JustJust OneOne Fishing. BiteBite Landing. andand You’reYou’re Two totally Hooked.Hooked. different things. PETE MAINA Pro anglers will tell you, "Hooking Gander Mountain... up to a monster fish is only half the battle. Now you’ve got to land that offering the right gear to make that dream of a trophy!" That’s not the Pow’R Lok¨ muskie become time to wrestle with yoke system an obsession. your landing net! Our automatic handle/yoke DOUG JOHNSON revolutionary Pow’R Lok® alignment yoke system found on our

improved Power Catch®

and Pro Formance® landing nets provide instant engagement of “Lucky” Libby Hoene the handle and hoop Gander Mountain assembly without DICK PEARSON Pro Staff Member searching for a spring button or having to align the handle. What’s more, our Power Catch nets are so well built that they come with a lifetime warranty on the hoop and yoke! No other net can say that. The pros rely on Frabill CHAD CAIN nets, shouldn’t you?

Hours: Monday-Saturday, 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM Sunday, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Innovating the outdoors FOR THE LOCATION OF THE STORE NEAREST YOU CALL: 1-800-282-5993 OR www.frabill.com • 800.558.1005 LOG ON TO WWW.GANDERMOUNTAIN.COM P.O. Box 49 • Jackson, WI 53037 MUSKIE is published monthly and is the Official Publication of Muskies, Inc. International Office: Terrie You CAN have your fish and release it, too! DuBé, International Sec., 80 State Hwy. 200, Longville, MN 56655. Ph: 888-710-8286, Fax 218-836-2087. Contents © Copyright 2005 by Muskies, Inc. All rights reserved. FITTANTE TAXIDERMY REPLICAS MUSKIE ¥ VOL. 39, NO. 7 Serving discriminating sportsmen for over 32 years Fittante Taxidermy is proud to lead the way in unsurpassed fish reproductions. We make our molds in-house and offer dozens of different sizes and positions. References are available upon request and phone orders are welcome. Serving quality minded sportsmen across the nation is our specialty. Departments Features 2 President’s Message 5 The Dunkard Creek Pig, Chris Burnette 10 How I Spent My Summer Vacation, 3 As I See It - Editor’s Desk Brad Waldera 4 Magazine Notes 16 Three Generations, 5 Letters to the Editor Dr. Eugene, Dr. Tom & ALD Dan Narsete 24 Muskie Mythology, Bob Chokola 6 International News 26 Getting New Members Involved, 7 Youth•Fisheries•Research Wayne Humphrey 13 Lunge Log 28 Showcasing Our MI Supporters- Musky Hunter Magazine, Patricia Strutz 23 Photo Contest - July Winners 29 Chapters Up Close: Twin Cities Chapter, Mike Kanaval 33 Chapter News and Views 38 Figure 8 Nets a 51” at Stonewall Jackson, 42 Member Photos Chuck Skopelja 40 Muskie Misfortunes, Weston Hunt

Life Membership: ❑ 0-29 years $600.00 ❑ 30-44 years $550.00 ❑ 45-49 years $500.00 ❑ 50-55 years $450.00 Join Muskies, Inc. ... ❑ 56-60 years $400.00 ❑ 61-65 years $350.00 ❑ 66-up $300.00. ❑ $100.00 additional to include spouse or or give a membership junior member (up to the age of 18) if purchased at same time. Junior Member (to 18): ❑ $15.00 as a gift. Regular Membersip: ❑ 1 Year-$30.00 ❑ 2 Years-$55.00 ❑ 3 Years- $80.00 “The #1 reason I choose Joe Fittante is his artistry. He Family Membership: ❑ 1 Year-$42.50 ❑ 2 Years-$80.00 ❑ 3 Years-$117.50 ❑ For Muskie Research $______is the only taxidermist I have found who can accurately reproduce the true colors and markings of a living Name ______Phone ______Name of Spouse______His painting technique separates him Address______Chapter Affiliation Choice Number ______musky. (to find the number of the Chapter you wish to join, see the Chapter News & Views section) from the rest. That is why I use him exclusively, and City & State______Zip______Junior Member(s) Date of Birth (DOB) prefer his work above all others.” Chapter Affiliation Choice Number ______Name ______DOB ______(to find the number of the Chapter you wish to join, see the Chapter News & Views section) – Joe Bucher, Old Address (for address change only) ______Name ______DOB ______Hall of Fame Angler Capture the moment City & State ______Zip______Name ______DOB ______www.fittantereplicas.com • email: [email protected] My Membership # ______Expiration Date ______Chapter Affiliation Choice Number ______Check One: ❑ New Member ❑ Renewal ❑ Address Change ❑ Gift MAIL TO MUSKIES, INC. 80 State Hwy. 200, Longville, MN, 56655 Email ______3 miles north of Antigo on Hwy. 45 • N4598 Hwy. 45, Antigo, WI 54409 ❑ VISA ❑ Discover 1-888-710-8286 Payment: ❑ Check or ❑ Credit Card: ❑ AmEx ❑ MasterCard (715) 627-7662 • 1-800-261-2327 Card # ______- ______- ______- ______Exp. Date ____ /____ Signature ______www.muskiesinc.org July 2005.....MUSKIE 1 International The President’s Message As I See It MUSKIE Magazine Staff by Greg Wells, Muskies, Inc. International President by Jim Smith Rod Ramsell, Editor Emeritus Officers Keith Ogden, Editor Emeritus Email: [email protected] MANAGING EDITOR President, Greg Wells ood Grief Gertrude, by the time this issue hits Jim Smith Phone: 920-457-3720 your mailboxes it’ll be time for the Chapter 15045 W. Double Tree Way Email: [email protected] ow that the Muskie season is in full swing across the country, I’d like to challenge our membership to stand head and shoulders above the crowd. Whether you’re a Challunge. Here I am writing this and the Surprise, AZ 85374-8568 Vice President/Finances, Jim Beaty G Phone/Fax: (623) 388-3225 season just opened yesterday in Wisconsin. There are golfer or not, you have seen the commercial for a program called “The First Tee” Cell: (623) 810-9103 Phone: 618-235-3646 N some stories to be told already. I am sure all of you have Email: [email protected] golf’s youth program. In the commercial they talk about how golf builds character in the Email: [email protected] youth who participate in the program. I believe that is what Muskies, Inc. is to the Muskie heard about the Green Bay Megamuskie. It was caught Vice President/Research, Ron Mazur ASSISTANT EDITOR World – the character builder. and released before the season opened by some walleye Juris Ozols Phone: 708-458-0055 fishermen. Look for a brief story with the photos in this Email: [email protected] How does Muskies, Inc. fill this role? Don Hunt sent me a leadership style called Phone: (952) 431-4727 Gladiator Leadership, and in a nut shell it is ‘lead from the front by example’. As with the issue. What a beautiful animal! Now, there is a dream come true. This is what we’re all Email: [email protected] Vice President/Internal Affairs, Dick McPike about, dreaming that someday it may be you or me and enjoying the fact that they (world ADVERTISING MANAGER “MUSKIE” Phone: 816-436-4909 “First Tee” it’s about honesty, it’s about playing by the rules, it’s about humility and that’s character. The same goes for fishing. It’s about following the fishing rules and regulations record class fish) still do exist in our muskie waters. MHM will have a full story in their Cherek Group ¥ Scott Cherek Email: [email protected] 3902 Cribbon Avenue ¥ Cheyenne, WY 82001 wherever we fish, it’s about abiding by the boating laws and that means being safe, it’s about Aug/Sept issue. Pick up a copy and read what I am sure will be a thrilling story. Vice President/Membership, Bob Timme Talking about some excitement, there appears to be some with our brothers and sisters Phone: 307-635-8899 catch and release and good conservation practices and even down to the honesty about our Phone: 715-462-3053 on the eastern part of the country. In particular, our Three Rivers chapter. I sincerely hope Email: [email protected] on-the-water experiences. I believe that we already practice these traits. Maybe we just are Email: [email protected] all of us can come to a reasonable resolution. I believe that an Eastern Muskie Alliance PUBLICATIONS TECHNICAL MANAGER not marketing it as well as golf does. “Muskies, Inc. promotes honesty, playing by the rules, Sunray Printing Solutions, Inc. ¥ Ross Rieke Vice President/Communications, David Cates would be very good for muskies. I am just not convinced yet that those proposing it have 25123 22nd Ave. S. ¥ St. Cloud, MN 56301-9189 Phone: 574-457-3222 humility, camaraderie, and conservation. Muskies, Inc. Builds Character!” the best solution. I have talked with some folks out there and I just wish we could all sit Phone: 888-253-8808 x122 Email: [email protected] at a table together. Before I retired, I spent 35 years as a real estate broker. I always felt Email: [email protected] Treasurer, Pete Barber Motions that if I had a buyer on one side of the table and a seller on the other side, I had a “deal”. MAGAZINE DESIGN Phone: 847-726-7267 It is the collective opinion of the International Board that the following procedure for It was just a matter of getting to the closing. I know I am not speaking out of turn when Sunray Printing Solutions, Inc. - John Windschitl Email: [email protected] submitting motions be implemented and followed: I say your Board of Directors stands ready to listen. ILLUSTRATORS/CARTOONISTS Members Only Fishing Contest, Jim Bunch Motions must be submitted using the motion format that is available on the MI I have asked Patricia Strutz, one of my Field Editors and a new At-Large-Director, to Richard Gross Phone: 715-723-8343 ¥ Fax: 715-723-8354 web site. It is preferred that the motion be typed for ease of duplication and do some Public Relations work for us. She will be looking for material for press releases FIELD EDITORS Email: [email protected] legibility. It is in the best interest of MI and its members that the motions be and packages of our chapters “Hallmark” projects. We would love to be submitting your Colby Simms, Patricia Strutz Web Master, Ron Groeschl submitted 45 days prior to the board meeting. Motions will be sent to the best projects for consideration in various contests and recognition within the sportfishing CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Phone: 262-271-1002 president who will upon receiving the motion sign and date the motion before industry. We have been preaching to the choir too long. We are going to try to aggressively Brad Waldera, Dr. Eugene/Dr. Tom/Dan Narsete, Email: [email protected] disbursement. The president will issue copies to the web site, the chapter “tell our story”. Let me know your thoughts and send us your very best stuff, as in Bob Chokola, Wayne Humphrey, Patricia Strutz, Mike Kanaval, Chuck Skopelja, Chris Burnette Int. Administrative Secretary, Terrie DuBé presidents, the RVPs, the executive committee, the Magazine, the ALDs and any activities, projects, assistance to your local DNR, etc. 80 State Hwy. 200, Longville, MN 56655 committee affected, and also the finance committee if there is a perceived I hope you will enjoy this month’s issue. We have tried to pack a lot into fewer pages Phone: 888-710-8286 ¥ Fax: 218-836-2087 MUSKIE is published exclusively for the but you should also look for more articles on our web site www.muskiesinc.org. Go there, membership of Muskies, Inc. and subscriptions Email: [email protected] financial impact. The affected committee, and possibly the finance committee, will then submit impact reports with any suggested revisions that will go through staying on the “public side” and hit Magazine at the top of the page, then on the left side come with a paid membership. Muskies, Inc. is the distribution process again, this time including the author. This is not a change of the page hit member submittals. From there you are on your own. Ron Groeschl has a non-profit organization. Membership classes At Large Directors Term Expires done an outstanding job putting this section together. I am toying with an idea to publish and associated annual dues are listed on the to the by-laws. The ability to amend and introduce motions at the board meeting an on-line Ezine on our website. Ezine stands for electronic magazine and is published on form at the bottom of page one. Single copies Dick McPike ...... 2006 will remain in affect, though introduction of motions at the meeting is heavily a website. Let me know if you think this would have any possibilities. of MUSKIE magazine are available at $3.00 Dan Narsete ...... 2006 discouraged. each from the Muskies, Inc. International Well, I hope you all had a great opener and I hope you all can make the Chapter Office. I will need to have all motions by August 31st to be able to publish them in the Art Anderson ...... 2006 Challunge. Contributors grant rights for M.I. to publish magazine. We are asking everyone to cooperate with this motion procedure. It will allow I’ll be seeing a number of you at the Edward Crossman/Muskies, Inc. Symposium. It once in MUSKIE Magazine, both the print and Jack Moga ...... 2006 ❖ for a better member forum and member input. would be a good idea to get your reservations in now. Space may be limited with the on-line versions, including archives and on the Ron Mazur ...... 2006 entourage of fisheries types who will be coming. ❖ M.I. Web site. Ken Karbon ...... 2007 MISSION STATEMENT Jim Smith, Managing Editor, MUSKIE Magazine The Official Publication of Muskies, Inc. Submissions to Jim Shannon ...... 2007 “Muskies, Inc. is an active, service-oriented, non-profit organization with the single focus of improving the sport of muskie fishing for men, women, and Email: [email protected] MUSKIE Magazine Bob Timme ...... 2007 children. Persons interested in submitting articles for Jim Beaty ...... 2007 Our mission is to unite all muskie fishing interests for the promotion and publication are directed to our website www.muskiesinc.org. There they will find a Bob Osborne ...... 2007 protection of a high quality muskellunge sport fishery in the United States and Coming Next Month: link to MUSKIE Magazine. From there you Canada. will find links on the left side of the page Laura Morrison ...... 2008 We will accomplish this by supporting conservation practices and research Our Commemorative Lure Issue providing information necessary for Don Jahnke ...... 2008 based on sound scientific merit, and carried out by authorized federal or state submissions to MUSKIE Magazine. Further questions will be answered by Jim Smith, David Cates ...... 2008 agencies, appropriate academic institutions, Muskies, Inc chapters, and their ✒ The Jake Satonica Story Managing Editor. Submissions may be sent members. to: 15045 W. Double Tree Way ¥ Surprise, AZ Patricia Strutz ...... 2008 ✒ We are committed to the abatement of water pollution; maintenance of More great "Ask the Biologist" questions 85374-8568. Phone: (623) 388-3225 or you Karl Scherer ...... 2008 records for muskie habits, growth, and range; and the dissemination of muskie ✒ Spotlight on your chapter may information to everyone.” ✒ Show Casing Our M.I. Supporters. Email: [email protected]. Adopted, April 2002 2 MUSKIE.....July 2005 www.muskiesinc.org July 2005.....MUSKIE 3 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR THE TO LETTERS fish but an offspring from the generations past and present. It ABOUT THE COVER doesn't get any better than that!” LETTERS TO THE The Dunkard Creek Pig The cover shows a true monster of a Muskie “Pete runs a shipping department at his by Chris Burnette caught last November by Peter Lahosky of place of employment, so I suggested that we Editors Note: Trust me, this is not a vertical hold. It is the angle Bethlehem, PA. His fishing partner Joe duplicate the same cursor position on the EDITOR (elevation) of the photographer to the subject. Look at what it would Satkowski took the photo and has this tale: look like from a front position. The fish is being held at a proper angle scale using weights to be reweighed on a Jim, “We were trolling the St. Lawrence river certified digital scale. We did so, and with and supported well. system aboard the "Fish Doctor", a the weight of the cradle subtracted, the fish Things are still hectic. We are having a n Friday, April 8, I had about an hour and a half to kill so substantial die-off of large muskellunge in the upper charter boat owned and operated by our came to 50 lb. 2.0 oz. This resolved any I thought I would go back and try to see her again. Since I St. Lawrence River at the moment. It seems to go hand-in-hand with saw her two weeks before, we had gotten an inch of rain friend Captain Ernie Lantiegne of doubt - the boat’s scale was right on the a similar problem in a couple of other species, one native freshwater O Mexico, NY. Our focus was strong as money! and the creek raised a couple of feet; finally just now coming back drum and the other exotic gobies. All the time I have for down to normal. I wasn’t sure the big fish would be in the same hole. darkness approached on the second day of muskellunge at the moment I’m spending on this, and it is a MAGAZINE NOTES MAGAZINE “Thinking back on the whole experience, I I was wrong! On about the fifth cast, she slammed the Magnum the trip. Most of the fish taken recently can only wonder if this was a once in a substantial issue. Bulldog as soon as it hit the water and the fight was on. had come at dusk or later. Pete started to I thought I might put together this short note on it for the I was fishing a hole about fifty feet wide and six feet deep. It lifetime event. But you can bet we'll be magazine, how by working together with various agencies and adjust a long line rig when the fish back to try and duplicate it again!” took me about 15 minutes to land her; at times thinking she had me slammed the Believer Plug. A lengthy Muskies Canada we’re making the best of a fairly bad situation. You wrapped on a tree or log since I just could not move her she was so battle and a two man lift of the net told Comment – a grand fish and story. But it’s may hear about this on some chat lines. I know there are pictures of heavy. At 48 inches in length, this is by far the largest fish I have dead fish on some of these, however, I do not frequent them so us this was more than your average fish. also an excellent, indeed unique photograph. caught casting as far as weight goes. I did not get a girth cannot be specific as to where they are or what they’re saying. measurement but this fish looked like it had just swallowed three

And it measured 55 1/2 inches long with Go see the “Tips and Comments” section in EDITORS THE TO LETTERS ❖ For now, footballs. I really believe the fish is forty pounds since she was full a 27 inch girth, and thick all the way to my Photo Contest column on page 23. John Casselman of eggs. the tail.” Juris Ozols Editors Note: Dr. Casselman and his researchers are heavily involved I was fishing by myself so I tied her off and flagged down a in this situation on the Upper St. Lawrence. More information will passing car. Luckily, this nice gentleman walked down to witness the “I had the cradle and scale out, ready and waiting, so in she release and took some photos as I let her go. The picture shows why went. I strained to lift the rig as Pete and Ernie watched the be forthcoming. If any of our eastern folks would like to contribute an CORRECTION: article or updates I would appreciate it. Please contact me. I call her the Pig from Dunkard Creek. Chatillion scale. Pete shouted out "It's past the 50 pound mark!" This is the biggest fish that I have ever seen in Dunkard Creek. We noted the cursor's position and then moved quickly to the The “October’s Turning Leaf Challenge” article on A few more inches and this fish could be the next state record. This photos. I kept snapping photos, as Pete and Ernie eased the big Page 30 of the June issue was authored by Hi Jim, catch has given me a whole new outlook on creek fishing. For years, MAGAZINE NOTES MAGAZINE I’ve been telling people the muskies from this creek were just average girl back into the water for a very strong release.” Between the Lakes member Jerrad Kalmerton, not First of all I want to tell you that my entire family enjoys the size. I never felt this water was big enough to have a forty-pound Muskie magazine! The articles and pictures make every page a must “As she swam off into the darkness, we all looked at one another. Ellen Wells as was published. fish. I have been going to Canada for years fishing Georgian Bay read!! Which brings me to the reason for writing: It was as if something just happened that was beyond words, looking for those big forty and fifty pound fish. To catch one this We apologize for the error and any inconvience it In your last release, June 2005 it is very dedicated to kids fishing size in a creek not much bigger than a ditch and so close to home something spiritual: A fifty plus pound Muskie on the St. may have caused. and had great information in it, especially the importance of wearing Lawrence, the place where it all began. Not a stocked hatchery just goes to show you never know. life vests and making sure they are a proper fit. Thank you! Chris Burnette, West Virginia Chapter 09 Muskies, Inc. But, on the very next page- page 17-( and in many pictures of kids and fish) 10 year old "Dawson" is shown driving the boat and A WORD ON NOT wearing a life vest! My 4 year old pointed this out to my ONTARIO, CANADA ‘SILVER MUSKIES’ husband and me. We had a hard time explaining this and I felt it Minnesota used to raise "Silver necessary to point this out to you. I know I don't have to lecture you Muskie Fishing in Muskies" (actually pike) as muskies or on how many people drown due to not wearing life jackets, it was used them when the appropriate just hard to see a great article ruined by the picture with no life vest. beautiful Nestor Falls EDITOR THE TO LETTERS muskie gender wasn't available for the I actually have never written a letter to the editor, but felt too hatchery in Nevis, making of course, strongly about this one. I hope I didn't offend you, keep up the great PO Box 250-P work and we will continue enjoying your magazine!! MAGAZINE NOTES MAGAZINE hybrids! Nestor Falls Silver Pike are spotty in location. My p.s. I have yet to boat one myself!! Ontario, CA POX1KO first introduction to them was in 1967 - Fish on ! - when my dad caught this "weird Joni Wohl, Chaska, MN www.allenscrowlakelodge. muskie" from Eagle Lake, Ontario of 42 com inches...a likely World Record Sillver Jim: Pike at the time. There are some waters Email: While the smiling face of Dawson Barringer was neat to see on in Ontario and elsewhere where they the June 2005 cover, it is, unfortunately, not a muskie that he is [email protected] are fairly common, but Eagle isn't one of holding! It is a very large Silver Pike, a mutation of the northern pike them. (see side bar at left). Silver Pike are not uncommon in NW Iowa; in 1-888-CROW LAKE The Hall of Fame maintains a World fact, a research paper says that 5% of the population of pike in West 1-807-484-2628 Record class for "PIKE, Blue-Silver" (they Okoboji are Silvers. Being farily familar with Silver Pike, the photo have the scientific name incorrect in the jumped right off the page at me when I got it out of the mail box 2005 record book). The all-tackle this afternoon. Look close at the fins and you can see that they are You may come as a stranger… record is 20-8. The heaviest "pole and "rounded" like pike, not sharp like muskies. line" record is 12-12 from Spirit Lake, Muskie regards,

