NON PROFIT ORG US POSTAGE ST CLOUD MN PERMIT #1316 OctFinal.pdf · Departments 2 President’s...

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Fishing.Landing.Two totallydifferent things.

www.frabill.com • 800.558.1005P.O. Box 49 • Jackson, WI 53037

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PLEASE HELP BY CONTRIBUTING* TO OUR YOUTH...FISHERIES...RESEARCH PROGRAMS!Our goal is to raise $15,000. Contributions of $50 or more will be eligible to receive specialgifts. See all the program details in your 2007 Muskies, Inc. Calendar package.*Your contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Departments2 President’s Message,

David Cates

3 Magazine Notes, Staff

4 International News, Staff

13 Lunge Log, Jim Bunch

20 Chapter Challunge(Centerfold), Juris Ozols

22 Photo Contest, Juris Ozols

23 Video Review

32 As I See It, Jim Smith

33 Chapter News and Views

39 Muskie Tales, Bob Jennings

38 Index of Advertisers

40 MUSKIE Magazine Issues

42 Member Photos, Juris Ozols

Features7 The Price of Success, Ruth Anderson

9 Madison’s Metro Muskies: Part 1 of 2,Doug Stamm

10 A Current Affair, Bob Chochola

18 Mid-Fall Ski’n: Part 2 of Autumn Muskie Tactics,Colby Simms

24 Figure 8s Work!, James W. Colgan

27 Mandatory Catch and Release For Muskie,Kevin Yokum

29 What Goes Around Comes Around, Patricia Strutz

31 Where Did That Fish Come From?,Gordon Campbell

38 Showcasing Our Sponsors: Mepps, Patricia Strutz

October 2006.....MUSKIE 1

Name _______________________________ Phone ________________

Address____________________________________________________

City & State_____________________________ Zip_________________

Chapter Affiliation Choice Number _______________________________

Old Address (for address change only) ___________________________

City & State ____________________________ Zip_________

My Membership # ______________ Expiration Date _______

Check One: ❑ New Member ❑ Renewal ❑ Address Change ❑ Gift

Email ________________________

Name of Spouse_____________________________________________


Junior Member(s) Date of Birth (DOB)

Name ___________________________________ DOB ___________

Name ___________________________________ DOB ___________

Name ___________________________________ DOB ___________


MAIL TO MUSKIES, INC. 14257 Waters Edge Trail,New Berlin, WI, 53151

1-888-710-8286

Regular Membership: ❑ 1 Year-$35.00 ❑ 2 Years-$65.00 ❑ 3 Years- $95.00

Family Membership: ❑ 1 Year-$47.50 ❑ 2 Years-$90.00 ❑ 3 Years-$132.50

Junior Membership (Under 18): ❑ $20.00

❑ For Muskie Research $________

Payment: ❑ Check or ❑ Credit Card:

Card # __ __ __ __- __ __ __ __- __ __ __ __- __ __ __ __ Exp. Date ____ /____ Signature ____________________________________________

(to find the number of the Chapter you wish to join, see the Chapter News & Views section)

(to find the number of the Chapter you wish to join, see the Chapter News & Views section)

www.muskiesinc.org

ContentsMUSKIE • VOL. 40, NO. 10

Join Muskies, Inc. ...or give a membershipas a gift.

❑ VISA ❑ Discover❑ AmEx ❑ MasterCard

MUSKIE is published monthly and is the OfficialPublication of Muskies, Inc. International Office: RonGroeschl, International Sec., 14257 Waters EdgeTrail, New Berlin, WI 53151. Ph: 888-710-8286.© Copyright 2006 by Muskies, Inc. All rights reserved.

NEW

InternationalOfficers

President, David CatesPhone: 574-457-3222Email: [email protected]

Vice President/Finances, Jim BeatyPhone: 618-235-6370Email: [email protected]

Vice President/Research, Ken KarbonPhone: 303-688-4954Email: [email protected]

Vice President/Internal Affairs, Dick McPikePhone: 816-436-4909Email: [email protected]

Vice President/Membership, Bob TimmePhone: 715-462-3053Email: [email protected]

Vice President/Communications, Jack MogaPhone: 440-886-3926 Email: [email protected]

Treasurer, Pete BarberPhone: 847-726-7267Email: [email protected]

Members Only Fishing Contest, Jim BunchPhone: 715-723-8343 • Fax: 715-723-8354Email: [email protected]

Web Master, Ron GroeschlPhone: 262-271-1002Email: [email protected]

Int. Administrative Secretary, Ron Groeschl14257 Waters Edge Trail, New Berlin, WI 53151Phone: 888-710-8286 or 262-271-1002Email: [email protected]

At Large Directors Term Expires

Ken Karbon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2007

Jim Shannon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2007

Bob Timme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2007

Jim Beaty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2007

Bob Osborne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2007

David Rautmann . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2008

Don Jahnke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2008

David Cates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2008

Patricia Strutz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2008

Karl Scherer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2008

Dick McPike . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2009

Dan Narsete . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2009

Diana Mindar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2009

Jack Moga . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2009

Brad Waldera . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2009

2 MUSKIE.....October 2006

HOW CAN WE GET BETTER?That was the question I posed to chapter presidents and RVPs following the spring

2006 International Board Meeting. Eighteen individuals took the time to respond (somesaid they discussed the issue at the chapter level) and each deserves my thanks for their input.

At the time, the response rate to my query was about 20%. Not bad for an unscientif-ic poll, but I wanted to hear from a broader spectrum of individuals. Accordingly, a fewmonths ago in this column I posed the same question to our general membership. Myresponse rate? Zero. Zip. Nada. Draw your own conclusions.

The officers who responded each made positive and constructive comments. I brokedown the areas of concern that they suggested need addressing into five broad (and some-what overlapping) categories. They are:

NUMBER OF ITEM RESPONSES

A. Mission OrientedA.1 Are We a Fishing Club or a Conservation Organization? 8

B. MonetaryB.1 Control the Budget 2B.2 No more International Banquets 2B.3 Reinstate the Members Only Fishing Contest Awards at the

Chapter Level, Paid for by the International 1

C. StructuralC.1 Increase Personal Accountability of Officers and Employees 3C.2 Hire a Professional Staff 2C.3 Regionalization 1C.4 Increase the Involvement of Chapters at the International Level 1

D. CommunicationsD.1 Improve International and Chapter Communications 3D.2 Magazine Issues (Number of Issues per Year, Budget, Content, Etc.) 2

E. ProceduralE.1 Make Membership Functions More Efficient 1E.2 Make Sure Motions for Consideration are Distributed Early

for Discussion at the Chapter Level, Prior to a Board Meeting 4E.3 Direct Discussion to Policies, Not Management 2E.4 Make Certain Each Speaker at a Board of Director’s Meeting

Uses a Microphone 1Each of these issues deserves consideration and discussion.

So how can we get better? Get involved. Take an active role in your organization.Educate yourself as to issues, and work to improve Muskies, Inc. Let the Officers and meknow how to address issues relevant to you. Offer solutions. At the upcoming Fall BoardMeeting, I intend to have a discussion about how to address these issues. Make certain yourRVP is prepared and can participate.

Incidentally, I purposely chose the photo accompanying this column. Those littleMuskies photographed moments before being stocked into Upper Long Lake by the WebsterLake Musky Club (MI #49), represent many positives for the Chapter and MI. OtherChapters are working to improve the resource. Let’s focus the International there as well.More next month.

See you on the water.

ABOUT THE COVERA Muskies Inc boat plying the fabled watersof Lake Mille Lacs at sunrise the first morn-ing of the 30th annual Gil Hamm ChapterChallunge. There is no finer feeling than that– hitting the water early on the first day.The sore backs and tired arms come laterafter many hours on the water. But that firstmorning you are fresh and eager, and theMuskies wait to be caught. Life is good.

ABOUT THECENTERFOLDThe traditional group shot of the 70 Muskies Inc. members who participatedin the 30th annual Gil Hamm Chapter Challunge. And why are some of themwaving and some not? The ones with their hands in the air caught legalMuskies. You can guess about the others.

In front is the winning team from First Wisconsin with the Lunge Bucket.

At top are photos of Muskie boats on the water, and underneath some of thefish that were caught. From left to right: Dave Weyland holding and releas-ing a 41-incher; Fred Johnson, 43.5; Jason Smith, 47; John Newman, 44; ChrisCochoran, 50; Fred Johnson, 47.5; Jeff Bommersbach, 44; and Rick Mechelkeholding and releasing a 49-incher.

The middle photo shows Jason Hammernick from the North Metro chapterwith the “Big Fish” of the tournament, a 55 incher, which is a giant even bythe standards of Mille Lacs.

MUSKIE Magazine StaffRod Ramsell, Editor EmeritusKeith Ogden, Editor Emeritus

MANAGING EDITORJim SmithPhone: (623) 388-3225Email: [email protected]

ASSISTANT EDITORJuris OzolsPhone: (952) 956-5793Email: [email protected]

PHOTO EDITORGordon CampbellPhone: (973) 208-8297Email: [email protected]

ADVERTISING MANAGERJim Smith15045 W. Double Tree WaySurprise, AZ 85374-8568Phone: (623) 388-3225Email: [email protected]

PUBLICATIONS TECHNICAL MANAGERSunray Printing Solutions, Inc. - Brenda Kirchner25123 22nd Ave. S. • St. Cloud, MN 56301-9189Phone: 888-253-8808, ext. 133

MAGAZINE DESIGNSunray Printing Solutions, Inc. - John Windschitl

ILLUSTRATORS/CARTOONISTSRichard Gross

FIELD EDITORSBob Chochola, James W. Colgan,Elizabeth Cratty, Adam Glickman, RobertJennings, Mike Kanaval, Colby Simms,Patricia Strutz, Vincent P. Trotta

CONTRIBUTING EDITORSJames W. Colgan, Colby Simms, Justin Gaiche,Dennis M. Lubin, Dick Chapman

MUSKIE is published exclusively for the mem-bership of Muskies, Inc. and subscriptionscome with a paid membership. Muskies, Inc. isa non-profit organization. Membership classesand associated annual dues are listed on theform at the bottom of page one. Single copiesof MUSKIE magazine are available at $3.00each from the Muskies, Inc. InternationalOffice.

Contributors grant rights for M.I. to publishonce in MUSKIE Magazine, both the print andon-line versions, including archives and on theM.I. Web site.

Submissions toMUSKIE Magazine

Persons interested in submitting articles forpublication are directed to our websitewww.muskiesinc.org. There they will find alink to MUSKIE Magazine. From there youwill find links on the left side of the page pro-viding information necessary for submissionsto MUSKIE Magazine. Further questions willbe answered by Jim Smith, Managing Editor.Submissions may be sent to: 15045 W.Double Tree Way • Surprise, AZ 85374-8568.Phone: (623) 388-3225 or you may

Email: [email protected].

October 2006.....MUSKIE 3www.muskiesinc.org

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Muskies, Inc. Past PresidentsGil Hamm

Edward T. PeterkaRobert Hill

Robert ShoopFrank Schneider

Peter HadleyDuWayne Bakke

Lou Cook

Peter HadleyBob Schmidt

Larry RamsellLou Cook

Keith OgdenBill Davis

Steve StatlandJohn Hotle

Jim BlaubachSteve Budnik

Jim SmithPaul Framsted

Perry SmithGreg Wells

Coming Next Month:✒ Destination Dryberry by Bob Chochola✒ Metro Madison Muskie Lakes Part II by Doug Stamm✒ Muskie Guys Like Color by Bob Podgorski✒ Notes from the Fall Board Meeting✒ Autumn Muskie Tactics Part III - Colby Simms✒ Results of the Best of the Best Tournament

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Annual At Large ElectionsThe annual International Board of Directors At Large elections

time is here. All members of Muskies, Inc. for three years in goodstanding are eligible to run for the board. We have five positionsopen. All resumes should be mailed to Paul Framsted, 20676 EastEastman Ave, Aurora, CO, 80013 or emailed [email protected] by November 30, 2006. Please tryto keep your resume to 500 words or less.

Members elected to the International Board are elected to a 3year term and are required to attend 2 board meetings a year, held ona Saturday in April and October at a location to be announced.ALD’s are expected to take a leadership role at the International leveland chair one or more committees. ALD’s are eligible to run andserve as our International President.

The election will take place in December and January with win-ners announced February 1, 2007.

Thank you, Paul Framsted

First Wisconsin Chapter Is Winnerof Gil Hamm Chapter ChallungeThe Fargo-Moorhead chapter hosted the 30th Annual Gil HammChapter Challunge on Mille Lacs, Minnesota, August 9th thru 11th.Seventy-six anglers representing 15 teams and 7 chapters competed.

Although day one got off to a slow start, there were some big fishcaught. North Metro team #2 registered a 38”, 43”, and a 55”whopper! Brainerd team #2 also had a great fish, a 52”. NorthMetro team #2 has the lead going into the second day.

Thursday was overcast all day with a good breeze blowing andfourteen fish were caught, including some very nice ones again.Fargo-Moorhead team #1 registered a 44” and F-M team #4 had a50”. Brainerd team #2 registered a 51” and a 52”!! Twin Cities team#2 registered two 44” fish. However, it was time for First Wisconsinto show their stuff and they registered six nice fish to jump into thelead. Fred Johnson, chapter president, started the day with a 43.5”

BBUUYY--SSEELLLL--TTRRAADDEEMUSKIE Magazine is looking to start a Muskies, Inc.Resource Section (Classified ads) each month. We wouldlike you to send in your ads. We will also include them onour website in a special section for no additional charge.Cost will be $50.00 for a fifty-word ad. Plus 10¢ per wordover the minimum. (2 column inches maximum) Photos willbe included for an additional $35.00.

For information contact James T. Smith at

[email protected]

HISTORY OF THE GIL HAMMCHAPTER CHALLUNGE

by Vince Trotta

When I lived there, one of the better Muskie fishingspots in Northwestern Pennsylvania was Edinboro Lakein Edinboro, Pennsylvania, Home of EdinboroUniversity of Pennsylvania. As a confused new resi-dent, I asked why the town name was spelledEdinboro instead of Edinburgh like it’s Scottish name-sake. Longtime locals said that the founders of thecommunity were poor spellers. Did those same townfounders give the MI Chapter Challunge its name? No,but the story of the “Challunge” startup is an interestingone. *

In 1977, the Muskie Hunter Illinois Chapter sent out achallenge for the other chapters to “out-fish” them. Asa result, the first Chapter Challenge Tournamentoccurred on the Minocqua chain of lakes in 1977. Withthree chapters participating, the results were 1st place:Fargo-Moorhead, 2nd place: Illinois, and 3rd Place: TwinCities.

The traveling trophy, the Lunge Bucket, made its firstappearance at the 2nd Chapter Challenge Tournament in1978. As MI Past President Steve Statland tells it, in the1st Chapter Challenge, he caught the Challenge’s firstMuskie, a 41 incher, using a sucker taken from hisfather’s minnow bucket he was using. Later, he had theminnow bucket bronzed and outfitted to be the travel-ing trophy. Thanks again, Steve. Fargo-Moorhead wasthe host chapter on the Northwest Angle on Lake of theWoods with five competing chapters. The 1st winnerof the Lunge Bucket was Mississippi Valley.

