Photo Contest – Fall by Brad Waldera, Photo Editor • [email protected]

Photo Contest – Fall by Brad Waldera, Photo Editor • Pictures@Muskiesinc.Org

* Photo #1 Like me, most of you have probably seen quite a few pictures of muskies that had scars from being bitten by other, much larger muskies. Some of you may even remember the picture in this very column a few months back of former Muskies Inc. President Steve Statland holding a fish he caught with bite marks on it. Well Three Rivers Chapter member Rich Sandig recently caught a 38 inch muskie that DID NOT have bite marks on it UNTIL it was halfway to the boat! Rich was fishing Pigeon Lake on June 13th during the 2010 Muskies Canada Toronto Blowout Outing when the 38-inch fish he caught was attacked by a huge muskie with, according to Rich, a bite span of approximately 6.5-8.0 inches. The link below will take you to a short video of Rich filmed just after this happened that shows some pretty serious bite marks and an impressive width between them. One can only imagine the true size of the muskie that chose Rich’s fish as bait – those monsters are out there. The photo of Rich is nice and clear, although he could have removed his sunglasses. In all the excitement of that moment, I’ll forgive him this time. Great story Rich. Hope you “get the one that got away” next time out. See the video “Attacked !! Rich Sandig” on the Web: http://www.muskiescanada.ca/whats_new/video_gallery.php

Photo #2 * Now how cool is this picture? Kevin Greene of Chapter 58 took this great photo of fellow chapter members Mark Kornosky (right) and Scott Robertson (left) releasing a couple of Lake St. Clair beauties. The fish on the right measured just under 50 inches and the one on the left was a 51-inch fish. The fish were caught while trolling the Canadian side of Lake St. Clair on a calm day in June of 2009. Over a couple days of fishing numerous fish were caught but none of significant size, then came this double. Nice way to end the day and a good reminder to keep at it and not let your guard down until you’re off the water. Mark says there was nothing more rewarding than watching those 2 monsters swim off into the dark. I’m sure he’s right. I really like the look of this shot and you can see these were 2 quality fish. I also like the use of the Boga grip in this manner. Please remember not to hoist fish out of the water or ever let them hang vertically with this tool, as that could potentially be quite harmful to the fish. Great shot Kevin and awesome fish as well. Thanks to all who have submitted pictures this past year. We really appreciate it.

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Lower Bay of Green Bay and the Fox River 7 miles up to the DePere Dam.

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www.muskiesinc.org Fall 2010.....MUSKIE 1 M.I. will focus new energy on Youth Programs! Please welcome Kevin Bushnick as the new M.I. Youth Programs Director at the national level. Kevin has served as Youth Director for the Fox River Valley Chapter of Muskies, Inc. since 1977 where he built many innovative youth programs within the Chicago-land muskie fishing community. He will continue leading that program for FRV Chapter 39. Kevin is known for taking extensive videos and photos of events throughout the fishing season and then combining them with music and special laser effects to create a spectacular year-end multimedia program that draws people in from all over northern Illinois. Kevin’s focus in his new role within M.I. will be to assist other chapters and youth directors in creating their own youth programs, or to help build upon what they already have in place. Kevin will report directly to V.P. Greg Wells. Kevin is a licensed captain with the U.S. Coast Guard and provides boating and fishing safety instruction for Cabela’s, the Boy Scouts and the McGraw Wildlife Foundation. Kevin is also the founder of an organization called the Youth Conservation Alliance which works closely with other not-for-profits like McGraw Wildlife and the Northern Illinois Special Recreation Association to provide further outreach to parents and their children who want to learn more about fishing and the great outdoors. You can contact Kevin at: [email protected]

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#1 Casting crankbaits and drifting #2 Trolling crankbaits over flats livebait rigs excel in the fall. When and deep breaklines is my favorite fished in tandem, it can be a deadly way to attack fall muskies. When the combination. Position the boat near a fish are high, a ShallowRaider is QUICK SET SUCKER RIGS with float breakline and drift along it with a trailing tough to beat. When muskies are CAUGHT USING QUICK SET SUCKER RIG a sucker rig or two behind the boat holding deeper, nothing beats a while casting ahead of the drift with a DepthRaider. Remember, line size DepthRaider. A 2nd angler should cast and length of line from rod tip to lure over the flat with a ShallowRaider. determines running depth.

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2 MUSKIE.....Fall 2010 MUSKIE magazine is published monthly and is the Official Publication of Muskies, Inc. Ellen Wells, Administrative Secretary, 1509 Stahl Contents Road, Sheboygan, WI 53081. Ph: 1-888-710-8286. © Copyright 2010 by Muskies, Inc. All rights reserved. MUSKIE • Vol. 44, No. 10

Departments Features IFC Photo Contest, Brad Waldera 22 Life on Lac Seul - Late Fall, Erik Jacobson 4 President’s Message, 25 Welcome Aboard The Muskallunge, Tony Welch Dan Narsete 26 Gil Hamm Challunge Week Catches [Collage] 5 About the Cover, Juris Ozols 5 Index of Advertisers 27 Thank You! Gil Hamm Tournament Sponsors 6 Lunge Log, Jim Bunch 28 Gil Hamm Chapter Challunge 2010 [Centerspread] 10 MUSKIE News 30 Eagle River, Wisconsin, Patricia Strutz 13 Figure 8, Kevin Richards 34 Eagle Lake, Ontario, Canada, Patricia Strutz 14 ***Special Section*** 37 Lower Manitou Muskie & Pike Fishing, Kris Esselink Fisheries & Research Report 33 The Importance & Fun of 38 Manitou Weather Station Fishing Lodge, Juris Ozols M.I. Membership, Greg Wells 40 Bill & Alice of the Manitou - 45 Chapter News and Views Legendary Characters, Juris Ozols 56 Member Photos 42 The Magical Mysterious Manitou, Tom Stark

Join Muskies, Inc. ... Regular Membership: ❑ 1 Year-$35.00 ❑ 2 Years-$65.00 ❑ 3 Years- $95.00 or give a membership Family Membership: ❑ 1 Year-$47.50 ❑ 2 Years-$90.00 ❑ 3 Years-$132.50 Junior Membership (Under 18): ❑ $20.00 as a gift. ❑ Automatic Renewal ❑ For Muskie Research $______

Name______Phone ______Name of Sponsor (if applicable)______Address______Sponsor’s Membership ID # ______

City & State______Zip______Name of Spouse______Chapter Affiliation Choice Number______(to find the number of the Chapter you wish to join, see the Chapter News & Views section) Junior Member(s) Date of Birth (DOB) Old Address (for address change only)______Name______DOB ______City & State______Zip______Name______DOB ______My Membership #______Expiration Date ______Name______DOB ______Check One: ❑ New Member ❑ Renewal ❑ Address Change ❑ Gift MAIL TO MUSKIES, INC. 1509 Stahl Road Email ______Sheboygan, WI 53081 1-888-710-8286 Payment: ❑ Check or ❑ Credit Card: ❑ VISA ❑ MasterCard Card # ______- ______- ______- ______Exp. Date ____ /____ Signature ______

www.muskiesinc.org Fall 2010.....MUSKIE 3 Board of Directors Executive Committee President, Dan Narsete Email: [email protected] Vice President/Finance, Jim Shannon Phone: 612-670-8943 Email: [email protected] Vice President/Fisheries, Research & Youth, Tom Penniston Phone: 608-558-9657 Email: [email protected] Vice President/Internal Affairs, Perry Peterson Phone: 253-850-5889 The President’s Message Email: [email protected] Vice President/Membership & Marketing, by Dan Narsete Greg Wells Phone: 920-457-3720 Muskies, Inc. President Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Vice President/Communications, ocial construction is essentially defined as the concept where society thrusts its own Rich Gallagher ideals, beliefs and values upon us and out of this we develop our perspective. Simply Phone: 847-341-1723 Email: [email protected] Sput it is the notion that we are a product of our environment. When we are brought into this world we are essentially a blank disc, a clean slate and have no preconceptions of Treasurer, Kathy Goon Phone: 419-945-2940 the world around us. Over a period of time we develop our own perspective on the world Email: [email protected] that surrounds us. From Martin Luther King’s I Have a Dream speech and subsequent civil rights move- Web Master, Ron Groeschl Phone: 262-271-1002 ments various historical figures have demonstrated this idea. MLK actually changed how Email: [email protected] we look at each other. In fact the civil rights movements of the 1960s and 1970s mirror Administrative Secretary, Ellen Wells our own development of catch and release. Muskies, Inc. filed its own articles of incorpora- 1509 Stahl Road, Sheboygan, WI 53081 tion in February of 1967; the following year MLK was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. As Phone: 888-710-8286 we labored to teach conservation in the 1970s matters such as the Equal Credit Opportunity Email: [email protected] Act passed into what we now rely on as common knowledge. Past-President, David Cates As we have developed as a society and broadened our horizons we have also done so on the fishing note. Given my own upbringing I tend to be middle of the road (pragmat- Regional Directors ic), but believe that muskie fishing with catch and release is a form of social construction. Before MI was around it was perfectly normal to shoot a muskie, and then eat it after hang- Region 1 Term Expires ing it by a rope on a tree. Over Labor Day weekend I was fishing and met an elderly man Rory Potter ...... 2010 who said, “We used to carry a .22 and shoot them before pulling them into the boat,” Ron Teschner ...... 2011 which by today’s standards is pretty extreme, arguably crazy. Thanks to our own mantra of Carl Phillips ...... 2012 youth development, fisheries research and public education we are well on our way to Region 2 developing the golden age of fishing, which extends beyond that of muskie fishing. Fred Brogle ...... 2011 Now that you’ve been through your collegiate level introduction lets move onto the Robert Benson ...... 2012 lighter side of things. I’m proud to announce that Muskies, Inc. will be the title sponsor for the second day (Saturday) of the 2011 Tri-Esox Chicago Muskie Show. We are very Leo Kofoot ...... 2013 excited and should have a great opportunity to market and expand our fine organization. Region 3 If you have a chance please come and introduce yourself as I will be in attendance and will Joel Johnson ...... 2010 be working the booth to help promote our own form of dogma.  Chad Theesfeld ...... 2011 Back in August I traveled to Eagle Lake Ontario and muskie fished instead of just Doug Dible ...... 2012 writing about it. I heard AML guide Scott Yager coin a new term. The new and improved Region 4 version of a figure of eight will now be known as the “figure of egg,” a superior technique Kimberly Cates ...... 2011 to help you land more of those monsters . . . more to follow. Earle Hammond ...... 2012 For now, good luck out there. Be safe, practice CPR, send me secret spots, and come join us in Chicago. Until we meet again. . . (Vacant) ...... 2013 Tight lines, Dan

4 MUSKIE.....Fall 2010 About the COVER COVERTHE ABOUT “Camaraderie!” Our editor asked me to come up MUSKIE Magazine Staff with a magazine cover that illustrated that concept for Muskies, Inc. people. He suggested some Editor pictures to use from the just-completed Chapter Kevin Richards Challunge or said I could use others that I might 7618 Sunrise Ridge Road Henley, MO 65040 have. But the theme was to be “Camaraderie.” Phone: (573) 280-2300 Tough assignment. I pulled out a dozen or so 2010 Email: [email protected] Challunge pictures and scoured my own voluminous ASSISTANT Editor photo data base. Lots of photos of people together Juris Ozols on boats, serving meals at the Challunge, helping Phone: (612) 747-0178 Email: [email protected] out on the dock or boat, netting fish, holding fish, doing something for a kid, arms around the buddy, PHOTO CONTEST EDITOR ◆ Brad Waldera ABOUT THE COVERTHE ABOUT etc. All kinds of shots like that; some very nice Phone: (701) 642-1952 ones. Lots of people being friendly and helpful as they should be, and in all in the Email: [email protected] context of our fishing environment, but it just didn’t seem to click for me. LUNGE LOG EDITOR Then this thought came to me about something that’s unique to muskie fishing and I’d Members Only Fishing Contest claim is the height of Camaraderie: anglers sharing their very special knowledge about Jim Bunch fishing spots. That’s what we have on the cover – people together bent over maps, fin- Phone: (715) 226-0295 Email: [email protected] gers pointing out where fish have been caught and lost, where to fish, where not to fish. ADVERTISING SALES TEAM There are some famous fishermen in there – MI founding member Dick Chapman Kevin Richards, Editor / Ad Manager pointing out places on Lake Minnetonka; MI Hall of Fame member Ken Karbon Phone: (573) 280-2300 annotating a Sabaskong Map; author Bill Gardner talking about Crab Lake, one of his Email: [email protected] favorite places to put in “Time on the Water.” And there are a number of just plain Terri Fierstine, Advertising Sales Representative muskie folks. But all of these are people being truly generous in sharing things. Phone: (218) 252-0947 Email: [email protected] I think that kind of thing shows the best in Muskies, Inc. members. It’s not being secre- ◆ tive and self-centered. It’s not hiding things or being deceptive. It’s helping out your PRINTING Account Manager ADVERTISERSOF INDEX Sunray Printing Solutions, Inc. - Stacey Thielen fellow “Muskies Inc.-er” as best you can in a way that’s truly unselfish and important to them. I’ve been on both ends of those kinds of activities, and I think it’s wonderful. Magazine Design Sunray Printing Solutions, Inc. - John Windschitl One more thing – the fish picture. That’s Doug Wood from Chapter 60, our newest chapter, holding his personal best 44 inch Tiger. Those folks are off to a great start IllustratorS/CartoonistS Richard Gross, Charles Weiss with their chapter and the sun is shining on them. I’m looking forward to meeting Doug and his buddies at a future Challunge. You can bet I’ll tell him everything I know FIELD EDITORS about whatever lake we’re fishing. And if I ever get up to Washington, I’m sure he Patricia Strutz, Colby Simms, Sean Landsman, Adam Glickman, Bob Chochola,Steve Budnik would do the same for me. That’s what Muskies, Inc. is all about. – Juris ❖ EMERITUS Editors Rod Ramsell, Keith Ogden, Jim Smith INDEX OF ADVERTISERS MUSKIE is published exclusively for the membership of Muskies, Inc. and subscriptions come with BEST OF THE BEST ...... 1 a paid membership. Muskies, Inc. is a non-profit BIG WOOD MUSKY LURES ...... 19 organization. Membership classes and associated annual dues are listed on the form at the bottom CHARLES WEISS 2011 MUSKIE CALENDAR ...... 43 of page one. Copies of MUSKIE magazine are

FITTANTE REPLICAS ...... 24 available at $3.00 each from the Muskies, Inc. ◆

JOE BUCHER OUTDOORS ...... 2 Administrative Secretary. ADVERTISERSOF INDEX LAC SEUL FLOATING LODGES ...... 22 Contributors grant rights for M.I. to publish once in MUSKIE Magazine, both the print and on-line ver- LURE PARTS ONLINE ...... 17 sions, including archives and on the M.I. Web site. M.I. MEMBERSHIP CHALLENGE ...... 55 MANITOU WEATHER STATION ...... 39 MOOSEHORN LODGE ...... 23 Submissions to MOREHEAD TOURISM COMMISSION ...... 15 MUSKIE Magazine MUSKIE MAGAZINE - CATCH THE FEVER! ...... 58 Persons interested in submitting articles for NAZE BAITS ...... 20 publication are directed to our website www. muskiesinc.org for a link to MUSKIE Magazine, POPLAR RIDGE OUTFITTERS ...... 36 where you will find links on the left side of the RED WING LODGE ...... 17 page providing information necessary for SOUTH SHORE LODGE ...... 34 submissions to MUSKIE Magazine. Further questions will be answered by Kevin Richards, SPRING BAY RESORT ...... 11 Editor. Submissions may be sent to: 7618 Sunrise TAYLOR COUNTY TOURISM COMMISSION ...... 13 Ridge Road, Henley, MO 65040 or by email: WILD EAGLE LODGE ...... 32 [email protected]. Phone: (573) 280- 2300. YOUNG’S WILDERNESS CAMP ...... 14 www.muskiesinc.org Fall 2010.....MUSKIE 5 Lunge Log ◆ Lunge Log ◆ Lunge Log ◆ Lunge Log ◆ Lunge Log ◆ Lunge Log ◆ Lunge Log about 20 feet from the boat, I get a huge strike, actually, my very first too.” some Jimhad and Kevin sunset; aroundfollow a had I PM. 6 about again out Wecouple. back a got have did Kevin and Kath Jimfollows; no were on the water at 6 AM on Bemidji and fished all morning. I had Never-the-lessday! wethe start to way a Heckof gas. with up filling toes on my left foot ended up under his Ranger 620 trailer tire while my and time, wrong the at place wrong the in being me with started it!” won I and prize door a as meeting the to day guided full a donated man good Chapter.BemidjiThis the of VP and Alliance our meeting a couple of months ago. Kevin is co-chair of the Muskie at presentation a make and come Cochran Kevin had Meyer Aaron Chair Program our Then, book! his won even I and Pearson’stalk Dick hear winter,to overthe Muskies,time St. Cloud in Inc.joined equipment on up stocked I strikes. no follows, few a had I and year last times of number a went Weone. catch to needed I away right knew I Warriorboat. new my in fishing musky me took Brainerd) muskie. first his to up He joined last January. Tom tells us about his whirlwind tour leading Waite Park, MN and a brand new member of the St. Cloud Chapter. them and touched their desire to catch a muskie. Tom Ardolf is from Fall 2010 MUSKIE.....Fall 6 Tom Ardolf, Chapter 37.54inches,June23, 2010,Bemidji,MN.

Te i ral cags I m 7r hu o msy fishing, musky of hour 73rd my In changes. really it “Then day The AM. 5 about at 23rd June Wed, on Kevin met “We for Chair (Youth Kath Jim friend, good very a ago, year “A in interest took somebody because Inc. Muskies, join People t b h First Muskie - 54 Inches! 54 MuskieFirst-

First Year,Strike,First

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Bucktail, FishI.D. 289834. J L i

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h o g nose. excited. so was I because net. the in up her scooped Dave sight. amazing truly a was head. its shaking water the cleared completely it when fish big fish. big a had I Tail, black hair with chartreuse flame blades. Ghost bladed 10 Double a hit fish the am, 8:30 at spot first the On left. we before hours few a for out go to Wednesdaydecided we and following. the shared and picture a with note a us sent Brent good. be might hours more couple a decided Vermilionand w last MN. The Minnetonka, you’reand you on infected!” Alliance. Muskie member with his work both in our local chapter as well as in the MN passionate a obviously is Cochran May.Kevin in lakes the on work clean-up the for organizer He’sthe ago. months couple a meeting annual Lakes of Chain River Sauk the stocking “pro”of the side for our in speaker key the was He issue. activist Lake Cass the in involved and chapter the is Meyer Aaron that You’d find chapters. tiple mul- with youth with work his about TwinChapter’sreport; Cities of the Muskies, Inc. guys. There was just mention of Jim Kath in the good guys in this organization. I’m surrounded by the best of the best here.” from now,downhill it’squit all just might you muskie, first your for bad deal, watching that slowlysupertanker swim away. Jim Kath says not a What goes. it water the in back and pictures quick couple a snap inches with a 24-inch girth. Kevin, concerned about the fish, has Jim 54 is it board, the on it get we When musky! first my net, the into it Finally,get boat. we the and of enough tiressides fish both the on forth and back fight, a What fish. class inch 50 a is it see we close it get ever.I muskie when a bybut strike fish, sized We good a is it see good trip turned into the trip of trip the into turned trip good 55. this and 46, 44, 40, a caught I and days 4 in hours 56 fished she in, Brent Hirsch 55˝ VermilionBrentHirsch July!in M fin Dv Bc ad wr laig rud on on noon around leaving were I and Beck Dave friend “My in lives and Chapter Cities Twin the of member a is Brent of bunch a What experience! life-changing a with up end I “So She was out of water for 30-45 seconds and once she once and seconds 30-45 for water of Sheout was swam away in a matter of a minute or less. or minute a of matter a in away swam Brent Hirsch,Chapter 1.55inches,July28, 2010, Vermilion, MN.Ghosttail,FishI.D. 291269 Then about 20 seconds later, I really knew I had a had I knew really later,I seconds 20 about Then eed is a little bit of these guys to rub off rub to guys these of bit little a is need you All We laid her down and she was 55 on the on 55 was she and down her Welaid She made a few more runs, and my friend my and more runs, few Shea made eek of July they were ending a visit to visit a ending were they July of eek a lifetime.” a He popped the hook out of her of out hook the popped He As soon as I set, I knew For the trip, the For got back got That we A

Lunge Log Lunge

◆ Lunge Log Lunge

Bryan Foerst, Chapter 8. 50.75 inches, July 11, 2010, Madison Chain, WI. Crank Bait, Fish I.D. 290162 ◆ Lunge Log Lunge Foerst Update! In November 2009 Bryan Foerst caught the heaviest four-footer I have seen in the Lunge Log. We shared that picture with you this last April. In the article Bryan stated that his next goal was to catch a 50 incher from the Madison Chain before his 50th birthday. His wish came true on Sunday July 11, 2010 on Lake Monona just 11

days before his 50th birthday. It was 50.75 inches without ◆

a mark on it. He did not state his next goal but we will Log Lunge keep watch on him. That’s Foerst pronounced first.

Ken Worel the

Big Fish Master!

Way back in time in the Lunge Log some how it was perceived that the ultimate thing was to catch a 50 inch ◆ muskie. That was never stated so by me or Bill Davis or Lunge Log Lunge the other people who ran the Lunge Log in the early days. It just kind of evolved into the macho thing. Consequently we list the fifties a lot. We show their pictures a lot. We talk about them a lot. It is what you want. So who has the most fifties all time in Muskies, Inc.? If you are a member with access to the web site you know it is Ken Worel. Ken is from Grand Rapids, MN and a member of the

Star of the North Chapter. He has 1021 entries in the ◆

Lunge Log. His first entry is dated 7/10/93. So he has Log Lunge averaged just over 60 entries per year. The most amazing thing however is that nearly 8% of his catches are 50 inches or longer. That’s right; he has 81 fifties in the Lunge Log. He has 20 at 53 inches or longer. So how is this possible? He lives in northern Minnesota. That in itself explains most of it. He lives less than 90 miles from

Vermilion. He spends a large portion of the season on ◆ Vermilion as I believe he has a camper there. Vermilion is Log Lunge 42,000 acres of the finest muskie fishing in the United States. The other factor is he is a student of the game. We don’t know him deep and personal however over the last 17 years his name keeps coming up and we talk a fair amount. This past July, Ken released a muskie that is tied for 4th place longest muskie in our 40 year history of the Lunge Log. One above him in the list is one that has Not (Continued on page 8) www.muskiesinc.org Fall 2010.....MUSKIE 7

Lunge Log ◆ Lunge Log ◆ Lunge Log ◆ Lunge Log ◆ Lunge Log ◆ Lunge Log ◆ Lunge Log the ones we use. we ones the off hair the of most cut we oh Hesaid, cut. not by meant he what not Ken asked I one. get did to went he Wesleyoff and so think cut? not were that boat the in any had son Weshis Do-Dah.to Hethey turned if him asked and “Man”The Zippity-a see could I Kenhere.if asked was I crowd. of a front drew in Word course spread thattheguy I wastalking to wasKen Worel. out of tent This Lodge. a Dam under Vermilion muskie this at looking top Kevin’saroundlap huddled wereWe minutes. of ter Kevinmagazine. the for Jurisand Ozols mat- a in this did video the of off one big this of picture a get to needed we Hamm. Gil the at I had to see one and of course was going to meet with him Zippity-Do-Dah.a on caught was it 58.5, his on in came data the when bigger.enough Sureand bigger getting are Zippity’smuskies The catches. Zippity-Do-Dah his on this up by,showing keeps goes time as So abuse. to up on it. He just wanted a well-built bucktail that would dime hold a make to going not was he business, lure the into going not was he that explained he time of that At couple others. a and Ken’s Special a was there think I Dah, for Zippity-Do- one Moly, designed Holy had a called he was One that Inhaler. names lure new some enter today’sby little very standards. tail, buck little a is It Zippity-Do-Dah. called bucktail a using was chair.He a in boat the of back the in sits Ken as same the bit little a was this So bait. Wesley’sfollowed surface it after Ken by caught was muskie That 56.25. was longest his time that to and Up 4th. to best longest the of personal line the up new way moved his had Ken coming. kept just it net the of out it pulled they would When long. it that out turn idea no had but sized good was it knew They over. Game it. scooped and there right was Wesley boat the of motor.side dovethe the under at surfaced it When and boat the to came muskie the battle initial the After Gameon! times. 3 violently head its rockshook the Then this fishing rock. a hooks Ken arewhen done nearly are and drift unused they So up. open to 54 the got Wesley where buoy the for waiting 10 just were they in Actually years. there been not had they fishes; nobody that spot a to away yards 500 other about went they had So it. it using anglers but again it try to wanted then and lunch to went spot. They that common very a is buoy it fishes, everybody a at incher 54 a caught Wesley lunch before just spot last the Wesley.At son old year of 19 his partner course, his mean we them, By follow. one only had 21st they went out in the morning and not much was going on. They the same old humble Ken that I have known for a long time. On July on Challenge Chapter VermilionAugust.late in Sure was he enough get. they as critical as am I and mind my in doubt no is There net. slow the of in out tape coming and the coming keeps run just muskie I this When motion, level. that to get ever you if you to hint major a is thing picture and video this mind, in Keep muskie. long very this of tape video a of possession in am I simple. quite was Not a is ago.yearsVerification 31 Specifiedangler Ken’s him of muskie aboveinch 58.5 Another ago. years 14 water the for Specified Log Lunge Fall 2010 MUSKIE.....Fall 8 I met with Ken, along with editor Kevin Richards as Richards Kevin editor with along Ken, with met I to me wanted and me called Ken ago years few A Hamm Gil recent the at Ken with visited and down sat I (Continued from page 7) page from (Continued Ken Worel, Chapter15.58.5inches,July21,2010, Vermilion, MN.Zippity-Do-Dah.FishI.D.290949

Today the bucktails on the market are huge Log Lunge and getting bigger by the month. At this time I did not know he had gone the other direction. I saw Wesley return from the boat and hand something to his dad. Ken is standing there with his fist closed as Kevin Richards and I leaned in for a peek. Ken held out his fist and before opening it he asked us to promise not to laugh. When he

◆ opened his fist, there laid a little bitty almost hairless bucktail. In his hand it was folded in half Log Lunge making it even smaller to the eye. I for one went ever, most of the time all they want is a little snack. It is like after into shock. The blade is not very big; however it is the thickest blade Thanksgiving dinner. People are stuffed, but they mill around and I have ever touched. The shaft is solid and very heavy; you could tow pick up a small piece of cheese or a small snack cracker. They do this a truck with it. It has one treble hook on it, a 5/0. The hair is because they are just available. So there stood Ken with his little trimmed or cut so it barely hides the treble hook. Two feathers do snack lure, it was a priceless moment. Ken says it is too small to extend back a ways much like a rubber tail would. I pulled out a dol- market these days. Inhaler has not put them on shelves as they would lar bill to measure this lure. A dollar bill of course is 6 inches long. be buried by all the big colorful monsters that are selling today. This The Zippity and the dollar were the same length. I could see Ken was very neat, if you learn something new everyday, life will be ◆ Lunge Log Lunge laughing on the inside as he knew it is not what I expected. grand. No, I did not get a freebee and I hope this doesn’t sound like Ken says big bucktails are good when muskies are hungry, how- a commercial. By the way, Ken and his chapter won the Chapter Challunge again this year. Ken took big fish honors with a Zippity 54.25 incher!