MAGAZINE NOTES MAGAZINE Iowa!... ❖ But you will leave as a friend! Larry Ramsell

4 MUSKIE.....July 2005 www.muskiesinc.org July 2005.....MUSKIE 5 INTERNATIONAL NEWS INTERNATIONAL NEWS INTERNATIONAL NEWS 17 waters. On Sunday April many ofourmuskie muskies swimmingin are stillworld-class Megamuskie Green Bay Walleye Fisherman Releases difference!” enable ustostockalotmore fishthisyear. support. Their generous donationwill membersfortheir thank allofthePMTT that muchmoneysoeasily. Iwantto many years andI’ve never beenabletoraise I’veeffort. been chairingourrafflesfor ofourstocking donated $779insupport “dust” settled,themembersofPMTT we soldtickets. participants, When the raising moneytostockmuskiesin White Bear Lakethis fall. would, soItoldthemaboutthe Twin Cities ChapterRafflethatis tournament anglersdocare aboutour resource! They saidthatthey would liketosettherecord straightand show theMuskie worldthat rap” tournamentanglershave beengiven. Ithenaskedthemifthey to theMuskie resource?” The response wasanoverwhelming yes! of thereputation thattournamentanglersdidnotgive anythingback the group todiscussthisissue.Iaskedthegroup “If theywere tired and educationefforts. members ofvarious Muskies Inc. ourrearing chapters,andsupport didn’t care abouttheMuskie resource. Many ofthem,infact,are know manytournamentanglersandIhave never metanyone who myself.for mesinceIamatournamentparticipant Ihave gottento Muskiesentiment amongafew fishermen. This hasbeenconfusing TwinSupport Cities Rearing Efforts TournamentPMTT Participants MUSKIE 6 Avid rod and Power Pro 8#line. is further impressiveis further isthatRyan was castingwitha7 sidearoundweighed 63lbs. 77.15 lbs.Andontheconservative What released thehugefishbacktoBay. measurements Ryan andhisfriendsJoe SchmidtandEric Haataja Ryan landedamonstermuskie.Quickly takingphotosand a 20-30minutestruggle Dempsey’s Rapala.After when somethingateRyan somewhere inGreen Bay fishermen were casting th Yes Mrs.Jones there By Jim Smith Twin Cities Chapter01 John Newman “Tournament Anglersmakinga Over thenext30minutes,withhelpofseveral otherPMTT Most expressed oftheparticipants theirconcernaboutthe“bad So, inApril, attheCave Run PMTT Tournament, Iaddressed In years I’ve thepastfew noticedagrowing anti-tournament The fishmeasured 55”x33-1/2”.High side,thisfishcouldhave three walleye .....July 2005 Rapala, trollingforwalleyes. Megamuskie. caughton8#lineanda Ryan Dempseywithhis55x33.5GreenBay 1 / 2 ’ St. Croix oSna rnig If itgetstoSunray priortothe15 to Sunray Printing. Thenitissent process timeistwoto4weeks, basedontheworkload. Thenormal It is sentto Terri DuBe andprocessed asitalwayswas. systemofrenewals works Thenew thisway. earliest opportunity. in mindthatIdohave alifeoutsideofMIthiswillbedoneatthe Keeping to hear, butitwillbearightanswer tothebestofmyability. It mightnotbetheanswer you want solution oranswer, Ipromise! I WILL however, getbacktoyou assoonpossiblewitha rod. up andseemeinpersonwe willdiscussitintheboatover afishing $ are saved onthenext twonotices,by us andyou, winwin. Right off, your nextcopyofMuskie &mailed to You, themember She then processes itandissenttoSunray Printing. It isthenputin If itislaterthenthe15 printing ofMusky. (their cutoffdateforthemagazine)yourcards new willbeinthenext [email protected] 462-3053 ore-mailmeat You can reach meat12677NNeumaier Rd.Hayward, WI 54843,Ph. 715 Believe methey do. They have enoughtodo,sotheytellme. directly tome,not Terri DuBe, Jim Smith, Greg Wells orJim Beaty. questions andproblems dealingwithmembershipsshouldcome From now onall tomakeitwork. committee andIare goingtotry Anywayhere ishow the How doIgetmyselfintothesethings? vice presidentthe new oftheMembership andMarketing Committee. Membership CommitteeUpdate ouradmiration. certainly as Ihave optedtorespect theirpublicationandletyou read itthere. August/September issueMUSKYHUNTERMagazine. Pick upacopy talking aboutit. reproduction displayed inthenearfuture. Iamsure hewouldenjoy reproduction madeby Fittante Taxidermy andwillhave this is Eric enjoyment. whosentmethesephotosforyour viewing 414-546-4627. You’ll enjoy someofhisotherfishing talentstoo. It from Southern WI. Checkouthisweb siteatwww fish wascaughtoutofEric Capitan Haataja, aguideandCharter of trophy huntersconverging onLakeMichigan. Manitoba, Canada.Good move. We don’t needtowatchastampede the pictures “Photo Shopped” withabackground from somewhere in Oh itwascaughtinGreen Bay, butRyan wasastuteenoughtohave respectfurther theextenthehasgonetokeepthislocationasecret. anyone whocanrelease suchafishandbeabletotellhisstory. I timeweis whatallofusare headout.Iadmire lookingforevery M Simple right,again,notlikely. can allgofishinginpeace. Thenwe patience andforyou members. togosignup10,000new Now allIneedfrom you, themembershipisalittle Iamhere towork foryou and I intendto. But we willtry. right, probably not. Sounds simple happen thenjumponmeandIwillyell atthem. If thisdoesnot us (theinternational)andyou (themembership). processing elsewe by save everyone moneythatcanbebetterusedby By renewing withyour firstnoticeandproper ontime expected. other words shouldgoas jumponthefirstnoticeandeverything In feel thewaitistoolongthenyell atme,that’s whatI’m here for. If thathappensand you notice you willprobably dosomewaiting. magazines, 60and30dayspriortotheexpirationdate.After third expiration dateandyour secondandthird noticeswillalsobeinthe to you inthemagazinefourmonths(120days)priortoyour However your firstrenewal noticewillbesent month togetyou. embership R Send memberformandmoneyto renewal ornew Terri DuBe. First, letmeintroduce myself. My nameisBob Timme andIam Congratulations gentlemen,you have ourutmostrespect and Here willbeappearinginthe isanothertip. Acompletestory Ryan isemployed atRocky Outdoor Gear. He ishavinga I willhowever give you avalid tip. The gentlemenwho’s boatthe As you canimaginealotofcontroversy surrounds thisfish. This BobTimme, VP Membership &Marketing Committee ene wal P r ocess; th it willtakeanother Love aMuskie, th .wibig of themonth fish.com or come and David’s foramore article completeanswer. After reading Elmer andMichael’s answers pleasegotoChris elsewhere inthisissue. written amore completeresponse tothisquestioninanarticle one. Curtis Wagner andDavid Wahl from Illinois have question toanswer inabriefmanororcolumnsuchasthis Editors Note: Biologist the Ask www.muskiesinc.org reservoirs). environments (man-made lakes and manage theminartificial Ohio, we usestocksfrom thelocaltributariesofOhio River but have beenaltered over timealready, foronereason oranother. In genetic stocksdeveloped in.Many ofthestocksthemselves may man thattheynolongerresemble the naturalenvironments these identified. Unfortunately, manyhabitatshave beensoaltered by possible andavoid mixingthesegeneticstockswhentheycanbe agencies needtousethisinformationtheirbenefitwhenever tributaries toalargerwaterbody, likeLakeErie. Management population. Sometimes thesestockscanbeasclosetwoadjacent better intheirnaturalhabitatthanageneticstockfrom another genetic terms,let’s andgrow justsaythesestocksshouldsurvive of timethrough naturalselection. Without goingintoalotof subspecies cancontainmanydifferent stocksofmuskie. recognized astheOhio, Mississippi andGreat Lakes. These different distributional differences, are thethree subspeciescommonly groupings, basedmore onmorphologicalandgeographical separate populationsofmuskie.Are you stillwithme? The general would now becalledageneticstockbasedondifferences in the basicconcepts.Iwouldguess,whatyou are callingastrain Y Elmer W. Heyob, Jr - Ohio DNR Ohio - Jr W.Heyob, Elmer Please Emailyourquestions to: our muskiecountry. opinions fromavariety of biologiststhroughout order toobtainadiversity ofanswersand different biologiststoanswer yourquestionsin Eachmonthwewill drawupon (state) biologist. attempt toobtainaresponsefromyourlocal question isastatespecificquestion,wewill their questionstoourpanelofbiologists.Ifyour NOTE: M.I.membersareencouragedtosubmit Fisheries Biologist 2 Elmer Heyob Jr. A geneticstockdevelops inaspecifichabitatover alongperiod First, letmesay, Iamnotageneticistbutbelieve Iunderstand o u [email protected] This month’s questionisanextremely difficult t h • Fisheries stocks, andtheimpacts,ifany, ofpaststocktransfers. allow formuchgreater understandingofthe relationships among and applicationofhigh-resolution micro satelliteDNAmarkers will within therangeofspeciesIn years, thedevelopment thenext few there are numerous distinctstockswithineachmajorwatershed similar enoughtopermitthetransferamongnative stocks.Likely, mistake toconsiderallpopulationswithintheMississippi tobe Valley, pike).It northern allopatric/sympatric(wrt wouldbea to fishfrom largerregions, e.g..,Great Lakes,Mississippi, Ohio term “strain” hasnootherbiologicalmeaning–itiswrongly applied Lake andSt. Lawrence strainrefer onlytotheparental source. The geographic sources. Thus, thetermChautauqua, Shoepack, Leech products derived from aparticular – usuallythisdescribeshatchery behavior are well documented. differences ingrowth, temperature perferenda andspawning adapted tolocalconditions–amongpopulations,heritable is now theMississippi Valley. Afterthesepopulationsdispersed,they thelastglacialadvance somewhere inwhat population thatsurvived muskypopulationsare derived fromcontemporary asingle of favor withscientistswhostudyfishes. sub-species ofmuskellunge.Indeed thetermhasgenerallyfallenout been thatofasingle“monotypic” species. There are norecognized has The prevailing amongichthyologists inthepastcentury view spotted, clearorbarred individualscould occurinanybodyofwater. recognized by their colouration.Subsequently, that itwasobserved thought toinhabitdistinctlydifferent regions andcouldbe m ohiensis species. ( ohioensis proposed three species(Eso resulted inavariety (1854) ofdescriptive schemes.Kirtland traitsofthemuskellunge variation intheappearanceandlifehistory the pikefamily. He can [email protected]. ofmuskellunge,andothermembers of evolution, managementandecology Michael isapplyingDNAmarkers toquestions associatedwiththe Unitand Conservation ofNatural oftheOntario Ministry Resources. University. He works outoftheDNAlaboratory oftheAquatic Biodiversity Michael Butler isadevoted muskieanglerandaPh.D. candidateat Trent Michael Butler - Ph.D. Candidate,Trent University Candidate,Trent Ph.D. - Butler Michael when stockingaspecificlakeorfishery? Why aregeneticstrainsanimportantconsideration species? Ifnotwhatisthedistinction? Define “strain”.Isastrainthesameassub Q: Fisheries managers indifferent jurisdictionsmayrefer tostrains revealed andfurther Recent thisview that DNAstudiessupport As foragreat manywidelydistributed fishspecies,geographic River area. River drainage,andthe“barred”fromOhio Wisconsin, the“spotted”fromMississippi there werethree;the“clear”fromnorthern Discuss muskellungestrains.We usedtofeel ). Jordan andEverman (1896-1900)demotedthese tosub- Esox masquinongy masquinongy Esox masquinongy ). These presumed branchesofthe • R e x masquinongy s e , July 2005..... E. m.immaculatus a , E immaculatus Esox r family tree were c MUSKIE 7 h and and

E. E

.

YOUTH-fisheries-research YOUTH-fisheries-research YOUTH-fisheries-research YOUTH-fisheries-research YOUTH-fisheries-research YOUTH-fisheries-research III) What is a population? analysis, to compare the genetic relatedness among multiple Desjardins, M.D.G. 1996. Molecular genetic variation in muskellunge (Esox Continuing with the idea of geographically and genetically populations from throughout the muskellunge range. Currently, masquinongy) and northern pike (Esox lucius) from watersheds in the Ask the Biologist – Cont’d studies are also being conducted by Canadian researchers, exploring Upper Midwest. M. Sc. Thesis, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois. isolated stocks, the concept of a population can be developed. YOUTH-fisheries-research Processes that result in stocks can also cause locally isolated or genetic relatedness among muskellunge (and other esocidae) Hanson, D. A., R. F. Strand, D. D. Post, W. H. LeGrande, and S. Fillbach. Curtis P. Wagner and David H. Wahl partially-isolated group of individuals within the stock of a species. populations (Butler, personal communication). 1983. Muskellunge electrophoresis study. Pages 9-13 in MUSKIE. These locally isolated groups of individuals within the stock are Throughout the 1990’s, research was conducted within the Koppelman, J.B. and D.P. Philipp. 1986. Genetic applications in I) What is a species? termed populations. Upper Mississippi River drainage exploring growth and survival muskellunge management. Pages 111-121 in G.E. Hall, editor. Few things in nature are as simple as black and white. Grey areas Now that an understanding of the genetic hierarchy has been differences among populations within the stock (Younk and Strand Managing Muskies. American Fisheries Society, Special Publication 15, Bethesda, Maryland, USA. abound and this is where the really interesting nuances of the natural established, we see that a species can be made up of multiple 1992; Margenau and Hanson 1996; 1997). Around the same time, world occur. Pick up a standard biology textbook and you will find geographically isolated or partially-isolated stocks and, in turn, stocks researchers in Illinois were evaluating differences in metabolism and Margenau, T.L. and D.A. Hanson. 1997. Performance of Leech Lake, species defined many ways such as “a particular kind of organism, its are made up of multiple locally isolated or partially-isolated growth, as well as food consumption and conversion efficiency among Minnesota, muskellunge in a Wisconsin Lake. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Research Report 175 175: 1-11. members possessing similar anatomical characteristics and having the populations of individuals. population and stocks of young-of-year muskellunge in a laboratory ability to interbreed” or “a group of related individuals that are setting (Clapp and Wahl 1996). Multiple populations from each stock Margenau, T.L. and D.A. Hanson. 1996. Survival and growth of stocked actually or potentially capable of interbreeding; a group of organisms IV) How many stocks of muskellunge are there, were included in the study. Currently, studies are underway in Illinois muskellunge: effects of genetic and environmental factors. Wisconsin constituting a single gene pool.” A good definition of a species might evaluating growth and survival among populations and stocks in field Department of Natural Resources Research Report 172 172: 1-11. be “consisting of naturally occurring groups of individuals that can and how do they differ? settings (e.g. experimental ponds and reservoirs), as well as a radio- Nelson, J.S. 1999. Editorial and introduction: the species concept in fish interbreed and that have a common evolutionary history.” However, As the suggested delineation of muskellunge stocks are presented, telemetry study investigating potential physiological and behavioral biology. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries 9: 277-280. nature can be thought of as existing on a continuum of genetic it is important to realize and remember the genetic variation and differences among stocks (Wagner and Wahl, unpublished). Wagner, C.P. and D.H. Wahl. Illinois Natural History Survey, University of complexity and organization. Current genetic techniques allow for continuum discussed earlier. Any ‘line-drawing’ among groups of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois. [email protected] the measure of actual ‘genetic distance’ between any two organisms or organisms can be arbitrary and/or guided by the research questions at VI) Are the results of the studies accepted by Younk, J.A. and R.F. Strand. 1992. Performance evaluation of four YOUTH-fisheries-research YOUTH-fisheries-research group of organisms. We know, and can now describe using an actual hand. That being said, there is currently an accepted delineation of muskellunge Esox masquinongy strains in two Minnesota lakes. muskellunge stocks within the scientific community. fisheries biologists, or are there significant Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Section of Fisheries

‘distance’, that some species are more closely

related, or genetically similar, than other species. During the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, differences of opinion? Investigational Report No. 418. pp 22. YOUTH-fisheries-research In this way, species similarity can now be “In all probability more apparent correlations between color/pattern and I hope that there will always be differences in opinions among described with such terms as ‘closely related’ and location led to the establishment of three scientists. That is what drives the field forward to new discoveries. Author Information: ‘distantly related’. For example, we know that paper has been consumed separate species of muskellunge for a short time. The same applies to the topic at hand. I am sure there are those who Curtis P. Wagner, Department of Natural Resources and muskellunge are more ‘closely related’ to northern on the questions of the As interpretation of the color and marking have a slightly different perspective on the delineation of Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois and Center for Aquatic pike and the pickerels than to the fishes of the distinctions progressed, the idea of subspecies muskellunge stocks. However, it is also important to realize and Ecology and Conservation, Illinois Natural History Survey, 607 East sunfish family. Nonetheless, the species is the nature and definition of was introduced. By the late 1970’s, the idea that understand the process by which scientific studies are validated. Peabody Dr., Champaign, IL 61820; 217-333-0006; FAX 217-265- fundamental unit of categorization used by the species than any other all variations were indeed one single species, Written reports of scientific studies are submitted by the researcher 5110; [email protected] biologists in the Linnaean (biological without enough evidence to warrant official to established professional scientific journals. These studies are then David H. Wahl, Kaskaskia Biological Station, Illinois Natural classification) hierarchy. The species is to the subject in evolutionary subspecies classifications, had been established. subjected to critical peer reviews by multiple anonymous scientists. History Survey, RR1 Box 157, Sullivan, IL 61951; 217-728-4400; d- ❖ biologists as the chemical element is to the and systematic biology.” More recent genetic analysis of various Only after all reviewers agree that the material is of scientific [email protected]. chemist; we are dealing with an entity that we populations from throughout the muskellunge integrity is a scientific report published and distributed. Due do this assume behaves in a way that is subject to – E.O. Wiley, 1978. range revealed three distinct clusters rigorous process, peer-reviewed scientific literature is given scientific study and explanation (Nelson 1999). (Koppelman and Philipp 1986). The clusters precedence over agency reports and the like, albeit the latter are often were found to be related to major river drainage well conducted studies and highly cited. All this to say, despite the II) What is a strain and is this the same as a origins, suggesting the existence of divergent stocks. Existing potential disagreement among fisheries biologists regarding information indicates that muskellunge persisted through the muskellunge populations and stocks and their comparisons, by subspecies? Can stocks interbreed? Wisconsin glacier period in the Mississippi refugium and upon glacial nature of the scientific system itself, we are dedicated to accepting

