies in a day. The main one is
Fluke Lake. He just returned from Ontario on a 4 week trip.
So when you look him up and see 328 entries just this year you
would assume that is a typo, wrong, this is the real deal. Over
the course of time he has moved up the list of most entries ever
by chasing the likes of Charles Schauer, Pete Olson, Richard
Minnick, Joe Aldworth etc. The leader the last few years has
been his brother Will Hardy. This summer Joe caught him and
blew past leaving only a trail of smoke. Joe heard about the
muskie explosion in New Mexico. Down there they had plain
old goldfish take over a few lakes. Yes these are the same little
bitty gold colored fish that Junior brings home from the county fair. When they got put in a lake with lots of room they can
grow quite large and breed like rabbits. They are a member of
the carp family. So the New Mexico DNR decides to bring in
Hybrid muskies from Pennsylvania. They start eating gold fish
and growing rapidly and the rest is history. So our number
one numbers guy decides to check in out this spring. He did
and tells us the story.
Hi Jim, I went to Bluewater Lake New Mexico on May 26,
2009. I fished 4 days with only 3 follows. Some were catching
a few muskies on flies and a fly rod. The 5th day I finally figured out they wanted small lures when I went to a small Mepps
and caught 8 muskies that day. June 1st. I went to Quemado
and caught a 42” muskie, then back to Bluewater June 2nd.for
7 more days and caught 33 more muskies with the largest being
40”and the smallest 31”. The best day was 13 muskies. They
are really healthy and must be still feeding on goldfish. I caught
42 tiger muskies on the trip that averaged just less than 36.5
inches. I talked to some Chapter 59 members and they are really excited about this fishery. I am surely going to try to make it
back there again.
Joe Hardy, Chapter 2. 42 Inch hybrid, June 1, 2009
Quemado, New Mexico. Mepps #5. Fish I.D. 268927.
Peter W. Olson, Chapter 12. 53 Inches, Aug. 3, 2009
Lake of the Woods, ON. Cowgirl. Fish I.D. 275945.
–(Cont’d)
I got a call in early August. This mans voice said, “Hello Jim,
Triple Nickel is back!” He didn’t say hello, how are you, or anything
else, he just said this is Triple Nickel. Naturally I knew right away who
it was. Peter W. Olson is from Boulder Junction, Wisconsin. He is a
retired high school basketball coach with two state championships
under his belt. He also has 927 muskie releases under his belt. He got
the nick name Triple Nickel back in 2004 when he caught a 55.5 inch
from the Manitowish Chain in Vilas County, Wisconsin. If he goes
several years without a big fifty inch muskie to his credit he acts like
he has been in hibernation. Actually baring a bit of a gap for some
health issues he has been doing OK with the muskies.
In early August this year he was on Lake of the Woods
and nailed a dandy. She checked in at 53 inches. Pete is in
the middle of his 7th decade on this earth and here he is on
Lake of the Woods casting a Cowgirl in a rain storm. Back
home in the lazy boy, I don’t think so. Pete got some pictures, in one of them he is struggling to lift this 40 pounder
and we can’t see his handsome mug, so we ditched that picture. In the next one the photographer cuts Pete’s head off
right in the middle of his eyes. Quickly Pete gets the muskie
back in the water and we get a very nice water release shot of
Pete and the muskie. In the water of course we do not get a
representative view of the true size of this beast, but it is a
great shot. Yes, Triple Nickel is back.
Housekeeping!
www.muskiesinc.org
We announced in the June magazine that any entry by
an individual over the 30 day reporting period would be
rejected automatically by the website. Also any entry over 60
days by a chapter chairperson of entries for their members
would be rejected. Because of the website being changed to
a new system (still in process) this is not being done.
Consequently I am doing this by hand as they come in. I do
have the capability to see who entered each entry and within a day or two how old the entry is. It is not a perfect system at the moment but I am doing the best I can. I have
rejected many the last two months for being late. I then try
to email the member and report to him which ones were
deleted. Because they are not rejected automatically it maybe
a day or two before an individual realizes they were late and
deleted. In that period of time a member may see their
entries on line in some of the reports and then they disappear. Sorry that’s the way it is. In February we will accept old
entries from previous years, so a member that wants to bring
his muskie list up to date may do so. The reason for
February is that I will have closed out the contest for the previous year and will have announced the winners.
What I am doing right now to handle this is not perfect. But it is better than we had last year. I have had a few
cases were a new member was late because he did not get a
membership number for two months after he joined. In late
summer right now I get 100-200 entries a day. Yes I flat out
miss some; sorry about that but in reality it is kind of a
nightmare. I appreciate your patience. When you see something you do not understand please keep sending those
emails, it is the only way I get better at what I am doing to
process your entries. In closing, please remember we do not
accept any entry less than 30 inches.
The Lunge Log
Jim Bunch
715 226-0295 [email protected]
Triple Nickel Is Back!
The Changing World
of Muskie Management–Part Two
A MUSKIE Look at some of our Fisheries Agencies
by Kevin Richards, editor of MUSKIE Magazine
M
any muskie enthusiasts feel we are entering the new
Golden Age of Muskie Fishing in North America. I
agree! There are a number of factors coming together at this period of our muskie fishing history which are
cotributing to this new Golden Age. In my opinion, the most
important of these are:
Effective and innovative muskie management by
our Fisheries agencies
Strong support for more restrictive harvest
regulations from muskie anglers
More effective catch-and-release techniques
being practiced by more anglers
The August issue of MUSKIE Magazine gave our readers a
look at some of the innovative muskie management work
which is taking place in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois. In
September we published a report about the muskie population
in an important West Virginia stream. This month we continue our look at the changing world of muskie management with
a detailed look at Vermont and Quebec. Elsewhere in this issue
you will also find an update on the new muskie catch-andrelease study, Project Noble Beast.
Vermont
Shawn Good, Fisheries Scientist and State Esocid
Committee Chair for the Vermont Fish & Wildlife
Department provided this detailed update for Vermont.
This is a part of the muskie range we haven’t heard too
much about in the past.
Vermont is the only New England state that can
proudly claim to have had a native muskellunge population. That population was restricted to northern
Lake Champlain, including the lower portions of a major river tributary to the lake, the Missisquoi River. Muskie were described in his-
Shawn Good holding a 32-inch Vermont muskie taken from Otter Creek,
below Vergennes Dam.
toric reports from the late 1800s as being “uncommon but widespread”, and there was only a nominal fishery for them in the northeastern portion of Lake Champlain through the mid-1900s.
Unfortunately, for unknown reasons, muskie numbers declined
steadily in Lake Champlain until the mid-1970s at which time their
distribution in Lake Champlain became restricted to the Missisquoi
River and the wetlands complex of Missisquoi Bay at the mouth of
the river. In 1979, a chemical spill from a pulp-and-paper mill
upstream on the Missisquoi River apparently eliminated the last
remaining native strain muskellunge from Lake Champlain. Surveys
in the river and bay in subsequent years did not turn up any muskellunge.
From 1980 through 1986 (excluding 1985), the Vermont Fish &
Wildlife Department annually stocked 100,000 muskie fry into Otter
Creek, a major tributary flowing into the central portion of Lake
Champlain, some 60 miles south of the Missisquoi River. These fish
were obtained from the Pennsylvania Fish Commission’s Linesville
Hatchery. Follow-up surveys looking for evidence of survival concluded that the stocking program was unsuccessful and the program
was abandoned.
In 2003, as a fairly new biologist to the Department (coming
from Ontario), and the only one with experience with muskellunge, I
was named as the Chair of the Muskie Committee and charged with
assessing the feasibility of a Lake Champlain muskellunge restoration
program and implementing the program once a determination was
made. Trapnetting and electrofishing surveys for muskie were conducted over the next few years, and a public outreach campaign
(media releases, posters at boat launches, websites, newspaper articles,
and talking to anglers) was implemented to gather information
regarding potential incidental angler catches.
Through these efforts, I became aware that the 6-years of fry
stocking in Otter Creek in the 1980s was actually quite successful. A
river-resident population of
muskellunge had quietly
existed there for 20 years and
only a few lucky anglers were
aware of it. In 2005, the
new state record muskie was
caught in Otter Creek by one
of those anglers; it measured
48” x 23” and weighed 30lbs
10oz, breaking the previous
record set in 1978 (from the
Missisquoi River ) by 1
pound 2 ounces. In a
strange turn of events, the An Otter Creek muskie caught below
record set by the Otter Creek Vergennes Dam.
fish was smashed just 4 weeks later by a 52.25” x 23” muskie weighing 38lbs 4oz. The fish was caught by a catfish angler fishing a live
frog on light line on the river bottom in a 20-foot hole. Isn’t that
how it always goes! The most surprising thing about this muskie
however was that it wasn’t caught in Otter Creek, where the stocking
occurred in the 1980s; it was caught in the Missisquoi River, the last
mented in Vermont, but regulations
known location of the native Lake
had not changed since their inception.
Champlain strain muskellunge.
Statewide regulations through 2008
I was able to obtain tissue samples
allowed for year-round muskie fishing
from the record Missisquoi River fish,
with a minimum length limit of 30and in 2006 I began canvassing anglers
inches, and a 1-fish per day bag limit.
in the Missisquoi River area, hoping to
The Team recognized that the existing
obtain information and tissue from
minimum length limit for muskie was
other possible incidental muskie catchvery archaic and in desperate need of
es. I also conducted a spring trapnetchange. In light of the recent stocking
ting program hoping to collect muskie
program to restore a muskie fishery to
to determine their genetic origin.
After two years of sampling, our sur- Muskie stocked in the Missisquoi River hiding under a lily pad. Lake Champlain, the Team decided to
recommend new muskie fishing regulaveys had resulted in zero muskies being
collected, but anglers had reported catching a few more muskies from tions starting in 2009 that include a statewide catch-and-release only
that area, and I was able to get tissue samples from three. These were regulation and restrict anglers to using artificial lures and flies only.
sent, along with reference samples from Pennsylvania’s Linesville Objectives of this regulation are to protect muskie from harvest and
Hatchery (the source of the Otter Creek fish) and New York’s Lake live-bait related mortality while the restoration program is underway,
Chautauqua Hatchery, for microsatellite DNA analysis. Analysis without eliminating the opportunity for anglers to target them.
identified the muskie caught recently in the Missisquoi River as Regulation needs will be reassessed again in the future following the
matching Lake Chautauqua muskie. The New York DEC has been initial 5-year stocking program and an assessment of the current stastocking Lake Chautauqua muskie into the upper Great Chazy River tus of the population and the growth and condition of individual fish.
(also a tributary to Lake Champlain) for nearly 30 years; however
Quebec
their stocking has been in a reach of river two dams removed from
We also don’t hear too much about muskie
management in Quebec, so I was pleased to
get reports from two sources.
Shawn Good transferring muskie in NY for their trip to Vermont.
Lake Champlain. It’s obvious now that some Chazy River muskie
migrated downstream, over two dams, crossed the main lake, navigated two passages and causeways to enter the Inland Sea and Missisquoi
Bay and ultimately take up residence in the Missisquoi River – a trip
over well over 40 lake miles.
Since it was clear that no native strain Lake Champlain muskie
remained, and Chautauqua strain muskie were entering the lake from
NYDEC’s stocking program on the upper Great Chazy River, it was
determined that an initial stocking program on the Vermont side of
the lake utilizing the same strain of muskie would not be adding anything genetically to the lake not already present.
The Team decided to stock up to the maximum recommended
density of muskie in the lower Missisquoi River, based on Ontario
stocking protocol of 1,000 summer muskie fingerlings. Stocking
took place in August 2008 and will continue through 2012 at the
same rate until a minimum of 5-year classes have been established.
Unforeseen losses at the Chautauqua Hatchery in 2008 resulted in
only 250 muskies being stocked so numbers will be increased in 2009.
The population will be assessed, as will the growth and condition of
individual fish, at the end of this period; stocking will be re-evaluated
at that time. If continued, it may be on a skip-year basis. The ultimate objective is to establish a naturally-sustaining, reproducing population of muskie.
It’s unknown when muskie-specific regulations were first imple-
www.muskiesinc.org
Pierre Dumont with the Ministère des
Ressources naturelles et de la Faune
(MRNF) sent the following information.
Two major things occurred in the Quebec
waters of the St. Lawrence River since 1966
- a reduction of bag limits from 2 to 1 in
1986 and the application of a minimum size limit (fork length) of 90
cm in 1986, which was increased to 104 cm in 1999.
The muskellunge status in the Montreal Archipelago was evaluated between 1994 and 1997, in cooperation with the Montreal
Chapter of Muskies Canada and results indicated that the population
was showing good indices of restoration (abundance and size range).
Stocking, initiated in 1950, was interrupted in 1999.
Research on muskellunge biology and reproduction also
occurred in the 1990s along the lower reach Ottawa River. My colleague, Henri Fournier can contribute information in this part on the
distribution area of the species in south western Quebec.