Lunge Log Update! ◆

At this point in time there are 291,668 all-time Log Lunge entries in the Lunge Log. Please don’t check these numbers as it changes hourly. Out of that 288,566 were released for a release percentage of 98.9. Most of the kept

muskies (3,102) came from the early days of the Lunge Log. There have now been 5,388 fifty inchers reported. That would be about 1.8%. The list shows 49 entries are

56 inches or longer. It shows 364 are 54 inches or longer. ◆ The top lake for 50 inch muskies is still Lake of the Log Lunge Woods with 842, followed by Lake St. Clair ON/ MI

463, Vermilion, MN 451, Big Detroit/Detroit Lakes MN 233. In acres, compared to LOTW and LSC, Vermilion is a pond and Detroit Lakes is a puddle. The lures used to land 50 inch muskies have changed considerably over the last few years. Now in first is: Cowgirl/Double Cowgirl 314, Eagle Tail 173, Wiley Crank 171, and Jake 161. ◆ Lunge Log Lunge The most entries by angler or the Century Club lead- ers are: Joe Hardy 2681, Will Hardy 2302, Richard Minnick 1970, Charles Schauer 1952, Tom Muntz 1832, and Jeff Hanson 1760. All of these statistics will be updated and posted at the end of this season. If you are a member and have access to our website you already have access to most of these facts and figures. Enjoy!

Jim Bunch ◆ The Lunge Log Log Lunge 715 226-0295 [email protected]

www.muskiesinc.org Fall 2010.....MUSKIE 9

MUSKIE NEWS ◆ MUSKIE NEWS ◆ MUSKIE NEWS ◆ MUSKIE NEWS ◆ MUSKIE NEWS TreasurerGreenthe in club musky local a Bayfor area.represented I 2009. in MeetingBoardSpring the until 2008 in Meeting Board Spring the fromyear, a over for tions came on-board the following year. I also served as VP of Communica RegionalDirectors new the until 2-4-08 from months 13 for (ALD) Director Large At an as served I sport Milwaukee. and Chicago the in shows at MI representing Inc. Muskies, the for became chair I merchandise 2007 In chapter. the for director Tournament Best Titletown’s President the first five years. I am currently the Best of the of co-ownerTyrant also am TackleInc. I Club.Yachting Bay Green the manage I Currently 2005. in years been always Fortthe Howardat worked I there.31 Paperafter leaving Company have they years the over help needed has chapter our the by var to bitten bug Muskie been all have They Jim. and Jackie Jolene, children MyBackground candidate. perfect a me makes sport the for passion my that realized I eration and hesitated I position consid- some after me, than candidate therebetter stated a be to had the for run to asked was I When M.I. of ing Lac Vieux Desert. I am interested in becoming the next President fish- NorthwoodsWisconsin the in me find can you summers Most ResumePresident- MI for Candidate - JayZahn Committee. Executive the to advisors non-voting are Hempe will monitor the voting, logging and results of the vote; both process. the about call phone a expect also should chapter each will that indicated NarsetePresidentDan voteemail. via instructions receive the in participating Those CST. 8p.m. to 6 from occur Votingwill President. next our for vote electronic an in participate voting all and Directors PresidentialElection2010 Inc.Muskies, Fall 2010 MUSKIE.....Fall 10 Marvin Eisenbraun Marvin Lawrence Dermott Lawrence Special thanks to these members and members these to thanks Special DonationS Gary McCamant Gary ro t ti I evd s rsdn ad lo ertr and Secretary also and President as served I this to Prior as serving Chapter Titletownthe of founders the of one was I three have I Jean. wife my to years 33 for married been have I Wisconsin.Franken New in reside I and Zahn Jay is name My President.of position the for candidate one is There Administrative Secretary Ellen Wells and Parliamentarian Henry On Monday, November 15, 2010 all Chapter RVPs, all Regional Jim DonelsonJim SteveWeyers Dan MoatsDan Adam Salo Adam for their recent donations to Muskies,Inc: to donations recent their for ying degrees but one thing is for sure, when I or I when sure, for is thing one but degrees ying Robert Christensen Robert members of the Executive Committee will Committee Executive the of members Kent Magnuson Kent Harrison Bowes Harrison DianaWorline Daniel WesloDaniel JamesGalati Don Rieks Don Robert Crossley Robert Robert Cernick Robert Kevin Richards Kevin Dean Rosset Dean Rock Ripley Rock Chad Sandy Chad Allen FossAllen supporters supporters Membership happens. this committee’sexecutivesure the make and to job mine be will It it. fund to how and package compensation correct person. right the find to committee the find to be will challenge The search the with stronger.work organization will our I make will and time. some it give and it with work lets implemented been has system backwards.The not forward look to Wehave it. at working keep to have just we work; answers to take back to the chapters in their regions. The system will I heard the regional directors ask the tough questions and receive the Minnesota in meeting board the Attending time. it give Weto need some growing pains with the implementation of the regional system. having serve. is to organization continue The will they hope would I The organization has great members on the executive committee and representing the organization in all matters pertaining to the muskie. MI Representing GreenBay.in today enjoy we that fishery great the is this of result the eggs; collect to DNR local Great the of reintroduction the with Michigan River Musky.IndianSpotted to Lakes the travelled I in DNR local the with involved became I 1991 InMusky the WisconsinAlliance. at Clubs club that honored to be the next M.I. President.M.I. next the be to honored be would I them. from learning of way a have I but mistakes way the make along will I ethic. work collar blue a is get will and you guy what collar blue a am I Inc. Muskies, for and chapter your for Closing In forward. movelet’s and it use committee, research great Wea succeed. have to going is them with work to willing is that organization an only and country the around chapters our to challenges bring to going Itof.is unheard been have would ago years few a only that states in fisheries muskie have We when we stick together. What’s next? The muskie range is increasing. do can we what of example an is organization, this with started that ethic the release, and Catch world. muskie the for voice a being and to need we when stand a taking by agencies state our with involved get to have we hand other the On etc. seminars, meetings, outings, both. The average member wants his organization to be fun - fishing are we is opinion my in answer The organization. conservation a or to be more involved with. I have heard it asked are we a muskie club have we believe I that things of kind the are These fish. we way the change possibly could this of results successfully.The released and caught were that muskies of mortality delayed the studying is that Beast (Carleton Study) that is taking place in Canada. This is a study Noble Project the with helping are we Currently projects. research Vision organization. an as do can we much not is don’tthere increasemembership we ideas. If projects. their our fund soliciting we by way the involved is Membership them getting start to need we world; muskie the in known well are that members young Wehave members. our of ideas great the to listening start to about needs MI 6000. of membership a have We members. current keep impor- to more tantly and members new recruit chapters the help to ideas on the membership end of things. I believe we have to come up with I believe the decision to have an executive director is a good one MI of face the be to hard work would I President elected If If your chapter chooses to vote for me I will be honored to work in involvement its increase to has Inc. Muskies, that believe I Muskies, Inc. continues to grow in chapters but is losing ground MUSKIE NEWSMUSKIE ◆ MUSKIE NEWSMUSKIE

Regional Updates – Fall 2010 The 2010 Fall Region 2 meeting will be held in Clinton Region 1 by Regional Director Ron Teschner Township, MI on Friday October 8th. We will entertain an agenda for a new President for Muskies, Inc., an election for a Regional Region 1 consists of 14 chapters in 5 states: Washington, New Director, and host of many topics on the building of Region 2 and Mexico, Nebraska, North Dakota and Minnesota. This is a mix of the re-introduction of some special committee work. In addition a ◆ the oldest and newest chapters in MI. Minnesota has many classic fisheries report will be given from each of our state representatives. NEWSMUSKIE muskie destinations, while adding new lakes all the time. Our newer The meeting will be hosted by Chapter 58. RVP Mark chapters across the west have some of the newest waters and are add- Kornosky, the officers and board members are working diligently on ing new muskie opportunities and chapters all the time. the meeting preparation. The meeting will be held at the Concorde The 2010 Fall Regional meeting will again be held by telecon- Inn & Conference Center. Also planned by the Chapter will be a ference during the first week of October. The agenda will include the two day fishing outing/tournament held on Lake St. Clair; we have election of a Regional Director and other discussion items for the been promised to see some BIG muskies. At the completion of the betterment of MI. meeting the minutes will be posted. The Brainerd Lakes Chapter hosted this year’s Chapter Challunge (for the Star of the North Chapter) on Lake Vermilion, MN. They did a great job, with 173 M.I. members attending; making it one of Region 3 by Regional Directors Joel Johnson, the largest Challunge events ever. Star of the North were the stars Doug Dible, and Chad Theesfeld again and put on a clinic under very tough conditions. Rumor has it ◆ Region 3 consists of 12 MI chapters across 5 states: New Jersey, that next year’s Challunge may be returning to Lake of the Woods. NEWSMUSKIE Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky. While those Great fall fishing is going strong and Region 1 wishes all of from outside Region 3 might initially overlook these “Eastern” states Muskies, Inc. Good luck! as prime muskie fishing destinations, they are encouraged to take a closer look the MI Lunge Log…especially for late winter and spring Region 2 by Regional Director Fred E. Brogle opportunities, since many Region 3 seasons are open year round. As Region 2 consists of 13 MI chapters in 3 states: Michigan, Iowa, renewed interest in the amazing fisheries of upstate New York con- and Wisconsin. This fall will mark the first completed year under tinues to grow, anyone interested in forming a new chapter or two the Regional structure. Last October Region 2 held its first (Continued on page 12) Regional Meeting in Eagle River, Wisconsin; it was hosted at the Eagle River Inn. In a good showing, 11 of our Spring & Fall

13 chapters sent their RVPs to this his- Discounts ◆

torical event. The meeting was highly NEWSMUSKIE acclaimed by those who attended. It was Satellite TV our first meeting under the new Roberts Rules of Order. Wireless Internet Our board consisted of Scott Samuels (Recording Secretary), Jim Hefner New Cabins (Sergeant at Arms), Lorin Nevling (Acting Boat & Pontoon Parliamentarian), Bob Timme (Regional Director), Fred Brogle (Regional Director LAKE VERMILION, MN Rentals & Chairman), and several special guests. It all came together as a good “first” [email protected] • 1-800-847-5253 regional business meeting. www.muskiesinc.org Fall 2010.....MUSKIE 11 MUSKIE NEWS (Continued from page 11) from the Niagara or St. Lawrence River areas are encouraged to contact the Region 3 Directors or MI President for assistance. The 2009 Fall Region 3 meeting was held last October 24th at the Ohio Division of Wildlife District 1 Headquarters in Columbus, OH with 7 of the 12 Chapters in attendance. Elmer Heyob, the Assistant Administrator of Fisheries Management & Research gave an informative overview of the Ohio Muskie program with Q&A session following. An election was held to determine the initial Regional Director positions, and a strengths, weaknesses, opportuni-

MUSKIE NEWS ties, threats (SWOT) analysis was performed to help guide future

◆ regional actions. One of the best practices identified was for Chapters to work with their state Departments of Natural Resources to become both Muskies, Inc. Hall of Fame Announces active partners and resources for muskie program activities. A shining 2010 Selection: Lynn Frazier example is the Ohio “Minnow Fund”, which involves various musk- Lynn Frazier of Manchester, Kentucky and the Daniel Boone ie organizations providing zero-overhead direct support to the Ohio Chapter #52 has been elected posthumously to the M.I. Hall of muskie program through purchase of supplies and equipment coor- Fame. Lynn was born and raised in the hill country of southeastern dinated through an annual Kentucky. As an avid angler his entire life, he frequented tributary DNR ‘wish list.’ The 2010 streams of the Kentucky River such as the Red Bird, Goose Creek, ‘wish list’ items included an and South Fork. He also spent countless hours over the years washing aluminum truck-mounted baits on the Buckhorn Lake, Cave Run, and Green River fisheries.

MUSKIE NEWS minnow tank, two fish weigh- Lynn was a very early supporter of the catch and release concept. During the 1980s and 1990s in southeastern Kentucky, if you ◆ ing scales, 2” pump, and 3000 PSI pressure washer for the caught a nice river muskie, you most likely kept it. Catch and Kincaid State Fish Hatchery. A release, while not completely unheard of, was not practiced to any Hugh C. Becker Grant was great extent. Through the sheer force of his personality Lynn helped awarded to Central Ohio Chapter 41 in the amount of $7,675, the release philosophy catch on much quicker than it would have which purchased the minnow hauling tank. Additionally, a pump happened otherwise. and two scales have been purchased and delivered through club His all consuming love of everything muskie, led Lynn to donations this year. Since inception, the clubs are up to $28,951 in establish the South Fork Muskie Club. Their primary purpose at total support for the Ohio muskie program! that point was the protection and conservation of the muskie fishery in the rural hill country of that part of the state. He realized, better The 2010 Fall Region 3 meeting will be held on Saturday than many, that the trophy fisheries enjoyed today could not be October 16th. Due to the wide geographical distribution of Chapters established and maintained without a strongly entrenched release within the Region, there will again be a call-in teleconference option MUSKIE NEWS ethic. When Lynn heard about Muskies, Inc., he immediately this year for all RVPs. This meeting will include election of one ◆ joined and encouraged his many fishing friends to do the same. Regional Director position. Anybody interested in running for this Lynn personally led many jon boat outings to the various position is encouraged to contact their RVP to get their name stream-based muskie fisheries located both close to his home and included on the ballot. A complete agenda and meeting location some distance away. They all had the same primary purposes: sports- details will be distributed to Chapters in early September. manship, fellowship, and respect for the resource. Many muskie Region 4 by Regional Director Earle Hammond anglers over the years, both young and old, were introduced to Region 4 has established a Regional Directors Fund. All the muskie fishing through Lynn’s untiring efforts to promote the sport. chapters in the region are contributing $100 per chapter to help His consistent ability to catch large river muskies became a regular topic of conversation at social gatherings. In spite of his cover the cost of the fall meeting. All chapters send their checks to personal success, Lynn gained more satisfaction in seeing others suc- the Pomme de Terre Chapter which has opened a special savings ceed at the sport. His enthusiasm, good nature, and desire to help account to handle this. Any money left over during the year will help others, made him a positive impact on all who knew him. He gave

MUSKIE NEWS pay for the rent of a room or other expenses associated with the fall much more than he got. ◆ meeting. The Regional Directors Fund was set up so three chapters Lynn Frazier died on August 7, 2009, at 46 years of age, after a (number of regional directors) would not have to bear the cost of valiant fight against cancer. As an avid outdoorsman, he touched sending a RD to the regional meeting. We could have the meeting many lives. He was and remains today, a major influence on muskie by phone but the general agreement was you get more done by meet- fishing and the muskie fishery in southeastern Kentucky. It has been ing in person. Besides, it is nice to get together with old/new friends said, “If Lynn Frazier was your friend, he was probably your best and discuss matters and fishing. friend.” His character on and off the water, and his commitment to This year’s meeting will be held November 13, 2010 in doing things the “right way” made him a very effective and respected Springfield, IL. It will probably be held at the same location as last ambassador of Muskies, Inc. year as this location is just about the center of our region and is eas- Muskies, Inc. and the M.I. Hall of Fame Committee are proud ily located and inexpensive. to announce the election of Lynn Frazier to the Muskies, Inc. Hall Many of the chapters are gearing up for their fall tournaments. of Fame, class of 2010. v

MUSKIE NEWS MUSKIE NEWS LET’S FISH! v 12 MUSKIE.....Fall 2010 FIGURE 8 FIGURE Figure 8 8 8 by Kevin Richards [email protected] ◆ FIGURE 8 FIGURE

Our First Expanded Fall Showcase Issue! I hope you enjoy this first Fall showcase issue of MUSKIE as much as I have enjoyed working on it. This issue marks the start of my fourth year as your editor. Thank you for your support and for all the fun I have had in this endeavor! ◆ As you may recall this is the first of three expanded issues during Committee, and especially to me and our magazine team. FIGURE 8 FIGURE a 2010-2011 pilot program. Remember, there will be no November Finally, as I start my fourth year as editor I must say a very spe- 2010 issue of MUSKIE. cial thanks to everyone who contributes to the success of MUSKIE The plan for the pilot is to try three different seasons. The 2011 Magazine. This includes all of our readers, our officers, our advertis- showcase issues will be March 2011 (we will skip the February 2011 ers, our chapter reporters, our authors, our illustrators, our field issue) and July 2011 (we will skip the August 2011 issue). If the pilot editors, and many folks at Sunray Printing. However, I must give full is a success we will ask our Board of Directors for permission to print credit where credit is due. It would be impossible to produce any additional showcase issues in 2012 and beyond. As I’ve said before, issue of MUSKIE Magazine without the contributions and dedica- we never would have received approval to try this pilot program if it tion of Juris Ozols, Jim Bunch, Brad Waldera, Terri Fierstine, David ◆ hadn’t been for the support many of you expressed to our Board and Cates, Rick Helm, and John Windschitl. What a team! 8 FIGURE to your chapter representatives earlier this year. Thanks for that too! So, during this pilot program, how will we measure success? After the thrill of catching your next muskie do your best to Since recommending this idea I have mentioned four goals which we carefully release it to fight another day; the future of our muskie need to evaluate. Here are those goals and my preliminary assess- resource will literally be in your hands! ment of each relative only to this first showcase issue: - Kevin 1. Give our MUSKIE editorial and production team more flexibility so we can better ◆ manage magazine content and use the show- ◆ case issues to highlight some special Fisheries, Research, and/or Youth topics. Goal met. This FIGURE 8 FIGURE issue has more coverage of muskie fisheries and of research topics and activities than any other issue I have been involved with over the past three years. It also includes special, larger-than-normal coverage of the annual Gil Hamm Chapter Challunge. 2. Attract more advertisers because of the improved focus and content of the showcase ◆ issues. Goal met. I was pleasantly pleased with 8 FIGURE advertiser support of this issue. This issue includes more paid advertising than the October and November issues combined for either of the past two years. I hope the trend continues! 3. Keep the cost of each showcase issue at or below the cost of the two standard issues it will replace. The final numbers were not in ◆ when I wrote this column, but I think we will FIGURE 8 FIGURE meet this goal, especially considering the increase in advertising revenue mentioned under goal 2. 4. Continue the showcase concept if it receives generally positive support from our members. Too early to tell. Please provide feedback to you Chapter Reporters, Presidents, RVPs, Regional Directors, our Executive www.muskiesinc.org Fall 2010.....MUSKIE 13 Muskies Inc. Matching funds for Fisheries, Research & Youth Chapter #57 Youth Fishing Derby Committee Report This was an open-to- the-public event for children 14 years old From Tom Penniston, Vice President and younger. The event was held in coordination with the State of for Fisheries, Research & Youth Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife I would like to introduce myself as the new VP for Fisheries, Everyone is feeling the difficulties of the current economic cli- Research and Youth. My name is Tom Penniston; I am a long time mate, including our committee. In the past, Muskies, Inc. has been MI member and have been fishing almost exclusively for muskies for able to assist in funding minnow purchases, net purchases and over 30 years. In my first career, I was the State Hatchery Biologist numerous other items related to the day-to-day needs of raising and and Fish Health Specialist for the Arkansas Game and Fish managing muskies, as well as funding research projects conducted by Commission. My Fisheries career spanned 12 years. Upon moving Universities and natural resource agencies. All were very worthwhile back to Wisconsin, I changed careers and am currently a Systems endeavors. But, given budget constraints, we may have to engage in Administrator for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. more prioritization of our FRY funds to meet the goals of Muskies, So far in 2010, the Fisheries, Research & Youth committee has Inc. in the most financially efficient manner. approved allocation of Muskies, Inc. funds for the following projects: As I have become more comfortable with seeing where we are, I fisheries & research have determined some goals and have some changes in mind for the ◆ Project Noble Beast, future, these include: Carleton University, Researcher 1. Separation of Youth funds from Fisheries and Research Funds Sean Landsman in the budget. Youth is a completely different activity from the latter and it makes sense to fund it separately, and doing so Muskies, Inc. has provided falls within current bylaws. This will also allow those donating substantial funding to this study to Muskies, Inc. to specifically direct funds to Youth OR to on the effects of current catch- Fisheries and Research activities. and-release practices versus an even more conservative style of 2. I would like to see greater coordination with and utilization of releasing muskies. The study is other potential funding sources, such as the Hugh C. Becker already providing excellent pre- Foundation, to obtain funds for specific larger research liminary data as presented in the projects. April 2010 issue of MUSKIE Magazine. Some additional 3. The identification of a research source, and funding for, a funds will be provided to this project to assess the economic impact of creating a trophy research project to assist in the musky fishery on the locale where the fishery has been created. finalization of the study. There have been economic impact studies done all other species, and all species together, but nothing specifically on the funds generate fisheries & research by a trophy muskie fishery. If we could ◆ show on paper how much money a trophy muskie fishery brings into a local or regional economy, it would give us considerably more leverage with politicians and natural resources agencies in promoting and creating trophy muskie fisheries. I believe it would also aid in giving greater protection to naturally reproducing populations through length and bag limit regulation changes.

I would like to thank ALL Muskies, Inc. members for their tremendous grass- roots effort in helping to keep the Cass Lake, MN spearing ban in place. It was a great victory for that fishery and all our members. fisheries fisheries & research

14 MUSKIE.....Fall 2010 - The Hugh C. Becker has priority rights to all press releases and research & fisheries Hugh C. Becker Foundation publications. - If this project fails to reach its purpose, through false reporting, Awards for 2011 deceit, and/or other unprofessional acts, the requesting group Many MI members remember Hugh C. Becker. Before his may be responsible for restitution (committee determination). death, Mr. Becker worked with fellow MI member George Selcke to establish the Hugh C. Becker Foundation. Sixty-five percent of the Addendum: dividends from this multi-million dollar foundation go to Muskies, Like projects/activities that may qualify per the wishes and con- Inc. each year! The funds are channeled by the foundation board and ditions of Hugh C. Becker include, but are not limited to: through the Twin Cities Chapter. Many worthwhile projects have • Muskie propagation by chapters, similar to what the Twin Cities been funded in 2008 and 2009, the first two years of the grants. Chapter #1 has done in the past. The annual grant application process is open to chapters and • Stocking, by either raising muskie fingerlings or purchasing conservation agencies throughout the North American muskie range! fingerlings, yearlings, or adults for public use in designated The grants can be used for projects such as muskie propagation, waters. stocking, habitat, water quality, and professional research. The 2011 (Continued on page 16) grant application period will open on November 1st. What an amazing legacy Hugh Becker has left for the benefit of muskies and muskie anglers! Here are the details. ◆ fisheries & research research & fisheries All requests are to be received between November 1, 2010 and January 31, 2011. Address all requests to Hugh C. Becker Committee of Twin Cities Chapter of Muskies, Inc., c/o George Selcke, 13004 Shady Dale Road, Minnetonka, MN 55343- 4904. Requests are not to be more than five (5) leg- ibly typed pages; send an original and five (5) copies, to include all the following criteria: 1) Name and address of the group, and a history of the group’s accomplished projects to date, if applicable. Demonstrate need - how will this project benefit the Muskellunge program(s) in area, region, or range in the U.S. or Canada? 2) What is the project and what is purpose of project? ◆ 3) Where is this project taking place? research & fisheries 4) What is the duration of this project? Include start and finish dates. 5) What are the costs? Itemize equipment and labor, and provide quotes. 6) Who will be involved? Provide names and contact information (addresses, phone numbers, email) for the project team and project manager/coordinator. 7) Submit “milestone” dates for progress reports and accountability. 8) Can the requesting group match funds from another source? Please list. Other Considerations: - Cap on any individual grant/fund will be $10,000; incrementally within year or over the course of years. - Credit to the Hugh C. Becker Trust Foundation will be incurred in funding. www.muskiesinc.org Fall 2010.....MUSKIE 15 HUGH C. BECKER AWARDS (Continued from page 15) Ray L. Rector of Bridgeport, WV, member of West Virginia Chapter, #09, to complete his Eagle Scout project of stocking muskies in • Habitat protection and improvement. Deegan Lake with the cooperation of the West Virginia DNR. • Clean water (quality) protection and improvement. $1,000 • Professional research by qualified personnel (not limited to Purchase of “PIT tags” to be used primarily in Elk Lake, MN, for Minnesota, but must include accountable data). tagging fingerlings and adult muskies. Southern Crossroads • Expansion of the present muskellunge range (special consider- Chapter, #54. $9,000 ation for the Missouri river system in North/South Dakota). Continued evaluation of the different strains of muskies that have The Twin Cities Chapter #1 Committee will consider projects based been stocked in the Madison, WI, area lakes; Capital City on their respective merits per criteria above; awards will be published Chapter, #8. $9,000 in Muskie Magazine. Assist with genetic broodstock diversity study by Loren Miller, University of Minnesota; Twin Cities Chapter, #1. $6,900 Summary of Hugh C. Becker Assist with genetic structure study of Minnesota and Wisconsin muskellunge by Loren Miller, University of Minnesota; to the Foundation Projects Funded Twin Cities Chapter, #1. $1,000 2009-2010 – WOW!!! Funds for University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point angler opinion survey to determine the quality of muskie-fishing and manage- The Twin Cities Chapter of Muskies, Inc., Hugh C. Becker fisheries & research ment; Dr. Dan Isermann and Dr. Kristen Floress. $8,500 Grant Committee was pleased to award nearly $200,000 in grants ◆ during 2009 and 2010 for dozens of projects throughout North Supplies for dam escapement study, University of Illinois/IL Natural America which will benefit youth, education, research, habitat, fish- History Survey; $2,000 eries equipment, stocking, and, ultimately, the world’s muskie Funds for on-going study to identify spawning habitat, home ranges, resources! diets, and seasonal movements of Great Lakes muskellunge in Antrium County Chain of Lakes, Michigan; Dr. James Diana *** 2010 Grants *** and John Molenhouse. $6,300 Fish Tank for St. Mary’s Fish Hatchery, St. Mary’s, OH; Central Support the Between the Lakes Chapter, #20, youth Turning Leaf Ohio Chapter , #41. $7,600 Challenge in Northern Wisconsin. $2,800 Additional feeding troughs for production of muskies at the Assist New Mexico Muskies, Inc., Chapter, #59, to procure minnow Waterville, MN, Hatchery; Twin Cities Chapter, #1. $1,500 feed at Rock Lake Hatchery, Santa Rosa, NM. $5,400 Trap nets for Minnesota DNR Fisheries for muskie spawning and West Virginia Chapter, #09, for assisting the West Virginia DNR in surveys; North Metro Chapter, # 21. $6,300 upgrading and renovating the Snyders Run Rearing Pond in Netting to reduce predation on muskie rearing ponds at Lost Valley Lewis County, WV. $10,000 Hatchery, Warsaw, MO; Pomme de Terre Chapter, #05. 1,400 Leech Lake Watershed Foundation for the habitat protection project for Lantern Bay of Woman Lake, MN. $5,000 Leech Lake Watershed Foundation funding to

fisheries & research acquire shoreline land adjacent to the cur-

◆ rent DNR AMA land at Five Mile Point on Leech Lake, MN. $10,000 Pit tags for the next phase of growth and survival study of fingerling and yearling muskies stocked in Minnetonka, White Bear, and Bald Eagle Lakes in the Twin Cities metro area; Twin Cities Chapter, #01. $4,600 Twin Cities Chapter, #01, for stocking muskie yearlings in conjunction with the Minnesota DNR in White Bear Lake, MN. $4,200 Muskies Canada for the Lake Simco Muskellunge Restoration Project. $10,000 Fox River Valley Chapter, #39, in conjunction with the Illinois Musky Alliance and the Illinois DNR for stocking efforts in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin. $5,000 Fargo Morehead Chapter, #02, for stocking of muskies in Many Point Lake, MN. $5,000 fisheries fisheries & research

16 MUSKIE.....Fall 2010 First Wisconsin Chapter, #06 for stocking of muskies in Lake research & fisheries Wissota, WI. $2,500 MUSKIE LURE *** 2009 Grants *** BUILDING SUPPLIES Identification and Protection of Critical Muskellunge Spawning and www.LurePartsOnline.com Nursery Habitat in 6 Northern Wisconsin lakes by Wisconsin The Lure Parts Online Catalog has DNR. $7,000 everything you need to build your Fishing for Life Youth Fishing Program; Twin Cities Chapter, #01, own muskie lures. for conducting four events targeted at promoting fishing among Minnesota youth. $3,500 Mille Lacs, MN Muskellunge Tagging program; MN DNR, sup- FREE ported by the Brainerd Lakes Chapter. $3,500 CATALOG 84 Page - Full Color Leech Lake, MN Population Assessment project conducted by MN DNR for quantifying the adult Muskellunge population using a mark–recapture approach. Supported by the Brainerd Lakes Chapter. $1,300 Choose from a Huge Selection of...