YOUTH-fisheries-research YOUTH-fisheries-research In a simplistic sense, a ‘strain’ or ‘stock’, is a sub-group of a recession, moved north up the Mississippi valley and established its the published accounts (Crossman 1978, 1986; Koppelman and species. When used in the context of genetic hierarchy, stock and current range via the Mississippi and Ohio River systems (Crossman

Philipp 1986; Clapp and Wahl 1996) until other peer-reviewed

‘subspecies’ can be loosely used interchangeably. When groups of 1978; 1986). As muskellunge were isolated by major river drainages, published accounts conclude contrary ideas or theories. YOUTH-fisheries-research individuals of a given species are geographically or physically isolated they experienced different environmental conditions and thermal from one another the isolated groups of individuals become histories. As these isolated groups diverged through recolonization, Muskellunge Reference Internet Links: genetically more similar within their own group compared to the genetic processes, such as natural selection, resulted in stocks of http://www.trentu.ca/muskie/biblio.html other groups. A physical divergence (i.e. isolation) among groups muskellunge that are genetically dissimilar, and likely physiologically http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/MNR/pubs/Esocid_bibliog.pdf restricts breeding among groups and as time progresses, natural and behaviorally different from one another. The currently identified selection causes genetic divergence among the groups. Natural genetically distinct muskellunge stocks are referred to as the Upper Literature Cited: selection is the natural process that results in the survival and Mississippi River drainage stock, the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Butler, M. OMNR – Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. reproductive success of individuals best adapted to their environment drainage stock, and the Ohio River Drainage stock. [email protected] and leads to the perpetuation of genetic characteristics best suited to Clapp, D.F. and D.H. Wahl. 1996. Comparison of food consumption, the particular environment. Genetic divergence due to natural V) How much research has been done into the growth, and metabolism among muskellunge – an investigation of selection often results in the expression of different morphological population differentiation. Transactions of the American Fisheries (i.e. appearance) characteristics or other, potentially more important, different stocks? Society 125: 402-410. differences in characteristics relevant to life histories that may go Koppelman and Philipp (1986) laid the ground work for Crossman, E.J. 1978. Taxonomy and distribution of North American unrecognized, such as physiological rates (e.g. growth rate). research focusing on muskellunge stocks by conducting the genetic esocids. Pages 13-26 in R.L. Kendall, editor. Selected coolwater fishes of Because stocks are sub-groups of a species, they can interbreed if analysis that revealed the related clusters corresponding to the major North America. American Fisheries Society, Special Publication 11, the opportunity presented itself. However, the fundamental river drainages. Of noteworthy mention, however, is that some initial Washington, D.C., USA. mechanism that creates genetically distinct stocks is the concept of genetic work was conducted by Hanson et al. (1983) in Wisconsin Crossman, E.J. 1986. The noble muskellunge: a review. Pages 1-13 in G.E.

YOUTH-fisheries-research YOUTH-fisheries-research geographic isolation. Therefore, in natural settings, interbreeding comparing the genetic relatedness among multiple local Wisconsin Hall, editor. Managing Muskies. American Fisheries Society, Special among stocks is unlikely. and Minnesota populations. To build upon these studies, Desjardins Publication 15, Bethesda, Maryland, USA. et al. (1996) used a new genetic tool, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) 8 MUSKIE.....July 2005 www.muskiesinc.org July 2005.....MUSKIE 9 that time. From there, I proceeded down to the F-M cabin, only to find that all our members were out on the lake. I figured I’d be in for a long wait. As I looked in the direction of the dock, I noticed F-M members Paul Haug and Ed Sweeney pulling in. They had a trolling motor problem and came in early. After a few minutes of tinkering with it, they decided to go back out fishing and asked me to join them. I grabbed a rod from my van, and we were off! We started fishing fairly close to the lodge, though the rest of our group was fishing some 15 miles away. We worked our way down some rocky shorelines and points, and I must say…….it was some of the most nerve-wracking fishing I’ve ever done. After fishing for about 3 hours, I hadn’t made a single cast to a place that didn’t look promising. Even so, we didn’t score a single strike and grabbed the net. I had the fish on for a good 10 seconds or so, when returned to the lodge to meet Brett, who informed me that the water the lure suddenly popped free. The fish was so close to the boat that was much cleaner in the area he had been fishing, with some success. Brett took a fruitless sweep at it with the net. I stood in shock for a That was a relief to hear. moment, while Brett screamed obscenities into the air. Thinking it We spent the afternoon getting our tackle ready for the just wasn’t meant to be, I fired another cast toward the cabbage bed. tournament. In the evening, our whole group gathered to enjoy an Suddenly, I noticed I had a 45-inch class fish following, but it evening meal of Hog Heaven. This consisted of huge grilled pork spooked before I could pull into a figure-eight. The following cast chops and deep-fried potatoes. I took some video of a couple fellow produced a 35-inch class fish, which spooked when I hit a rock with members washing dishes. They didn’t appear to be regulars at that the rod tip on the figure-eight. I told Brett that we should mark this particular task. spot on the map, but I don’t think he heard me. He was too busy on On Wednesday, we arose around 5 am and quickly made a the marine band, telling everyone that I’d just lost a 50-incher. All I lunch to take along. We wouldn’t return to the cabin until after 6 had was a story to tell, of my once-in-a-lifetime fish, that night at the pm, and you get mighty hungry throwing muskie baits all day long. cabin. My tale of woe was tempered a few hours later, when I caught Our 30-minute trip across the lake was pleasantly calm. Brett had my first muskie on a figure-eight…….a nice 36-incher. discovered a few good areas to fish in the preceding days. We tried Thursday morning, we decided to begin fishing the same area them, but they were unproductive. We tried another area and had a where I lost the ‘big one’. As we pulled into the spot, Brett noticed Editors Note: This years Chapter Challunbge is being held at Minaki, behind. I also made a list of everything I may need at the lake: such couple fish blow up on a Top Raider, but they didn’t connect. Ontario, July 20-23. I would encourage everyone to attend this GREAT as rain gear, bug spray, tanning lotion, sunglasses, towels, etc. the black Hawg-wobbler tied to a spare rod I brought. He borrowed Awhile later, we pulled into a saddle area between two islands. it. On the second cast, that 50-incher inhaled it. She fought hard, event. You’ll meet many of our more famous members and some The evening before I planned to leave, I loaded everything in It had a cabbage point coming out from the south-facing island and but we quickly got her in the net. Brett was pretty sure it was the infamous also. The fishing is great and the camaraderie can’t be beat. I my van, which was fueled up and ready to go. I set my alarm clock really looked like a premier spot. I couldn’t believe we had it to same fish, as he’s caught a couple hundred muskies and is a great have fished with many of the Frago-Moorhead guys and I know they’ll be for 5 am, since I wanted to leave early in order to meet Brett around ourselves. I started casting into the cabbage area, between a huge judge of size. I took a quick Polaroid of her, before releasing her. putting on a great function. Enjoy! 1 pm Tuesday at Red Wing Lodge. He had left a few days before. I boulder and the shoreline. I was using the light model of Rad Dog On Friday morning, we continued our pattern of rising early, was so anxious and excited, on the eve of departure, that I figured I hen the Fargo-Moorhead chapter won the 2002 spinner bait and letting the lure come through the weeds rather than packing lunch, and traveling across the lake. We just had to start at would never get to sleep. I think I finally dozed off around Challunge on Leech Lake, I was very excited. I knew over them. As I cranked in my third or fourth cast, the lure was 10 the same saddle area, after seeing so much action there. We midnight. I awoke to find the clock showing 2:44 am. Knowing I that, by winning, we’d get to choose the location and feet or so from the boat, when I saw a huge muskie appear right approached it from the west rather than the south, this time. Brett W would never be able to get back to sleep, I got up and was pulling behind the lure. I didn’t see where she came from; she was just host next year’s tournament. I had hoped we would pick someplace began casting his own black Hawg-wobbler. On his second cast of close and affordable. The chapter decided on Lake of the Woods, out of the driveway within 3 minutes. I set the cruise and headed suddenly there and grabbed the bait. I set the hook so hard that my the day, he had a good follow. By the time I turned around, he had north to Baudette, MN, where I would cross the border into which turned out to be a manageable distance of about 370 miles left hand came off the reel, and the 50 lb braid burned a nice line (Continued on page 12) from my home. Since we were the host chapter, we had a free cabin Canada. The last time I was in Canada, I was a young child and right through my finger. I swear, as I write this in at Red Wing Lodge, which made the trip even more enticing to me. really didn’t know what to expect, now. Everyone, who knew I was October, I can still see the faint scar it left behind. I had never been to Lake of the Woods, but my brother, Brett, going on this trip, seemed to have a different version of the border- By this time, Brett was yelling, “It’s a 50, it’s a 50! had. As I remember, he didn’t have much success. I suggested that crossing procedure. As it turned out, they all had me worried for Free-spool, free-spool!” I had already done that we fish as a team in the tournament, and he agreed. I’m not quite at nothing. All I needed was my driver’s license, so I wouldn’t have had and worked the fish around, or maybe she worked his level of fishing expertise, so I was pleased he agreed to partner to go through the hassle of securing the birth certificate or proof of me around to the other side of the boat, as Brett with me. insurance card. In the months that At the border, I had to pull over and wait for an available agent followed, I tried to gain to search my vehicle. While sitting there, I realized I’d probably have as much knowledge of to explain the 250 hamburger buns that were stowed in the back of the lake as I could. I my van. My job for the Challunge was to transport B-B-Que buns, looked at different for one of the two complimentary meals our chapter would be maps, talked to people providing. Surprisingly, the agent didn’t think that was too unusual, who had been there, and sent me on my way after a brief search. Not knowing where to and asked about lure get a Canadian fishing license, I pulled into the first bait shop I saw. colors and types. I I paid $18 for a 7-day Conservation License, and was back on the knew I couldn’t take all road to the lodge. my gear, so I tried to I arrived at 8:17 am and wondered what I should do until 1 pm. streamline my tackle as I checked out the resort and looked at the Muskie Log Book, they much as possible, had lying on the table. This was a large paper where you could without leaving record your catch information. I glanced at the Lure section, and something important noticed that I had brought many of the lures that were being used at 10 MUSKIE.....July 2005 www.muskiesinc.org July 2005.....MUSKIE 11 Lunge Log Lunge How I Spent My Summer Vacation–(Continued from page 11) unge from Minnesota. He is Don Pursch; he is a guide, a speaker, a L L promoter of the sport and Muskies, Inc. He has not reported that already set the hook hard into a fish that appeared to be even larger than the 50-incher. e o h many muskies to the Lunge Log, we think he only does that when they After a short battle, I managed to net her for Brett. This one measured 48 inches, but t g are significant. What does he fish with? Well 19 of those fifty’s came was at least a few pounds heavier. Within about a 30-foot area, he caught both those on an Eagle Tail, have you seem that lure on a significant list from the fish and had another get off a Top Raider. It was quite a spot, and I’d love to get back Lunge Log? Yes you have! to it again one day. Number 3 on the list is a dominant power from Wisconsin and We ended up putting 4 fish in the boat for the tournament and losing a few the Headwaters Chapter. He led Muskies Inc for years with the most others. Our team had the fish on the line to win the Challunge, but we just couldn’t releases. He is Charlie Schauer from Wisconsin Rapids, WI and the Log Lunge get them into the boat. My congratulations to the Southside Muskie Hawks, on a b Headwaters Chapter. While reeling in 1,549 muskies we find that 22 terrific victory. y ch of them were 50 inches or longer. This is close to the 1.5% average for The week really couldn’t have been better. The weather was great. People at the Jim un fifty inchers. Of these 22, 18 came from his home county of Oneida lodge were terrific, and the fishing was fantastic. I met a few members of other B in Wisconsin. Charlie’s lure selection for these fifties shows no chapters, who were really interesting to visit with. Hopefully, I’ll see them again at tendency at all. He uses them all. another Chapter Challunge, in future years. I don’t know if I’ll ever see another 50- Fifty Inch Muskies, The Most, Who? Number 4 is Troy Bertram from Minnesota. We see today his incher on the end of my line, but as the saying goes: “It’s better to have fished and never This is the first time we have published this. It is kind of a scary address is actually Knapp, WI. He still maintains his membership

caught the big one, than never to have fished at all”. list, but it is a fact and something that draws interest. Ron Groeschl through the North Metro Chapter. Of his 18 fifty inchers 14 are our Web Master produced this for us on May 13th and reported there confirmed caught in Minnesota, 1 from The Woods and 3 not Biography Log Lunge rd were 2,990 entries at 50 inches or longer. Since then 3 more have come specified. Four came from Bemidji, and 3 came from Plantagenet near Brad Waldera is a 3 year member of the Fargo-Moorhead Chapter and is their Bemidji. This includes his largest of 54.5 in July of 2002. Troy appears nd in. He also shares that 301 of these do not have a name attached to 2 VP and newsletter editor. to be a buck tail man with 8 coming on hair. He also likes the surface Brad Waldera them. This goes back to the days of Not Specified names, lakes and lures. This was pre 1997 when we put our foot down about not with 5 of the 18 coming on top. Troy has reported a total of 316 915 8th Ave. N. specified. When Ron G produced this list, we realize that if you have captures so his percentage of fifties is very high at nearly 6%. Wahpeton, ND 58075 a little computer talent you can do the same thing any day of the year. Number 5 is also a Minnesota member of the Cass Lake / Bemidji PH 701 642-1952 As we move forward I will share with you down the road on how to Chapter. He is Duane Hill and lives on Lake Bemidji. Then of course Member #02-38172 do this. I have been searching data for years and sharing it with you 9 of his 17 fifties came from Lake Bemidji itself. This lake and Duane the best I could. Now that Ron Groeschl is working with me almost are a very good match. His fifty list includes a 56.5 on a surface bait weekly on some of these things he is bringing us out of the computer in 2004. He also scored a 55.5 on a Jackpot in 2001. Fourteen came Log Lunge dark days into a very user friendly modern 2005. from Minnesota waters and 3 from Ontario. He caught 8 of the 17 on Well over 90% of all Muskies, Inc members have never caught a surface baits. He also does some trolling and shows 2 fifties with this 50 inch muskie. This list of the top 122 with the most 50 inchers will method. His fish total is 567, so his fifty percentage is a very solid 3%. nearly blow you away. There are 122 members who have caught five Number 6 his Tom Gelb of the Milwaukee Chapter now residing 50 inchers or more. This includes 3 lady members and 5 junior in Conover, Wisconsin. From 1984 through 1998 Tom landed 16 fifty members. As of June 3, 2005 we have 202,724 entries. Out of this inchers. Lake Of The Woods produced 15 of these for him. The other total 2,993 of them were reported at 50 inches or more. This is a came from Vilas County, Wisconsin. He is a caster and a jerk bait man. percentage of 1.476%. This means that nearly 3 out of every 200 Eight of these came on a Reef Hawg. His largest, a 52.5 in July of 1997 came on a Reef Hawg of course from The Woods. He is another man

muskies are 50 inches. This percentage is an average of the total sum Log Lunge and does not mean you are due for one. From this list I will talk about above the average as 3.6% of his 451 entries were 50 inches. the top ten from what the Lunge Log knows about them. This is data Number 7 with 15 entries reaching 50 inches is Brian Hanson of and should be understood as that. I did not call each and interview the Twin Cities Chapter and Rogers, Minnesota. Once again he is way them, all though I have spoke personally with most of the top ten over above the percentage with 5.9% of his 254 entries hitting 50. Lake Of the years we chose not to turn this into a promo for each. The Woods gave him 6 of these, Mille Lacs in Minnesota another 6 Number 1 on the list is Ken Worel of the Star Of The North and 3 from Leech in Minnesota. His first one came in 1992 and also Chapter in Minnesota. He calls Grand Rapids, MN home. His got one last year so he is averaging slightly more than one a year. He has two at 53 inches. Brian uses a variety of tools. One came on a buck

shocking total of 35 fifty inch muskies also shows that all of them came from the state of Minnesota. Within the state most of them came tail, one on a jerk bait, two on spinners, four on the surface and seven from Vermilion up in St. Louis county. That should be no surprise as on crank baits. He will troll, got 5 of them this way. He likes big crank Log Lunge that lake has been dynamic over the last 12 years. His list of lures is baits such as the Believer, Grandma and Jake. He also shows the color also very interesting as he basically likes to fish on the surface. Many of orange as a preference. of his lures are home made but he does not seem to market them. His Number 8 on the list and tied for 7th with 15 is Larry Ramsell. longest was a huge 55 incher in September of 2004 on a Top Raider. Larry is a past president of Muskies Inc. He currently lives in Of interest also is a 53.5 inch caught on a fly, also homemade. I have Hayward, Wisconsin and a member of that chapter. He is an author met him several times; he comes across very humble, not pumping his of several muskie books. He is a historian of muskie records and will own image. He has reported a total of 540 releases which means travel to locate a muskie. His first came in 1975 from Eagle Lake in almost 7% of them come in at fifty. This is totally awesome. He also Ontario. His last 50 was very long at 57 and was featured in our rd magazine when he had concerns about her survival and went has a son, not in the top ten but who has 10 fifty inchers himself, 33 Log Lunge on the list. This is one very scary boat. swimming with the fish. Of these 15, Ontario gave up 11 of these with Number 2 on the list is also from Minnesota. He calls Walker his Eagle Lake showing 4. He also has a couple from Georgian Bay. He home. Actually it is only home for about 6 months a year as the rest also uses a variety of tools, but shows 7 of them on buck tails. of the time he is at a fly in on Rowan in Ontario. He is there because Number 9 and also tied for 7th with 15 is Marv Kiley of Palisade, he and his lovely wife Lyn own the place. They run a class act. How he MN. Marv reported 3 of these from Lake Of The Woods. The rest of finds time to muskie fish we do not know. He is coordinating all them were pre 1997 when not specified was allowed. So we do not have www.muskiebaytacklecompany.com aspects. He also guides and has found time to boat 30 fifty inch specific stats on where for Marv and that is all right. I have heard him muskies over the years. Of these, 29 of them came from his lake, one (Continued on page 14) 12 MUSKIE.....July 2005 www.muskiesinc.org July 2005.....MUSKIE 13 Lunge Log Lunge Log Lunge Log Lunge Log Lunge Log Lunge Log Lunge Log MUSKIE 15 July 2005..... www.muskiesinc.org Keep a tight line, Keep Log The Lunge Bunch, Jim (Continued from page 13) from (Continued .....July 2005 Number 10, also with 15 is Robert Volkert of Alexandria, Volkert with 15 is Robert 10, also Number of our list The rest top ten big fish members. your are there So