Henri Fournier, biologist with the MRNF, wrote, “The provinces
of Ontario and Québec are now managing the musky fishery in the
Ottawa river as a trophy fishery; hence the minimum length limit has
been augmented to 127cm (fork length [50”]) and the catch limit has
been lowered to one.”
Conclusion
We hope features like this in MUSKIE Magazine continue to give
our readers a broader perspective of what many of the muskie states
and provinces are doing to maintain and enhance muskie fishing
opportunities. As you reflect on the agency reports note the influence
that Muskies, Inc. (and our partners from Muskies Canada) can have.
As muskie anglers it is essential that we support our agencies,
encourage more innovative management, and participate in projects
which provide needed data, research, or habitat improvements. ❖
Special thanks to MUSKIE Field Editor Patricia Strutz for her review and
assistance, and to MUSKIE Assistant Editor Juris Ozols, Shawn Good,
Tom Jones, Alex Beebe, Tom Wiggins, and John Hall for photos.
M
uskie anglers have always been considered a different breed burn, and attempt to help
of cat, so it seems natural that they develop their own lan- you keep a few more
guage. Words and terms take on a new meaning in a muskies on the hooks until
muskie boat. One of the first terms I learned after joining Chapter 6 they are in the bag.
One of the biggest
was coined by our current president, Jason Smith. Whenever he
referred to a fish slipping what appeared to be a solid hook-set he hurdles to overcome as a
called it “burning one”. The term had a particular accord with me muskie angler is realizing
because it was the reason I gave up a life of solitude and sought the there are worse things than
burning a big fish once in a
advice of veteran muskie anglers.
Chapter 6 President Jason Smith coined
Sloppy record keeping and selective memory make it impossible while. For me, I’d rather the term, “Burning One”.
for me to know what my “burn ratio” was in those lonely days, but I lose one as opposed to not
felt like too many muskies were getting the last laugh. Shortly after moving anything. The fish may have won the battle, but it answered
joining the chapter I fished with Paul Michels and Jon “Jono” Olstadt. some important questions. Now I know the fish are active, and I’m
They listened to a couple sob stories and assured me things sounded thinking properly. There’s no point in wasting time changing lures
every five minutes. The choice of structure was
normal for an angler who was learning the
correct. Muskies are known to share a spot, so
trade.
“You’re not doing anything there is good reason to hang around and keep
“You’re not doing anything wrong,” said
chuckin’.
Paul, “That’s the way muskies are, everyone
wrong,” said Paul,
The times when you burn a fish often turn
loses a fish now and then.”
“That’s the way muskies
out to be more exciting than a routine catch
Experience and advice have helped me cut
and release. How many times have you had to
down on the number of fish I burn in a year.
are, everyone loses a fish
sit down and ask yourself, “What just hapSuccess has made the occasional burn easier to
now and then.”
pened?” They are the episodes that gnaw at
deal with. The aspects of burning a fish are so
you for years afterward. You go over the situacomplex it would take a book the size of Eli
Singer’s to cover them completely. Perhaps I could wait a few years, tion a million times trying to understand what went wrong, and what
draw from my own sad stories, hang around a few boat landings for might have been. No two burns are alike, but they all offer a chance
more heartbreaking tales and write my first muskie book. You’ll get a to gain knowledge on what to do, and what not to repeat the next
complimentary box of Kleenex with each book. For now, we’ll cover time.
Human error always seems to take the blame when it comes to
some main points that should make you feel better about your next
burning a muskie. I guess it’s justified by the fact that the angler has
so much to do with each encounter. When it comes down to it, it’s
either you or the fish that failed (or perhaps the muskie succeeded).
You could’ve set the stage for failure months in advance without realizing it. Remember when you said you were going to get new leaders, but forgot? When was the last time you put new line on the reel?
It sounds like equipment failure, but you dictate how well every little
component is going to perform. You can’t blame a leader for falling
apart if you have been using it for several years.
A case in point happened a few years ago on my home lake in
Wisconsin. A decent muskie ate a Boo-tail, did a nice tail dance, and
made a powerful run after getting its head jerked back into the water.
I had complete control until it was half way to the boat, and the line
went limp. I inspected the bucktail and discovered one of the hooks
on the single treble was gone. The other two were rusted, and I suppose that one was as well. From then on, I air all of my bucktails out,
and keep the tackle box open whenever possible. We can’t control
how a muskie is going to approach a lure, but keeping your gear in
proper working order is all up to you.
You’ll never get a fish without a hook set. That sets everything in
Jon Olstad with a 53” beauty. Jono says his burn ratio is low because he
motion.
Hook sets are difficult to perfect. They are like a golf swing.
pays attention to detail.
Everyone has their own style and opinion on
not put a lure in the box unless the hooks are
what separates success and failure. One guy will
razor sharp. It’s fine to touch them up if you feel
tell you to pull straight up, and the next says
they’ve been dinged somehow, but chances are
across the body in an upward motion, but all
you won’t do a good enough job on the water if
that changes if your rod is out of position. The
you are sharpening three new treble hooks when
best hook sets are typically assisted by the fish
you know you should be casting. Muskie tackle
when they turn away from the rod tip. A weak
is tough, but it has a lifespan like everything else.
hook set doesn’t mean you’ll lose the fish, but the
There is no reason to use anything less than 80#
odds go sky high if a fish hits short and gets one
test line. It goes back to the forgiveness factor.
hook in the front of its jaw. Keeping a tight line
It’s possible to snap 65# line if you get a backlash
is important with every fish, but it is often the
with a heavy lure, but good 80# seems to withreason we bag a fish that has been poorly hooked.
stand 90% of the mistakes we make. Today’s
I like it when a fish slips the hook as soon as it is
market is full of top-notch equipment that
in the net, but it serves as a reminder to keep
makes the essential connection between you and
steady pressure at all times.
a big muskie. They represent the least expensive
There’s more to a good hook set than brute
components of muskie fishing, so study the
strength. Look at the kids under ten years old Denise Shervey did everything right to options carefully, squeeze the pocket book, and
who catch muskies. I doubt very many of them avoid a burn. Hopefully, this fish will have buy the gear that suits your needs best.
a lifetime of wins & losses.
can set a hook harder than a guy my size, but
The human error aspect also gets into things
that’s the first thing I think about when a fish slips off. I’m not say- like being ready at all times. I assume every cast I take is the one that
ing do nothing - I lost perhaps the biggest fish of my life a couple of is going to bring a big fish to the boat. That means every corner of
years ago, and my friend Paul Gottwald said I didn’t make enough the boat must be ready for me to do the muskie shuffle. If I am alone
effort to set the hook. After re-living the moment a thousand times the net handle must be fully extended, locked in, and free of anything
I’m convinced he’s correct. Think of the hook set as an insurance pol- that may prevent me from grabbing it cleanly. The closer the lure is
icy. I don’t believe it’s necessary to keep whaling on the fish, but a to the boat, whether there is a muskie attached to it or not, the more
heart-felt attempt at driving the hooks home could finish what the essential it becomes to concentrate. I confess to not making a figurefish started.
8 on every cast, but I’ve always got my eyes on the water four feet
Nets are essential for landing and successfully releasing big behind the lure in case a fish is closing in. Many fish follow, strike
muskies. The net manufacturers have responded to our pleas for big- and throw the lure before the distracted angler has a chance to react.
ger, more fish-friendly bags. A magnum net may feel a little awkward
Subconsciously, we aren’t looking for too much excitement when
at first, but you’ll get accustomed to it quickly. I’ve never understood a big fish comes calling. We want the fish to T-bone a lure and hook
why someone is willing to shell out 30 grand for a boat, but refuses to itself so well that a rank amateur couldn’t foul it up. Successful releaspart with an inadequate net.
es are often a team effort between the fish, the angler, and the person
The forgiving nature of a big net is helpful for anglers like me with the net. If you hooked a big fish 50 feet from the boat and it is
who insist on fishing alone. The trick is to bring the line in until the now five feet out, your gear has done its job and it’s likely that you
fish is three feet or less from the rod tip. I’ll don’t have an equipment issue. Now it’s a matter of keeping your
normally let the fish have one more run head. Losing a fish at the boat is often caused by too much adrenaaround the boat before getting the bag in lin. Reacting instinctively to each situation separates an average
the water. Too many fish get burned angler from a pro. Instinct is developed through repetition. Getting
because the anglers were too anxious to bag in boats with anglers like Jono and paying attention to their technique
them.
doesn’t hurt either.
Jono offers some perspectives on a
Then there’s the fish. Not every muskie that gets your pulse
good net job. “Netting is a team effort,” he going intends to eat. They could be using their sense of touch to
said. “The netter has to pay attention to identify an object moving past them. With a closing speed of 30
the fish and everything going on in the MPH it is possible they will hit a target with the intention of using
boat. Get the net in the water when your their weight to disable it. At that speed, sometimes they simply miss,
partner says so - and move the net toward and get so poorly hooked that the best stick in the world can’t do anythe head of the fish to insure the bag opens thing about it.
completely. When two-thirds of the fish is
The most skilled anglers I know admit to losing a few fish every
in the net, make a smooth move upward.” year. Some of us just go into a funk and something always seems to
Raise the hoop until it is level or above go wrong. It’s a humbling experience, but most of us work through
the gunnels. One of Jono’s burns hap- it and end up better off because of it. If you are burning one fish for
Good quality gear, tough
pened because his partner didn’t get the net every four or five you’re bagging, stop beating yourself up, it’s the
line, and sharp hooks will
above the water fast enough. He said,
nature of the beast. If you lose a couple in a row, check your gear from
give you an edge!
“We got a nice fish in the net, but it reel to lure and everything in between. Pay attention to the lure you’re
spun around, caught a hook in the net and slipped the hook. It pro- throwing - some are more prone to short hits and near misses than
pelled itself to freedom all in two seconds . . . heartbreaking. Talk others. See what I mean about a book?
things over before you start casting so that you’re both on the same
page when a fish strikes.”
Don’t hang your head when the next fish wins. Keep casting and
You will eliminate most of the controllable aspects of burning a remember you’re on the right track. Burning a muskie always gets you
fish by paying strict attention to the basics. Many veteran anglers will closer to the one that won’t be so lucky. ❖
www.muskiesinc.org
Project
Noble Beast:
Update #1
by Sean Landsman
For frequent updates and pictures,
please peruse the project’s blog at:
After hooking location and distance to hook penetration are noted, the fish is quickly lifted into the boat and either air exposed for 90 seconds or moved directly into the sampling trough. This 43 inch male was part of our “normal” treatment and given 90 seconds of air exposure (note the stopwatch in the bottom left of photo).
T
his will be the first of several Project Noble Beast (a.k.a. the
catch-and-release study) updates over the next two years.
For those not aware, Muskies, Inc. and the Becker
Foundation are major financial contributors to this study. Our sister
organization north of the border, Muskies Canada, is also helping to
fund and provide logistical support.
Project Noble Beast is being conducted in Ottawa, Ontario in
two local river systems. I am the graduate student collecting and
analyzing all data and am being co-advised by Drs. Cooke and Suski
at Carleton University (located in Ottawa) and the University of
Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, respectively.
Over the next two years it is our goal to answer one main question: how much angler induced mortality on muskies is associated
with the catch-and-release process? There was a study conducted in
1980 by Beggs et al. that suggested a 30 percent delayed mortality
rate in caught-and-released muskies. We feel that there have been
significant advancements in the handling procedures of specialized
muskie anglers since 1980 which, therefore, have led to lower mortality rates over the years. That study was also performed in the laboratory, potentially adding a suite of stressors associated with confinement. The current study is being done in the field. While the
issue of mortality rates is the crux of the study, we are also hoping to
discern short-term behavioral changes which occur after release.
To assess the rate of angler induced mortality, we are affixing
small transmitters to any fish over 30 inches. We proceed to follow
the fish at four intervals during the day of capture: 10-minutes, 30minutes, 1-hour, and 2-hours post-release. We then return 24-hour
post release, 48-hours, and every other day for one week. Each fish
will continue to be tracked once per week for a month and then periodically thereafter. Mortality can be assessed by either visually identifying a deceased fish, or determining the transmitter’s signal has not
moved from the previous several trackings. If the latter, a diver may
be sent down to visually confirm the fish is dead or moribund.
Fish are subjected to two treatments, the main difference
between the two being length of air exposure. The “normal” treatment was designed to mimic typical handling procedures by specialized muskie anglers. This includes a de-hooking process involving
http://www.projectnoblebeast.blogspot.com
the use of pliers for up to two minutes then hook cutters if the hook
cannot be removed under two minutes. Next is a 90 second period
of air exposure (likely more than most anglers subject their catches
to, but not extreme) designed to simulate an admiration period (i.e.,
picture taking) and out of water measurements. The second treatment, dubbed “gentle”, was designed to see if a different form of han-
Each fish is given an individually numbered Floy tag that can be used to gain
further recapture data after the transmitter’s battery life has fully discharged.
dling could reduce stress levels and mortality. This treatment involves using hook cutters immediately and no air
exposure. All fish are fought normally with no extra
playing time or “horsing”.