It was in 1979 that the word “Tournament” wasdropped from the title in an effort to differentiate theevent as one of “camaraderie and good fellowship,”not unbridled competition. That year the word“Challunge,” was introduced with the “e” changed to a“u” as in “lunge.” For the first time, the name includeda tribute to the MI Founder Gil Hamm. Nine chapterscompeted for the Lunge Bucket on Dryberry Lake,Ontario. Headwaters Chapter of Eagle River, Wisconsintook the prize. The Gil Hamm Chapter Challunge hadgrown from a fingerling to the wall-hanger-sized eventit is today.

*Editor’s Note: Most of the information for this touch ofhistory is from Kermit Benson’s History of Muskies, Inc.The MI History and Archives Committee welcomes earlyGil Hamm Chapter Challunge pictures, programs, newsarticles, and memorabilia. If requested, original picturesand documents will be returned after [email protected] or 952 688-7216. ❖


and a half hour later landed a 47.5. Then his teammate, Jason Smithlanded a 47 incher. In the afternoon it was time for a second boat togo into action. River Rat Rick Mechelke landed a beautiful 49”caught on a surface bait that had been given to him by teammate BobNeidhold at the spring bait swap. That was quickly followed by boatpartner Chuck Spletter catching a 44” and 45”, both on Tinsil-Tailbucktails. Day two ended with First WI. in the lead.

Day three the clouds were gone, and it seemed like the fish weretoo. Still, four teams managed to register fish. Twin Cities team #1got on board with a 44” fish. Fargo-Moorhead team #1 scored twicewith a 40” and 44”, and team #2 registered a 50 incher. NorthMetro team #1 scored again with a 43” incher. That wasn’t enough,however, as the lead by First Wisconsin held up to give them theLunge Bucket and it’s contents. The final standings are as follows:

1st First Wisconsin Chapter2nd North Metro Team #23rd Brainerd, team #24th Fargo-Moorhead, team #15th North Metro, team #16th & 7th (tie) F-M teams #2 and #48th Twin Cities, team #19th Twin Cities, team #2

A total of 23 fish were registered, with seven of them fifty-inch-es or longer and only one less than 40 inches!! A big thanks goes outto Fargo-Moorhead for hosting such a great event. The spaghettifeed Thursday evening and the Hold-em tournament were a hugesuccess. Friday’s award ceremony was preceded by a feast of brats,burgers and beef ‘n pork.

If you have never fished the Gil Hamm Challunge, plan to joinin the fun next year as First Wisconsin will be the host and try tohave another great event!!

Submitted by Bob Neidhold

Gordon CampbellAppointed Photo Editor

New Jersey chapter member Gordon Campbell has recentlybeen appointed as MUSKIE Magazine Photo Editor, to assistAssistant Editor Juris Ozols with his workload. Gordon will beresponsible for the monthly Member Photo Contest and theMember Photos section of the magazine. Beginning November 1st

please mail or Email your photos to Gordon [email protected] or his home address: 45 Timber Lane,Newfoundland, NJ 07435. If you need to reach him by phone, hisnumber is (973) 208-8297. ❖

National Fish Hatchery SystemAddressing Deadly VirusAnglers and boaters can help Dr. Robert Bakal, US Fish &Wildlife Service (Summary from the meeting on August 8th & 9th 2006)

Robert Bakal, DVM, is the Aquatic Animal Health Coordinator,Division of the National Fish Hatchery System in Washington DC. Hecan be reached at [email protected] or call 919-513-6851 .

Emerging conservation problems require immediate attention.Viral hemorrhagic septicemia, or VHS, is one such issue. This viralfish disease has recently caused major episodes of fish die-offs in theGreat Lakes, including Lake Erie. Scores of game and non-gamespecies died in droves in spring and early summer of 2006 in severalwaters in the Great Lakes. Large fish kills were reported in the U.S.and Canada. The disease is not transmitted to people.

To address this issue, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s Divisionof the National Fish Hatchery System convened an international bodyof fish health and fishery management experts in August to addressVHS. They gathered at the Service’s Great Lakes-Big Rivers region-al office in Minneapolis to share what is known about this new virusin the Great Lakes, and charted an immediate course to learn moreand direct future fishery management needs and research.

A leading expert on VHS in the United States, Jim Winton of theUS Geological Survey, indicated that the VHS virus exists in fourstrains, with a single, unique sub-strain occurring in the Great Lakes.The VHS virus has been known in Europe, Japan, and the coasts ofthe U.S. for many years; how it came to occur in the Great Lakes is

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Call or write for data on musky catches:

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1 (888) 488-5601 or (807) 488-5601Red Wing Lodge, Box 1008, Baudette, MN 56623

(Continued on page 6)

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not known. Winton speculates that it mayhave originated in ballast water from ocean-going ships sailing into the Great Lakes, orthat it may have hitchhiked in shipments ofhatchery-raised fish. Though the virus’s ori-gin remains unknown, Winton said that thevirus’s lack of genetic diversity in the GreatLakes indicates that it probably has onlyrecently arrived to Great Lakes waters.

The virus could move through the GreatLakes to new species of fish that so far havenot shown vulnerability to the disease, and itcould move to new waters. The virus willprobably persist in low levels and some fishwill carry the virus without disease symptoms, much like a person cancarry a cold virus without actually catching a cold. But those carri-ers can spread it, which can be a problem in stemming the spread.

Scientists expect the disease to spread in the contiguous GreatLakes and possibly into tributary streams; more fish-kills are to beexpected, but it could be that in time, further outbreaks will be atten-uated as surviving fish exposed to the virus become immune. Furtheroutbreaks of the disease may be less explosive than that which unfold-ed in early 2006.

Inoculating fish in the wild to prevent the spread of disease issimply impossible. From this Minneapolis meeting, the attendingscientists determined there is much to be learned about VHS, bothfrom a biological and environmental standpoint. They also deter-mined that containment in the Great Lakes is paramount.

Anglers and boaters should clean and disinfect their craft andgear much like they are already encouraged to do to stop hitchhikingaquatic nuisance species. For more information on how clean yourgear, visit www.protectyourwaters.ne

The full effect of this viraldisease remains to be seen. But whatis known is the economic impactfrom large die-offs of importantgame fishes like trophy muskellunge,smallmouth bass, and yellow perchin the Great Lakes region could beprofound. Commercial fisheries arealso likely to be harmed. Of the 12known species impacted by the dis-ease, only two species were not gamefishes. The affects of VHS toendangered species conservationcould be equally profound, all under-scoring the immediacy of thisconservation problem. ❖

DEADLY VIRUS (Cont’d from page 5)

Notice Re: Advertisingin MUSKIE Magazine

Until further notice please direct all advertising inquiries to JimSmith, Managing Editor. Please be further advised that effec-tive with the March 2006 issue MUSKIE Magazine increasedtheir rates. A new rate sheet can be sent electronically via theInternet or mailed to interested advertisers with our media kit.Our rate sheet is also available on our websitewww.muskiesinc.org see Magazine tab at top of openingpage, then click on Advertising Opportunities on the left.

James T. Smith15045 W. Double Tree Way

Surprise, AZ 85374-8568(623) 388-3225

Email: [email protected]

Dr. Paul Bowser, professor of aquatic animal medicine atCornell University hoists a muskellunge believed to haveperished from VHS. Photo courtesy Cornell University.


Ican’t believe it. When I heard the Muskie’s Inc. InternationalContest women’s division champion was coming to thiscampground, I expected a huge fiberglass boat with 200 hp

plus, with all the expensive trimmings, state of the art locators, topof the line rods and reels, and a carload of the latest lures, etc.” Thatwas the comment we heard when our campsite neighbor, Larry, camewith his camera to take my picture standing byour little camper next to our 14 ft. boat with a 15hp motor. “I want to tack this picture up next tomy muskie lure collection to help me realize thatit takes dedication, not money, to catch fish.”Those words inspired this article.

My husband, Bud, and I started muskie fish-ing three years ago with a 14 ft. boat and 15 hpmotor. We joined Muskies, Inc., bought a cou-ple of cheap heavy rods, one new reel, plus one ata garage sale. We did buy new line and leadersand a couple of lures, plus a net, and we were off!After catching some beautiful fish (see article“My First Year of Muskie Fishing” in Feb. 05Muskie magazine) we were hooked on this sport.

We packed our little pickup with our tent and sleeping bags andheaded into Ontario to try our luck. By this time we may have hadfive rods and reels and about thirty lures. Bud had removed the mid-dle seat of the boat to accommodateour equipment (raingear, tackle box,lunch, life jackets) and built a heavyduty trailer (car tires and axles) to nav-igate the bumpy logging roads. Thefirst couple years was awful with leak-ing air mattresses, rain in the tent, tentblown over, wet clothes and gear, slip-pery and muddy logging roads, andhuge welts from mosquitoes and no-seeums. But, we caught fish! I mustdigress here to say “don’t ever try thiswithout a solid, intact marriage.”After a couple of years of frustrations,we relented and bought a used pickupcamper for $800, not pretty, but watertight. It needed to be smallbecause we put it on our nine-year old Ford Ranger pickup with a 6ft. box. It has an overhead bed, some storage, and a stove. Weremoved the ice-box and installed a dorm-size fridge and bought atiny microwave. Our toilet facilities are the same 5-qt. ice creampail that we use in the boat. Yet, we park at a campground so wehave electricity to run a fan (no air) and have a showerhouse available.

That’s about it! We don’t need much for accommodations, aswe’re usually up by 6 a.m., eat a quick breakfast, make a couple ofsandwiches, grab some pop, and head for one of the small lakes inthe back woods. We have already unloaded our camper at thecampground, so we are able to put the outboard in the pickup boxmounted in a foam contraption Bud made to protect after findingthe boat transom partially broken from the motor bouncing on the

rough roads. Often it’s 12 miles or more from this bouncing, so wehave to drive fairly slow. That’s why we need such a heavy trailer fora 14 ft. boat. Usually we arrive at our destination by 7:30 a.m., thenwe start portaging the boat, motor, gear, etc. down the steep slipperyslope. After a few trips we are ready to fish. Our electronic gear isquite limited as it needs to be portable. Our tackle is limited to

what we choose to carry. Our motor and boatneed to be light enough to portage. We fish allday, even trolling while we eat our sandwiches,and we usually leave the lake by 8 or 9 p.m.Then, it’s reverse order hauling the boat, etc. backup the hill and bouncing back home. Supperoften consists of hot dogs and beans or a can ofstew since it’s late and we’re exhausted. We don’tmake anything fancy and needless to say, we don’tneed a soft bed in order to get a good night’ssleep.

The campground is $25 per night. Ourbiggest expense is gas for the 400 mile trip, butwe spend two weeks at a time in order to avoid

extra travel expense. What I’m trying to point out is that it doesn’tneed to cost a great deal of money to be a successful muskie fisher-man, but it takes prioritizing of time, dedication, and lots of work.Perhaps, if our accommodations were more luxurious, I’d be tempt-

ed to stay inside during foul weather,but since there’s nothing to do there, Imight as well fish.

If I were to list our fishingequipment expenses over the past threeyears, it would be very minimal. Thisdoesn’t have to be a high dollar sport.Of course there are many advantagesto having more expensive equipment.A smaller boat allows you to fishsmaller, more difficult lakes. However,one should never attempt large waterwith such a small boat and motor.This 14 ft. boat has accounted for therelease of over 300 legal muskies. The

boat was purchased used for $225 three years ago, motor $800 eightyears ago, portable locator $10 at a garage sale, nets, tackle, rods,raingear, totaling about $500 for the two of us. But, remember, thisis mostly a one-time expense of over three years.

With a lot of determination, I was able to take first place in theInternational contest of 2005. It was great fun and a real challenge.I am proud of my accomplishments, and would encourage anyone totry it. Often when you see other species fishing champions, you dosee what Larry expected - lots of very expensive equipment.

I just want you all to know - anyone has a chance to be success-ful in this sport. ❖

Ruth Anderson1st Place Women’s Division M. I. International Members Only Fishing Contest

THE PRICE OF SUCCESSby Ruth Anderson

“I want to tack thispicture up next to mymuskie lure collectionto help me realize thatit takes dedication, notmoney, to catch fish.”Those words inspiredthis article

“


At 4:30 in the afternoon the six lanes of traffic heading to andfrom Madison, Wisconsin’s Capitol Square weren’t quite fullwhen the first musky took a swipe at Rog’s surface bait. A

half hour and four missed hits later it was peak rush hour when amound of water suddenly appeared behind Rog’s lure, and a near 40inch musky took it deep and then went airborne right next toinbound traffic. I could see the look of astonishment on some dri-ver’s faces as they braked to watch the acrobatics, and any second weexpected to hear the screech and crunch of a rush hour fender ben-der.

After we landed Rog’s fish we photographed and released it infront of the Frank Lloyd Wright Center in downtown Madison whilea crowd of joggers gathered on the shoreline and people inside near-by office buildings watched from lake view windows. So it goes whenmuskie fishing takes on an urban flavor and fishermen head to metroMadison for Wisconsin’s legendary game fish.

If you’re a musky fisherman used to only loon serenades break-ing the quiet of northern lakes you’ll have some things to get used toif you fish muskies in the Madison chain. Expect the sounds ofhonking traffic, police sirens and roaring zoo lions mixed in with themosquito like buzz of ski boats and jet skies. But it’s not always hec-tic, and if you know where and when to go you can expect quietplaces and quiet times. But no matter when and no matter where, if

you’re a musky fisherman onthe Madison chain, expect alot of muskies under yourboat!

The muskies found inMadison’s lakes are a real suc-cess story in fish managementand angler cooperation.Because muskies do not repro-duce naturally in the Madisonchain, maintaining a popula-tion in the lakes requires a con-tinuous restocking program.Wisconsin’s Department of

Natural Resources started the program more than 20 years ago, but todaymany of the muskies stocked into Madison’s musky lakes are paid for byMadison’s Capitol City Chapter of Muskies Inc and other area fishingclubs, the very fishermen who pursue them.

Each year area DNR fisheries expert Scott Stewart meets with

local musky fishing clubs to work out astocking program that determines the num-ber of muskies available for stocking thatyear in Madison’s lakes. Stewart determineshow many muskies the state hatcheries canprovide and how many muskies the lakescan absorb, and the difference is made up bythe fishing clubs to maximize the stockingprogram. When Stewart determines a num-ber, Muskies Inc and the other area-fishingclubs buy juvenile muskies with moneyobtained through fund raising events, dona-tions and dues. These privately grown fishare specifically raised for stocking inMadison’s lakes.

The Madison lakes stocking programhas been a management success. The densityof muskies in some Madison area lakes isnow about the same as the density of muskies found in northernWisconsin lakes, and in one lake the density is actually much higherthan an average musky lake in Wisconsin. Remarkably, that meansyour chances of catching a muskie are probably better in metroMadison than in the famous northern lakes region of the state.