14 MUSKIE speak, very interesting man. Marv apparently is very is veryspeak, man. Marv when apparently selective interesting in 107 entries, so has only turned Log. He to the Lunge reporting a bit of the monkey That is 15%. 50, he shows them over with 15 of Marv but understandable. caught has figures thing with the wrench an amazing 7 3 at 54 inches and some very 55 incher, big fish with a on its tandems man with 9 of them M&G This is your 53 inches. over Spinner. Marv’s on his own 2 reported even and buck tails. He again every Once one of Chapter. Vikingland and the Minnesota too far and most of them not Minnesota, these fifties came from the For Vermilion. Bob caught his first 50 in 1999 on home. from had just an amazing he he got another 5, them last year next 4 years June ran from This streak 9 fifty inch muskies. recorded He year. it and called Miltona there has a lake out He November. through appears to be a very from match for Bob as 8 of these 9 came good baits. man as 9 of the 15 came on jerk bait Bob is a jerk there. fifties. Each one of them with 5 or more to 122 members goes down the time or space to tell do not have is too bad we is a story It in itself. and a theory, all have you so interesting, people are You their stories. that it works. proved all have You a method to success. all have you Lunge Log Lunge

Lunge Log Log Lunge Lunge Log Log Lunge Lunge Log Log Lunge Lunge Log Log Lunge Lunge Log Log Lunge Lunge Log Log Lunge Lunge Log Lunge provided most of the stories and memories of past trips. THREE Muskie fishing became a binding force for family memories, ties and friendship lasting almost five decades. The wagers, tackle rebuilding ventures, and evening frolics provided after hours and off-season GENERATIONS entertainment. The photographs and memories over the years were incredible. Lake contour knowledge, By Dr. Eugene, Dr. Tom and fishing and release techniques were shared amongst the ALD Dan Narsete three, and many friends made along the way. Our fishing pals were great, but no one else had three generations for 25 years of muskie fishing. We all looked back at the changes in fishing technology. Everyone now has four of every bait with varied colors and modifications. The rods are longer and the reels more efficient. Guides and fishermen have better technology for their use and high strength thin diameter line is the state of the art. CPR (catch, photograph, release) is common and to our delight. Muskies Inc. has grown to incredible proportions on state and international levels. Their origin in 1967 parallels the time we started to design catch-n-release techniques ourselves. t all started in the summer of 1957. Dr. Eugene Narsete of his dad caught numerous If you look at our family’s origin in muskie fishing, it is similar This wonderful gift can happen to your family too, as it Chicago, Ill began a muskie fishing career in style. He stayed at muskies. The culmination to that of Muskies Incorporated. In the beginning things were very happened to us. We still talk and recount memories of old while I Dillman’s lodge in Lac du Flambeau, Wisc while fishing with came in 1969, catching simple, with very little left to interpretation. When a fish was looking forward to the days of new. For those of you who fish with world-class guide Shorty Landers in nearby Minocqua. With him over a dozen muskies in 21 hooked, it was netted, clubbed, and thrown into the icebox…the a parent, enjoy the time while it lasts. Keep a tight line and we’ll see was his wife and family including his 7-year-old son Tom, soon to days, and raising 56 fish in day was over. There wasn’t a lot of communication over the you out on the water. ❖ become a lifelong muskie fishing pal. On the very last cast of one one day using two teams matter…that was the way it was. But as time went on and muskies Eugene Narsete, M.D. fishing day, a 46” muskie was landed. WOW! thought Tom. I want with two boats. became a scarce commodity the need to evolve and change came Thomas Narsete, M.D. one like this. Say no more, the first two It did not take long for Tom and his dad to about. In our family we gradually changed to only keep your “first Daniel Narsete generations of the Narsete family were addicted realize the need for catch-n-release, yet nobody legal” fish, and then perhaps a trophy fish. Over a period of time you to muskie fishing forever. else would. This is clearly due to the fact that could see this effect the change on such chains as the Minocqua By today’s standard, the tackle back then Muskie fishing became muskies take a long time to grow and mature. chain. Between guides, was antiquated. One-handed rods and a Amidst some criticism, the two developed a few ski-boats, spears, and Home of 2004 Chapter Challunge Pfleuger Supreme were the state of the art a binding force for techniques to successfully release any muskie carelessness, fishing tackle. The old wooden boats had white steering recognizing two key issues. Never exhaust the became tough. Today wheels on the side, and the engine in the family memories, ties fish as they will float belly up, and don’t boat things are a bit more middle. The guides and fishermen learned the them either. As doctors they knew fish become complex. There are more contour of the lake with sight and point lines. and friendship lasting stressed and very acidotic, while out of the people on the water, the Suicks, Pikie Minnows and Marathon bucktails water. This became a very important step in the technology is superior and were the baits of choice, with only standard catch and release process. The two became there are tens of thousands colors and pork rind. No double handed rods, almost five decades. adept at removing hooks at the boat side with a of knowledgeable muskie trolling motors, depth finders or muskie nets to good number of successful releases of legal fish, fisherman. We all have cell use, rather very simple boats and motors, gaff hoping our example would spur further interest phones, share internet Over hooks, oars or a guide boat. Fishing was hard with a small 5-1/2 foot in release. Over a twenty-five year period, only files, read books and 7,000 Muskies rod to cast with, and the line was simple 25lb nylon (Where’s the a small number of fish were kept, releasing the others to spawn. attend seminars, helping Released On Sabaskong Bay Dacron?). Nobody dared to release a legal muskie back then, and the During medical school in the 1970’s, much of Tom’s time was us to learn what, and what Five-time Muskies, Inc., big ones were sent to a nearby taxidermist. There was not a lot of diverted away from fishing. He did meet his eventual spouse Patricia, not to do. These days our information shared in those days. Essentially you learned what your and the third generation of muskie fisherman, Daniel, was born in family is committed to let Chapter Challunge Headquarters guide passed on to you, which was passed down to him. There was 1976. It did not take long to find a baby life jacket and put Dan in every muskie we catch back into the water. Like Muskies Inc, we too 1983, 1986, 1993, 1997, 2003 very little sharing of information, few books, and no Internet. the boat. By age 5 he was casting muskie baits and joined in on every want to catch the next world record. Every summer the first two Narsete generations went on their trip. He, like his dad, became very enthusiastic and was catching fish Presently in 2004, we are down to the last two generations as • Ultra-modern one, two, three, or four bedroom cabins annual fishing expedition, for two weeks. The Minocqua chain and before age 10. grandpa Eugene has retired from the sport at age 82. Tom eagerly • American plan, housekeeping or camping • Floating docks, electricity for charging batteries, Lund Boats with swivel seats White Sand Lakes were the favorites, fishing with our guide three The three generations, grandpa, dad and Dan fished together awaits the arrival of the fourth generation of the Narsete legacy, and depth finders, Honda motors with electric start days a week. The trio lasted for 24 years. Tom couldn’t wait to catch every summer for many years with great memories, laughs and tales while presently Dan is just happy to fish. Our family is grateful of • Dining room with food and liquor available for registered guests only his first legal, after watching his dad and guide catch the fish. It took of our times. Tom moved to the sunny southwest, Dan to Colorado our accomplishments and over 100 successful releases. Our largest Call or write for data on musky catches: until August of 1964 for him to land a 33” muskie on an old natural and Dr. Narsete Sr. retired in northern Illinois. Regardless of the fish to date is 49” 30 lbs caught by Tom in Wisconsin, in 1988. Dan Marathon bucktail, a historic moment for the ages. distance, they meet every summer for a trip to muskieland with is the newly elected president of the Colorado chapter of Muskies As Tom grew to become a young man, fishing became easier and incredible memories, including Eagle Lake in Ontario, Canada. Inc., and Tom continues his annual fishing trip with his son to Eagle the tackle technology changed with better rods, reels, and baits and, There are times when they couldn’t wait to have another trip Lake in Ontario, Canada. Although the fish are larger than caught www.redwinglodge.net ¥ www.redwinglodge.on.ca of course, depth finders. Fishing was a natural for Tom, who later together even after 45 years of family fishing. Family members would in previous years, there is no substitute for the family values of years professed he could “smell the fish in the water”. Every year Tom and sometimes join in on the fun, but it was the three generations that before. Family owned and operated for 40 years 16 MUSKIE.....July 2005 www.muskiesinc.org July 2005.....MUSKIE 17 Indianapolis, IN “Building for the Future” October 28-30, 2005 • Over 30 Research Presentations • Development of a North American Strategic Plan • Presentations by top Anglers such as Jim Saric and Steve Heiting

Registration fee includes all meals. Please send this form along with a check or money order to the following address: Name: Muskie, Inc. Symposium 13476 Britton Park Road Address: Fishers, IN 46038-3583 City, State, Zip: Fee for registrations postmarked before May 31, 2005, is $80.00 and before September 30, 2005, is $100.00. Phone: ( ) The fee for all other registrations is $120.00. E-Mail Address: For more registration information please contact Chairman Fred Boso by phone at (317) 841.8364 or e-mail [email protected]. Muskie, Inc. Chapter: And for hotel information please call (800) 736.5634 or visit www.martenhouse.com. • Please refer to Group # 703352 when making reservations. www.muskiesinc.org July 2005.....MUSKIE 21 Photo Contest – July Winners by Juris Ozols

ur first picture for July captures a key moment in the “Fisheries Oand Research” aspect of Muskies. It came from Jim Roerig, a frequent contributor of always excellent photos, who reports: “Every four years the MN DNR Fisheries section does a Muskie assessment on Lake Vermilion, one year on the east half and the next on the west half and then they skip two years and do it again. This was the first year in the two year cycle so netting took place on the east end. On May 8th 2005 several members of the Arrowhead Chapter and others were able to observe the assessment process. I wanted to try and get a large fish being extracted from the net and started shooting as soon as I saw this fish, which was 52 inches and weighed 38 lbs. I was using an Olympus Camedia C-3000 digital camera. I probably took around 30 shots and got maybe 10 really goods ones. The location? Well let's just say it was in Jim's bay.” So Jim won’t tell us where? Well, no matter, he got a very dramatic photo there. When we look at it our eyes are quickly drawn to the fish, and the immediate question, “Just how big is that thing?” After that thought, we begin to look at the boat, the DNR sticker, and the men handling the net. It’s interesting how intense they are at the cabin had never seen a Muskie and the wife and I always appear on their job – these men are doing serious work and doing it properly. as though we never have either, we are so excited to catch one.” The picture tells a story and makes you linger for a while, looking at “After I took the photos, we turned the boat so the onlookers everything that’s going on. The uncluttered background is not could take a picture too. After the fish swam away unharmed, I cast distracting at all, and the colors work together nicely, with the yellow the Buchertail on the bank beside them so they could see what we of the jackets providing a bit of contrast. A fine picture by Jim. were using.” And then our second picture, a “Lady with Muskie.” Dave “I especially like the people behind Carolyn also taking pictures Frank sent in this one of his wife Carolyn and her biggest Muskie in the picture. That to me really tells the story. That musky catch ever, a 42-incher. He reports:“Carolyn caught her Muskie the made a memory for us and for them. Thanks to the Illinois DNR and afternoon of May 13, 2005 on a Buchertail while fishing on Prairie Muskies, Inc for the thrill of catching it.” Lake at the Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area in The picture itself has a nice soft “feel” to it, and the green of the Illinois. She could barely stand up for the picture her knees were fish blends well with the color of the water, the trees, and Carolyn’s shaking so badly.” jacket. But it’s a great story, and I agree with Dave – the spectators “We have a new Pentax Optio WP digital camera that I used to on the bank really make the photo. There they are, very interested, take the picture. I had it in Program Mode and used the flash for 'fill and perhaps a bit jealous? I normally believe that photo backgrounds in'. On the left side of the picture you see some very interested are best when they don’t intrude, but here again, like last month, a bystanders, who were having a meal at their picnic table. The people rule is broken and the result is excellent. Tips and Comments Let me comment on this month’s cover photo. That one also breaks my rule about seeing the face and the eyes. In this case, the fact you can't see the face of the fisherman puts a very strong focus on the fish the central element. It forces you to concentrate your attention on the fish, which is clearly a monster. If you saw the man's face, big smile, all that, it would detract from the fish. The man and fish would share the picture. Here, the fish owns it. Second by the man kneeling down the size of the fish is also emphasized. On the picture, the fish and the man occupy the same height. Finally, the fact that the man is focusing out over the side clearly says that he's in the release process, and he doesn't care about the camera or pictures or anything, he wants to get the fish back in the water. A very strong, unique photo. It demonstrates the striking effects that can be achieved by doing something different.

Juris Ozols July 2005 www.muskiesinc.org July 2005.....MUSKIE 23 areas where I suspected these two species were sharing common turf an active fish that you have already raised go up by returning to the into my evening hunt. It didn’t take long… first time out on one of spot at peak times of the day or during a change in conditions. Muskie Mythology our usual smallie spots and I hooked-up with a 52-incher. Similar So, my partner Pat and I raised the 51-incher on this tiny weed spots met with the same results – big muskies. line sticking out from a rock point on the first day of our trip. Every by Bob Chokola So, you see, overcoming Muskie Mythology is all about breaking day we’d show up and every day, well almost every day, she’d be there. e Muskie Hunters are a strange group. We will rush out to buy the best gear, with convention and paying attention while others are overlooking the It was like clockwork. He’d raise her out on the deep edge and two we will grab the newest lures on the market in a rainbow of peculiar colors obvious. Myths can also come in the form of a widely used and casts later I’d find her tucked behind the rocks in shallow water. Then that are “sure fire” fish attracting (or blinding) combinations, we will plan a embraced technique. Call it what you want: run and gun, search and he would raise her in from the weed bed and I would lure her from out W destroy, pattern development… this tactic is used to cover a large area in deep water on the next pass. It went on like this for two weeks, but strategy months before a trip and convince ourselves that this time we are going to catch a new record. Once on the water, however, old habits and routines take over and the of water in a short period of time, while making a minimum number we just couldn’t get her to go. inevitable muskie rut is where we can be found. All the lures in the tackle shop can’t get of casts. To be honest, I think it wastes a whole lot of gas. With two days left on the trip we had a very warm bright day. Pat you out of it either. I know you know exactly what I’m talkin’ about… All I can do is While I understand the principle, I have had little need to put it decided to stick close to camp and chill. I grabbed one of the deer break my old habits and maybe help you out of a rut in the process. into practice and the reason why is that I come prepared. Hours, days, hunters from the next cabin over (Otto) and took him on his first First I’ll make a stop on the majestic Canadian Shield. This beautiful and magical weeks, and even months leading up to a trip are often spent setting a muskie hunt ever. I set out for the fish that had been haunting us for place has arguably the best fresh water fishing in the world. It is here many muskie strategy. We chart moon phases and peak fishing times, track weather, nearly two weeks figuring the beginner’s luck factor was with me this myths are born. Myths that rule in a place where there really are no rules – not for and research the task ahead of time. We mark maps. We call other time. creatures that think every living thing that swims, treads water, or flounders about on anglers as they return from trips and gather information. We take Otto’s first cast fowled and his second went ten feet – expected for the surface is food. Muskies have no natural enemy here - once they reach maturity they notes. Let’s face it, we know the lake very well and the first time with a bait caster. His third cast went are indeed the bullies of the deep. To them, the Canadian Shield is nothing more than have fished it at all times of the year – we can usually Two more trips to that about thirty feet. As he brought the bucktail back to an all you can eat buffet and they don’t have to pay the check or leave a tip. spot a pattern or pattern change quickly. the boat I looked over and here she comes, this time For years my group of muskie hunting buds would break up long hot summer days It’s much more productive to arrive with a plan, spot later that day the monster is rolled to one side six-inches behind the on Dryberry fishing for small mouth bass in between hours of casting. There are many than to waste time sightseeing while you try to put produced nothing. We lure, her gills are flared, and her mouth is wide open. great places to round up smallies on the lake, cast-after-cast for as long as you can stand one together on the fly. Experience is key. Last fall on The muskie was charging, but Otto made the rookie hauling in five-pounders. It’s that good in some of these areas and you can easily forget Dryberry I had to be very careful. My partner had just didn’t even see her. mistake of pulling the bait out of the water. I watched what species you came for by the time you boat bass number forty. I began to wonder missed an entire year of fishing because of back Was this the “big one the fish cruise under the boat out into deep water. why we never fished for muskies in these areas? I wondered why I never saw anyone else surgery. Run and gun was out of the question with that got away” we’d be Two more trips to that spot later that day fish for muskies in these areas either? Then I was enlightened by an experienced angler any real chop on the water and I didn’t want to stray produced nothing. We didn’t even see her. Was this who told me, “Muskies don’t eat smallies, they cohabitate.” No Way! too far and have to fight a 40mph wind 14 miles back talking about all the “big one that got away” we’d be talking about all I bought into the theory until my partner saw a rather large toothy critter “cohabitate” to camp. I hit a concentrated area pretty close to winter? winter? with a five-pound smallie in a weedy bay one evening. Then I began to incorporate the home where we could effectively execute our game We still didn’t give up, not with one day left. Our plan. Fortunately everything clicked right away and last day brought clouds, rain, cooler temperatures, and we wound up covering only about 20% of Dryberry’s acreage over a wind – a perfect weather change. This time with a much more two-week period (and saved probably 80% of our fuel cost too). In experienced angler on my bow, a third cast was met with a crushing years past we would often cover her end-to-end in just one day. strike. I saw Pat doubled-over the bow locked-up with a monster Don’t make it harder than it has to be. Draw on your experience thrashing and throwing white water all over the place. Sweet success! and the experiences of others and leave home with a plan. You can And yet another Muskie Myth bites the dust. Outfitting you for seasons of success. narrow things down quite a bit ahead of time and save money on gas Don’t get hooked on Musky Mythology. Where muskies are in the process. concerned, all bets are off. As you can see, even the words of Muskie Mythology is everywhere. It’s on the lake where we fish experienced anglers, tried and true tactics used by pros, and things we and it’s in the tactics we use. Don’t let it steer you away from success. all so often take for granted, can lead us down a narrow path when we I often chuckle at anglers who think you can spook or overwork a should be open to the many possibilities this kind of extreme fishing At Cabela’s, outfıtting you is muskie. Not a chance! Muskies are fearless. I have had one follow my often brings. Muskies are pretty good at doing exactly the opposite of our priority. gas motor prop through a bay. I have had several run into the side of what we think they’re going to do. Just when we thought we had ‘em That’s why we offer an incredibly my boat and had one hooked that nearly jumped into my boat. Once figured out – right? That’s when they’ll surprise us again. Hey, it’s what comprehensive selection of hunting, during a serene sunset hunt I fell off my casting deck into the bottom keeps me coming back for more. fishing, camping and outdoor gear. of the boat with a crash so loud I was sure they could hear it back at Be prepared, be persistent, have an open mind, and keep it All backed by our 100% Satisfaction camp. On the very next cast my Dad hooked a 46-incher. simple. Guarantee. Call today for a free Muskies are at the top of the food chain and as I mentioned Speaking of simple… catalog, shop online or visit one of earlier, they have no natural enemies. This species can be quite bold. How many lures do you take on a fishing trip? Should I ask how our retail stores. Last fall my partner and I worked a fish on the same small clump of many boxes? I live in Texas and every trip begins and ends with a two- weeds for nearly two weeks. We raised her every day – sometimes hour airplane ride. Needless to say, I have to scale down a bit. These several times on the same visit. Finally, after relentless bombardment days I divide my collection into two groups: baits that have produced of this tiny weed edge, my partner bagged the 51-incher. and everything else. It’s always tempting to “grab one more just in 2005 Cabela’s, Inc. © How many times have you left an area where you have raised a case,” but in my case each “one more” adds weight. fish, because you think that once the fish has seen the boat it is Next time: Confidence Baits – If I could only bring three, which spooked? Or you’ve had a fish up on a figure eight and you leave to not three would they be? overwork her? I used to think this way too, but have since changed my tune. Once I find an active muskie, I like to persist. I will make several Bob Chochola has been a muskie hunter for almost twenty years. He is a passes through the area and maybe change baits a few times. It doesn’t member of The Chicagoland Muskie Hunters and lives in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area where folks are just now only learning of the Mighty Musky - APK-507 FREE CATALOG SHOPONLINE RETAIL STORES end there. I like to hit a spot where I’ve seen active fish several times 800.588.7509 www.cabelas.com 800.581.4420 during the course of a day. Just because there are no fish at 3pm, does thanks to Bob. Bob is a freelance Film & Video Editor/Producer & Writer. not mean there are no fish at 6pm or 9pm. If it holds fish, sooner or He is also a musician and plays in That Big Ol’ Band from Texas, Big later the beast will show up again. The odds of making contact with Cookie & the Crumbs. WWW.COOKIECRUMBS.TV You can reach him at [email protected] 24 MUSKIE.....July 2005 www.muskiesinc.org July 2005.....MUSKIE 25 Wayne and the Pomme dock yet, introduce the new member to others on de Terre Chapter have and look at them as learning experiences. Getting New Members Involved the dock so they can talk and feel more been leaders in chapter • Before dinner that night the coordinator and the comfortable. Nothing worse than a bunch of building. This article has guides should be sure all the new members are made people standing around, not talking to each other some very specific to feel welcome and engage them in conversation. What the Pomme de Terre Chapter Does because they have not been introduced. Having procedures to follow for Ask them what they learned, what they did, and an open tackle box setting there may be the what questions they have about the lures, technique by Wayne Humphrey successful events to fastest way to start a conversation. or the lake. create an atmosphere he Pomme de Terre chapter recruits new members primarily don’t expect that all new members will have the right equipment and • The coordinator needs to evaluate the new • Introduce the new members to everyone during working sports shows, seminars and tables at Bass Pro Shops we tell them that our members will be happy to share theirs. members and the guides that are paired off and conducive to encourage the after dinner activities. If any of them had various fishing events. We share some of these booths with It is really that simple. Get the new person on the lake, teach do a quick assessment and maybe make some potential muskie follows, had fish on, or caught a fish, make a big T changes. An outgoing person may not be the other chapters, local chamber of commerce and work some of them them about the sport, pray that you get at least a follow, and feed fishermen/women to join deal out of it. Trust me; it is a big deal to them. by ourselves. them dinner at night. best pairing for the quiet guide. A really big their chapter. My • Invite the new members to participate in other person may be better paired up in a bigger boat. Since Missouri is not the hotbed of muskie fishing in the country chapter has done a events and give them a list of the events, brief An older couple with an older guide. and there is not a long tradition of muskie fishing, we run into a lot number of these description and contact person. A “draw for of people that don’t know what a muskie is and become intrigued Get the new person on the lake, teach them • Do a little welcome speech 15 minutes or so partner” event is always a good one for new suggestions and it truly when we talk about the sport, and show them how small that “large” about the sport, pray that you get at least a before everyone pushes off. Let them know what members since half of the people participating do lure looks when it is put sideways into the mouth of a replica. When the guides will be explaining to them during the works. Besides it is fun! not have to own a boat. The more people you fish we get them excited we hit them up with the membership pitch and follow, and feed them dinner at night. day and they should look at this as a learning with, the more you will learn about the sport.If a what we will do to help them get started in muskie fishing. event. Also let them know what time the event will be over, remind person can’t make the event on the weekend it is scheduled, be Our major event to get them started is Muskie Mayhem. Held So what do you need to do to be sure that the event is a success? them of the dinner arrangements and ask if anyone needs maps and flexible and don’t shut them out. See if someone wouldn’t be the first weekend in May, we invite all of our new members to Here are just a few things we have learned: information. I can bet that at least one will have left their willing to take them fishing another weekend. participate in an outing during the day and have dinner with us that information at home. • Get a written invitation out to all the new members with night. There is no cost for the outing and the dinner is only $10. We information about the event. • I encourage all the participants to check in at a central location on Retaining new members is important and getting them involved cook some steaks and by the time everyone brings other dishes to • Make sure they know they need to confirm that they will be there. the lake between noon and 12:30. If everyone shares what is in the events is one way to make that happen. Muskie Mayhem is an pitch in, we have quite a feast. Put a deadline on the confirmation date. working and not working, where it is working and any other event that gets them started in the sport and has very low cost to the The secret behind the outing is to “take them fishing”. We pair • Ask them to confirm whether they will need to borrow equipment pertinent information, the afternoon can be much more productive chapter and a great excuse for everyone to get on the water. Try it in each of the new members up with one of our existing members with or if they have their own. Even if they say they have their own, for everyone. Don’t forget that the goal of this event is to let the your chapter and I’ll bet you will find it is a great tool to recruit new fishing experience and explain that during the course of the day they don’t be surprised at what people show up with and always be new member experience muskie fishing and a follow or fish on is members and a fun event for all. will learn a lot about the lake we are fishing on, lures that are used, prepared to loan equipment. the best way to get this person enthused. Another benefit is that Wayne Humphrey equipment needed, how to work the lures, figure 8’s, and all that most people will be very impressed at the amount of information [email protected] other stuff you need to know to get a running start at the sport. We • Be aware some of them will ask to bring a companion or they want shared and that will encourage them to participate in other events 314-878-7732 to fish with their buddy who also signed up. If a father wants to bring a son or the son signed up and needs Dad along to drive, that is great. Make sure you get them paired up in a boat big enough to comfortably handle three people. If a new member wants to n Lake L bring a spouse, it might need to be on a space available condition. a od If two buddies want to fish together, it can be a good thing if there w g is a large enough boat available, however, we generally encourage o e them to split up and go in two boats. It is always safer fishing two R in a boat and they will learn different things from different people and can compare notes at the end of the day. Any time someone wants to bring a guest, we do ask that the guest pay for their meal. • Send them written confirmation of the event. Always include the date and time that the event will start, where it will start, when it will be over, and when and where dinner is that night. Include Rowan Lake is known for maps that show them where the starting point is and where dinner will be. They may have never been in the area before and will World Class Muskie appreciate all the help they can get. Speaking of that, give them a Box 363, Emo, Ontario P0W1E0 list of motels, lodges, and campgrounds where they may want to stay along with directions and phone numbers. • Make sure all the volunteers taking the new members fishing know 807-226-1209 what time the event will start and from where. Line up one spare Can’t reach us? Try boat in case someone has a mechanical problem. This is not a situation where you want to leave anyone standing at the dock. Open Early 807-487-2400 Open Late For Muskie • Make sure the event coordinator gets there plenty early. These new For Lake Trout members will be excited and be there 30-45 minutes before the starting time looking for the contact person. The contact person www.rowanlakelodge.com should take advantage of this time to introduce the guide to the new member and let them get the stuff in the boat. Nothing says they can’t leave early if both parties agree. If the guide is not at the