Our goal is a sample size of 60 muskies for the study
(30 per season). At the time of writing (8-24-09) we had
caught 21 fish and affixed transmitters. The month of
September should give us our final nine fish, but we will
likely continue into October to increase sample size. So
far, none of the 21 fish we have captured have died.
Pictured on left is the needle and vacutainer holder used to take blood from the fish. On
right is a vacutainer full of high quality muskie blood (each vial contains heparin to prevent clotting). Shortly after obtaining the blood, it is placed into a centrifuge to separate
the red blood cells from the plasma. The bulk of our physiological analyses are done
using the fish’s plasma.
Part of the sampling process is to determine the sex of each
captured muskie. This was a large, 48 inch male as evidenced by the keyhole shape genital opening. A female’s
genital opening has a more distinct pear or tear-drop shape
(see LeBeau and Pageau 1989).
Having not formally analyzed any data, I can only
share with you anecdotal evidence and observations. The
long and short (so far) is there appears to be tremendous
individual variation. Muskie movement can be viewed in
an almost human manner. For example, while one person could be considered a “mover and shaker”, others are
homebodies that prefer to stay close to “home”. This is
exactly what we are finding with the muskies used in our
study. The largest specimen we have tagged – 52 inches
– remained in the same location where it was released for
the first 2-hours post-release. When we came back and
tracked it the second day, it moved nearly 1.5 miles from A stocky 38 inch male bursts away from the boat. Although they may appear to swim
the site of capture. Other fish can be found a few yards away strong, most generally swim straight for cover while they recuperate from the angling
process.
from the site of capture after 24-hours post-release.
It has been extraordinarily interesting being able to get so “intiThat brings up another interesting point. No matter how
quickly the fish swims away from the boat, it usually heads straight mate” with the muskies we have caught. I have been given a rare
for the bottom where it sits and recuperates for at least the next two opportunity to eavesdrop on the lives of these elusive fish. I am lookhours. Generally, by the 48-hour post-release mark the fish are ing forward to sharing these experiences and findings with you and
beginning to show signs of “normal” behavior and actively swimming the scientific world over the next two years. ❖
around.
If you would like more information or have additional questions, do not
Stress levels do not appear to be significantly different between hesitate to contact me via my email at: [email protected]
the two treatments (again, no data has been formally analyzed). A
few of our fish have given us good aerial displays (jumps) and have For frequent updates and pictures, please peruse the project’s blog at:
had elevated lactate levels (breakdown of lactic acid resulting from http://www.projectnoblebeast.blogspot.com
exhaustive exercise).
www.muskiesinc.org
T
he wind is howling and the launch ramp is frozen solid. Yep,
this is the time to hit the lakes! The average person thinks we
late season fishing fanatics are bordering on sheer lunacy.
But, those of us with the fever genuinely welcome a blinding snowstorm.
There’s something quite magical about being out on the water
on a cold, stark grey day in late October or November. The stinging
sleet, the pounding waves, the chance of landing a hawg . . . it really
makes you feel alive.
There’s plenty of time to rest come winter. Get prepared and
enjoy a late season day on the water. Here are some tactics I’ve
learned over the years that’ll help keep you safe, warm, and happy.
Trailering and Landings
Many anglers with bunk trailers get into the habit of unsnapping their boat before they have the trailer in the water. Don’t do it!
Last year my buddy’s bunks had ice on them (from the previous day
of fishing) and the boat slid off. His Honda 250 was “resting” on the
concrete and the bow was up in the air. Lesson: bunks freeze and
heavy boats slide off.
Freezing precipitation really impacts a vehicle’s safe stopping distance. Make sure your tow vehicle has good tires and well maintained
trailer lights. On the way home clean your rig at a carwash. Sand and
There’s something quite magical about
being out on the water on a cold, stark grey
day in late October or November.
salt are tough on electrical components, paint finishes, and exposed
metal.
Before cold weather, check that there is no moisture in your
trailer bearings. Trailer lights also get abused. If you still have the
older style bulbs replace them with LED lights.
A set of hip waders will keep you dry while launching and loading. Bring a tub of sand and rock salt. It’s inexpensive and environmentally friendly. A long bow rope is also a great help this time of
year, especially after courtesy docks have been pulled.
Breaking ice, if done correctly, won’t harm your boat. If you are
dodging ice flows less than 3/4 inch you should be able to just motor
over them. Don’t go fast, but enough to stay on plane. If the ice is
thicker, you’ll want to idle through and have somebody in the front of
the boat jump up and down to help break the ice before it gets to the
boat. If the ice is thicker than 11/2 inch I would not suggest breaking
it with your boat! Upon return, if you are iced in at the landing, make
a few passes by the ramp on plane. This will send a wake to bust up the
ice that has formed (a tip from Tanner Wildes, Hayward guide).
Keeping Warm from Head to Toe
The author with one of her clients (Jordan) holding the fourth fish of the day,
caught slightly after dark. It had snowed on and off all day long.
Pack at least two pairs of waterproof gloves per person. The constant pressure on them seems to allow water to work its way inside.
Seal Skinz gloves are truly waterproof. The gripping dots on the
palms help grab slippery stuff, like slimy muskies.
Place Hot Hands pouches on the top of your hands and in your
hat. Just about every late season fisherman I know also keeps a
portable heater in the boat.
You can’t have enough dry towels. Clip one inside your coveralls
next to your leg and it will also be warm (which is much appreciated after releasing a fish in near freezing water temps.)
Extra clothing is of no value if it is wet. Pack them in soft, collapsible dry bags. These are waterproof and take up only as much
room as what is inside of them.
The key is layering. I wear a baseball cap to cut the glare. I’ll add a
balaclava, neck gaiter, and a head band or stocking cap to cover my ears.
Some guys are getting into the 12-volt heated jackets and bibs
made by Gerbing Outdoors. Rocky Boots makes a heated vest that
runs on alkaline batteries. There are a lot of contemporary alternatives.
Other anglers wear full-floatation survival suits or floatation
jackets. There are many on the market that are comfortable and provide extra insulation.
Fishing Equipment
If you use braided PowerPro line, reverse it on the spool so you
have new, waxy line which won’t hold much water. Some anglers use
Blakemore’s Rod & Reel Magic silicone spray to prevent water
absorption. Blakemore’s also lubricates rod guides. Pam cooking
spray works, too. This prevents the line from sticking to rod guides
when it starts to ice up.
Make sure you bring your gear inside at night to thaw, especially your reels. Keep them very well oiled this time of
year.
Place your rods in a large rod carrier and use reel
covers. When it’s really ugly out, you’ll need to keep
switching rigs.
Instead of just soaking suckers cast soft plastics
to keep your hands moving. I have one client put on
a long-tailed lure (Bulldawg) while the other client
ties on a more subtle shad tail bait (Castaic). When
muskies are active they usually prefer the larger action
type tails. When they are neutral or negative the subtle tailed lure performs better. These baits are easy to
throw even while wearing gloves (shared from Howie
Meyer, Presque Isle guide).
Strutz and her fishing buddy John Boettcher hit Green Bay together every
fall. On this day they had to bust a LOT of ice to get out in the bay; the planer boards were busting through ice all day too.
Boat Stuff
If possible, do not use the livewell pumps and
plumbing. Put a plug in the livewell drain hole and
bucket water into it if needed. Once water gets
trapped in plumbing and freezes, it is nearly impossible to warm it enough to drain. Turning that pump
on in a block of ice will cost you a pump and maybe
a wet boat as the water leaks through the crack and
into the hull.
Make sure there is no water inside any of your
boat’s compartments, hull, or livewells. Freezing
water pops rivets, warps wood, damages carpet, and
will wreck bilge pumps and other components.
Clean your boat before the cold season. Go to
the car wash and try the wax option; you’ll see the
carpet shine up and dirt and frost will not cling as
much.
Keep the fuel tank topped off. Less condensation
can form in the tank to cause freeze up in fuel.
Adding a stabilizer is also highly recommended.
It’s also a good idea to put that spare aluminum
prop on instead of the expensive stainless one. Water
levels are dropped in fall, along with the possibility of
having to chip through ice.
I added a bright strobe light on my boat’s bow.
This is great for low-light or snowy conditions when
other fishermen are hunkered behind their wind-
www.muskiesinc.org
TAKING ON MA NATURE…
AND WINNING
(Continued from page 17)
shields and practically run over me. I’ve also added a very loud
Stowmaster airhorn.
Large, clumsy boots make it difficult to operate trolling motor
foot pedals. Detachable remotes work well. The signal transfers
through jacket pockets and around bodies in the front of the boat.
Keep that lower unit in the water. Raising the prop out of the
water only exposes the residual water to colder air, making it freeze.
Immediately after you get out of the water, allow the lower unit to
totally drain the engine. By the time you get to the other end of the
parking lot, it’s too late. Once home it is still a good idea to completely lower the engine to let any water remaining to dribble out.
MI member Marianne Perino on a late November two-fish day with Strutz.
They were hoping this fish's grandma would eat too!
Eat, Drink . . .
Fishing in cold weather requires complex carbs. Peanut butter,
jelly, and banana sandwiches on multigrain bread are great. I also like
to pack summer sausage. This not only gives me energy, but doubles
to “grease up” my squeaky oar locks.
Many folks like to drink hot coffee to warm up their core and
their hands. Placing a thermos inside a cooler helps keep it warm.
Just remember, coffee is a diuretic. Another option is filling the thermos with warm chicken broth. This will provide protein and fat for
fuel, as well as quench your thirst.
Don’t forget to hydrate. The wind and dry air dehydrates in a
hurry this time of year. I use a water bottle by Gel-bot. It has a chamber inside that I load with Hammer nutrition energy gel. Place the
water bottle inside an insulated cozie.
Some folks pack products called Heater Meals. They are selfcontained packets that heat in their own containers.
I have “comfort food” in a crock pot waiting for me at home.
That way, when I drag in exhausted there’s a hot and substantial meal
ready.
Another one of the author’s clients, Brian, with a nice fish. On this day it
rained, hailed, sleeted, and lightly snowed on them while fishing!
. . . And Be Merry
Put a photo of a late season monster in your pocket. It’ll be the
motivation you need to stay out a little longer.
Stay upbeat. Talk. Listen to the Packers play. Staying interactive
keeps everyone positive and warm.
My friends Aaron Kraemer and John Boettcher remark, “We
just pray for hypothermia so there is no more pain and the euphoria
sets in.” Though tongue-in-cheek, this statement does make a valid
point. Keeping warm is not just a physical condition, it is a mindset.
Force your mind to concentrate on the fishing and you’ll forget about
the blustery conditions. ❖
Patricia Strutz is a fishing guide, outdoor writer, and Field Editor for
MUSKIE Magazine. Join Strutz for a late season day of row trolling for
muskies. For details, visit her website at: www.ablondandherboat.com
Jerry Sondag shared this late fall fishing photo - hard core, eh?
hen fall starts bearing down on Title Town there is only years whitefish have migrated further south on the bay and in turn
one thing to think about. Trolling for monster Green Bay muskies are being caught further north. It is believed that some
muskies! If you answered the Packers maybe you need to muskies may be following these schools of whitefish north in spring.
When searching out Green Bay muskies, apply the same tactics
put this down and go get yourself a copy of the latest Sports
used on inland bodies of water. While fishing
Illustrated. But if the thought of trophy
look for contours, drop offs, cover, rock, or sand
Packerland ESOX sends a chill down your
The tactics for trolling
flats as well as schools of bait fish.
spine, then by all means keep on reading.
for muskies on the Bay
The Fox River has miles of musky enticing
The lower bay and river were once considare pretty simple.
piling-lined and rip-rapped shorelines. Trolling
ered a polluted nonproductive body of water
tight to these shorelines can prove very produchome to only carp, catfish and suckers. Since
then many things have changed for the Fox River and Lower Bay of tive. On the down side, submerged pilings tend to claim their fair
Green Bay. Extensive clean up efforts and tighter regulations on share of lures. There are areas of break walls that offer very appealing
industry found along the river have turned the waterway into a fertile tight to shore depths for those toothy critters to hide. The shipping
life-sustaining fishery. This was possible because of water quality channel offers great drop offs for muskies to lurk along in search of
management and the protection of natural habitat the by EPA and prey. Trolling these channel edges allows you to target various depth
Wisconsin DNR. The cooperation of private industry was also ranges.
Pay attention to your sonar and be ready to drop an icon or two.
instrumental in bringing about these positive changes. As we speak,
the first year of a nine year PCB clean-up on the Fox River is under You will find some humps and points that you will definitely want to
way. Today you will find anglers chasing trophy walleye, bass, pike target again. With a little bit of homework you can easily find sand
flats that hold fish on those cool sunny days. With a few passes it’s
and muskie year round on these waters.