With Wisconsin’s capitol dome in the background,dusk on Lake Monona often finds muskie fishermenworking thick weedlines offshore.

A typical small but pure strain muskiefrom Lake Wingra shows its true col-ors after taking on a top water bait.

The ever popular buck-tail spinner used in wildnorthern lakes worksjust as well on largeurban muskies.

Madison is becoming well known in the muskie world and fishermen comefrom all over the Midwest to cast and troll for big fish in the shadow ofMadison’s capitol skyline.

I’ve said it many times before, but here it is again: a great spot is agreat spot and will continue to be a great spot year-in and year-out, because it has certain ingredients necessary to hold muskies

all the time. The ingredients I’m talking about consist of permanentstructures that have been there ever since the Earth cooled (or in thecase of the Canadian Shield, ever since the glaciers thawed) and thecommon constant conditions that interact with these structures allthe time making them attractive places for muskies to stop and hang-out on a regular basis.

You can take that advice and simplify success even more whenyou understand that it holds true no matter what time of year you gofishing, no matter what time of day you like to roll out of bed to hitthe water, and no matter what variable conditions Mother Naturethrows at you on your trip. Seasonal changes, weather patterns, andmoon cycles all have a proactive short term effect on a muskie’s move-

ment. Feeding does tend to revolve around these recurring events, butif your fishing time is limited like mine and you cannot spend two-hundred days a year on the water, then you are at the mercy of thegods. You could face a week in downtown Skunksville if you get ham-mered by the unexpected and don’t know what to do to make thingshappen.

Muskies are a native river fish. Without going into the history ofthe species, I’ll say that to know and understand this will put youonto some of the highest percentage spots on the lake. Growing upfishing The Fox River gives me some insight into the muskie worldsimply by my familiarity with the nature of the beast. That nature iscurrent.

Current happens one of two ways on any lake: fast water enter-ing the lake via a tributary and/or wind moving lake water through aneck down, saddle area, or narrows. Higher concentrations of nutri-ents and oxygen attract baitfish and active toothy predators won’t befar behind. I say “active” because I doubt that a big fish will spend theenergy it takes to fight current unless she intends to eat something.

“Narrows Provide Natural Habitatfor Muskies All Season”

A narrows will funnel a lake’s natural flow through a very smallplace, thus creating current. The stronger the wind blows, thestronger the current flows through the narrows just like a river.

Unlike a river, however, current in the narrows can change direc-tion in a heartbeat with a sudden wind shift. This can happen sever-al times in one day depending upon the weather systems. Reversingthe flow through these areas can and will move the fish around andtrigger feeding, so pay attention to them.

I can count twelve such narrows on my lake map right now justby following our normal one day “milk run” of spots, which coversapproximately one-quarter of the entire lake. They vary in size andconfiguration. Some connect two large areas of deep water and some


simply occupy the space in between an island and mainland. Still oth-ers eventually narrow completely and end (neck down), but provideample structure, current, and casting space before you run out of fer-tile water.

Pay attention to narrows that have access to deep water and aresometimes deep themselves - look for structure, cover, and the “spot-within-a-spot.” One of our best narrows is deep all the way through.It’s a channel connecting two large bodies of deep water and has a rip-rap shore, a steep drop into the channel, several small weed beds alongthe shoreline, and rock reefs at either end just beyond the narrows inopen water. It is always cookin’.

Narrows provide perfect natural habitat for muskies and anyweed bed, rock point, reef, ledge, or drop-off you come in contactwith has great potential for success. Heck, drift right down the mid-dle and cast - I know you’ll contact suspended fish.

“Saddle Areas are a Benchmarkfor the Traveling Muskie”

This is true for the traveling Muskie Hunter, as well. When youface big open water and your boat isn’t decked-out with more elec-tronics than the cockpit of a 777, then you have to look for the obvi-ous. Saddle areas, much like the narrows, provide a place where lakewater more often than not gets pushed through a small space and thatcreates what? You got it... Current!

If you are like Pat and me, the budget isn’t exactly built aroundthe purchase of expensive sonar, radar, high-tech fish detectors,underwater cameras, and such. We do it the old fashioned way. Somemay say that’s going blind, I’ll reply with a sturdy - “look at the pic-tures on my web site and then tell me that.”

Even if you are equipped with all of the bells and whistles, imag-

ine you are heading out on my boat - you have two rods, your twobest search-and-destroy lures, a net, two life jackets, a pair of pliers,and one oar. That’s it. Now you look out at the wide open body ofwater in front of you and wonder where to start...

About one-third of the way across the lake you spot three islandspretty close together. In fact, two of the islands are connected by veryshallow boulders, but the “V” that forms on either side of the shallow-est point of the rock formation drops into the abyss of the main lake.You have found what’s called a saddle (because from a distance it lookslike one) and a great place to find active muskies. Even better, there isa nice patch of cabbage tucked into the “V” on both sides of the sad-dle that starts in tight, thick, and close to the surface, but eventuallytapers-off to the deep edge and finally disappears into deep water.


www.muskiesinc.org October 2006.....MUSKIE 11


Spots like this are producers most of the year. It is important tonote that we will cover them no matter what season, moon phase,weather pattern, or time of day we are fishing and I can all but guar-antee that we will find active muskies doing it. Period!

“The Science of Wind” Wind is the “X” factor. When you have wind pushing a bunch of

water through a small area like a narrows or saddle, you will be ableto watch the surface and see current flowing through, as well. This inturn will attract muskies. Current can sweep rip-rap shores, or blowthrough the weeds. It can swirl around an inside turn over a deep holewhere many fish will stack-up. Around the wind-in rock point at theopening of the narrows you will see an eddy that can provide an excel-

lent opportunity for a toothy predator to set up shop, particularly ifthere are weeds present. Look for similar points jetting out throughthe narrows, as they may also be very productive.

Keep in mind that wind will indeed move muskies into a givenlocation, but it isn’t necessarily the only thing to look for. As you workthe area, pay particular attention to the surface movement and findspots that are sheltered by structure, or an eddy, striking distance awayfrom the rush of wind and fast water. A muskie will normally look forthe easy meal and although we “fish the wind” it is also true that youwant to find places tucked just out of the wind’s direct path, or a count-er current (eddy) from where a muskie can efficiently launch an attack.

“Calm Down Now” A few years ago we fished the opener on Dryberry Lake and got

hit by some heavy wind gusts. After fighting a 35 mph wind and largewaves for a while, Pat suggested that we lookfor a calm side of an island where we might finda fish doing exactly what we wanted to do -hide.

As luck would have it the due west windlimited our options. We ducked behind a largeisland that had a very nice weed bed in a baynestled on the middle of the calm side and acouple of wind-swept rock points to eitherflank projecting out into deep water. The beditself was calm and protected though and webegan casting.

Pat cast to a big rock sticking out of thewater at the back of the bay. His lure hit aboutsix feet in front of the huge boulder. “Nobodyhome!” he said. I noticed a deep cut in the rockjust below the surface and thought it was agood place for a lunker to hide. I told him tothrow another cast and this time get closer withhis bait.

Pat obliged and hit the rock square in themiddle with a crack and his bait fell into thewater right in front of the cut. Pat made twocranks of his reel handle and hooked-up. Tenminutes later we had a fat 52-incher in our netthat was easily in the 40-pound class.

“Find a tucked-away calm pocket or eddyand hit it dead-on to trigger that toothy critter”

Now you know one of the tricks of ourtrade. Nothing new or “secret” really, but whentime is limited you’d better hit the waterrunning and be able to quickly overcomeobstacles the climate throws at you. If you aretackling new water you need a logical startingplace too. Narrows, saddles, and neck downsare a great way to up your chances of catchingmuskies no matter what else is happening onthe rest of the lake.

Now get out there and catch a hog! ❖

Bob “Bobzilla” Chochola is a member of TheChicagoland Musky Hunters living in theDallas/Ft. Worth area. Catch him online at...<http://www.bobzilla.tv/>. Make sure you checkout the photo gallery - where every huge muskiepicture is worth a thousand words.

A CURRENT AFFAIR (Cont’d from page 11)

See Us at the

Chicago Muskie Show,

Milwaukee Muskie Expo, &

Minnesota Musky Expo

in 2007

Christmas RushOrders Available!

www.muskiesinc.org

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Smith Family Tradition Continues!Jason D. Smith of Chippewa Falls, WI is one awesome muskie

angler. His catches are in the hundreds, he is a master. This story isnot about him though. Jason has a project going on. The project isSierra and Austin, his young children; Jason wants to get them theirfirst muskie at a very young age. Sierra is 7 years old and still lookingfor her first one. She did catch one, but it was only about a foot long,so mother Connie says they are not really going to count that.

Sometimes thewhole family goes outfishing together. Othertimes Jason takes one ofthe children at a time toconcentrate solely ongetting one of them theirfirst muskie. On August4th this year it wasSierra’s turn. WhenJason got home fromwork, Sierra told dadthat she had stubbed hertoe during the day anddidn’t really want to go

and dad could take younger brother Austin instead. Enter AustinSmith; you know where we are headed don’t you?

Jason says the whole family had been out the night before andboth Austin and Sierra had lost muskies. Austin lost about a 33 to 35inch hybrid in the net, but he was not bummed, he wanted to try

again. So Jason wastrolling and the rodripped and Austin gotvery excited. He crankedand cranked as hard ashis little body could.They finally netted this33 inch muskie. Austinhad caught a 15 inchmuskie last year fishingfor bass, but this one waswhen they were trying tocatch a muskie so it isreally his first muskie.One week prior to this

catch, Austin turned 4 years old. A 33 inch in Wissota is also proba-bly about 4 years old. The picture is just awesome.

Austin heard that we were going to put his picture in the maga-zine, when it comes in the mail Austin is the first to tear into it, Jasonsays when I get my hands on the magazine it looks used. That evening

of the catch, Austin spotted some green stuff on the seat next to himand asked dad “what is that”. Jason told him it is “muskie poop”.Austin stopped and thought about that for a bit and then asked whata 4 year old would ask. What is “muskie poop”? Jason says that answertook about 30 minutes. Austin is on the board and a little wiser.

Diane Capiak! Double Trouble!The Capiaks live in Champlin, Minnesota but are members of

the South Side Muskie Hawks in Chicago. They joined Muskies Inc.in 1995. Over the years they have caught their share of Muskies up to45 inches. While a 45 incher is a nice fish they were seeking some-thing more impressive. Since 1995 they have fished Bone, Butternut,and Deer in Wisconsin were they have registered muskies in theLunge Log. They also have collected from Mille Lacs in Minnesota afew times, and in 1998 fanned out to Eagle Lake in Ontario. But ofcourse they have always had their trip to none other than Lake OfThe Woods. So in 2006 they planned another trip to “The Woods”.It would be July 1 through July 7. You know we are going don’t you?

In their muskie fishing adventures husband Tony has conquered68 Lunge Log legals, not bad at all, pretty good actually for the timeon the water. His wife Diane has 20 to her credit. To date thoughwhen this trip started, Tony’s longest was still a humble 45.5 inchesfrom Bone in Wisconsin and Diane’s longest a 45 inch also fromBone in Wisconsin. When the dust settled on the last day they had10 muskies between them. They also caught a couple of bonus north-erns at 40.25 and 39.5. Tony landed the first large muskie on July 4th

at 47 inches casting a big game. Great trip, the family’s longest muskiehad gone up a bit. Mrs. Capiak would take control of the matter injust a couple of days.

Tony says what happened on July 6th still has him in shock. At9:25 AM on Diane’s 3rd cast on the first spot she hooks, fights andlands a beautiful heavy 49 incher on a chartreuse Grim Reaper bucktail. The picture shows a heavy muskie, probably 31 or 32 pounds, along heavy body. Tony says we have never taken girth measurements

of our muskies butalways said we would ifwe ever, ever got to 50inches. So now you doknow we are headedwith this fish trip.

The Capiaks nowhave a great trip going,both with their longestmuskie ever. So be

happy. Wrong, Dianewas not done. Just 3 1/2

hours later still hangingonto that Grim Reaperbuck tail, the same one,the same chartreusecolor. She strikes again.This one comes in at 50inches; however thebody is a bit wider, thehead has a little more mass. Oh yes, 50 inches, the girth tape, it is23.5 inches. The formula gets you within variation of the 35 poundmark. We provide you with pictures of both. In the first one you cansee Diane giving us kind of a pretend smile as she struggles with this

the Lunge Log

by Jim Bunch

October 2006.....MUSKIE 13



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beast. In the 2nd or larger muskie, the smile, I just love this; we canimage her saying, just take the picture. Or is she celebrating with ascream. Either way the Capitals are climbing the scale a bit. Tony hassome work to do, but we bet it will not be hard to schedule “TheWoods” trip again nest year.

Ok gang, we have a good thing going here. We have highlighteda junior member. We have highlighted one of our ladies. Let us findone of the men, oh my goodness.

Kaniatarowanenneh!Larry Ramsell is a very unique character. I use the word charac-

ter loosely. Over the years he kind of comes and goes from the spotlight. At the same time he presents us some massive fish. Rememberthe 57 inch where he was concerned about the safety of the release anddove in the water to hold it upright so it could survive? I still have theoriginal photo of that. Remember the 56 back in1997 from “Not Specified”. Remember the 54 inchearlier this year from St. Mary’s River. How many ofyou have been there? Remember he was a two termpresident of Muskies, Inc, International. Well thistime he was not gone too long, he has returnedrather quickly with another massive muskie.

The headline to this section is an Indian nameof a body of water. It is in the province of Ontario.Larry tells me the English translation is “BigWaterway”. Larry is unique he is kind of playing agame here we think. He told me I could enter it asBig Waterway or Kaniatarowanenneh. I chose thelater as it creates more interest. I of course told himhe could just tell me where it is and I will keep mymouth shut. He responded that he could do that butthen would have to kill me. See, a very unique guy.Oh by the way he now has the longest release forthree different chapters, he thinks he should changechapters more often.

You see the picture, this is very large, a 56 incher.Larry did not give us a girth this time. But knowingthe man fairly well, I bet he knows exactly what it was.You see it is very large but not something that wouldthreaten a record, so this unique man is holding thatback. That is fine and OK by the Lunge Log. In thepicture he is looking at the camera, but not at us. Soobviously there are two cameras. Got him again. A fewyears ago I was asked by a large Chicago newspaper fora list of 10 people who could catch the new WorldRecord Muskie. They asked me that simply because ofthe massive number of muskie catches I look at. LarryRamsell was on the list, I do not want to share whatrank he was in my top ten, but he is on the list. He isthere because he is very unique.

Now back to this really long Indian name ofthis lake or body of water. Do get bent out of shapeand buy 50 maps of Ontario. Here is what you do,go on the internet, go to Google.com and type thisname in. It is very simple, oops I think he is going tokill me.