26 MUSKIE.....July 2005 www.muskiesinc.org July 2005.....MUSKIE 27 Showcasing our M.I. Supporters: Musky Hunter Magazine by Patricia Strutz

ntering its 16th year of small publisher, we owe our existence to publication, Musky Hunter the miracle of desktop publishing. We magazine is considered by farm out all our printing and mail E In cooperation with the Capable Partners organization, In 2002 the Twin Cities chapter began hosting kids The Twin Cities Chapter has been putting promotions,” explains Heiting. many to be “the bible” of our sport. the Twin Cities chapter puts on an annual Muskie fishing from the Big Brothers / Big Sisters organization on on the “Vets Home Fishing Opener” for Founded in 1989 by Joe Bucher, The magazine continues to draw on day for physically challenged but highly spirited anglers. an annual May fishing day on a local lake. some 16 years now. Many of the Vets say Dan Laubenstein,and Bill Tess, this its long history of impressive authors it is the highlight of their year. periodical dedicated to educating and artists. Joe Bucher has stayed active and entertaining musky fishermen as editor emeritus. Other noted authors continues to be a mainstay in the industry. include John Dettloff, Mark Maghran, Muskies, Inc. Managing editor Steve Heiting comments, “Our magazine fits a Gordon MacQuarrie, Rick Krueger, Pete Chapter #1: very small niche in the sport fishing market. I believe there’s maybe Maina, Tony Grant, Steve Herbeck, Bob Mehsikomer, Roger Sabota, 70,000 hard-core musky fishermen. Thousands of other folks may and Muskies Magazine’s very own Jim Smith. Talented artists whose Chapters “Up Close” Twin Cities Chapter dabble in the sport once or twice a year. The neat thing is that even work has graced the covers over the years include Rodd Umlauf, Tim by Mike Kanaval thought it’s such a small market, musky fishermen are incredibly McDonald, Curtis Atwater, and Virg Beck. Interesting monthly departments include “Pros Pointers,” enthusiastic. Our readers are passionate about this sport and their Twin Cities Chapter sits on top for the best reason, they love Muskies! Frank Schnider, among the elite of the Minnesota hall of fame and “Musky Gear,” and “Lure Doctor.” Lure Doctor features many responses to our magazine verify this.” one of the Club’s founding members and Paul Hartman, Hartman unusual and innovative modifications made to standard musky ware. This Chapter represents the enjoyment we all have just going Headquartered in an unassuming building in the Northwoods of Tournament Trail, guide and regular contributor to the three big Joe Bucher’s Moon Secrets are integral to the magazine and many fishing. They like to fish and understand it is an experience they want Wisconsin, Musky Hunter boasts a subscribership in every state as guys – Musky Hunter, ESOX Angler & Muskie Magazine. anglers plan their fishing vacations around this information. to share and celebrate with everyone. This huge family of 700+ well as the United Kingdom, Germany, and Canada. “Most people Three huge releases to mention for 2004. Cindy Hegdahl’s 55” on When Jim Saric replaced Bucher as editor in 1993, his mission members is made up of the kind of folks you want to meet your Mom walk in here and expect to see a big printing plant, but like any other Lake Bemidji, MN in October 2004 was the largest release of the year. and Dad, they want you to feel the excitement they have fishing for was to develop the magazine from a strictly Midwest publication to In November, Paul Hartman caught a 54” on Mille Lacs, MN (one of Muskie. Located in Heaven Minnesota, and meetings being held at one with national scope. Incorporating authors and articles from an a 3 50” day in his boat 50.5”, 53.5”, 54”). President Shawn Kellett also the Knights of Columbus Hall 1114 W. 79th Street Bloomington expanding musky fishing region has produced these results. Saric had a release of 51” on Minnetonka for the largest release in June. MN, 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7:00pm. They have everything that remarks, “We hope to continue to delve with great detail into all Twin Cities members’ only contest produced outstanding results. warrants the desire to pursue their dreams of giant fish ripping their bodies of water that contain muskies. By asking the experts to share Club member Jim Doyle led the mens division with 30 fish, 403 drag and heading for deep water. their knowledge with our readers, we can certainly accomplish this points, Shawn Kellett with 23 fish & 358 points and Bob Culberson, The standard line of questioning cannot apply here; just asking goal.” 26 fish 296 points. Terrie DuBe taking the top ladies honors with 9 one simple question can lead you into a host of events they provide. The Musky Hunter store, located on Hwy. 70 near St. Germain, fish, 94 points, Linda Knutson 3 fish, 46 points and Dianne Dahl with They are inspired and motivated by Chapter President Shawn Kellett Wisconsin, is open from May through October. It offers just about 3 fish, 39 points. Last but not least Evan Nicolai topping off the Juniors and the many traditions that make this Chapter so outstanding. The anything possibly related to muskydom…prints, clothing, hats, with 5 fish, 78 points, Samantha Deobler with 4 fish, 38 points and Vets Home Opener kicked off the year with Chapter #1 setting up a jackets, videos, DVDs and books. Musky Hunter itself publishes one tied with Samantha was J.T. Doebler. Impressive group of Members. trout pond at a local Vets Home complete with tournaments for the new book about every other year and a new collectible lure is offered Twin Cities Chapter, certainly a club to be inspired by, and I for guys. Did you say Trout? They even brought in the deep fryers to each year. “Most guys buy two of these lures,” notes Heiting, “They one would like to express my thanks to Shawn Kellett or also known kick it up a notch! This is only a start. The event that mom would are so unique that the fish haven’t seen anything like them before. as “Treats” for his ability to produce a magnificent bait as a hobby be most proud of is “Capable Partners Day”. The Twin Cities Chapter They try to catch a big fish with one lure and they save the other to called simply “Muskie Treat”. The generosity in the way he steps up invites physically challenged individuals for a day of fishing on Lake collect.” to meet any challenge and his commitment to the Twin Cities Independence guided by Twin Cities Chapter members. Those folks Back copies of past issues are also available at the store. Perusing Chapter is what inspires all members of Muskies Inc. Treats your one certainly know how to give back to their community. The Chapter through these classic tomes makes for interesting reading. One can of a kind and thanks for everything! looks to further inspire the spirit of the lunge in the kids with Big learn about an old fishing technique, compare tactics used then and –––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Sisters/Big Brothers outing on tap for May. now, and enjoy the “vintage” photos of musky guides and musky gear. Do you have any famous members? I can’t fail to mention the enormous stocking effort in the Twin Noticing the changing trends in the sport (single hook sucker fishing Frank Schnider – MN fishing hall of fame and part of the initial Cities Chapter. The club has committed over $10,000 to the vs. quick set rigs, vertical vs. horizontal holds, etc.) is readily apparent membership of the club restocking of White Bear Lake with 1 year olds in the Fall of 2005. when flipping through these pages and contrasting them to the Paul Hartman- Hartman Tournament Trail, guide and This effort is what ensures the future of muskies in their local area and current issues’ contents. contributor to Musky Hunter Esox angler and Muskie Mag. the hope that muskie fishing will be apart of the area for years to Saric, a member of the Chicagoland Muskie Hunters since 1976, come. How many members do you have? remains optimistic about the future of our sport. “With an ever- On the tournament trail the Twin Cities Chapter will host the 700+/- increasing musky fishing base of conscientious and passionate anglers, 38th Annual Frank Schnider Muskie’s Inc. International Tournament the future looks bright for both our sport and our magazine. We hope What were the results of your annual Chapter fishing contest? on lakes in the Leech, Cass, and Bemidji area. This year the event st they both continue to grow. We are even considering publishing more Mens: 1 30 fish 403 points Jim Doyle will be held September 9-11th. At the awards ceremony, the Twin nd than six times a year.” Heiting adds, “One thing is for certain, our 2 23 fish 358 points Shawn Kellett Cities Chapter submits an annual check to the area DNR 3rd 26 fish 296 points Bob Culberson magazine and store have found a perfect home in this musky-mad management for their rearing efforts. Last year they wrote a check for area that we live in. Stop by and visit us while you are up hunting ❖ over $3,000 with the proceeds from this event. (Continued on page 31) muskies in the beautiful North Woods.” The Twin Cities Chapter certainly has its shares of celebrities. 28 MUSKIE.....July 2005 www.muskiesinc.org July 2005.....MUSKIE 29 Twin Cities Chapter (Continued from page 29) Womans: 1st 9 fish 94 points Terrie DuBe 2nd 3 fish 46 points Linda Knutson Muskie Slayer. 3rd 3 fish 39 points Dianne Dahl Junior: 1st 5 fish 78 points Evan Nicolai 2nd 4 fish 38 points Samantha Doebler 2nd Tie 4 fish 38 points J.T. Doebler Release of the month: June Shawn Kellett 51” Minnetonka July Greg Randolph 52” Eagle Lake Ontario August Kurt Hostager 53” White Bear Lake Minnesota September Dennis Heath 54” Mille Lacs October Cindy Hegdahl 55” Lake Bemidji MN (Largest Release of the year) November Paul Hartman 54” Mille Lacs MN (one of a 3 50” day in his boat 50.5”, 53.5”, 54”) Biggest fish from your chapter, a pic would be in Muskie magazine if you can provide one? I’ll see what I can find Most fish by a member in 2004? See above Community projects for 2005? Or past projects that should be mentioned. Vet’s home opener. We setup a trout pond at the local Vets Home and have a fishing tournament for the guys. Deep fryers and fun are the game here. Last year we were voted as the best volunteer organization by the Vets Home. Capable Partners Day. We take out people from capable partners for a day of fishing on Lake Independence. These are people who are blind, paraplegic, or handicap in some way. Kid’s projects for 2005? Big Brothers/Sisters fishing outing in May

d by the Shimano American Corporation and Shimano, Inc. Chapter outings for 2005? Tournaments? 38th Annual Frank Schnider Muskie’s Inc International Tournament September Stocking efforts on local waters We’ve committed $10,000 to stocking White Bear Lake (Northern Metro) for 2005. We have reserved year old fish for this effort. The fish are to be stocked in the fall of 2005. © 2005. Shimano American Corporation and Shimano, Inc. All rights reserved. These trademarks and registered trademarks are owne

The new Corvalus™ reel and Compre® rod make a perfect Muskie matchup. Versatile and powerful, this lightweight combo will stand up to the toughest fishing scenarios. For more information on this high-performance combo, visit www.shimano.com or stop by your local retailer for a test drive.

www.muskiesinc.org July 2005.....MUSKIE 31 CHAPTER NEWS & VIEWSNEWS& CHAPTER

25 48 46 2 “Calling all 15 33 40 24 12 38 13 Chapters... 37 Want to grow your membership over the next 21 26 ” 1 6 few months? Want to win neat stuff? If you’re 30 20 not participating in the Muskie or All-Canada 8 35 29 47 Shows find out how Muskies, Inc. might be able 10 32 14 39 to help you reach your goals. Contact Tim 11 17 3 49 23 31 7 22 Roberts, Chapter #29, at [email protected] 19 16 27 51 or Vince Weirick, Chapter #49, at 41 18 50 44 42 9 [email protected]. 45 52 5 28