The resurgence of muskies on Green Bay has been bolstered by not hard to arouse a lazy musky sunning itself on the sand. Do not
the DNR stocking program, by more restrictive fishing regulations, overlook all the bridges and their current-splitting footings. If you are
and by a strong catch-and-release ethic. These actions have been in the mood for some casting, try trolling these areas of interest first.
encouraged and supported by Muskies, Inc. Many dedicated individ- Once you mark a few fish come back to those spots and cast away.
uals will continue to work to protect and improve our fishery. With
As you make your way onto the bay, you will find vast areas of
the recent cutback on stocking efforts due to the threat of VHS it is nearly endless fishing possibilities. Don’t take off in too much of a
essential to continue to make progress on other fronts. Currently on
the table is a proposal to raise the minimum length limit from 50 to
54 inches. It is hoped that raising the limit will help improve natural
reproduction.
Over the past five years the popularity of fall musky fishing has
exploded on Green Bay, but to say it is only popular in the fall would
be wrong. After the northern musky zone opens, there are several
weeks of prime opportunity on the river and bay. Once water temperatures start pushing up, the fish tend to head north and scatter on
the bay. Into the summer there is good success on the bay as far north
as the Sturgeon Bay area and even beyond. These areas are not limited to trolling as many people are having success casting.
If you take into consideration what draws musky to a particular
area or body of water, it’s easy to see why the lower bay and river are
such a popular area for muskies to inhabit. This part of the Great
Lakes Water Way provides structure, cover and an endless supply of
bait fish.
As fall progresses days grow shorter and the water temperatures
start to fall. Large schools of shad can now be found in the lower bay
and river. In addition there is a plentiful supply of carp, suckers and
other species. These soft-finned fish provide the much need protein
that muskies seek prior to the long winter. This “rough fish” diet also Ron Myslik, Titletown Chapter VP elect and muskie mentor, with a muskie
contributes to the hefty growth of these muskies. In the past several taken in the shipping channel near the mouth of the Fox Rive
W
www.muskiesinc.org
FALL TROLLING ON GREEN BAY
hurry; the mouth of the river is always a popular area to target
muskies. After making a few passes along the mouth continue
north working the shipping channel edges. Be sure to run lures at
various depths. Last season this tactic produced high numbers of
muskies plus quite a few over 48 inches.
As you continue north along the east edge of the channel you
will pass Grassy Island. Run a shallow lure within a few feet of
shore. You can continue north from there, but the area between
the mouth of the river and Grassy Island tends to be the most productive. A common practice for this area is to run your outside
rods with shallow baits and increase the depth of the baits running
closer to the boat. Keep an eye on your sonar for those schools of
bait fish as you make your way up and down the channel.
The author's essential trolling gear.
Another serious option is University Bay. This big 6 to 8 foot
deep mud flat holds a large number of muskies cruising around look- Frying Pan Shoal north of University Bay, east of Grassy Island. This
ing for a meal. Mark hits and landed fish on your GPS and look for area has shallow gravel bars that may or may not be visible. This area
a pattern to concentrate your trolling efforts. Make a few passes along claims a lower unit or two each year and gets a few visits from both
Renard Island running a bait tight to shore. Pay attention there are a law enforcement and fire rescue personnel to free up grounded boats.
If you make your way 14 miles north
few monster whitetail bucks that wonder
of the mouth to Geanos Beach you will
over from the near by Wildlife Sanctuary.
With proper management
find the best musky weeds on the lower
They cross from shore and hang out on the
and careful catch-and-release
bay. Trolling the edges of these massive
island.
weed flats with shallow running crank baits
As you make your way north from
Green Bay will continue to
5 to 10 feet behind your boards will be proUniversity Bay towards the Eagles Nest there
improve
and
produce
even
ductive. As with any weeds, when the
are a few rock piles that are worth a pass or
more
muskies
over
50
inches.
water cools they will brown up and quit
two. The east shore from the Eagles Nest
producing fish. Don’t let the secret out but
south towards University Bay can often be a
this
is
an
excellent
area
to
troll or cast during the summer too.
successful pass. Typically, shallow running lures are set only 5 to 10
The tactics for trolling for muskies on the Bay are pretty simple.
feet behind planer boards while fishing this area. Use caution when
you make your way from the channel to University Bay. This area has You are allowed three lines per person. Musky anglers are running 5
depths in the 2 to 3 foot range. If you are not familiar with this area, to 7 inch crank baits anywhere from 5 to 20 feet behind their boards.
pay close attention to your map and your sonar. Once you near If there are 2 anglers in your boat set four lines using boards. Run
Renard Island you will find 6 foot plus depths. Be sure to locate the your furthest pair of boards out about 80 to 90 feet. The inner pair
any where from 40 to 50 feet out. Put one
rod down in the water with 10 to 20 feet of
line out so that lure is running in the prop
wash. For your last rod cast a deep diver out
and let it run at the cast’s length. Some
musky anglers are starting to weight bucktails
to troll about 80 feet back. I’ve started to utilize a small down rigger running the bucktail
4 feet behind the ball. This puts the bucktail
right in the prop wash. It also lessens the
chances of the bucktail getting snagged. Troll
anywhere from 3 to 5 miles per hour.
For those not wanting to troll with their
casting gear an affordable rod and reel combo
is a Daiwa Firewolf rod topped with an
Okuma Magda reel. If you are interested in a
dual purpose rod, look at St. Croix’s Premier
and Triumph Musky Rods in Heavy/Fast.
These rods in either 71/2 or 8 foot work great
for trolling. You can also use these rods for
throwing large crankbaits, medium sized plastics and big double bladed bucktails. If you
want a rod dedicated for trolling try St.
Croix’s 8 foot heavy/moderate Premier Glass
Musky Rod. This is the most durable rod for
this application. Pair these St. Croix Rods with TICA
Seaspirit SS Series conventional reels and you have an
unbeatable trolling setup.
Line is a personal preference. Most anglers are running either 30 to 40 pound mono or 80 pound braid. I
prefer the durability and tautness of 80 pound Power Pro
for trolling.
Leaders are typically 3 to 4 foot in length, constructed of 100 to 150 pound Fluorocarbon. I use 200 pound
Opti-Tackle barrel swivels and clasps. You can either
crimp or tie your leaders. This is a highly debated topic;
use the method you are most comfortable with. These
longer leaders offer better protection for your gear and are
less abrasive on a musky that hits and rolls into the leader.
If you are not up to making your own, Opti-Tackle sells
a 3 foot leader ready to troll.
When it comes to planer boards, Off Shore Tackle is
the popular choice. Whether you use the yellow (OR12)
or orange (OR31) models you will find they run true and
can handle the larger baits on tight turns and through the Titletown Chapter member Kevin Stahl with a Fox River muskie taken while trolling a
lure tight to bridge footings.
choppy waters of the bay.
Lodging in Green Bay can be tough on weekends in the fall.
Commonly used crankbaits are Grandmas or Buchers. Bucher
Shallow Raiders are available in 6 or 7 inch models; they offer an Hotel reservations for Green Bay Packer home games are filled withaction that drives muskies crazy. The new Prism colors make these in a day of the schedule being released. For Packer weekends, find the
lures even more attractive in the water. Depth Raiders are also an local number for the hotels and call them direct. Many times you will
excellent choice for the trolling the depths of the shipping channel. find an open room or two. After a long hard day on the water check
Grandmas are also proven baits for trolling; the 71/2 and 9 inch mod- out of Legends Brewhouse and Eatery. Try a tasty burger or a perfectels work well. They are available in standard painted colors as well as ly grilled steak along with their famous Beer-n-Cheese soup. Don’t
the flashy holoform finishes. Six-inch Grandma deep divers will get forget to enjoy a pint of their homemade brew.
Green Bay’s Metro boat landing is located at the mouth of the
you down to those deeper depths that you are targeting. One of my
river
on the east shore, a short distance from I-43 and Webster Ave.
favorite trolling lures is the 9-inch Esox Minnow from RJ Lures. All
There
are 8 launches available. As the season winds down, the city
of these lures handle the higher trolling speeds perfectly.
will
have
the docks pulled out. You will need a capable partner to help
As mentioned earlier, the Bay of Green Bay and Fox River have
launch
your
boat. There are two landings in De Pere. Fox Point landtheir share of hazards. Look for visual indicators on the water and
ing
is
located
on the east shore and the Fair Grounds landing is on the
keep an eye on your sonar and GPS. Utilizing a quality map chip, like
west
shore.
the LakeMaster, with your GPS while trolling not only helps you tarGreen Bay has become a prime destination for trophy muskies.
get musky areas but will keep you aware of the hazard areas that can
With proper management and careful catch-and-release Green Bay
ruin your day.
This body of water is regulated by the Coast Guard so make sure will continue to improve and produce even more muskies over 50
you have all of the additional safety equipment which is required in inches. With a little homework and the proper equipment you will
your boat. You will need one USCG approved PFD per person and be able to experience some of the best fall musky trolling right here in
a throwable PFD. Both visual and audible warning devices are Green Bay. ❖
required. Your battery posts need to be covered along with the entire Kevin Pischke is a Firefighter and EMT with the Green Bay Fire
battery being covered and secured. Navigation lights and a fire extin- Department. He is a member of the Titletown Chapter and guides on the
guisher are also required. A marine radio is recommended as well.
inland muskie waters of central and northern Wisconsin.
The author's son Karsten holding his very own St.
Croix Legend Musky Rod
www.muskiesinc.org
WARM FEET, HOT BITE!
by Patricia Strutz
Irish Setter makes an awesome waterproof pac boot with 2,000grams thinsulate and extra underfoot insulation. It is currently
available in men's sizes only but a women's style will be introduced in 2010.
“Musky fishermen will spend an inordinate amount
of money on their rods, reels, and lures. But, it just
doesn’t matter how good your equipment is if your
feet are cold. You won’t be able to stay out and fish.”
– Mark Reilly, LaCrosse Boots.
T
here’s alot of truth to that quote. As much as I detest winter
and cold weather, I love to fish from late october through the
late days of November. Properly dressed, it is an exhilerating
experience. When booking clients, I am very clear about what properly dressed means. Yet, some folks still show up ill prepared; especially
with their footwear. Given the variety of choices on the market today,
there is no reason not to have toasty warm toes while chasing old esox.
Interviews with some of the nation’s leading manufacturers of
boots and socks sheds light on the quality products now available.
Wolverine - www.wolverinebootsandshoes.com
Wolverine experts Marshall Davis, Roger Huard, and Mark
Morgan call themselves insulation snobs. They explained that the old
guide of equating specific air temperatures with certain insulation values isn’t credible. “What amount of insulation you need really is
dependant upon the wearer. What are they comfortable with? Are
they climatized to cold weather? Also, young, well conditioned people
can handle colder temps better than older folks with circulation problems.”
“A rule of thumb for most late season fishermen would be 400800 grams of thinsulate (insulation.) We do offer higher and lower
amounts for anglers who prefer them, but if your boot fits correctly
one pair should be adequate for the season. Be sure you have room to
easily wiggle your toes. Dry air is your friend. Big boots trap alot of
air and keep feet warm. A tight fit is counterinutitive as it restricts the
blood flow. Buy a pair of boots a half size too big.”
“Wear an insulated, waterproof boot with a breathable, waterproof lining. The premier lining is Gore-Tex whose purpose is to keep
outdoors precipitation outside of the boot. That’s 2/3 of the equation
to staying dry. The other third is evaporation. Your warm foot is perspiring. That warmth is driving the moisture through the Gore-Tex to
the outside of the boot—that’s true breathability and very important.
Gore-Tex is guaranteed waterproof for the life of the boot. Treatments
like silicone or bear grease can clog up the lining and affect the ability for moisture to get out. Quality waterproof boots should never really require extra treatments.”
Team Wolverine shared some other pointers. Put a mat down in
an aluminum boat so you are not standing on cold metal. Start with
warm boots. Don’t leave them in the trunk of your car overnight and
slip on ice cold boots. If women are planning on purchasing a men’s
style they need to consider that sizing is generally a size and a half to
two sizes different. A size 9 in women’s would be a size 7 in men’s.
If you like traditional hiking style boots, check out Wolverine’s
hunting boots. My husband and I have both worn them for many
years. Suffering from poor circulation he likes their Mammoth. It is
waterproof and insulated with 1,200 grams of thinsulate, and has a
gortex lining. If you don’t need as much insulation, the Ridgeline and
Big Horn styles are offered with less insulation. The latter is available
in women’s sizes, too. These boots are all at least 8” high. I wouldn’t
recommend lower hikers because you don’t want gaps between your
pant legs and boots. I’ve found their products durable, extremely
comfortable and lighweight, and slip resistant.
LaCrosse - www.lacrossefootwear.com
Here is Wolverine's Mammoth and Sno-Seal Leather Protector.
Great late season boots for fishing or hunting.
Mark Reilly agrees that the temperature ratings created years ago
are inexact baselines. “The footwear industry used to feel that the
more insulation in a boot, the lower temperatures one could withstand. Things have changed some. For example, our Ice King is our
lowest temperature rated pac boot but it actually only has 400 grams
of thinsulate. However, it also has a 6-mm wool foot bed, an 8-mm
felt midsole, and a removable 3/4” poly foam liner. Underfoot insulation is the key. Many boots wrap it around the side and top. Underfoot
Rackiewicz noted that the
insulation keeps the cold from
amount of insulation can
creeping into the foot.”
impact a fit; it ‘puffs out’ and
“We offer pac boots in
takes the volume away from the
both men’s and women’s sizes,
inside of the boot. “If you are
but, these boots may be overkill
looking for lots of insulation—
for most of the fall fishing seasay 1,000 grams and up—think
son. A better alternative would
about sizing up a half size.”
be our rubber hunting boots.
