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NEW FOR 2007 – LEGEND TOURNAMENT MUSKY RODS. DIALED-IN, TECHNIQUE SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE. PREMIER SERIES: PM79XXXHF. THE WORLD’S MOST POWERFUL MUSKY ROD! MUSKIE is published monthly and is the Official Publication of Muskies, Inc. International Office: Ron Groeschl, International Sec., 14257 Waters Edge Contents Trail, New Berlin, WI 53151. Ph: 888-710-8286. © Copyright 2007 by Muskies, Inc. All rights reserved. MUSKIE • VOL. 41, NO. 6
Departments 2 President’s Message, David Cates Features 3 Magazine Notes, Staff 7 Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia Virus (VHSV), 4 Figure 8, Kevin Richards NEW Bill Barbee 5 International News, Staff 11 Lake Saint Clair–Frequently Asked Questions, 8 FCIS Boat Safety Mike Zainea 9 Lunge Log, Jim Bunch 14 Just Big Fish, Jim Murphy 10 Letters to the Editor 16 Chapters Tell of Their Activities At Spring Board, 21 Photo Contest, [Centerspread] Gordon Campbell 19 Meet the Kings of the Muskie World, Joe Bednar 24 As I See It, Jim Smith 20 Kids Remember, Juris Ozols 24 Index of Advertisers 25 Chapter News and Views 22 They Did It Again! Youth Muskie Weekend, Patricia Strutz 31 Muskie Tales, Bob Jennings 32 Member Photos, 29 MUSKIE, Eric Engbretson Gordon Campbell
Join Muskies, Inc. ... Regular Membership: K 1 Year-$35.00 K 2 Years-$65.00 K 3 Years- $95.00 or give a membership Family Membership: K 1 Year-$47.50 K 2 Years-$90.00 K 3 Years-$132.50 as a gift. Junior Membership (Under 18): K $20.00 K For Muskie Research $______
Name ______Phone ______Name of Spouse______Address______Chapter Affiliation Choice Number ______(to find the number of the Chapter you wish to join, see the Chapter News & Views section) City & State______Zip______Junior Member(s) Date of Birth (DOB) Chapter Affiliation Choice Number ______Name ______DOB ______(to find the number of the Chapter you wish to join, see the Chapter News & Views section) Old Address (for address change only) ______Name ______DOB ______City & State ______Zip______Name ______DOB ______My Membership # ______Expiration Date ______Chapter Affiliation Choice Number ______Check One: K New Member K Renewal K Address Change K Gift MAIL TO MUSKIES, INC. 14257 Waters Edge Trail, New Berlin, WI, 53151 Email ______K VISA K Discover 1-888-710-8286 Payment: K Check or K Credit Card: K AmEx K MasterCard Card # ______- ______- ______- ______Exp. Date ____ /____ Signature ______www.muskiesinc.org June 2007.....MUSKIE 1 International Officers President, David Cates Phone: 574-457-3222 Email: [email protected] Vice President/Finances, Jim Beaty Phone: 618-235-6370 Email: [email protected] WOW! The Spring 2007 International Board Meeting was full of activity. The tone was Vice President/Research, Ken Karbon Phone: 303-688-4954 set the evening before the meeting when your Executive Committee conducted a lively Email: [email protected] discussion regarding our failure to blow our own horn adequately. The entire board addressed the issue as the first item of business. The most common response from attendees Vice President/Internal Affairs, Dick McPike Phone: 816-436-4909 was “Wow, I’ve been blown away”. No one had a full grasp of what each of the chapters were Email: [email protected] doing for youth, fisheries and research. Juris Ozols has put together a great two-page Vice President/Membership, Bob Timme summary of all this information in this month’s magazine. Check out pages 16 & 17; Phone: 715-462-3053 you’ll be amazed. Email: [email protected] The Strategic Planning Committee’s recommendation for altering our structure Vice President/Communications, Jack Moga received a generally favorable response, although attendees wanted more “meat on the Phone: 440-886-3926 bones”. As you may be aware, the Strategic Planning Committee has been at work for Email: [email protected] month’s seeking to revamp our organizational structure to make us more efficient. While Treasurer, Pete Barber their general ideas met with overwhelming favor, board members in attendance asked the Phone: 847-726-7267 Strategic Planning Committee to come forward with specific recommendations for an alter- Email: [email protected] ation of our structure. I expect a proposal for governance by district with a much smaller Members Only Fishing Contest, Jim Bunch International Board to be on the table at the Fall 2007 Meeting scheduled for Morrison, Phone: 715-723-8343 • Fax: 715-723-8354 Ontario. I fully expect Muskies, Inc. to be a lean, efficient, youth conservation in fisheries Email: [email protected] organization. New (and old) chair of the Strategic Planning Committee Steve Budnick and Web Master, Ron Groeschl the rest of the SPC have their work cut out for them. I am sure they are up to the task. Phone: 262-271-1002 No mention of the meeting would be complete without a thanks to the Central Ohio Email: [email protected] Chapter for their marvelous job in hosting the meeting. Thanks to Ross Wagner and Dan Int. Administrative Secretary, Ron Groeschl VanGorder for their tireless assistance. Special thanks also go to outgoing Vice-Presidents 14257 Waters Edge Trail, New Berlin, WI 53151 Jim Beaty, Ken Karbon, Bob Timme, and Dick McPike. If you don’t know, Jim Beaty was Phone: 888-710-8286 or 262-271-1002 responsible for shepherding us through some difficult financial times recently and putting Email: [email protected] us on a solid financial basis. Ken Karbon was responsible for creating relationships with corporate partners as well as instigating the Best of the Best tournament, each of which At Large Directors Term Expires improved our cash flow and assisted Jim B. in his roll. Bob Timme was a tireless worker on David Rautmann ...... 2008 behalf of Muskies, Inc. and is always among the first to volunteer his services when things Don Jahnke ...... 2008 need to get done. Dick McPike was responsible for a reduction in insurance costs to MI, sav- ing us significant dollars that can now be used for YFR. My thanks and the appreciation of David Cates ...... 2008 all of Muskies, Inc. goes to each of these individuals. Congratulations are also due to our Patricia Strutz ...... 2008 newly elected Vice-Presidents: Jim Shannon for fundraising, Vince Weirick for internal Karl Scherer ...... 2008 affairs, Dan Narsete for membership and marketing, Brad Waldera for fisheries and research, and last but not least, Jack Moga for communications. Dick McPike ...... 2009 Muskies, Inc. has much to grow on and yet much to do. Please continue to give of your Dan Narsete ...... 2009 time and efforts on behalf on the resource. See you on the water. O Diana Mindar ...... 2009 Jack Moga ...... 2009 Muskies, Inc. Past Presidents Brad Waldera ...... 2009 Gil Hamm Peter Hadley Jim Blaubach Ken Karbon ...... 2010 Edward T. Peterka Bob Schmidt Steve Budnik Jim Shannon ...... 2010 Robert Hill Larry Ramsell Jim Smith Bob Timme ...... 2010 Robert Shoop Lou Cook Paul Framsted Mark Johnson ...... 2010 Frank Schneider Keith Ogden Perry Smith Vince Weirick ...... 2010 Peter Hadley Bill Davis Greg Wells DuWayne Bakke Steve Statland Lou Cook John Hotle
2 MUSKIE.....June 2007 MAG AZINE NOTES N MAG AZINE NOTES N MAG AZINE NOTES N MAG AZINE NOTES 3 . . - - Colgan, . , W MUSKIE Magazine g. There they will find a Magazine Staff Magazine June 2007..... incent P. Trotta incent P. V ORS ve. S. • St. Cloud, MN 56301-9189 magazine are available at $3.00 A Juris Ozols, Patricia Strutz, Submissions to , is published exclusively for the mem MUSKIE .muskiesinc.or MUSKIE Email: [email protected]. non-profit organization. Membership classes MUSKIE Phone: 888-253-8808, ext. 133 link to MUSKIE Magazine. From there you will find links on the left side of the page pro viding information necessary for submissions to MUSKIE Magazine. Further questions will be answered by Jim Smith, Managing Editor Submissions may be sent to: 15045 W. AZ 85374-8568 • Surprise, Way Double Tree each from the Muskies, Inc. International Office. Contributors grant rights for M.I. to publish once in MUSKIE Magazine, both the print and on-line versions, including archives and on the site. M.I. Web Joe Bednar Eric Engbretson Phone: (623) 388-3225 or you may MAGAZINE DESIGN Windschitl Sunray Printing Solutions, Inc. - John ILLUSTRATORS/CARTOONISTS Richard Gross FIELD EDIT Steve Budnik, Bob Chochola, James Adam Glickman, Elizabeth Cratty, Robert Jennings, Mike Kanaval, Colby Simms, Patricia Strutz, CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Bill Barbee, Mike Zainea, Jim Murphy MUSKIE bership of Muskies, Inc. and subscriptions is come with a paid membership. Muskies, Inc. a and associated annual dues are listed on the form at the bottom of page one. Single copies of Persons interested in submitting articles for publication are directed to our website www Rod Ramsell, Editor Emeritus Rod Ramsell, Editor Emeritus Keith Ogden, EDITOR MANAGING Jim Smith 388-3225 Phone: (623) Email: [email protected] ASSISTANT EDITOR Juris Ozols Phone: (952) 921-6311 Email: [email protected] EDITOR PHOTO Gordon Campbell Phone: (973) 208-8297 Email: [email protected] MANAGER ADVERTISING Jim Smith Way Double Tree 15045 W. Surprise, AZ 85374-8568 Phone: (623) 388-3225 Email: [email protected] TECHNICALPUBLICATIONS MANAGER Sunray Printing Solutions, Inc. - Brenda Kirchner 25123 22nd (Classified E E D D A A , sell or trade. Ads will R R T T - - L L O L L E E milion by Adam Glickman S S es by Nils Master [email protected] er - - Muskies, Inc. Resource Section Y Y Coming Next Month: U U For information contact James T. Smith at For information contact James T. B B Trolling in Tight Places by Justin Gauche in Tight Trolling Summer on V Nils Master Lur TTMT article by Dr. Gene Smith TTMT article by Dr.
ads) of MUSKIE Magazine, and will also be included on our ads) of MUSKIE Magazine, and no additional charge. Cost will website in a special section for be $50.00 for a fifty-word ad, plus 10¢ per word over the minimum. (2 column Photos will be included inches maximum) for an additional $35.00. be placed in the MUSKIE Magazine has ad space available each month for MI MUSKIE Magazine has ad space to buy members who have something
www.muskiesinc.org Here on the cover you see pictures Here on the cover of those documenting a sampling lake restora- Muskies Inc. events: tion, pond, vet’s trout fishing wheelchair outings, lake cleanups. of kids. Virtually all the chapters And particularly, you see pictures do a lot of those. Muskies Inc. – talked about youth events. We kids and fishing and much more. At the April Muskies Inc. Spring Muskies Inc. At the April the day we started Board Meeting But as usual. with introductions, had each President Cates this time the things that person talk about that they were their chapter does this proud of. The centerfold those fascinating month captures statements. ABOUT THE COVER THE ABOUT 8
e Figure 8 r o u 88 by Kevin Richards [email protected] g i f Anything is possible (almost)! N
Catching a 30-pounder this year? Certainly! How about a 40-pounder? It 8 could happen! Me writing a monthly column for Muskie? Why not!
e mentioned last month that I was going to take a stab at this monthly column and that my
r objective for the “Figure 8” is to stimulate at least some of you into striking my bait – through action and feedback. u I This column is one of the ways I hope to stay in touch with more muskie anglers and g
i some of the muskie biologists who I may not run into quite as often as in the past. I am retir- st f ing as Assistant Chief of Fisheries in Missouri as of July 1 . I’ve pondered quite a few possi- bilities and priorities for the years ahead.
N One of my top priorities is certainly to catch and successfully release more muskies! To
get me started on this mission I’m planning a solo trip to Lac Seul in July. Although I’ve fished
8 that awesome body of water in the fall I’ve never been there in the summer. I am so excited about the trip and I honestly believe anything is possible when it comes to big muskies on Lac e Seul. It continues to have a good population of big, old muskies and seems to have benefit- r ed greatly from catch and release. u Another priority is to help foster even better communication between us muskie fanatics
g and the fisheries biologists and conservation agencies who manage the fisheries we love so i dearly. As anglers dedicated to improving the sport of muskie fishing we must continue to f work on this! Maintaining effective communication sounds like it should be so simple and straight for- N ward, right? Well, it is possible, if we are willing to really work at it. But heck you say, this is our sport, this is something we love. Communication about 8 muskie fishing and muskie management should be as easy as communication with your spouse
e or your teenager! OK, OK, maybe there is a little more to this! Now let’s make the discussion a bit more abstract – how about communication and reach- r ing consensus on the best way to manage a non-profit organization made up of numerous u chapters and passionate volunteers? I think we can be sure that the further we get from talk- g ing about muskie fishing, the more challenging our communications become. As we wander i down the paths of discussing organizational structure, muskie fishing regulations, or record f keeping, the more diligent we must be to ensure our communication is effective and produc- tive. But you know what? It’s possible! N
To wrap this up I’ll share a true story about taking and communicating accurate muskie
8 weights.