• Bucktail Components ◆ North Metro Chapter to provide updated microscopes to MN Area • Heavy Duty Hooks research & fisheries Fisheries offices. $2,200 • Spinner Blades Leech Lake Area Watershed Foundation funding for the acquisition • Wire Forms of the Lantern Bay shoreline/land area of Woman Lake - critical • Brass Lure Bodies habitat identified by MN DNR. $5,000 • Leader Materials • Paint & Supplies Brainerd Lakes Chapter endowment/scholarship fund at Central • Tools & Molds 1-800-546-8922 Lakes College for two scholarships for second year students in Lure Parts Online, Inc. • Plug Parts 580 North Street Natural Resource and Natural Resource Law Enforcement. • And Much More! Springfield, IL 62704 $1,000 Request your free copy at LurePartsOnline.com Carlton University (Ontario) Project on Muskellunge Catch and Release; a joint project with the University of Illinois and with additional funding from Muskies, Inc. and Muskies Canada. $10,000 Twin Cities Chapter; for procuring and maintaining equipment for raising and stocking muskies in MN. $2,000 Fargo-Moorhead Chapter Many Point, MN stocking program; assist the chapter’s funding to MN DNR for the continuation of a five-year stocking program. $5,000 ◆ Over First Wisconsin Chapter; to assist the chapter in their continued research & fisheries efforts to stock the Leech Lake strain of muskellunge in Lake 10,000 Muskies Wissota. $4,000 Released On Sabaskong Bay Southern Crossroads Chapter French Lake stocking program; to Six-time Muskies, Inc., assist the chapter, with the cooperation of the MN DNR, in Chapter Challunge Headquarters purchasing and stocking adult muskellunge. $3,400 1983, 1986, 1993, 1997, 2003, 2004 Twin Cities Chapter Lake Minnetonka stocking program. To assist the chapter, with the cooperation of MN DNR, in purchasing, • Ultra-modern one, two, three, or four bedroom cabins stocking, and tagging fingerlings and yearling muskies in Lake • Housekeeping or camping • Floating docks, electricity for charging batteries, Lund Boats with swivel Minnetonka to determine angler recapture rates in highly pres- seats and depth finders, Honda motors with electric start sured waters. $5,000 • Dining room with food and liquor available for registered guests only Call or write for data on musky catches: Twin Cities Chapter in cooperation with MN DNR for purchasing 1 (888) 488-5601 or (807) 488-5601 and stocking tagging fingerlings and yearling muskies in White Red Wing Lodge, Box 1008, Baudette, MN 56623 Bear Lake to determine angler recapture rates in highly pres- sured waters. This tagging program will be named the George The convenience of a drive-in camp with the privacy you would expect on an island. Wahl Memorial Program. $7,200 v www.redwinglodge.net Family owned and operated for 40 years CHECK OUR WEB SITE FOR THE FIRST LIVE CAM IN MORSON! www.muskiesinc.org Fall 2010.....MUSKIE 17 Global Climate Change – My purpose is not to convince you that global Fisheries Impacts climate change is occurring and is a significant by Dr. Hal Schramm threat. I will make no predictions. But I will share known and potential consequences of a he average temperature for Planet Earth increased 1.5 oF during Tthe 20th Century. Some say that is just random variations, oth- warmer climate on the fishery resources and the ers attribute the increase to the predominantly urban sites where game fishes that are central to our souls and temperatures are measured. Maybe so, believe what you want. But lifestyles. glaciers are melting at a phenomenal rate and ocean temperatures are rising. Direct Effects You’ve read the claims of global climate change for North America. Common to all is elevated temperatures, particularly winter temperatures. But then consistency wanes. Some reports predict less precipitation, others predict floods. Let’s zero in on the musky zone, the upper Midwest and the Northeast of the United States and several hundred miles into southern Ontario and Quebec in Canada. fisheries & research According to a 2009 report from the United States Global Change ◆ Research Program, the Midwest and Northeast can expect to see warmer temperatures, particularly in winter, decreased ice cover, increased frequency and intensity of summer heat waves, and increased precipitation in the winter and spring. What are the direct From 1901 to 2008, each year’s temperature departure from the long-term average is one bar, with blue bars representing years effects on muskie? cooler than the long-term average and red bars representing years The warmer temperature, by itself, is not bad news for muskies. warmer than the average. National temperatures vary much more The range of E. masquinongy will shift north. This shift may open than global temperatures, in part because of the moderating up new muskie opportunities, but at the expense of decline and influence of the oceans on global temperatures. potentially the demise of Ohio River basin fisheries. The primary cause of increasing temperature and the sundry side effects that together constitute global climate change is increasing amounts of carbon dioxide in the environment that traps short- wave (heat) radiation bouncing off our increasingly treeless planet. The source of the carbon dioxide? Burning fossil fuels. Who is burning it? Man. An unfortunate compound effect occurs when man enters the carbon cycle. More people burn more fossil fuel, so carbon dioxide emissions are positively related to the size of Earth’s population, and it is growing. More people need more houses, more pavement, more fisheries & research malls, and more crops. Forested area is dwindling, and nature is ◆ sponging less carbon dioxide from the environment. The result - carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is increasing at an unprecedented rate, and Nature’s ability to restore balance is diminishing. Peer-scrutinized forecasts predict average global temperature rises of 2 to 11.5 oF by the end of this century. The high-end prediction is an estimate for status quo carbon emissions and deforestation; the low-end prediction is what could be achieved if emissions are cut substantially. Yes, some sources disagree with these predictions. Some even claim the earth is cooling. I am a fisheries biologist and an angler. I am pretty good at forecasting the weather one day at a time and getting off the water before the weather gets nasty, but I am not a climatologist. My purpose is not to convince you that global climate change is occurring and is a significant threat. I will make no predictions. But I will share known and potential consequences of a warmer climate on the fishery resources and the game fishes that are central to our souls and lifestyles. I will focus on muskie and where they live, but the results apply to many of our valuable sport fishes. fisheries fisheries & research

18 MUSKIE.....Fall 2010 Although the winter and spring precipitation is expected to access to backwaters for reproduction, but summer heat will elimi- research & fisheries cause more frequent local flooding, water levels in the Great Lakes nate muskie from streams lacking adequate baseflow to provide both are forecast to fall due to higher evaporation during hotter summers depth and cool temperatures. Baseflow is groundwater flowing into (graph). By the middle of this century, Lake Erie is predicted to fall the stream that provides a minimum amount of flow in the absence more than one foot, and Lakes Michigan and Huron are predicted to of precipitation and surface runoff. Groundwater is approximately be almost 2 feet lower. St. Clair will probably be somewhere in the average annual temperature in a region, so baseflow provides cool between. Even greater declines in water levels may occur in inland water during the heat of the summer. lakes, particularly lakes with relatively low watershed-to-lake surface The resurgence of quality muskie angling is closely tied to the area ratios. fervent catch-and-release ethic of most muskie anglers, but increasing water temperatures may affect the presently high post-release survival rates. The summer of 2010 was exceptionally hot, and water temperatures in Lake St. Clair topped 80oF. While it’s not unusual for Michigan DNRE crews to encounter one or two dead muskies after a mid-summer weekend, Thomas counted eight dead muskies floating in the southwest region of the lake after a mid-summer weekend of heavy muskie fishing activity which included a large tournament. The high mortality at 80oF seems surprising for a fish with an optimum temperature of 78oF, but maybe it isn’t. I worked with colleagues at University of Minnesota on a comprehensive, multi-state study of mortality of walleye in top-tier live-release tour- ◆

naments. We found that mortality rate increased rapidly beginning research & fisheries at about 60 oF degrees, 10-12 degrees below the walleye’s thermal optimum of 70-72 oF. While much remains to be learned, it appears that capture and handling stress can cause high mortality at or even below the optimum temperature for some fish. Ecosystem Changes The same shifts in temperature regimes that will alter the range of muskie will affect all components of their ecosystems from the planktonic algae and rooted aquatic plants up the food web to muskies’ preferred forage fishes. Expect habitats to change, including the composition and location of some of those weedbeds that have been Water level changes may have very different effects on muskie so productive for so many years. reproduction in different lakes. Biologists have found that shallow, What difference can a few degrees make? The temperature organic-bottom bays with abundant woody materials appear essential change is important, but so is the thermograph - the time of different for good spawning and survival of young muskie. This spawning and temperatures. I have fished a fairly large lake in north-central nursery habitat may become unavailable in lakes suffering long-term Minnesota for many years. The lake has two basins - a moderately declines in water level. However, the large fluctuation that results deep 1,500 acre eastern basin, and a 5,700 acre main-lake basin. from winter and spring flooding and summer drawdown driven by Both basins support extensive weed beds, many with nice stands of drought and high evaporation will benefit muskie in lakes that do cabbage. The cabbage grows down to 14 feet in the main basin but ◆ not endure long-term declines in water level. The summer draw- only down to 11-12 feet in the eastern basin. It appears that the research & fisheries down will aid oxygenation and consolidation of the organic bottom eastern basin warmed more quickly in the spring and supported an and provide better habitat when the winter and spring precipitation early algae bloom that suppressed the deeper cabbage. refills the lake. (Continued on page 20) Water level declines in the Great Lakes likely will have little effect on muskies. Muskies spawn in deep-water weed beds in Lake St. Clair and the Detroit River according to Michigan DNRE fishery research biologist Mike Thomas. Thomas, however, is suspicious that low water levels may force northern pike to spawn in deeper water with the muskie. Although results are preliminary, Thomas has seen higher incidence of hybrid pike and muskie in year classes that coincided with low-water events. Muskies in small rivers may be more vulnerable that those in lakes. The predicted floods in the late winter and spring may benefit some populations by ensuring www.muskiesinc.org Fall 2010.....MUSKIE 19 GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE (Continued from page 19) The news media that buzzes about Asian carp in the Great Lakes suffers severe myopia, and Asian carp entering Lake Michigan is just Heat + Drought = Fire one of many straws on the camel’s back. The Mississippi River basin includes 35 states and two Canadian provinces. Anything that Managers have succeeded in creating muskie fisheries in some escapes into the Mississippi River or its tributaries can settle in an pretty unlikely places, but self-sustaining muskie populations are aquatic mega-system that extends from Montana to Ontario to West typically found in lakes with heavily forested and undeveloped water- Virginia and funneling south to Louisiana. Warmwater aquaculture sheds and riparian zones. Forest fires were ram- is largely centered in the Mississippi River allu- pant during the drought that plagued much of vial valley and in several major tributaries to the the United States at the beginning of the 21st Mississippi because of the flat lands, fertile soils, Century. The hot and dry summers forecast for Whether you believe in and abundant ground water needed for aquacul- the Midwest and Northeast are conducive to global climate change or ture as currently practiced. Thus, much of the forest fires. Fires don’t affect fish until the fires not, the potential conse- northward expansion of aquaculture can be are out and the rains flush the ash, nutrients, expected to trace the Mississippi River valley. and sediments from the now-barren watershed quences should dictate a Hopefully, recognition of a future filled with into the lake. Even then, fires rarely have a precautionary approach. silver and bighead carp will stimulate tighter direct effect on fish. The nutrients cause algae control of the culture of non-native fish and blooms; the ash and sediment smother bottom- other aquatic species; but, lacking sufficient dwelling invertebrates. The predicted winter and spring flooding control, escapement from fish farms in the Mississippi River basin fisheries & research precipitation will aggravate the after-effect of fires on water quality. can contaminate a vast geographic range of aquatic ecosystems. ◆ We can also credit international shipping and insufficient fed- The Worst is Yet to Come eral and state regulations for more than 70 non-native species, Many fisheries managers and biologists I know consider global including round goby, European ruffe, and zebra and quagga mussels climate change a significant threat to the future of our fisheries, but that are now established in the Great Lakes. Many of these species many others consider aquatic invasive species (AIS) a greater and can alter ecosystems, others can be predators or competitors with more imminent threat to our native fisheries and the habitats that native game fish and all are potential reservoirs for new fish patho- support them. Non-native species can invade and alter aquatic eco- gens. systems without climate change, but global warming and the chang- The Great Lakes have been connected to the rest of the world es that accompany it are like to advance AIS problems. In a 2008 since the Welland Canal provided a navigation route around Niagara article in the Journal of Conservation Biology, Falls, and it may seem that any aquatic Dr. Frank Rahel of the University of Wyoming critter that could colonize the Great Lakes and Dr. Julian Olden of the University of would have done so. Most of the invaders Washington provide a detailed account of that have established in the Great Lakes are how global climate change will facilitate native to temperate and cold-temperate range expansion of non-native aquatic spe- climates similar to the conditions offered cies. Here are some of their high points, by the Great Lakes. However, as the Great along with a few of my own thoughts. Lakes warm, conditions will become more The warmer water will allow already- favorable for invaders from warm-temper- established non-native fish restricted to more ate climates. Keep in mind that the same

fisheries & research temperate and subtropical climates to expand northward shift in distribution of North

◆ north. Cold-water intolerant species like American fishes and other aquatic species tilapia, red bellied piranha, and walking cat- will be occurring in Eurasia, so ships from fish may not make it into muskie waters, but the same European ports that brought the they will be able to expand into the Midwest. present colonizers may be transporting a However, non-natives that tolerate temperate new menu of unwanted guests. climates, like the common carp, will move The Great Lakes are not only home to further north with muskie. a myriad of AIS but have also proven to be Expect new invaders as pathways for a source for the inland expansion of invad- introduction expand. Almost all aquatic ers that can be moved by anglers and boat- invasive species arrived in their new North ers. Witness the recent spread of VHS American homes via escapement from aqua- (viral hemorrhagic septicemia) and zebra culture or hitchhiking aboard international mussels from the Great Lakes throughout ships. Aquaculture will expand northward as the Midwest and Northeast and, for zebra growing seasons for warmwater species mussels, even across the Rocky lengthen. We can thank aquaculture and Mountains. insufficient federal and state regulations for Water gardens will move north as Asian carp that escaped aquaculture facilities, summers become longer and winters spread throughout the Mississippi River become milder. These attractive novelties basin, and are now poised to enter the Great can be the Johnny Appleseed of unwanted fisheries fisheries & research Lakes. aquatic biota. Commonly used plants

20 MUSKIE.....Fall 2010 include water hyacinth, which gets my vote for the most invasive and research & fisheries injurious non-native aquatic plant in the U.S., and fishes that All graphics in this article are courtesy of the include goldfish and koi. Sold, installed, and maintained by the U.S. Global unaware, many water gardens are halfway houses for these and other Change Research Program. USGCRP coordinates and aquatic invaders. When the water gardens flood or the novelty wears integrates federal research on changes in the global envi- off, the non-natives often end up in surface waters. If you think this ronment and their implications for society. The USGCRP is just a prediction, think again. Mike Thomas has collected water began as a presidential initiative in 1989 and was man- hyacinth from the St. Clair River, the Clinton River, and the Detroit dated by Congress in the Global Change Research Act of River at various times during the past eight years. Fortunately, the 1990 which called for “a comprehensive and integrated cold winters appear to have prevented overwinter survival of this United States research program which will assist the plant in the St. Clair system so far. Global climate change predicts Nation and the world to understand, assess, predict, the surface waters will be warmer than in the past and more likely to and respond to human-induced and natural processes allow the escapees to survive and flourish. of global change.”

The Vision of the USGCRP: A nation globally engaged Ecosystem Meltdown and guided by science, meeting the challenges of cli- Ecosystems are resilient. When they are healthy, they can resist mate and global change. invaders. But when stressed by global climate change, aquatic systems could lose that resiliency. The simplest example of resilience is The Mission of the USGCRP: To build a knowledge base predation on would-be colonizers. Muskie and many other sport fish that informs human responses to climate and global ◆ are formidable predators that can suppress (and probably have sup- change through coordinated and integrated federal pro- research & fisheries pressed) colonizing invaders, but that predatory effect diminishes as grams of research, education, communication, and deci- behavior changes or populations decline, responses expected with sion support. climate change. The environment, itself, can also block establishment of alien Thirteen departments and agencies participate in the species; but climate change can remove some of these barriers. For USGCRP. The program is steered by the Subcommittee example, warmer winters and less ice cover can reduce oxygen deple- on Global Change Research under the Committee on tions in shallow backwaters and open up a niche for an invader; Environment and Natural Resources, overseen by the alternatively, increased amounts of light that result from less snow Executive Office of the President, and facilitated by an and ice cover can create conditions that allow establishment of non- Integration and Coordination Office. native aquatic plants. What lives and flourishes in rivers and streams is determined by the hydrograph - the seasonal changes in flow. During the past two decades, the United States, through Reduced summer flow may favor non-native species formerly inhib- the USGCRP, has made the world’s largest scientific ited by current. Predicted changes in precipitation patterns will investment in the areas of climate change and global result in earlier spring floods in Midwestern and Northeastern change research. Since its inception, the USGCRP has streams. Native species whose life cycle is keyed to the natural hydro- supported research and observational activities in col- graph may be disadvantaged while invaders able to benefit from the laboration with several other national and international earlier flood pulse will gain competitive advantage. science programs. The alterations triggered by climate change reach meltdown when the new environmental conditions suppress the native species and give competitive advantage to the invaders. Beyond this point, ◆ there is no restoring the system to its native state. In Conclusion research & fisheries Global climate change. Likely? Imminent? The effects of cli- Ecological meltdown mate change on the recreational fisheries resources we all enjoy and Native species the habitats are far greater than moving a few degrees on the ther- High

High mometer and a few degrees north in latitude. Whether you believe in global climate change or not, the potential consequences should dictate a precautionary approach. While global climate change remains a prediction, the changes to our aquatic ecosystems I’ve highlighted are well established responses to environmental altera- tion. Sadly those who fail to address climate change today will not be around to witness the outcome. v

Water temperature Water Hal Schramm is a life-long angler and Professor of Fisheries at Mississippi Species abundance Species State University with interests in river fisheries ecology and recreational

Low fisheries management. He contributes to a number of popular fishing Low magazines; in doing so he is a leader in bridging the communication gap Time which sometimes exists between fisheries scientists and anglers. www.muskiesinc.org Fall 2010.....MUSKIE 21 Life on Lac Seul Late Fall by Erik Jacobson

The author with a hefty 54-incher on Halloween – trick or treat!

n the first installment of the story of my visit to Lac Seul with Sure enough, no problem, and off we went with a full load up the Moosehorn Lodge’s Linda Rice and Lac Seul Guide Greg lake. Seeing the lake at this time of year was very interesting, instead IMarino, I shared some details of our summer trip and some of the lush green shores, it had the classic desolate look of fall. With insights I learned from them about fishing that legendary water in snow on the banks it was obvious the end of the open water season the warm water period. This installment will focus on my second was near, and with it, hopefully come the big muskies of late fall. visit during the late fall cold water period. With the rifle near, Linda and Greg hoped to spot a Moose on I left Garrison, MN on October 30th in a steady rain. I was the way to add to our load. As we traveled a keen eye was necessary being optimistic and hoping I would drive out of it. Not to be the to differentiate the stumps in back of the bays from an actual Moose. case, it rained the entire way to Sioux Lookout. The forecast was I was anticipating the whole scenario, hoping it was going to actu- calling for a cooling trend, rain turning to ally happen when we came by a deep bay, snow, but after driving that far into Canada and in the back was a bull moose belly deep and still facing rain I was a bit skeptical. Sure I’ve had some of my best in the water. As we throttled back, he reacted enough, shortly after arriving the rain turned fall fishing when there’s and headed for the bank and in a flash was to a wet snow . . . and then began accumulat- gone in the woods! ing. By morning there were a few inches on snow on the ground and We arrived at the houseboat with the the ground and I loved it! you get that funny look joyous sound of the generator still running. I’ve had some of my best fall fishing when Unloading our gear and packing a quick there’s snow on the ground and you get that from people when you’re cooler we were psyched to get started fish- funny look from people when you’re still tow- still towing a boat. ing. To my amazement, the first trolling run ing a boat. They usually ask, “Puttin’ her away was within view of camp! I broke out a for the winter?” Nope, we’re goin’ fishing! bright colored Jake, asked for approval, got After loading all the gear in to the boat, I was wondering if it it, and snapped it on. We’d barely got started and Greg said, “Come would even go on plane or “on step” as they call it in the Northwoods. on, right here,” and I got a rip straight away! I jumped up and grabbed the rod and barely got a hold of it, and the fish was gone. I reeled in and checked the bait, including smelling it, to see if I could tell what had hit it (Greg said they had caught a lot of nice pike along with the muskies). But, with no sign, I put it back in with forty feet of line out. No sooner did I get the rod in the holder the clicker screamed again! I hadn’t even sat down. This time it stuck and turned out to be a nice mid- forty inch muskie - my first Lac Seul muskie. It was Halloween, trick or treat . . . and it turned out to be a treat. As a result of that action, Greg decided it would be prudent to make a third pass. We turned around, reloaded, and set up for a return pass. We got about half way back thru the pass when my clicker screamed again! As I jumped up 22 MUSKIE.....Fall 2010 to grab the rod, the fish The high fives con- came to the surface and tinued as this was did the big circus act – quickly turning into the that got our attention slugfest we had all and we all knew it was a hoped for. We decided big one, I got the rod to go further up the out of the holder and it lake to some fresh water did some more surface but it turned out little antics before turning in results. After re-think- to a towing match. She ing the spots that had had spent a lot of ener- produced for us so far, gy doing the wash we decided to do a re- machine after the strike run of all them. Later and was content for the that afternoon it didn’t Linda with a 50.5 inch muskie caught on the morning of November 2nd. moment with me pull- take long to connect ing her in our direction. Slowing she kept coming closer, I thought with another fish on the spot where we had previously caught two for sure she was going to get her strength back and start thrashing others. The drag screamed and I would have sworn it was a big fish. again so I played it cool and slowly eased her toward the net. It wasn’t With the amount of line it was taking, it was either another giant or until she felt the net surround her that she started in again. But by a foul hooked smaller one. Sure enough as I finally got it within sight that time it was too late. it was a low forty inch fish with the Jake in the back of its head. Looking in the net the celebration began. This fish was huge! I What probably happened is the fish went for the lure, and after pulled it out and it kept comin’. When the dust settled, I was releas- getting hooked began the usual rolling and the lure came out of its ing a fat fifty four inch muskie with a twenty four inch girth within mouth and lodged in the back of its head. Needless to say it was quite a half an hour of the start of our trip! I sat back, basking in the feel- a battle! With that we decided to go back to the area where we caught ing only a big fish can give you. The day had started out with a bang, the 54-incher. Just as the sun was coming out for the first time since but ended quietly with no more fish caught. I joked with Greg and we got there, Greg’s rod went off like a starter’s gun. It was almost Linda that I might as well just pack it up and head for home, my trip surreal with the sun rays coming down and the rod bucking in the and my year were was made. But in reality, you couldn’t have pried holder. Greg was literally basking in the new sunshine, and had just me off that lake. (Continued on page 24) The area where we caught the fish was a small island off the main channel that had character – steep breaking in some areas, yet feeding shelves in others. It was near the mouth of a neck down area of the lake that had current, a classic spot, summer to fall. We con- centrated our efforts on the main lake side. The next morning started out with a bang again as both Linda and Greg caught nice mid-forty inch fish in about a half an hour. Both fish were caught on tulibee imitating crankbaits while fishing - SMALLMOUTH BASS - DELUXE CABINS an underwater extension from shore with a sweet high spot on the - NORTHERN PIKE - AMERICAN PLANS end of it. The depths ranged from eight to fifteen feet of water. We - LAKE TROUT - FINE DINING rounded out the day with a spastic mid-thirty inch fish that was - WALLEYE - 18’ AND 21’ BOATS doing it’s best to get bigger. - MUSKIE - GUIDED PACKAGES The general set-up we used was three rods. Forty feet back on the inside line, sixty feet back on the outside line, and twenty five feet back on the down rod in the prop wash. The down rod generally had a little deeper diving bait on it than the other two rods. Colors didn’t seem to matter much. We caught fish on colors ranging from the natural tulibee or walleye patterns, to the loud and gaudy fire tiger perch pattern. Also, the hot pattern Jake did catch a lot of the fish including two of the bigger ones. There was definitely something about the mornings as we started out day three with another bang. We were trolling a nar- rowed area with current and steep breaking shorelines and it didn’t take long before Linda got a big rip! With the battle in full swing it For reservations call: quickly became apparent this was another big fish. It came to the Toll free: 1-800-682-6123 surface to show off, twisting and rolling, trying to throw the lure to Or e-mail: [email protected] no avail. As Greg readied the net, Linda slowly eased the fish in that P.O. Box 579 direction until she hit pay dirt. With the fish securely in the net it Sioux Lookout, ON P8T 1A8 was time to survey the situation. The tale of the tape read fifty and www.canadafish.com a half inches with another solid girth. Over the side she went to fight Owned and Operated by: Carter and Linda Rice another day. www.muskiesinc.org Fall 2010.....MUSKIE 23 LIFE ON LAC SEUL (Continued from page 23) said, “Energize me,” leaning back taking in the rays when the rod went off. Pandemonium ensued as we once again began readying to land another fish. Greg had been the patient and consummate guide as Linda and I had both caught big ones. Now it was his turn. With another giant on the line, it was up to Linda to get it in the net. The fish went from one side to the other trying it’s best to free itself from the big Jake. But it was useless, that fish was soon in the net. A quick glance revealed another big muskie. Shortly thereafter, Greg was releasing another fifty and a half incher. We