Irish Setter offers a wide
The boots are made from
variety of soles. “For icy boats
waterproof rubber over naturaland landings choose a flexible
ly
insulating
neoprene.
sole without an overly aggresive
Depending on the style, varylug pattern. Moderately cleated
ing degrees of thinsulate are
soles provide more surface area.
added for insulation - up to
Also, our EVA footbed provides
1500 grams!”
extra cushioning for tired feet
“What hurts rubber boots
and legs.”
is ultraviolet rays. Leaving them
Note from author: I field
out in the sun dries them out
tested the Lady Hawk #3887
and they get brittle. You’ll need
and found them the warmest
to condition them to put the
boots I’d ever worn (besides pac
moisture back. What sets our
This is LaCrosse's Alpha Burly
(rubber boot, 800-gram thinsulate).
boots.) It is not often a company
rubber boots apart is that we
makes woman’s styles with
add a chemical additive that is a
1,000+ grams thinsulate, so kudos to Irish Setter! When the ladies
UV protector. Ours last longer than any competitors products.”
Reilly shared some other pointers. Removable foam liners can be waterproof pac boots are available you can BET I’ll be wearing them!
Irish Setter shared these tips. It is important to dress properly all
placed on boot warmers. Buying replacement liners is another option
to ensure your boots are dry the next day. No soles are perfect on ice. over. Wear ski socks—they go all they way up to your knees. If you
The softer rubber compounds provide the best traction. Soft, packy wear really warm pants and boots but a lightweight shirt your feet will
rubber like our snow grip outsole remains more flexible. That is more feel cold because your body is behind in maintaining it’s core temperimportant on ice than the actual tread. There is a sizing guide on our ature. You’ll go hyperthermic and vasoconstriction takes place. That’s
site. Be sure to measure both feet. If one is larger, order the larger size. your body’s way of holding blood by the heart and other vital organs
If you like waterproof insulated rubber boots try their Alpha and less by the extremities. The warmest boot in the world won’t help
Series hunting boots. Ranging from 12” to 18” high, they really come then.
in handy in autumn when the docks have been pulled and one has to
Mink oil is always a safe boot treatment. Silicone can impair the
wade out into the water at boat landings. I wear the women’s performance of membranes underneath if applied to areas where it
Alphaburly Sport boot. With 800-grams of thinsulate they are excep- can really soak through. It’ll clog the pores and prevent breathability.
tionally warm and a back gusset allows a snug, customized fit around
the calf.
Wigwam Socks - www.wigwam.com
Irish Setter by Red Wing www.irishsetterboots.com
During the extremely cold days of late autumn the warmth of
pac boots may be the best option. Product manager
Kyle Rackiewicz explains, “Our Snow Claw XT (style
#4888) fits the need for sportsmen who are relatively
stationary and enduring extremely brutal conditions.
Many pac boots aren’t waterproof. These are. And, at
15” high you can step right in the water with them.
They have 2000-grams of thinsulate plus a moisture
wicking lining. The sole also contains extra underfoot
insulation. Your feet won’t be cold in these.”
“Right now these are available only in men’s sizes
but we are coming out with a women’s waterproof pac
boot in 2010. Our motto is ‘don’t just shrink it and
pink it.’ In other words, ladies feet have different heel
volumes, arch lengths, and contours.
We’ll build the boot around those differences. In
the meantime, I would suggest the Lady Hawk #3887.
They are waterproof with 1000 grams of thinsulate.”
www.muskiesinc.org
Margaret Chesebro shares the company’s vast knowledge. “My
great grandpa started the company in 1905 so it’s fair to say we know
socks. It all starts with making sure you have the proper fit. If a sock
is too big they’ll be uncomfortable, you’ll get blisters, and moisture
WARM FEET–HOT BITE!
can build up. If they are too small your toes will burst through the
seam. Make sure it is a snug fit with no bunching.”
“Start with a moisture wicking liner. Wool and polypropelene
both provide natural wicking properties. The liners will transfer moisture to the outside of the sock where it can evaporate more quickly.
Our lightweight Thermax polyester liners insulate and wick. They are
actually fitted liners—not just tube socks like most are—and are available in both men and ladies sizes.”
“If you don’t like the idea of wearing two socks try the 15” Base
Camp Fusion. It incorporates the sock and liner as one. The inside
liner part is 100% olefin (which is just a fancy name for soft, texturized polypropelene) and the outer part is 55% merino wool, stretch
nylon, and olefin.”
“Wear a wool sock over your liner. Wool is a great insulator and
holds 30% of its weight in moisture before it begins to feel damp.
Many of our products are made from Merino wool. That’s a buzz
word for a finer grade of wool. It is softer and doesn’t “itch” like
worsted wool does. All our wool socks are machine washable and we
are proud to source our wool exclusively from American yarn spinners
and wool growers.”
“Our 40 Below wool boot sock is a popular choice for late season
activities. It has a full terry loft and is made of 50% wool to hold heat
in frigid temperatures. Another good option is the Merino Comfort
Sportsman. Made from 70% merino wool, it is softer and a bit taller.
If you want to go high tech, try the 14” Weather Warrior. It is merino
wool sock made from 35% Outlast acrylic. That is a temperature regulating fiber. If your feet get hot, it’ll bring the temperature down and
vica versa.”
If you take care of your Wigwams they will last for many years. I
swear by their Thermax liners and wool socks. In addition to the styles
mentioned, I also wear some of their snowsport styles.
To keep socks performing well for years, Wigwam recommends
handwashing or delicate cycle. Do not bleach. Hang dry. Launder
socks inside out to keep from piling and don’t use liquid fabric softener; it gets trapped in channels causing socks not to work.
Seal Skinz - www.danalco.com
Newer on the market is cutting edge Seal Skinz waterproof,
breathable socks. Their 14” WaterBlocker socks have an in-cuff seal
that blocks water from entering over the top of the sock even when
wading in deep water. Of course I had to try this out. I simply couldn’t believe it was true. Guess what? They worked!
These are Wigwam socks. I'm wearing the polypropylene liner with
Merino wool sock (The Comfort Sportsman) over the top.
Now I’m looking forward to trying out their latest offering,
ChillBlocker socks. These are fleece lined waterproof socks that are
insulated with a liner. They tout them as the perfect sock for cold,
wet, nasty outdoor conditions (the kind of weather when muskies like
to eat). They are supposed to provide comfort in climates reaching 30
degrees below zero. Check my website by late November and I’ll let
you know how they worked. If their quality is as good as the rest of
their products I have a feeling I’m going to really enjoy them. They
are machine washable; tumble dry on low.
All of their socks have a fabric structure of three layers that
include a breathable membrane and each is tested to make sure there
are no leaks—you have their 100% guarantee.
Waterproofing - www.atsko.com
The general consensus in the industry seems to be that quality
waterproof boots shouldn’t require extra treatments. Well, I’ve worn many different brands
and styles over the years and my personal opinion is that over time the leather hardens and
doesn’t seem to be as repellent as it originally was.
When this happens, I’ve applied Sno-Seal
beeswax products. It seems to condition the
leather without affecting the breathability or the
seams. It also maintains flexibility in very cold
weather. ❖
Patricia Strutz is a fishing guide, outdoor writer,
and Field Editor for MUSKIE Magazine. You can
contact her via her website at: www.ablondandherboat.com
ATTENTION
CHAPTER
CONTACTS:
No. Chapter, Address
Special Events
2009
October 2-4 35th Annual Pomme de
Terre Muskie Tournament
October 2-4 Hayward Lakes Chapter
32nd Annual Fall Tournament.
$30,000 in prizes. Call Hayward Bait
for information: 715-634-2921
October 10-11
CH58 Muskie Mayheim Fall
Tournament. Contact Mark Kornosky
@ 586-596-4481 or e-mail @
[email protected]
October 22
CH58’s 2nd Annual Family Nite at
the Sports Channel. Enjoy family,
food and good times. Contact Joe
Lockemy @ 586-873-5781
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.
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!
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 ...............................715-864-2269
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, 16774 West Bay Drive, Pengilly, MN 55775........................218-885-1677
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 Falls, 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, 18031 Heritage Road, Brainerd, MN 56401 ..........................218-838-5509
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 53228...........................................262-542-9997
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, 16256 Andrusia Rd NE, Cass Lake, MN 56633...............218-335-8597
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, 510 Bryton Ave., Pottstown PA 19465.........................................484-459-5940
52.....Daniel Boone, 813 US 62, Maysville, KY 41056 ..............................................606-759-7610
53.....Huskerland Muskie Hunters, 15706 Hamilton St, Omaha, NE 68118...............402-498-8959
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, P.O. Box 5515, Kent, WA 98064 ...............................................253-850-5889
58.....Lake St. Clair, 20939 Hackel Court, Clinton, Twp, MI 48038 ...........................586-873-5781
59.....New Mexico Muskies, Inc., P.O. Box 65575 Albuquerque, NM 87193.............505-363-4624
CHAPTER NEWS & VIEWS ◆ CHAPTER NEWS & VIEWS ◆ CHAPTER NEWS & VIEWS
Chapter News and Views
CHAPTER NEWS & VIEWS ◆ CHAPTER NEWS & VIEWS ◆ CHAPTER NEWS
59
New Mexico Muskies, Inc.
P.O. Box 65575, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87193
(505) 363-4624
www.newmexicomuskiesinc.org
Chapter Banner & Focus:
New Mexico Muskies, Inc. Chapter 59
Greetings from the desert southwest. Our website is being
revamped, with new pictures of our outings and fish, lake survey
information, and C&R information. Matt is doing a great job and
plans to add more things as time goes on. Check it out at:
www.newmexicomuskiesinc.org
The Chapter had a booth at the New Mexico Outdoor Expo,
sponsored by NM Game & Fish over the weekend of Aug 22-23.
Many NM sportsmen had never heard of muskies, so we informed
them about the tiger fishery in NM, emphasizing proper fish handling and the importance of release. We also had to inform several
people that the fishery is C&R only, at least for this year, but a 40”
size limit may go into effect for 2010. We raffled off a good collection of muskie gear that had been donated by Charlie’s Sporting
Goods, Barry Reynolds, and a chapter member. I’m sure that the
lucky raffle winner will put the tackle, book, and DVD to good use
chasing and releasing NM tigers.
A hot and dry summer and algae bloom has slowed down fishing, but reports of multiple fish days are still trickling in. Our August
overnight trip to Quemado Lake had over 20 participants, with over
a dozen fish caught and the big fish at 43”. The raffle was donated
by Los Pinos fly shop, and we know that the winner will put it to
good use to catch his first muskie. We’re doing another overnight
Sept 12-13 and hope for even better fishing as fall approaches.
Our president, Jared, took a guest from the Midwest out to
Quemado Lake last week, and they had a good time, with each of
them performing CPR with a tiger. If anybody is coming down to
NM, check out the website or drop us a line through the website and
we’ll help out however we can. Also, we are starting discussions
with the state regarding habitat improvements for Bluewater Lakes,
so if any other chapters have helpful advice about fish attractor
structures, we’d appreciate hearing it.
Chris Nordquist
01
Twin Cities
414 Division St. • Excelsior, MN 55331
952-380-1218
www.twincitiesmuskiesinc.org
Meets 2nd Tuesday 7:00 PM, Knights of Columbus, 1114 W79th St Bloomington,
MN, near the SE corner of the intersection of I-494 and I-35W.
Armed Services Family Fishing Celebration
Chapter #1 joined the Fishing for Life Organization to honor
military service members and their families by providing August
fishing fun for their kids on Minnetonka Lake.
Activities for the day included an early morning Boys Scouts of
America Color Guard Presentation, then, a continental breakfast,
followed by a tough start and challenging fishing in wind and rain.
The participants loved it and completed their outing with a hot lunch
provided by the host facility, Maynard’s of Excelsior.
Many thanks go to Committee Members George Selcke, Chair,
Jim Kroupa, Shawn Kellett, John Newman, and Dave Gustafson,
as well as, other volunteers. Linking the Chapter’s youth efforts to
Fishing for Life was a solid idea that will result to even grander successes with young fishers in the future. This activity had the support of B.A.S.S., Joe Dirt Fishing, and the DNR, also.
Vince Trotta
Chicagoland Muskie Hunters
7600 Kilbourn Ave. • Skokie, IL 60076
847-677-0017 – Dean Rosset
[email protected]
Meets 1st Tuesday 7:30 PM, Park Ridge VFW 10 West Higgins Ave., Park
Ridge, IL.