Keep a tight line,Jim Bunch

LUNGE LOG (Cont’d from page 13)

Rank Member Chapter City State Releases Points Average1 Will Schultz 47 Grand Rapids MI 114 1510 392 Mike Hulbert 42 Ft. Wayne IN 102 1457 403 Jeff Kachmann 42 Ft Wayne IN 95 1203 384 Jason Hamernick 21 Forest Lake MN 61 1079 435 Joe Hardy 2 Alexandria MN 95 843 346 Will Hardy 2 Alexandria MN 89 732 347 Chae Dolsen 49 North Webster IN 59 718 388 Ken Worel 15 Grand Rapids MN 38 695 449 Charles Schauer 12 Wisconsin Rapids WI 37 594 42

10 Martin A Yester 16 Allison Park PA 41 555 3911 Mark Pauling 41 Fremont OH 38 486 3812 Mike Koepp 35 Pewaukee WI 44 478 3613 John S Jackson 27 Bloomington IL 45 427 3514 Brett Wade Waldera 2 West Fargo ND 28 415 4015 Clay Schmoeker 12 Conover WI 40 407 3616 Dave Wenzel 9 Marietta OH 32 394 3817 Phillip Gutmann 39 Lake In The Hills IL 28 341 3818 Mike Money 41 Cambridge OH 30 326 3619 Robert C Busche 33 Duluth MN 31 320 3620 Adam Andresky 16 Gibsonia PA 28 299 3621 Bill Andresky 16 Pittsburgh PA 24 278 3722 Bob D Marshall 19 Bowerston OH 27 276 3623 Scott J Yaeger 10 Savage MN 22 271 3824 Maurice J Potvin 41 Baltimore OH 25 259 3625 Jason D Smith 6 Chippewa Falls WI 18 250 39

1 Rick Mikel 39 St. Charles IL 57 932 422 Ed Spoerl 12 Stevens Point WI 63 760 383 Todd W Frank 47 Cedar Springs MI 50 653 384 Walter Krause 28 Collinsville IL 49 649 395 John W Risius Jr 14 Creve Coeur IL 68 633 356 Stu Wiegner 39 Tenstrike MN 31 546 437 Todd Yester 16 Allison Park PA 38 534 398 Michael King 47 Muskegon MI 44 533 389 Danny Kurttila 0 Nashville TN 42 530 38

10 Vincent M Weirick 49 Leesburg IN 54 525 3511 Shawn Earley 2 Moorhead MN 30 480 4112 Rusty Welker 42 Kokomo IN 37 457 3813 Jeff Mathwig 12 West Allis WI 41 446 3614 Jeffrey R Gillis 27 Bartonville IL 42 435 3615 Lynn Frazier 52 Manchester KY 36 427 3716 Kevin Whipkey 16 Butler PA 36 406 3717 Larry A Ramsell 13 Hayward WI 23 399 4318 Lloyd L Colbert 5 Marshfield MO 27 391 4019 Norm Small 22 Sussex NJ 36 386 3620 Jerry Sondag 2 Pelican Rapids MN 24 374 4121 Tim Mc Mahon 12 Hartford WI 34 371 3622 Dan Sword 49 Goshen IN 32 368 3723 Jason D Schillinger 26 Wisconsin Rapids WI 22 366 4224 Gordon Campbell Jr 22 Newfoundland NJ 35 338 3525 Elmer W Heyob Jr 41 Marysville OH 38 327 34

Release Points by Division

Mens 2006.8.25.06

Mens Masters 2006.8.25.06

24 Gordon Campbell Jr 22 Newfoundland NJ 35 338 3525 Elmer W Heyob Jr 41 Marysville OH 38 327 34

1 Ruth Anderson 2 Alexandria MN 22 203 352 Margaret Pauling 41 Fremont OH 13 178 393 Jan Reeves 18 North Lawrence OH 11 136 384 Mary Hoernecke 32 Byron IL 11 131 375 Sonya Anderson 38 Alexandria MN 15 106 326 Lynne M Dembiec 35 Hartland WI 9 106 377 Kim Huckstead 27 Sullivan IL 6 75 38

1 Michelle King 47 Muskegon MI 42 519 382 Lynn Yerman 16 Pittsburgh PA 19 233 383 Toni Ferraro 16 Aliquippa PA 19 199 364 Charlotte Fuchs 19 No Canton OH 15 175 375 Tristan Spindler Smith 47 Milford MI 10 128 386 Linda Rice 14 Sioux Lookout, CN 8 126 417 Tanaya Reitz 48 Mountain Iron MN 6 120 468 Susan Marfin 16 Butler PA 5 87 439 Char Piotrowski 7 Chicago IL 5 87 43

10 Shannon Beaty 28 Wood River IL 7 83 3711 Edie Buss 16 Renfrew PA 6 83 3912 Dottie Dye 49 Leesburg IN 5 78 4113 Diane Capiak 7 Champlin MN 4 75 4414 Judy Achtor 35 Waukesha WI 7 75 3615 Melody M Swenson 48 Cotton MN 4 69 4316 Dena Luedtke 49 Valpararso IN 7 66 3517 Diana Clark 52 Morehead KY 5 57 3718 Rosemary Owen 12 Green Bay WI 5 57 3719 Pattie Miller 12 Eagle River WI 3 57 4520 Barbara Pittman 31 Erie PA 3 55 4421 Sharon Potvin 41 Baltimore OH 3 52 4322 Pam Sobieski- 39 Round Lake Beach IL 3 51 4223 Joey Wyszynski 21 Coon Rapids MN 3 44 4024 Kimberly D Miller 49 Syracuse IN 3 40 39

1 Evan Twa 2 Alexandria MN 69 589 342 Jessica Sacco 27 Peoria IL 45 532 373 Dustin Sacco 27 Peoria IL 41 345 344 Wesley Worel 15 Grand Rapids MN 18 323 435 Christian Overmyer 41 Fremont OH 13 159 386 Weston Hunt 8 Grand Rapids MI 14 142 367 Marah Overmyer 41 Fremont OH 8 130 428 Jake Williams 47 Grand Ledge MI 10 123 389 Troy Oliver 18 Triadelphia WV 13 113 34

10 Joey Pribyl-Shay 3 Clarendon Hills IL 9 89 3511 Danny Blanck 32 Loves Park IL 5 69 3912 Tyler Schultz 47 Grand Rapids MI 8 63 3313 Luke Carlson 32 Rockford IL 3 62 4614 Nicholas Haeck 49 Elkhart IN 5 61 3715 Corbin Landmeier 17 Hinckley IL 4 59 4016 Branden T Schultz 38 Dumont MN 3 55 4417 Scott Ziegler 16 Butler PA 3 55 4418 Aaron Drendel 39 Geneva IL 3 50 4219 Mark Smith 0 Park Rapids MN 4 47 3720 Dominick Lamberto 16 Ambridge PA 3 46 4121 Jacob Welker 42 Kokomo IN 4 43 3622 Kyle Scruggs 32 Machesney Park IL 4 43 3623 Kendall Hill 33 Hermantown MN 4 42 3624 Nicholas Rivera 23 Streetsboro OH 3 41 3925 Billy Brumett 49 Ft. Wayne IN 4 40 36

Juniors 2006.8.25.06

Womens 2006.8.25.06

Womens Masters 2006.8.25.06

Release Points by Division Lu

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Buy your tackle on the net and spend more time putting fish in the net

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Andrea Kirby of Pomme de Terre Chapter withher 39 inch catch at the 2006 Spring FlingTournament.

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Rank Name Chapter Length Date Caught Lake Name County State Lure Description

1 Larry A Ramsell 13 56 8/8/2006 Kaniatarowanenneh Ontario ON Llungen Tale2 Adam Walsh 1 55.5 7/3/2006 Lake Of The Woods Ontario ON Buck Tail3 Trent Lehner 24 55.5 7/2/2006 Plantagenet Hubbard MN Buck Tail4 Stephen Feaster MD 9 55 7/13/2006 Eagle Lake Ontario ON Suick5 Stephen Feaster MD 9 55 7/9/2006 Eagle Lake Ontario ON Suick6 Jason Hamernick 21 54.75 8/9/2006 Mille Lacs Aitkin MN Bull Dawg Jerk7 Gary Rutherford 15 54.5 7/22/2006 Vermilion St. Louis MN Hi Fin Surface8 Mark Pauling 41 54.5 6/18/2006 Lake St. Clair Ontario ON Wiley Crank9 Ken Worel 15 54 7/20/2006 Vermilion St. Louis MN Homemade

10 Chae Dolsen 49 54 7/19/2006 Leech Lake Cass MN Bull Dawg Jerk11 Robert Volkert 38 54 6/14/2006 Miltona Douglas MN Jerk Bait12 Larry A Ramsell 13 54 5/17/2006 St. Marys River Chippewa MI Llungen Tale13 David L Swenson 48 53.5 7/15/2006 Vermilion St. Louis MN Baileytail14 Len Szulc 14 53.5 7/14/2006 Lake Of The Woods Ontario ON Jackpot15 Jerry Rutherford 15 53.25 7/25/2006 Vermilion St. Louis MN Buck Tail16 Greg Marino 14 53.25 6/27/2006 Lac Seul Ontario ON Buck Tail17 Rick Mikel 39 53 8/20/2006 Vermilion St. Louis MN Buck Tail18 Larry A Ramsell 13 53 8/2/2006 Nipissing Ontario ON Llungen Tale19 Jason Hamernick 21 53 7/21/2006 Vermilion St. Louis MN Cowgirl20 Leo Kofoot 29 53 7/20/2006 Lake Of The Woods Ontario ON Squirko21 Rick Zeiher 18 53 7/6/2006 Piedmont Belmont OH Bagley Crank22 David Williamson 38 53 6/30/2006 Miltona Douglas MN Grandma Crank23 Jeff Isom 24 53 6/27/2006 Alexander Morrison MN Cowgirl24 Will Hardy 2 53 6/8/2006 Miltona Douglas MN Grandma Crank25 Charles J Lynema 47 53 4/30/2006 Thornapple Lake Barry MI Jake


1 Carrie Grove 38 53.75 7/22/2006 Mille Lacs Mille Lacs MN Cowgirl2 Linda Rice 14 53.5 7/11/2006 Lac Seul Ontario ON Top Raider3 Char Piotrowski 7 52.5 7/21/2006 Lake Of The Woods Ontario ON Funky Chicken4 Susan Marfin 16 52.5 6/24/2006 Lake St. Clair Ontario ON Artifact5 Sharon Potvin 41 52 6/29/2006 Lake St. Clair Ontario ON Artifact6 Tanaya Reitz 48 51 8/5/2006 Vermilion St. Louis MN Buck Tail7 Diane Capiak 7 50 7/6/2006 Lake Of The Woods Ontario ON Grim Reaper Buck8 Joey Wyszynski 21 49.5 7/24/2006 Plantagenet Hubbard MN Mepps Musky Marabou9 Stephanie Amberg 37 49 7/15/2006 Lake Of The Woods Ontario ON Buck Tail

10 Diane Capiak 7 49 7/6/2006 Lake Of The Woods Ontario ON Grim Reaper Buck11 DeAnn Grote 2 49 6/4/2006 Plantagenet Hubbard MN Grandma Crank12 Toni Ferraro 16 49 6/23/2006 Lake St. Clair Ontario ON Wiley Crank13 Michelle King 47 49 6/6/2006 Lake St. Clair Ontario ON Talonz Slasher14 Michelle King 47 49 6/17/2006 Lake St. Clair Ontario ON Talonz Slasher15 Pattie Miller 12 49 7/6/2006 Lake Of The Woods Ontario ON Lac Seul Turr-bo16 Susan Marfin 16 48.5 6/17/2006 Lake St. Clair Ontario ON Warner Crank Bait17 Barbara Pittman 31 48 8/20/2006 Chautauqua Chautauqua NY Marv's Topwater18 Pattie Miller 12 48 7/2/2006 Lake Of The Woods Ontario ON Lac Seul Turr-bo19 Michelle King 47 48 6/3/2006 Lake St. Clair Ontario ON Talonz Slasher20 Tanaya Reitz 48 48 7/30/2006 Vermilion St. Louis MN Surface21 Lois Harvey 1 47.5 7/23/2006 Lake Of The Woods Ontario ON Eddie Bait22 Dottie Dye 49 47.5 4/22/2006 James Kosciusko IN Rapala Crank23 Melody M Swenson 48 47 7/9/2006 Vermilion St. Louis MN Surface24 Tanaya Reitz 48 47 7/20/2006 Vermilion St. Louis MN Buck Tail25 Amy Orr 1 47 7/31/2006 Lake Of The Woods Ontario ON Pacemaker


1 Luke Carlson 32 56 7/15/2006 Lake Ontario Jefferson NY Top Raider2 Brady Crawford 2 52.5 7/18/2006 Detroit Lakes Becker MN Lilly Tail3 Wesley Worel 15 52 7/19/2006 Vermilion St. Louis MN Creeper4 Jessica Sacco 27 50.5 7/29/2006 Lake St. Clair Ontario ON Wiley Crank5 Marah Overmyer 41 50.5 8/18/2006 Lake St. Clair Ontario ON Leo6 Jessica Sacco 27 50.25 8/10/2006 Lake St. Clair Ontario ON Baby Depth Raider7 Wesley Worel 15 50 7/17/2006 Vermilion St. Louis MN Homemade Bucktail8 Luke Carlson 32 50 7/30/2006 Lake Ontario Jefferson NY Buck Tail9 Joseph Tynan 12 49 6/30/2006 Clearwater Ontario ON Buck Tail

10 Evan Nicolai 1 49 6/3/2006 Cass Cass MN Double D11 Christian Overmyer 41 49 8/5/2006 Lake St. Clair Ontario ON Tuff Shad12 Branden T Schultz 38 48.5 8/10/2006 Pelican Otter Tail MN Homemade Bucktail13 Wesley Worel 15 48.5 6/24/2006 Big Beltrami MN Jake14 Wesley Worel 15 48 7/19/2006 Vermilion St. Louis MN Homemade15 Corbin Landmeier 17 48 7/30/2006 Lake St. Clair Ontario ON Baby Depth Raider16 Jake Williams 47 48 6/24/2006 Lake St. Clair Ontario ON Wiley Crank17 Scott Ziegler 16 48 5/28/2006 Pymatuning Reservoir Crawford PA Wiley Crank18 Amy Crawford 2 48 7/18/2006 Detroit Lakes Becker MN Rad Dog19 Christian McHugh 21 47.5 7/18/2006 Minnetonka Hennepin MN Spinner20 Marah Overmyer 41 47.5 6/20/2006 Lake St. Clair Ontario ON Leo21 Corbin Landmeier 17 47.5 7/10/2006 Lake St. Clair Ontario ON Woodie22 Lacey Landmeier 17 47 7/29/2006 Lake St. Clair Ontario ON Tuff Shad23 Danny Blanck 32 46 7/11/2006 Lake Of The Woods Ontario ON Top Raider24 Wesley Worel 15 46 7/18/2006 Vermilion St. Louis MN Homemade Bucktail25 Wesley Worel 15 46 7/18/2006 Vermilion St. Louis MN Homemade Bucktail