When Greg also caught a 50.5 inch muskie, November 2nd turned out to be our second three fish day. This time two of them were over fifty inches!

had just had our second three fish day, but this time two of them were over fifty inches! The next day brought more snow and some heartbreak. We lost at least three fish and one seemed to be another good one. The day came to an end with the muskies on the winning team. It hurt a little to lose the fish, but looking back it shouldn’t have come as much of a surprise as we had quite a streak going prior to that day; as everyone knows with fishing, all streaks will come to an end. On our final day we battled more snow and wind but managed another mid-forty inch fish and lost another in the same size class to round out our trip. The entire time the water temperature seemed to hover around forty degrees. Even with a decent amount of snow fall during the trip the water temperature didn’t budge that much. It really shows you how radical the weather has to get to drop the water temperature in a short period of time. Another interesting observation was that we covered a lot of water – and a lot of fresh water – but almost all the fish came from three general areas. So it really goes to show you that once you’ve found some areas that are pro- ducing fish, it’s really important to stay on them and check them frequently as new fish may move in at any time. When we got back to Sioux Lookout there was a considerable accumulation of snow on the ground, and it suddenly looked like winter. As I drove south back toward Minnesota it didn’t take long for the snow to disappear and it looked like a normal fall again. Thoughts of Lac Seul are still fresh in my mind as I write this, and I’m already looking forward to my next visit. I’d like to thank Greg and Linda for their hospitality and new found friendship. v

24 MUSKIE.....Fall 2010 muddy bottom of the South China Sea due to a half-dozen serious It might be supposed that Leland D. White is more leaks in the boat’s hull. Desperate after an eight hour pounding, and than vaguely interested in muskies. For more than with oxygen so depleted that a struck match won’t light, the captain two years he ate, slept and worked in the belly of orders every available crew member to cram into the forward torpedo one - all the while fighting to stay alive. room. Musky, like an obedient teeter-totter, responds to the sudden weight shift and her stern breaks free. Muskallunge limps off to ust received a couple of Muskies, Inc. calen- Fremantle, Australia, spared to fight another day. dars,” Lee informed us last January. “Great But wait – there’s more! And no, this isn’t a “Jjob in putting that together. I started to leaf TV infomercial. Lee White and a fellow shipmate through the pages, and then saw there’s so much info (both long retired) answer a classified ad in a Navy for each month that I decided to take it one month at publication that seeks contact with former a time. That way I can savor it for the whole year.” Muskallunge crew members. The year is 1991. Now chasing his 92nd birthday, Lee has intimate Who pops to the surface but a Japanese citizen knowledge of the largest Esox of them all, the fleet named Ujihito Kimoto. Mr. Kimoto, it turns out, submarine USS Muskallunge. And that’s why we is one of the surviving solders aboard Durban asked him to share his own trophy photos. In this issue you’ll find Maru, and now the owner and CEO of an international company with images of the all-time record musky: 3,052,000 pounds with a length a branch office in the U.S. Kimoto is on a mission to heal his own of 3,744 inches. Some fish. Some tape measure! wounds and those of his former enemies. Muskallunge (SS-262) was hatched Lee, his shipmate and their wives are put up in the Ritz Carleton at Groton, CT (Electric Boat Co.) and Hotel in Marina Del Ray, CA and treated like royalty, as Lee remem- released at nearby New London on bers. The three couples are driven that evening to Hollywood in a December 13, 1942. Following com- stretch limo and attend a live stage show. Further social gatherings missioning, she arrived at Pearl Harbor follow, including a reunion with Muskallunge’s second commanding in August, 1943. During the next two officer, Mike Rusillo, the man directly responsible for putting Kimoto years, Musky made seven war patrols and his fellow soldiers adrift on life rafts when he ordered: “Fire one! and earned five battle stars while steam- – fire two! – fire three!” ing more than 100,000 miles. Leland No other branch of the U.S. military suffered as great a casualty White served aboard as motor machin- rate as the submarine force (3,502 crewmen and 52 boats lost). More ist from launch to layup, 40 months in than a quarter-million applicants volunteered for the Silent Service by all, and retired in 1961 as a chief petty officer – 24 years a submariner. war’s end, but only 16,000 served aboard subs. Among an estimated As of this writing, White is one of four known 2,750 still alive, none are younger than 82. WWII sub vets refer to Musky survivors from the original crew of 65. themselves as “smokeboaters,” in contrast to today’s nuclear-powered In defiance of the actuary tables, Lee stands out sub sailors. Lee and his crew mates still joke about the fragrant and as a triple dipper: Navy retirement pay (half a irresistible men’s cologne they wore when ashore - diesel engine fumes. century’s worth), Ford Aerospace corporate And now, your undivided attention, please. Time out for a retirement pay, and Social Security. Widowed musky anatomy course. Examine a musky’s four pectoral fins. in 2008, his ties to the Navy are irrepressible Located fore and aft in pairs, they almost perfectly match the diving and consume much of his time and attention. planes (hydroplanes) on a fleet submarine. And they serve the self- Lee’s taken V.I.P. trips aboard two nuclear sub- same purpose, allowing both fish and boat to angle bow-upward when marines and is actively involved in the San surfacing, and bow-downward when submerging. Technology mim- CPO Leland White, Diego Chapter of the WWII SubVets icking nature. And again like its namesake, Muskallunge could, and circa 1948. Association. A close camaraderie not much dif- did, put up a good fight on the surface as well as beneath it. ferent, we venture to opine, than that of Muskies, Inc. Her ultimate fate? Not exactly catch and release, but close. She As for war stories, Lee has a number of them, but just one will was used as a practice target off Long Island, NY in July 1968. One suffice. Imagine for the moment you’re a crew member aboard of Lee White’s former Muskallunge shipmates broke her back with a Muskallunge. Explosive depth charges, more than 50 before it’s over, single torpedo fired from another submarine. No scrap pile for this come raining down on your head. Three Japanese anti-submarine battered but unbeaten prowler. Muskallunge now rests in home waters, escort vessels are hopping mad because Musky has just torpedoed and half-a-world away from where she earned her laurels, but within fifty sunk Durban Maru, a 7,163-ton transport loaded with a regiment of miles of her Connecticut birthplace. v Imperial troops. Now the escorts have Musky zeroed in on their sonar Wisconsin native Tony Welch pursues tiger muskies in Washington State screen at a depth of 300 feet. Despite frantic maneuvers, the sub can’t and, wherever he finds them, WWII veterans with a tale to tell (for a break contact. Her demise, and yours, seem certain. sample, Google up “God, My Dog and I”). Welch is himself a greybeard Musky’s stern, and therefore her props, are soon driven into the US Navy vet – going back 55 years. Splice the mainbrace! www.muskiesinc.org Fall 2010.....MUSKIE 25 Keith Hammerbeck Some of the Rob Yure great fish caught during Challunge

Week… Lynn Shuster

Wes Worel

Nate Hutchison

Gordie Shaw Cliff Arola

Mike Phelps Joe Mustar

Brian Cliff Arola Johnson

Jeff Isom Joe Mustar

26 MUSKIE.....Fall 2010 2010 Gil Hamm Chapter Challunge - Thank You!

big Thank You goes out to all 173 people from 15 Chapters could be. When the BLC received word from the 2009 Champs, Star Thankthat participated in this year’s Gil Hamm Chapter Challunge! of the North, You! that we were a go to host this year’s event we were AFishing was tough but we all thrilled! It took a lot of hard work and dedication but it was also a had a great time. Everything from ton of fun. Thank you Star of the North for letting us host this year. the awesome meals to the camarade- We’d do it again in a heartbeat! rie of muskie fishing made this year’s Last but not least a BIG Thanks goes to all of our sponsors this event a blast! Oh… and who can year. Your sponsorship is truly appreciated! Muskie fishermen and forget Dusty in the pink grass skirt women around the country use your products and it’s great to see and shell bra presenting Fargo/ that you all support Muskies, Inc. Moorhead with 2 bottles of Crown One more thing…. the Hamm website, www.vermilionchal- Royal due from last year’s bet between lunge.com, was an absolute smash hit! As of this writing, since June Fargo and the Brainerd Lakes Chapter. Absolutely 20th when it became live, there have been priceless! (use >> embedded pic or crop #22 from over 250,000 hits on the site. The site has FTP collage photos) been updated one last time before it will be Another big Thanks goes out to Ed and his shut down the end of October. The update crew at Vermilion Dam Lodge for going out of includes a Challunge slideshow of over 130 their way many times to make sure that we had pictures for everyone to enjoy. Please check everything that we needed. They are a top notch it out before it’s gone. Depending on what resort with a top notch staff! (insert #35 from the 2010 Champs, Star of the North, have FTP collage photos) planned there just may be a 2011 Hamm Also, a HUGE Thanks website to enjoy. Stay tuned. goes to Steve and Lynn at Tri- Esox Productions for sponsoring the Gil Hamm! Without their sponsorship Thanks again everyone. My every year the Gil Hamm wouldn’t be as successful wife Jody and I along with the as it has been. When you support and attend their entire BLC crew had a great time Chicago Muskie Show you support the Gil Hamm. this year and look forward to see- Thanks Tri-Esox! It was great to meet and have ing you all next year! you attend this year’s Hamm! Thank You to everyone in the Brainerd Lakes Jeff Young, President crew that helped make this the best event that it Brainerd Lakes Chapter #24

www.muskiesinc.org Fall 2010.....MUSKIE 27 28 MUSKIE.....Fall 2010 www.muskiesinc.org Fall 2010.....MUSKIE 29 Eagle River, Wisconsin by Patricia Strutz A map of the Eagle River Chain courtesy of the Eagle River Chamber of Commerce. The lakes west to east on the Chain are: Watersmeet (with Wisconsin River flowing in from north and Eagle River flowing in from east), to Yellow Birch, Duck, Lynx, and Eagle. Eagle flows into both Scattering Rice and Voyageur which flows into Catfish. Catfish goes into Cranberry and then the Eagle River again. Then there is a boat hoist to Long Lake which is the start of the upper part of the Three Lakes Chain.

ne of Eagle River’s claims to fame is that it offers the world’s foil. In these dark waters, you’ll find it early season in two to four feet largest chain of inland freshwater lakes. The Eagle River, a of water, particularly near the dam. Otributary of the Wisconsin River, flows through a series of Small lures work best, such as a Mepps #5. I attach a 28 lakes. The entire chain is accessible to boaters. Numerous boat weighted swivel/snap and count it down to a certain landings are scattered along the way and a boat hoist (between depth. Small cranks and rubber, using slow presentations, work well Cranberry Lake and Long Lake) attaches the lower section of the too. The water is clear in early season so we generally choose more Eagle River Chain to the upper part of the Three Lakes Chain. natural colors. This is a fantastic place to visit. The lakes hold a variety of lodg- Fishing guide Bill Jacobs adds: ings - Northwoods resorts, campgrounds, and chain hotels. Tie up to During early season, poke around in some of the small- one of the many restaurant docks to enjoy a Friday night fish fry or er lakes like Otter, Duck, and Voyageur. The latter is a a juicy hamburger. There are four tackle shops in town and a short glorified river channel. In spring you’ll find the muskies really shal- side trip west takes you to Minocqua - home of The Musky Shop. low there, near lily pads and bulrushes. As the season progresses Non-anglers will enjoy great shopping, a children’s museum, and they’ll move adjacent to or in the deep river channel. fantastic bike and hiking trails. In Scattering Muskie anglers are starting to realize the incredible number of Rice, the fish muskies that call the Eagle River Chain home. Many folks feel that relate to the channel into this water holds the best opportunity for anglers to tie into a legal Deerskin River, especially sized fish. The 2010 Professional Musky Tournament Trail partici- if there is current. In pants witnessed this first hand as the June event posted a record years when there is cur- number of 71 muskies caught and released. rent that area holds fish all season. Same goes Springtime on the Chain with the other river Longtime Muskies, Inc. member Tom Stark has participated in the inlets, but, there must be Headwater’s Chapter Spring Classic Tournament for many years. He current. The Three Lakes and partner Jack Smith won the tourney recently and placed several Chain has to be full (after other times. Held in early June, Stark relays some early season tips: most normal rain sea- Do your homework prior to the tournament. Spend a sons) to open the Otter Bill Jacobs showcases a nice tiger day before scouting potential areas to fish. Don’t over- dam to create current. muskie he caught on the chain and he look areas like the inlets between Cranberry and Catfish. When that happens, fish- has his MUSKIE hat on! Bill is very Look for concentrations of baitfish and weed developing those neckdown areas active in the Headwaters chapter. ment that would be is always productive. sufficient enough to Small bucktails shine in spring, topwaters in summer, hold fish. Weeds and glide baits or suckers in the fall. I feel the brighter were always key in color the better! the past, however, in recent years we are Good Old Summertime seeing more muskies Fishing guide Jim Rechlitz has fished Catfish Lake for 50 years. related to suspended He shares: forage. Muskie fishing seems especially good during years of L o c a t e early ice off. The spawning season is over before the the red- opener (last full weekend of May) and water temperatures rise to dish color broadleaf promote weed growth. cabbage. It is more Best summertime action is found over weedbeds (6-10 MI member Tom Stark and his fishing partner difficult to find now feet of water) and on weed edges. Small black bucktails have placed in the Spring Classic several because of the inva- times and won it a few years ago. The tourna- with bronze, silver, orange, or lime green blades work well. I like to ment is hosted by the Headwaters Chapter and sion of Eurasian mil add a white twister tail to one hook. held on the Eagle River Chain each June.

30 MUSKIE.....Fall 2010 We have high recreational traffic on the Chain but the muskies seem quite conditioned to it. However, for a Muskie anglers are starting to realize the more peaceful outing, avoid the traffic by fishing from 6-10AM. incredible number of muskies that call the Evenings are also nice, with prop style topwaters being most effective. Some of Catfish Lake’s milfoil is treated with 2-4-D Eagle River Chain home. chemical in late May.This allows the good weeds (coontail, cabbage) to grow. This is a continuing maintenance program as totally different from the rest of the chain. It is basically the new beds of milfoil are found. Be sure to drain and clean your Wisconsin River. It has current and picks up feeder streams from Lac livewells and take weeds off your boat trailer. Vieux Desert. Look for deep holes, quite often found in sharp bends in 12-14 feet. But, don’t neglect the shallows, either. Muskies are Guide Fred Brogle notes that found in both these areas. Grinding spinnerbaits through the weeds on windy days the Eagle River works well here all summer long. main channel is a good place to target; small jerkbaits work well Muskie-Friendly Lodgings there. He adds: Seven years ago Derek Burzinski learned to cast for muskies. By mid-August the He’s now a Headwaters Chapter member, owns eight rod and reel Chain develops combos and over 300 muskie plugs. He’s caught the fever. As the quite an algae bloom. The lakes General Manager of Wild Eagle Lodge, he helps create a fisherman do not bloom at the same time friendly atmosphere: or hold the same discoloration We are located on the peninsula that connects Duck so I move around to find the and Lynx Lakes and have great access to fish the entire cleanest water. Chain. All lakeside condos overlook the water and provide compli- Regular size mentary dockage and electric hook up. We also have a private boat Bulldawgs are my launch and a lounge, Boondockers, to relax and tell fish stories. We go-to bait all summer long. Fred Brogle, MI Region 2 enjoy customizing trips for groups such as Muskie, Inc. clubs. There is small forage on this Director, guided Doug Mulford We have hooked up with resident guides to offer fishing chain so you don’t have to kill to this Fall muskie caught on packages (special prices on lodging/guided trips) yourself throwing big baits. I’m the Eagle River Chain. throughout the season. Regular Fishing for Regular Guys (RFRG) a firm believer in the dark days/ guides Matt Buettell and Peter Stoltman provide the guide services dark baits, bright days/bright baits motto. The color chartreuse is and offer fishing schools. They’ll host a muskie school again this always a top producer. month (October 2010). During late summer the muskies are found in both shal- RFRG broadcast live from our lodge stage every Sunday low and deep water. The most consistent patterns seem evening on an Internet radio show. You can listen and to be soft plastics on deep weedlines and spinners or topwaters over interact in person, by phone, or email. They share fishing tips, cur- the weeds in the evening. rent reports, and often have guests stop by. You’ll find the live link Muskie Matt adds that Watersmeet, the on Buettell’s site: www.muskiematt.com. last lake on the chain, is not fished as hard For more info, please visit www.wildea- as the rest of the chain and there is also less Quick Strike Rigs glelodge.com or call (877) 945-3965 recreational traffic; this makes for great fish- Conscientious anglers have moved away ing. He adds: Fall Fishing Look for the weed and river from single hooks (“death rigs”) to For many, fall fishing on the Chain channel edges. This area is the use of quick-strike sucker har- means soaking live bait. Rechlitz remarks: nesses. These quick-strike rigs allow I use a quick strike rig with a for an immediate hook set. Different spinner ahead of a 9-12 inch types are available. This particular sucker. Suspend the sucker on a float bob- style comes equipped with a long ber about three feet down. I’ll work a leader (90#, seven strand wire), the weedline with a jerk bait and position the sucker right at the edge. There’s generally hooks, and a ball barrel swivel on open water through November, however, the end to eliminate line twist. A some of the boat landings ice up earlier. dipsy sinker weight is added above Brogle adds: the leader. One hook is placed The best landings for fall through the cheek of the sucker and fishing are T-Docks on up through the nostril. A small piece Yellow Birch and the Eagle Lake Landing. of rubber anchors the hook so it We’ll slowly throw glide baits (mantas and hellhounds) “Muskie Matt” Buettel, a Headwaters doesn’t work its way back out. The while presenting live bait. In Wisconsin, Chapter member, guides out of Wild treble hook is placed in front of the Eagle Lodge. One of Matt’s shows off a we can fish with three lines per angler. So, muskie caught on Watersmeet Lake at dorsal fin. when the water temps fall below 55 degrees the far end of Eagle River Chain. (Continued on page 32) www.muskiesinc.org Fall 2010.....MUSKIE 31 EAGLE RIVER, WI (Continued from page 31) I put out two suckers. Look for the quickest drop areas. I’ll weight one sucker and put it on a float 15-20 feet behind the boat. This rig will be almost on bottom, where the baitfish are stacking up. The other sucker is also placed on a quick strike rig but alot closer to the boat, only three feet down. Quite often a muskie will follow a lure in but not eat it; he’ll see the sucker and take it. Be sure to be in free spool with your clicker on and brakes set. As soon as he nails the sucker and moves away you can engage the spool and set the hook. Author/guide Patricia Strutz chooses to stick with artificial lures. Casting or row trolling the deep areas of Eagle and Catfish Lake have always produced fish for me when the water temperatures are between 48-60 degrees. Smaller, straight (not jointed) crankbaits in a variety of colors work best. Some of the big- Casting or row trolling artificial lures (particularly crankbaits gest walleyes on the Chain also hit these same lures during this time. and soft plastics) along Eagle Lake’s deep edges and basin is Motor trolling is illegal on Class A musky waters in northern effective all season long. Here, Maggie, a client of Patricia Wisconsin. You might want to check with your local DNR Warden Strutz, sows a nice musky caught while casting a rubber bait. regarding the interpretation of this rule relative to the use of electric trolling motors for boat control while dragging a sucker. Guides No matter when you fish the Eagle River Chain (all are members of the Muskies, Inc. Headwaters Chapter): you will find plenty of fishing opportunity, good Bill Jacobs Matt Buettell guides, fine lodging and a healthy population of (715) 891.5574 (715) 891.5980 muskies! v Email: [email protected] www.muskiematt.com Fred Brogle Jim Rechlitz Patricia Strutz is a fishing guide, outdoor writer, and (715) 479.5873 (715) 479.6113 Field Editor for MUSKIE Magazine. For information, www.haverodwilltravel.com email: [email protected] visit her website at: www.ablondandherboat.com

32 MUSKIE.....Fall 2010 that drives our organization. I The Importance & Fun don’t mean to scare you off, of M.I. Membership perhaps you just want to be a member and nothing more, that’s by Greg Wells, Vice-President of Membership okay. We need you and I sincerely ur editor asked if I would like to write thank you for being a member. an article about the importance and However, I would encourage Obenefits of M.I. membership. At first I everyone to try and participate in was a bit apprehensive (because I am not a at least one event or project each writer by a long shot) but here goes. year - you may find it fulfilling Let me start by giving a short history of how and why Ellen and and fun. Without belaboring the point (well maybe I am) just I became involved in Muskies, Inc. Relatively new to muskie fishing, having you as a member is so important to the strength and success we were invited by a friend, with free tickets I might add, to attend of Muskies, Inc. the Banquet/Fund Raiser of the local Chapter - Between the Lakes, What do I get for being a member or what are the benefits? Chapter 20. They are many. There are the obvious such as the top notch magazine The Banquet turned out to be a blast - good food, raffles, door and the searchable database we call The Lunge Log. prizes and over 300 attendees. What caught our attention was that in My favorite is the their Banquet Book they opportunity to meet people advertised where the pro- who share similar interests. ceeds had been spent. We I have literally hundreds of were impressed. The majori- friends across the country ty of the money was invested who have met through M.I. locally on muskie stocking, outings or good fellowship youth programs, habitat and tournaments like the lake improvements and other Chapter Challunge, Cabin conservation projects. We Fever, the Frank Schneider, had to become part of this the FRV’s circuit and many great chapter of Muskies, more. The pictures on pages 26 thru 29 highlight some of the fun, Inc. The rest is history. We each have a story of how and why we fishing and camaraderie of our 2010 Gil Hamm Chapter Challunge. became members and I hope that they are memorable experiences. What a blast! What is the importance of being a Heck you might not even have member of Muskies, Inc? One of the very the winter muskie shows so many of us basic things which is quite important to me enjoy if there wasn’t a Muskies, Inc. - is helping our organization grow in number. the major shows were developed by Muskies, Inc. has been recognized as repre- M.I. members or chapters. In turn, senting the largest collective group of musk- the shows give back to Muskies, Inc. in ie fishing men and women in the world for many ways. the last 44 years. Just as NRA is the voice for Education about fishing and con- the right to bear arms, Muskies, Inc. is the servation is another major benefit of national voice for muskie fishing and con- membership. There are countless sem- servation. The Muskie World throughout inars held at the chapter level in addi- the U.S. A. and Canada respects what M.I. has done and what we tion to the Fisheries, Research and Youth stories which are featured have to say. Our membership numbers and longevity contribute in MUSKIE Magazine. immensely to this recognition. I can’t say enough of how important I could list many more benefits, but it is to just be a member supporting the M.I. mission. It is cheap just one more should be enough for every insurance to assure that your muskie fishing opportunities continue member. The great state that muskie fish- to be the best that they have ever been. ing enjoys today is due in large part to Another extremely important element of membership occurs in what we all, as Muskies, Inc. members, the trenches, pursuing the mission at the local and chapter level. have done and continue to do to pro- Those members willing to accept leadership rolls, participate in fund mote wise muskie management, sound raising, get involved in youth programs, or help with stocking, habi- conservation practices, and successful tat improve- catch and release of this fish we treasure! ments and There are about 350,000 muskie research pro- anglers in the world - they should all be grams are members of Muskies, Inc. I challenge each c r i t i c a l . and every member to bring one new These indi- member into our organization each year. viduals are Can you imagine what we can become? the blood Be a proud and passionate member. I am. v and sweat All photos on this page are from the 2010 Chapter Challunge. www.muskiesinc.org Fall 2010.....MUSKIE 33 Eagle Lake, Ontario, Canada by Patricia Strutz