Chapter News and Views Special Events CHAPTER NEWS & VIEWSNEWS& CHAPTER No. Chapter, Address Phone # 01...... Twin Cities, 414 Division St., Excelsior, MN 55331...... 952-380-1218 2005 02...... Fargo-Moorhead, Box 2021, Fargo ND, 58103...... 701-298-9032 July 20-23 03...... Chicagoland Muskie Hunters, 7600 Kilbourn Ave, Skokie, IL 60076 ...... 847-677-0017 Chapter Challunge - Minaki, Ontario 05...... Pomme De Terre, PO Box 5, Hermitage, MO 65668...... 417-745-2381 August 25-27 06...... First Wisconsin, PO Box 122, Chippewa Falls, WI 54729 ...... 715-726-8896 World Musky Hunt - Minocqua, WI. 07...... South Side Muskie Hawks, 8212 S Mulligan, Burbank, IL 60459 ...... 708-430-4444 Contact: John Farrow at (262) 549-1445. 08...... Capital City, PO Box 8862, Madison, WI 53708...... 608-274-3479 09...... West Virginia, 1270 Federal Road, Little Hocking, OH 45742 ...... 740-667-3571 September 9-11 10...... Heartland, 239 8th St SE, Mason City IA 50401...... 641-424-0827 38th Annual Twin Cities Chapter; Muskies, 11...... Mississippi Valley, 5301 11th Ave “C”, Moline, IL 61265 ...... 309-797-1803 Inc.; Frank Schneider, Jr., International 12...... Headwaters, PO Box 652, Eagle River, WI 54521...... 715-479-1821 Tournament. Walker, Minnesota. Tournament 13...... Hayward Lakes, PO Box 609, Hayward, WI 54843 ...... 715-634-4543 covers 21 lakes. Grand prize: Ranger/ 14...... South of the Border, 28926 W. Big Hollow Rd, McHenry, IL 60050...... 815-385-9026 Mercury boat/motor combination. 15...... Star of the North, 29957 La Plant Rd., Grand Rapids, MN 55744...... 218-326-4958 Contact: Stu McIntosh (651) 699-9817 or 16...... Three Rivers, 119 Bus Lane, Renfrew, PA15136...... 724-789-7866 Dianne Dahl ((612) 239-9511. 17...... Quad County, PO Box 185, Plano, IL 60545...... 815-695-1494 September 9, 10, 11 18...... Hopedale, 15 Township Rd 125, Dillonvale, OH 43917...... 740-769-7269 World Championship Musky Classic, Boulder 19...... Akron-Canton Muskie Maniacs, 1503 S Main St, Akron, OH 44301...... 330-724-7592 Junction, Manitowish Waters, Presque Isle, 20...... Between the Lakes, PO Box 61, Sheboygan, WI 53085-0061 ...... 920-564-3226 Winchester. 21...... North Metro, PO Box 41216, Plymouth, MN 55441 ...... 952-469-2155 Contact: Joan McDonald at (715) 686-2558. 22...... New Jersey, 5 Carmita Ave, Rutherford, NJ 07070...... 201-703-8469 September 18 23...... Cleveland, 5608 Brave Chief Lane, Ravenna, OH 44266 ...... 330-296-2398 Central Illinois Muskie Hunters fundraiser 24...... Brainerd Lakes, 25505 CRd. 5, Merrifield, MN 56465 ...... 218-765-4183 tournament at Lake Shelbyville. 25...... Red River Valley, 602 N. Central Ave, Crookston, MN 56716 ...... 218-281-5577 Contact: Randy Kakara at 815-672-5320. 26...... Central Wisconsin, PO Box 263, Medford, WI 54451 ...... 715-748-2630 CHAPTER NEWS & VIEWSNEWS& CHAPTER 27...... Central Illinois, 1191 Sandra Lane, Monticello, IL 61856 ...... 217-762-8070 October 28 28...... Shawnee Muskie Hunters, PO Box 602, DeKalb, IL 60115 ...... 815-756-3231 M.I. International Fall Board Meeting (Friday) 29...... Upper Great Plains, 1788 Hwy 4, Estherville, IA 51334...... 712-362-2501 Ð Marten House Hotel and Lilly Conference 30...... God’s Country, PO Box 1461, LaCrosse, WI 54601 ...... 608-786-4062 Center, Indianapolis, Indiana 31...... Penn-Ohio, 309 Spring St, Jamestown, PA 16134...... 724-932-5815 October 28, 29, 30 32...... Flatlanders, 5776 Vesper Drive, South Beloit, IL 61080 ...... 815-389-4622 Dr. E. J. Crossman Symposium Ð Marten 33...... Lake Superior, 2031 Hwy. 33 S., Cloquet, MN 55720...... 218-879-2712 House Hotel and Lilly Conference Center, 35...... Milwaukee, PO Box 28842, Greenfield, WI 53220...... 262-789-1255 Indianapolis, Indiana. 37...... St. Cloud, 312 18th Avenue N., Sartell, MN 56377 ...... 320-656-1160 Contact: Scott Law, Phone: (317) 776-3040. 38...... Vikingland, 609 S. Otter Ave., Parkers Prairie, MN 56361...... 218-338-5441 Email: [email protected]. 39...... Fox River Valley, 1253 Cobblers Crossing, Elgin, IL 60123...... 847-741-9771 Kenton Smith, Phone: (317) 570-5636 40...... Leech Lake, 7249 Baywood Drive, Walker, MN 56484...... 218-547-1221 41...... Central Ohio, 8494 Fall Gold Lane, Westerville, OH 43082 ...... 614-451-0485 Special events are provided at 42...... Hoosier Muskie Hunters, PO Box 501371, Indianapolis, IN 46250 ...... 317-577-8050 no charge to Muskies, Inc chapters. 44...... Colorado, P.O. Box 270064, Louisville, CO 80027 ...... 720-938-4109 To list your chapter's event, email to: 45...... Kentucky, 212 Linden Ave., Southgate, KY 41071...... 859-441-1666 [email protected] 46...... Bemidji/Cass Lake, 11551 Misty Meadows Rd, Bemidji, MN 56601...... 218-759-0098 47...... Michigan Muskie Alliance, PO Box 512, Caledonia, MI 49316 ...... 616-447-1688 or by ground mail: 48...... Arrowhead, PO Box 82, Virginia, MN 55792...... 218-482-5217 Jim Smith, 15045 W. Double Tree Way, 49...... Webster Lake Musky Club, PO Box 670, No. Webster, IN 46555 ...... 574-834-1669 Surprise, AZ 85374-8568. 50...... Penn-Jersey, 372 Kingwood Rd., King of Prussia, PA 19406 ...... 610-962-0632 Please send announcements 51...... Ohio Valley Muskie Hunters, 211 Mann St., Bowerstown, OH 44695...... 740-269-1216 at least 2 months in advance. 52...... Daniel Boone, 428 N. Wilson Ave., Morehead, KY 40351 ...... 606-784-3933 www.muskiesinc.org July 2005.....MUSKIE 33 CHAPTER NEWS & VIEWS CHAPTER NEWS & VIEWS CHAPTER NEWS & VIEWS 4MUSKIE 34 Scherer willbecooking forattendees,fishingwillbe Chain at Tom andClaudia’s (BarnacleBob’s). Karl Illinois thatwasdesignedspecifically forfishing. and catfish.ShabbonaLakeistheonly majorlakein Capital ofIllinois.”Italsoholdshuge crappie,bass, has producedmorethantwo.Itistruly the“Muskie produced fourstaterecordmuskies! Nootherlake have producedrecordfish.Shabbona Lakehas slide presentationdetailedthespots onthelakethat history anddevelopmentofShabbona Lake.His goodies. Dept. ofNaturalResourcesfortherest boxes andstickersforallthekidsalsoIllinois people atPlanoMoldingfordonatingpocketsized bigthankstothegood goodie bagforthekids. A wrangling upseverallittlethingstocomposea specialthankstoCaryGelfondfor smiling anglers. A prior tothederbyensuringgoodnumbersofyoung fish. The parkdistrictwasabletostockthepond among theboysandgirlswhowereunabletolanda There werealsotwobikesgivenawayrandomly boys andgirlscategoriesbasedonfishcaught. were awardedforthe1stand2ndplaceinboth were approximately130kidsinattendance.Bicycles members reallyenjoyedhelpingoutthekids. There Hunters hecontinuedonhisbusyschedule.Club After aquickphotowiththeChicagolandMuskie northwestern Wisconsintogomuskiefishingaswell. on howhisgrandfatheroftenvacationedin by ChicagoMayorRichardDaleywhocommented Chicago PoliceDepartment. The clubwasgreeted sponsored bytheOfficers ofthe17thDistrict hooked onfishingnotdrugs"derby busy spring.Clubmembersparticipatedinthe"Get Chapter. SeeyouattheChapterChallunge. there thisyear. starting soon,andIhopetoseealotofnewfaces toward it. about thisprojectbeforecommittinganyfunds this property. We decidedtogetmoreinformation has decidedtohelptheMinnesotaDNRpurchase spawning siteandtheVikingland Sportsman’s Club of landonLakeMiltona.ItisadocumentedBass Girls club. double ourdonationtotheDetroitLakesBoysand for ourefforts, butwedecidedtousethismoney ice fishingseason. They gave usacheckfor$50.00 Association regardingouron-icecleanupafterthe at thenextmeeting. International boatraffle was remindedtoturnthemin committee. this matterbehandledbytheChapterChallunge should dofollowed.Intheenditwasdecidedthat to abideby, andalengthydiscussionaboutwhatwe They didhavesomestipulationsthatwewouldneed use towardtherunningofChapterChallunge. Productions inChicago. They gaveus$1500.00to talking aboutacheckwereceivedfrom Tri-Esox Monday, May23rd. West Higgins Ave., ParkRidge,IL. Meets 1 The Julymeeting, Saturday7/9,willbeontheFox June’s speaker, DennySands,explainedthe The ChicagolandMuskieHuntershavehada Good lucktoallin2005fromtheFargo-Moorhead Our annualWednesday NightLeaguewillbe Brett receivedaletterregardingthesaleoftract We receivedaletterfromtheLakeDetroiters Anyone withtickets,stubs,and/orcashfromthe President BrettWaldera beganthemeetingby The Fargo-MoorheadChapterlastmeton Meets 4thMonday7:00PM,VFWinWest Fargo. 02 03 st Tuesday 7:30PM,ParkRidgeVFW10 701-298-9032 ÐBrettWade Waldera .....July 2005 847-677-0017 ÐDeanRosset Box 2021¥Fargo,ND58103 Fargo-Moorhead Muskie Hunters [email protected] 7600 Kilbourn Ave. [email protected] Chicagoland kke L60076 Skokie, IL Brad Waldera Wisconsin muskies busy. but willdutifullydo myparthereathometokeepthe making thevoyage toCanadainJuly. I’menvious until August duetomanyofourchapter members hours onabeautifulevening. attendees wentoutinpursuitof Esox forafew Denny Lytle raffled off luresandthenmost and furnisheduswithgreatfood. Yum. Afterwards, attended. DanandMargaretReim didthecooking Lake FarmsParkonWaubesa andwaswell what springweatherandwaterwillpresenttous. 38” &30.5.”Notbadconsideringweneverknow Anderson –42,”DennisLytle -39,”Duffy Knopf- Marsden -46,”JohnSpencer45”&40,”Dale were caughtandreleasedasfollows;Chris the GreenLanterninMcFarland.Sevenmuskies Lakes OutingthisyearhonchoedbyDonHollatzat should havebeenmailedbynow. information, givesomeoneacallbecausethey bass andcrappiefishingforthesummer. GonorthtoCanadaorswitchover 82 degrees. muskies whenthewatertemperaturegetsabout80- this andweencourageeveryonetostopfishingfor www.missourimuskies.org website fordetails. we hopeitwillbesuccessful. TheMDCisreallybehindthiseffort and the beds. relatively wellandwewillkeepenlargingthesizeof The vegetation plantedlastyearseemstobedoing in andbeingplacingthemthewater. with theMDCtobuildmorepensplacevegetation period. Guess thattellsyouhow screwed upthefishingcangetinpostspawn were alsocaught. Coupleofgar along withseveralinthehigh20’s. fish caught,therewastwointhelow30’s caught Whiletherewerenolarge experienced members. getting newmembersoutonthewaterwithmore will betakingover Tom’s duties. Thanks to Tom forallofhishardwork.JimValenta has beentheeditorsinceNov/Dec2001issue. retirement aseditorofourchapternewsletter. Tom [email protected] formoreinfo. Libertyville at7:00pm.EmailGregDenny at IndependenceGroveforestPreservein adequate. many willbeattendingsothatourfoodsuppliesare [email protected] andlethimknowhow raffle. IfyouareplanningonattendingemailKarlat also haveacastingcontesttoreplacethenormal Croix/Abu GarciaRod/ReelCombo. The clubwill muskie pointsinthemorning’s fishingwillwinaSt. will be$5.00perboat. The anglerwiththemost 12:00, withlunchfollowingat12:00. The Launchfee from 6am-11am, themeetingwillbefrom11:00- Meets: 2 McFarlan, WI I guesstherewillbeno“OntheWater” meeting Our “OntheWater” meetingforJunewasheldat Over 40anglersparticipatedinourMadison If youhavenotyetreceivedyourfalltournament Summer isgoingtobeherebythetimeyouread Checkour Kid’s DayiscomingupinJuly. Muskie Mayhemwasonceagainabigsuccessin In otherclubnews, Tom Johnsonannouncedhis The August meeting, Tuesday 8/2,willbelakeside In themonthofJunewearegoingtobeworking 05 08 Meets: Various days-Callforschedule nd Monday 7:00PMParkPonderosa 608-274-3479 ÐGerardHellenbrand P.O. Box8862, Madison,WI53708 www 417-745-2381 ÐCarlMarks Wayne Humphrey Pomme de Terre www Hermitage, MO65668 .capitalcitymuskiesinc.org Capital City .missourimuskies.org P.O. Box5 314-878-7732 Greg Denny Secretary cause. you donatedtothe lakebut,theywentforagood thanks toDennyJohnson. SorryDennyforthebaits memorial SpringOpener island atlunchonSaturday. deterred, Jimwasrightthereforthefellowshipon required surgeryandhadhimoncrutches.Nottobe rooms. All thisinaddition toapainfulkneewhich motel andintwodifferent hospitalemergency on thewaterandkidneystonesafterwardin for ourPresidentJimMoore.Heenduredhailstones as tournamentchairpersons. Thanks toKennyandSheliaMcCordfortheirwork caught a51"onthedaybeforeteamtournament. member fromIndianaatrueWVtrophywhenhe Jerry MillershowedhisfriendChuckSkopelja,aMI were a42"byKevinKelleyand41"EricMoore. register morethanonemuskie.Otherfishcaught Jackson LaketowintheOdieCutlipMemorial and 41")intheLittleSkinCreekarmofStonewall http://westvirginia.muskiesinc.org this meetingcanbefoundonourwebsiteat dialogue andfeedbackhelpful.Moredetailabout muskie issues.Likewise,theyseemtofindthis face inthissmallgroupformatwithDNRtodiscuss Backwaters, NorthBendandWoodrum Lakes. stocking: following numbersofmuskieswererequestedfor rearing programand2005stockingplan. The Buckhannon RiverResearchProjects,muskie updated ontheMiddleIslandCreekand Among otherthings,weprovidedinputandwere WV DNRmuskieprogrampersonnelin April. sunburn. Ohwell,itwasfun. have somethingtoshowformyefforts otherthana pet. The resultswouldbethesameandatleastI’d college buddy. Imightjustaswellgetaskunkfor year tofishinOneidaCountywithmyoldUWSP Center inRockIsland,IL. Expo Meets 2ndWednesday 7:00pmattheQCCA Bucket Contest. The bucketwasbroughthome Thanks toallwhoparticipatedinthe JohnHotle The teamtournamentweekendwasarockyone Team Tournament. Ourswastheonlyboatto Bill BoggessandIstumbledontotwobites(38" 500 480 We appreciatetheopportunitytositdownface 600 600 Advanced Fingerlingsaretobestockedin Tygart 614 Total 10,740 Woodrum Lake North BendLake 2,010 2,600 1,936 Mill Creek 1,400 300 Upper MudLake 600 Mud River Kanawha R.Marmet 1,280 Kanawha R.London 620 East Lynn Lake Burnsville Lake 1,100 5,300 Meadow River Gauley River 400 400 West ForkRiver 2,400 Tygart Backwater Stonewall Jackson Stonecoal Lake Buckhannon River Monongahela River Dunkard Creek groupofWVChapterMembersmetwithkey A I justgotbackfrommyfirst“UpNorth”tripforthis 09 11 Meets: Nodefiniteschedule-call oie L61265¥309-797-1803 Moline, IL http://westvirginiamuskiesinc.org Mississippi Valley Email: Gary Little Hocking,OH45742 West Virginia 1270 FederalRoad John Kaltenecker 5301 11th Ave “C” 740-667-3571 “ [email protected] skunked again , Secretary ” Greene back tothecommunity. Anniversary.. All proceeds gobacktotheCluband Classic Fishing Tournament anditsthe25thyear and hiswifePattyCo-Chairthe SpringMusky Gary Myshakco-ordinatesthisventure. Jeff Miller projects withrepairandreplacingof boat landingsas support saysJimChamberlin. The clubhasmany Hansen handledtheceremony President BillJacobsandVice PresidentPaul was thehometomanyamusky fishermen. efforts .TheChainofLakesstorethattheyoperated this emotionalsignofloveandrespectfortheir There sonsFrankandBobwereonhandtowitness Lake andpartoftheEagleRiverChainlakes. place attheMudCreekLandingoff Watersmeet future aPlaquehonoringthesetwopeoplewas their loveanddedicationtomuskyfishingits Burnett pastmembersofourChapter. Becauseof Inc. inMemorialrecognitionhonoredBudandDee a.m.) Cities; Moline,IL.(309)764-1691(Callafter11:30 Custom DesignsInMonogramming: Ave. ofthe through RobDickinson,(309)793-1868ordirectlyto for anadditional$3.50.Orderscanbeplaced addition youcanaddyournametojacketsandshirts have logosaddedforembroiderycostonly. In may alsobringinashirtorjacketofyourchoiceto shirts withsmallcrestlogoonfrontare$25.00. You $50.00 withlargelogoonback.LongsleeveDenim logo ontheback.LongsleeveDenimshirtsare chapter. Jacketsare$70.00withlargeembroidered (mailto:[email protected]) 1803 orE-mailRobDickinson:[email protected]_ raisers, pleasecontactSonnyStevens:(309)797- to DeeMegli:18110 MolineRd;Lyndon, IL. October FallCookOut.(Datetobeannounced) This The firstweekendofOctoberistheFallOutingin September 10-KidsFishingDayatLakeCarlton. UPCOMING EVENTSFOR2005: October fortheHaywardChaptertournament. us. Thanks toJoeforallthegreatfood. Resort fortheirgreathospitalityandputtingupwith the lake. bathroom breaksandnapsanhourafterbeingon somebody (Sonny)cominginforcoffee breaks, waking themupat4:30a.m.and,thenacertain are complainingaboutacertainsomeone(Sonny) the LuckyRangerboat.Someofparticipants cutting infrontofotherfishermen,especiallyifitis released. Bucket Contest. All Muskiescaughtwere100% group butnotallofthemwerelegalsizeforthe 35 inchMuskie.Way togoBrandon! very fewpointsofbringingtheBuckethomewithhis harder thanourseasonedmembersand,waswithin hot spotsonthelaketocatchwinningMuskie. ride inhisnewRangerboatand,takinghimtothe www.muskiesinc.org Our membershipstandsat408a signofsolid On May24th,HeadwatersChapter12ofMusky Now availableareNewstyleJacketsandshirtsfor If anyonehassuggestionsforoutingsandfund All catchandreleaseformsshouldbesubmitted fishing. together andtalkaboutexperiencesinMuskie is agatheringofallmembersandfriendstojoin stay atVirgin Timber ResortonMooseLake. Chapter Muskietournament.Mostofourmember Hayward, WItohelpsupporttheHayward please contactSonnyStevensat(309)797-1803. Anyone interestedinhelpingwiththisevent Hope everyonemakesitbacktoVirgin Timbers in Special thankstoStacyandJoeatVirgin Timbers Sonny, rememberaboutboatingcourtesybefore Approximately 20Muskiewerecaughtbyour Our juniormemberBrandonfishedashardifnot Thanks toluckyJackforlettingthebucketwinner 12 Meets 1 www 715-479-1821 ÐPaulHansen st Wednesday 7:00PM Eagle River, WI54521 .headwatersmuskies.com Headwaters P.O. Box652 Rob Dickinson the Fall. look forwardinhavinganotherseminarpossibly and answersession.We hadagreatturnoutand hear aboutmuskiefishingthatendedwithaquestion were 24peopleinattendancethateagerto our localGanderMountainonMarch19th. There and LureVendors foragreatevening! Richard foragreatpresentationaswellSponsors was ourguestspeaker. We wouldliketo Thank Louisville F.O.E. with92present. RichardMinich months. OnMarch5th,wehadourBanquetatthe Muskie Maniacshavebeendoingtheselastfew fishing through outtheseason.Goodluckandhavefun to registeryourcatchwithBarbNeddooronline member onlyeventtowinthefishprizes.Remember Our Newsletterhasalltheinformationasitsa register fish3niceprizesareawardedinadrawing. and youbuyyourownbeverage.Forthosewho witness yourcatch. The clubprovidesasandwich anywhere from7amto5pmandhaveyourpartner that dayastherulesstateyoucanfish October. HoneyBearInnwillhosttheeventat6pm also aseventsarescheduledeachmonthinto Wisconsin. OurfirstCluboutingwillbeheldthatday season firstopenedMay28th.hereinNorthern according toourStatisticianBarbNeddoas The MuskieManiacshostedaSeminarat I needtogeteveryonecaughtuponwhatthe Only afewmuskieshavebeenregistered Parkway St.Canton,OH. Meets 3rdMonday7:00PM, Tim’s Tavern, 3323 19 Secretary http://[email protected] Akron-Canton Akron, OH44301 330-724-7592 1503 S.Main Jim "HiPines"Rechlitz Happy 4thofJuly good weather. have somestormstocontendwithsowehopefor towards theendofweeklookslikewemight to catchsomefishforourclients. The weather Lake. The Lakehasbeenslowbutwearehoping Event. This willbeheldonJune4thatLeesville not producingthenumberslikepreviousyears. hot andalotoffisharecaughtbutallthelakes as afewfishunder30inches.UsuallythisLakeis were over30inchesduringthetournamentaswell and 22nd. There wereonlytwofishcaughtthat nice fish. Everyone hadagreattimeaswellcaughtsome back atthecampgroundforeveningsupper. plenty ofgreatfoodwithleftoverforameal about 45peoplethatattendedtheeventandtheyate biggest fishagaintowintheChallenge. There were hosting itagainnextyearbecausetheycaughtthe hosted thiseventyearandlooksliketheywillbe Challenge aSaltForkLake.ClevelandChapter take astabatthebadweekendweather. camp atLakePymatuningbutnobodywantedto due tofreezingrainandsnow. We werehopingto first tournamentoftheseasonon April 23rdand24th with them. muskie catchesaswellafreeluretotakehome them totaketheirfavoritelakeimprovein them, wegavethemalotofgoodknowledgefor this yearweonlyhadafewthatcame.Luckyfor Last yearwehadagreatturnoutforthiseventbut guest toseehowtheluresworkinclearwater. Perry HighSchoolNatatorium. they hadalotoffunandraisedmoneyforourclub. night forsomereasonbuttheonesthatwerethere evening. We didn’thaveagoodcrowdonhandthat Dean Herrickwasagainourhostauctioneerforthe Our upcomingeventwillbeourGuideforaDay Our West Branch Tournament washeldMay21st On April 30thandMay1st,wehadourChapter For thefirsttimeinawhile,wehadtocancelour We demonstrateddifferent luresinthepoolforour On April 19thwehadalurepresentationatthe Our Annual Lure Auction washeldonMarch21st. July 2005.....