03
What a summer this turned out to be. Many, many muskies
have been caught and released by members of Chicagoland
Muskie Hunters throughout the Midwest and Canada. Some of
the most exciting catch reports are from our Junior Members. It
seems that the slow start to the summer changed some of the lake
patterns but members have adapted. Chapter communication and
access to the Muskie Inc website helped members adapt to the
conditions both in the U.S. and Canada.
On a sad note we report the passing of long-time Chicagoland
Muskie Hunters member, former president and current board of
director member, Homer “Bud” Hulet. What a man and ambassador to the muskie community. Bud brought so many members to the
Chapter and to muskie fishing in general. It was an honor to know
him and a greater honor for those of us who were lucky enough to
fish with him.
Last week we had our Chapter meeting “on the water” at Busse
Woods in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. For those who do not know
Busse Woods, it has been stocked with muskies (South Pond only)
and is close enough for many members to “steal away for a couple
of hours” and soak a line. Jim Valenta handled the food chores for
the evening meeting which was well attended. It was enjoyable to
share summer trip experiences and success with fellow members.
Joe Pavilonis, fellow Chapter member, will be hosting a Fall trip
to the Fox River/Green Bay, Wisconsin system for fall muskie fishing. Joe has been extremely successful fishing this system and
always hits it hard from October till freeze up. Joe is coordinating
a trip from November 6th through November 8th, 2009. This system
is only 3.5 hours north of Chicago and gives up many “pigs” every
year as evidenced by photos Joe has. Joe will be pre-fishing this
system for at least a month before the group trip and has promised
to share many of his secrets. Let him know if you are interested.
We are going to miss Randy Mead, former President of
Chicagoland Muskie Hunters as he has accepted a full-time job in
Idaho. Randy lead our Chapter in the late 80’s and early 90’s and
has always been active with the Chapter. Again, big shoes for
someone within the Chapter to fill.
Tip of the Month:
Seasonal Research. About ten days ago I got a text message
from one of my good friends who was muskie fishing up in Canada
and pretty much, striking out. He and his fishing buddy fish harder
than most folks I know but the results were less than stellar. The
water temperature was ten degrees colder than usual, cabbage
weed growth was about a month behind and the walleye were still
in a spring pattern. We texted back and forth and then came up
with a revised plan of attack. The results for their week of muskie
fishing were 24 muskies over 30” netted and released. Two were
fat 48” muskies.
04
soon. Check it out to keep tabs on everything Muskie in
Packerland. www.titletownmuskiesinc.org
Kevin R. Pischke
05
Pomme de Terre
P.O. Box 5 • Hermitage, MO 65668
314-878-7732 – Wayne Humphrey
www.missourimuskies.org
Meets: Various days-Call for schedule
Saturday August 15 was the Pomme De Terre tour on Pomme
De Terre Lake Hermitage Mo. Tour guides Jim Wilson and Earle
Hammond led 8 guests through a 6 hour tour of this arm of the lake.
Discussion was held prior to departure of new reels, baits and nets.
Both guides pointed out numerous areas known to be good for
muskies and bass, and each had several lure demonstrations during the tour. Fishing depths and thermocline conditions were discussed. As the group approached the Coppers Cove area, a bass
fisherman hooked and landed about a 30 inch muskie out of the
stumps. All in all, a very good weather day and a very informative
trip. Gary Neely snapped numerous photo shots of lake activity for
the area Chamber of Commerce.
Jerry Bournes, Secretary
First Wisconsin
P.O. Box 122, Chippewa Falls, WI 54729
Jason Smith - 715-726-9912
1-888-726-6733
firstwi.muskiesinc.org
Meetings 1st Monday, 5:30 PM, Rod and Gun Club, Lake Wissota.
06
To start off our report this month here’s a photo of chapter
member Vern Weeks with a 50 incher from a summer trip to Lake
of the Woods.
Titletown
3097 Inverness Lane
New Franken, WI 54229
920-866-9705
It’s been a busy year here in Title Town. Things are looking
good for the Packers. And it looks like Minnesota is getting ready
to set some new NFL records; for most thrown that is . . .
We gad some great speakers at our meetings this spring. Scott
Kieper and Lee Tauchen put on great presentations. In July we held
our election of officers. Our new officers are Mike Wichmann President, Ron Myslik - VP, Rania Baxter -Treasurer and Jay Zahn
- Secretary. Thanks to our outgoing ‘administration’ for their time and
commitment to our organization. I’d like to give special recognition
to our original and founding President Jay Zahn. Jay’s hard work
and dedication has helped make this club one of the best.
The fifty five boat field is set for the TITLETOWN MUSKIES
INC. 2009 Best of the Best Tournament. It is October 16, 17, & 18
running out of the Green Bay Yacht Club. The WDNR allowed us
to up the entries from fifty to fifty five this year.
We will be running our Club’s Tuesday Night Bay league from
September 15th until seasons end on Monday November 30th.
Our new website is under construction and will be up very
www.muskiesinc.org
Calendar of 2009 Events:
Oct. 5 – Mon. No meeting; Packers/Vikings Game
Oct. 17 – Fall Meltdown Fishing on Lake Holcombe.
Oct. 19 - 6PM Board Meeting at the Fill Inn Station; 7PM General
Speaker: Joe Kurz, DNR Fisheries Biologist on
Meeting,
local muskie stocking.
Nov. 2 – General Meeting at the Fill Inn Station; Speaker: Jim
Bunch, Using The Lunge Log on the Muskies, Inc. website.
Nov. 16 – 6PM Board Meeting at the Fill Inn Station
Nov. 30 – Wisconsin Muskie Season closes.
Dec. 7 – Mon. No meeting; Packers/Baltimore Ravens
Dec. 21 – 6PM Board Meeting, Election of officers; 7PM General
Meeting, Speaker: Tom Gelb, WI Muskie Fishing guru, tactics,
row trolling.
August Chapter Meeting Summary
The International is seeking input on hiring an Executive
Director for Muskies, Inc. RVP read proposal and will get more infor(Continued on page 28)
There are several reasons for their success. They never gave
up they kept shifting gears and they listened and acted on available
information. I was able to access Muskie Inc. data and pass it on
to them which they incorporated into their strategy. Additionally,
every time they caught a muskie, they applied the critical environmental and location data to other similar areas. They found the fish
on fall location spots and behaving as fall muskies. The point is,
seasonal research help them turn a tough trip into a memorable trip.
As members of Muskie Inc. we have a tremendous amount of information available to us via the website. Hopefully we are using it.
I’ll share another tip. How to convert regular folks into fisherman. Last week, I arranged for a business associate and his girlfriend to spend a day with my brother fishing in the Punta Gorda
area of Florida. The girlfriend was not excited about getting up early
to drive the hour plus to my brother’s house to go fishing but agreed
to do so. She showed up with a book in hand and said that she
would be reading on the boat as the “boys” fished. Well, my brother set up a rod for her and told her not to worry but pick it up if a fish
hits. Within five minutes she had a fish on. After eight hours, she
had caught the most and the largest fish and was not ready to quit!
Point is, sometimes you have to work to “hook” someone and sometime you have to do this in a subtle manner.
Last weekend, I was at a family party and there was a pond
nearby. I brought three rod/reel setups and all of the nieces and
nephews who fished were successful. Two days later I had to help
a couple of their parents pick out some basic fishing equipment for
their kids and for themselves. The adults got “hooked” just by
watching the fun the kids were having.
You are encouraged to come to any of the next Chicagoland
Muskie Hunters meetings. Everybody shares their knowledge
and experience. Our September meeting will have Dale Bowman
talking about Muskies, Monsters and Mantras. Chicagoland
Muskie Hunter meetings are now the second Tuesday of the
month at the Park Ridge VFW located at 10 W. Higgins Road, Park
Ridge, Illinois at 7:30pm with free pizza being served about
8:00pm. Lastly, Dean Rosset always has the latest information
and tips which can be found in the Chicagoland Muskie Hunters
Newsletter and our President, Zach Arnold always makes you feel
like family. It does not get better than that. Keep the calls coming
with questions about coming to a meeting or joining Chicagoland
Muskie Hunters. As always, feel free to call Dean Rosset at 847677-0017 or [email protected] or call me at 847-434-1400
or [email protected]
Take care, Kevin M. Lynch
CHAPTER NEWS & VIEWS (Continued from page 27)
mation at upcoming meetings. Not clear on where finances for this
position would come from. October 10th is a Regional MI Meeting
for the RVPs of each chapter and will be held in Eagle River
Scott Schrieber gave an update on preparations for our
September Tournament. Here’s a partial list of all the things folks
had to do to get ready. Jon Olstadt secured tournament permit.
Board previously approved bait purchases from Tackle Booty,
Slammer and Cattails for $100 each and further approved $100 lure
purchases from Mouldy’s, Musky Madness, and Hawg Seekers plus
4 Frabill nets. Tom Riedel went to Mouldy’s to take tournament registrations; Joe Heil picked them up on the way to Holcombe and
brought the tournament release forms. Bob Neidhold designated
prizes for the individual lake winners and served as MC at the
awards presentation.
General Meetings are the first Monday of each month except
September and January. October through April they are held at the
Fill Inn Station at 104 W. Columbia Street in Chippewa Falls, WI.
May through August meetings are held on Lake Wissota at the Rod
and Gun Club. Thanks
– Jim Bunch
07
South Side Muskie Hawks
5211 S. Narragansett Ave. • Chicago, IL 60638
773-581-8650
Our meetings are held every third Wednesday of the month at Mama
Luigi's located at 7500 S. Harlem in Bridgeview, IL starting at 7:00 pm.
The August meeting got underway at 7 PM, with President
John Daley presiding. The first item on the agenda was to welcome
everyone back after our summer hiatus. John then announced that
our annual fundraiser would be held on Sunday, November 29th,
and that we would be having well-known Kentucky and Minnesota
fishing guide, Gregg Thomas, as our speaker for the event.
The next items to be covered were the fishing reports, and
there were several good ones, with the top two being from Lake of
the Woods. Mike Szopinski and his son, Dave, fishing in the
Northwest Angle, caught and released a total of seven muskies, the
largest of which was a 52” and caught by Mike. Tom Ustaszewski
also had a great trip, catching and releasing a 50 1/2 “fish. His group
caught a total of 40 muskies. Ron and Sue Mazur had a nice trip
too, with Ron catching and releasing a 52” and a 52 1/2” fish, while
Sue caught and released a 50” fish.
Mike Szopinski’s 52 incher
Next, John introduced Icy Sowards, a breast cancer survivor
who is a participant in the 3-Day, 60-Mile Walk for the Cure being
held in Washington, D.C. on October 9th through 11th. Icy told of
losing two of her sisters to this devastating disease, along with
many other relatives and friends. She went on to explain that a
small, yet significant percentage of breast cancer victims are men,
and that she had attended the funeral of one such man in the recent
past. The club then presented her with a $300 check toward her
fundraising efforts, and also held a split-the-pot raffle for her benefit. Then an extraordinary thing happened; the winner of the other
half of the pot, Saban Dzabiri, donated his winnings back to the
cause, so Icy received a much larger donation than she dreamed of,
a total of $440.! She thanked the club for their generosity, and then
stayed and enjoyed the camaraderie for the rest of the meeting.
Following Icy’s appeal for funds, John introduced our speaker
for the evening, Jim Kopjo. Jim gave a presentation on Fall Fishing
Tactics and Techniques for Crappie, during which he got into the
specifics of methodology, rod length and action, line weight, reel
type and size, bait size, and scent paste. He covered casting, vertical jigging, trolling, and use of a slip-bobber. Jim also covered the
use of a Hummingbird Side-finder, and went on to explain how he
converted his for use during winter ice fishing, mentioning that it
took a lot of the guesswork out of finding the crappies under the ice.
The last item on the agenda was the announcement by George
Benda of a day trip to the Fox Chain on Saturday, October 17th.
Those wishing to participate should meet at the Thirsty Turtle on
Channel Lake between 7 and 8AM on that date. For further information, please call George at (708) 429-0526.
The South Side Muskie Hawks meet at 7PM on the third
Wednesday of every month in the banquet room of Mama Luigi’s
Restaurant, located at 7500 S. Harlem Ave. in Bridgeview.
Respectfully submitted, Lynn Polyak, RVP
Capital City
P.O. Box 8862, Madison, WI 53708
608-669-5046 – Gerard Hellenbrand
www.capitalcitymuskiesinc.org
Meets second Monday at the Coliseum Bar, 232 E. Olin Ave, Madison, WI
08
Fall fishing is in full swing. CCMI members continue to put fish
in the net by casting and trolling, but now that October is here, you
can expect a big increase in the number of anglers using live suckers, a popular method of catching muskies in the Madison Chain
area. As of August 23rd, club members had caught over 500 muskies.
Nine of them were 48” or larger. Last year, CCMI members caught
over 1000 muskies, so we are (were, as of late August) halfway to this
benchmark number. CCMI members are reminded that the muskie
season has been extended this year to the end of December in the
southern part of the state. Members will have an extra month to
chase lunker fish on those waters that will still be open.
The August 10th on-the-water membership meeting on Lake
Waubesa was once again a great opportunity for fun and fellowship.