I had the great fortune to assist one of the Missouri muskie sampling crews in late March e and I got to see a number of really heavy pre-spawn muskies. The biggest females ranged from r 44 to 49 inches. One of those muskies was the fattest one I’ve ever handled (not the heavi-
u est). It was just 44.5 inches long and was weighed at 33.25 pounds. Talk about getting your
g heart pumping and your muskie enthusiasm kicked into high gear! Even the famously fat fall i muskies at Lac Seul aren’t that fat. f The weight really was almost unbelievable and another one of the muskie biologists ques- tioned the weight and asked if the scale had been checked prior to the sampling season. The
N biologist in charge admitted the scale used in the boat had not been double checked this spring, so it was recalibrated against a certified scale. The scale had been off a bit; it was actu- 8 ally ‘under-weighing’ objects by 0.7 lbs. Therefore the fat 44.5-inch female actually weighed just a hair under 34 pounds! Not just possible, but reality!!! e Remember, if you have a biology or fisheries management question you want me to try r to tackle let me know. My only limitation is that I live out in the sticks and I’m on dial-up u internet, so if you write to me please keep the email under 200kb which means no large g attachments (sorry). i Let’s continue to work together to do all we can to build and maintain great muskie fish- f eries! O 4 MUSKIE.....June 2007 international new s N international new s N international new s vice er MUSKIE 5 k [exit or O Y w nstitute [exit e TION ON nspection S rant I - Michigan Dept. of Dept. - Michigan June 2007..... ealth I ea G Bemidji, MN 56601 218-444-BAIT (2248) 218-444-BAIT ichigan and other jurisdictions are 801 Washington Ave SE Ave Washington 801 epticemia in N lant H isconsin S www.bluewateroutdoors.com aper [exit DNR] W [exit DNR] heet [PDF 994KB] e expected. M emorrhagic S HIS) riefing P act S ersity of (AP DNR] DNR] Resources Natural niv iral H The four adjacent states have not yet adopted regulations yet not states have The four adjacent Department of State York of 2006 the New November In and Boat Commission Fish the Pennsylvania January In U VHS F FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMA VIRAL HEMORRHAGIC SEPTICEMIA USDA Animal and P V VHS B ule changes ar COMPARISON OF SIMILAR OF COMPARISON STATES IN ADJACENT RULES and Michigan): Illinois Iowa, (Minnesota, taken else- been but steps have VHS problem, the addressing the Great Lakes where Great particularly in the lower where, VHS virus was first discovered. Lakes form of the Conservation announced emergency regulations Environmental waters of bait fish from collection of the commercial prohibiting has been detected, limiting the use of bait VHS the state where collected, and which they were from fish to the specific water into the waters of the fish the placement of live prohibiting (including possessing, importing, and transporting live State placing them into the waters of the State) fish for purposes of issued report a fish health inspection unless accompanied by 12 months. within the previous placed a temporary transportation ban on the from fish of live and permanent and its tributaries to inland waters, Lake Erie r this issue. to address also considering regulations Parts are available N . er Guide service available [PDF N ule cept under e r Reel repair ississippi Riv Rod repair We work on all major brands of reels* We *Quick turn around time Custom made rods dministrativ eat Lakes or M r earing ponds t live fish or fish eggs (including both bait and t live O eful with live bait. If you want to use live bait (crayfish, want to use live you bait. If eful with live our fish after fishing the G rain your boat and live well. After fishing or boating on the well. boat and live rain your e car ved by means other than refrigeration or freezing. or freezing. means other than refrigeration by ved D Kill y B want to use dead bait (all or you with dead bait. If careful Be Leeches, worms, and insects are OK. The use of leaches, worms, The use of leaches, OK. Leeches, worms, and insects are The Natural Resources Board [State of Wisconsin] on April 4, on April Wisconsin] of [State Board Resources The Natural o establish hatcheries and r o support the abatement of water pollu- y authorized federal and state agencies; y authorized sport fishery; based on scientific merit and carried out b T and introduce the species into suitable and introduce waters; T tion; range of species; sportsmanship among men, women and children. eser Purposes Inc. of Muskies, ou may not transpor • a high quality muskellunge promote To • support selected conservation practices To • muskellunge research; promote To • • • and of habits, growth, maintain records To • disseminate muskellunge information; To • and good fellowship promote To www.muskiesinc.org game fish) away from waters of the Great Lakes or Mississippi River Lakes or Mississippi waters of the Great game fish) away from first dam), ex drainages (including tributaries up to the Y certain (contact DNR office for information). unusual circumstances waters of the Great Lakes or Mississippi River (including tributaries River Lakes or Mississippi waters of the Great the must immediately drain all water from up to the first dam), you including any bilge, ballast tank, bait bucket, boat and boat trailer, well. and live 240KB] that will aid the Department in controlling the spread of the spread the Department240KB] that will aid in controlling This emergency rule goes into effect on VHS to inland waters. 8, 2007. April Sunday, part the bait must be a) used of any fish, fish egg, crayfish, or frog), and tributaries up to the Bay (including Green on Lake Michigan or c) it was captured, where first dam), b) used on the lake or stream pr and insects for bait is not affected by the new these rules rules.and insects for bait is not affected by the In term bait means all or part crayfish, fish, or fish egg. of any frog, a licensed from fish, or fish egg), the bait must be a) purchased frogs, water to be fished, or c) cap- legally in the b) captured bait dealer, for use in another retained and in an inland lake or stream tured inland lake or stream. What does the rule mean for anglers? 2007, adopted an amended emergency A 2007, adopted an amended Controlling the spread of VHS of spread the Controlling Emergency Rule - Rule Emergency s w e DONATIONS POSITIONS AVAILABLE n
APRIL WITH MUSKIE MAGAZINE l
a Editor MUSKIE Magazine Illinois Muskies Amy Cannon Muskies, Inc. is currently searching for qualified candi- n Tournament Trail John Woehler dates to fill the Editors position. Those members expressing o an interest are asked to submit their resume to Jack Moga, at i Corey Judson Michael Place [email protected] Please refer to Editor t John Fyan, M.D. search on the subject line. a Don Funderud Submission deadline is July 15th 2007 n Jeffrey Gros Jason Aleshire All submissions will be considered. Those found to be r Chris Callaway Michael Walsh most qualified will be presented to the Executive e Committee for final decision. Conference call interviews t Mark Montanari Adam Johnson may be scheduled. Questions regarding this position may n Neal Tamms be directed to Jim Smith, Managing Editor, at managingedi-
i Donald Fundrud St. [email protected] or by phone at (623) 388-3225. William Brunstad Successful applicants will have a working knowledge of N modern publishing/editorial practices, versatile and practical
job specific computer skills, a college degree and/or related On behalf of Muskies, Inc., thank you for adding a bit extra when you s applicable work history. Applicant must have their own renewed your membership. computer (particular minimum specifications may be w – Pete Barber, Treasurer required) valid Email address, high-speed Internet connec- e tion and experienced with MS Word, Adobe Reader or other n
similar software programs.
l Duties will include, but are not limited to, choosing arti- cles and photos for publication, edit, proofread, and design a MUSKIE magazine, producing camera-ready copy submit- n ted to the printer n a timely and professional manner. o This is considered a part-time position. Salary will be i commensurate with experience and qualifications and cur- t rently pays pre-approved out-of-pocket expenses. a n Advertising Manager MUSKIE Magazine r Muskies, Inc. is currently searching for qualified candidates e to fill the Advertising Manager position. Those members t expressing an interest are asked to submit their resume to n Jack Moga, at [email protected] Please i refer to Advertising Manager search on the subject line. Submission deadline is July 15th 2007 N
All submissions will be considered. Those found to be
most qualified will be presented to the Executive s Committee for a final decision. Conference call interviews may be scheduled. Questions regarding this position may w
e be directed to Jim Smith, Managing Editor, at managingedi- [email protected] or by phone at (623) 388-3225, or Pete n
Barber, Treasurer at (847) 726-7267 regarding the Quick
l Books accounting system. Successful applicants will have a working knowledge of a sales/marketing modern publishing/editorial practices, ver- n satile and practical job specific computer skills, a college o degree and/or related applicable work history. Applicant i must have their own computer (particular minimum specifi- t cations may be required) valid Email address and experi- a enced with MS Word, Microsoft Excel, Quicken and/or a n similar accounting format. r This is considered a part-time position, and compensa- e tion is a commission structure based upon collected rev- t enues, plus pre-approved out-of-pocket expenses. O n i 6 MUSKIE.....June 2007 VIRAL HEMORRHAGIC SEPTICEMIA VIRUS (VHSV) A MUSKIE MALIGNANT MICROBE by Bill Barbee
deadly fish virus has infected not only Muskellunges, but also some 40-odd species of both cold-and warm-water fish. A ”With state officials almost certain that a deadly fish virus in now lurking in the waters of Lake Michigan, a state agency is expect- ed to approve emergency regulations Wednesday to control the spread of the disease.” This warning, from Lee Berquists’ article in, “JSOnline”, April 1 underlines the importance of this rod-shaped, DNA based pathogen. The total economic impact on the 4.5 billion dollar Great Lakes commercial and sport fishing industry could be devastating. fish is based on testing at $1000 to $1500 per test and this requires Birds can transmit the disease mechanically. However, VHV is two tests and 28 days. New York State has only one pathologist to inactivated in their digestive tracts. Fish transmit the disease mechan- supervise the scientific side of control. Boat bilge tanks are thought to ically, through viral particles in their urine, by fish eating infected fish, be prime factors in the spread of invasive organisms. Chlorine solu- and by (Cohabitation) sexual fluids. Viral microscopic particles are tions are recommended but there are no agreed upon methods of sucked in through the gills with respiration, invade blood vessels and insuring that ballast tanks are free of contamination and some tanks internal organs, causing the fish to bleed and die. do not have a drain. The United States has mandatory regulations for There are five known varieties of the virus and probably more ballast control measures enforced by the Coast Guard. Other coun- subspecies. In 1988, the Pacific Northwest Viral Genotype first tries may not have rules. Canada is proposing mandatory controls. detected in herring, cod, and salmon, is now endemic. According to New York State is suing the EPA over ballast regulations, “as we the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, “At times, dead believe the current ballast exchange is insufficient to protect our fish, including muskies, 3-feet high and 10-feet deep line the shores”, waters from invasive species, not just VHS”. The Duluth News of some of the Great Lakes. reported last year that, “No cost effective solution that will kill exotics While viruses vary in virulence, unlike most exotic species, the as small as a virus hasn’t yet been found”. Interestingly, weak iodine Great Lakes species are extremely virulent. Muskies and other fish that solutions will recover contaminated salmon and steelhead eggs but survive develop immunity but can become lifetime carriers, causing aren’t effective on sticky eggs including those of muskies and pike. periodic outbreaks of the disease. This viral pathogen is not only capa- According to marine biologists, stressing fish increases mortality. ble of mutating but has done so. The literature is replete with assur- Hot weather, angling pressure, handling fish, weed control, urbaniza- ances the virus is not, at present, harmful to humans. It may never tion, loss of farmland, paving over streets with resulting storm water happen, but other viral agents have mutated into the human variant. runoff, emissions from increased traffic, fluctuating water levels and There is no cure. However, experimentally, rainbow trout have been pollution, in combination or alone, are potential stressors. There is no successfully immunized with recombinant DNA. question The Great Lakes and surrounding waters are polluted. Some Control of the disease in wild of the more potent pollutants are fish is a near impossibility. A num- flame retardant chemicals such as ber of factors contribute, includ- Polybrominated diphenyl ethers ing boats and humans transport- (PBDEs). Several alphabets are ing fish from one waterway to needed to list these widely used another, plus worldwide commer- globally persistent pollutants, cial sale and transport of baitfish. now being found as far away as Stopping the spread of VHS is not the Artic. There are no defined likely due to confusing regulations acceptable levels for many of and a lack of regulations from dif- these chemicals either in the air fering states, plus conflicting Federal Government rules. Additionally, or water. Pollution affects water in many ways, decreasing oxygen, enforcement, due to the lack of personnel related to states budgetary diminishing the food chain, altering acid base balance and causing the problems, becomes problematic. Globalization and importation of organism to expend more energy to survive. To what degree this kind exotic species has become the norm. of stress is implicated is up for grabs but all these seemingly inconse- Hatchery outbreaks are almost impossible to clean up and most quential details can add up to a significant impact. hatcheries have to be shut down when diseased fish are found, or when testing reveals the virus. Certification of hatcheries or cultured (Continued on page 8) www.muskiesinc.org June 2007.....MUSKIE 7 Y VIRAL HEMORRHAGIC T
E SEPTICEMIA VIRUS–
F Boat Safety Program (Continued from page 7) A
S Recently, Dr. David Evans, a Chemist at the John
Produced by Innes Centre in Europe, reported they have been able T Farm and City Insurance Services to attach “ferrocene” molecules to amino acids on viral A
O The Angler’s Choice Insurance surfaces, creating, in effect, molecular capacitors.
B Capacitors store an electrical charge then release it in a pulse. They envision using these units in biosensors. s
I The Language of Vehicle Weight– Biosensors monitor biological processes by detecting C Putting It All Together high and low concentrations. F Current biosensors are large scale contrasted to a
N In the past few issues we’ve covered the language of weights and virus. One projected use of these viral units is in mon- itoring brain chemistry by introducing the sensor how it applies to boat safety. In this issue, we will cover how to through brain capillaries. Used in test birds as the Y properly determine the weight of your boat and trailer with all
T “canary in the mine shaft”, sensors could be pro- equipment, tackle, and fluids. E grammed to detect bird flu before symptoms occur.
F Although not mentioned by the Evans Group, conceiv- For our example, we will use the specifications provided by A ably, these viral biosensors could be attached to muskies S Ranger and the 621vs model boat. According to the brochure, the
to detect early on invasion of VHS or other invasive
T trailer has a GVWR of 5,000 lbs, the boat weighs 2,295 lbs with a aquatic life. This scenario may seem far-fetched, but
A dual console, and it has approximately 1880 lbs designated for per- not long ago so was a walk on the moon.