h, Canada...thoughts of rugged islands with pine trees seemingly jutting out of rock come to mind. OMiles of shoreline, soaring eagles, expansive sun- sets...and, of course, fishy looking spots everywhere. I’ve had the pleasure to fish many lakes in Canada but this year I headed up to new waters: Eagle Lake. Eagle Lake is located in Northwestern Ontario - east of Lake of the Woods, southwest of Lac Seul. With over 68,000 acres, it’s an amazing piece of water. In fact, it’s almost several lakes wrapped up into one. In the western arm one finds extremely clear water - practically aquamarine. Vermilion Bay has a few more weeds and more color. Take a boat ride south through the channel and back northeast to the mid-lake. The water is still clear, but slightly more green. Head further east and the soil and sediment from the weeds starts staining the water - more green than brown at first. The further east you traverse, the darker brown the water becomes. As a novice in these waters, I looked for some insight from the guys who have been fishing it for years. Here’s what they shared. A rocky shoreline gave up this monster muskie. (Photo courtesy of South Shore Lodge). Mid-Lake the nearby slightly shallower underwater humps in search of pike or My week on Eagle found me at South Shore Lodge. Owner muskies.” Gord Makara hosted an all-women’s trip. We fished for a variety of The first few days of our mid-summer trip were met with blue- species, ate exceedingly well (too well!), and enjoyed the remote sur- bird skies. The surface temperatures rose eight degrees. Muskies were roundings. Makara notes, “Yes, our camp is remote, but, some of the fickle. We moved a couple on weed edges but could not find a dis- lake’s very best fishing is in our backyard. Water up to 90 feet is a tinct pattern. Camp guide Jason Campbell provided some pointers, short boat ride away. This deep, cooler water is full of ciscoe, white- “With our early spring this year, we are several weeks ahead of sched- fish, and walleye.” ule. Our weedbeds are already starting to deteriorate. The healthiest As musky fishermen know, access to deep water means big fish weeds are now found in deeper and cooler water. During late sum- potential. Big predators roam the abyss and adjacent island and reef mer we generally fish those areas in the evening and concentrate on structures. “During the summer pattern you can jig up a tasty shore- the deeper structure and rock piles during the day. From this position lunch off the deeper underwater structure, then bang crankbaits over on the lake, we have easy access to clear water and darker water. On cloudy days, I prefer to fish the clear water. Conversely, head east to the stained water on sunny days. You’ll notice the water color deepening as you fish North and South Twin Islands and even more past the East Three Sisters.” Campbell brought us east and yes, we saw some tankers. In a few short hours we had six fish up, four were over 48 inches. Unbelievable. But, alas, we couldn’t get them to eat. The following day we lost a supertanker. We fan casted a submerged mid lake reef. On our last cast when we were now on top of the reef she exploded out of nowhere. Flying out of the water with the bucktail in her mouth, she was inches from landing in the bow of the boat. Then, a quick dive under the boat, and gone. Those are the moments a musky fisherman remembers . . . and mumbles about. Campbell fishes “traditional” musky structure (weeds, channels, island points) but concentrates on 34 MUSKIE.....Fall 2010 No Fishing at Night Eagle Lake regulations prohibit fishing at night. Makara explains, “The law states that your lines must be pulled at sunset. This restriction was enacted primarily to limit the harvest of larger walleyes but it encompasses all species. Fish hard from sunrise to sunset and then head in to relax, celebrate, or drown your sorrows.” underwater humps and submerged rocks during the summer. He brought us to quite a few that don’t show up on the map. “The maps available for this lake aren’t great,” he notes, “there are many humps and reefs that aren’t shown. The area around the During bluebird skies in summertime, target deeper structure such lodge is relatively safe but the further east you head, the more as the mid-lake’s humps and underwater reefs. (Photo courtesy of hazards you’ll encounter. But, hazards can hold some of the big- South Shore Lodge). gest fish in the lake. Time on the water will introduce you to target. Most of our guests prefer to cast over troll, but, trolling can many of these unmarked structures, or hire a guide be especially productive in the fall. We are one of the few resorts open to cut back on your learning curve.” until mid-October. Fall fishing means fishing rock - rocky shorelines, The South Shore crew fishes with similar lures as Herbeck does. rock bars, rock points, rock walls, and over the top of deeper humps. Since it was summer, steady We also look at transition areas; for retrieve prop style topwaters pro- example, the narrow areas between duced evening action (over the Eagle Lake continues to hold up to its basins, especially with wind.” cabbage) and accounted for the reputation as a trophy fishery. Year after “If we are enjoying Indian week’s largest fish. Campbell summer conditions (sunny, warm recently caught his largest muskie year anglers on this pristine Canadian stretches) fish will start using the on a Creeper. This area of the lake shield lake catch big muskies and wall- weeds that are left again. But over- really offers diversity, from shallow eye. With an abundant forage base, all, I’d say fall means rock. Big back bays to deep basins, broad- profile baits work the best. High leaf cabbage to rock rubble, clear predators are heavy and the fishery silhouette blade baits (Cowgirls, water to stained water. It is all remains healthy. Grab your passport, Flashers, Spankys), deep diving here, including a 58-incher spot; cranks and minnow baits (Jakes ask Makara where it was caught obtain an outdoors card and Canadian and Grandmas), and rubber and released two years ago. fishing license, and book a trip! (Bulldawgs) are always the go-to An interesting note - in this (Continued on page 36) clear water the cabbage grows out to around 12-14 feet. You will not see the tassles in water this deep. During the daytime do some reconnais- sance. Locate these deep weeds and mark them down so you can fish the area effectively later without ending up right on top of it. I found South Shore Lodge extremely accommo- dating and innovative. Next year they’ll host both a couples trip and another all-women’s trip.

The Western Portion Long time musky angler and Capital City Muskies, Inc. member Steve Herbeck owns Andy Myers Lodge. The lodge caters to all levels of fishermen but according to Herbeck, “While Eagle is noted for a multi-dimen- sional fishery, we live and breathe muskie fishing. Our guides are specialized. The muskie guides fish only for muskies every day so they keep track of the pulse of the lake and the daily patterns. The key to fishing Eagle is using its versatility with different basins, depths, habitats, and water color according to time of season, weather conditions, and current fishing pattern.” “As is common in Canada, most of our fishing in summer through fall is done in 4-18 foot breaks. Fish will use deeper areas, but 4-18 is a good depth range to In addition to big muskies, the lake offers an awesome walleye fishery. Author Patricia Strutz jigged up several dandies. www.muskiesinc.org Fall 2010.....MUSKIE 35 advertising his guide business in MUSKIE about 6 months ago. He’s (Continued from page 35) EAGLE LAKE a very interesting fellow and makes many of his muskie lures. Fisher lures. We use alot of natural and dark patterns changing blade, tail, has one cabin available for folks fishing with him. or contrast colors on hard baits according to darker days verses Fisher offers these tips for fishing Osbourne, “In this darker and brighter days. As you move into the greener water, brighter colors shallower portion of Eagle I like bright baits. For casting I use work well. I personally like a natural perch, sucker, or black pattern mostly bucktails and topwaters with lots of red, orange and char- with hard baits and combining the same color schemes for blade treuse. Osbourne Bay is very good for fall trolling with baits like the baits with nickel blades in clearer water and orange blade in darker Grandmas or Believers. Bright colors remain good in the fall; my water or on darker days regardless of water color.” best producer is a 10-inch orange Believer with black spots.” “The lake is changing. Fifteen years ago we used to see very few Eagle Lake continues to hold up to its reputation as a trophy fish under 40 inches. In the past six to eight years the population is fishery. Year after year anglers on this pristine Canadian shield lake exploding. We still have as many big fish but we are also seeing num- catch big muskies and walleye. With an abundant forage base, bers of 36 to 45 inch fish. I attribute this to predators are heavy and the fishery remains the fact that the lake is becoming more fer- An Insider Tip healthy. tile coupled with the 54-inch size limit and Grab your passport, obtain an out- Herbeck relays, “There are a a lot of a high percentage of voluntary release. We doors card and Canadian fishing license, big fish, 48 to 54 inches, percentage wise implementated a camp policy of 100% and book a trip! in the population. There’s also an incredi- release unless it is a potential world record ble forage base which means a lot of 16 years ago; most other resorts have fol- South Shore Lodge competition. On fisheries with big fish lowed. More fish are spawning and more www.southshorelodge.com and deep forage you’ll often see follows; 800-324-5352 fishermen are releasing these spawners. We it’s the nature of the beast on these deep, now have quality and quantity.” clear water systems. You’ll need to trigger Poplar Ridge Outfitters these fish as they aren’t always feeding in Lewis Fisher Osbourne Bay contact spots. You will locate more fish 807-937-2249 Located in the far eastern part of Eagle working slow and steady but you’ll catch Andy Myers Lodge Lake, the waters are root beer brown. I did more working aggressively, even in the www.andymyerslodge.com not venture into this area but MUSKIE fall. Provide triggers within retrieves, 888-727-5865 Magazine’s Juris Ozols fished these waters bouncing rocks, ripping baits, twitching for quite a few summers. Ozols notes, the lure immediately after it hits the water. Patricia Strutz is a fishing guide, outdoor “Summer fishing in this area means fishing Boatside manuevers are important: big writer, and Field Editor for MUSKIE the slop. Muskies are found in shallow bays turns and wide, deep figure 8s. Make sure Magazine. For information, visit her website full of cabbage, coontail, rice, and bulrush- your equipment is in top condition. That at: www.ablondandherboat.com es. You may even find them in lily pads with means long, forgiving rods, sharp hooks, bass buzz baits.” and drags set correctly. We tear off alot of I recently fished the dark waters of fish at the boat because we hook alot of southern Lac Seul and found the summer ‘em at the boat. Don’t look for magic, take muskies in similar habitat there. Just for care of your gear because big fish invari- kicks and grins we did throw into some slop ably have a way of finding the weak link. in the mid-section portion of Eagle, but to Finally, take a piece of the lake and learn it. no avail. Big fish in those clearer waters Learn how its structures lay out and are seem to relate to deeper structure. most efficiently fished. You don’t have to Osbourne Bay is one of the primary run all over, there are fish from one end to muskie fishing spots for guide Lewis Fisher the other.” of Poplar Ridge Outfitters. Fisher started

Muskie Guide Service Dryden, Ontario on Wabigoon, Eagle, Thaddeus & Ord lakes

Backwater Adventures for Pike, Bass & Walleye

Fall Trolling Specials A fine muskie caught by a guest out of Guide Service or Full Packages Available 807/937-2249 Andy Meyers Lodge on Eagle Lake (Photo by Steve Herbeck).

36 MUSKIE.....Fall 2010 Lower Manitou Muskie and Pike Fishing by Kris Esselink

Kris Esselink (right) with client Mike; photo by Mike’s nephew Mitch. Mike was fishing for a mid-fifty inch muskie that had followed earlier when this big pike hit his phantom.

s he came back to the dock to pick me up our guest yelled, “It was one of the biggest muskies I’ve everseen!” I’d had to Atake care of a couple tasks early in the morning so I’d sent him out for an hour around the corner from the Manitou Weather Station where we had been catching some big northern all week. As The lake has a strong population of pike into the 30 to 40 inch we pulled away from the dock, we decided to give the Big One an range, with some over 40 inches. There are always fish in the weeds, hour or so of rest and then go back and hit her again. but with the lake being deeper and colder than most lakes, the weed beds are not as numerous as in some other waters. This makes finding the weed beds important. The big pike can be caught throughout the summer in the weed beds, but in greater numbers in the early part of the season. Some lures to use while pike fishing are Vibrax #6, X-raps, and Phantoms. When in doubt there is always the Mepp’s #5. The muskies of the Manitou can get big and fat. They are not as numerous as in some other lakes, but they make up for it in their girth and size. After the spawn the muskies can be located onthe reefs, weed beds, and points around the lake. My favorite spots are mostly reefs. Some of the lures of choice up here for muskies are Phantoms, Suicks, Eagletails, Believers, and King Kongs. Come visit. I’d love to serve as your host and guide! v

Kristie’s biggest fish to date; photo by her husband Wyatt.

Once back at the spot, his second cast had a 38 inch muskie nail his lure. Not the big one. While he continued to throw for the big one, his nephew was casting out of the back of the boat. He caught about a dozen or so nice pike with half of them in the mid-thirties. Finally something big nailed his lure and headed for deep water. This is it, we thought. We were surprised to see a 44 inch pike come up. We were disappointed and excited. It was the nephew’s biggest pike, but we were looking for the 50-plus inch muskie that was lurking around here. Maybe next time. The clear blue waters and the rugged shorelines of the Lower Manitou make for some fantastic muskie and pike fishing. The lake has some very deep areas, up to 300 feet. The lake’s many bays and reefs hold plenty of fish. The lake is remote enough not to have a lot of fishing pressure but is easily accessible by boat or floatplane. Jake’s personal best was the 9th muskie to be caught off this same reef by anglers from MWS this year. www.muskiesinc.org Fall 2010.....MUSKIE 37 n our July 2010 muskie trip to Lake Manitou we stayed at the Manitou Weather Station OFishing Lodge on one of the best muskie waters in Ontario. It has a uniquely cryptic name and all kinds of gold mining history, including wonderful tales of Bill and Alice Watson. MWS is at the northern end of Lower Manitou Lake and at the southern entrance to the Manitou Straits which leads to Upper Manitou Lake. On the way is the Watson house and the ghost town of Gold Rock is on the upper lake. Manitou is a clear water lake with a typical tannic colored stain. The Ontario government is maintaining it as a pristine wilderness lake with no new development or logging on its shores. There is only one access by road to the Esox Landing boat launch at the south end. Our group gathered in International Falls, picked up groceries across the border in Fort Frances, and then headed north on highways 11 and 502. That’s

The wooded interior of the Point Cabin. It has three bedrooms, a screened porch with a lake view to three sides, and its own dock.

Manitou is a clear water lake with a typical tannic colored stain. The Ontario government is maintaining it as a pristine wilderness lake with no new development or logging on its shores.

Manitou Weather Stations has four modern cabins sleeping six or more people each. 38 MUSKIE.....Fall 2010 the paved part of the trip. Off 502 we took Cedar Road and then Esox Landing Road which are both gravel but kept in very decent shape. It’s about 50 miles by road to the boat launch at Esox landing. From there it’s some 25 miles north to Manitou Weather Station by boat across both small and big water. It’s also about 50 miles by air from Fort Frances and the resort has fly-in services available. We were met at the dock by our host Kris Esselink, a fine young man who guides, cooks, fixes up things, and even flies an airplane for the lodge. We were put up in the “Point” cabin, one of four cabins at MWS. Our cabin, which sleeps six or even more, is surrounded by water on three sides and has a beautiful view across the big water to the south. All the cabins have full kitchens, refrigerators, grills, etc., or you can eat at the lodge. MWS offers all the Host Kris Esselink and his dogs on the main dock with the lodge standard plans and has very flexible arrangements for behind him. lodging. They have boats available for rent or you can bring your own. Their season runs from ice out in early May until the last party The lodge building itself was put up around1980 and a couple departs usually at the end of September, but they’ll stay open into lived there year round. They sent in daily weather reports and thus October if needed. the lodge got its name. It was purchased by While muskie fishing is a primary attraction, Kris’ father and uncle 5 years ago and is now all the usual fish species are present. Smallmouth run as a fishing resort. Its clientele comes from bass 4 pounds or more can be caught throughout a number of Midwest states and has repeat busi- the lakes; Kris says that autumn is his favorite ness from as far away as Tennessee and Texas. time for them. Northerns abound, and we An interesting feature of MWS is their caught them in substantial numbers on our trip. solar power system. They have 16 panels that A lot of them were upwards of 30 inches; we charge a large bank of batteries, with diesel didn’t get many small ones. This promises some generators that are used mostly for backup. superb fishing for large pike in a few years. During our stay the lodge operated entirely from solar and the gen- The big, open water of Lower Manitou Lake erators were not turned on. to the south goes down to 300 feet and has lake trout which can be Jerry Bucholtz caught with downriggers or just plain trolling. Most are found any- releasing a 42 inch where from 40 to 120 feet. They average 4 to 8 pounds – great muskie caught on eating – but fish up to 30 pounds have been caught. Big walleyes are a shallow weed also present but you have to work for them. bed on the first day Despite the non-cooperation of muskies during our trip, I thor- of fishing. oughly enjoyed our week and recommend it highly. v

www.muskiesinc.org Fall 2010.....MUSKIE 39 Bill and Alice of The Manitou – Legendary Characters by Juris Ozols e’ve enjoyed many interesting characters in muskie fishing over the decades. As just one example, Louie Spray is Wa true gem. But he doesn’t hold a candle to the characters we meet in the early days of gold mining in North America. I’m very fond of the stories of Mark Twain and Jack London and the poems of Robert Service. If you don’t know what happened when Sam McGee was cremated, well, find out. However, much as I like all that, it happened in the 19th century and unfortunately well before my time. So you can imagine my delight when I stumbled across “Bill and Alice” on last summer’s muskie trip to Manitou Lake. Here were two legendary characters just as sparkling as any of Robert Service’s, but they were real! Let me tell you about them. Here’s a very brief glimpse into the lives of these two charming folks. * * * * * * * Northern Ontario’s Cambrian Shield, some 2 billion years old, contains a variety of ores and minerals. In the early days people trapped and hunted the region but greater riches awaited. In the1890s discovery of gold in the lands around Lake Manitou kicked off a classic gold rush. By 1895 the new boomtown of Gold Rock Alice and Bill Watson in the later years of their life together. was home to some 200 families and numerous prospectors. Bill is already growing his beard, but look at Alice – take away Among their number was one William Watson, known at times a few decades and imagine what a beauty she was when Bill as “Rattlesnake Bill.” He was headstrong, a pioneer, a prospector, met her. and, well, a spell binding story teller who belonged to the liar’s club. It seems his prospecting served primarily to establish claims that he ruffians. But Bill, although 20 years older than she, was tall and could sell to make a living, not only in Gold Rock but also in other dashing with his handlebar moustache and city clothes. In fact, he parts of Canada. That any of the claims he sold ever made a profit was something of a lady killer. It was widely believed that he was is uncertain, but perhaps unlikely. looking for a companion who could cook. Alice had learned all the As it happened, 50 year-old Bill met 31 year-old Alice Peacock housewifely skills on her family farm. He told her sob stories of his on a Great Lakes steamer trip. She was a schoolteacher raised on a youth and, yes, he claimed to have money and more to come, and farm by Methodist parents and he was one of a group of miners referred to his home as an estate. Before the trip was over, he gained cruising the lake. At first Alice considered him and his friends to be her interest. They married in December 1903. Bill brought her back to the Manitou. She brought along her nice clothes, engraved calling cards, and fine china ready to jump into the social life she had been promised. Alice discovered that his “estate” was an eight by ten foot shack with a dirt floor sitting in isolation on “Watson’s Point” some ten miles by water from the town of Gold Rock. But it did have an “out house.” You can imagine how much “social life” went on. It certainly was not what Alice had been told about or imagined herself. Alice could have exploded, but she didn’t. As befitted women in those days, she resigned herself to being a good wife to Bill. She learned to garden, hunt, fish, and use her housewifely skills to sew and make clothes. She became a resourceful pioneer woman. That lasted two years, and then Alice became desperate. In their third spring together she told Bill she had to visit her niece near Port Hope in Ontario. Bill reluctantly agreed. Alice packed up some of her fine clothes, and Bill rowed her the ten miles to Gold Rock where she took the steamboat to Wabigoon and the train station. She bought a one-way ticket and told the station agent she wasn’t coming back. The house that Bill built for Alice, under construction in the 1900’s. This was a fine frame house, much better than most She had a wonderful time with her niece, for three months. houses of the time. Then one night came a knock on the door… 40 MUSKIE.....Fall 2010 When Bill got her back to the Manitou, he lived up to one of his promises. He started building a big, two-story frame house on Watson’s Point. The white house with red trim had two bedrooms, lots of windows, and sat a hundred feet from the bay with a beautiful view down the lake to the south. For the times, it was a truly fine, a “standout’ house when most buildings were of log construction. They moved in and Alice went back to her duties. A couple of years later in the spring, Alice made another bid for freedom. She took the canoe one morning and headed for Fort Frances. She camped for the night on an island, sleeping under the stars, and woke up to see Bill standing there. Alice didn’t do that anymore. She spent the rest of their days together being a faithful, obedient wife. Bill tried various ventures, The Watson house today, some 100 years old. It still stands on Watson’s Point with a grand view down Manitou Lake to including raising a dairy herd. He continued to prospect too, but the south. very little came of any of that. His hair and beard turned white, and he turned into an old man. lot about the lake and wilderness life. By his own words, she changed The first Manitou gold boom had fizzled in the 1900s and a his life. Alice could see his fascination with the Manitou and offered second smaller one took place in the Manitou in the 1930s. But it to be a grandmother to Pete if he came back, which he did until late too amounted to very little, and by that time Bill was in his 80s and fall when the war inter- couldn’t do much with it. vened. Pete wrote her several Bill died on a winter’s night in 1938 while Alice watched over letters from overseas and went him. She snowshoed ten miles in the middle of the night to Gold back up there after discharge. Rock, arriving at daybreak, and enlisted the aid of a group of miners. Pete became a regular visitor They knocked together a coffin and took Alice back to her home. to Alice over the years. Alice They brought along dynamite and blasted through solid rock to died in 1955, and Pete has make a grave for Bill. visited her gravesite many Alice buried him on the hillside behind their house. times and remembers her When Bill died, Alice was 66 and in good health. She was now fondly. free to do as she wished, to go back to “civilization.” So did she When Alice died 17 years leave? No. Alice lived there in her two-story house for 17 more after Bill she was buried next Bill and Alice’s final resting years. We can speculate that over the decades she had fallen in love to him on the hillside behind place, just a short distance up ruffians. But Bill, although 20 years older than she, was tall and with the magnificent lakes and forests of the Manitou. She didn’t their house where they both the hill from their house. dashing with his handlebar moustache and city clothes. In fact, he want to leave anymore. She lived off the land and a small government now rest together. was something of a lady killer. It was widely believed that he was pension, raising her garden and continuing to hunt and fish. The * * * * * * * looking for a companion who could cook. Alice had learned all the reluctant, unwilling wife had become a mature, self-reliant woman of What I’ve written here is just a small glimpse of the stories of housewifely skills on her family farm. He told her sob stories of his the wilderness. these two fascinating characters. There’s far more to be told. youth and, yes, he claimed to have money and more to come, and But she was not alone. I first found out about them when Jerry Bucholtz, my boat referred to his home as an estate. Before the trip was over, he gained Watson’s Point is in the mid- partner on our summer Manitou trip, told me a bit about “George her interest. They married in December 1903. dle of the Manitou Straits, a and Alice.” He had been there on previous trips and knew about Bill brought her back to the Manitou. She brought along her major north-south waterway their house and some other things. Although as it turned out he had nice clothes, engraved calling cards, and fine china ready to jump to Gold Rock. Her house Bill’s name wrong, what he told me whetted my interest greatly. I into the social life she had been promised. became a well-known stop- talked to Kris Esselink, our host at the Manitou Weather Station, Alice discovered that his “estate” was an eight by ten foot shack ping point for Gold Rock who knew a lot more. We stopped by the house, still there on with a dirt floor sitting in isolation on “Watson’s Point” some ten people, trappers, tourists, Watson’s point, to take photos and pay our respects to Bill and Alice miles by water from the town of Gold Rock. But it did have an “out and anyone traveling the at their gravesite. house.” You can imagine how much “social life” went on. It cer- lake. She welcomed visitors Kris also showed me the book “Yellow Brick Roads to Gold tainly was not what Alice had been told about or imagined herself. with open arms, gave them Rock” by Hazel Fulford who has written extensively about Bill and Alice could have exploded, but she didn’t. As befitted women a place to stay for the night, Alice and the history of the Manitou. I got in contact with Hazel in those days, she resigned herself to being a good wife to Bill. She and they brought her food who was gracious enough to respond and review the drafts of this learned to garden, hunt, fish, and use her housewifely skills to sew and other necessities. article. She also sent me the early pictures of Bill and Alice and their and make clothes. She became a resourceful pioneer woman. One of her guests was house that you see here and gave us permission to print them. I That lasted two years, and then Alice became desperate. In their young Pete Peterson, 18 believe they have not been published before. third spring together she told Bill she had to visit her niece near Port years old in 1941. He and Hazel also put me in contact with Pete Peterson who provided Hope in Ontario. Bill reluctantly agreed. Alice packed up some of a friend stopped by on a the information on his early acquaintance with Alice. her fine clothes, and Bill rowed her the ten miles to Gold Rock where canoe trip and stayed with I truly appreciate the material from both Hazel and Pete. she took the steamboat to Wabigoon and the train station. She Alice for a few days. They Hazel’s books on the Manitou are fascinating and well worth reading. bought a one-way ticket and told the station agent she wasn’t coming shot a deer and caught You’ll get to know Bill and Alice much better in her writings. back. some fish for her before Alice by herself in the years after She had a wonderful time with her niece, for three months. Finally, my thanks to Bill and Alice Watson for having entered Bill died. The look on her face – this moving on. my life; I am much richer for it. v Then one night came a knock on the door… is a content, self-confident woman. Alice taught them a www.muskiesinc.org Fall 2010.....MUSKIE 41 The Magical Mysterious Manitou by Tom Stark