The Goodland Park pavilion was a great place for a cook-out. A
special thanks to Karen Phillips and her assistant, Brenda Nelson,
for planning the menu and preparing the food for this event.
Only one CCMI event is still on the calendar for this year, the
“Vilas County Outing” on October 16 and 17, 2009. This annual
event will be headquartered out of Fibber’s Resort in St. Germain,
Wisconsin. For those of you who may not know, Fibber’s Resort is
owned and operated by Rob and Kaye Manthei. Rob, of course, is
a well-known guide and TV personality in the area.
As noted in previous columns, Scot Stewart, Regional Program
Manager for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and
longtime CCMI member, will be the featured speaker on October
12th. Scot will provide an update on muskies in the South Central
Region (SCR) and more generally statewide. Southeast Wisconsin
fishing guide, Joel Michel, will be the featured speaker at the general
membership meeting on November 9th. Joel has quite a reputation
on the lakes between Madison and Milwaukee. He has authored articles for Muskie magazine and the Wisconsin Outdoor Guide. Tom
Gelb, Musky Hunter Magazine Field Editor, will be the featured
speaker on December 14th. His presentation, called “Musky Hunting
Strategy: The Big Fish Zone,” will provide details about the “What,
How, Where and When” of suspended musky hunting.
Lee Bartolini, VP
West Virginia
1270 Federal Road • Little Hocking, OH 45742
740-667-3571
http://westvirginiamuskiesinc.org
Meets: No definite schedule-call
Six in one day with five over 40 inches! A day like this you think
would happen on Lake of the Woods, Lake St. Clair or some remote
“secret” location in Canada, right? Wrong, this was the Little
Kanawha River in West Virginia.
The happy angler was my cousin David Kaltenecker. David
was trolling a variety of large spinners with Bill Boggess when he
enjoyed this once in a lifetime experience. With a 49 incher, a 48,
three 41s, and a 39 this is one of the best days ever on local waters.
To my knowledge it is the most over 40 inches by anyone in a single day in WV. Congratulations, Dave!
David isn’t the only Chapter Member enjoying a productive
summer. Jay, Josh and Nate Winger spent the first week of August
at Lake Chautauqua (NY) and were rewarded with ten muskies
including a 44.5”. Dave Wenzel is having his usual great success
on summer muskies at St. Clair. He has turned in many fish up to
53”. Also, Bill Looney got a 51” from Bemidji (MN), no doubt on an
Amma Bamma.
Closer to home, Leonard Robinson boated a 52.25” on
Burnsville Lake on August 6 trolling a small Amma Bamma crank
bait. Robin Clegg has been catching good numbers of mid-thirties
on Ohio Lakes. He registered about 15 muskies since mid July
from Piedmont and Salt Fork Lakes.
We are thankful for an unusually cool summer in our area
which has been good for the health of fish and the comfort of fishermen.
We would also like to thank Kevin Woolard, Tim McCauley, Eric
Moore, Ken Squires, Kevin Custer and Jim Moore for spending considerable days contributing to our work projects at the Palestine
(WV) Fish Hatchery. They, along with a few other members, completed some much needed work on site which included roofing an
existing building as well as constructing a 20’ x 40’ pole building
which will be used to store feed and chemicals in addition to providing garage space for some equipment. Hatchery Manager Rodney
Null and his staff were also a big help.
John Kaltenecker, Secretary
Mississippi Valley
5301 11th Ave “C”
Moline, IL 61265 • 309-797-1803
Meets 2nd Wednesday 7:00pm at the QCCA Expo Center in Rock Island, IL.
11
Remembering the guys from the early years that got our
Chapter 11 started - John Hotle, Jack (Lucky Jack) Klein, and
Larry Ramsell. We have lost 2 of these men.
We lost John Hotle in 2003 and just this year we lost Jack
“Lucky Jack” Klein. We are fortunate to still have Larry with us.
Although Larry is not a member of our chapter at this time he is still
active in Muskies, Inc. and is helping with research and promoting
the sport of muskie fishing.
I was lucky to know John Hotle but had never gone fishing with
him. I was lucky enough to both know Jack Klein and go on many
fishing trips with him. Both of these men were passionate about
muskie fishing and promotion of Muskies, Inc. They both gave a
lot of their time to promoting Chapter 11 in its early years. When
our chapter was founded, they helped us financially using their own
money and never asking to be repaid. They also put in a lot of
hours going to sporting shows and talking to whomever would listen
to them about muskie fishing. And let’s not forget their wives who
were by their sides allowing them the time it took to get our chapter
going. For those we have lost over the years we will miss them and
remember the sacrifices they made.
www.muskiesinc.org
Lucky Jack Klein accepting the 2009 John Hotle challenge bucket.
12
Headwaters
P.O. Box 652 • Eagle River, WI 54521
715-477-2913 – Paul Hansen
www.headwatersmuskies.com
Meets 1st Wednesday 7:00 PM
The Headwaters Chapter of Muskies Inc will be holding there
2009 Fall Classic of Champions Musky Tournament on the Three
Lakes Chain on Oct 2nd – 4th. Registration will be on Oct 2ne from
5:30 pm – 8:00 pm at the Big Stone Golf Course. 846 Golf Course
Loop Rd, Three Lakes, WI.
On Wednesday August 5th Headwaters held there annual
Directors meeting. The 23 directors are the personnel that attend
the monthly meeting and volunteer their time to keep our various
programs running.
Pictured at our meeting are: Top row left to right:: Elmer Jensen,
Carol Heffner, Al Schroeder, Louis Dreger, Jay Hollnagel, Kip
Cramer, Joe Koschnik, Dale Peterson, Bob Jacobs, Glenn Matula.
Bottom Row left to right: Jim Chamberlin, Jim Heffner, Art Anderson,
Paul Hansen (kneeling) Jim Rechiltz John Schmidt and President
Bill Jacobs. Not pictured Jeff Miller, Roger Sabota, Dan Lazzeroni,
Fred Brogle, Gary Jacobs, Rick Janick.
09
Let’s also remember to thank those that are still here and are
still working to make our chapter and organization strong for the
sport of muskie fishing which we all like to do and share with others.
In memory of Jack “Lucky Jack” Klein: He was truly a
friend to all he met and knew. He got his name “Lucky Jack” from
his uncle Bunk when they were on a fishing trip. The only one
catching fish was Jack. His uncle said that there could not be that
much luck in one boat. The name stuck and fit him well. It wasn’t
often that Jack went on a trip and did not catch a muskie.
A story that I was told was that Jack and his fishing partner
were using the same bait and casting about fifteen feet apart. The
fish were jumping for Jack’s bait but would ignore his friend’s bait.
This was just one example of why he was called “Lucky Jack.”
Stories like this were repeated many times.
Our sympathies go out to Jack’s wife Caroline of many years.
Thanks Caroline for sharing Jack with us.
Rob Dickinson
12th
On August
we held our midweek fish any lake outing. The
outing was held at Twelve Pines Restaurant and Bar located on
Catfish Lake. We had a great turn out with 46 members attending
and enjoying good food and great stories. One of our goals is to
promote Musky fishing for the youth, as the youth is our future. I
am pleased to write that 7 fish were caught, 2 of the 7 were caught
by junior members. A big congratulations goes out to Hunter
Mathison who caught at 40 1/2 inch fish and Josh Samz who caught
a 32 1/2 inch fish.. The following members who boated and released
fish are Joe Koschnik who caught a 38 inch fish, Bob Jacobs who
caught a 32 inch fish, Marge Hollnagel who caught a 30 inch fish,
Mark Stump who caught a 32 inch fish and Ed Martens who caught
a 43 inch fish. Congratulations to all of the above. Thanks to
Roger Sabota and Jim Rechiltz for another successful outing.
Don’t forget to check our web site www.headwatersmuskies.com for
our upcoming events or membership applications.
Glenn Matula, Secretary
13
The following entries have been received in our members contest. Women: Tera Niebauer 1 fish-9pts. Sandy Hackbarth 1 fish5pts. Women’s Masters: Sarah Muntz 8 fish-87pts. Men: Emmett
Brown 10 fish-94pts. Kris Gottwald 3 fish-32pts., includes a 45” from
the Eau Claire Chain, J.B. Ellis 2 fish-21pts. Tom Kersten 1 fish12pts. Kim Hackbarth 1 fish-4pts. Men’s Masters: Tom Muntz 41
fish-261pts., includes a 41” from the Indian Chain in Ontario . Ted
Muntz 19 fish-229pts., includes a 46” from the Indian Chain, Adam
Glickman 14 fish-194pts., includes 2-46” and a 47”. Mike Persson 6
fish-80pts., includes 2-46” from LOTW. Tanner Wildes 1 fish-18pts.
To register your fish please do it on line at the Muskies Inc.
website. This saves a lot of work. If you need help call Mike at 717634-4543. We will however, accept the paper forms, mail them to
the club’s post office box #609 , Hayward WI , 54843 .
Our next meeting will be Tuesday November 3 at Dow’s
Corners Bar at 7:30 pm. Dow’s is 14 miles east of Hayward on highway 77 east. We will review the tournament results, elect officers for
2010 and have a LURE SWAP !! So bring some lures or other
equipment you’d like to trade.
Good Fishing, Mike Persson
Hayward Lakes
P.O. Box 609
Hayward, WI 54843
715-634-4543
The Hayward Lakes Chapter held its Annual Kids Fishing Day
on Sunday August 2nd. Seventeen guides who were club members
or local fisherman took thirty-six youngsters fishing in the morning
and returned to the “Dick-Sy Roadhouse” at noon where everyone,
including parents where treated to lunch. After lunch each of the
kids was given a bag of goodies and larger prizes were given away
in a raffle. The weather was great, fish were caught and everyone
had fun! The 2010 Kids Day will again be the first Sunday in August.
Join us!
The Hayward Chapter now has its own web site. You can get
to it at www.muskiesinc-hayward.org. We wish to thank club member Mark Laustrup for volunteering his time and expertise to put this
together.
Our 32nd Annual Fall Tournament may be just days away,
depending on when you receive the magazine. The dates are October
2, 3&4. For last minute sign up, call Hayward Bait at 715-634-2921.
The tournament results will be posted on Hayward Bait’s website and
ours. We need to thank Hayward Bait for their help with the tournament. If you need anything for fishing please stop and see them.
We also want to thank Hayward Power Sports for helping us
obtain our major prizes. Stop and see them for boat, motors, ATV’s
and snowmobiles. They are on highway 77 nine miles east of
Hayward. 715-462-3674
Dr. John Ryan [In memoriam]
The Hayward Lakes Chapter of Muskies, Inc. recently lost one of
its hard working members to a boating accident in Ontario. Dr. John
Ryan, 75, drowned on the French River while doing what he loved
best . . . chasing big muskies. John was instrumental in the Hayward
Chapter fund raising for the stocking of muskies. He was a valuable
member of the Hayward Community and tireless volunteer for the
Lion's Club and many other worthwhile endeavors.
A veteran of both the Korean and Vietnam wars, Dr. John
retired at the rank of Major after having been wounded twice and
saving many lives in the process. He is survived by his wife
Maureen, four children, and several grandchildren.
Just two weeks before his accident I was with John for a week
in Canada where he caught a 54 1/2" beauty; just an inch shorter
than his 60-year personal best which he caught last year. The smile
on his face will never be forgotten. May God bless him. He will be
missed by his friends, family, and community. - Larry Ramsell
16
Three Rivers
119 Bus Lane, Renfrew, PA 15136
724-789-7866 – James P. Buss
http://threerivers.muskiesinc.org
Meets 2nd Monday 7:30 PM, Northside Sportsmans Club, Wexford, PA.
Hello fellow Three Rivers members. Fall is finally here and it’s
a great time to be on the water. Most of the summer traffic is long
gone, and there’s still ample opportunity to hook into a big muskie
anywhere you fish. So get out and enjoy the fall colors, they always
make for a great backdrop to those release photos. On Saturday
August 8th we held our annual kids outing at Lake Arthur. Eleven
kids were in attendance as well as parents and friends. There were
a few fish caught, none of which were muskies but, the kids had a
great time any way, and everyone walked away with lures and
prizes of some type. A special thanks goes out to Youth Director
Bob Domachowski, and Teresa, Sean, and Shelby Komer for doing
such a great job organizing the event and cooking at the picnic
afterward. And thanks to all of our great sponsor’s for donating lures
and merchandise for the outing including, Newman Lures, Legend
Lures, Leo Lures, Musky Train tackle, ACE lures, Jones Lures,
Rollie & Helens, Shimano U.S.A, and Walmart.
At our October member meeting, Lake Arthur will be the focus
in advance of the Lake Arthur Charity Challunge. We will have
group discussion on prime tactics and techniques for catching those
“Dead Sea” muskies in the fall. Jim Burr will be on hand to share his
knowledge and experience of this infamous local water as well. So
join us, and you may just pick up that extra edge to score during the
tournament, and as always, plenty of great prizes, raffles, and merchandise at all of our monthly meetings.