O sons, motor, and gear. These weight figures cover standard features, An accompanying article details what we as
B options and dealer/owner installed items must also be added. individuals can do to mitigate VHS. In addition we
s need to think of measures to prevent spread of all I Here are some figures to consider; invasive aquatic species, Boots, waders, and clothing C
F Fuel Capacity – 55 gallons @ 6.0 lbs/gal. 330 lbs can shed particles as well as larger organisms such as Livewell Capacity – 23, 5.5 @ 8.3 lbs/gal. 236.55 lbs zebra mussels. For private use, chlorine solutions work
N well and are inexpensive. Awareness of the problem and
Mercury 250 hp Verado ® engine – 635 lbs Mercury 30 hp efi 175 lbs alerting anyone who will listen will spread the word.
Y Most of us don’t have the time to deal with our
T These figures add up to 1376.55 pounds without people or Government Representatives but we do have associa- E tions, clubs and now with computers and blogs we can,
F gear included and we only have 1880 pounds designated for with little effort, create a climate for change. We have
A persons, motor, and gear. Plus, we have not included the weight of
S the trailer in our overall weight analysis. Keep in mind that the come a long way from treating our waterways as sewers but as we control one problem it seems more show up,
T weight of the trailer is only a factor during travel, which would not as is the case with fire retardants. Awareness should A have the weight of people at the time. help in recognition and prevention. Our complex, O connected global community is becoming more B Therefore, it is extremely important to do the math, and weigh
complicated and confrontational with time.
s your vehicle and trailer by individual axle positions. This can be Realistically these problems will get worse unless each I done at most truck stops with certified scales that have individual
C of us does what we can to help.
F pads to weigh each axle. One of the reasons I fish is because it takes me to such beautiful places. If we, as individuals, and as a N An important shortfall of GVWR and designated weight
whole, get our act together our kids and their kids may capacity for persons, motor, and gear is it does not tell you where still be able to find healthy fish in beautiful places. Y the weight can be added without exceeding a rating. It is impor- References available on request, T tant that once the vehicle is loaded for travel, it be weighed by indi- [email protected] E
F vidual wheel position as well. Too much weight on the starboard
A side could mean tire failure or reduced braking capacity. About the Author: Bill Barbee is a retired anesthesiologist,
S retired cattleman, avid fly fisher, hunter and member of Keep It Safe OWAA. Bill has fished beautiful places in Alaska, British T Columbia, Argentina, New Zealand, most of our western A www.fcisanglerschoice.com states and, as a kid in Missouri, a few ponds. O O
B This article is provided as a public service to our membership. Not
s intended as an advertisement. I C F 8 MUSKIE.....June 2007 Lunge Log N Lunge Log N Lunge Log N Lunge Log N Lunge Log N Lunge Log N Lunge Log 9 e it. Now ip: T ou hav . MUSKIE very handy at the end June 2007..... type in the first few the first type in and letters im Thanks a bunch J , please fill that in if y We wish they responded to all of wish they responded We Tip: ection. You should then select what your chap- should then select what your You . – At the bottom it will ask you to check the bottom it will ask you . – At . These are pretty self explanatory. These are the These are self explanatory. pretty These are t. Fill this in the best you can. In each case when can. In this in the best you t. Fill ’ There is a report that comes off of the system that is a report There – In some cases there maybe a new or a new lake/river some cases there In thdate of the junior When done, hit Submit Fish. A fish I.D. number in Fish. When done, hit Submit – our chapter There are six here, sky, presentation, bottom, struc- presentation, sky, six here, are There It now wants the lure type. Simply click on the pull click on Simply type. lure wants the now It ou to do so. If it was kept it will then ask for more If ou to do so. – It now wants to know if it was released or kept and a if it was released wants to know now It – ear a member submitted his fish eight times ou as. so type in what you determined at the time of catch. determined so type in what you This one is very important. system when accounting Our ou can simply go back and change the length or the hour – Y imply type in the first few letters of what you are looking for are in the first fewimply type of what you letters ent for y s ear. w how you want them classified as. The Junior division is for The Junior want them classified as. you w how emind y ip: y neat. e, wind speed and wind dir T r er will sho select that, When you 1 of this year. age 17 of less on January anyone it will ask for a bir details. of the y caught 6 muskies the and you muskies was on a trip if one of your the same this is on the same bait and all conditions were same day, v A new next entry. done with your are and hit submit again and you Then back up and do the fish I.D. will appear for this next entry. can enter six fish in a minute. bang; you etc. Slam same for the third, neat hey. Pretty and it will automatically go to it. Then, simply hit enter. In some case In simply hit enter. Then, it. automatically go to and it will typing in a few names so letters will be of lure will be hundreds there Crank, Jones Jerk, as Jones here a little searching Do efficient. more mission is to not Your maybe all the same. Jones and Lure Bait Jones Specified. any of this as Not leave Division Masters. Women’s or Men’s who is an International for points knows in many cases that will However (250 for men and 100 for women’s.) be differ ter classifies y – Released? to these or a pop up will come to respond need You true or a hybrid. up to r and Certificates Patches patch, an individual certificate or an annual cer- want a release if you will find this select those and we tificate. Please Fish Submit This means it will appear at the top and the bottom of this page. red members or chairpersons think noth- has been sent to me. Sometimes a duplicate and in I have now ing has happened and hit it again. So one case last y Lure Type – Type Lure or up or down, scroll menu, down on the click Now type, simply hit enter. lure to the it will go directly the names for only you show will now It for Name. menu pull down to find the name down up or may scroll You selected. type you the lure o Specified Not hit Not those in if you to type is a provision There name. lure in as it is a most cases please help me out here However Specified. category or a county thing for spelling thing, or a lure thing for lures assistance. Thanks for your lakes/rivers. Details Muskie lake depth, length, girth (if submitted) date caught, depth in water, off)hour caught (round The length should be the one and water temp. to the off points the system will round determined in the boat. For inch, nearest Conditions tur these but many don few may type in the first letters and menu, you click the pull down you want, then hit enter. it will go to what you ish ours.
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The next line is “State/Province”. Click on the The next line is “State/Province”.
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h oll up or do wn menu. This will allow you to select the state or province by the state or province to select you This will allow wn menu. t any of this as Not mission is to not leave Your w on a roll. How to Enter Muskie Reports Muskie Enter to How On a computer that has internet access, log into a computer that On Their name and address will appear. To the right of their name it To will appear. Their name and address . ers within that state or pr e no anada, w om. Click on the pull do ubmission.” www.muskiesinc.org find the lake/river or: find the lake/river province, then also hit Ontario for the county. This seems a bit weird for the county. then also hit Ontario province, been doing that since 1970 have but we Lake/River fr the lakes or you show the system will only now and a county, province riv County State / Province State pull do one. clicking on the appropriate and it will auto- or province simply type the first two letters of the state matically go to that state or pr may scr first few letters of the county and the system will automatically go to hit enter. want. Simply the county you C Member Name – Name Member will be one that says “Lunge Log.” Use your mouse and click on that. mouse and click on your Log.” Use will be one that says “Lunge on the right side will be some Way will come up. a new screen Now links that y will see the a bit and you some basic instructions, down then just scroll as you in there already name and address your will have entry form. It logged in as a member. http://www the left side of the screen On instructions will be provided. this before, the 14 About could click on. will be 20 plus icons that you number instead of y bers or a friend just type in their membership S do not include the chapter num- use their membership number, Just ber will ask for gender or Female. should say Male or Ladies, but now This used to say Men’s muskie catch. lake/river will save you a lot of time. With common names the more With a lot of time. you will save lake/river a little searching will get. Do you accurate type in the more letters you we may all be the same. Great, Lake and Lake Mud Mud as Mud, here ar Specified. lake/river and it will automatically go to it. Simply hit enter. In some In hit enter. and it will automatically go to it. Simply lake/river cases ther R LETTERS TO THE O T
I EDITOR D E
E H T
O T
S R E T T E L N
R O T I D E
E H T
O T
S R E T T E L N
R O T I D E
Dear Mr. Pribyl-Shay; Regarding the smaller muskies. Part of this is certainly size lim-
E Thank you for your well thought out and researched letter. In its as you have pointed out. However, if you have the opportunity
H general, I agree with your conclusions. However, I feel I should to fish outside the state of Illinois (where I lived and grew up) you’ll T clarify a couple of your points. find some extremely large fish. In fact, I read recently that in the last
Today we are catching more muskies that in all previous years. couple of years some groups, guides, and individuals have caught, on O Due to the possession limits and the Catch & Release program the average, larger fish than in each of the preceding years. T
espoused by Muskies Inc. there is not the opportunity for a group of Finally, I would like to say I hope you are a member of this organ-
S muskie fishermen to show off a multitude of recently caught fish. ization and involved with a chapter. If not, please do become a
R Most, if not all, of those muskies have been returned to the water. member. We, Muskies, Inc. can use folks with your interest, E Statewide size limits are generally a very political issue. In a especially since we are all trying to work in the same direction. T number of cases Muskies, Inc. local chapters have been successful in Thanks for your letter. I appreciate your comments. Respectfully, T providing accurate data and timely support to encourage a state Jim Smith, Managing Editor E agency to increase their size limits. MUSKIE Magazine L
10 MUSKIE.....June 2007 grew up on Lake St. Clair, and have been fishing on the lake for the water is beginning to cool down, and the muskie need to build as long as I can remember. Since the first muskie I caught when up a fat layer to get them through the winter. For this reason, they I I was 14, I’ve had a fascination with the species, and I couldn’t are consuming a larger quantity of fish in an attempt to put on the wait until the next time I had a chance to catch another. Now, I run extra weight needed for the winter. This buildup of extra weight is a muskie charter on the lake, and it’s my goal to help others learn to why you are likely to catch a heavier muskie during the fall, but the experience the thrill of muskie fishing. It would be almost impossi- quantity of muskie you are likely to catch might decrease because ble to expect to be able to learn everything about muskie fishing in they are becoming more lethargic and less active as their weight one article, or even in one book! However, over the years there are a increases. few questions that always come up. In this article I will cover the Some other factors to consider when trying to find the “best” most frequently asked questions, and attempt to explain the answers, time to go muskie fishing is: weather patterns, lunar tables, and time in the hopes that you will finish with a better understanding of how of day. The best time for catching muskie is right before a storm to catch your own monster muskie. front, during large pressure changes. Storms have an affect on the The first thing that people always ask me is: When is the best barometric pressure. During pressure changes the feeding patterns of time to go muskie fishing? June and July usually offers the best fish increase significantly. The larger the change, the greater the potential to catch the highest numbers of muskie. On Lake St. Clair, (Continued on page 12) the muskie season begins the first Saturday in June, which follows the spawning in May. During this time, the females wear themselves down and need to eat to regenerate the energy expended during the spawn. Furthermore, in the early parts of the summer, the water temperature goes up. Water temperatures around 70 degrees makes the muskie become more active, and they begin to feed. Because the warmer water speeds up their metabolism, and because they are consuming larger quantities of food to replenish lost energy, you are more likely to catch one, or several, during this time. . October and November are usu- ally the best months to go if you want to catch a heavier fish. At this time, www.muskiesinc.org June 2007.....MUSKIE 11 LAKE ST. CLAIR-FAQs (Continued from page 11) increase in feeding, thus making the time right before a storm one of the best times to fish for muskie. The lunar cycle of the moon also plays a big part in the behavior of animals, and muskie are no exception. The rotation of the moon around the Earth creates gravitational pull. Each day there are major and minor times when the moon’s gravitational pull is great- est. The major time is a two hour time frame that occurs dur- ing a different time each day, and varies by location. The minor lasts about an hour, and affect the behavior of animals as well, but not as significantly as the majors. During the majors, muskie become more active and feed, making this a more likely time to catch one. Another good time to catch muskie is right before dark, at sunset. During this time, the bait fish are on the move, traveling from the off-color, safer water to the clearer water where they can feed; but this is prime feeding time for muskie who feed on these bait fish, and a great time for you to catch a muskie that is in search of a meal. Ok, so now that you know when to fish, the second question lures a bit deeper and faster because the weeds aren’t high yet. You that I get asked is: Where do you fish for muskie on Lake St. Clair? can troll these over 4 miles per hour, but we usually stick to 3.9. As The fishing goes along with the water temperatures and the color and the summer goes on, the lure size increases. July is a good time to clarity of the water. During the daytime in June, the baitfish stay in run 7-8” lures such as the larger Wileys, Z-Baits, Ziggies, 20 cm Nils, the off-color water, which is usually expelled from the rivers that lead and other types of lures that have a wider wobble. At this point, we into Lake St. Clair. The Thames River is the largest contributor to slow the boat down to about 3.8, because some of these types of lures the off color of Lake St. Clair, which can create a very distinctive won’t run as fast. By the end of August, we’re running larger baits mudline from the Thames to the Detroit River. In turn, that makes like the 25 cm Nils Invincible and other jumbos. With these larger the whole south shore a very productive place to fish for muskie. In baits, the speed we troll is slowed down to about 3.4-3.6 mph. July, when the water heats up in the middle of the lake, the weedbeds The weather and water color are something else to consider offer cover to the baitfish and is a very popular spot for the larger when choosing the right muskie lure. As mentioned earlier, the best fish. During late-July and into time to fish for muskie is when August, the lake goes through a there is a storm front coming in. At transformation. At this time, the these times, the lures that have a lot underwater growth is starting to be of yellow and gold such as perches, churned up by storms, and certain Helin, or Lawton are good choices. areas of the lake have a lot of float- On right sunny days, you’ll want to ing weeds. This makes the areas stick with lures that have white bel- that are normally very productive, lies, and lots of blue like Blue Frog unfishable. In September and and Blue Back Perch. Alternately, October, the muskie start their fall on cloudier days, yellow belly baits feeding, and move more towards and frog patterns are usually better the edges of the lake to find the choices. For fishing just before larger bait fish. Good fall locations dark, we switch over to darker col- are the Thames River, Stoney ors such as Black Perch, Walleye, or Point, and the mouth of the Dark Frog. As far as water clarity, Detroit River. During this time, in most cases, the clearer the water, you can even fish up into the shal- the more natural the color of bait lows. you should choose. Examples are Another frequently asked perch, carp, bass, or sucker. The question is: So, which lure is the water color we target is the edges of best for catching muskie? While the off-color water because there’s some lures like a Loke will be no bait fish in the clear water, and effective just about any time on because the off-color water is Lake St. Clair, lure selection warmer, which muskie tend to pre- depends a lot on when you are fer. The more off-color the water, fishing, the weather, and water the brighter your lure selection color. We start off the season with should be. Examples for cloudier smaller, tighter action lures such as water are Fire Tiger, glows, or frog a Wiley. We can run the smaller patterns.