Mens Longest Releases 2006.8.25.06

Womens Longest Releases 2006.8.25.06

Juniors Longest Releases 2006.8.25.06

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1 Larry Hines 31 48 6/24/2006 Clarion River Reservoir Elk PA Plow Crank Bait2 Joe Hardy 2 48 6/17/2006 Sweet Briar Morton ND SS Shad3 Phillip Gutmann 39 46.5 7/20/2006 Lake Of The Woods Ontario ON Mepps Musky Marabou4 John W Olson 12 45.5 7/11/2006 Sand Sawyer WI Mepps Tandem5 Jeff Mathwig 12 45 7/20/2006 Big Sand Vilas WI Tiger Traker6 Tom Boyer 31 44 5/13/2006 Kahle Clarion PA Top Raider7 Peter Blicharz 12 43.5 6/12/2006 Kentuck Vilas WI Jerk Bait8 Matt Brinkman 26 43.5 6/25/2006 Petenwell Flowage Wood WI Homemade Bucktail9 Charles Schauer 12 43 6/16/2006 Wisconsin River Oneida WI Moores King Tut

10 Susan Eversoll 8 43 6/16/2006 Lake Galena Jo Daviess IL Homemade Crank Bait11 Zachary Arnold 3 43 7/25/2006 Chippewa Flowage Sawyer WI Boogerman12 Dick Manske 29 43 6/4/2006 Cedar Lake Scott MN Homemade Bucktail13 John Eversoll 8 42.5 6/14/2006 Lake Galena Jo Daviess IL Live Action14 Joe Hardy 2 42 6/21/2006 Lak Reservoir Weston WY SS Shad15 Tracy A Crail 29 42 6/5/2006 Cedar Lake Scott MN Homemade Bucktail16 Veronica Green 30 41.5 6/5/2006 Jump River Taylor WI Topper17 Justin Gaiche 4 41.25 6/16/2006 Wisconsin River Marathon WI Reef Hawg18 Harvey Gustafson 32 41 7/9/2006 Lake Of The Woods Ontario ON Homemade Bucktail19 Tracy A Crail 29 41 6/3/2006 Cedar Lake Scott MN Homemade Bucktail20 Tracy A Crail 29 41 6/5/2006 Cedar Lake Scott MN Homemade Bucktail21 Ronald D Lafrenz 10 41 6/14/2006 Cedar Lake Scott MN Rad Dog22 Ed Spoerl 12 41 7/9/2006 Lake Of The Woods Ontario ON Mepps Musky Marabou23 Scott W Bringle 29 40 6/13/2006 Cedar Lake Scott MN Homemade Spinner24 Scott W Bringle 29 40 6/7/2006 Cedar Lake Scott MN Homemade Spinner25 Danny Blanck 32 40 7/13/2006 Lake Of The Woods Ontario ON Mepps Musky Killer

Name Chapter Length Date Caught Lake Name County State Lure DescriptionJan Rick L. Jackson 16 46.5 1/29/2006 Allegheny River Armstrong Pa Storm ShadFeb Cgris C. Szafranski 16 47 2/16/2006 Tionesta Creek Forest PA ChallengerMar Scott M Donovan 28 46.5 3/22/2006 Kinkaid Jackson IL HellhoundApril Charles J Lynema 47 53 4/30/2006 Thornapple Lake Barry MI JakeMay Larry A Ramsell 13 54 5/17/2006 St. Marys River Chippewa MI Llungen TaleJune Mark Pauling 41 54.5 6/18/2006 Lake St. Clair Ontario ON Wiley CrankJuly Luke Carlson 32 56 7/15/2006 Lake Ontario Jefferson NY Top RaiderAug Larry A Ramsell 13 56 8/8/2006 Kaniatarowanenneh Ontario ON Llungen Tale

Lunker Of The Month 2006.8.25.06

Hybrid Longest Releases 2006.8.25.06

Limited quantities...$39.95 each plus $5.00S&H for one or $9.95 S&H for two.

Send your order and check made out to:Muskies, Inc. c/o Pete Barber, International Treasurer,

1150 Berkshire Lane, Barrington, IL 60010.

Name: ____________________________________________

Address: __________________________________________

City: ________________________ State: ___ ZIP: ________

Check total: ________________________________________Or, If paying by credit card please include

signature and phone along with your number.

Credit Card #: ____________________ Exp. date: ___ / ___

Signature: _________________________ Phone: _________Please allow 4 to 6 weeks for shipment.

FISH LAKE ST CLAIR, THE MOST PRODUCTIVEMUSKIE LAKE IN NORTH AMERICA

Caught on Lake St Clair October 29, 2004 (successfully released)

Catch Your “Personal Best” This Fall. Learn to fish the most productive musky water in North America. Open datesfrom late September through December 15th (or freeze-up). Two boats available- 31’ Tiara Open for groups up to 5 - 20’ Center Console for 1 to 3 people.All fishing equipment provided. • Clean, reasonable, accommodations near by.

BIGFISH Charter ServicesCaptain Tom Loy

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Fall is a magical time of year for anglers, and as the air and watertemperatures continue to cool, the fish really put the feed bagon to fatten up before winter. This is a great time for hot fish-

ing action and can provide some of the most exciting angling of theentire year. Cool fall days make me feel like I’m a child again onChristmas morning, offering up the same frantic excitement and but-terflies in the stomach. Heading out on the water as the leaves fall andsteam rises from a cooling body of water, I can barely keep myselffrom leaping up and down on the deck of my boat. There is no whereelse that I’d rather be!

The mid-fall period can offer up some truly wonderful muskiefishing across North America, but anglers must have an understand-ing of what is going on in our waters at this time of year to knowwhere the majority of the muskies and the best fishing action will be.

*Location:In most waters that stratify, the majority of fish will make a loca-

tional shift prior to the turnover period. During the summer monthsand into early fall, these waters are separated, at specific depths, bymajor changes in temperature and oxygen. As lakes cool in the fall,and winds and currents move the waters, a sort of mixing will occurand the oxygen and temperature levels will even out. In most of theselakes and reservoirs, large concentrations of gamefish will move shal-low, away from the large expanses of deeper open water where thismixing or turnover occurs. It just so happens that many baitfishspecies also move into these areas as well. Large bays, coves and creekor river arms with plenty of shallow water are the best places to targetwhen the water falls into the low 60 degree range. The specific areasin these locations that see the most use are shallower than the depthin which the thermocline occured on the particular body of water.Large concentrations of baitfish and muskies can be found here as thewater temperatures fall through the 50’s, and into the upper 40 degreerange.

*Structure:Prime structural elements that hold muskies during this period

include irregular shoreline banks and flats. The best spots along thebank offer muskies something different. A shallow irregular shorelinebank with a fairly gradualtaper is best. Look for spoton the spot locations,such as a shelf. A goodexample would be ashoreline bank that typi-cally falls from less thanone foot of water toaround seven or eight feetdeep, within a distance ofaround thirty feet fromdry land to the base of thedrop. In the middle of asection like this is a shelfthat’s say two feet deep,but extends nearly thirtyfeet away from the bankand then drops verticallyto the cove floor inaround eight feet of water.A spot like this has pro-duced numerous fish forme year after year duringthis time period.Sometimes the muskiewill position up on the shelf nearest to the bank, other times we’ll get‘em along the side of the shelf, or they’ll hang along the steep ledge onthe end, but this type of micro structure is a good bet because it’s dif-ferent than the surrounding area and it provides good ambush spots.The muskies can hide along the edges and wait for prey to amble pastthe spot. Another example of an excellent spot on the spot location

Colby Simms of Simms Outdoors poses fora moment with this beautiful Kinkaid Lakemuskie, as the colorful leaves of the magnif-icent Shawnee National Forest of SouthernIllinois fall in the background.


along one of these irregular shorelines is a secondary point thatextends out past the end of the drop.

Flats are classic fall muskie feeding locations. All shallow flats canhold baitfish and muskies during this period, but large flats are typi-cally better than smaller ones in the lower half of bays, coves and creekor river arms. More muskies tend to position further up on the flatsin shallower water most of the time when they occur in these areas.On the other hand, in the upper half of bays, coves and creeks,muskies use flats of all sizes and tend to hunt the entire area. One ofthe best places to contact active fish on flats is where the creek or riverchannel meanders through. Muskies will cruise the flats near thesechannels actively hunting, but they can also drop down into the chan-nel and wait to pounce on prey that passes by, like a cat on a mouse.

*Cover:Muskies will still use weed cover heavily where available now,

especially in the warmer waters during the first half of the mid fallperiod. The best weeds are those that look the healthiest, green andproducing oxygen. Opportunistic muskies will, however, use anycover that adequately gives them the element of surprise over theirunsuspecting prey, and heavy wood cover likestanding timber, stumps, brush piles and lay-downs are all excellent hiding spots for the skis.Large broken rock and boulders are also attractive.As the season wears on, and air and water temper-atures continue to plummet, expect the muskiesto begin using rock and wood cover more thanaquatic vegetation.

*Weather & presentation:When the water temperatures are still in the

low 60’s or upper 50’s, the best approach is usual-ly still pretty fast, unless a significant cold frontslows the activity level of the fish. As the waterscool down into the mid to low 50’s and especial-ly into the 40’s, a slower approach can mean bet-ter action, but not always. Weather plays a role inretrieve speed. Generally, when the weather hasbeen stable or when a front is approaching, a high-er speed retrieve is best, but after a front has rolledthrough the area, particularly when it has brought much coolerweather and clear skies, a slower retrieve is often much better.

*Lure options:During the early portion of this period, many of the same lures

that produce well in early fall are still highly productive. When thewater temperatures are in the low 60’s or upper 50’s, small to mid-sized in-line bucktail spinners with small blades can be moved quick-ly across flats or along shoreline banks with sparse cover searching foractive fish. Again, as in early fall, my favorite bucktails for this type ofpresentation are the In-Line Tails from Walt’s Baits and The Little BigLure Company French Tails. Long arm safety pin style spinnerbaitswith multiple blades and paddle tail shad trailers like the School NShads and Thump N Shads from Simms Sport Fishing Tackle are topchoices for fall fishing. These versatile and snag resistant lures can befished in open water and heavy cover alike, from the bottom of thelake floor to the surface. Speaking of the surface, this is one of the besttimes of year for topwater muskie fishing. Because muskies are stillactive and they’re in very shallow water, a surface bait is an obviouschoice, but it can be more than that. Muskies seem better tuned in to

topwaters during this short window of the early portion of the mid-fall period. Buzzbaits and prop baits are excellent choices, and allowan angler to cover lots of water in search of active fish. Multi-bladedspinnerbaits can be highly effective on the surface with a high speedwaking retrieve and frequent rips of the rod tip causing the blades to

explode from just below the surface. When anangler has located a fish that won’t take a fast mov-ing bait, slowly walking a shallow running min-nowbait along the surface, like a Bomber Long AMagnum or C-10 Red Fin from Cotton Cordell,can be dynamite.

As the waters cool into the mid 50’s andbelow, larger baits become more effective. As amuskie’s metabolism slows down in the coolerwater, they try to get more bang for the buck so tospeak. They want to continue to pack on weightuntil really cold weather sets in, so they readilyjump on bigger prey. Toss larger spinnerbaits of 2to 5 ounces in weight, minnowbaits andcrankbaits ranging in sizes from around 7 to 13inches in length, and monster plastics like curlytail grubs and paddle tail shads that are 10 or 12inches in length, paired with big jigs. Typically, thecooler the water gets, the more effective largerlures become.

*Equipment:When throwing smaller baits during the early portion of this

period, I rely on the same heavy bass rods from All Star Rods dis-cussed in the previous article as well as the same wide spool low pro-file Pflueger Reels, lines and leaders. For fishing larger lures later in theperiod, Shakespeare’s UglyStik Muskie Rods are anexcellent choice in 7’ or 7’6” models when paired withPflueger President WLP,Trion LPCR or TrionRound Baitcast Reelsspooled with SupremeSuper Tough in 25 or 30pound tests or Cajun RedLightnin up to 50 andheavy leaders. In the nextarticle we’ll discuss the latefall post turnover period. ❖

Weather plays a role inretrieve speed. Generally,when the weather hasbeen stable or when afront is approaching, ahigher speed retrieve isbest, but after a front hasrolled through the area,particularly when it hasbrought much coolerweather and clear skies, aslower retrieve is oftenmuch better

Don’t forget the net.

This mid fall muskie was caught on a Simms School N Shad Spinnerbait duringa guided trip to Kinkaid Lake with the author. It was the angler's first muskie.


Well after four years of the Photo Contest I finally got some greatloon pictures! There’s a fine close up shot, technically superb, byBruce Faanes in the Member Photos. And there were a couple more.But Jim McCann sent in an awesome sequence, with one of those isour first winning photo this month. Jim reports:

“I got these shots of a loon on a hot sunny early July afternoon nearHanson’s King Island on Sabaskong Bay, Lake of the Woods. I hadseen this loon several times before, but on this day he decided to giveme a show. I’m not sure if he was mad at me or in love with me! Theloon stayed around for 10 minutes, 20 feet away from my boat.”

Jim took the pictures with his Minolta SR1 35mm SLR, using a300mm telephoto lens and ISO 200 Kodak Gold film. He puts usright in the water with the bird and gives us a moment of “peak action,”always a goal of photography. About the only thing missing is thatunique sound of the loon call, but use your imagination. I’ve alwaysthought that loons are a wonderful part of Muskie fishing on our north-ern lakes, and Jim captures the spirit of the bird magnificently.

Brent Hilbert from the St. Cloud chapter is our second winner,and he shows us an entirely different and also very familiar facet ofMuskie Fishing. He reports;

“I had a chance to spend a few days on Lake of the Woods in July withsome members of other chapters. Brett Waldera, Brian Grote, TomDeml, Steve Harvey, Jeff Anderson and me were there for 3 days offishing. Brett and Brian, who had fished this area before, shared atremendous amount of information because they wanted to see every-one have a successful trip, which it was. I was in Jeff ’s boat. We man-aged several fish in those 3 intense days on the water. Not bad consid-

ering the effect the mid-90 degree temps had on us. The photo showsJeff making a few reel repairs in a shady spot so we could escape theheat for a little while.”

And who among us hasn’t been in that situation? Some piece oranother of fishing paraphernalia falls apart at a remote location, youcan’t do with out it, and repairs are in order. (Tip: Always bring ducttape along!) But what really struck me about Brent’s picture was theclassical clutter on the boat. I count at least five tackle boxes, ninerods, five tools, and one spare battery. Hey, you gotta be prepared.These kinds of photos are fun to take and record other aspects ofMuskie fishing besides the fish. Look for these opportunities and usethat camera.