On Saturday and Sunday October 24th & 25th we will hold our
annual Lake Arthur Charity Challunge. This is a charity tournament,
which benefits kids with special needs at Kamp-Kon-O-Kwee. The
camp is able to purchase special equipment for the disabled youngsters as part of their fishing program with our donations from the
tournament. This has always been a great way for our club to give
back to the community and promote youth fishing programs. Please
plan on attending this event because, the more anglers we have in
attendance, the more it will benefit this cause. Sign up will take
place from 7-8 a.m. on Saturday morning at the 528-bridge launch,
or you may sign up in advance at the October member meeting.
Fishing times are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and from 7 a.m. to
3 p.m. on Sunday. A hot lunch will be served on the water Saturday,
courtesy of, The Fair Ground Market and Jim Burr. A hot Dinner will
be served at the close of fishing on Sunday. For more information
regarding this special event please contact: Tournament Director,
Eric Bartolomeo at (724) 301-2099. For more information regarding
19
Akron-Canton
10957 Northwood Ave. NE • Bolivar, OH 44612
Gordon Selden - 330-874-2773
http://[email protected]
Meets 3rd Monday 7:00 PM, Belgrade Gardens, 3476 Massillon Road,
Akron, OH.
The Muskie Maniacs had their Leesville Night Bite Tournament
on August 8th. We had 27 participants with a total of 9 fish caught.
Chuck Harmon won the tournament with his four fish 38”, 36”, 33”,
and 32.5”. Congratulations Chuck! Ray Elkins came in second with
two fish of 40”, and 37”.
Our next event will be our Memorial Outing at West Branch on
Sept. 5th. We will have a cookout and take time out to remember
the club members that have passed away. We will also have our
drawing of our Rod and Reel Raffle.
On Sept. 26th and 27th, a group of our club members will be
going to fish Lake Chautauqua. I probably will not have the results
of the Chautauqua weekend before the next issue but I will give the
highlights of our Memorial Outing.
Kevin Proffitt
28
Shawnee Muskie Hunters
61 W. Jennings • Wood River, IL 62095
618-610-5003 – Manuel Santa Cruz
[email protected]
www.shawneemuskiehunters.org
Check out our website (shawneemuskiehunters.org) for lots of
good information. Thanks to Jerry and Cheryl Ford for taking over
our website and adding new items such as: Hot News, members
looking for fishing partners, and much much more.
When you read this our muskie fishing on Kinkaid will be at full
speed. Our summer vacation will be behind us and I know every one
is looking forward to this time of year in the South. If the fishing is any
thing like last October, there will be a lot of big fish caught. It will be
too late to enter the early bird registration for the Fall Brawl but you
still have time to enter. We had 49 fish caught and released in last
years Fall Brawl with a lot of those fish over 45 inches. Entry forms
can be found on our web sight or from Manuel Santa Cruz or me.
Our club had ten members participate in the Chapter
Challenge on Leech Lake. I wish I had more to tell you about the trip
in this note but this is written before we left for the challenge. This
was the most that has attended this event from our club. You will
here more about this event in our news letter.
Our officers of Chapter 28 have come up with an exciting
schedule of events for 2009. I want all of you to come out and meet
other members that have the same passion as you. You may even
learn some tricks on catching the mighty muskie.
October 9th - Evening meeting at the farm house
October 10th - Guide for the Day event 7:00 am Paul Ice boat
ramp on Kinkaid Lake
October 24th & 25th - Fall Brawl Tournament on Kinkaid Lake
November 7th & 8th - IMTT Championship on Lake Shelbyville
November 14th - Veterans Day Outing
Remember I’m in the other Lund, Walt Krause
39
Fox River Valley
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.
In August, we had further discussions with our local Fisheries
Biologist from the WDNR about the new rearing pond. An initial estimate to feed 300 hundred twelve inch muskies from the WDNR
www.muskiesinc.org
quotas for the pond came in lower than what was budgeted for purchasing muskies this fall on our own. More recent cost estimates for
the required gallons of fathead minnows cause concern over
whether it’s feasible to feed muskies until ice over and collect them
in spring versus buying muskies at the desired length class.
Communications to chapter members for assistance to help the
WDNR prepare and maintain the facility have been sent through email and posted on the website. To reiterate, efforts to convert the
old rearing pond into an urban fishery must first be taken to the
spring hearings, and this item has been submitted for 2010. Two
additional member outings were held in August on the 10th and 26th.
For the Members Only Fishing Contest, there are 338 registrations
at the time of this writing broken out by the following: Mens 187,
Mens Masters 132, Womens 7, and Womens Masters 12.
The last chapter sponsored outing for the year was September
10th. Many thanks to Dave Dawson, Pat Kilps, Larry Price, and Ron
Heidenreich for hosting outings and to Nancy and Roy Hinkforth for
hosting an outing every month from May through September.
Through the outings, the chapter was able to introduce a few more
people to each other and share each others company on and off the
water.
The October meeting is on Tuesday the 27th. Our general
meeting begins at 7:30PM. The board meeting begins at 6PM and
participation is encouraged. Craig Niermann has a few leads on
speakers. Please check the website for an update.
The chapter is looking for a new Director and committee members for the 2010 banquet. If you have computer skills, the outgoing
Director has it organized for an easy transition.
Mike Phelps
35
Milwaukee
P.O. Box 28842 • Greenfield, WI 53228
262-542-9997
www.milwaukeemuskiesinc.com • [email protected]
Meets 4th Tuesday ex. June/July or Dec. Meets 3rd Tuesday in November only: 6:00PM Board,
7:30 PM General, Waukesha Elks Lodge #400, 2301 Springdale Rd, Waukesha, WI 53186.
Please join us at our Wednesday, October 14th monthly meeting where Adam Oberfoell will be discussing Madison chain
muskies. Our annual pool-demo is on November 11.
FRV Chapter 39 just completed two major fishing events with
the McGraw Wildlife Foundation in Dundee Illinois. In August, we
had a youth muskie hunt where 12 kids caught 7 tiger muskies (all
in 1 day). The winners were Eddie Foulk (age 12) who caught a 37incher and Trevor Bushnick (age 12) who landed a 36-inch tiger. We
also had a special needs kids fishing day where the FRV kids paired
up with the families of the special needs kids to assist them in fishing. Well it was one of those days where the fishing was fast & furious; almost everyone kid caught fish. The McGraw Wildlife lake
complex is one of the most impressive conservation & fisheries
resources in the North Central United States and the people of this
organization have been extremely supportive of Muskies Inc. and all
our youth programs. (www.mcgrawwildlife.org).
CHALLUNGE ON THE CHAIN: Join us for our 14th annual
tournament on Saturday, October 24th. The 1st place team payout
is $4,000 assuming a full field. All tournament participants will be
entered into a drawing to win a 1-week stay at Grassy Narrows
Lodge on Miles Bay, Lake of the Woods. After the tournament, join
us for dinner, drinks, an awards presentation and a raffle at our tournament headquarters, The Thirsty Turtle on Channel Lake.
Registration begins at 5:00 AM on the 24th and walk-ups are welcome.
THE “LAST FLING OUTING” TO NORTH WEBSTER: Plan
on dressing warm as you head to North Webster, IN on Nov 20-22.
Only current FRV members are eligible for a trophy and their name
added to the perpetual plaque. Can anyone beat Tony Hardin’s 50
club business please contact: Dave Huemmrich at:
[email protected] or go to www.threeriversmuskie.org
Dave Huemmrich
7/8”er from last year?
DECEMBER FAMILY NIGHT: Mark your calendars now for a
very special monthly meeting where we will highlight all our 2009
youth outings. At this event, we will serve up a full-blown multi
media presentation and show rarely seen video of kids catching
muskies! Adults are $5 each. Kids who fish are free. All proceeds
from this event will go directly into our youth fund for 2010.
For additional information on our events and club outings
please visit our website at www.frvmuskie.com. Our meetings are
held on the second Wednesday of every month at Poplar Creek
Country Club in Hoffman Estates, IL. Dinner is available to everyone beginning at 6:00PM and the meetings start promptly at
7:00PM.
Kevin Bushnick, Director, Youth Fishing Programs
49
Webster Lake
P.O. Box 670
No. Webster, IN 46555
574-834-1669
Hello everyone. Man, where do I start? I guess I can start by
saying thank you to everyone who donated to our stocking fundraiser and auction. We made our goal and were able to stock fish this
year into Upper Long Lake. We were running low in our stocking
fun, and Don Slagle of Hoosier Handmade Musky Baits came up
with an offer to our members. I took it one step further, and decided to have an online auction with them and even more baits from
different companies. We had Hoosier Handmade Musky Baits,
Stealth Leaders, Musky Customs, Spanky Baits, TM Tails, Don
Knight’s Kustom Kolor Baits, a trip and stay from Webster Lake
Guide Service, and a trip from my service Hoosier Heartland Guide
Service. The auction raised $990.00 for the stocking fund.
I also want to take this time to thank everyone who donated
money to the stocking fund including: Chapter 45, Chapter 42,
Nickki & Rick Swain, Dena Ludtke, Andrew Amerhein from Prologe
Systems, and Randy Bush. At the time of writing this I am sure we
have more being sent in and I am sorry if I missed you. We give
everyone a huge THANK YOU!!! We could not have done it without your help, and I am happy to say we reached our goal, and were
able to stock our fingerlings this year.
The ‘09 league season is underway and with great turnout.
Every week we have had a lot of people participate, and that
makes the night fun. If you’re the lucky one who
catches the biggest fish, you have a chance of
winning some money for your effort. Here are the
dates we have left: Barbee, Oct 2nd, 6pm-10pm;
Tippy, Oct 9th, 6pm-10pm.
Please check out the club website for future
outing’s we are trying to arrange, including a time
for the club to go up to Michigan in November for
the MMA’s Ice-On Challunge. We need all the
members we can get to go up to Thornapple Lake,
claim the Traveling Trophy and bring it home. The
website is also a good way to see what is going
on with in the club, and to meet up in the forum
with other members. Well until next time....
Hammer Your Hook sets and Let’m go &
Let’m Grow,
http://www.muskylink.com/profile/williambennett
William Bennett
<*))))))))))))><
219-201-6123 or 574-457-3879
Musky Fever “catch it if you want it”
Chapter Challunge 2009
“Snapshot” by Juris Ozols
The Fargo/Moorhead Chapter hosted the
annual Gil Hamm Chapter Challunge on Leech
Lake from August 25-28. However, for a change,
they did not win. This year the Star of the North Chapter took home
the Lunge Bucket by bringing in eight muskies including two fiftyinchers. The team of Mike Lundberg and Dan Marking had all of
those, with Dan getting seven fish himself.
Southern Crossroads team 1 came in second with seven fish, and
North Metro team 1 took third place. Gary Dew of the Shawnee
Muskie Hunters got the big fish, a 53-incher.
Twelve chapters were represented by 120 anglers on 23 teams
(see group photo on facing page). A total of 52 muskies were caught
and released. A full report will be featured in MUSKIE Magazine
next month. ❖
The winning team from Star of the North Chapter. Front row: Mike
Lundberg and Dan Marking. Back row: Kyle Aronson, Gary Rutherford,
Jake Roth, Jerry Rutherford.
The customary “group shot” of the Gil Hamm Challunge anglers,
by the harbor at Grand Vu Lodge.
www.muskiesinc.org
MUSKIES, INC.
1509 Stahl Road
Sheboygan, WI 53081
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Chapter 26 member John Carlson caught
this 46 inch beauty July 27th while fishing
the Phillips Chain of Lakes. He was using
a Dreamcatcher Mag bucktail and the fish
was successfully released. Nice fish John.
Here is another fish caught by
John Carlson of Chapter 26. This fish
measured 45 inches and was caught on
a Mag Bulldawg in Sawyer County,
Wisconsin. Nice fish.
I love this shot of First Wisconsin member Jim Everett with
a 49 inch Wisconsin tiger muskie - a beautiful fish which
Jim successfully released and a very interesting camera
angle as well.
Here is First Wisconsin Chapter
member Mickey Penley with a
beautiful Wisconsin tiger muskie. It
measured 39 inches long. Nice fish
Mickey.
Here is Chapter 21 member Ryan Wold
with a nice 39.5 inch fish caught while
fishing a Minnesota lake. Nice fish Ryan.
Here is a nice shot of Chapter 1 member Corey DeZeeuw with a 50 inch
plus fish. Corey was fishing alone but still managed to get a good picture
of himself. Nice job.
Here is a nice silhouette shot of
Chapter 6 member Lee McClaine fishing Gohere Bay on Lake of the Woods.
Here is a photo of Chapter 21 members Larry Klein and
Ryan Wold showing how they missed being in the money
in a tournament by half an inch. 6th Place out of 50 is still
quite good. Congratulations on that and get em’ next year.
I really like the emotion you can see on Nick Schoonover’s face in this shot.
Nick is a member of the First Wisconsin Chapter and caught this fish on
opening weekend. Nice job Nick.

MUSKIE Magazine

Transcription

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