12 MUSKIE.....June 2007 Having made your lure selection, there are a few things you need to know about making them run true. A lot of our customers have asked us, “How do I get this bait to run?” There are lots of differ- ent types of lures on the market, and lots of things you can do to make adjustments to them. However, I can tell you how to make three of the most commonly asked-for adjustments (1) screw-eye bait tuning (2) wire-tied bait tuning and (3) hook tuning. For a screw- eye bait like Lappers, Wileys, or ZBaits, the most important thing to do is never bend the screw eye because you can break it right off. Instead, turn the screw eye in the opposite direction the bait runs out. To test which way your bait is running, pull it alongside the boat and watch to see if the bait will pull to one side or the other. Then, gently turn the screw eye in the opposite direction. Begin by making very small turns, and then retest the bait to see if it needs more adjusting. Continue this process until the lure runs true. For a wire tied bait like Loke or Nils, you can test it the same way as men- tioned earlier; however, the difference with wire tied baits is you can everything about muskie fishing at one time, the topics I covered bend the tow eye. Once you determine the way the bait is pulling, here might help answer some of your questions. Your best bet is to you can use your pliers to gently bend the tow eye in the opposite book a charter on the lake, and experience muskie fishing from an direction. Again, begin by making small adjustments until it runs expert. There are several excellent muskie charter services that run true. On baits with treble hooks, the hooks need to be bent in a way on Lake St. Clair, and any of them can give you a great time fishing. so that they don’t scratch the body of the lure or tangle with the other However, if you’re looking to learn to fish for muskie on your own, hooks. First, lay the lure flat, belly up. The two hook points that we be sure to ask lots of questions before you book a charter. Verify that bend are the ones closest to the lure body. Slowly bend them the charter service you’re considering is willing to teach you what you upwards, away from the lure, and toward the center point of the tre- want to learn, and is willing to help you along the way. Then, while ble. Then slightly bend the tip of each of those two tines upward at you’re out on your charter, ask lots of questions and take notes, but about a 30% angle as well. This type of adjustment will help keep the remember to have fun while you’re doing it – because that’s the whole sharp points of the hooks from scratching the surface of your lure, point, isn’t it? O but it also helps you to get a better hook-set. Muskie fishing on Lake St. Clair can be rewarding and a lot of For more information or to book your own charter, call Capt. Mike at fun, but it can feel a little overwhelming, too. While you can’t learn 586-747-3884.
www.muskiesinc.org June 2007.....MUSKIE 13 JUST BIG FISH by Jim Murphy
any of you have seen the advertisements for the DVD’s radar. Wayne is one of the most knowledgeable muskie guys I know. “Just Big Muskies”. I have viewed the films and they are He is very eager to help and when he guides he stresses the educa- M just what they say, several large fish caught by a couple of tional aspect of the game. regular guys. Most of all they had the presence of mind to film the Some of my best memories of those days were the Muskies Inc. catches. I interviewed Brian and Erick for a project I was doing and outings. The Twin Cities Chapter had outings on some of the best both agreed that Muskies Inc. members had a lot to do with their muskie waters in North America. Lake of the Woods, Winnipeg ultimate success as muskie anglers. River, and Rowan Lake to name a few. I learned a lot at the outings I remember those early days; I was a rookie and joined the Twin and the discussions by the campfire with a few adult beverages was Cities Chapter of Muskies Inc. to learn all I could about our favorite priceless. Everyone shared his or her experiences on the water that fish. I went to all the meetings and seminars and not only gained a day. Hot presentations, baits, colors, and even locations were dis- wealth of knowledge, more importantly I made life long friends. cussed. Many times hot fish follows were given up, but we had a Erick and Brian joined a few years later; both stated the eagerness of deal, the guy who raised the fish had the 1st shot at it and he had a the members to help educate new anglers was refreshing and unique couple of days to catch the fish. Erick and his dad Dave came to to Muskies Inc. We are well aware of the veil of secrecy that shrouds many of the outings. They always had their camera with them and the muskie community. Many folks are very tight lipped. Not so showed the day’s action in the cabin when they got off the water. with these guys. Brian and Erick decided a few years back to share their films and Some of the names that all of us talked about were Rick Hartz, “Just Big Muskies” was born. Dave Stanoch, Dan Klien, Mike Cookas, Jim Hammarstedt, George I recently watched their 3rd DVD fish from the Canadian Wahl, Al Martinson, Marv Kiley, Jack Burns and many more too Shield. It was very entertaining and it had segments on baits they use numerous to mention. Brian and Erick said Wayne Klemz, “The old during specific times of the year. We are always looking for some goat in the blue boat”, was probably the biggest influence on build- muskie action DVD’s I think you will really like the 3 films they have ing their knowledge and confidence base. Wayne from Blaine, as his produced. I know I am going to have a camera in my boat this year. friends commonly call him, is a statewide guide in Minnesota. I couldn’t help but think of the great memories these films will bring Wayne has fished on some of the best waters in North America. back while watching in the future. O Wayne, like many other very good muskie anglers, stays under the
ABOUT THE CENTERFOLD
At the April Spring Board Meeting in Columbus we had a Inc. is a dead organization, well, forget it. We are alive and fascinating twist on the introductions at the start of the day. energetic. President Dave Cates directed that each person give a short What happened that morning needed to be captured. I asked statement of the one thing that their home chapter does that the people present there to give me a short writeup of what they are proud of. they said, and I collected a couple of dozen of those. The cen- Frank Walters spoke first, and he didn’t stop with one thing. terfold summarizes their statements. There was actually more He spoke at length, describing a number of things that the than what I reproduce here – I had to cut some back due to SOB’ers do. And the other Muskie folks followed Frank’s space limitations. lead. For over an hour the board was treated to an absolute- I think this is a real eye-opener on what Muskies Inc. is about, ly awesome litany of projects and activities carried out by our a remarkable testament to the things our organization makes Muskie Inc. chapters. happen. We heard about stocking and rearing projects, lake cleanups, If you read just one thing in this issue, please go through vet’s fishing events, wheelchair outings, donations to scholar- those statements by the chapters. They describe what your ships. And lake restoration and habitat improvement. And sister chapters do, and should give you ideas on what other promotional activities at sports shows and magazine and cal- things you might start up. endar donations to schools. And fundraisers. And coopera- And by the way, the background picture of the collage – that’s tion with state DNR’s on a variety of fisheries and research from the Colorado chapter, taken at one of their annual kids projects. And most of all, we heard about many, many youth outings. It’s representative of similar events by so many of our outings and events. chapters. Perry Smith redesigned our Muskies Inc. logo to It was amazing to hear all that the MI chapters are involved start with “Youth,” and I personally don’t think Perry is disap- in and what they do, really something. If you think Muskies pointed. – Juris
14 MUSKIE.....June 2007 Stronger, lighter, more sensitive. ESOX Rods are considered by many to be the best Muskie rods on the market.
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MISSION STATEMENT “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 chil- dren. Our mission is to unite all muskie fishing interests for the promotion and protection of a high quality muskellunge sport fishery in the United States and Canada. We will accomplish this by support- ing conservation practices and research based on sound scientific merit, and car- ried out by authorized federal or state agencies, appropriate academic institu- tions, Muskies, Inc chapters, and their members. We are committed to the abatement of water pollution; maintenance of records for muskie habits, growth, and range; and the dissemination of muskie information to everyone.” Adopted, April 2002
18 MUSKIE.....June 2007 Meet the Kings of the Muskie World by Joe Bednar
es the title of this article is mainly to get your attention, and target shooting, but Mike was into muskies before Michelle and is the die-hard muskie couple I’m about to introduce you to the one to be blamed for the couple’s sickness. That’s how Michelle’s Y would be the last people to ever make such a claim, but family puts it, anyway, when they describe what happened to their because of their last name I couldn’t resist. Meet Michelle and Mike daughter after she met Mike. King, a muskie fishing duo who had a 2006 season that will never be But it’s been a match made in heaven really, and both Michelle forgotten. Though I’m not sure of this since records might not have and Mike will be the first to tell you that someone up above made it been kept for similar feats, I’m willing to bet that no other muskie possible for them to get together, and for all that they’ve shared since. fishing couple has ever accomplished what Michelle and Mike King As Mike puts it, “After my first marriage didn’t work out and some of Muskegon, Michigan, did this past year. So I’d like to take this other very difficult times, I kept praying and praying to find some- opportunity to salute the Kings for their outstanding muskie fishing one in the whole wide world that could put up with me. Then along achievements and at the same time, explore the puzzling mental ill- came Michelle…” Michelle also characterizes them getting together ness that this great fish has brought upon the King family. as quite miraculous, adding “I finally found just the right guy for me, Michelle King set an all-time Women’s Division season record and it sure sealed the deal when I learned he can also paint lures in with 103 muskies over 30 inches caught during 2006, for a total of any custom color I could want…” 1100 points as this goes to press. Since most of you reading these I asked Mike and Michelle what was it about this year in partic- words know very well the kind of sheer insani…uh’ I mean commit- ular that drove them to accomplish what they did, all the countless ment and very hard work it takes to catch muskies, period, it’s diffi- hours on the water in all kinds of weather, all the long miles on the cult to comprehend just what goes into establishing a record mark road including trips to Northwest Ontario and all over Michigan and like the one set by Michelle. Her season also included her personal other Midwestern States. A season like this certainly had plenty of best fish of 52 inches and approximately 34.5 pounds, a beast caught challenging times in with all the good times. Mike said that the com- on Lake St. Clair, October 9th. petition, trying to show what they could do if they worked hard Michelle’s husband Mike made a championship run himself, enough, was part of it, and so was trying to help put Michigan more finishing 2nd in the Mens division for 2006 with123 muskies over 30 on the map in muskie circles that aren’t always the first to recognize inches boated for a total of 1236 points as I write this article. Mike the state’s muskie fisheries and anglers. But he said it was mainly to caught his personal best fish this year as well, a 52 inch trophy boat- prove to themselves that they could do this together, that they had ed on Lake St. Clair on October 9th as well. It’s tough to say who the commitment and determination. I’d say prove it they did, and fishes harder, and Mike will be the first one to tell you that a main then some. reason for their dedication and perseverance is their competition So what are the future plans for the Kings? They plan to most with each other while on the water, yet in a fun and supportive way. definitely continue their muskie efforts, though not quite at the same From what I’ve heard, to include an informal interview with pace as this year. A season like that, though very rewarding, also Mike that helped lead to this article, a typical exchange in the Kings’ takes its toll in many ways including the pocketbook and even phys- boat this past season goes something like this: ical challenges like elbow and back problems they both worked “Nice fish Mr. King, now stop playing around with it ‘cause through due to the tens of thousands of casts with heavy tackle, and you’re gonna’ need to net the much bigger muskie I’m about to catch the pounding of heavy seas like the 6-footers they dealt with many any minute now…” days on Lake St. Clair. They accomplished what they set out to do, “Mrs. King you caught bigger fish than me the last three times and now want to go back to chasing muskies without competing for out, aren’t you being a bit greedy?” any titles, as well as do some other things they couldn’t get to this “Greedy, Mr. King, is you going muskie fishing again tomorrow past year, including more expansion of the Talonz Lures business. while I have to go back to work. In fact, I’d say that counts as cheat- Maybe the best way to conclude this salute to Michelle and ing on me.” Mike and their muskie fishing spirit is to share a recent experience I “Mrs. King I’m not about to cheat on you, especially with some- had with Mike on the water. It was a typical November day in one by the name of Joe…” Michigan, cold, windy, wet. I was chilled to the bone, my back hurt, And so on… my wrist hurt, I had been out all day just one day prior without so The Kings’ crazy and memorable season was also made possible much as a glimpse of a muskie fin and this day for me had not been due in part to their lifestyle, with Michelle working three days on, much better. Mike had been out several consecutive days up to the two days off; then three days on and six days off as a registered nurse, morning we met at the lake, and had fished hard through a slow spell and Mike being self-employed, working on his tackle company and too. As the day wore on I’m thinking “Does he really want to go all another home business at whatever hours it takes to provide the time the way until dark after this many days in a row in these types of con- they need on the water. Michelle will point out that she’s the main ditions?” as I strategically got in little whiny comments about my reason for the rising success of the Kings’ business, Talonz Lures back and cold hands, prodding for an earlier end to the day. (www.fishall-lures.com) because though Mike makes the baits, it Mike never complained, not one bit, and at the end of the day takes her much better angling skills to truly test them on the water. I finally asked him, “Doesn’t your back hurt at least?” He paused, Mike and Michelle married in 2001, with both of them coming grinned, and said “Of course it hurts like hell, but that’s muskie fish- from a strong fishing and outdoors background. They both were and ing…” Enough said. O are avid all-around outdoors people, Michelle has even won events in www.muskiesinc.org June 2007.....MUSKIE 19 KIDS REMEMBER
Remember...? « Somebody got you fishing, as a kid. Would you have done all that by « yourself? Without that “somebody,” Remember fishing as a kid, before you would your life be poorer? No got smart and learned all the serious memories? And all the wonderful stuff you now know? things that followed, later on? « Remember watching a red and white « Like Muskies, when you yourself got bobber on a calm lake? Remember “old enough,” and somebody got seeing it jiggle just a bit and the rip- you started on Muskies? ples spread out? And then how about when it finally went under – « Monster fish seen and caught, or you couldn’t wait! – and you jerked it lost. Trips to Canada. Listening to up? Remember that bright, shiny Marv and Smokey spin yarns on bluegill, all rainbow colored, popping Tuesday night. The indelible beauty out of the water and wiggling in the of a blue and black bucktail with a air at the end of your line? silver blade, flashing through clear « water? The joy of putting a cast into Remember when you learned to put exactly the right spot. Finding cab- worms on the hook? Those slimy, bage in the midst of milfoil. slippery, squishy things, that you real- Follows. And the people – the won- ly didn’t want to touch? And remem- derful people… ber casting with a big plastic Zebco reel on a limp rod? And watching the « You’re that “somebody,” you know. bobber splash down, and the ripples « There isn’t anybody else. Take your die down. own kids fishing. Take your kid’s « Did you ever throw the whole thing kids. Don’t let them miss out. out, bobber and worm and all, and Work your chapter’s kids outing in get it hopelessly tangled up in the tree the spring. Do all of that. branch above your head? And you « And remember… couldn’t do anything about it and got mad at yourself? And somebody had Juris Ozols to help? « Or maybe you started with carp. Remember your mom mak- ing doughballs? Remember how good they smelled from the vanilla juice she mixed up in them? Remember throwing that doughball out into the water, and then setting the rod down on the grass and just laying back and watching the clouds scoot across the sky? Remember when the line started going out? Remember grabbing the pole and running backwards, to set the hook? Remember how strong that carp was, and you weren’t sure if you were going to pull it out or if it was going to pull you in? « Remember your first Northern – the glare from its eyes, and that mouth full of teeth? And remember when you got a bass, and it came flying out of the water, and almost jumped in the boat? Remember catching a bullhead and being told to not touch it, because its fins were poisonous and you could really get hurt? « Who taught you about that dangerous bullhead, anyway? And who took you out on the dock or to the lakeshore, the first time, to go after those bluegills? And who untangled your line from the tree? Your father? Maybe an uncle? Or an older friend, or a friend’s father?