Tips and CommentsOkay, a development: After some forty-five months (2608 pho-

tos as of 12 September) of doing the Muskies Inc. Photo Contest andMember Photos my energy level is below full charge, and it’s time Imoved on. We need some new blood and fresh ideas. As Jim Smithtalks about in his Editor’s Column, Gordon Campbell from the NewJersey chapter will assume those duties. I’ll continue to do otherthings for Muskies Inc. and the magazine, but Gordon will handle thecontest. We have to work out the transition but he’ll be taking oversoon, perhaps with the November or December issue. Gordon willstart getting the emails you send to [email protected], and hisown email is [email protected] or his home address: 45 TimberLane, Newfoundland, NJ 07435. If you need to reach him by phone,his number is (973) 208-8297

I’ve enjoyed the Photo Contest enormously. I appreciate all thepictures you members have submitted over the years. My apologiesthat recently I’ve been unable to respond to all of you in the way I didearlier. It’s very important, and I’m sure you’ll see a new energy levelfrom Gordon. Keep sending those photos in. They’re a vital part ofour organization, used in many ways, and I look forward to seeingthem in the magazine.

Juris OzolsOctober 2006

Photo Contest – October Winnersby Juris Ozols


Just Big Muskies, Volume 1:Just Mille Lacs-

When I reviewed the first video Just Big Muskies Vol.1, done byErik Jacobson and Brian Hanson I was very impressed with the pro-fessional quality of the video as well as the content. That video wasreviewed in MUSKIE Magazine, November 2005 page #24.

Recently, Erik sent me a copy of their new Mille Lacs video. AllI can say is more and bigger fish! It is uncanny to me how a coupleof guys can go to relatively new muskie water and get into enoughfish to even make a video. Most of us will spend the rest of our livesthinking about it. Erik and Brian make it happen and prove it withtheir 66-minute video. They also go into and detail the who, what,when and how these muskies were caught, exposing many of the“local” secrets.

If you fish Mille Lacs or intend to this is a video worth more thanthe $19.95 price. It will put you on to a successful muskie trip nowrather than later. Order thru:

www.justbigmuskies.com

GET THE DEAL!

Both DVD’s for $34.95 plus $4.50 shipping and han-dling.

VIDEO REVIEW

Send your order and checkmade out to: Muskies, Inc., c/o

Pete Barber, International Treasurer,1150 Berkshire Lane,Barrington, IL 60010.

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Ya reckon we’re fishin’ the wrong krik or got stink on ourbait,” murmured an exasperated Skeeter from the bow ofthe boat, “cause it pears these long green fish are just winder

shoppers.”“I’ve never seen so many follows,” I replied in abject frustration,

“because they look, see and disappear. Do you think they see mybright red shirt and shy off?”

This occurred many years ago and was my first experience withthis peculiar trait of a muskie. There are times when a muskie will fol-low a lure to the boat and will not strike under any circumstance; thenagain, there are times a muskie will follow a lure to the boat and canbe tricked into striking. That’s where the figure 8 comes in.

When I began muskie fishingback in the 1960s, I brought withme an arsenal of bass and trout fish-ing tackle, tactics and concepts. Ireally didn’t have much of an ideaof just how to catch a big freshwater giant, but I knew I wanted toin the worst way. What littlemuskie tackle I had was newlyacquired from Pastika’s in Haywardor through mail order.

Throughout the 1960s and70s the majority of my muskie fish-ing consisted mainly using spinnerbaits, or the occasional surface orminnow lures. Back thenHildebrandt made a good variety ofmuskie spinner baits as didMarathon and Mepps. At the timepresentation was simple becausesize and color seemed less important than covering a lot of waterquickly. We began fishing fast and furious right at the launch cover-ing all the shoreline structure and nearby weed beds. Having mild suc-cess with spinner baits gave us confidence with little thought of

changing. Why change when everything being used was working?Of course we caught fish, many fish in fact, but we also had

many follows. Nothing is more frustrating to a muskie fisherman thanto see a huge green form gliding behind his lure and then dive and dis-appear under the boat. The imagination goes wild exaggerating thesize of the fish and importance of the lure.

Back in those early days I had little understanding of the muskie’sbehavior and believed a fish was a fish. Indeed, I had a lot to learn. Ithought if you see a muskie, then it’s reasonable the muskie sees you.Not so! The muskie is so focused and intent upon capturing andkilling the lure it’s chasing that nothing else exist. Besides, largemuskies are the dominant predator in their environment and fear

nothing. Actually, I never gave itmuch thought at all and dismissedit as just another missed fish.

It was some years later whenthere’d be a follow and boat-sidestrike and most often a lost fishthat a random thought entered mymind to circle the lure at the boatrather than lifting it. Back then, amissed fish was due in part to aninexperienced and highly excitableangler, or poor inefficient tackle, oran inadequate understanding ofthe muskie’s behavior and traits.

I’ve always been an avid read-er with a growing library, and start-ed concentrating on and acquiringmuskie books. About the sametime sports specials on TV beganfeaturing muskie shows that pro-

vided a great deal of information on different techniques for catchingthe toothy fish. Although the figure 8 was not much of a commontheme back then, it was mentioned as being a contributing factor forcatching a muskie.


“

This is a Muskie I tempted with a figure 8 last year.

Throughout the 70s and 80s a number of factors seemed tocome together to encourage success on the water. While each factorseemed more important than the other, each was of equal importanceand helped me gain maximum effect with minimal effort.

The tackle for muskie anglers was becoming more refined. Rodsbecame more durable and sensitive; reels more finely machined tohandle heavy line and large fighting fish. Lure manufactures alsobecame aware of an increasing interest in the sport and an explosionof hundreds of different makes and models of baits began to flood thetackle shops.

Likewise, as my tackle expanded and became better with eachadvancing year, I also began to learn refinements in my presentation.It was during the 70s and 80s I began to using the services of guides.Each guide had a different approach to the sport andused a variety of techniques including the figure 8.While I can’t remember the first guide stressing theimportance of the figure 8, I well recall Larry whoshowed me time and again that many followingmuskies could be tempted to strike the lure while it’sswerving and turning at the side of the boat.

I had witnessed a number of muskies caught onthe figure 8 and was beginning to develop my ownstyle of this boat-side technique when I became privyto a new and sensational use of the figure 8. Larry andI were fishing his favorite lake and we had wind drift-ed quietly to an island. Larry cast his baby ducky (atop water lure) past a weedy point jutting out into thedeeper water. A swirl appeared beyond the bait and amuskie began to follow the lure back to the boat. As Larry increasedthe speed of the lure, the muskie quickly closed the distance on thelure. We could tell the muskie was excited and hot, and as the lureapproached the boat, Larry pushed the rod tip into the water withabout two feet of line and leader out. Forcing the ducky under thesurface Larry began a wide circle, counter clock-wise around andaway from the boat on the first leg of the figure 8.

Half way through the clock-wise circle, the muskie slammed thelure and bolted through the surface showering us with an eruption ofspray. That was my first experience witnessing a surface lure pulledunder the surface while beginning the figure 8, but not the last.Maybe that’s why it remains so vivid in my memory. Larry said I wasthinking in two dimensions rather than exploringthree dimensions of air and water. Surface lures canbe effective under the surface swimming throughthe water columns as well as spinner baits beingeffective when pulled above the surface to churn upthe water surface and create a noisy disturbance.

The majority of muskies caught on this boat-side technique have succumbed to a spinner bait ona figure 8, but then again, every muskie fisherman Iknow including me uses a spinner bait more thatthe other lures. Spinner baits are versatile, strongattractors and cover a lot of water quickly. Anotherplus for the spinner bait is the ratio for strikes andhook-ups is slightly better than with other lures.

While spinner baits may catch more muskiesthan the other types of lures on a figure 8, and noone can deny it’s exciting to catch a muskie at boat-side with only two or three feet of line out, it does-n’t even begin to compare to the excitement generat-ed by a muskie attacking a surface lure at boat-side.

Often a dark form will appear behind your baita good distance from the boat when you’re retriev-

ing a surface lure. Occasionally the muskie’s eyes and fins will breakthe surface as it snakes behind the lure, stalking it while preparing forthe kill. As the lure approaches the boat and changes direction, thepredator will strike, fearing an easy meal is about to escape.

The visual aspect of the entire procedure is magnified by theimagination a hundred fold making a ten second sequence seem tolast a duration of minutes in slow motion. The surface strike createsa mind-boggling chaos causing an eruption of water accompanied bya loud sound to be equated to a bomb exploding on the water. Thenthe muskie either thrashes wildly boat-side, dancing and cavorting inmid-air, or dives doggedly, sounding for the bottom and safety.

It is at that precise instant of the strike that many muskies arelost. The agitated angler, witnessing the whole event anticipates the

strike and misses the fish, or sets the hook too hardsnapping the line, or rips the hooks from the flesh.

However, if everything works right and themuskie is hooked solidly, then the muskie will contin-ue with more surface action, erupting into the air, tail-dancing across the waves and stirring up the surfacelike an angry alligator. This is as good as muskie fish-ing gets!

There are some muskie anglers who figure 8 afterevery cast and some who never figure 8. That’s right;some anglers believe it’s a waste of time and energy tokeep the lure in the water next to the boat when itcould be fishing more productive water up ahead nearthe structure and shoreline. Each fisherman mustwork out his own presentation, decide what works

best for him and develop his own approach to the figure 8.Most anglers would agree to figure 8 on the first cast to a new

area. The water has been undisturbed and any muskie lurking nearbythat won’t strike the lure will often follow it from a distance of six ormore feet. It often pays to perform three or four complete figure 8son the first cast. Following the first cast, only figure 8 on every otherthird or forth cast unless you see a swirl, flash or follow behind youlure. Also figure 8 if you feel a tick, a pluck or sudden lack of weightwhen retrieving your lure—a sure sign of a muskie strike.



Nothing is morefrustrating to amuskie fishermanthan to see a hugegreen form glidingbehind his lureand then dive anddisappear underthe boat.


Then, on your last cast and many believe your most importantcast, figure 8 a good three or four times before leaving the area foranother spot. If there’s a muskie nearby and he’s only glimpsed thelure, prolonged exposure of the swirling meal beneath the boat mightjust be the right enticement to trigger a neutral muskie into striking.

Larry and Chad, two guides Ihave often fished with, have beenmost generous sharing subtle hintsand suggestions with me, and yes it’strue, both share a personal bias onthe importance of the figure 8. Alltechniques have worked at one timeor another but consistency is how allpresentations are judged. Someapplications have proven to be morevaluable or successful than others,but are they consistent? Do theyusually work? It’s almost magicalwhen the practical application of atheory works according to plan andyou‘re able to catch a muskie asproof.

Both would agree that if youdon’t figure 8 after every retrieve,then at least change the direction ofthe lure, making a half-circle at the boat before lifting the bait for yournext cast. And always pay close attention behind your bait while it’sstill in the water. If you detect any unusual movement, continue tofigure 8 as if there’s a fish nearby. There probably is!

Always concentrate on an area six to eight feet behind your lureand look more for a dark shadowy form rather than a green fish form.Many times a muskie will be four, five or even six feet deep behindyour lure making it difficult to distinguish the fish shape. Look for adark shadowy form.

Last year in August ’05 I was fishing a gin clear lake in northernMinnesota and the first three fish caught were on the figure 8 at the

side of the boat. The unpredictablenature of the muskie is such that ifyou’re not paying attention to yourpresentation and retrieve, you’regoing to miss some opportunities.Not only wear polarized glasses, usethem and pay close attention toyour lure and the surrounding area.

Again, last year in October ’05,I was fishing my home water, LakeKinkaid with Chad. It had beenone of our better fishing trips andwas coming to an end. Probablythirty minutes remained before wequit, Chad noticed a flash behindhis spinner bait. Making anothercast to the same area he noticedanother flash. On his third cast, hethought he saw a dark form follow-ing his bait and he quickly fell to his

knees, thrusting his 71/2 foot rod tip deep into the water up to the reeland began a large figure 8s. After six figure 8s, a 44-inch muskieslammed Chad’s spinner bait and fought like a demon.

There are no guarantees in muskie fishing, but a figure 8 comesclose! ❖

FIGURE 8s WORK! (Cont’d from page 25)

Larry with a Muskie taken some years ago after a figure 8.

MISSION STATEMENT

“Muskies, Inc. is an active, serv-ice-oriented, non-profit organizationwith the single focus of improving thesport of muskie fishing for men,women, and children.

Our mission is to unite all muskiefishing interests for the promotionand protection of a high qualitymuskellunge sport fishery in theUnited States and Canada.

We will accomplish this by sup-porting conservation practices andresearch based on sound scientificmerit, and carried out by authorizedfederal or state agencies, appropriateacademic institutions, Muskies, Incchapters, and their members.

We are committed to the abate-ment of water pollution; maintenanceof records for muskie habits, growth,and range; and the dissemination ofmuskie information to everyone.”

Adopted, April 2002


Muskie are a precious resource; much too valuable tocatch just once.” This powerful statement sums up therationale behind the strong catch and release etiquette

developed by North American muskie anglers. When knowledgeable anglers cradle a trophy muskie in their

hands, they understand that it takes over ten years to produce such agiant esox. Such lengthy survival demands a lot of time, energy andresources.

In West Virginia, it takes ten to 14 years to grow a 50-inchmuskie; fast by North American standards. The number of yearsrequired to produce 50-inch muskie increases the further north onetravels because of compressed growing seasons in northern latitudes.

While many states have historically pursued differing manage-ment strategies regarding muskie, West Virginia took a uniqueapproach in one dimension of muskie management by establishingmandatory catch and release areas on two rivers.

Catch and ReleaseWhere the idea of catch and release originated is often debated.

Early trout anglers were among the first groups to actively practicethe concept. Ray Scott and the BASS organization helped vividlypromote the cause. For forty years Muskies, Inc. has espoused thecatch and release philosophy. Nowadays, muskie organizations andtheir members are among the staunchest supporters of the catch andrelease campaign, and nearly all members strictly following the cus-tom.

Few conservation ideals have proven so successful as the conceptof catch and release. In fact, catch and release has been so embracedby some angling communities that even when biologists recommendspecies specific harvest on overcrowded fisheries, anglers remainunwilling to comply.

Unlike hunting, where a trigger decision doles out a final prog-nosis, fishing offers the angler a choice of harvest or release. Speciesand size specific harvest can be biologically beneficial to a fishery, butwatching a fish swim to freedom after the release carries a mysticalappeal.

While I don’t condone total catch and release of all species (someare delicious to eat and harvest is important to maintaining healthypopulations in many situations), muskie might be the ideal candidatefor catch and release.

These unique fish are long lived and it takes many years to packon enough size to attain trophy status. Trophy fisheries are difficultto develop if muskie are frequently harvested, and in most situationsmuskie get caught multiple times before reaching trophy propor-tions. Without catch and release, trophy-sized muskie would be arare commodity.

West Virginia’s special regulation streamsWith this perception in mind, the West Virginia Division of

Natural Resources (DNR) mandated six mile stretches of muskiecatch and release on two Mountain State rivers: the BuckhannonRiver and Middle Island Creek.

The Buckhannon runs through the central part of the statealong the edge of the Appalachian Mountains and lies within a semi-sterile geological system. While many aquatic species reside in theriver, it’s not nearly as productive as Middle Island Creek.

Middle Island Creek is the longest “creek” in West Virginia andresembles more of a river than a creek. Running along the Ohio RiverValley, most of the stream lies in a lowland area and features a subtlegradient. The stream brims with aquatic life and frequently experi-ences fish interchange through its direct connection with the OhioRiver, particularly on the stream’s lower reaches.