MUSKIE 35

Kevin Proffitt

CHAPTER NEWS & VIEWS VIEWS & NEWS CHAPTER CHAPTER NEWS & VIEWS VIEWS & NEWS CHAPTER CHAPTER NEWS & VIEWS & NEWS CHAPTER 1. Ron Bradway- a nice 44” fish ideas that Amy has in store for them. will tell you a good time is had by all. Entry forms can VIEWSNEWS& CHAPTER 2. Jarry Fisher- a Nice 43” fish Upper Great Plains Our speaker for the month of May is Curtis be found on the media table at our meetings or can Central Ohio Wagner from Champaign IL. He will be talking about be downloaded from our website. 8494 Fall Gold Lane New Jersey 3. Jeff Matzel – a nice 39.5” fish 1788 Hwy 4 project green gene and how it affects our home The Fox River Valley Chapter is looking for Westerville, OH 43082 5 Carmita Ave. Most Releases went to Tom Morris with a 35.5” 29 Estherville, IA 51334 41 waters of Pierce Lake. That’s all I have for you, someone with desktop publishing experience to 614-451-0485 Ð Ross Wagner 22 Rutherford, NJ 07070 and a 34” fish. Tim Martin won the 50/50 drawing 712-362-2501 201-703-8469 and Craig Camplin won the Lure Board Drawing. Catch a lunge, author the quarterly club newsletter. Contact club Meets 2nd Tuesday 7:00 PM, Buckeye Hall of Meets 3rd Thursday , Legion Club, 1709 Okoboji Our thanks go out to everyone who participated. Sin yours Big Man President Rich Gallagher at [email protected] if you Fame Café, 1421 Olentangy River Rd. Ave., Milford, IA. are interested. This position needs to be filled by On Weds. May 18, our club had a “new youth The May meeting was held on the 31st and was September 1 of 2005. I was given very good reports from the May lake venture” as we were part of the Lake Milton Outdoor We held our May meeting at chapter president Fox River Valley Our regular club meeting dates are the second mapping program given by Stacy Xenakis from the attended by 20 people. Kevin Johnson did a School Days Program. Approximately 700 kids from Dale Witts home on May 19th. Board members are presentation on lure retrievers and provided a 1253 Cobblers Crossing, Elgin, IL 601230 Wednesday of the month. The Poplar Creek Country Inland Fisheries Research group. I had to work that the Jackson-Milton, Lordstown, Niles, Poland and trying to find a location for the monthly meetings 847-741-9771 Ð Rich Gallagher Club provides us with great accommodations. A Buffet night and was very disappointed I had to miss it. From handout pertaining to fishing knots. We recapped Youngstown School Districts participated. Many of since the closure of the American Legion in Milford. 39 www.frvmuskie.com that we raised net proceeds of around $4400.00 with style dinner is provided before the 7:30 p.m. meeting the sounds of it, Stacy had a good time, also. June’s these youth had never fished before. The largest fish Once a permanent meeting location is determined I nd our Guide For A Day fundraiser and it enables us to Meets: 2 Wed (Exc June/July) Poplar Creek Country and a cash bar is open through out the evening. program should be a lot of fun with our annual tackle caught was a carp that went around 5lbs. This will pass that information on. Until it is decided Club, 1400 Poplar Creek Drive, Hoffman Estates, IL. All are welcome. You need not be a member to swap, and that puts us into July and August meetings maintain our financial committment to the NJDFW. please call a board member for meeting locations if It was productive in terms of fishing too with fish up created a great deal of excitement among the kids. A attend, so please stop by and see us. All information at Alum Creek Lake where we do brief fishing seminars special thank-you goes to our Youth Director Chris your are interested in attending. Future board Here we are in the middle of summer already. On and updates can be found on our website before heading out for an evening of fishing. Don’t to 46" caught and released. Craig Lemon updated us meetings will be held July 28, August 18, and Depaula for organizing this event, as well as those the water before daybreak watching the sun come up www.frvmuskie.com. forget, Thursday evening, 5:30pm July 14th is our on the status of things at the hatchery indicating that September 1 & 22nd. members who assisted. We look forward to doing it over the horizon. Pounding the water until your arms As club members we encourage you to get in annual youth event at Whetstone Park (Park of Roses). our Muskie fingerlings are now up to a healthy 3 In partnership with the Iowa Great Lakes Fishing are sore, then watching the sun set and a little fishing contact with anyone sitting on the Board of Directors Russ Dodridge Tournament at Clear Fork - Results: inches. For those of you who ponder the merits of again next year. Club and the IDNR, the UGP chapter has helped after dark. I can only hope you are all having as much if you have questions, comments or suggestions 39 people signed up to fish big lures, Craig mentioned that one 40" fish Our next youth outing is on Saturday, June 4, at purchase a light that was put in this May at the boat fun as I am this year in pursuit of our toothy friend. concerning the club. We are constantly working to 1st - Richard Miller, 40.5" regurgitated an 18" Sucker! Club member Ben Lake Milton State Park. This is our annual Kids ramp on East Okoboji across the street from Kum n If you have time or can get a note from your bring you the best outings and events we can. Your 2nd - Ron Murdock, 35.5" Remer has been working to organize a summer Fishing Derby. Many prizes will be given out, as well Go. Thanks to board member Leo Kofoot for doctor please be sure and join us for the second of input is important to us. Help us to make your club 3rd - Thurman Adair, 34" "Muskie League" and all are encouraged to as good food. Everyone is welcome. working with both organizations on getting the light our “On The Water” meetings. Fish the Fox Chain of the very best it can be. The names and numbers of Big Fish - Richard Miller, 40.5" participate. See the MI22.com site or call us for Our next Tournament is on July 9-10, again at put in. Lakes in the afternoon, (or all day if you can swing the Board members can be found on the front Other fish caught: details. Mike Melfa has been hard at work Pymatuning. Sign in is once again at Duck and The 2005 Muskie League started May 25th on CHAPTER NEWS CHAPTER & NEWS VIEWS it!) Then join us at the Thirsty Turtle on Channel Lake section of the newsletter. We also have a section on Jeff Nemeth - 33.75" contacting sponsors for the June tournament and East Okoboji. I was fortunate to release a 38 _ in. Drake on Saturday July 9 from 7:00am-9:00am. Cost at 8:00 p.m. for some good food, a beverage or two the website where you can retrieve our e-mail Rick Aston - 32" says he has committments from Frank'sTackle, is $12.00. Once again, everyone is welcome. fish however, no legal fish were caught so the pot Meltzer's, Lamiglass and Davis. Please support and “fish talk” with friends. As always we will have address to contact us in that manner. If you are (3 fish were caught casting & 3 were caught trolling) has rolled over. Upcoming muskie league dates on Tight Lines, our prize raffle to top off the evening. It is a great way interested, any and all club members are welcome to 1st Place winner Richard Miller is a new member these businesses and don't forget they also offer Spirit Lake are July 6, August 3, and August 31 at Ron Sigman ([email protected]) to break up the work week. sit in on our Board of Directors meetings. They are and his 40.5" muskie was his first legal muskie. He VIEWSNEWS& CHAPTER MI22 members a discount. Club member and artist Templar Park ramp. League nights for West Okoboji Our regular monthly club meeting will resume at held the Monday evening after our General Club also won two muskie rod and reel combos. Note: extraordinaire Brian Kroll ( Taxidermist by trade) will are July 20 and August 17 at Triggs ramp. the Poplar Creek Country Club on Wednesday Meeting. The place is the home of President Rich The fishing may have been slow but Ross and Jack be donating lures and has in the past donated Remember sign up is 5:30-6:00 with fishing time August 10th. Our speaker will be Mr. Don Dubin. His Gallagher. You can contact Rich or any BOD saved the day with our catered meal from City BBQ replicas to the largest release of the year. Check out Shawnee from 6:15 Ð sunset. Entry for the pot is $7 per his site BKLURES.COM. At the meeting we also P.O. Box 602 presentation will include the start of Illinois stocking, member for time and directions. Stop by and see plus coffee and donuts each morning. person. New this year will be a pot for the longest planning a trip, where to find Muskies in a new lake, how the ideas and events for YOUR club come to emphasized the importance and ease of filing catch 28 DeKalb, IL 60115 release during the league night season. It is $10 to The short list of upcoming events: 815-756-3231 Ð Gary Dew equipment and techniques used to hunt Muskies. be. Until later, reports. It's as easy as going to muskiesinc.org, get in for the pot. This separate pot will be given out June 4th and 5th, Clearfork Outing (815) 529-1159 This is a great presentation for both novice and die Return ‘em to the water Healthy signing in, clicking "members", "lunge log", "fish following the last league night on August 31 and will June 25th & 26th Chapter Challenge, Lake St. Clair submission". This provides useful data to both MI hard Muskie anglers. and Remember Our Troops, JT July 9th & 10th, OHMC Open Summer Tournament Meets: varies-call for schedule. be a 100% pay out. Also coming in August the FRV Chapter and the and the NJDFW while acting as an excellent As a reminder the Moonlight Madness at Salt Fork Elmer personal logbook. Fishing has been superb and Bartlett Park district will hold its annual Bartlett kids We held our May meeting at the Shelbyville tournament is coming up August 6-7 from 7 pm Ð 9 members such as Greg Calt, "TeamCampbell", Fishing Derby on Saturday August 13th. The event spillway. Blake Friedrich and Terry Ryder manned am on West Okoboji at the Emerson Bay boat ramp. runs from 8 a.m. to noon. The Derby is for kids 2 to Chuck Graf, Kevin Johnson, Andy Moraller Mike Also, the 25th annual fall tournament is Sept. 16 Ð Melfa, "Hooks" Scornavacca and "Team Small" have the grill for our noon picnic, cooking up the hot dogs 15 years old and is broken up into four age and brats Manuel Santa Cruz brought for us. We 18th. Plans to make this event special are underway categories. The Kids Fishing Derby will be held at in most cases a series of fish north of 40 inches. In and more details will be passed on as we get closer. discussed the activities in which the club is currently Beaver Pond in Bartlett just East of Rt. # 59 and fact Norm's 10 year old daughter Lauren is top hook Sincerely, Pete Hildreth so far with that 48" beauty. We'd like to welcome involved. We are collecting donations to buy a “Moby North of Stearns Road off Kingston Lane. new members Anthony DaCosta and Tom Amels Muskie”— a life-like reproduction that can be used to It is not too early to start thinking about our Fall club outing. We will be going to St. Germaine both of whom scored brilliantly with their first teach proper handling and release of muskies. Any Flatlanders Muskie! Wisconsin from the 23rd. to the 25th. of September member who would like to donate, please contact 5776 Vesper Drive, at Jackson’s Lakeside Cottages. Please make your Our next formal meeting returns in September, Jim Beaty or Walt Krause. South Beloit, IL 61080 "Muskie League" and other yet to be announced reservations by contacting Mr. Ken Jackson at The Ranger boat raffle is still ongoing, with the 32 815-389-4622 [email protected] or 715-479-8640 for activities provide summer opportunities to fish and www.flatlanderschapter.com intent to raise funds to support the International availability. Mr. Jackson will be doing a Muskie socialize with fellow Chapter 22 enthusiasts. Steve Ruhmann, Pres. Gordon Campbell, VP Chapter 22. Muskie Symposium being held in the fall. See Gary presentation on the Little St. Germaine and Dew or any of several other members to purchase Meets 4th Thursday, 7:00 PM, Loves Park VFW. surrounding lakes at his on site ( Jackson’s Lodge) fireplace lounge on Friday September 23rd. at 8:00

CHAPTER NEWS CHAPTER & NEWS VIEWS tickets for your chance to win the Ranger boat. The Shawnee Muskie Hunters have already donated p.m. There are two pages of information and pictures Hi this is Big Man here from the Flatlanders, the Cleveland $500 towards the symposium (besides the raffle), on his website.