20 MUSKIE.....June 2007 Photo Contest – June Winners by Gordon Campbell
Photo Tip of the Month Take a Kid Fishing Sticking with this month's theme, a few ideas when fish- ing with the kids-- Take photos and lots of them particularly if you have a digital camera. Strive for plenty of of candid, spontaneous shots to document your outing from start to fin- ish. Candids are great because some kids can be shy and as seen in the photo of Katy Posewitz in this months issue, you'll get memorable action shots. Second, and very importantly- teach your junior fishing partners how to work your camera and give them the opportunity to practice. They'll enjoy the chance and the responsibility of handling the camera and should lightning strike for you , a knowledgeable kid behind the camera could be the difference between a striking photo and a blurry "almost". Last, our members have been sending in some great shots. All it takes to see your photo(s) here in Muskie Magazine is a good picture along with relevant caption info. L Winner #1: Michael Hannes with a hefty 43" that thrilled him Good luck and "take a kid fishing". by crashing his Topraider. Pictured with his Uncle Joel Michel of Chapter 35, this photo is well composed & framed. The fish is Gordon Campbell, dripping wet which shows quick handling and the people have a Photo Editor. natural, spontaneous smile. Congrats!
M Winner #2: "We've got a pair"... We don't usually award 3 monthly winners but we had to here. Marg Pauling of Chapter 41 sent in shots of siblings Christian and Marah Overmeyer . Here's Christian posing like a pro with his St. Clair whopper that taped just over 49". Great catch and good hold too, Christian.
L Winner #2: "Hooked For Life" Marah also up on St. Clair in August 2006 with her best - a typically spotted Muskie that measured 50.5" on the dot. These are big Muskies by anyone's standards and the kids handled things perfectly. Again a great catch and super hold considering the size of this fish. www.muskiesinc.org June 2007.....MUSKIE 21 Lensink Boat # 2 They Did It Again! YOUTH MUSKIE WEEKEND by Patricia Strutz Guide Patricia Strutz. Clint Gumieny with a 39 inch Muskie caught at Youth Weekend Once again, the Between the Lakes (BTL) Muskies, Inc. chap- As I gazed across that open lake a big smile broke out on my ter (Sheboygan, Wisconsin area) put together an extraordinary event. face. All the participants were wearing bright orange Turning Leaf A couple of years ago I participated in their first youth musky fish- sweatshirts. You could clearly see them across the lake, even in the ing weekend. This past October I was thrilled to take a small part in snow and rain. Small, slight statures heaving stout musky rods and the second youth adventure. It was called the Turning Leaf jerking Suicks…Musky fishermen are a funny sort. We all love ven- Challenge. Throughout the year, fourteen teenagers attended several turing out on inclement autumn days and here was a new generation educational sessions provided by members of BTL. They became getting inducted into this madness. familiar with identification of the musky, learned about their habitat Each evening culminated in a campfire circle to talk about the and proper equipment, assessed weather situations for safety, and day’s events. The true fellowship between family, friends, and fisher- read maps and electronics to learn to navigate a lake and find poten- men was evident. This was a mixed group… a mother-daughter duo, tial fishing spots. Boating safety skills were also refreshed. A final father-son partners, and adult BTL members who were chaperoning evening session offered hands-on casting practice at a local pond. individual youths. One family consisted of a Grandpa, his two adult The young anglers learned to throw late fall presentations like sons, and three grandsons. The group reflected on the event… DepthRaiders, Bulldawgs, and tandem Mepps bucktails. On a blustery fall weekend, October 27th-29th, the group made Words of Wisdom & Wonder their way north. They stayed at the Sunrise Lodge in Land O Lakes and fished the revered waters of Lac Vieux Desert. The weather was from the Youth and the Elders: miserable. Cold, windy, rain and snow mix…but, the youths had “Grandpa told me about this event. I thought it would be a “caught the fever” and enjoyed pounding the water with their fish- great way to spend time with him.” ing guides (BTL members). Several fish were caught, but more “We grew up playing outdoors…now it seems like we need an importantly, a great experience was had by all. excuse to get out there and enjoy ourselves. This outing gave my daughter and me that excuse.” “The reason I musky fish is for the same reason I got married. It’s all about the fight.” “It’s our responsibility to get kids back outdoors.” ”I grew up in five foster homes. My last parents spent time with me. It’s all about spending time together…that’s what helps put focus into young lives.” “This quality time of fishing together…the interaction my dad and I had, it is unmatched anywhere else in our lives.” “I love the Northwoods. After we passed Highway 64 all your daily troubles seem to melt away. We won’t want to leave. It’s a short, quick drive up north…but it seems to take forever to get home.” “I attended the Youth Musky Adventure two years ago with my son. We had a chance to talk more than usual and that continued as we returned home. The whole trip brought us closer together. That’s why I came again, this time with my daughter… to share the same experience. It was great. We will fish more in the future.” Group gathering at the lodge “I always thought I was too busy at work to spend much time 22 MUSKIE.....June 2007 with the boys fishing. But this experience really shed a new light on bonding…we shared in all the planning and took time to reflect on what we each got out of the experience compared to our hectic daily lives. It just doesn’t get any better. I’ll attend again, and next time I’ll bring another boat for any new angling family that needs one…so they, too, can experience the relations one develops with family, friends, and respect for our natural resources.” My favorite, from musky huntress Amanda Strysick…as she was casting out in a snow storm, with the wind blasting on her wind- burnt face…she would power the rod forward and yell, “I love the pain!” Next cast, “I love the anguish”. Next cast, as she gestured toward her new Turning Leaf sweatshirt, “But, I really love the ORANGE!” Campfire sharing circle Again, what a marvelous event. Between the Lakes chapter mem- ber Roy Kalmerton notes, Any questions can be directed to: “We invite you to put on your own Turning Leaf Challenge. It’s Roy C. Kalmerton, member BTL Chapter Muskie Inc., a wonderful feeling to be involved with introducing our youth pop- Captain/Guide Wolf Pack Adventures, cell 715-558-2105, e-mail ulation to the great outdoors. Our chapter will walk you through our program, we’d be happy to help you with any questions.” [email protected] www.wolfpackadventures.com
BTL graciously thanks sponsors who made this event possible. They include: Members of BTL Thunder Mountain Press Camp Y_Koda Outdoor Education Sheboygan County Conservation Ass’n Wolf Pack Adventures Silken Images Screen Printing, Frabill, St. Croix Rod, Sunrise Lodge, Torke Coffe, Sponsors on Sweat Shirt Heidenreiter Bus Service,
“We congratulate the Wisconsin Bear Hunters organization for Schwarz Fish Company Call your prize holding their youth hunt and hope that becomes a tradition. These UAW Local 833 youth adventures garner great enthusiasm—not only for the partici- Wisconsin Chapters of pants but for the adults who are involved, too. It reminds us all about Muskies, Inc. why we love the outdoors and there is no better feeling than passing Coca-Cola on that enjoyment.” O Marshview Conservation Corp Heartland Business Bank Musky Innovations Boomer Bandstand DJ Service Jerry “The Weasel” Messman Forest Lake Country Store & Musky Mania Tackle
Group of 47 Anglers at Youth Weekend 2006 Jerry and participation prizes www.muskiesinc.org June 2007.....MUSKIE 23 where would I be if it weren’t for Juris? His loyalty and support are T
I beyond reproach. I have had the opportunity to meet lots of great folks, fish with E
E a few and have had a few point me in the right direction. The mem-
S As I See It bership, or as I see it, my family for the last seventeen years, have
I by Jim Smith become some of my best friends and certainly great company. This is not my last issue, but that won’t be far off. I just want S to say thanks and tell you all how much I appreciate the entire M.I. A family.
N I am sure that by the time you read my column for June, you’ll Now, I have an apology for the April Issue Chapter Projects have seen the “Positions Available” notice looking for a new editor Contest winners. I have plaques for all six of the category winners T
I and advertising manager. So I’ll give you the real scoop. First and and similar plaques for each of their sponsors. They were shipped to foremost, I am not leaving because I am mad, nor am I being run Ohio for presentation at the Spring Board Meeting. Suffice it to say E everything was shipped in a timely manner; they just never made it
E out. In fact, quite to the contrary. When Pres. Cates was elected he
S specifically asked me to stay indefinitely and is concerned about my to the banquet. I am sorry, but as soon as I have collected all the plaques, I will re-send them to each of the chapters and each of the
I current departure. When I took this job in October 2003, I looked forward to five years or 60 issues. So far 44 issues. Truth of the mat- sponsors. S ter is Lynda and I moved to Arizona due to my health issues and to A retire. In fairness to Lynda, I think it is time to really retire and trav- el some before I loose anymore of my health. Besides, maybe now N Jim Smith, Managing Editor Jim I’ll have time to find me a 50” incher. MUSKIE Magazine, The Official T I have had a great time as Managing Editor of MUSKIE Publication of Muskies, Inc. I
Magazine and more recently as Advertising Manager. I am proud of Email: [email protected]
E where I have brought MUSKIE, but that is not to say it can’t get bet- E ter. I certainly have not done this alone. I have developed a great We work to S
cadre of writers. We have the best printing company anyone could improve fishing! I
ask for! I cannot say enough about the staff at SunRay Printing, espe-
S cially John Windchitl, Brenda Kirchner and all of their staff. Folks
A like Richard Gross, Bob Jennings, and of course Juris Ozols. Gosh, N
T INDEX OF ADVERTISERS I
E BLUEWATER OUTDOORS ...... 5 E
S ESOX RODS ...... 15
I
FITTANTE REPLICAS ...... 33 S JUST BIG MUSKIES ...... 31 A Over LAX REPRODUCTIONS ...... 15 N s ie 7,000 Musk LEECH LAKE BOARD OF TOURISM ...... 18 T Released On Sabaskong Bay I MUSKIES, INC. BROCHURES ...... 33 Six-time Muskies, Inc., E RED WING LODGE ...... 24 E Chapter Challunge Headquarters S ROLLIE & HELEN’S MUSKY SHOP ...... 13 1983, 1986, 1993, 1997, 2003, 2004 I
SAINT CROIX RODS ...... ii • Ultra-modern one, two, three, or four bedroom cabins S • American plan, housekeeping or camping SPRING BOARD SPONSORS THANK YOU ...... 4 A • Floating docks, electricity for charging batteries, Lund Boats with swivel seats and depth finders, Honda motors with electric start TAYLOR COUNTY TOURIST COMMISSION ...... 26
N • Dining room with food and liquor available for registered guests only
Call or write for data on musky catches: TOM’S HARBOR ...... 18 T
I 1 (888) 488-5601 or (807) 488-5601 TUFFY BOATS ...... 34 Red Wing Lodge, Box 1008, Baudette, MN 56623 E YAKIMA BAIT COMPANY ...... 33 E
S YOUNG'S WILDERNESS CAMP ...... 27
I www.redwinglodge.net • www.redwinglodge.on.ca Family owned and operated for 40 years S A 24 MUSKIE.....June 2007 C H A 48
46 P 2 15 33
24 T 12 38 13 37 Special E 21 6 26 1 4 R 54 30 20 8 35 N 29 47 53 10 14 32 Events E 39 11 17 3 23 31 49 W 55 7 22 19 16 27 50 41 18 51 S 44 42 9
2007 & 45 52 5 28
June 12,13,14,15 V 2007 Chapter Challunge I
June 12th (Tuesday) Registration E
June 13th,14th,15th fishing on Lake W Holcombe, Dairyland Flowage, Old Abe Flowage, Cornell Flowage. S Chapter News and Views Headquarters: East Bay Restaurant N Contact: Jason Smith, (715) 726-9912 or email: [email protected] No. Chapter, Address Phone # C September 21 (Friday) H 01.....Twin Cities, 414 Division St., Excelsior, MN 55331...... 952-380-1218 M.I. International Fall Board Meeting A 02.....Fargo-Moorhead, Box 2021, Fargo ND, 58107...... 701-298-9032 LOTW in the Morson, Ontario area. 03.....Chicagoland Muskie Hunters, 7600 Kilbourn Ave, Skokie, IL 60076 ...... 847-677-0017 P Headquarters: Red Wing Lodge
04.....Titletown Muskies, Inc., 3097 Inverness Lane, New Franken, WI 54229 ...... 920-866-9705 T 05.....Pomme De Terre, PO Box 5, Hermitage, MO 65668...... 417-745-2381 Hosted by the International. E 06.....First Wisconsin, PO Box 122, Chippewa Falls, WI 54729 ...... 715-726-8896 Contact Paul Framsted R 07.....South Side Muskie Hawks, 5211 S. Narragansett Ave., Chicago, IL 60638...... 773-581-8650 [email protected] 08.....Capital City, PO Box 8862, Madison, WI 53708...... 608-669-5046
NOTE: Sept 21st is the correct date. N 09.....West Virginia, 1270 Federal Road, Little Hocking, OH 45742 ...... 740-667-3571 (The 2007 MI Calendar incorrectly
10.....Heartland, 239 8th St SE, Mason City IA 50401...... 641-424-0827 E shows Sept. 14th).