y first contact with the magic and mystique of Lake The next day was a beautiful warm summer day with a slight Manitou occurred in 1985 after hearing about the 59 wind. My guide was Tom Nickels who spent all of his summers on the Mpound muskie caught by Gene Borucki in 1984. This was Manitou. After the introductions, Tom told us, “to be ready and the recorded weight after the gigantic fish regurgitated several fish expect that any fish could be over 50 inches.” In less than 30 minutes while on a stringer tied to the boat and was then weighed over 24 I saw my first muskie near Powder Island that Tom said was over 50. hours after being caught. As it followed the lure I went into a deep wide figure 8 trying to get In late July of 1985, four of us flew into the Upper Manitou the lure to pass in front of the muskie’s mouth. In doing so, I slapped from Dryden, Ontario as the only access by water is from Esox Lake, the side of the muskiewith my rod and it immediately darted away. I over 60 miles away. We arrived just before din- really thought I blew my chance for a 50 ner and from the air it was easy to see beauty of incher. Tom reminded me it was only 8:45 this large remote lake system with its many bays AM and we had many other good places to and islands. Consider the Manitou for fish. A short time later we were fishing Scheduled to fish with a guide the next four one of your future trips Watson’s Bay in 14 to 16 feet of water with days, we were eager to get on the water right and you might fall in numerous patches of cabbage being about 2 after dinner without a guide. The camp owner feet below the surface. After a few casts in told us to try Half Moon Bay about a half mile love with the Manitou’s this bay I noticed a large swirl stirring the to the south. Even in the early evening it was Magic, Mystique and water about four feet from where my lure apparent how clear the water was, we could see landed and then this huge muskie was fol- the rocks, boulders, weeds and bottom in over Muskies. Good luck! lowing my Bango lure. As I frantically 15 feet of water. I was fishing with my favorite twitched my Bango faster and faster the Bagley Bango lure in a crawdad color pattern. In muskie nailed my Bango then went down less than a dozen casts and after a couple of 28 to 30 inch northern, into the cabbage. For several minutes I did not see the muskie and I hooked into a nice 46 inch muskie, my largest muskie at that time. when I did, it was a big ball of weeds. Mumbling something like, “we After releasing it, we saw several other muskies that looked larger will never land this muskie wrapped in weeds”, Tom reminded me to following our lures back to the boat but they were only “lookers”. keep a tight line and when the muskie is ready to net, it will have very Needless to say we were really pumped for the next four days. few weeds. Sure enough, in another couple of minutes the huge muskie emerged from the weeds nearly weed free and Tom netted it on the first pass. Needless to say I was elated when Tom said the fish was 52 inches! Tom said the fish was an older male with a very large head and probably had a heavier body a few years ago. At shore lunch everyone rigged up their rods with crawdad colored Bagley Bangos. After lunch we fished around several of the small islands on the east side of Doyle Bay. At the north end of the second island we fished I hooked another heavy muskie on my Bango lure. After a good fight, Tom netted the fish and measured it at 54 inches; we released the fish after several photos. To finish my first day of “magic” on the Manitou I caught a 48 inch muskie on the same crawdad Bango before we headed in for dinner. Four muskies in less than 24 hours, all being larger than my personal best, was my first experience with the “Magic of the Manitou”. The “Mystique of the Manitou” also began that very first day with none of my three partners catching a muskie that day and no one caught a muskie for the last three days, even though many casts were made with the crawdad Bango lure by everyone. However, everybody saw several large muskies which Bob Roloff called “Fence Post Muskies” because of their size. Since that first Manitou trip, I have experienced the magic and mystique of the Manitou many times, with the magic usually being at least triple the mystique. I have Kris Esselink, manager of Manitou Weather Station, guided Charles enjoyed the magic and the mystique of the Manitou every Weiss to this muskie in 2010. Charles contributes cartoons and illustrations to MUSKIE Magazine and to the Muskies Canada Release month from June to November. One year I made 5 trips. Journal. Most of the trips were 4 days, but one year I stayed fifteen 42 MUSKIE.....Fall 2010 days straight to catch the magic and trying to solve the mystique of ately exclaimed, “I’m hung up on the bottom.” After the depth the Manitou. finder affirmed that we were still in 24 feet of water, I said her lure The mystique of the Manitou can be intriguing and in a way, couldn’t be on the bottom. She replied, “Then it’s on a weed.” I told magical. For example, my wife Mary finally joined me for her first her to crank the line up tight and really jerk hard as she probably had Manitou trip after many invitations, just to see the beauty and a fish on as there are no weeds at 24 feet. The rod came alive with a remoteness of the Manitou. I even promised to fish only after dinner nice muskie thumping to get free. Soon a stocky 47 inch muskie was or when she was sleeping. The very first day, while enjoying lunch in the net and I was shaking my head thinking about the Magic and under a big pine on an island with a beautiful lookout bluff, she Mystique of the Manitou. asked me if there were any good fishing spots nearby. I nodded yes, The Manitou Magic and Mystique usually involve big muskies. pointed to Frenchman’s Island about a quarter mile away and said, In one area near Doyle Bay I saw a very large muskie following my “local guides call that place the home of a 100 pound muskie.” When yellow and brown Suick right by the boat where I had a muskie she asked me if I was going to fish it, I replied, “Yes, when you are in cradle at my feet. With the muskie about 2 feet below the surface and bed.” the cradle with measurements to 56 inches and handles on one end She replied, “I won’t mind if you fish it for 15to 20 minutes” - it 8 inches long, it was easy to see the big muskie was longer than 64 was the first stop after we were back in the boat. After fishing for inches. Ironically, this muskie was within 50 feet of where Kathy about 10 minutes, I hooked a nice solid 46 inch muskie and asked Augustine claimed to have seen a huge muskie about a month earlier. her to net it for me. She was ready to net it until she saw the fish Her husband John and I turned only to see a large swirl after she fighting in the clear water. She dropped the net and said, “I do not exclaimed, “Look at the size of that muskie!” When I asked her about want anything to do with that fish!” how the big muskie compared to a 49.75 inch muskie John caught We spent the second day picking blueberries, observing a sow and released about three hours earlier, Kathy said it made John’s bear and two cubs, a cow moose with two calves, several deer, a flock muskie look like a minnow. of over 85 loons, and many seagulls and terns feasting on ciscoes and Those two sightings were the beginning of a seven year love seldom seeing another boat. I never fished until after 5 PM, when I affair with the magic of seeing and the mystique of not catching this dropped her back at the cabin, to get ready for dinner. huge muskie for several friends and me. My good friend Ed Lamb The third day we visited the deserted Watson’s house and the had this fish up to the boat three times while fishing with his wife ruins of an old gold mine in a soft misty rain. On the walk back to Bonnie. Bonnie reported that Ed was so shook up after seeing that the boat, with the water spraying off every leaf and branch as we muskie he could not talk for a half hour. I have not seen that fish for made our way through the bush Mary said, “I think it would be bet- the last three years but it helped verify the true size of some really big ter if we stayed in the boat”. So I asked what she would like to do in muskies present in the Manitou. I firmly believe they do have the the boat. She replied, “I suppose fish”. length and stature to be potential world records. Since she did not know how to cast, we immediately headed for How about some more Manitou Magic and Mystique? While a good spot to jig for lake trout. In less than 15 minutes she was bat- fishing the Manitou the past 25 years, I or others in the boat have tling a 29 inch, 14 pound lake trout on 6 pound test line. It took her caught a 29 inch lake trout, a 35 inch muskie and a 36 inch northern over 30 minutes and many reminders to keep the rod off the boat pike that an enormous muskie tried to eat while we were fighting to gunnels; to bring the fish up from 85 foot of water on my ultra-light land the smaller fish. Each of these fish, which we eventually caught, spooled with 6 pound mono. After landing the fish I asked her to (Continued on page 44) hold the fish for a photo. Even with gloves on, she was grimacing as she held the fish. It took four photos to finally coax a slight smile while Charles Weiss 2011 Muskie Calendar holding the fish. Since then, Mary and I have made many memorable trips to the Manitou; she started casting for muskies the second year. She caught her first muskie, a 42 incher, the third year on a perch colored Bagley DB-6 crankbait after jerking her lure away from several following muskiesthat surprised her. Another example of the Manitou mystique occurred a few years later while muskie fishing with five other experienced Muskies, Inc. fishing couples. In four days of fishing, Mary caught the only muskie, a 34 incher on a #5 Mepps near Powder Island. Magic and Mystique were involved with Mary’s largest muskie. While fishing Mosher MUSKIE Magazine appreciates the cartoons and illustrations donated by Canadian Bay, I stopped the boat about 30 yards up artist Charles Weiss. Charles puts together an annual muskie calendar featur- wind from a large weed bed to look for sus- ing 12 of his full color drawings plus moon phases (www.charlesweissart.com). pended muskies and use the wind to approach Here’s a shot of the cover of his 2011 Classic Muskie Calendar. It is available for the weeds quietly. As I set up the trolling $20, including shipping. If you want one you can contact: motor, Mary made the first cast with a ciscoe Charles Weiss, 34 Hughey Crescent, Toronto, ON M1K 2V4 Canada colored medium sized Grandma and immedi- www.muskiesinc.org Fall 2010.....MUSKIE 43 If you consider going there, here are a few tips to help make magical…MANITOU (Continued from page 43) you more enjoyable. had a bite mark on its side, 11 inches or wider. Another good friend, 1. For your first trip to the Manitou, consider flying in from Fort Tom Verkuilen has a video of a big muskie swimming around the Francis with Rusty Myers to one of the camps like Manitou boat holding a 29 inch lake trout in its mouth like a dog holding a Weather Station, instead of boating in from Esox Lake. Hire a bone, near Green Island. After several attempts to net this monster guide; your trip will be more relaxing, enjoyable and successful. muskie, it let go of the lake trout. Think about the size of fish these Even with the best electronics (GPS, Sonar and navigational giant muskies are capable of eating; it certainly supports the trend to maps) the Manitou has many areas with rock shoals and reefs use larger baits. which rapidly come up from depths of over 100 feet and are not For magic, my best muskie day on the Manitou was with now always accurately represented even on the latest maps. Also stay- departed friend, John Streicher. On a warm misty day in August, ing at a resort close to the Manitou Straights, which separate the 1995, John caught eight muskies and I caught six ranging from 42 Lower Manitou and the Upper Manitou, gives you the option to 48 inches long. Most of this action was captured on video by of easily enjoying good fishing even on very windy days. The another friend, George Hess, who followed us in another boat to film waters on both the Upper and Lower can be really rough on the action until the video camera shut down from moisture. We lost windy days. several other muskies and incidentally, all were caught on a crawdad 2. I prefer to arrange trips near the full or new moon. For best colored Bango. More mystique - I have not caught a muskie on the results, plan to be on the water mostly when the moon is below Manitou with a Bango since 2002. the horizon. On many of my trips when the moon was up dur- I believe the Mystique of the Manitou has kept me from catching ing the day or came up during the evening, the fishing was not a 50 incher since 1996. Prior to that year, I was fortunate to catch 13 as good as when the moon is below the horizon. Many friends, fifty inch or larger muskies in 11 years. The largest was the 54 incher like John Augustine, have witnessed the effects of the moon in 1985, but the heaviest came in late October of 1996. It was only being up. 50 inches long but it had a girth of 26.5 inches. In the last 14 years, 3. Use solunar tables or Joe Bucher’s Moon Secrets to plan your I have caught and released many high 40 inch muskies. Four years fishing schedule. Be on the best spot you can find during these ago, I had three 49 inch plus muskies, with the largest at 49.75; see times. the picture of a 49.5 incher I caught with my wife Mary. Why not a 4. Natural color lures imitating ciscoes, whitefish, lake trout, suck- 50 or bigger? Part of the Manitou Mystique? I think so. (Editor’s Note: ers and perch are the most effective along with basic black in any apparently just writing this article put Tom back on the 50-inch track; he type lure. released a 53.25 incher right before this issue went to print!) 5. Bring some lures that go deep, (10 to 16 feet) because sometimes the muskies will not come up on shallow running baits. 6. Bring at least two soft plastic lures (BullDawg, Big Joe etc.) Use them as a throw-back lures or to get deep. Tan is my favorite color 7. Be prepared to fish rocky shoals, points and saddles between islands as weedbeds are few and far between as in most lake trout lakes. 8. Areas with large boulders in 15 to 30 feet of water are good. 9. Look for areas with deep grass beds at 15 feet or deeper if the muskies are not shallow. 10. Fish with a buddy and another boat. The Manitou is a large, remote lake system without many boats on the water after mid-September. 11. Make sure your tackle is ready, especially the line, knots and the reel. I have witnessed the loss of many big muskies because of bad line, poor knots, and Tom Stark and wife Mary with a 49.5 inch Manitou muskie. drags set too tight or that lock up. I have had chances at several huge muskies, actually hooking one in Mosher Bay on surface bait (Ciscoe colored Giant Jack Pot) in One last story for those of you who enjoy all Mother Nature has 2004. About 15 feet from the boat, that fish launched itself 3 feet in to offer. About six years ago while fishing with Bob Frish we encoun- the air, while violently thrashing its head back and forth. As the huge tered some weird looking floating objects in the water near Glass Bay. muskie hit the water, John and Pat Serra and my wife Mary watched Bob took many photos of them and when he got back home he in awe as the Giant Jack Pot floated on the surface. found out they were freshwater jellyfish. Apparently they are not real In late October of 2005 near Green Island, another huge musk- common and only appear in certain waters at certain times of the ie inhaled my BullDawg Pounder completely. Not an inch of the bait year. I have not seen them since, but they were neat was visible as I fought the fish to within a few feet of the boat, only to have the fish sever my 100 pound fluorocarbonleader. Consider the Manitou for one of your future trips and you The Manitou with its magic and mystique and remoteness is might fall in love with the Manitou’s Magic, Mystique and Muskies. v one of my favorite places to fish for big muskies in Canada. Good luck!

44 MUSKIE.....Fall 2010 Chapter News and Views VIEWSNEWS& CHAPTER ATTENTION CHAPTER CONTACTS: Please make sure your chapter address and phone number is correct on this page AND on the M.I. website. Whenever you update chapter information on the website, please send an email to the Editor so we can keep this page current. Thanks!

No. Chapter, Address Phone # ◆ 01.....Twin Cities, 6311 Steller Circle, Excelsior, MN 55331...... 952-474-5967 VIEWSNEWS& CHAPTER Special Events 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 2010-2011 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 October 1-3, 2010 07.....South Side Muskie Hawks, 5211 S. Narragansett Ave., Chicago, IL 60638...... 773-581-8650 Hayward Lakes Chapter 33rd Annual 08.....Capital City, PO Box 8862, Madison, WI 53708...... 608-669-5046 Fall Tournament. For information call 09.....West Virginia, 1270 Federal Road, Little Hocking, OH 45742...... 740-667-3571 715-634-2921 or on the web visit 10.....Heartland, 239 8th St SE, Mason City IA 50401...... 641-424-0827 www.muskiesinc-hayward.org 11...... Mississippi Valley, 5301 11th Ave “C”, Moline, IL 61265...... 309-797-1803 12.....Headwaters, PO Box 652, Eagle River, WI 54521...... 715-891-5574 October 8-10, 2010 13.....Hayward Lakes, PO Box 609, Hayward, WI 54843...... 715-634-4543 Region #2 Fall Board Meeting and 14.....South of the Border, 28926 W. Big Hollow Rd, McHenry, IL 60050...... 815-385-9026 2nd Annual Muskie Mayhem Fishing Derby. 15.....Star of the North, 16774 West Bay Drive, Pengilly, MN 55775...... 218-885-1677 Contact Mark Kornosky for details, 16.....Three Rivers, 119 Bus Lane, Renfrew, PA15136...... 724-789-7866 586-596-4481 or [email protected] 17.....Quad County, PO Box 185, Plano, IL 60545...... 815-695-1494 October 15-17, 2010 18.....Hopedale, 15 Township Rd 125, Dillonvale, OH 43917...... 740-769-7269 Best of the Best Tournament hosted by 19.....Akron-Canton Muskie Maniacs, 10957 Northwood Ave NE, Bolivar OH 44612..330-874-2773 the Titletown Chapter on Green Bay. 20.....Between the Lakes, PO Box 61, Sheboygan Falls, WI 53085-0061...... 920-564-3226 See ad on inside front cover. 21.....North Metro, PO Box 41216, Plymouth, MN 55441...... 952-469-2155 22.....New Jersey, http://www.mi22.com/...... TBD October 22-23, 2010 23.....Cleveland, 5007 Starr St., Newton Falls, OH 44444...... 330-219-7964 Daniel Boone Chapter Cave Run Outing & 24.....Brainerd Lakes, 18031 Heritage Road, Brainerd, MN 56401...... 218-838-5509 ** M.I. Hall of Fame Ceremony ** 26.....Central Wisconsin, PO Box 263, Medford, WI 54451...... 715-748-4874 ◆

Friday (10/22) and Saturday (10/23) 28.....Shawnee Muskie Hunters, 61 W. Jennings, Wood River, IL 62095...... 618-610-5003 VIEWSNEWS& CHAPTER Contact Scott Smalley: 606-584-0046 29.....Upper Great Plains, 1788 Hwy 4, Estherville, IA 51334...... 712-362-2501 ([email protected]) or Scott 30.....God’s Country, PO Box 1461, LaCrosse, WI 54602...... 608-792-7722 Salchli: 859-585-4202 31.....Penn-Ohio, 309 Spring St, Jamestown, PA 16134...... 724-932-5815 32.....Flatlanders, 5776 Vesper Drive, South Beloit, IL 61080...... 815-389-4622 October 23-24, 2010 33.....Lake Superior, 2031 Hwy. 33 S., Cloquet, MN 55720...... 218-879-2712 Shawnee Muskie Hunters Fall Brawl 35.....Milwaukee, PO Box 28842, Greenfield, WI 53228...... 262-442-6260 Tournament on Lake Kinkaid. 37.....St. Cloud, 312 18th Avenue N., Sartell, MN 56377...... 320-656-1160 August 24-26, 2011 38.....Vikingland, 2909 Wicken Lane NW, Alexandria, MN 56308...... 320-846-7975 2011 Gill Hamm Chapter Challunge 39.....Fox River Valley, 1253 Cobblers Crossing, Elgin, IL 60123...... 847-741-9771 Lake of the Woods, ON 41.....Central Ohio, 870 County Road 9, Fremont OH 43420...... 419-992-4504 ***details pending*** 42.....Hoosier Muskie Hunters, PO Box 501371, Indianapolis, IN 46250...... 317-577-8050 45.....Kentucky, 212 Linden Ave., Southgate, KY 41071...... 859-441-1666 Special events listings are provided at no 46.....Bemidji/Cass Lake, 16256 Andrusia Rd NE, Cass Lake, MN 56633...... 218-335-8597 charge to Muskies, Inc chapters. 47.....Michigan Muskie Alliance, PO Box 512, Caledonia, MI 49316...... 616-447-1688 To list your chapter's event, email to: 49.....Webster Lake Musky Club, PO Box 670, No. Webster, IN 46555...... 574-834-1669 [email protected] 50.....Penn-Jersey, 510 Bryton Ave., Pottstown PA 19465...... 484-459-5940 or by ground mail: 52.....Daniel Boone, 813 US 62, Maysville, KY 41056...... 606-759-7610 Kevin Richards, 53.....Huskerland Muskie Hunters, 15706 Hamilton St, Omaha, NE 68118...... 402-498-8959 7618 Sunrise Ridge Road, 54.....Southern Crossroads, 1524 Country Club Rd, Albert Lea MN 56007...... 507-373-1818 Henley, MO 65040 56.....SW Ohio Muskie Assoc., 524 Sterling Meadows Place, Brookville, OH 45309.. 937-833-1833 57.....NW Tiger Pac, P.O. Box 5515, Kent, WA 98064...... 253-850-5889 Please send announcements 58.....Lake St. Clair Muskies, Inc., P.O. Box 805915, St. Clair Shores, MI 48080.....734-968-3752 at least 2 months in advance. 59.....New Mexico Muskies, Inc., P.O. Box 65575, Albuquerque, NM 87193...... 505-264-2999 60.....Mountain Muskies, 37720 N. Sheets Road, Elk, WA. 99009...... 509-999-0717 www.muskiesinc.org Fall 2010.....MUSKIE 45 Twin Cities Chicagoland Muskie Hunters 6311 StellerCircle • Excelsior, MN 55331 7600 Kilbourn Ave. • Skokie, IL 60076 01 952-474-5967 03 847-677-0017 – Dean Rosset www.twincitiesmuskiesinc.org [email protected] Meets 2nd Tuesday 7:00 PM, Knights of Columbus, 1114 W79th St Bloomington, Meets 2nd Tuesday 7:30 PM, Park Ridge VFW 10 West Higgins Ave., Park MN, near the SE corner of the intersection of I-494 and I-35W. Ridge, IL.

Last winter I spoke to MMA (Minnesota Muskie Alliance) about Greetings Thrillseekers, developing a state-wide muskie tournament for high school students Summer is over but members from Chicagoland Muskie to be run by the MI Chapters in Minnesota. I feel very strongly that Hunters chapter of Muskie Inc. remain as busy as ever. Throughout we need to expand the base of our organization if we expect quality this summer and going into this fall, members have been pounding muskie fishing to continue. Each state is feeling political and eco- lakes all over the Midwest and Canada and the results are amazing. nomic pressures that will only be offset by a strong, effective grass- Seems the warmer waters this year have really turned the fishing CHAPTER & NEWS VIEWS roots effort such as Muskies Inc. The Board of Directors of the Twin on. Just a reminder, if you have any questions about any particular

◆ Cities Chapter said they would support this effort and cover expens- lake or lakes, bring a lake chart to the next meeting and there will es for plaques and awards for a pilot project. be at least a couple of folks that can not only mark the charts with Each chapter in Minnesota was contacted about this pilot proj- hot spots but they can probably give you some quality insight as to ect and MASSP (Minnesota Association of Secondary School how to increase your chances of landing a fish of a lifetime. Principals) sent an email to all high school principals in the State. This year we have had some great “on the water” meetings Each principal had the opportunity to select (by whatever means with members sharing their favorite tips and techniques. All of these they chose) a two-student team to represent their school in a meetings have been in perfect weather. Going into the fall we have regional contest, with the winner advancing to the first ever State all upcoming meetings at the usual place, Park Ridge VFW on the Tournament. As someone said, how often do you have the chance second Tuesday of each month. This fall we will once again have to be a State Champion? Beyond that was the great opportunity a Green Bay, Wisconsin trip that has had a history of successful this presented to students to have this experience and represent fishing. It’s not too late to consider joining us for this trip. Outings their schools. Each chapter was given great latitude on how they Director Joe Pavilonis not only has done an outstanding job with ran their regional tournament. Ultimately two chapters ran a tourna- outings in 2010 but has fished Green Bay and the river many, many ment this pilot year and it turns out that both chapters gave the two times and is always willing to share his knowledge. Depending on students in the winning team a year’s membership in Muskies Inc. where the muskies are, river or Green Bay, they will be targeted and Those winning teams competed in the State Tournament this past caught. You can bet your favorite lure on that. Monday. They represented themselves, their families, their com- When you have a moment, go to muskieinc.org and bang munities, and around on the website. See the results our Chapter 3, Chicagoland muskie fishing at Muskie Hunter have had this year and consider joining us. I have the highest level. heard rumor that a couple of our members will be guiding in Both teams are Canadian water next year assuming the permitting process is com- hoping to be able pleted. Pretty cool. CHAPTER & NEWS VIEWS to do this again in Program Director Frank Loye has arranged great speakers for ◆ an expanded for- the coming months including Kevin Moore, Sean Birmingham, mat next year. A Doug Welch and the special December presentation. As usual, special thanks to President Zach Arnold will be working the room and coordinating Jim Kroupa, past- the evenings. president of the You are encouraged to come to any of the next Chicagoland Twin Cities Muskie Huntersmeetings. Everybody shares their knowledge and Chapter, for his experience. Chicagoland Muskie Huntermeetings are the second help as a judge Tuesday of the month at the Park Ridge VFW located at 10 W. and for putting Higgins Road, Park Ridge, Illinois at 7:30pm. Keep the calls coming together a gift bag with questions about joining Chicagoland Muskie Hunters. As for each team. always, feel free to call Dean Rosset at 847-677-0017 or dlrosset@ Congratulations sbcglobal.net or myself at 847-434-1400 or [email protected] to the winning Take care, Kevin M. Lynch team from St. Anthony Village Titletown High School (Matt 3097 Inverness Lane Green and 04 New Franken, WI 54229 920-866-9705 Andrew Barkley) and the runner up team from Little Falls High School (Nick Retka and Lee Skajewski). Greetings to our fellow Muskie’s Inc. Brothers and Sisters! If you have any questions, you can contact me at: tomk@usiwire- It has been an eventful summer in Green Bay weather wise. CHAPTER NEWS CHAPTER & NEWS VIEWS less.com As with much of the Midwest we have experienced one of the wet- Respectfully submitted, Tom Keith test summers in decades. At least one major storm a week has 46 MUSKIE.....Fall 2010 been the norm this summer. Severe thunderstorms along with tor- Denis Ledgerwood will not be running the Fall Tournament in rential down pours have wreaked havocon much of our area. 2011. We also need someone to step forward to assume that VIEWSNEWS& CHAPTER Downed trees, major flooding and damaged buildings have made it responsibility. a tough summer for many people. This weather has also made for Fall Fishing and Pomme Drawdown some hard fishing. One positive to all the rain is the fact that water As I write this, the temperatures are just breaking from the very levels have been on the rise. My family just returned from a week’s high summer temperatures that have raised water temperatures in vacation in the Hayward area, I noticed many of the water front Missouri lakes to almost 90 degrees. In another three weeks the property owners have had to raise their decks to accommodate the cool nights will drop the temperatures into the high 80s and fishing rapidly rising waters. This rise in water levels is much needed, just for muskies will begin again. not in such a short period of time. This past Friday, (August 20th) The Corps of Engineers started a drawdown to work on the areas of East Green Bay received nearly 3 inches of rain in less dam outlet structure on September 7th. They plan to drop it slowly than 2 hours. to elevation 834 by October 1st. This will be a 5-foot drawdown. Some of our Officers and members recently traveled to The stilling basin dewatering is planned for the week of Oct 11, Shawano to present the Figure-8 Musky Club with an $850 dona- including installing a 4-foot diameter bypass pipe to maintain at tion for their musky stocking efforts on Shawano Lake. These funds least a minimum flow of 50 cfs in the river below. Stilling basin were raised by the sale of fishing gear at our ‘swap meet’ earlier this concrete construction will take anywhere from 3 to 6 months to summer. complete. With the dropping water levels in Pomme you may want Our Wednesday night league kicks off on September 8ththis to think about fishing some of the other muskie lakes in Missouri. year. One major change we made this year is opening up the fish- Fellows, Hazel Creek, Busch and Sever are all viable fisheries that ing hours include the morning and early afternoon hours. This are underutilized for muskie fishing. Try something different this fall change was made to accommodate the shift workers in the club and fish one or more of these lakes. Make sure you fill out your who were unable to fish the 2-8 pm hours of the past. We will end Show-Me Muskie Project forms recording the time spent on the lake the league on Tuesday November 30th, with a get together at the and the results you have. ◆ yacht club. The chapter had two teams participate in the Chapter Challunge VIEWSNEWS& CHAPTER Our Best of the Best Tournament is set for October 15th, 16th in August. I am glad to see this kind of enthusiasm for an event held & 17th. The 60 boat field is expected to be extremely competitive about 700 miles from “home.” It would be great to get this type of this year. Keep track of tournament information and results on our response for all the events that we hold in Missouri too. The more website. who participate in an event, the more fun it is, and the easier it is to As fall fishing picks up on Green Bay I hope to see and meet get members to chair these events. many other chapter members fishing our trophy waters. If anyone If you would like to run for office, contact Wayne Humphrey at has any Green Bay Musky questions whether fishing, lodging or 314-440-2173 or [email protected] stay related feel free to contact me through the TitletownM.I. web- Wayne Humphrey site. I will do my best to answer your questions or point you in the right direction. For our August meeting Juris Ozols made the trip over for First Wisconsin the Twin Cities and presented his fishing photography class. It was P.O. Box 122, Chippewa Falls, WI 54729 06 Jason Smith - 715-726-9912 • 1-888-726-6733 a very interesting and informative presentation. Juris emphasized www.firstwi.muskiesinc.org his 3 most important rules; never center someone’s head in the Meetings 1st Monday, 5:30 PM, at Rod and Gun Club, Lake Wissota from May to picture, look at the corners and add interesting visual elements to September and at the Fill Inn Station, 104 W. Columbia St., Chippewa Falls from October to April. the picture. I’ve since added a fourth; watch out for the Hopasaurus Rex, you never know when he’s going to get you! Dates to Remember Have a safe fall and good fishing! Oct 4th - General Meeting at Fill Inn 7:00 PM, speaker is Rich Kevin R. Pischke, Secretary Ward Oct 16th - Fall Meltdown fishing on Lake Holcombe Oct. 18th - Board Meeting at VFW Starr Ave. Eau Claire 6:30 PM Pomme de Terre ◆ P.O. Box 5 • Hermitage, MO 65668 Nov. 1st – General Meeting at Fill Inn 7:00 PM, speaker is Jim 05 314-878-7732 – Wayne Humphrey Korducki VIEWSNEWS& CHAPTER www.missourimuskies.org Nov. 15th - Board Meeting at VFW Starr Ave. Eau Claire 6:30 PM Meets: Various days-Call for schedule Outings Outings for the year are winding down, our tournament is done, Pomme de Tour Wednesday night is done, and the Gil Hamm is history. However, The Pomme de Tour on August 14thheaded up the Pomme remember our Fall Meltdown is not far away. It is October 16 on arm of the lake with Jim (Coach) Wilson and Earle (Earle) Hammond Lake Holcombe. This is a very neat one day outing. It can be very piloting the pontoon boats and leading the discussion of fishing on cold or everybody wore shorts last year. the lake. Eight people took advantage of the outing to learn a lot Regional Vice President Report about the lake and where tofish for muskies. New membership program starting September 2010 and will This is a great event for the new or the experienced musky end March 31. 2011. Sign up a new member, and for each member angler. I have fished the lake for 10+ years and learned a couple you sign up will get you a chance to win one of three prize pack- of things that I didn’t know. I now have an appreciation of why I see ages for signing a member. Check the ad in MUSKIE magazine for boats fishing in “the middle of the lake” in a couple of places. Turns all the information. Also a reminder that under the new pilot program out there is structure that I knew nothing about. you will not receive MUSKIE Magazine in November 2010, February The chapter runs two “Tours” each year, one up the Pomme 2011, or August 2011. Again, check MUSKIE for more details arm of the lake and the other up the Lindley arm. regarding the pilot program. Election of Officers Region 2 Fall Board Meeting coming up in October 8th-10th, Election of officers will be this fall. Roger Reetz has announced hosted by Chapter 58 Lake St. Clair MI. RVP Joe Heil 715-839- that he will not be seeking re-election and we will be looking for a 7089, 715-559-2945 or [email protected] to contact me. new President. We need some new blood to step forward to provide leadership for the chapter in the next year. (Continued on page 48) www.muskiesinc.org Fall 2010.....MUSKIE 47 chapter news & views (Continued from page 47) more King salmon, the largest of which First Wis. Members Only Fishing Contest was another 15 lb. As of September 1st we have 209 muskies entered in our fish. All of these were chapter contest. I have been sending the standings to those with caught on a black email. Those standings will also be on our new and improved chap- with blue tape ter web site shortly. Cortland Spletter leads the Juniors with 5 rel-75 Slammer spoon. On pts. Denise Shervey leads the Women’s with 1 rel-15 points. Nancy July 31st he again Scharhag leads the Women Masters with 3 rel-43 pts. Dr. Michael went fishing on Lake Milz leads the Men’s with 14 rel-242 pts. Jim Coffin leads the Men’s Michigan, but the fish Masters with 11 rel-145 pts. The chapter’s longest entry to date is a weren’t really biting. 50 inch out of Mille Lacs by Greg Hassmann. However, while troll- Youth Report ing using a green Youth Director Tom bubble spoon, someone did manage to Sean Kays with a 48 inch St. Croix River Smetana has been busy. Alex muskie caught with guide Tony Grant. Webber a 12 year old student tie into one really at Rice Lake Middle School angry seagull with a has been in the woods with hook through his beak. Release details were not immediately avail- Tom. Alex shot his first mal- able. However, this being Chicago, I would not be surprised to find lard and his first whitetail with a seagull wearing cement shoes at the bottom of Lake Michigan. I Tom last fall. This spring Alex am not saying that this is the case, only that it would not surprise me.