Other differences between the streams exist as well. TheBuckhannon River receives annual stockings of fingerling muskiewhile the muskie population in Middle Island Creek is maintainedby a self-sustaining population of native muskie and is not currentlybeing stocked.

During the West Virginia research study, muskie were capturedby a boat mounted electrofishing unit. Once muskie were captured,weighed and measured, tiny PIT tags were implanted into the later-al muscles adjacent to the fish’s dorsal fin. The tags run about the sizeof a pencil lead and are invisible to even inquisitive anglers. Each tagcontains an electromagnetic coil, a tuning capacitor, and a distinctivemicrochip that allows each fish to be identified upon capture.

Muskie movement can then be tracked throughout each river byidentifying recaptured muskie with a portable scanning device whichworks under the same principle as a grocery store’s checkout scanner.

Is there a need for catch and release areas?With voluntary release rates running as high as 100% among

muskie angling groups, mandatory catch and release seems a bit farfetched. But understand that during the 1980s, many anglers hadn’tadopted the concept of catch and release. Even today, certain com-ponents of the angling community harvest muskie. And whether youagree with them or not, every angler has the right to harvest, provid-ed they stay within the confines of state and federal guidelines.

Jim Moore, president of the West Virginia Chapter of MuskiesInc. states, “While nearly all our membership is made up of hard-core muskie anglers, Muskies Inc. has lobbied for catch and releaseareas, in part because we hoped to see the muskie in special regula-tion areas guarded against harvest from the causal fishing public.”

Moore says, “Members of our chapter feel that the catch andrelease areas remain necessary for several reasons. First, muskie are avery fragile resource which can in fact be subject to over harvest, andmuskie fishing pressure is currently at an all time high.

Second, many West Virginia musky fisheries depend on anactive stocking program, and we realize that all stocking programscan be subject to financial cuts. Less stocking means less fish, thusmaking catch and release especially important.

Finally, naturally reproducing muskie fisheries can experiencetotal loss of year classes due to extreme water or weather conditionsduring the spawning season.”

“I’ve been around long enough to learn that catch and release is

Mandatory Catch and Release for MuskieAn inside look at specially regulated catch and

release sections of West Virginia rivers by Kevin Yokum



not the one and only answer; it’s just one tool. Equally important isprotection and development of habitat, forage, etc. and that’s whyour chapter is working closely with the West Virginia DNR on thoseissues as well,” adds Moore.

The real question boils down to have pro-tective regulations made catch and release areasbetter than other sections of the rivers wheremuskie are managed under general regulations?

Comparing regulations While both rivers have proven their worth

as fine muskie fisheries, the latest evaluationconducted by the West Virginia DNR seeks tocompare muskie populations inside mandatedcatch and release sections with those regulatedunder general regulations (30 inch minimumsize and 2 fish per day bag limit).

Comparisons between regulation types onthe Buckhannon River indicate differences inthe number of muskie inhabiting the two areas.The Buckhannon Pool, as the catch and release area is commonlyknown, likely has the highest concentration of muskie in the entirestate. Since the three-year study began, 151 muskie have been indi-vidually tagged, and those fish have been captured 292 times.

Within the catch and release area of the Buckhannon River, themuskie catch rate from electrofishing samples was calculated to be4.94 muskie per hour while the catch per unit effort (CPUE) fromthe general regulation area (lower Buckhannon) ran 2.94 muskie per

hour. Although both study sections generated impressive catch rates,the Buckhannon River catch and release area produced a significant-ly higher catch rate than general regulation areas on theBuckhannon.

Sampling efforts from Middle Island Creek have generatedimpressive results much like those on the Buckhannon River. One

hundred and sixty two muskies have beentagged on Middle Island Creek and a total of246 captures of those fish were documented.

The interesting thing about Middle IslandCreek is that the catch rates were not signifi-cantly different between the catch and releasesection and general regulation stretches. CPUEfor the special regulated areas comprised ahealthy 2.26 muskie per hour while general reg-ulation areas registered a 2.51 CPUE.

Scott Morrison, the West Virginia DNRbiologist who oversees Middle Island Creekstates, “There may be an angler perspective thatthe special regulation area is better, but MiddleIsland electrofishing catch rates were not statis-tically different between regulation areas.”

There was also no difference in catch ratesbetween the regulation types when comparing

muskie over 30 inches (legal harvest size in West Virginia).While Middle Island Creek showed no difference between reg-

ulation areas, perhaps the discrepancy between regulation areas onthe Buckhannon River points toward differences in habit as a deter-mining factor.

Certainly, habitat is a key ingredient in all fisheries, and there isa definite relationship between habitat and fish density. The

Buckhannon River catch and release area features better habitatthan general regulated sections, so the question becomes can thehigher muskie density be attributed to the catch and release reg-ulation or to the better quality habitat?

Regardless of whether special regulations function accord-ing to design, muskie anglers across the country continue topush for more of them. Most regulations feature a large mini-mum size limit, say 40 inches or larger.

In many respects, the West Virginia catch and release areasfunction the same way size limits do. The big difference is thehigher degree of protection prohibiting muskie harvest, even ifthe fish reaches state record magnitude.

Catch and release guards against harvest of incidentalcatches, and most anglers perceive that the added protectionunder the catch and release statute serves a noble purpose.

Does mandatory catch and release improve muskie fish-eries? The mixed results from West Virginia’s study don’t providea clear answer, at least not yet. However, whether or not specialregulations keep more fish in the water, serious muskie anglerslike the idea of extra protection offered under mandatory catchand release regulations, so special regulations areas are likely hereto stay. ❖

In fact, catch and releasehas been so embraced bysome angling communitiesthat even when biologistsrecommend species specificharvest on overcrowdedfisheries, anglers remainunwilling to comply.

MANDATORY CATCH & RELEASEFOR MUSKIE (Cont’d from page 27)

Ted Scharl and son, Jim, belong to the Between the LakesChapter of Muskies, Inc. Jim, now a senior in college, hasbeen a MI member since 1999 and a musky fisherman since

he was 11 years old. Jim relays, “I caught my very first musky, a 33”,off of Big St. Germain in Vilas County, Wisconsin. We were rowtrolling with a guide. Since then I’ve been hooked, all thanks to mydad. Pretty much everything I’ve learned is from him, with the helpof seminars and magazines, of course.”

“We started fishing for muskies back home, in SheboyganCounty, by row trolling out of an old 10’ Ranger tri-hull. I’ve fishedall over the state, mainly in Big Elkhart Lake and lakes up north in theMinocqua area. I do fish for other species, but only when musky sea-son isn’t open!”

Young Scharl, a confirmed musky fishing addict, majors in fish-eries and limnology (the study of freshwater lakes) at the University ofWisconsin-Stevens Point. Each year his local chapter, Between theLakes, has given him a scholarship to put toward his college tuition.And, in his sophomore year, he received the KermitBenson award. This award is a memorial scholarshipset up in Benson’s honor for students majoring inthe field of natural resources. It is awarded throughthe national level of Muskies, Inc.

The scholarship recipient plans on trying towork with the Department of Natural Resourcesafter graduation, but he is already helping thefuture of musky fishing. He explains, “I have aninternship with Northern Environmental. Mymain job this summer was the plant survey on theEagle River chain of lakes. This year, we did theplant survey on the lake but no treatment (eradica-tion), was done. To do the survey, there was a sam-pling grid set up on the lake which was downloaded onto a GPS.The density, or how far apart the points are, is determined by lake

size, shoreline developmentindex, and other factors. Wewent point to point via theGPS and sampled at eachpoint. This was done bythrowing a rake on a ropeoverboard at each point. Whatwas pulled up was recorded byspecies and density on therake head on a scale of 1-3,three being the highest. The

depth and sediment type was also recorded at each point. Thismeans that there was a lot of driving around in a boat for threeweeks. The lakes ranged anywhere from 120 points for the smallerlakes (Lynx Lake was the smallest) to 616 points for the largest(Catfish Lake). The bigger lakes took around 2-3 days to complete.On average, I’d say we would do about 300-350 points a day duringa 10 hour day.”

“The main goal was to see where aquatic invasive species (AIS)are located within each lake and in what densities. This allows us,

N o r t h e r nEnvironmental, tocreate an aquaticplant managementplan (APM plan)for each lake that istailored to eachlakes specificneeds. I believeWisconsin requiresthat an APM planbe done before any treatment can be started.”

“The only aquatic invasive species found during the survey wasEurasian Water Milfoil (EWM). To treat this, a selective herbicide isapplied to the worst areas in hopes ofthinning out the EWM beds. Thisdoes not affect the other plants, such

as pondweeds or lilies,nor the fish or aquaticbug life. There has neverbeen a documented erad-ication of EWM withinthe state, so a completeeradication is impossible.This method is more of acontrol method to prevent its further spread throughoutthe system. Other methods include cutting w/ a har-vester, hand pulling, or biotic control using weevils.”

“While I was in Eagle River, I also sampled groundwater, did data entry, and stream mapping. This is notthe only body of water we are working on. To be honest,

I have no idea how many we are contracted to do, but I’m pretty sureit’s a good number. I work out of the Waupun office and there areother offices throughout Wisconsin as well as in Michigan, Iowa, andIllinois. Each office has its own projects.”

“The main weeds to be concerned with are EWM, curly leafpondweed, and purple loosestrife (the latter not really being aquatic,

more of am a r s h / b o g / e d g eplant, but still inva-sive). Their mainaffect, especially withEWM, on muskyfishing is on theboating aspect.EWM and Curly canimpede boating byclogging the props of

boats and making it difficult to get through. Both also can out-com-pete native plants and create mono-typic stands of weeds. When theweeds grow thickly, they can also impede the muskies ability to feed,allowing smaller fish to get in and hide, but not the bigger ones. To

What Goes AroundComes Around

by Patricia Strutz


When the weedsgrow thickly, theycan also impede themuskies ability tofeed, allowingsmaller fish to getin and hide, butnot the bigger ones.


curb this, the best example is the Clean Boats, Clean Water program.Make sure your trailers are clean of plants after pulling out and pumpout bilge/livewell water before going to a new lake. EWM can be

started by a single piece of a plant. The best idea is to educate thepublic on how to correctly identify these invasives and get the wordout on how to stop the spread.”

“I came into this particular project expecting it to be worse. Mostpeople said the weeds on the lake were the worst in years. However,

the only lakes where milfoil was a big problem wasScattering Rice and Watersmeet. However, this does notmean that it cannot become a problem in the future on theother bodies of water. All the lakes, however, held verydiverse plant communities, most containing 20-25 differ-ent plant species- not including shoreline emergents. Thisis good for the lake health and shows that these lakes are ingood condition.”

“Again, eradication is out of the question. And, I dofeel it will be more difficult to control the weeds on a chainof lakes, especially one with current flow. However, refer-ring back to the public’s perception of the weeds: identifi-cation and education is a must. Many folks think that anyweed is bad and that there are too many in the lake. But,just because it grows in the lake, and may grow dense insome cases, doesn’t mean it’s bad. I believe we must remem-ber that these plants were here long before we started devel-oping the shoreline and they can and will go in cycles fromyear to year. In many instances, development is helping theplants along by adding more and more nutrients to thewatershed that otherwise wouldn’t enter a natural shoreline.”

Jim Scharl’s college studies will continue this year buthis impact on musky fishing is already being seen.Participating in a study that directly impacts how lakes withinvasive species will be dealt with, Scharl is already givingback to the brotherhood of musky fishermen and womenwho have supported him. Truly, what goes around doescome around!

Author and fishing guide Patricia Strutz, “A Blond and HerBoat,” can be reached by visiting www.ablondandherboat.comor calling (715) 891.1173


WHAT GOES AROUND... (Cont’d from page 29)

Watching with amusement as my Dad’s surface lure strug-gled back within a few feet of his rod tip while creating anamazing disturbance, we were both startled as a sizeable

Muskie absolutely T-boned the lure like a cruise missile with finsresulting in one of those memorable “ boat- side blasts”. The onlything more surprising than the hit was thefact that after a few exciting seconds thecartwheeling fish was still hooked!

After a panic- inciting dive under theboat and some violent head shaking, hisprize was in the net. I readied my camerafor what would soon be a framed 8x10glossy and watched with gratification as myFather lifted a hefty 42” True Strain fromthe net. After the standard photo andrelease we both pondered the thought-“where did that fish come from?” I took it afew steps further and determined to find outwhere it REALLY came from. We weren’tthinking of some invisible under waterstructure but rather how did our living doseof good fortune originate…

In New Jersey we rely on stocking so to get the facts I telephonedfellow Chapter 22 member and friend Craig Lemon who runs ourNew Jersey Hackettstown Hatchery- the one that rears Muskies andWalleyes. Craig went on to detail how a stocked fish comes about.The process is as follows:

Around the second week of April when the water temps rise to45 degrees in the shallows, trap nets are set and checked daily. Aftera week or two, enough adult Muskies in a ratio of 2 males per femalehave been carefully moved to the hatchery in sophisticated aeratedtrucks. Usually Craig and crew have about 15 females and 30 malesready to “make more Muskellunge”. In what resembles a primitive

kitchen procedure, themales are milked ofsperm while the heavyfemales are massagedfree of their eggs- all intoa bowl fit for makingcookie dough! To avoidclumping, a tablespoonof cornstarch is actuallyadded to the “batter”before a cold-waterrinse, which hardens theeggs. These eggs num-

bering roughly 600,000 are counted and placed in McDonald jarsthrough which pure 52-degree spring water circulates for 15 days.

Now the little pinheads emerge and are placed in round five-footdiameter tanks where they live for 5-7 days, nourished by their yokesacks as the water temp is allowed to rise gradually. During days 7-9

they’re swimming freely and begin their preda-tory career on brine shrimp. By the grand ageof 3 weeks, the Muskie fry are close to an inchlong and enjoying an unlimited feed ofcrushed pellets which is highly nutritious andpromotes rapid growth.

Over the next month these fish measure11/2 -2 inches and Craig moves 40,000-50,000outdoors to rearing ponds where they contin-ue to hone their skills on all sorts of aquaticorganisms including plankton, tadpoles andfathead minnow fry. This still leaves 75,000-100,000 inside on the pellet diet and these areheld until they attain 4 inches in length andare ready for larger live forage. Throughoutthe summer they grow unabated on this abun-dant array of natural prey.

On a good year this effort will produce 10,000-15,000 healthy,lively and “well finished” Muskies in the 10-12” range. This tends tocoincide with the first or second week of October and paves the wayfor the final and most gratifying exercise of the process- float stocking

in their new homes wherethey’ll soon fight for theirplace within the food chain.Locally, Herring, White andYellow Perch, GoldenShiners and Sunfish satisfytheir diet. When time runsits course and all goes well,some appear like lightningon one of our lines.