11.....Mississippi Valley, 5301 11th Ave “C”, Moline, IL 61265 ...... 309-797-1803 W 12.....Headwaters, PO Box 652, Eagle River, WI 54521...... 715-477-2913 October 27, 28 13.....Hayward Lakes, PO Box 609, Hayward, WI 54843 ...... 715-634-4543 S 7th Annual Fall Brawl – Kinkaid Lake, 14.....South of the Border, 28926 W. Big Hollow Rd, McHenry, IL 60050...... 815-385-9026
15.....Star of the North, 29957 La Plant Rd., Grand Rapids, MN 55744...... 218-326-4958 Murphysboro, IL. Host: Shawnee Muskie & Hunters Chapter #28.
16.....Three Rivers, 119 Bus Lane, Renfrew, PA15136...... 724-789-7866
17.....Quad County, PO Box 185, Plano, IL 60545...... 815-695-1494 V 18.....Hopedale, 15 Township Rd 125, Dillonvale, OH 43917...... 740-769-7269 19.....Akron-Canton Muskie Maniacs, 10957 Northwood Ave NE, Bolivar OH 44612.330-874-2773 I 20.....Between the Lakes, PO Box 61, Sheboygan, WI 53085-0061 ...... 920-564-3226 E
2008 W 21.....North Metro, PO Box 41216, Plymouth, MN 55441 ...... 952-469-2155 22.....New Jersey, http://www.mi22.com/ ...... TBD S 23.....Cleveland, 5611 Alber, Parma, OH 44129...... 440-221-5760 April 3, 4, 5 2008 Spring board meeting, Hosted by 24.....Brainerd Lakes, 9143 Lone Pine Road, Brainerd, MN 56401...... 218-821-3669 N 26.....Central Wisconsin, PO Box 263, Medford, WI 54451 ...... 715-748-2630 Titletown Muskies, Inc., Chapter #4 27.....Central Illinois, 1191 Sandra Lane, Monticello, IL 61856 ...... 309-264-3730 Radisson Hotel & Conference Center, C 28.....Shawnee Muskie Hunters, PO Box 602, DeKalb, IL 60115 ...... 815-756-3231 2040 Airport Drive, Green Bay, WI H 29.....Upper Great Plains, 1788 Hwy 4, Estherville, IA 51334...... 712-362-2501 Telephone: 800-333-3333 30.....God’s Country, PO Box 1461, LaCrosse, WI 54601 ...... 608-786-4062 A 31.....Penn-Ohio, 309 Spring St, Jamestown, PA 16134...... 724-932-5815 Contact Jay Zahn 32.....Flatlanders, 5776 Vesper Drive, South Beloit, IL 61080 ...... 815-389-4622 [email protected] P 33.....Lake Superior, 2031 Hwy. 33 S., Cloquet, MN 55720...... 218-879-2712 T
35.....Milwaukee, PO Box 28842, Greenfield, WI 53220...... 262-442-6260 E
37.....St. Cloud, 312 18th Avenue N., Sartell, MN 56377 ...... 320-656-1160 R
38.....Vikingland, 2909 Wicken Lane NW, Alexandria, MN 56308...... 320-846-7975
39.....Fox River Valley, 1253 Cobblers Crossing, Elgin, IL 60123...... 847-741-9771 Special events listings are provided at N 41.....Central Ohio, 603 Bennettwoods Ct., Cincinnati, OH 45320 ...... 513-231-1961 42.....Hoosier Muskie Hunters, PO Box 501371, Indianapolis, IN 46250 ...... 317-577-8050 no charge to Muskies, Inc chapters. E 44.....Colorado, 3739 Sawgrass Trail, Castle Rock, CO 80109 ...... 303-668-4089 To list your chapter's event, email to: W 45.....Kentucky, 212 Linden Ave., Southgate, KY 41071...... 859-441-1666 [email protected] S 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: Jim Smith, & 48.....Arrowhead, PO Box 82, Virginia, MN 55792...... 218-482-5217 15045 W. Double Tree Way, 49.....Webster Lake Musky Club, PO Box 670, No. Webster, IN 46555 ...... 574-834-1669 50.....Penn-Jersey, 372 Kingwood Rd., King of Prussia, PA 19406 ...... 610-962-0632 Surprise, AZ 85374-8568. V
51.....Ohio Valley Muskie Hunters, 211 Mann St., Bowerstown, OH 44695...... 740-269-1216 Please send announcements I 52.....Daniel Boone, 813 US 62, Maysville, KY 41056...... 606-759-7610 E at least 2 months in advance. 53.....Huskerland Muskie Hunters, PO Box 394, Valentine, NE 69201...... 402-376-2743 W 54.....Southern Crossroads, 1524 Country Club Rd, Albert Lea MN 56007 ...... 507-373-1818 55.....Mid Iowa Muskies, 2940 SW Meadow Ridge, Ankeny IA 50023 ...... 515-289-1583 S www.muskiesinc.org June 2007.....MUSKIE 25 CHAPTER NEWS & VIEWS N CHAPTER NEWS & VIEWS N CHAPTER NEWS & VIEWS Libertyville . Independence GroveislocatedonRoute137in preserve thathasbeenstockedwithMuskie. Independence GroveisaLakeCountyForest ing forthecookoutandre-matchcastingcontest. meeting withfishingupuntilthe7:00PMgather- Greg [email protected]. shortly after11:30am. Formoreinformationemail will begatheringatBarnacleBob’s onLakeMarie ent afreshlookattheseproductivewaters. Kosciusko County’s muskielakesandwillpres- will betheJune5thspeaker. Vince guidesin with hison-the-waterexpertise. tainly wasabletoimpressthenicesizedcrowd knows theheavilyfishedChainbest.Hecer- ommended bymanymembersastheguidewho extremely informative.Darrellcamehighlyrec- 26 for MuskiesontheFoxChain”May1 tation entitled“Location, Technique, andPatters West Higgins Ave., ParkRidge,IL. M See youontheW The August meetingwillbesimilartoJuly’s The July7thmeetingwillbeOn The Water. We Chain O’ Lakes Guide, Darrell Baker’s presen- LakesGuide,DarrellBaker’s Chain O’ Vince Weirick ofVince Weirick GuideService eets 1 MUSKIE 03 st T uesday 7:30PM,ParkRidgeVFW10 .....June 2007 8 47-677-0017 –DeanRosset Muskie Hunters ater d 7600 Kilbourn Ave. Chicagoland kke L60076 Skokie, IL [email protected] Greg Denny s t , was al springseminarthatwasheldon April 19 c the ParkPonderosainMcFarland. This isthe couple ofweeksaway fishing openerforSouthernWisconsinisonlya quite abuzzinthechaptermembershipas the successisbetterthanfirstone. more outingplannedfor2007andwehopethat were lostbeforebeingnetted. The clubhasfour Three clubmembershadfishontheirlinesbut weather wasthefactthatnofishwerecaught. cut offishingshort.Evenrougherthanthe day duetoverysevereweatherintheareathat Creek LakeinNorthwestIowa.Itwasarough T the yearinIowa(namedHawgouting). very informative. The clubhelditsfirstoutingof Grant’s presentationwasentertainingaswell largest tigermuskiesonverysmallbaits.Mr. ture, timeofyear, andthefactthathecatcheshis years suchastheimportanceofwatertempera- interesting factsthathehaslearnedoverthe Hesharedsome famous forcatchingbigtiger’s. dealt withcatchingtigermuskies.Mr. Grantis located. The secondpartofhispresentation crowd tomarklakemapswhereweedcoveris effective whenfishinginweeds,andadvisedthe ent typeofweeds,thelureshehasfoundmost cover. Hesharedhisapproachtofishingdiffer- dealt withidentifyingandfishinginheavyweed mer andfall. The firstpartofhispresentation also guidesinVilas countyWisconsininthesum- sional guidefromCaveRunKentucky. Mr. Grant featured speakerwasMr. Tony Grant,aprofes- lub’s majorfundraiserfortheyear. This year’s Meets: 2 McFarland, WI wenty fourclubmembersventuredtoPleasant The clubhadanexcellentturnoutforitsannu- 08 nd Monday 7:00PMParkPonderosa 6 P.O. Box8862,Madison,WI53708 08-669-5046 –GerardHellenbrand w ww . Capital City capitalcitymuskiesinc.org . Reporting: Gary Hoffman There is th at 2007 year release formson line,pleasealsosendmean If youwouldlike tosubmityourowncatchand 61201. RockIsland, IL Pleasesubmit all formstoRob Dickinson, 1531 11th St. forms. suggestions foroutings. everyone toattend. cession. 2nd W captured one40”male. Scott Morrison;DistrictVIFishBiologisthasonly it wasamale.Inallofhisyearselectrofishing, observed totravellongdistancesinWVstreams, from 33”to37”.Likemostothermuskies moved aboutfiftymilesdownstreamandgrew was taggedin2005theBlueHole. This fish One ofthefishelectroshockedthisspring(2007) being capturedhavebeenpreviouslytagged. Middle IslandCreek. captured andtaggedbyDNRnearthemouthof better thanlarger facilitates discussionandtheexchangeofideas DNR of the muskierearingandstockingprogram. streams, Designated Trophy MuskieWaters and Hemmorhagic Septicemia,droplinesonmuskie Bend Lake,Water Access Surveys,Viral kiosk andtheRadio Telemetry ProjectatNorth Charleston. room oftheGanderMountainstoreinSouth DNR officials washeld3-27-07intheconference Chairperson. Sharon Cranewhoservedas Tournament also fromtheBuckhannonRiver. Thanks to Member forhis32”onan Amma BamaJerkbait congratulations toyoungRaymondRector, aJr. Elbert’s 33”onaNJBSpinnerbait. And special apart. Nelson’s 35”cameonaNJBCrankand River witha35”and33”onlyfifteenminutes brief flurryofsuperactionontheBuckhannon does indeedgettheworm! muskie therestofday. Maybetheearlybird get alureinthewater. Billnevermovedanother Cee BeeJerkbeforepartnerChuckBraniff could winning fish,a41”,onhisveryfirstcastwith Piedmont LakewhereBillBoggesscaughtthe Bait beforemostofuspulledintotheparkinglot. a 30”almostimmediatelyonhisnewestCrane boated. NormanBoleyarrivedearlyandcaught Despite aterrificturnout,onlyonemuskiewas brood fishforWVDNRatNorthBendLake. Tournament coincidedwithoureffort tocatch our SpringMail-In. The firstdayofthe Center inRockIsland,IL. Expo Meets 2ndWednesday 7:00pmattheQCCA I amnowtakingcareofallcatch andrelease W Chapter membershipmeetingsareheldonthe Already thisspringseveralmuskieshavebeen We appreciatetheopportunitytomeetwith Several topicswerediscussedincludinga Our annualroundtablediscussionwithWV Nelson BrownandElbertRobinsonenjoyeda Meanwhile, asimilarsceneplayedouton Our 2007 Tournament Schedulekickedoff with 09 e aresettingourcalendarofoutings forthe 11 dedyo ahmnha h CAcon- ednesday ofeachmonthattheQCCA ficials inthissmallgroupformatwhich M We wouldliketohearfromyoufor . etn trsa :0m We invite Meeting startsat7:00pm. eets: Nodefiniteschedule-call oie L61265•309-797-1803 Moline, IL http://westvirginiamuskiesinc.org , moreformalmeetings. Mississippi Email: [email protected] L John Kaltenecker ittle Hocking,OH45742 West Virginia 1 5301 1 270 FederalRoad About halfofthefishnow 740-667-3571 1th A ve “C” V alley , Secretary Email or print a copy. I need to have a verifica- as well as providing, piers and docks on numer- interesting. We will meet at the Beerhunters C
tion copy in case of a lost on line form. Please ous lakes. A number of chapter awards were Restaurant, 11 miles east of Hayward on highway H send pictures if available. We are always look- given out at out banquet. Junior awards were 77 east at 7:30 p.m. A ing for pictures to add to our photo album. received by Joseph Tynan and Peter Blicharz. The second meeting was just put together
We had 35 fish caught in the 2006 season by Women’s awards went to Linda Jacobs and recently. We are going to host Mike Staggs, the P
our members. 34 were released, one was kept. Rosemary Owen. Pattie Miller was inducted into head of fisheries for the Wisconsin DNR. This is T This member gave all he could but release was the Hall of Fame. In the men’s category awards co- sponsored with Walleyes For Northwest E unsuccessful. went to John Ascenbrenner, Bruce Ludke and Ed Wisconsin. The event will be Thursday June 14th The following were awards given for the 2006 Spoerl. Charles Schauer was inducted into the at 7 p.m. at the Hayward Veterans Center in R season. First place men’s division with 17 Hall of Fame. Lunker awards were given for the downtown Hayward. Mike will also answer ques- releases 129 points, was also top hunter for largest released fish in various categories and tions after his presentation. Everyone is wel- N
June, July and August went to Jim Megli who also were given to Joseph Tynan, Pattie Miller, Brian come. E
had largest release. 2nd place men’s division Widule, Tom Rahlf, Paul Hansen and Rosemary The Hayward Chapter recently donated W with 2 releases, 26 points, top hunter for Owen.Congradulations to the above recipients $5,000 to remove Northern Pike from Musky Bay
September was Denny Johnson. There was a Additional information and photos of our banquet on Lac Court Orielles and turn the fish into fish S tie for 3rd place. Men’s division first with 3 releas- can be found on our website www.headwa- patties to be donated to Fishing Has No es, 22 points, top hunter for May was Russ tersmuskies.com. Our June open membership Boundaries and the local food shelf. This devel- & th Schnieder. Sharing 3rd place of men’s division meeting will be June 6 at 7 PM at the Eagle oped when Dave Nueswanger contacted us with with 2 releases, 22 points went to Paul Sikkema. River Inn. If visiting the area be sure to stop in. an idea to help Musky reproduction on Lac Court V Juniors division 1st place 3 releases, 35 points, Regards, Orielles by reducing the competing Pike popula- top hunter in May went to Brandon Schnieder. Glenn Matula tion. The DNR gets large numbers of Pike in it’s I E Let’s not forget the Ladies! First place went to Secretary Headwaters Chapter 12 nets each spring while trying to capture walleyes Dee Megli with 2 releases, 12 points, top hunter and Muskies. The Pike were brought in and taken W
June. Congratulations to all the members who to a butcher shop for processing so the not for S caught fish in the 2006 season! We hope you all Hayward Lakes profit groups could use them. 2,500 fish were har- will have a great 2007 season with many catch P.O. Box 609 vested, about 15% of the adult population. Many N and release forms. 13 Hayward, WI 54843 of these fish were ripe females who had not yet The Chapter gives heart felt sympathy to the spawned. This produced 1,200 pounds of
715-634-4543 C friends and relatives of Rick D’Angelo who processed fish patties. The DNR will do follow up passed away. He will be missed. survey work to check on the effect of the removal. H
We still have jackets and denim shirts avail- Plans for our 30th Annual Fall Tournament are Good Fishing, A able at Custom Designs in Monogramming in close to being finalized. The event will again be Mike Persson P Moline, IL. Please contact Joan at (309)764- held the first weekend of October, the 5th,6th and 1690. You can bring in your own jackets or shirts 7th this year. Hayward Power Sports will again be T for them to embroider or buy directly from them. our major sponsor. Thanks to them our top prize E
Jackets complete run $70 and denim shirts com- will be a Lund 1700 Explorer with a 50 hp. Akron-Canton R 10957 Northwood Ave. NE plete are $50. You may also have them person- Mercury on a E-Z Loader trailer. Power Sports is 19 Bolivar, OH 44612 alized with your name for an additional cost. located ten miles east of Hayward on highway 77 N Gordon Selden - 330-874-2773 Joan and Tom will be more than happy to give east. Stop and see them for not only boats but http://[email protected] E you these prices or help you with any other cus- also ATV’s and snowmobiles and they rent all tom embroidery. We would like to give a big these toys too. Tell them you’re with Muskies Meets 3rd Monday 7:00 PM, Belgrade Gardens, W 3476 Massillon Road, Akron, OH. thanks to Joan and Tom for all their help and time Inc.and you appreciate their support. S in getting the new design and colors set for our In June we are going to have two meetings.