CHAPTER & NEWS VIEWS got a nice 20 pound gobbler that Tom called in. Tom is Larry Konieczka also went fishing on Lake Michigan, but he ◆ going for the grand slam and went with five others on the charter boat Confusion out of Winthrop will let us know when Alex Harbor on August 15th. He reported that their group caught a total of 25 fish which consisted of a mixture of steelhead, rainbow, and gets his first muskie. Tom is 12 year old Alex Webber with dad, Coho. Larry got a nice 10 lb. steelhead. working on some other youth Dan Webber (right) and Tom Ian Niemiec reported that his daughter Chloe caught a 19 inch activities in the near future. Smetana, Youth Director (left). largemouth and a 17 inch largemouth; both caught using a bobber Fisheries and a minnow. Chloe’s older brother Alex also a 16 inch largemouth We have the option to purchase 20-25 inch yearlings versus using a bobber and minnow. All of the fish were caught in a lake at fingerlings of the Leech Lake strain. Jason Smith is negotiating the a private fishing club. Chloe and Alex are still quite young, but they purchase price. The benefit is a much better survival rate. We will be are already hooked on fishing. We look forward to them becoming tagging them with a different color floy tag similar to our regular tag- quite active in muskie fishing as they get older. ging program. $12,000 was approved at the August 2nd board meet- Our speakers at the meeting were Bob Jeffries and Paul ing for this program. Amount depends on the ending price per unit. Miletich. Bob spoke about the Illinois Muskie Tournament Trail lakes Thanks, Jim Bunch and fishing the tournaments. He explained that tournament fishing requires attention to detail, and he showed us that he has maps of South Side Muskie Hawks each lake and has marked the spots of known muskie catches. He 5211 S. Narragansett Ave. • Chicago, IL 60638 also stressed the use of every electronic gizmo that can improve 07 773-581-8650 your chances of catching fish, including GPS, sonar units, and Our meetings are held every third Wednesday of the month at Vince’s walkie-talkies with a good range. Restaurant and Pizzeria, 6217 West 63rd Street, Chicago, starting at 7:00 pm. Paul gave a slide presentation about walleye fishing on Lake Erie. He showed the many different clones of Erie Dearies, explain- The August meeting of the South Side Muskie Hawks was ing that some are better than others and why. He also mentioned CHAPTER & NEWS VIEWS called to order by John Daley at our new meeting location of Vince’s that while the Aberdeen hooks found on some of them are larger, ◆ Restaurant and Pizzeria, located at 6217 West 63rd Street in they are also more flimsy, so he chooses to replace them with Chicago. One perk of the new location is that we now can offer a Gamakatsu or Daiichi hooks, which are much stronger and more buffet at our meet- dependable. ings, and the buffet Our speaker for the September meeting will be Jim Kopjo, “The served tonight was Crappie Professor”, who will speak on “Fall Patterns for Bass and excellent. Our host, Crappie”. Jim speaks at our meetings every year, and we welcome Johnny Parmigiani, him back. We hope to see you at the meeting! really outdid him- Respectfully submitted, Lynn Polyak, RVP self by offering everything from soups, salads, and Capital City main entrees to P.O. Box 8862, Madison, WI 53708 08 608-669-5046 – Gerard Hellenbrand pizza and desserts. www.capitalcitymuskiesinc.org Many of the mem- Meets 2nd Monday at The East Side Club, 3735 Monona Dr. Madison, WI. bers came early to partake of the food, The sustained period of hot weather in the Madison area this and meeting atten- Ladi Lapin (wood-burning artist, on left) presenting past summer caused the lake water temperatures to be too high for dance was up by appreciation plaque to our new host, restaurateur muskie fishing for weeks. Long-time CCMI members could not over 50%. John Parmigiani. recall a period of 80+ degree surface water on the Madison chain While the members and guests finished eating, a number of of lakes lasting so long. The lakes reached 80° in Mid-July and fishing reports were given by the members. Tony Dyrkacz reported stayed that way until the end of August. The high water tempera- CHAPTER NEWS CHAPTER & NEWS VIEWS that while fishing on Lake Michigan on July 17th, he caught a 25 ½ tures even caused the club to cancel the August on-the-water meet- inch Coho, and a 15 lb. King salmon. The next day he caught three 48 MUSKIE.....Fall 2010 ing. Needless to say, members are glad to be back on the water to a 50” put in the boat by his fellow boater. Josh and Nathan close to home. Whether this will affect the total number of muskies Winger have three days with 5 or more fish in the boat as a team. VIEWSNEWS& CHAPTER caught by CCMI members this year is still to be determined, but Lydia and Allison Klug have recorded a six fish day combined, in plenty of us were anxious to get back to muskie fishing in Madison. addition to a three day stretch when they boated 15 fish between Nevertheless, we believe our voluntary efforts to avoid the risk of them. Robin Clegg has six and four fish days; Chuck Braniff has a killing local muskies was worth the wait. five fish day and John Kaltenecker got 15 one day in Canada. John The hot weather “break” gave members a good reason to pur- Cade is having an outstanding year with 50 catches reported to sue muskies in northern Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Canada. date including 17 over a two day stretch. One of our top fishermen, Reports of good numbers of muskies being caught and numbers of Dave Wenzel is again having a super year. He has reported 109 good-sized fish being caught were frequent. Club members, never- fish, already one of the top seasons ever by a Chapter 09 member theless, are looking forward to catching some trophy sized fish the with plenty of season left. He’s had eight days with five or more fish rest of this month and during November and December. We are caught including a 14 fish day that had fish of 53”, 48” and 46” in hopeful that the lakes remain ice free during most of December, the mix. unlike last year when they became covered with ice very early dur- Nancy Amick, a relative newcomer to our Women’s Division, ing the month. recorded her first ever; a very nice 45 incher. All in all, a great year Thanks to our panel members who gave an informational and so far; not only in fish reports but also in our outings, activities and inspirational presentation at our September membership meeting. projects. We’re looking forward to the next few months. This is the second year CCMI has used a panel of committed Jim Moore, President anglers from the ranks of its membership to share insights and knowledge about how to find and catch muskies during the fall fishing season. Thank you Troy Schoonover, Matt Hill, Bryan Foerst, Headwaters and Shane West for a great job. P.O. Box 652 • Eagle River, WI 54521 12 715-891-5574 – Bill Jacobs Scot Stewart, CCMI member and Regional Program Manager www.headwatersmuskies.com ◆ st for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, will provide an Meets 1 Wednesday 7:00 PM, Eagle River Inn, Eagle River, WI. VIEWSNEWS& CHAPTER update on the status of muskies in Wisconsin at our October 11thmembership meeting. This presentation has become an annual The Headwaters Chapter 12 held our August business meet- event and is very much welcomed. This meeting provides members ing on August 4th. At this meeting, final plans were made by Bob with an opportunity to speak directly to a representative from the Jacobs to get a crew together to fabricate 5 concrete boat pads on DNR and to ask questions and get answers from an individual who September 1st. Several of these pads will be place at the “T’ docks knows what is actually happening in the Wisconsin muskie world. It on Yellow Birch Lake. The remaining pads will be used at other is expected that an update on the CCMI/DNR study of muskie stock- boat ladings in Oneida and Vilas counties. ing in Lake Monona will be included in the presentation. More will On Wednesday August 18th Headwaters held there fish any be reported on the data from this study later. lake outing. All members gathered at Twelve Pines after a great Members are also looking forward to hearing from Muskies, day of fishing. There were 41 members present to share great Inc. President Dan Narsete and Ian Young, President of Muskies, pizza and fish stories of the day. Congratulations goes to Kip Canada at our November 8thmembership meeting. Captain Tanner Cramer 37, Mike Wix 36, Bob Jacobs 32 and Fred Brogle 40 for Wildes, professional fishing guide, will be the featured speaker at registering fish for the day. A big Thanks to our outing committee the December 13th meeting. Jim Reiclitz, Roger Sabota and Kip Cramer. Results of the annual Vilas County Outing, scheduled for On August 25-27th Headwaters was represented by three October 15 and 16, and will be reported in future columns. In the teams, they consisted of the following members: Gordie Shaw, meantime, we look forward to great muskie fishing this fall. Good Dale Peterson, Bob Weeks, Dan Lambretch, Leroy Kibbel, Terry Luck to all of you. Burns, Marge and Jerry Hollnagel, youth member Zachery Schuers, Lee Bartolini, VP Joe Koschnik, Rick Janick, Bill Jacobs, Jason Jacobs and Glenn Matula. Zachery being our only youth did a great job keeping up West Virginia with the adults, nice going Zachery. There were 183 fishermen 1270 Federal Road • Little Hocking, OH 45742 fighting extremely high winds and blue bird skies. Congratulations ◆ 740-667-3571 09 to Gordie Shaw for registering a 38 inch musky and putting his VIEWSNEWS& CHAPTER http://westvirginiamuskiesinc.org Headwater Team in 6th place. The Gil Hamm tournament is a tre- Meets: No definite schedule-call mendous outing and provides great camaraderie among many chapters. This is an annual event and our members should mark Will 2010 go down as the year of the Juniors for Chapter 09? their calendars to attend this event next year. Without a doubt, it already is! At this point in the season we have Glenn Matula, Secretary had six (6) Junior Members register fish, the most ever. Kimberly Brown caught and released her first fish ever, a nice 34” from the Hayward Lakes Buckhannon River. Sisters Allison and Lydia Klug also registered P.O. Box 609 their first fish ever in our Jr. Division but they haven’t stopped there. 13 Hayward, WI 54843 Allison has recorded 18 catches including a 50” and a huge 53”. 715-634-4543 Lydia has at this point 20 fish with four being 40” or better. The Winger brothers, Josh and Nathan, are up to their usual ways The Hayward Lakes Chapter’s 33RD Annual Fall Tournament recording solid seasons. Both have released nine fish each. Derek is the weekend of October 1,2 & 3 this year so depending on when Wenzel, besides starring in sports, catches fish also. He has the magazine is received there may still be time to enter. For infor- reported six fish in our contest which include winning our Chapter mation call Hayward Bait and Tackle at 715-634-2921. When the Spring Outing. Congratulations to all these young people and we tournament has concluded the standings and complete fish catch look forward to other Junior Members getting into the mix. Thanks list will be posted on the Hayward Bait website, www.haywardbait. also to those parents who undoubtedly are active in seeing that com and also on the club website, www.muskiesinc-hayward.org. their kid’s get out onto the water. We will no longer be mailing the results. It’s been a great year for others in various ways also. There The first Sunday of August we held our Annual Kids Fishing have been several “special days” for numerous members. George Day. Fifteen guides took thirty one youngsters fishing in the morning Coleman reported a five fish day on Stonewall Jackson in addition (Continued on page 50) www.muskiesinc.org Fall 2010.....MUSKIE 49 chapter news & views (Continued from page 49) Akron-Canton and then at noon the club prepared a bar-b-que lunch for everyone. 10957 Northwood Ave. NE • Bolivar, OH 44612 Each youngster got a bag of fishing goodies and there was a raffle 19 Gordon Selden - 330-874-2773 http://[email protected] for larger prizes like rods , reels and tackle boxes. There are some Meets 3rd Tuesday at 7:00 PM, North Canton FOE, 6979 Sunset Strip NW, great pictures of the event on our website. Canton, OH. The club’s November meeting will be Tuesday the second at 7pm. The meeting will be held at Dow’s Corner Bar, 13 miles east EVENTS FOR 2011 of Hayward on highway 77 east and county road A. This is primar- MARCH 5 - ANNUAL AWARDS BANQUET/FUNDRAISER ily a business meeting to review the tournament and begin to start NORTH CANTON EAGLES planning for 2011. There will also be a “Lure Swap” so bring lures APRIL 16 & 17 - TOURNAMENT SALT FORK or other fishing equipment you might like to trade. In December we MAY 14 & 15 - CHAPTER CHALLUNGE SALT FORK will have our annual Christmas party. This is usually on a Sunday JUNE 11 & 12 - TOURNAMENT LEESVILLE LAKE evening early in the month, everyone including spouses and friends JULY 16 & 17 - MEMORIAL TOURN. WESTBRANCH are welcome. For information call Al Hoeft 715-865-2232. The AUGUST 13 - NITE BITE TOURNAMENT LEESVILLE January meeting is Tuesday the fourth at 7pm. at Dow’s. This is a SEPTEMBER 10 & 11 - TOURN. SALT FORK LAKE business meeting to plan for 2011. All board members are asked to OCTOBER 8 - TOURNAMENT LEESVILLE LAKE attend and all interested members are welcome. NOVEMBER 5 - OUTING LEESVILLE LAKE The current standings in our members contest as of 8/25: On August 7th, our club had its 4thtournament of the season Women-Rachel Sennett 7 fish-104 pts. Includes a 51.5” from with our Nite Bite at Leesville Lake. There were 31 anglers that LOTW. Tera Neibauer 2 fish-17 pts. Men: Tom Kersten 9 fish-118 fished the event with only two legal fish being caught. Jeff Ferjutz pts. Includes a 51” from LOTW. John Corona 3 fish-41 pts. Steve

CHAPTER & NEWS VIEWS took first place with his 38”fish and John Dennis took second with his Truver 1 fish-26 pts. a 52” from Lake Vermillion Kris Gottwald 3 fish- 32” fish. Jeff also won the big fish pool and received $110. We want ◆ 25 pts. Kim Hackbarth 1 fish-11 pts. Emmett Brown 1 fish-9 pts. to congratulate Jeff for winning the tournament and thank him for his Men’s Masters: Tom Muntz 80 fish-693 pts, Larry Ramsell 14 fish- generosity in giving back $40 of his winnings back to the club! 258 pts. includes a 50” from the St. Lawrence and a 52” from the Our next event will be our 5th tournament of the season at Ottawa. Adam Glickman 12 fish-146 pts. includes a 46” from Westbranch on Sept. 11th. We had scheduled to have it at Waconia Mike Persson 7 fish-107 pts. includes a 50” from LOTW. Pymatuning but there have been some concerns of the water condi- As we go into the future we plan on posting the standings on the tions that have made us to change the location to Westbranch. club’s website so the information will be available there also. We We are going to have a youth outing on Sept. 18that Petro’s also would like to post pictures of fish caught by our club members, Park. We’re excited to host this event and want to thank Trent and these can be e-mailed to [email protected]. all of the volunteers for their time to make this event a success! Good Fishing, Mike Persson Our last tournament of the season will be on Oct 9that Leesville Lake. This should be a great time to catch a nice fall fish and start Three Rivers to see the leaves changing. A lot of our club members will continue 119 Bus Lane, Renfrew, PA 15136 to catch as many fish as they can up to the end of November and 16 724-789-7866 – James P. Buss http://threerivers.muskiesinc.org possibly the first part of December as far as the weather hold out. Meets 2nd Monday 7:30 PM, Northside Sportsmans Club, Wexford, PA. Well, with this season coming to a close, we are already looking at our tentative dates for our schedule for next year and are currently having a tie and camera raffle that will be given at our Mark your calendars for the upcoming fishing event and meet- March 5thAwards Banquet. I will give you all of the results of our ings. October 16th & 17th - Again as a reminder we will be hosting September and October events in our next issue. Until then, you the Lake Arthur Charity Challenge. The club will be having a Cash can check out our message board on our web site and get the latest Tournament during this event. Entry fee will be $25 per club mem- info on what our club members are doing. ber, and $35 for non-club members. Optional $5 dollars for the 50”

CHAPTER & NEWS VIEWS Kevin Proffitt pot. Only Three Rivers members are eligible, the pot is currently

◆ worth $500. Details will be provided upon paying your entry fee for the tournament. Also, after the tournament each day, there will be Cleveland an $8 buffet to be held across from the Butler Fair Grounds. 5007 Starr St. • Newton Falls, OH 44444 Here are the release winners so far for 2010. Jan and Feb: No 23 330-219-7964 • [email protected] releases/no winners; Mar: Sam Butler 43” from Piedmont Lake Meets 2nd Monday of each month, 7:30 PM at RC Sports Lounge, 2422 South Canal St., Newton Falls, OH, except June-August Ohio; Apr: Joel Morrow 49” from Pymatuning; May: Kevin Whipkey when meetings are at the East Boat Ramp Pavilion in West Branch. 51” from Lake Arthur; Jun: John Ryhal, 52.25” from Lake Arthur. NOTE: “It is not necessary to mail completed Lunge Log release forms to Fred Francese anymore, He can pull the data We were back at Pymatuning Lake for our summer tournament anytime from the Muskies, Inc. web site. He will still need to con- hoping that the Muskies were looking for our lures to eat. Much to tinue receive the release forms from our members that need to be our misfortune they had other things on their minds. We had 17 entered into the M.I. database. people fishing and only put two fish in the net. Jarry Fisher won first Let us remember it is important to our sport and our Three Rivers place with a 36” fish he caught in the deep water Saturday just as Chapter that we support those who so diligently support us. We want the rain started. Jarry also won the big fish pool. John Savu took to take a moment to thank our sponsors who are: CUCU Lures, second with a 31.5” fish early Saturday. Good job to both Jarry and Gander Mountain, Green Acres, Legend Lures, Leo Lures, MTailz John. We had a lot of rain Saturday evening and through the night. Lures, Muddy Creek Fishing Guides, Muskie Train, Newman Lures, Sunday was over cast and windy. We had a few brave fishermen Rollie and Helen’s Bait Shop, Wal-Mart, and Wiley Lures. who stuck it out to the end. I would like to thank the Duck & Drake For now, travel safe and be well, hope to see you at our club for letting us do our sign in at their bait shop. meetings, which are held the 2nd Monday of each month. Our We had our last meeting at the East boat ramp at West Branch. next meeting will be held on October 11th, look forward to seeing Our next meeting will be at RC’s in Newton Falls the second Monday of the month at 7:30. Everyone is welcome to come and CHAPTER NEWS CHAPTER & NEWS VIEWS you there. Jim Patterson hear some great fish stories and find out what the club is doing for 50 MUSKIE.....Fall 2010 Muskie fishing in Ohio. Our chili outing will be November 6 from December 5th Meeting at 7 pm. Place to be named latter CHAPTER NEWS & VIEWSNEWS& CHAPTER 8:00am to 3:00pm. Then we will all have some great chili and corn December 11th and 12th Trolling Outing on Kinkaid (weather bread. permitting) This year Jarry Fisher won the tournament champion jacket for Remember I’m in the other Lund, the most points during our tournaments. Great job Jarry. Walt Krause Thank you all for fishing our tournaments this year. I know I had fun and I hope everyone else did! Tom Morris, Tournament Director Upper Great Plains 1788 Hwy 4 29 Estherville, IA 51334 712-362-2501 Central Wisconsin Meets 3rd Thursday , Legion Club, 1709 Okoboji Ave., Milford, IA. P.O. Box 263 • Medford, WI 54451 26 715-748-4874 – Art Klimpke www.centralwis.co.nr On August 29thour chapter wrapped up the 2010 Iowa Muskie Meets 2nd Thursday of the month at Happy Joe’s on Hwy. 13 in Medford, WI Team Trail. This is the second year we have run four 1 day tourna- - 7:00 PM. ments on lakes throughout the state of Iowa. There has been great interest from muskie anglers throughout the state and because of Art and Jerry sold out the Muskies Alliance boat raffle tickets everyone’s support this year was a great success. We had 28 twice at the Medford Car Show. We need to decide how to spend teams in all participate during the 2010 season. The team trail all that money in the treasury. Any suggestions? Come to the next wrapped up on West and East Okoboji . We had 17 teams partici- meeting and put in a request. Marty is having a great year in pate with 7 muskies being caught and released by 5 of the teams. Canada by the looks of the pictures in his e-mails. How is the Here is a list of the Okoboji tournament results: Octapod coming Marty? As of the end of July Jason is at the top of 1st Andrew Scholten and Travis Young worth 3 muskies 40,39,36 the Masters has the largest fish at 48.5 inches but I won’t be sur- inches for 47 pts. ◆ prised if he tops it. Scott Estlund is leading the Men’s Division and 2nd Kyle and Bob Doonan 1 muskie 49 inches for 33 pts. VIEWSNEWS& CHAPTER at this pace is destined to be in the Masters Division next year. 3rd Tracy and Dick Crail 1 muskie 47 inches for 31 pts. Gerald Bucholtz 4th Ethan Johnson and Ryan Hoffmeyer 1 muskie 41 inches for 25 pts. 5th Pete Hildreth and Kevin Rolfe 1 muskie 37 inches for 21 Shawnee Muskie Hunters pts. 61 W. Jennings • Wood River, IL 62095 28 618-610-5003 – Manuel Santa Cruz The team trail combines the points for each of the 4 events for [email protected] the Team of the Year Contest. Congratulations to Scott Larson and www.shawneemuskiehunters.org Leo Kofoot, your 2010 Iowa Muskie Team Trail Team of the Year! Here is a list of the top ten Team of the Year results: 1st Leo Kofoot and Scott Larson 100 pts; 2nd Tracy and Dick Check out our website (shawneemuskiehunters.org) for lots of Crail 94 pts; 3rd Tom and Jess Crawford 93 pts; 4th Matt good information. Thanks to Jerry and Cheryl Ford for taking over Williams and Paul Bushong 90 pts; 5th Pete Hildreth and our website and adding new items such as: Hot News, Members Dick Manske 76.5 pts; 6th Kyle and Bob Doonan 76 pts; 7th looking for fishing partners, and much much more. AJ Simpson and Nick Bass 72 pts; 8th Shawn Haley and The year is coming to a close. Ice will soon start to limit the Michael Grudgings 69.5 pts; 9th Brian Buehler and Nico waters to fish for muskies. We have an advantage here in the Kotopaulos 64 pts; 10th Travis Youngworth and Chris Wulf Southern waters where we can usually fish all the way to the end of 61.5 pts. December. Our summer was brutal. Air temperatures were at or It has been an honor to run the tournament trail and I have near 100 degrees with heat index reaching 121 degrees for most of enjoyed every opportunity meeting and visiting with people that the summer. We were really looking forward to the challenge this share the same love and passion for muskie fishing. I look forward year. to visiting with everyone in working out details for next year’s team I think our officers came up with a lot of good activities for 2010. trail. Any input from our chapter members to make this or any other ◆ As with every year, chapters have a hard time getting members to chapter event better is also welcome. Thanks again to IMTT par- VIEWSNEWS& CHAPTER participate in their chapters. A chapter is only as good as the mem- ticipants. bers make it. We at the Shawnee Muskie Hunters have always I would like to close the Ch. 29 report with an important mes- asked members if they would like to see any particular activity to sage on how you can help pass the most important piece of legisla- present it to our officers. We are always looking for ways to make tion to help protect Iowa’s water, fish, and wildlife. Vote “Yes” on our chapter family friendly. We need your help to make it better in Question 1 on the November 2ndballot to protect our land and 2011. water for future generations. The 1st question on your November Our programs are coming to a close for this year. We will be 2nd ballot asks if you want to adopt Iowa’s Water and Land Legacy electing our officers for 2011. We are always looking for new faces Amendment which creates a dedicated trust fund for the purposes with new ideas to make our chapter even better. If you think you of protecting and enhancing water quality and natural areas in the would like to hold a certain position or on a certain committee, let State including parks, trails, and fish and wildlife habitat and con- the officers know. All offices are up for reelection. A list of offices and serving agricultural soils in the State. Our chapter supports this who is in them can be found on our website. I hope to hear from Amendment and we encourage all members to vote “Yes” on you. November 2nd. Vote “Yes” to preserve our Quality of Life in Iowa. You can see the activities for the rest of the year. I hope to see We also encourage you to get the word out in regards to this impor- you at all or some of these activities: tant conservation Amendment. We all ask “how can I make a dif- October 16th Fall Guide for the Day and Member Outing. A ference”? As individuals who love and appreciate natural resources steak dinner will be served at the end of the day. this is your chance to really make a difference. We must act now October 23rd and 24th Fall Brawl tournament on Lake Kinkaid to protect Iowa’s wetlands, rivers, lakes, and streams for future generations. There are accountability measures to ensure funding November 6th and 7th IMTT Championship on Kinkaid Lake is properly spent. For example; oversight by a citizens’ committee, November 13 Veterans Day fishing event on Kinkaid (Continued on page 52) www.muskiesinc.org Fall 2010.....MUSKIE 51 chapter news & views (Continued from page 51) Fox River Valley detailed spending plan that tell Iowans exactly how the money is 1253 Cobblers Crossing, Elgin, IL 601230 39 847-741-9771 – Rich Gallagher being spent, and State politicians will not be able to divert this fund- www.frvmuskie.com ing to any other purpose. On November 2ndget out and Vote “Yes” Meetings and banquets: Chandlers Chop House at the Schaumburg Golf Club, 401 on Question 1 for the Water and Land Legacy Amendment. N. Roselle Rd. Schaumburg, IL 60194. Dinner will be available starting at 6PM. Sincerely, Pete Hildreth, President www.muskieclub.com All Fox River Valley Chapter monthly meetings and banquets will be held at: Chandlers Chop House at the Schaumburg Golf Club located at 401 N. Roselle Rd. Schaumburg, IL 60194 | (847) Milwaukee 885-9009 www.chandlerschophouse.com P.O. Box 28842 • Greenfield, WI 53228 After a long, hot summer we’ve finally got cooler weather, 35 262-442-6260 www.milwaukeemuskiesinc.com water, and color in the trees… which means Fox River Valley mem- Meets 4th Tuesday Jan. thru May, Sept. & Oct. Meets 3rd Tuesday in Nov. only: 6:00PM Board, bers will be turning up the heat on their fishing hotspots! October/ 7:30 PM General, Waukesha Elks Lodge #400, 2301 Springdale Rd, Waukesha, WI 53186. November is primetime for most of us, so Chapter 39 is taking advantage of the peak with some great events in the coming weeks. A board meeting was held at Smokey’s Muskie Shop on August To kick off the month of October, we’re bringing local expert Russ 18th. Meeting minutes will be published on the web. “Musky Russ” Schaller to the microphone at our October 13 Thanks to Nancy and Roy Hinkforth for coordinating the mem- General Chapter Meeting. Russ spoke to us last fall and gave away ber outings on Pewaukee Lake and to those who assisted. We also the farm on tips/tactics on the Fox Chain. Now he’s returning this thank our friends at Smokey’s Muskie Shop for allowing us to use fall to give us “The Rest of the Story” regarding other muskie fishing their site for base camp and for their assistance. opportunities in northern Illinois. A week and a half later on CHAPTER & NEWS VIEWS For the Members Only Fishing Contest as reported August Saturday, October 23rd, FRV will follow up with a one day youth ◆ 18th, there have been 286 registrations. Jim Dembiec has the muskie fishing clinic at Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation. Volunteers longest release registered for June. Jim’s registration was on the from our club will be there to teach the kids the ins and outs of 4th of the month releasing a 48” muskie from Pewaukee Lake. muskie fishing on the lakes at McGraw. The kids will have a chance Subsequent longest release of the month will be announced after to test their new skills on the local Tiger Muskies! the registration grace periods expire. And just before we turn the calendar to November, FRV will be Thanks to Pat Kilps, Roy and Nancy Hinkforth, Craig Ader, Tom conducting our 8th annual Challunge on the Chain tournament on Arvoy, and Mike Phelps for working the Daniel Boone Conservation Saturday, October 30that the Fox Chain O’Lakes. This will be our League youth outing. Pat coordinated the event at the DBCL pond second event headquartered at Famous Freddie’son Pistakee during the DBCL picnic. We provided free fishing for upwards of 40 Lake. We’re very excited to be back there this fall, as the venue kids. The weather and the fish cooperated. Each boy and girl with and staff at Freddie’s was first class this past spring. If you didn’t the most catches received a fishing reel and rod. DBCL supplied fish the spring event, you need to check this place out. If you did, picture frames with a fish motif for the runner-ups. spread the word! As a special treat, FRV… with the generous help Jim Gallion has made arrangements for the following speakers of the Hugh Becker Foundation and a new IDNR research initiative, for our general meetings that start at 7:30PM: Sept 28, Darrell will be releasing 340 Kentucky strain muskie fingerlings (11-14 Tolliver, Mepps and Navonics, color, sound and mapping aids; Oct. inches) into the Fox Chain after all the tournament boats have been 26, Gary Engberg, Wisconsin River Muskies; Nov 16, Jim Gallion, trailered. What a great way to end the day on the water. Crankbaits: modifications, tips & secrets; Jan 25, Mark Anderson, Our November general meeting will see the return of FRV Shimano Pro-Staffer – Reel Repair; Feb 22, Kevin Wagner, Family Night! This presentation format was really successful and Systematically Attacking Locations. well attended last year (despite the nasty weather). So we’re doing In cooperation with the WI DNR, adult minnows have been it again on Wednesday night, November 10th. Kevin Bushnick will added to the Amron Pond, 100 Wisconsin strain muskies have been guide attendees thru a whole year of FRV Youth Events with a pre- stocked with an average length about 11 inches into the pond, and sentation that includes pictures, video, and some great music and CHAPTER & NEWS VIEWS we await our order to be delivered from Rob Jost of Trophy Game effects. ◆ Fish. TGF is expected to deliver 100 Leech Lake strain muskies to As always, please visit our website at www.frvmuskie.com for the pond in October. Thanks to Dave Dawson, Mark Mickelson, more information about Chapter 39, newsletters, member forums, James Kwapil, Bill Weyers, Craig Ader, Mike Phelps, Larry Price, and all of our events/activities for the rest of 2010 and beyond! and Tom Arvoy for their help in planning this effort. James, Dave, Regards, Mark Lamont and Bill helped Mike whip the pond into shape. Ben Heussner is our Waukesha County Fisheries Biologist we’re working with studying the survival rates of extended growth stocking of Leech Lake and Daniel Boone Wisconsin strain muskies. The target is to raise the muskies to 813 US 62, Maysville, KY 41056 52 Phone: 606.759-7610 • e-mail: [email protected] about twenty inches in length by the time we collect around the President: Larry X. Besant beginning of May. We’ll need assistance for collection so please Meets on Fridays-call or email. mark your calendar and let Mike Phelps know you can help. The more help we can get, the better and easier the collection will be. Joel Michel mentioned the potential for hosting another Big October 22-23, 2010, Daniel Boone Chapter Cave Run Outing & Brothers Big Sisters youth outing. Joel stated the ‘Bigs’ provided *** M.I. Hall of Fame Ceremony ***, Friday (10/22) and positive feedback to an ice fishing outing. Stay tuned for more infor- Saturday (10/23). Contact Scott Smalley: 606-584-0046 (sas- mation. [email protected]); or Scott Salchli: 859-585-4202 Mike Phelps We are planning a weekend of fun and a memorable ceremony for the induction of Lynn Frazier into the M.I. Hall of fame. We would like to get as many members from our chapter and from other chapters to join us! Thanks, Scott Smalley, President CHAPTER NEWS CHAPTER & NEWS VIEWS