musky season has opened for the southern part of 5608 Brave Chief Lane At the present time only for cabins are available. Be and we challenge other chapters to do the same. the state in Wisconsin and we all started off on the Ravenna, OH 44266 Jim Beaty is still looking for members to go to the sure to mention to Ken when making your VIEWSNEWS& CHAPTER 23 Madison chain with some good results, our biggest reservations that you are with the FRV group and you 330-296-2398 Chapter Challunge at Minaki, Ontario, the week of Meets 2nd Monday 7:30 PM fish to date from the men’s division comes from Dave will receive the discount that he has graciously offered July 17-23. Let him know if you’re interested. Jack with a nice 45”. for our club members. Once these cabins are booked We plan to hold our “Guide for a Day” fundraiser All the Ruhmans got the musky gods so shine on Ken has other suggested motels for your stay. Club Activities are in full throttle now that spring on October 15-16. Anybody who is willing to guide them with one lunge for each of them. Alex Ruhman For any questions please contact Jim (Jimmy Z) got a nice 41” which was his personal best, good job has arrived (you wouldn’t Know it by the weather) one of our sign-ups should let Manuel Santa Cruz Ziebka, Outings Director at any of our meetings or e- Alex, the kid is learning young, Cody Ruhman also and we’ve had a Chapter Challenge, a Tournament, know. Also, if you know of anyone who might be mail him at [email protected]. interested in being guided that day, let Manuel know. got hooked up with a lunge measuring at 34” and to Our Fall “Challunge On The Chain” will be held on a youth program and by this publishing date, a end it Steve Ruhman the kids dad, hooked up with a second youth program. The cost is $100 for a full day of fishing and a nice Saturday November 5th. We would like to invite all of lunge of 37”. Jon Trent had a good day also hooking our club members to join us for a day of fishing fun. Beginning with April 30 and May 1, the annual meal. up with a pair of 37”s. Me and new member Jerry Find yourself a partner and get on the water! This Chapter Challenge at Salt Fork Reservoir was held We held a Kinkaid Lake clean-up on April 4. Larson decided to head out the next Saturday Although it was a small turnout, it was very event is really a great time. Please do not be scared with our Chapter bringing home the “Trophy” for the together and got shined on by the musky gods by away by the fact that it is called a Tournament. Other successful. Member Scott Donovan was the driving second year in a row. Member Sherm Camplin won having a five musky day, Jerry Larson had lunges of than the starting positions in the morning and getting the challenge with a pig that was 49.5”. Secretary force behind the clean-up. We will be holding 34”,31”,and 30” and I got lunges of 38” and 31”. That checked in at the end of the day it is just another day Nancy Cline finished third with a nice fish of 45”. Our another one August 20. It will be hot so you can have was my personal best day on the water and I was fishing. The best part of it is we have cash payouts thanks go to Guy Bechter of the Akron/Canton fun getting wet and beautifying the lake. glad to share it with a great guy. Jerry is fitting into to tenth place and you have a chance to pick up a Chapter for the food preparation. It was enjoyed by And finally, the results of our Spring Warm-Up the club just fine and had no problem hooking up few dollars more with the Big Fish Pool. How much all. We will once again host the event next year. Tournament, held April 30- May 1: with muskies. Our Masters Division member Steve better could it get than fish all day and have the On May 14-15, our annual Bishop Memorial 1st-- Rob Frechette and Jim Stella Williams has been having good luck fishing Lake X possibility of getting a check for your efforts? At the with lunges of 37”, 37” and 45” good job Steve. Tournament was held at Pymatuning Reservoir with 2nd-- Larry Owens and Jan Prinson end of the day we have a great meal, beverages and 3rd-- Jim and Shannon Beaty Our kids outing day is coming quick and Amy an awesome prize raffle hosted by Chauncey Niziol. approximately 35 musky anglers participating Sheckelton will need tons of help from members. 4th-- Mike and Matt Hopkins The Grand Prize this Fall will be a One Week Stay catching 11 fish. The weather was a “typical” Ohio The date is June 11th and the place is Rock Cut Spring Weekend with sunshine, torrential downpours 5th-- Walt and Tom Krause for two at Walsh’s Bay Store Camp in Canada. If you State Park, she is expecting tons of kids to come out have not participated in the past give it some serious and dropping temperatures. The results are as That’s it for this month! and enjoy a day on the water along with tons of other thought. Talk to people who have fished with us, they CHAPTER NEWS CHAPTER & NEWS VIEWS follows: Scott Taylor 36 MUSKIE.....July 2005 www.muskiesinc.org July 2005.....MUSKIE 37 Hayward Lakes Chapter Muskies, Inc. Figure 8 Presents the: Nets a 51” 28th ANNUAL at Stonewall ie Jackson usk NT by Chuck Skopelja M RNAME OU $30,000 T Oct. 7-8-9, 2005 in prizes erry Miller has been Muskie fishing for two years. I met this around the tree, a massive dark shape slithered out of the tree and talkative avid outdoorsman from Charleston, WV at the Cabin “slammed” his Crane. TOTAL RELEASE TOURNAMENT Fever Challunge at Green River this year and he invited me to As the fish thrashed at boat side Jerry screeched “Get the J fish with him in the “Odie Culpit Buddy Tournament”. net…Get the net!” Without hesitation, I dropped my rod and slid GRAND DOOR PRIZE: Boat, Motor & Trailer Odie Culpit was another one of the famed Muskie lure makers the handle through the yoke of the net when the fish shot past me in NEW THIS YEAR! Boat, motor & trailer to be awarded as the from West “By God” Virginia who was active in supporting MI and the back of the boat and I go a good look at her. It was not the forty Grand Door Prize at the Sunday Awards Ceremony. Muskie fishing before passing a few years ago. His lures are famous some incher we had seen earlier but a huge muskie. Never one to Only tournament entrants are eligible. You MUST be present to win. for taking many a Muskie in these parts and I received one as a door add pressure to the situation, I yelled to Jerry that “this fish is prize at the WV Chapter #9 meeting held on a small island in the pushing 50 inches so don’t lose it”. As the fish went under the boat, ‘05 Lund 1700 Explorer Boat with an EZ Loader middle of our tournament lake. His baits are considered a collector’s Jerry worked his line around the trolling motor as the fish moved Trailer and a 2005 50hp Mercury Motor 17 Tournament Lakes item and just to have one in my possession was a treat and fishing again to go under the boat when she ran into the net. • Chippewa Flowage • Spider Chain • Moose Lake with it makes it one of my top ten… for awhile anyway. The Crane immediately popped out of her mouth. The front • Lac Courte Oreilles • Ghost Lake • Clear Lake Prizes & Trophies Awarded to First 10 Places • Lost Land-Teal Lakes • Callahan Lake • Lake Hayward The tournament was held at the Stonewall Jackson Lake which treble was broken and the middle and back trebles had four of the • Eau Claire Chain • Whitefish Lake • Tiger Cat Flowage I have read about in several MI articles as a trophy Muskie lake, so I six hooks straightened so it was fortunate for us to get her netted 2005 25hp Mercury Motor, 2005 15hp Mercury Motor, Trolling Motors, • Grindstone Lake • Sand Lake • Big Sissabagama was pumped! We arrived on Friday to pre-fish and immediately had quickly. Once in the net we “hooted and hollered” to the tops of Depth Finders, GPS Units, Rods, Reels, Cameras, and much more! • Lake Namakagon • Round Lakes GRAPHITE REPLICA FOR LARGEST FISH RELEASED!! Saturday Night - GIANT RAFFLE Jerry’s boat in the water and we were off. our lungs as the cove echoed. Now I know why they are called Saturday, October 8, 7 - 8:30 p.m. – hors d’oeuvres and drinks • Raffle starts at 8:30 p.m. at the Lumberjack Steakhouse We moved into one of the wooded “big fish” coves of Stonewall. hollers. EVERYONE WHO RELEASES A FISH 34” OR LARGER Sunday - Awards, Ceremony & Grand Door Prize Drawing Jerry had a plan and was going to stick to it. We fished the standing This was truly a monster. Jerry struggled to remove the fish WILL RECEIVE A PLAQUE Sunday, October 9, 1-2 p.m. – hors d’oeuvres and drinks • Awards & Drawing 2:30 p.m. at the Lumberjack Steakhouse timber along the bank and Jerry made contact with what appeared from the net…the “Boga grip” helped us tremendously in moving to be a low forties fish and decided to leave and return to the cove and measuring the fish…a 51 incher and 22 inches in girth. before dark to try to entice this fish into eating. Fat…spotted and probably at the back of the cove earlier in the After a bit of trolling, we did return and worked our way from month when she dropped her eggs as her belly was empty and the mouth of the wooded cove down the edge and then back out to hollow. What a beautiful Muskie. the channel to where the wood extended. I have never seen such a big muskie and I have had a 48 and a REGISTRATION BLANK Just before dark, Jerry attached another famous WV bait 49 in my boat but this fish clearly dwarfed these two. We worked PLEASE PRINT NAME ______PHONE ______maker’s bait, a Green Perch Crane 208 made by Bill Crane. As the her for more than 30 minutes STREET______daylight diminished, Jerry moved his bait around the top of a pine in total darkness as the TOURNAMENT FEE CITY______STATE______ZIP______tree in 40 feet of water. As he moved into his second figure “8” flashlights in Jerry’s boat did a All people in boat must be paid contestants. _____ $55 Open Entry disappearing act. She swam off NO ENTRIES ACCEPTED BY MAIL POSTMARKED AFTER SEPTEMBER 23, 2005. ($60 after Sept. 18) with a sore mouth but in Register in person at Hayward Bait & Tackle or Jenk’s Bait & Tackle until 11 p.m. October 6, 2005. _____ $20 FOR AGES 16 & UNDER perfect condition. WAIVER In consideration of being permitted to participate among and on boats under the auspices of Muskies,Inc. International and Hayward Lakes Chapter, I acknowledge, appreciate, and agree that: (Eligible for all major prizes) Congratulations Jerry! 1. “I am aware of the inherent risk associated with fishing and boating, including but not limited to the risks of collisions with other boats and stationary objects in and around the lake, including rocks, reefs or piers or other vehicles and trailers at landing areas. I am familiar with other risks up to and including death by drowning associated with rough water, changing weather patterns, heavy winds and lightning storms. I expressly West Virginia…beautiful assume all risks associated with this tournament and hereby release Muskies, Inc. International and Hayward Lakes Chapter of Muskies, Inc., the host, sponsors, and tournament officials from all claims of negligence resulting from injury and/or property damages incurred in connection with the tournament..” NEW THIS YEAR! country…great people…and 2. I knowingly and freely assume all such risks, both known and unknown, even if arising from the negligence of those persons released from liability below, and assume full responsibility for my participation; and 3. I will comply with all rules and regulations. If I have any question, or observe any unusual or unnecessary hazard during my participation, I will immediately bring such to the attention of the nearest official; 4. I, for myself and on behalf of my heirs, assigns, personal representatives and next of kin, hereby release, indemnify and hold harmless the Muskies, Inc. International and Hayward Lakes Chapter, the owners and lessors Boat, motor & and trailer to be huge Muskie! It’s clear to me of premises used to conduct the tournament, their officers, officials, (“Releasees”), with respect to any and all injury, disability, death, or loss or damage to person or property, whether caused by the negligence of the awarded as the Grand Door Prize at why they call it “Wild and Releasees or otherwise, to the fullest extent permitted by law. the Sunday Awards Ceremony. ❖ I have read this release of liability and assumption of risk agreement, fully understand its terms, understand that I have given up substantial rights by signing it, and sign it freely and voluntarily without any inducement. Only tournament entrants are eligi- Wonderful”. ble. You MUST be present to win. X______Date Signed: ______Chuck Skopelja FOR PARTICIPANTS OF MINORITY AGE (UNDER 18 AT TIME OF REGISTRATION) This is to certify that I, as parent/guardian of this participant, do consent and agree to his/her indemnification, release and hold harmless as provided above of all Releasees, and I, for myself and behalf of my heirs, assigns and next to kin, hereby release, indemnify and hold harmless Webster Lake Musky Club the Releasees from any and all claims incident to my child’s involvement in these programs even if arising out of the negligence of the Releasees, to the fullest extent permitted by law. MI Chapter #49 X (PARENT/GUARDIAN’S SIGNATURE) ______Date Signed: ______Hayward Lakes Chapter Muskies Inc. reserves the right to reject any registration. MAIL TO: Hayward Lakes Chapter Muskies, Inc., Box 609, Hayward, WI 54843 • 715/634-2921 or 715/634-4543

38 MUSKIE.....July 2005 www.muskiesinc.org July 2005.....MUSKIE 39 always has a couple fish hanging around in it. A couple casts into the airborne bait. In that quick instant the musky had hit the bait mid-air spot and Aaron already had a hot follow. The mid to upper 40 inch going with the lure. With Aaron’s great luck of the trip the fish kept Musky Misfortunes fish followed aggressively into a figure eight which was executed fairly going without the bait in its mouth, not hooked and back into the lake. well until the musky actually hit. On the outside turn the fish hit I think that one of the keys to success in musky fishing is always And the Essentials for Successful Beginners going parallel with the boat. Aaron set the hook straight up allowing keeping your head in it and being attentive no matter how tough or By Weston Hunt the fish to go airborne. The fish was going with the bait and easily discouraging the day has become. If you have to take a break due to threw it, not ever getting hooked. sleepiness or just flat out discouragement, do it! There are always teachable to get us all a musky. All four of us got a musky, the sizes ranging from Which brings me to the next essential… All of us, eyes wide and Over the years this has been pounded into my head moments in life, just like there 28 to 37 inches. Aaron was the champion musky hunter for that day. Whenever a fish hits in the figure-eight I have been and the rest of our companions that fish with us. are on the water. On this trip we Three days later we decided to go trolling for muskies on Corner taught to always set the hook down and away from mouth open watched as 40 During the time it takes you to reel your bait in, it had more than our fair share of Lake. We trolled for hours on end without having any action what- the fish. The fish that hit in the figure-eight more plus pounds of true musky is your job to pay attention to what is going on those kinds of moments. We had so-ever. My dad ran the boat as my two friends and I played Texas often than not hit on the outside turn going away around you and to your bait. There have been things from lost fish at the boat Hold’ Em in the front. Then finally a rod went off. from the boat. The trick is to set the hook down power gave a few flicks of its countless times where the main reason we lose a to early hook sets on massive Jordan jumped for the rod and started reeling it in. The fish never diagonally towards yourself, which hooks the musky fish is because of someone not paying attention or water eruptions. jumped or showed itself till about 35 feet from the boat when we saw in the corner of the mouth, just the way we want it. thick tail and disappeared daydreaming. This alone will increase the number a glimmer of the tail. This was a nice fish, maybe 40 inches. The t least one trip a year I bring some friends up to Canada to Hours later we were back on that same into the great expanse of of fish you catch immensely. endure the hunt for a trophy musky on the tough yet problem was that this was no musky. The massive fish showed itself at sparsely populated weed bed Aaron had lost the Heartbroken and devastated Aaron had had rewarding waters of Eagle Lake. Along for the trip with my about 15 feet from the boat. All four of our mouths dropped as we fish earlier that day. The end of the day was water from which it came. enough. He hooked up his rod and took a seat. A realized what we had on. It was a monster walleye! My dad quickly dad and I were two close friends, Aaron and Jordan, who had made nearing and the sun began to sink behind the tall The hat trick was complete. Three muskies lost in this journey once before, both enthralled with some of the sightings netted the giant fish as soon as it got close enough. pine trees that outlined the perimeter of the lake. The mosquitoes one day. The day was a nightmare as well as a learning experience. and close calls of the giant muskellunge. When I say monster, this was no slouch. It was the biggest were out in full force as they tore our non-covered legs and forearms The end of the day, and the end of our trip had come. Though The first full day greeted us with one of the most exciting strikes walleye anyone in the boat had ever seen. It looked prehistoric with up, leaving us with a bump and an irritating sensation. “When the unsuccessful that day, I believe it has made Aaron, as well as myself a I’ve seen since I began my quest back in 1999. We were fishing over big scales and eyes the size of quarters. We measured it at 32 and a half mosquitoes are biting the muskies are biting.” My dad reminded us better fisherman because of it. 30 feet of water casting up to about 17. The gin clear water let us see inches with an 18 and a half-inch girth. It was the biggest non-musky trying to keep our attitudes positive and our heads in the game. the nice sized musky about 15 feet from the boat. It was a late follower I had ever seen. It was estimated to weigh around 13 pounds maybe Aaron was still throwing the natural colored eagle tail he had kept I hope that this article will help you to catch more and bigger fish but it was a hungry one. more. But that was definitely our excitement for the day. on the entire week. It had proved somewhat successful considering the in the future. In musky fishing, it’s the little things that make the My buddy Jordan was throwing a top raider and had raised this The week had come and gone but our last day was far from over. number of follows and hook-ups he had throughout the week. The difference of celebrating after catching a fish or hanging your head and beast from the depths. He had already finished his figure eight and I My friend Jordan asked my dad, “Just fishin’ out in No Man’s land irritation of the mosquito on Aaron’s left leg had become too much. As asking yourself “why” or “how did that fish get away?” Next time you’re brought the VooDooTail by the musky’s head. This musky turned 180 huh?” he brought the bait into the figure-eight he leaned over and slapped the out on the water think of the little things and pay attention to what’s degrees and was in hot pursuit of my bucktail. The bucktail sped up “Well not really.” My dad replied. The words hadn’t left his mosquito dead. The bait came out of the water as he had reached down, going on around you. Good luck the next time you pick up the rod and to the beat of my heart as it barely made it to the boat when I was mouth when Aaron’s rod doubled over. but so did a musky. The musky skied out of the water for the now begin the hunt. You just never know what cast might be the one! ❖ rewarded with a magnificent strike. The musky prepared to make its Both Aaron’s body and the rest of the boat rocked forward as he attempt at freeing itself as it flung it’s body into the air. set the hook. About 50 feet out the fish came to the surface thrashing I did as I had been taught as I “Kept her head down” and didn’t its head and body back and forth. The massive fish turned and headed let her try to throw the bait. It realized its attempt had failed and directly at us. Gills flared and tail thrashing the musky charged surged back across the boat, mouth wide open trying to throw the bait. forward. The alligator-like head looked to be almost a foot wide as the I kept a good bend in the rod as I fought it sideways and my dad giant neared the boat. netted her. A few good pictures were taken and she was released into The moment of truth was here. At about two feet from the boat the water. the fish appeared to have met his match. The fish gave its final struggle I’ve noticed more this year than ever that whenever they hit at and attempt to get away. It gave two violent headshakes as it boat side they immediately head for the sky trying to shake the bait. bulldogged downwards and out popped the skunk natural colored I’ve seen a number of muskies lost on the end of my pole and others bucktail and down fell our hearts. The fish slowly swam away. All of us, eyes wide and mouth open watched as 40 plus pounds because of not doing a simple thing as keeping the fish’s head down. Denim Shirt $24.95 3 in 1 Jacket $43.75$00.00 So if you have a fish hit, whenever it heads for the air, try to keep it of true musky power gave a few flicks of its thick tail and disappeared down and that doesn’t allow the musky to throw the bait. into the great expanse of water from which it came. Saddened and Another key ingredient to catching muskies at boat side is the heartbroken, silence fell upon the boat. Hands still trembling and figure eight. This year already is continuing the trend from last year. clenched to the cork we realized what had happened. Aaron had Last year I caught 75 percent of my muskies in a figure-eight. This accidentally held on to the line putting it against the cork not enabling year it’s in the 80’s. it to come out of the reel. This was what created the pressure on the First on the figure eight you need to see what kind of mood the hook and the musky’s lip causing it to break off. fish is in. If its right behind the bait, as mine was, you need to speed This was one of those lessons that Aaron and all of us had now it up. You can never move the bait too fast for an aggressive musky. learned. Do not ever hang on to the line when a fish is trying to get They have been known to have bursts exceeding 35 mph. away. You need to let the drag do its job. Everyday before I go fishing Sweatshirt $15.50 Cap $8.50 T-Shirt $7.25 Wind Shirt $39.95 Secondly, you can’t just be one-dimensional doing large figure- I check my drag and set it to my liking which is pretty tight but I am eights near the surface. There has to be a second and third dimension. able to pull it out. Also I never hang on to the reel because I have You have to change the speeds and the depths as you make your figure- heard of guys hanging onto the line not letting the fish go away, in eight. Often to get a musky to eat I lay on my stomach on the gunnel affect losing some really big fish. I always hang on to the front cork and get as deep and as wide as I can. This sometimes can trigger a which keeps me from clamping down on the line and it also gives you following musky. a lot more leverage in setting the hook as well as fighting the fish. More often than not a musky will eat on the outside turn as you It was the beginning of the day so we decided to try to put the slow it down. The musky seems to think its prey is escaping when loss behind us and in the past. But throughout the day this proved to suddenly it pounces on it. I hope that helps you be more successful at be a very tough task. Every once in a while there would be a yell or a the boat when a musky follows. shout of disgust referring to what had happened earlier in the day. The next day we decided to head to the Indian Lake Chain to try We were fishing over a sparse weed bed that for some reason 40 MUSKIE.....July 2005 www.muskiesinc.org July 2005.....MUSKIE 41 And another personal best, a 50.75” A 38" Muskie caught on a Believer and beauty by Bob “Trollinator” Hoce. This released by Scott Smalley, May 17, Interesting fish, this one, a Lake Wissota A massive 51-incher caught on a one is the longest release ever on a 2005, at Green River Reservoir, KY. 45" Muskie caught and released by Figure 8 by Jerry Miller on a Crane native West Virginia stream. Hot Muskie Photo by Gene Weaver Jason Smith, 1st Wisconsin, on May 29, 208 during the Odie Culpit Buddy state, that West Virginia. 2005. According to the tag on the fish, it Tournament on Stonewall Jackson was caught and released by Jim Bunch Lake. Chuck Skopelja took the photo in 1999 as a 36-incher. and says: “West Virginia…beautiful country…great people…and huge Muskie! It’s clear to me why they call it ‘Wild and Wonderful’.

A very proper horizontal hold on this Kinkaid Lake 40- incher caught April 24 by Steve Burian from Chapter Dave VanDoorn got this snapshot of a bit of Canadian wildlife. #28, the Shawnee Muskie Hunters. Also a very The deer is clearly not pleased at being photographed. pleased expression bestowed on this pretty fish.

Shawn Kellet from the Twin Cities Chapter with a beautifully colored golden Muskie. Shawn Margie Gallagher with her first Muskie of Mike Moschell’s personal best, a 46 + Todd Doebler captured in the act has been known to catch some the 2005 season, a 42-incher caught and inch fish from Salt Fork Lake in Ohio, of being splashed by a leaping real big ones on local TC lakes, released on Lake Shelbyville, Il, during caught on a flame blade tandem Hybrid two-footer. Good thing it but the background in this the Fox River Valley Chapter Spring Musky Killer. “When she went back wasn’t a four-footer, or Todd would picture doesn’t really give a Outing on Lake Shelbyville. Photo by in the water she took off like a have been in trouble. clue to location. husband Rich. scalded dog.” Proper Muskie Holding Techniques for MUSKIE Magazine Photos PREFERRED including Covers, Article Support, FOR PHOTOS Photo Contest Entries & Member Photos

42 MUSKIE.....July 2005 www.muskiesinc.org July 2005.....MUSKIE 43 2005 St.Croix Rod (800) 826-7042 | Handcrafted in the USA CATCHING | A MUSKY REQUIRES MUSKY MUSKY RODS

SKILL, DETERMINATION,  COMMITMENT — AND FISHING EQUIPMENT BUILT BY THE SAME PRINCIPLES. SERIES AVID THE ULTIMATE MUSKY COMBO FOR 2004, THE ST. CROIX® AVID SERIES® MUSKY ROD AND THE AVID SERIES CASTING REEL ARE OUTSTANDING EXAMPLES OF INNOVATION — AND WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A FEW GUYS UP IN WISCONSIN DEDICATE THEIR LIVES TO MUSKY FISHING. AVAILABLE IN 3 MODELS, AVID CASTING REELS FEATURE MORE QUALITY PARTS THAN YOU’LL FIND ON MOST GUYS’ PICK-UPS. THE AC300, OUR MOST POPULAR MUSKY MODEL, FEATURES A SUPER-SMOOTH, ELEVEN DISC TEFLON®/GRAPHITE DRAG AND AN AUTOMATIC CENTRIFUGAL SPOOL BRAKE SYSTEM. EQUALLY IMPRESSIVE, THE UNBELIEVABLY LIGHT AVID RODS, BUILT WITH OUR HIGH-MODULUS SC III GRAPHITE, FEATURE ALL FUJI® COMPONENTS INCLUDING THE ALCONITE® CONCEPT GUIDE SYSTEM WITH SiC TIP TOP. THE ST. CROIX Wrestling a musky is a life-altering AVID SERIES ROD AND REEL — LEGENDARY EQUIPMENT FOR CATCHING LEGENDARY FISH, experience. That's where the Avid AC300 comes in. Pictured here, AND MAYBE A FEW JEALOUS GLANCES FROM THE GUYS THAT BOUGHT SOMETHING ELSE. this musky favorite was built to perform. With frame and sideplates machined from solid bar stock aluminum, not to mention outstanding smoothness and backlash-resistance, you'd be crazy to go near the water with anything else.

www.stcroixrods.com