jackets. We had already scheduled a meeting for The Muskie Maniacs had their first tournament & Thank You. Tuesday June 5th. Our guest speaker will be Mike of the 2007 season at Salt Fork Lake on April 21 Rob Dickinson Cookas. Mike has been active in Muskies Inc. for and 22nd. Club member Jack Whyde brought a many years and has fished and guided in Sawyer guest with him to be his partner. Well, Jack’s V
county for most of his life. Mike also fishes our partner Warren Sturtz won the tournament with a I Headwaters local rivers, which few people do, so his presen- E P.O. Box 652 tation will be (Continued on page 28) W 12 Eagle River, WI 54521 715-477-2913 – Paul Hansen S www.headwatersmuskies.com
Meets 1st Wednesday 7:00 PM N The Headwaters Chapter 12 of Muskies Inc. is ramping up for a very busy season. Upcoming C events include our youth trout fishing pond held H th
April 27 at the Eagle River Home Show. Funds A generated help our youth programs. May 26th is the opening day for musky fishing in Northern P
Wisconsin and will be our first member’s only out- T
ing chaired by Roger Sabota and Jim Rechlitz. E Club members will be meeting at Oneida Village R in Three Lakes, WI after a day of fishing to see who had a lucky opening day. Our 27th annual N Headwaters Spring Classic will be held on June
9th on the Eagle River Chain. This event is E chaired by Jeff Miller and Jim and Carol Heffner. W If you are looking for a premiere tournament with first place prize of $15,000 check out our website S www.headwatersmuskies.com. Headwaters Chapter 12 held its 29th annual & th banquet on March 29 at the Eagle River Inn with about 175 musky enthusiasts attending. Dale V Peterson did an outstanding job as chairperson I
of our banquet. The banquet is a major fund rais- E er that allows our club to give back to the commu- W nity in many ways including youth programs,
muskellunge research to ensure a quality fishery S www.muskiesinc.org June 2007.....MUSKIE 27 nice 42” fish. This is Warren’s first muskie he 971-7806 (Prairie Lake Weekend that will Park shelter. There is no entry fee for the outing S has ever caught and managed to also catch two start Friday, September 14th thru Sunday and we encouraging bringing someone new to sub legal fish of 26” and 27” fish. Way to go September 16th. Panther Creek is located in expose them to our great chapter and to W Warren! I think he is now hooked on to muskie the Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish & this sport we all love so much. This a good E fishing. Guy Bechter won the big fish pool with Wildlife Area, 10149 County Hwy 11, opportunity to get some good fishing in, have a I a 31 ?” fish. One of our new members Gary Chandlerville, IL 62627. There is a no limit HP great dinner and to socialize with fellow chapter
V Puckett caught his first Ohio muskie with a 30” lake, but the entire 210 acre lake is “no wake”. members. You can go to the UGP chapter web- fish. Good Job Gary! We had a great tourna- There is no fee for launching a boat. We have site http://muskieclub.com to see all the
& ment and you couldn’t have asked for the weath- reserved 3 cabins (#2, 3, & 4). The total cost upcoming event dates as well as pictures from
er to be any better. of each cabin is just $85.00 each for the two gillnetting on the IA Great Lakes. On behalf of
S We want to thank Chris Shuck for providing us nights. Check in is 3:00 Pm and check out is all the chapter board members we wish everyone with some great pointers on how to fish Salt Fork 1:00 pm a successful and safe muskie fishing season. W Lake at our April 16th meeting to get us ready for October 20 Guide For Day & Meeting (7 pm) Sincerely,
E our first tournament. Chris also handed out after dinner @ Paul Ice Ramp on Kinkaid Lake Pete Hildreth Chapter Editor, maps and highlighted were he has caught fish. October 21 Guide For Day continues…if inter- [email protected] N
Thanks again Chris! ested please contact Manuel Santa Cruz Our next event will be our Chapter Challenge [email protected] or (618) 610-5003 or R May 19th and 20th at Salt Fork Lake. David Artrip @ [email protected] Fox River Valley E We are hosting this event and hope we have October 27-28, 7th Annual Fall Brawl 1253 Cobblers Crossing, Elgin, IL 601230 T the same weather for this event as we had with Tournament, Kinkaid Lake (IMTT) 39 847-741-9771 – Rich Gallagher www.frvmuskie.com P our first tournament. November 3 Outing for Veterans & Board On June 9th and 10th, we are going to have our Meeting If You Are Interested In Helping Let Meets: 2nd Wed (Exc June/July) Poplar Creek Country A 2nd tournament at Leesville Lake. Manuel Santa Cruz Know [email protected] Club, 1400 Poplar Creek Drive, Hoffman Estates, IL. H I will give the run down of the Chapter or (618) 610-5003 or Jerry Ford fordjk@sbc-
C Challenge results in the next month’s article. global.net 618-628-4205 Hello All, Until then, catch some fish………! November 10-11 IMTT IL State Muskie A couple of quick reminders. Like you, I am out
N Kevin Proffitt Championship, Lake Shelbyville on the water.
December 1 Christmas Party Place To Be This month starts our “Summer fishing th S Announced League.” The days are: Sunday June 10 , Lake Clean Up Event (4/14)-There was 2,000 Sunday July 8th, and Sunday August 12th. Times W New Jersey pounds of trash taken out of Lake Kinkaid. “SMH on the water have been revised from last year. E members and friends teamed up with local sup- We will be starting at Five a.m. and go until 11
I 22 http://www.mi22.com/ port to haul out a ton of trash. THANKS for all a.m. The points system remains the same. Check that helped on this cold rainy day. “ the web site for further details. V
Muskie Gal! Remember to purchase your tickets for our Shannon Beaty-Dingus electronics “Mega Raffle.” All proceeds from this & Spring fishing is underway and it sounds like [email protected] raffle go to our Youth, Fisheries and Stocking pro-
Norm Small is the first to put a few in the net. gram. Help us to build a fishing future for your S Greenwood Lake survived the drawdown and children. Our goal is to have each member sell
W Chuck Graf provided a trapnetting report: Upper Great Plains $100.00 worth of tickets. The member who sells
E “Netting is going well so far with the biggest a 47” 1788 Hwy 4 the most tickets will win a $300.00 Gift Certificate female along with quite a few Muskies in the 36- 29 Estherville, IA 51334 from Rollie & Helen’s Muskie Shop. Prizes are: N 40” range”. Craig Lemon will have a full report 712-362-2501 Third Place, A 30 GB iPod (Retail $ 240.00)
when the work is complete. At a recent meeting Meets 3rd Thursday , Legion Club, 1709 Okoboji Second Place, A Nintendo Wii (Retail $ 400.00) R the Chapter bestowed the first “ Hall of Fame “ Ave., Milford, IA. and in First Place the one we are all crossing our
E award to “Smitty”. To those who know him, he fingers for, a 42” Daewood Plasma TV! (Retail
T was a tireless fundraiser in the early days and $2000.00) We are selling tickets for $5.00 each always had a contagious enthusiasm for building On April 19th board members Carl Waddell, or a book of five for $20.00. We will be selling P NJ Muskies Inc. and the fishery. A plaque was Skip Frakes, Mark Mithchell, Virg Harrison, Leo them right up until the time of the drawing at our
A awarded to Jim and we would like to formally Kofoot, Dale Witt, Scott Larson, Randy Meyer, September 12th. Meeting. You DO NOT have to
H thank and recognize him for all his efforts and Shannon Greene, Ryan Blau, Rod Blau, and be present to win. friendship over the years. Put June 23 on your myself were all in attendance for our annual Upcoming Club trips are: DePere/Fox C calendar as that’s our annual spring Tournament monthly meeting at the American Legion in River/Green bay, October 12th to 14th. North with Greenwood and Monksville as the 2 qualify- Milford. Webster Indiana, November 16th. to 18th. All N ing waters. Dinner afterwards will be at the Various topics were discussed which included details and updates are on the website. American Legion Hall in the village of Greenwood gillnetting results by the IDNR, website updates, Our regular club meeting dates are the second S Lake. Watch our site mi22.com for further and upcoming chapter events. As far as gillnet- Wednesday of the month at the Poplar Creek
W details. No more meetings til September... it’s ting on the Iowa Great Lakes, the up and down Country Club. We will be back in September been a long Winter so enjoy the fishing. water temperatures made things tougher then when our featured speaker will be Todd Forcier E
I Submitted by Gordon Campbell, normal for IDNR fisheries staff at the Spirit Lake on Wisconsin Petenwell Flowage Muskies. In VP Chapter 22. Fish Hatchery. However, over 200 muskies October will be our own Russ Schaller on the Fox V were caught in the gillnets. The largest muskie Chain of Lakes. The accommodations at Poplar was a 53 inch 47 pound beauty caught in Big Creek are the best. They offer members a buffet
& Spirit along with several others in the 30 lb. class style dinner starting at six p.m. before the 7:30
Shawnee range.As far as upcoming events we have p.m. meeting. The week before the meeting the P.O. Box 602 S 28 DeKalb, IL 60115 muskie league nights and the 3rd Annual June web site will have the buffet menu and cost. See 815-756-3231 – Gary Dew Outing on Big Spirit Lake this month. League you there! W (815) 529-1159 night will be on Big Spirit Lake on June Until Later, E Meets: varies-call for schedule. 6th and June 20th at Templar Park boat ramp. Return ‘em to the water Healthy
N July 11th we will be on West Okoboji at Triggs and Remember Our Troops.