52 MUSKIE.....Fall 2010 we all had a great time and look forward to next season’s event. NW TigeR Pac LSCMI wants to give a huge thanks to everyone that helps donate VIEWSNEWS& CHAPTER P.O. Box 5515, Kent, WA 98064 or support this event for these kids. A special thanks to Scott & 57 www.nwtigermuskies.org Debbie Beyer for donating their time helping out in this event and to email: [email protected] Hot line: (253) 850-5889 • Buddy Hartman, President Autometric Collision for donating money toward t-shirts for all the kids. Thanksalso goes out to Donato Lures and LSC Bait Co for donating the handmade custom lures for all the children. These Chapter 57 sent its best wishes and a BIG thank you with lures guys went out of their way to make one of a kind, custom color Buddy Hartman , our club president, as he and his family moved to lures for each child that attended the event. If you read the August Colorado in August. He was willing to become our president during edition of Muskie Magazine, these are the (2) guys who made that a rough period in the club and he helped transition it back into a awesome one of a kind traveling trophy. So you can only imagine vibrant and growing club. We wish you luck in your new job and what these lures look like. From all of us at LSCMI thanks to you have fun being closer to all the grandparents with that new little one both for all your hard work and dedication to making this club what of yours. it is today! Brett Olson, VP, took over as president and presided at the On July 16, 2010 we held our monthly general membership August meeting. We had Bruce Bolding, the head guy of the meeting at Michigan Harbor Marina, where we grilled up some food WDFW warm water program, as a guest speaker. He gave an and headed out on the water for an a great night of muskie fishing. informative talk about the pike problem occurring in the Pend Oreille Many boats caught fish and some nice ones too. Jim Broadwater River system in our state. Thank you for taking time from your busy fishing on Team Treblemaker was able to catch and release his first schedule to keep us informed with what is happening in the WDFW muskie ever and it was a beauty at 51.5 inches - congrats Jim. I Bruce. Doug Porter also volunteered to be on the Tournament com- think Jim now understands the muskie illness that many of us suffer mittee since Buddy was also on that when he left. Thank you for from. Fishing near the Treblemaker crew was the Dreamline Crew

stepping up to help Doug, volunteers are what make the club go. ◆ Captained by Scott and Debbie Beyer. If anyone knows Scott and We had two women club members represent Chapter 57 at Debbie, muskie fishing is always fun. Scott was lucky to have the VIEWSNEWS& CHAPTER Chapter 60’s first tournament this August. The jet setters flew over, muskie girls on board with him and they were having fun. Fishing borrowed a boat and gear and had a great time with all the Chapter with Scott and Debbie were Greg and Tina Ellison, Nikki Robertson 60 folks even though they didn’t catch any Tiger Muskies. Thank and Chrissy Marchel. Before Scott could get all the lines set, rods you to Chapter 60 for showing Tammy Baldwin and Jani Kuper such were going off and everyone was reeling in muskies. When we got a good time. back to the marina and shared our stories, team Dreamline was still As I am writing this some of our members are headed to Lake laughing and having a great time. I believe Scott also managed a Merwin for a members only tournament this weekend. It has been couple of first-timer muskies as well. Way to go Scott….! a busy tournament summer and we have 2 more to go. Upland bird As we quickly got into August, the preparations were being and waterfowl season will be taking over for some of our members made for the 2ndAnnual Big Show Shootout Muskie Tournament. along with small and big game hunting but others continue fishing This year’s event was hosted by Dockside Jacks Tikki Bar and throughout the year. Good luck to all of you in your pursuits. Restaurant. Thanks to Dockside Jacks for a great Captains Meeting Everyone start thinking about what day/evening that you can on Friday night. We had 20 boats participate into what turned out to volunteer to help man the booth at the Sportsman Show in January. be a great weekend of fishing. Saturday morning at the start of the It is great fun talking to people about the Tiger Muskies in our state derby proved to be lots of fun as anglers battled big waves and lots and an easy way to get in free to the show. of weeds. Despite the tough conditions the Contender Crew was Happy Halloween and Thanksgiving. Rosann Green quickly on the board with multiple fish. It was not long before the first 50 incherwas called in by new member Dave Proudfoot and the bar Lake St. Clair Muskies, Inc. only went up from there. Captain Mike Pittiglio and the Muskie P.O. Box 850915 Mania crew set a good mark with a 52.75fish Saturday morning. St. Clair Shores, MI 48080 58 734-968-3752 - Scott Robertson, President Mikes fish was long enough to hold 2ndplace the rest of the tourna- www.lscmi.com ment. It wasn’t long after Mikes Fish was called in, Team Meets 3rd Thursday 7:00pm at Gino’s Surf Restaurant, 37400 Jefferson Ave., Treblemaker cashed in and broke the bank registering in a 55.3 inch ◆ Harrison Twp, MI. monster. (Thanks Captain Mike for the tip) Shortly after the VIEWSNEWS& CHAPTER Treblemaker crew released their fish, Team Reel Escape came to Oct. 8-10, 2010 – Region #2 Fall Board Meeting and 2nd Annual the party with a 52.25 inchfish that put them in the number three Muskie Mayhem Fishing Derby. Contact Mark Kornosky for position. Team Reel Escape Captained by new member Greg Virga details, 586-596-4481 or [email protected] was also the winner in our opening derby with Ron Sieverson and Lake St. Clair Muskies, Inc.has had an exceptional fishing lucky to have his name on the traveling trophy. By Saturday after- season so far and lots of fun filled events. Since our last update we noon the standings were set and remained untouched throughout have had several events and many big fish being caught and the rest of the tournament. Many other fish were called in and sev- released. Congratulations to Larry Miller and his crew who caught eral more over 50, but just not long enough to get into the top three and released a 55” hog and took First Place honors in the 2ndAn- (3) places. There were over 35 fish called in with 7 breaking the 50 nual Muskie Bash. Way to go Team Secret Squirrel on a great win. inchmark. Every fish registered in this event went back to swim On June 27, 2010 LSCMI hosted its 3rdAnnual Kids Fishing Day at another day thanks to “Object Scoring” Good job guys… Metro Beach in Harrison Township. This event is one of our chap- As many boaters and fisherman start to wind down from the ter’s favorite events as it allows us to give back to our family, friends summer fun many of us muskie nuts start to get excited. Why do we and the community. We take this opportunity to get children of all get excited you may ask? Because with fall brings big baits and big ages away from the PlayStationsand out on the water fishing. We muskies to Lake St. Clair. Nothing is more exciting than catching a have many donated fishing related prizes for every child that par- big muskie in the fall with a 12-inch plus piece of lumber in its ticipates and even a “fishing Derby” in the marina. This year’s event mouth. With all the excitement of fall and Big Baits, LSCMI is taking we are proud to have 40 children participate. Not all children were things to the next level and dedicating our September General able to get out on the lake fishing but several directors were on Membership to Big Baits. We have invited all our local lure makers hand at the park to help teach and catch fish. Unfortunately, we plus many manufactures from out of town to come in and show off had some late day thunderstorms work their way in on our fun and we were forced to move things along quicker than we planned, but (Continued on page 54) www.muskiesinc.org Fall 2010.....MUSKIE 53 chapter news & views (Continued from page 53) during the week when there is less boating activity and less fishing pressure. We would like to congratulate one of our newest mem- their Big Baits. This meeting is shaping up to be an awesome night. bers, Scott Pirtle, for catching a beast of a fish at Quemado recent- Since some of the lure makers are traveling as far as 13 hours away ly. The fished measured 41.5 inches and was released back to the to be here for this event, some of the board members are making water quickly and healthy!! Great job Scott!!! sure they get out fishing the following day. We also have scheduled We recently had a booth at the New Mexico Game and Fish Will Schultz as a guest speaker for the evening. Many of you may Expo and it was a great success! We would like to express our know Will as he is the President of Michigan Muskie Alliance great gratitude to all our members who donated their time and Chapter #47. LSCMI is very excited to have Will at our meeting to efforts in helping out with set-up and manning the booth! Also, a share his vast knowledge and expertise. Since this chapter update HUGE thank you to Albuquerque’s Sportsman’s Warehouse for is being written before this meeting we will be sure to fill you in with donating a generous $300.00 gift certificate for us to raffle off!!! This all the details next month, so stay tuned. Don’t forget to check out was a great opportunity for our chapter to educate the public on all www.lscmi.com for all the updates. aspects of fishing for and handling these fish! We were also able Also this fall, LSCMI is proud to announce that we are hosting to display an amazing muskie duplicate compliments of Dave’s the Region 2 Fall Board meeting and what an exciting time we have Wildlife Studio! Dave does some awesome work, and it was a treat planned for our guests. The board meeting is scheduled for Friday to be able to show off his talent!! Thanks Dave!!! October 8, 2010 at 1:00pm. Many of the Region 2 Chapters will New Mexico Department of Game and Fish is the sole reason have to travel some distance to attend, but Region 2 is dedicated to we have this EPIC fishery in the first place, and we would like to making these meetings happen. Typically the meetings are on thank them for bringing it to our state!! NMDGF has been a huge Saturday with time in the afternoon to travel home. LSCMI changed help for us to accomplish our goals, and we have been able to play it up a bit. With a Friday afternoon meeting RVPs can travel in the a huge role in the future of this fisher thanks to them!!! Thank you morning before the meeting and have more time to fish after busi- New Mexico Department of Game and Fish for all you do and letting CHAPTER & NEWS VIEWS ness is complete. We look forward to sitting down and handling our New Mexico Muskies, Inc. be a part of it!!! ◆ regional business, but also providing an excellent outing for our If you’re planning a trip to New Mexico, don’t forget to check guests who have made the long trip. out our website at www.newmexicomuskiesinc.org for all up to date Chapter 58 is also hosting its 2nd Annual Muskie Mayhem Fall information and fishing reports!!! We hope everybody is enjoying Tournament the same weekend and looking forward to showing off the rest of the “fishable” weather and be safe out there!! Tight our “Object Scoring” system to the chapters who are staying to fish. Lines!! Friday evening after the board meeting we have scheduled a Regards, Jared Blaschke, VP Captains Meeting for the fishing outing and looking forward to meeting all the RVPs and pairing people to head out fishing the next day. Mountain Muskies We realize that with today’s technology actual sit down meetings Email: [email protected] are no longer mandatory, but LSCMI and Region 2 want to keep this 60 Website: http://mountainmuskies.com tradition alive. Muskies, Inc.is a great organization and without a 509-999-0717 meeting to bring us together we are only as strong as our local Meets 4th Tuesday at 6:30pm @ Round Table Pizza, 1908 W. Francis, voice. These meetings are a great opportunity to meet many peo- Spokane, WA. ple with in MI and make new friends, hopefully a friendship that will last a life time. I know on my few trips that I have attended as Our Mountain Muskies Chapter has been busy in its first two Chapter 58 RVP, I have not only met some awesome people, but months of activity. Fourteen attended our first official monthly meet- learned a lot of valuable information along the way. Our chapter is ing on July 27. President Craig Dowdy, RVP Doug Wood, Secretary looking forward to meeting all of our Region 2 brothers (and sisters) Melodie Dowdy, Treasurer Scott Imholt were well organized to pres- in October. Many have sent in your RSVP already, if your chapter ent a good meeting before members and guests. VP Chuck Gades has not taken the opportunity to do so, please do not wait until the presented a “how to” lesson on 4 ways to avoid killing a muskie. last minute, we need an adequate head count so everyone can First things first before catching! Avoiding Stress, Suffocation, enjoy the fun. Dropping, and Hanging was the primary object lesson for our mem- CHAPTER & NEWS VIEWS As the leaves start to change color and the air becomes crisp bers and the fishing public we plan to educate. ◆ that only means one thing, the pond will soon be freezing over. Try Craig led the charge to organize our first muskie tournament at and take the time to reflect on the past season and think about your a nearby mountain muskie lake Newman on August 14. The tour- fishing club and see if there is more that you want from your chap- nament came off splendidly as if our hard-working Pres, RVP, Secr, ter? or is there more that you can give back to your chapter? The Treas and tournament chairman Don Grove had been doing these close of a fishing season is a great time to look back and make for years. A field of 11 boats took to the waters. Alisha Garrison changes for the upcoming season, it is also a good time to become and Mark Kendall humbled us regulars by Alisha boating a 46 inch more active in your club. Chapter 58 looks forward to any and all Tiger beauty to win the big fish option. Herb Zielke and Don Grove suggestions you may have for next season. Good luck fishing this took first place with 75 inches total including Herb’s 45 inch dandy. fall and stayed tuned for all the information on the 1st Annual A total of five fish were caught. Melodie tried to slip in a 26 inch pike Michigan Muskie Show in February 2011, we look forward to seeing but was caught red-handed. No, not really, she used pliers! See you there. our website above for pics! Mark Kornosky, VP/RVP At the time of this writing we were lookingforward to the invita- tion by our sponsoring and sister chapter, NW Tiger Pac # 57, to the Curlew Lake Classic on Sept 24-25. The chapter winner will take New Mexico Muskies, Inc. home the first annual “Golden Bucket” traveling trophy. It is sure to P.O. Box 65575, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87193 59 (505) 264-2999 • Matt Pelletier be dubbed the “honey bucket award” by the losing chapter. [email protected] Mountain Muskies members are prepared to accept that kind of guff www.newmexicomuskiesinc.org from our “wetside” companions. Stay tuned for the exciting results. Our chapter is emphasizing HAVING FUN muskie fishing and you As of now, the weather is just starting to cool down a little bit..... can probably tell we are off to a good start doing just that. To date any by little I mean only a few degrees. The tiger fishing here in the our chapter members have caught a total of 20 Tigers from 31 to 44 CHAPTER NEWS CHAPTER & NEWS VIEWS Land of Enchantment is still a bit hit and miss, but seems to be best inches long and totaling 720 inches.

54 MUSKIE.....Fall 2010 A big thank you to our sponsors for getting us off to a very good happened to hit the right side. When all of a sudden I got a hit and start: AX Tackle, Blade Runner Tackle, Cabela’s, C.S. Lures, LAX had a fish on. As I was starting to fight the fish my wife Melodie said, VIEWSNEWS& CHAPTER Productions, Newman Lake Resort, Norisada Tackle, Roundtable “I think I have weeds, nope I have a fish too.” Pizza, Tackle Industries, and Wholesale Sports. Until next time its, We had 2 fish on at the same time. So when I got my fish close Tiger Time all the time, Chuck Gades, VP to the boat I reached over and grabbed the net so I could net hers. Melodie had never caught a Tiger Muskie before so I wanted to A fish story from Chapter 60 President Craig Dowdy! make sure she got her fish in the boat first. After netting hers, she I am the Chapter 60 President and my wife Melodie is our grabbed the net and netted mine. So now we had 2 Tigers in the net Secretary. I have a little story to tell you that goes with the pictures. at the same time. After getting the hooks out of the fish and doing The pictures aren’t of monster fish but the story tells it all. It was July the measurements we found out that the fish were both 32x12 17th and we decided to go fishing on Newman Lake here in inches. That’s right we caught 2 Tigers on the same casts that were Spokane Washington. We started out fishing about 11:30 a.m. We the same exact size and girth caught about 15 feet apart. What are fished the west side of the lake for about 4 hours without even a hit the chances of that ever happening again? Thanks for everything or a follow. So we decided to move down lake to where there were you guys do at Muskies, Inc. Without you, muskies wouldn’t have some docks where we had seen fish in the past. We both cast the great following that they do today. our lures at the new spot, Melodie was fishing a swim bait and I was fishing a spinner bait. She cast on the left side of the dock and I ◆ CHAPTER NEWS & VIEWSNEWS& CHAPTER ◆ CHAPTER NEWS & VIEWSNEWS& CHAPTER

www.muskiesinc.org Fall 2010.....MUSKIE 55 Raymond Nespeca of Chapter 23 caught this beauty from West Branch Lake by trolling a Monster Shad at 11pm. It measured 40 inches, and was his first 40-inch fish. Congratulations Raymond!

Here’s Chapter 23 Junior members Raymond and Angelina Nespeca with Raymond’s 31-inch fish. It was caught during their family’s first trip of the year to West Branch Lake. Their parents are Chapter 23 mem- Chapter 60 member Alishia Garrison landed the largest fish caught in the bers Terry and Angela first Mountain Muskies Tournament, this 46 x 20 Tiger. It was her 1st Nespeca. Nice job! tournament and she and her partner took 2nd place. Nice job and nice fish Alishia.

Three Rivers Chapter member Rich Sandig caught this 39-inch muskie while fishing the Muskies Canada Toronto Here is Craig Dowdy, President of Chapter 60, the newest Blowout outing on Pigeon Lake June 12, 2010. Muskies Inc. chapter. He caught this 38-inch fish from Newman Lake on a Blade Runner spinnerbait.

Bernie Barringer of Chapter 24 Brainerd Lakes caught this nice 45-inch fish using a Perch/Tiger colored Muskie Maverick while fishing Minnesota’s Lake of the Woods.

Chapter 21 member John Morris was fishing Lake of the Woods July 15th when he caught this nice Chapter 33’s Bob Busche says his wife’s dog “Z” just Check out this beautiful 49-inch Tiger caught by Jeff 47-inch fish. He caught a 42 incher 10 minutes loves to go muskie fishing and enjoys sitting and/or Mathwig of the Headwaters Chapter. He released it in later. Nicely done John. sleeping in the net. He took this shot on July 4th of August and plans on getting a reproduction by Rick this year. Lax. Good idea Jeff, awesome fish.

56 MUSKIE.....Fall 2010 Frequent photo submitter Dave Ledman of Chapter 21 caught this thick 41-inch fish while fishing Minnesota’s Lake Vermilion in July.

Chapter 16 member Susan Marfin caught this beautiful 47-inch Tiger while fishing in Captain Larry Jones’ Tournament on June 19th. Proceeds went towards the purchase of minnows for a muskie hatchery. Great fish and a good cause Susan.

Star of the North Chapter member Dan Marking Here’s another “First Fish” for a North Metro MI Justin Ledman of Chapter 21 caught his first caught this pretty Tiger muskie while fishing Deer member. Arturo Barcenas caught this 46.5-inch 50-inch class fish this year on Lake Vermilion, this Lake north of Grand Rapids, MN. It measured 42 Kinkaid muskie plus 2 others on a trip earlier this 51-incher. Congratulations Justin. inches and had a 21-inch girth. Nice Tiger Dan. year. Congratulations!

Central Ohio After 5 long Chapter member years of trying, Orville Bantz of Chapter 21 Farmersville, member Jim Ohio, released a Lindberg finally 43-incher while put this 32-inch fishing Lake Kinkaid the Kawartha fish in the boat. Chain, Lower Congratulations Buckhorn, Ontario Jim. on June 22, 2010.

8-year-old North Metro Amelia Williams member of Chapter 24 Grant Lindberg caught her first was fishing muskie while with his father & trolling with a brother-in-law Grandma bait. on Lake Kinkaid She cranked it when he caught in all by herself. this beautiful Great job 44.75-inch fish. Amelia hope you catch many more.

www.muskiesinc.org Fall 2010.....MUSKIE 57 Muskies, Inc. 1509 Stahl Road Sheboygan, WI 53081

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