boat ramp and then back on Big Spirit on July
R Shawnee Muskie Hunters Calendar 25th at Templar Park boat ramp. July 14 Shelbyville Bellow Dam Fish Outing & League night fishing will start at 6:15 pm and E meeting & Lunch @ 12:00 P.M. you can sign in with Rod Blau or myself from T August 12 Board of Directors Meeting, 7 P.M. 5:30-6 at the boat ramp. Entry fee for league
P Phone Conference night is $7. The outing on Big Spirit Lake will be September 14-16 Prairie Lake Outing in Jim held on June 23rd. A Edgar Panther Creek (W. of Springfield) meet- Fishing hours are from 7am to 7 pm. After H ing & camping Jim Beaty is setting this up 618- fishing we will have a BBQ dinner at the Templar C
28 MUSKIE.....June 2007 MUSKIE by Eric Engbretson
he first time I came face to face with a muskie underwater in face of the lake that August day was like stepping into a new world. it’s environment, I thought I was going to have a stroke. I I couldn’t believe the radiance of this underwater landscape. Plants, T was scuba diving in a small northern Wisconsin Lake known rocks, sunken trees covered in green algae…it was simply breathtak- primarily for bass and bluegills, when I turned and found myself face ing! An underwater paradise! And then there were the fish. I saw to face with a monster that looked more like an alligator than any- more fish in one afternoon than I had seen as a fisherman in the pre- thing else. To say I was startled would be an understatement. I vious year! It was my first glimpse into an astounding silent world remember screaming into my regulator as an eruption of air bubbles filled with unsurpassed beauty and teaming with life! exploded from my lungs and raced towards the surface. My arms As the days and weeks passed, I found myself fishing less and less and legs moved involuntarily in panic and I stirred up a cloud of silt and snorkeling more and more. Eventually I bought a cheap under- that quickly enveloped both the beast and me. After a few seconds, water camera so that I could take pictures and show my others this when I had recovered from the start, and regained my amazing new world, and photos of what the fish looked composure, I was amazed to see that the giant like “on their own turf”. It wasn’t long before fish hadn’t moved an inch. It was still I wanted to go deeper and take better pic- there, just three feet away hanging tures. I began buying scuba equip- motionless in the slowly clearing ment and more sophisticated water. In stark contrast to my cameras and learning the craft initial panicked surprised of underwater photogra- its reaction was just the phy. Eventually, I sold opposite. It’s an underwater picture demeanor was calm, of a bass to a small and it’s steely-eyed fishing magazine. gaze remained By this time, I had fixed on me the fallen deeply in entire time like a love with the gunslinger in a underwater Clint Eastwood realm and the western. This fish that lived was a fish filled there, and I with confi- knew that this dence, instead passion would of fear. He was become my life’s the ruler of this work. underwater king- Today, 13 dom, and seemed years later, I’m a to regard me with freelance photogra- the same sense of pher. My underwa- apathy and disinterest ter fish pictures that’s normally reserved appear in fishing and only for telemarketers and outdoor magazines late night TV pitchmen. around the world. I sell pic- Finally, he slowly finned away tures to book publishers, calen- into the depths and I was left with dar companies, advertising agen- a feeling of awe and admiration for cies, state natural resources depart- these magnificent fish that has only grown ments, and so on. I spend 7 months a year over the years. taking pictures underwater in the lakes and rivers of the upper Great Lakes Region where I live. Often my life I began taking pictures underwater in 1993. I’d been an avid feels like a non-stop vacation and I wouldn’t trade places with any- fisherman all my life, but one sunny August afternoon, instead of one else. grabbing my rod and reel, I grabbed a cheap mask, snorkel and fins I’m also very lucky that I just happen to live in an area that’s that were 3 sizes too small and dove into a clear water lake near my home to some of the most legendary muskie lakes in the country. home. That day changed my life. As a fisherman I remember star- Over the years, I’ve had a chance to swim in some of these famed ing down into the water from the boat or the end of the dock and waters and encounter muskies up close in their own environment. wondering “What’s down there? Are there any fish in this lake? There’s nothing quite like seeing a large muskie underwater. They What do they do down there all day long?” Diving under the sur- (Continued on page 30) www.muskiesinc.org June 2007.....MUSKIE 29 MUSKIE (Continued from page 29) foot long muskie? I did the quick arithmetic: Since it appeared to be 70 inches or more, its real and actual size would have been a little over glide effortlessly through the water with the supreme confidence 50 inches. Possibly even a little more. It looked to me like it could reserved for members at the top of their food chain. Because of this, have been the next world record. It wasn’t, but at 50+ inches, it was they’re not afraid of divers and I’m able to approach them usually fair- a spectacular fish in anyone’s book ly easily. They are surely aware of all the other fish and animals that populate their world and because divers are an anomaly, they will rou- tinely approach me with what I can only characterize as curiosity. My three best tips for muskie fisherman: They often make a complete circle around me as if to inspect this Over the years observing muskies underwater, I’ve seen a few ‘strange creature” from every angle. They also display keen awareness. things that I feel confident in professing. Many fishermen believe that When I enter a lake, I don’t have to search for the muskies. I’ve dis- muskies favor certain “spots” in a lake. I can certainly testify to that. covered that if I’m patient, they will find me. Drawn, I’m sure by acute Some downed trees or weedbeds hold muskie all the time. So after a imperceptible sensory abilities and also probably just by the noise of few visits to a lake, once these hang outs are found, I will almost my air bubbles too. always find a muskie there on subsequent dives. Because of this first One of the attributes of water is that when viewed through a hand observation, I believe that fisherman who fish the exact same prism of air, objects appear to be larger than they really are. So when spots where previous muskies were caught increase their chances I’m underwater looking through my diver’s mask, a 45-inch musky tremendously. However, these muskie hot-spots do change from time appears to me to be a to time, just like a restaurant or bar that may be really popular for a 60-inch fish! Fish and season and then cool off. Once a musky is caught however, I recom- anything else viewed mend moving to a new area immediately. It’s my experience that underwater are only ? muskies, not engaged in spawning rituals, stay far away from each of their actual size. other. I’ve never seen 2 muskies in close proximity to each other. It Fisherman often ask makes me wonder if they might have agreed upon territories that are me how big the fish off limits to rivals. are that I see. I do my I think most muskie fisherman miss some of the best water and best to adjust for the best opportunities to catch a large early season muskie, In May and optics of underwater early June, I see many muskie in very shallow water. Sometimes as lit- viewing, but the fact tle as 3 feet. Which means, basically, you want to go to the end of is, I just don’t know. your dock and cast sideways or perpendicular to the dock, not straight Fish look really big out. If you’re fishing in a boat, concentrate on areas that would seem underwater, and big fish look positively huge when viewed underwa- to be much too shallow to possibly hold a large fish. If you think ter. For the first few years, I got really excited whenever I saw muskies. you’re fishing too shallow, go even shallower! I think you’ll be sur- “Wow! That’s gotta be a world record!” I would say to myself. But prised. over the years, I’ve come to better understand this illusion and now I I never spent much time fishing for muskies in the days when I don’t pee my wetsuit quite as often when I see what looks like Moby used to fish a lot, but if I were fishing them today, I’ll tell you what I Dick. What this means sadly, is that all those reports you hear of 6 would use. I would look for a crank bait about 13 inches long that foot long monsters swimming next to the boat, or huge fish that got resembles a walleye. If off before they could be netted are really just ordinary sized muskies. no one makes a walleye Some may argue that the fish lined up exactly with something on the imitation for musky boat that’s of known size and therefore, that’s evidence that the fish they really should. I was really a whopper. This of course is nonsense. Since you would still can’t tell you how many be viewing the fish in water through a space of air, the magnification times I’ve seen muskies illusion is still in play. Your boat is a poor yardstick since it’s in air, stalking schools of and the fish is underwater. (If you don’t quite grasp this idea, lean walleyes. I think the over the side of the boat sometime and stick your hand underwater amount of predation about a foot. Then take a ruler and hold it above the water’s surface that occurs is vastly and take a good measurement of what you see. Next, take your hand understated and under- out of the water and measure it. If you did this right, your actual stood. Muskies target hand will measure only ? of the size of your estimated measurement walleye with great regularity. Walleye fishermen often report muskie while it was underwater.) attacking their catch as it’s coming to the boat. I want to assure you Having said all that, I remember a particular encounter last this is neither an aberration nor a deviation from their normal diet. spring. I was taking pictures in Lake Tomahawk in Vilas County Muskie regularly follow, stalk and target walleyes. I’ve seen this many, Wisconsin. I came across 2 muskies engaged in spawning activity. It many times. I think that bass are taken occasionally too but no where was a very dark rainy afternoon and the light was terrible and I was- near the frequency that walleyes are preyed upon. If you make your n’t able to get any pictures, but the fish I saw that day was truly own lures, or can paint, and you fish muskie in lakes that have impressive. The size of the spawning male was not remarkable. In walleyes, I’d strongly recommend a walleye patterned lure. You’ve fact, he was simply dwarfed by the female he was swimming with. undoubtedly heard that muskie prefer soft rayed fish like suckers and She was a real beauty. She was enormous, and had a girth like those avoid sharp, spiny-rayed fish like walleye. That’s nonsense. I’ve seen big watermelons that win ribbons at the county fair. She swam along both northern pike and muskie swallowing large walleyes tail first! side of me and I took a good long look. I’m five foot, eight inches tall, The spiny erect dorsal fin is crushed with little effort just like a tin can and the fish lined up next to me was longer than I was! Was this a 6- under the wheels of a city bus. O
30 MUSKIE.....June 2007 Set That Hook–HARD!!! I looked at his dad, grinned a bit and said to the boy, “With Muskies my friend—ya gotta set that hook….and SET IT HARD!!” I met a fellow Muskie Fisherman and his young son, Cody at the Chippewa Flowage Campground last summer. My wife, her mother and I were there for the month of June. I had fished alone in the Chip and also Callahan. I had no luck in the Chip, but boated two in Callahan; one legal sized—both were released. A Bald Eagle swooped down out of nowhere and pounced on the legal sized Muskie as he was treading water ready to swim away. The Eagle took to the air empty han…er…clawed. Mr. Muskie disappeared to the deep!! Anyhow, back to my two new Muskie friends. They invited me along one day—they had a nice boat, rigged proper for the Sport. We decided on Moose Lake, got on the water by about 8 AM. We worked the shore line casting until our arms were sore. About 2 PM, I looked at his dad, grinned a bit and said to the boy, “With we were quite a ways from where we had put in. It clouded up. A Muskies, my friend—ya gotta set that hook….and SET IT HARD!!” storm was moving in fast, so we started back just as it started raining. “He’s right.” Said Cody’s dad. And rain it did. My friend was a good boatman as he kept us on a The boy looked down at the water, then up at us with a defeat- slow but steady course. We had all donned ponchos and a good thing ed look. we did. About half was back I asked, “The bilge pumps start auto- I could see that this boy is a good candidate for the famous matically?” ‘Muskie Fever’ so I said to him, “You got thru lesson number one— “Yep!” Was all I heard through the pounding rain. and there will be more—but you’ll win over the Muskies.” The rain did not let up all the way back. “Really?!?” There were no cross winds—just a steady down pour of rain and “Sometimes.” I answered. more rain. We got back, safe and sound—Wet? Clear through to our He looked at his dad; who said, “Well…son…ya skin and then some. see……Sometimes….” O Two days later, we went again; this time to Tiger Cat Flowage. We had a good time—no rain, a nice day. I caught nothing. The gentleman boated a cou- ple of Northerns as did Cody. They planned on pickling them. Northerns seem to hit and stay hooked. Muskie? An entirely different story. Both my new friends were using spinner baits in a brown color. I was hoping we would tie into some Muskies. They were happy with the Northerns they had caught. I was watch- ing as Cody’s spinner bait came alongside the boat when a nice Golden Muskie hit it. I was just starting to say, “Hit it!” when this Muskie was gone. Cody didn’t see this Muskie, but he knew he had had a strike and felt bad about not getting it. We kept casting for about another thirty minutes and again I was watching Cody’s spin- ner bait come alongside the boat. His dad was on the forward casting platform and turned just in time to see another Goldie hit Cody’s spinner bait. But this time, Cody saw the Muskie too! “SET IT!” Was said by his Father. Cody reared back….I saw the slack line when this Muskie had hit the spinner bait….the flash of this fish, and in another flash he was gone back to the deep! “What Happened??” Asked Cody, not knowing what to think and also thinking we were going to ‘holler-on-him’ for not hooking this Muskie. www.muskiesinc.org June 2007.....MUSKIE 31 Amanda Strysick won this Frabill net donated here by Jerry Messman for the Between the Lakes Youth Outing. Kelsey Eitel age 13 displaying a 35" Kentcky Katy Posewitz reeling one in. One of a "Musky Tom" who prides himself as a Now she's ready for the big one! fish released November of 2006. Chapter 52's series submitted by father Jack, it's an "teaching Guide" helped Eric Gooden to Another of several shots submitted by Larry Besant submitted the shot. excellent action shot. This type photo adds this catch. "Eric had a ton of fun and Capt. Roy Kalmerton, to a great collection. handled the fish perfectly". [email protected] Tom can be reached at [email protected].
Chapter 50's Joe Tarditi proudly hoisting a 38" caught by "Starting Early" - Paul Hartman and Also from Larry, a family photo of Chris Haley, son Nicholas while casting as daughter and sister Olivia daughter Gracie, 9 months up on Leech Lake. with kids Charlie and Christine all holding up looks on. A great perspective as seen from another boat. Photo by Wife and Mom Kristi. a 36" Green River Muskie.
Austin Smith nicely photographed by his father Jason. He's off to Fred Brogle of Chapter 12 took out young Karsten Hultgren, age 10 a good start with this Northern Pike. and his Dad Randy for Fall fishing . Randy beat the elements for this his first Muskie and immediately joined Muskies Inc. Good job to all.
Proper Muskie Holding Techniques for MUSKIE Magazine Photos includ- ing Covers, Article Support, Photo Contest Entries & Member Photos
32 MUSKIE.....June 2007 www.muskiesinc.org June 2007.....MUSKIE 33