Now that Craig helpedanswer our question regard-ing where our fish camefrom, there was only oneother mystery- who hadbeen fortunate enough andinclined to catch and prop-erly release this 42” speci-men previously? Whoeveryou are, great job! ❖

WHERE DID THATFISH COME FROM?

by Gordon Campbell

I readied my camera for what would soon bea framed 8x10 glossy and watched withgratification as my Father lifted a hefty

42” True Strain from the net.

8" Muskellunge Fingerling on display

Fry compared to Penny.

Intern Kristina Kravit helping CrewSuperviser Ed Conley injecting breeder

female with Carp pituitary.Fish Pathologist Ed Washuta and

Crew Supervisor Ed Conley stripping eggs.



From all reports the Chapter Challunge was another greatsuccess! Whenever the Fargo-Moorhead Chapter does something theydo it up in grand style. Thanks F-M. Juris has compiled a beautifulcollage of the events of that week. Bob Neidhold has chronicled theevent and I believe you’ll enjoy reading his article.

Note: The 2007 Chapter Challunge dates have been established. Tuesday June 12th RegistrationJune 13th, 14th, 15th on Lake Holcombe,Dairyland Flowage, Old Abe Flowage, Cornell Flowage.East Bay Restaurant will be Headquarters

For information contact:Jason Smith(715) [email protected]

Regarding my Advertising Manager hat. I have Emailed all thechapter invoices. If there are any questions or errors please contactme. I am only going on my summary of ads that have appeared in

MUSKIE Magazine since the first of the year. I took this job andnever received any records. I have attempted to explain some of theissues with Trade and Comp ads. I truly believe that we can get themagazine to be self-supporting very soon. Contrary to some beliefswe are just trying to do things right! As always, your comments willbe appreciated.

This makes me think about my job as Editor and how muchgood I see and read about our chapters and our members. I also getto see the International side. Most of you only see one side, mostlythat of your chapters. I never have figured out how to get everyoneon the same page. Our membership has to realize that the board ofdirectors is made up of a representative from your chapter. In orderfor any of us to get a full prospective it is imperative that your RVPattends the board meetings. That is where the decisions are made thatwill affect our entire membership. The decisions are passed or defeat-ed by your chapter RVP, who is the representative of your chapter, ourmembers and of M.I. I never have understood the “we vs. them”mentality. How can there be these factions when we are all of one?Come to the Fall Board meeting and see the issues, many times prob-lems, that all of us must deal with, twice a year. If you want to seethis organization grow and prosper, then help. If you want to makechange then run for an At-Large-Director position, or become yourchapter RVP. You can even do a lot as an officer or committee mem-ber for your local chapter. We all have been put on this earth for areason, isn’t it time we all unify and give something back?

I believe you should have read this on Page #40 of the Septemberissue, however it is worth repeating so that there are no misconcep-tions.

Please refer to Chapter XII, Muskies, Inc. General Policies, PageNo.24. Para. II. A, “Each chapter shall be enti-tled to (1) ? page black & white or color page adper year free of charge”. Dated 9-28-02

Also, Please make sure I receive yourChapter News & Views on or before the 25th

of the month (formerly this date was the 1st

of the month). This is necessary in order toget our magazine out earlier. We are trying toget it to you before the end of the month pre-ceding the magazine month.

I hope all you guys and gals have a greatfishing event at the Best of the Best. I knowthere will be a great party in store for those ofyou attending

Happy Halloween!

JimJim Smith, Managing EditorMUSKIE Magazine – The Official

Publication of Muskies, Inc.Email: [email protected]

We work to improve fishing!

As I See Itby Jim Smith

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Looking for gifts for your special

fishing friends? Get them...

Looking for gifts for your special

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2007Muskies, Inc.CalendarsOrder today and send yourorder with a check for $12.95*for each calendar ordered to:

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Special Events

2006October 13,14,15

Best of the Best International FishingTournament, Green Bay, Wisconsin.Contact: Ken Karbon 303-688-4954 orlog on the web at www.muskiesinc.organd follow the links to register.

October 21M.I. International Fall Board MeetingHost: Fargo/Moorhead Chapter,Saturday, October 21, 2006Guided fishing on Friday, Oct 20Contact: RVP Brett Waldera,email: [email protected] Phone 701-298-9032Hotel: Holiday Inn, Detroit Lakes, MN

218-847-2121, www.dlinn.comRoom rate $69.95 (mention Muskies, Inc.)

2007April 14

M.I. International Spring Board Meetingat The Buckeye Hall of Fame CaféHost: Columbus, Ohio ChapterContact: Ross [email protected]: 513-615-7586(The Varsity Inn Hotel is next door.)

April 19,20,21Cabin Fever ChallungeGreen River Lake, Campbellsville, KY

June 12,13,14,152007 Chapter ChallungeJune 12th (Tuesday) RegistrationJune 13th,14th,15th fishing on LakeHolcombe, Dairyland Flowage, Old AbeFlowage, Cornell Flowage.Headquarters: East Bay RestaurantContact: Jason Smith, (715) 726-9912or email: [email protected]

September 21 (Friday)M.I. International Fall Board Meetingat Lake of the Woods in the Morson,

Ontario areaHosted by the International Contact Paul Framsted

[email protected]

Looking for Chapters to host both2008 meetings and beyond

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Special events listings are provided atno charge to Muskies, Inc chapters.To list your chapter's event, email to:

[email protected]

or by ground mail: Jim Smith,15045 W. Double Tree Way,Surprise, AZ 85374-8568.

Please send announcementsat least 2 months in advance.

Chapter News and ViewsChapter News and Views

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No. Chapter, Address Phone #01 ........Twin Cities, 414 Division St., Excelsior, MN 55331 ......................................952-380-121802 ........Fargo-Moorhead, Box 2021, Fargo ND, 58107 ............................................701-298-903203 ........Chicagoland Muskie Hunters, 7600 Kilbourn Ave, Skokie, IL 60076............847-677-001704 ........Titletown Muskies, Inc., 3097 Inverness Lane, New Franken, WI 54229 ....920-866-970505 ........Pomme De Terre, PO Box 5, Hermitage, MO 65668....................................417-745-238106 ........First Wisconsin, PO Box 122, Chippewa Falls, WI 54729............................715-726-889607 ........South Side Muskie Hawks, 5211 S. Narragansett Ave., Chicago, IL 60638 ..773-581-865008 ........Capital City, PO Box 8862, Madison, WI 53708 ...........................................608-669-504609 ........West Virginia, 1270 Federal Road, Little Hocking, OH 45742......................740-667-357110 ........Heartland, 239 8th St SE, Mason City IA 50401 ..........................................641-424-082711 ........Mississippi Valley, 5301 11th Ave “C”, Moline, IL 61265...............................309-797-180312 ........Headwaters, PO Box 652, Eagle River, WI 54521 .......................................715-477-291313 ........Hayward Lakes, PO Box 609, Hayward, WI 54843......................................715-634-454314 ........South of the Border, 28926 W. Big Hollow Rd, McHenry, IL 60050 .............815-385-902615 ........Star of the North, 29957 La Plant Rd., Grand Rapids, MN 55744 ...............218-326-495816 ........Three Rivers, 119 Bus Lane, Renfrew, PA15136 .........................................724-789-786617 ........Quad County, PO Box 185, Plano, IL 60545 ................................................815-695-149418 ........Hopedale, 15 Township Rd 125, Dillonvale, OH 43917................................740-769-726919 ........Akron-Canton Muskie Maniacs, 1503 S Main St, Akron, OH 44301 ............330-724-759220 ........Between the Lakes, PO Box 61, Sheboygan, WI 53085-0061.....................920-564-322621 ........North Metro, PO Box 41216, Plymouth, MN 55441......................................952-469-215522 ........New Jersey, http://www.mi22.com/...............................................................................TBD23 ........Cleveland, 34188 Euclid Ave., D-24, Willoughby, OH 44094-3351 ..............440-269-246424 ........Brainerd Lakes, 9143 Lone Pine Road, Brainerd, MN 56401 ......................218-821-366926 ........Central Wisconsin, PO Box 263, Medford, WI 54451...................................715-748-263027 ........Central Illinois, 1191 Sandra Lane, Monticello, IL 61856..............................309-264-373028 ........Shawnee Muskie Hunters, PO Box 602, DeKalb, IL 60115..........................815-756-323129 ........Upper Great Plains, 1788 Hwy 4, Estherville, IA 51334 ...............................712-362-250130 ........God’s Country, PO Box 1461, LaCrosse, WI 54601.....................................608-786-406231 ........Penn-Ohio, 309 Spring St, Jamestown, PA 16134 .......................................724-932-581532 ........Flatlanders, 5776 Vesper Drive, South Beloit, IL 61080...............................815-389-462233 ........Lake Superior, 2031 Hwy. 33 S., Cloquet, MN 55720 ..................................218-879-271235 ........Milwaukee, PO Box 28842, Greenfield, WI 53220 .......................................262-442-626037 ........St. Cloud, 312 18th Avenue N., Sartell, MN 56377.......................................320-656-116038 ........Vikingland, 609 S. Otter Ave., Parkers Prairie, MN 56361 ...........................218-338-544139 ........Fox River Valley, 1253 Cobblers Crossing, Elgin, IL 60123 .........................847-741-977141 ........Central Ohio, 8494 Fall Gold Lane, Westerville, OH 43082.........................614-451-048542 ........Hoosier Muskie Hunters, PO Box 501371, Indianapolis, IN 46250..............317-577-805044 ........Colorado, 3739 Sawgrass Trail, Castle Rock, CO 80109.............................303-668-408945 ........Kentucky, 212 Linden Ave., Southgate, KY 41071 .......................................859-441-166646 ........Bemidji/Cass Lake, 11551 Misty Meadows Rd, Bemidji, MN 56601 ............218-759-009847 ........Michigan Muskie Alliance, PO Box 512, Caledonia, MI 49316.....................616-447-168848 ........Arrowhead, PO Box 82, Virginia, MN 55792 ................................................218-482-521749 ........Webster Lake Musky Club, PO Box 670, No. Webster, IN 46555................574-834-166950 ........Penn-Jersey, 372 Kingwood Rd., King of Prussia, PA 19406.......................610-962-063251 ........Ohio Valley Muskie Hunters, 211 Mann St., Bowerstown, OH 44695 ..........740-269-121652 ........Daniel Boone, 813 US 62, Maysville, KY 41056 ..........................................606-759-761053 ........Huskerland Muskie Hunters, PO Box 394, Valentine, NE 69201 .................402-376-274354 ........Southern Crossroads, 1524 Country Club Rd, Albert Lea MN 56007..........507-373-181855 ........Mid Iowa Muskies, 2940 SW Meadow Ridge, Ankeny IA 50023..................515-289-1583

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The Twin Cities Chapter is busy working on the39th Annual Frank Schneider Jr. Memorial MuskieTournament. By the time you read this updatethe Tournament will be over and I will be workingon reporting the results. Next year I promise I willhave this timing thing figured out.

I did want to take the opportunity to talk aboutthe event and the DEDICATED, and I do meandedicated committee that have worked so hard toput this event together. It is one of our mostimportant fundraisers and it has helped enable usto continue to donate money to improve Muskiefishing in Minnesota.

This tournament is held the weekend afterLabor Day weekend every September. It is heldin the Walker, Bemidji, Cass Lake and Longvilleareas.

The Grand Prize this year is a Ranger 618TFisherman with a 90 HP Mercury motor. Any con-testant who registers a Muskie of any size duringthe tournament is eligible for the Grand Prizedrawing.

The Awards ceremony is held in Walker MNwhere there are a ton of prizes awarded including8 different trips, rods, reels, and tackle. The per-son catching the largest fish will receive agraphite reproduction made by FiberTechReproductions.

Paul Villnow, a Twin Cities Chapter memberagain has donated $1000 in cash to be awardedto the top three female anglers. (IncludesJuniors) Paul created this award in memory ofhis wife Mary who was an avid Muskie angler.

I would like to recognize This yearsTournament committee. As I mentioned abovethis is a dedicated group. They meet everymonth. Their September meeting recaps thetournament and they start the next years plan-ning in October. The committee consists of JoeDemars, Ben Fitzel, Jeri and Tom Glander, BobJunghans, Shawn Kellett, Mike McGrath, DeniseOlson, Pete Randall, and Eric Schultz. This teamis lead by Stu Mcintosh and Dianne Dahl. Theirleadership over the past several years hasenabled our chapter to continue this tournamenttradition.

If you didn’t get the chance to fish the tourna-ment this year, mark the date on next years cal-endar and join in the fun.

“Give something back to the resource”Bob

Octobers meeting on October 3rd will beanchored by a presentation from Doug Kloet, ofMuskie Magic Tackle. Doug guides onSoutheastern Wisconsin waters and should havean excellent presentation for these waters.

We are conducting a Fall Football Fundraiserin conjunction with a few other MI chapters.Tickets are $10 each and are valid for 10 weeks.This is only $1 per week, with a chance to win

cash prizes in up to a few thousanddollars. Personally, I would rather be fishingthan watching a football game, but there is noaccounting for taste. Seriously, all you have todo to win is check in with your ticket to the website listed on the Ticket. For more information,contact our Chapter President, Zach Arnold.Good Luck to all participants.

The Chicagoland Muskie Hunters meet thefirst Tuesday of each month at the Park RidgeVFW located at 10 W. Higgins Road, which is atthe intersection of Higgins Rd. and Canfield inPark Ridge. Meetings begin at 7:30 PM

See you on the waterGreg Denny

30TH ANNUAL FIRST WISCONSIN CHAPTERTOURNAMENT is scheduled for September 15-17, 2006. Tournament headquarters will again beat East Bay Restaurant & Dam Bar on HolcombeFlowage, 27325 268Th Ave., Holcombe, WI.54745. Phone number: 715-595-6251.

A new rule for 2006 is that each contestant isrequired to register his or her own fish daily bycalling 1-888-726-6733. All muskies must be reg-istered by 10 pm. on the day of catch or the fishwill be disqualified.

Over $5000 worth of prizes will be awarded.Contestants can register at Mouldy’s inChippewa Falls until 8 pm or East Bay inHolcombe until 9 pm on the night before the tour-nament. For more information contact FirstWisconsin Chapter via the 888 number above, byemail at [email protected] or on theweb at http://firstwi.muskiesinc.org/tourney.

REARING POND UNDATE. Recent nettingfound muskies ranging from 5.5 to 11.5 incheswith a 10-inch average. Food and growth bothare good.

GIL HAMM CONGRATS. First WI anglersChuck Spletter, Rick Mechelke, Jason Smith,Fred Johnson, Bob Neidhold and Jeff Bunchbrought home the Gil Hamm Lunge Bucket withsix Mille Lac muskies ranging from 43.5” to 49”.Congrats guys on a great job!

Jim Willison and Robin Clegg spent an earlysummer week in Canada. They boated 19muskies with about half of them coming to 5oz.Willey’s Bucktail Spinnerbaits driven right thru theweeds. Among their fish were a 49 ?” and a 531/2” by Robin and a 50 ?” by Jim.

Muskie Fingerling stockings by DNR in WestVirginia waters for 2006 as of July 31 include:

Mill Creek 403Stonewall Jackson 737Bluestone River 200Gauley River 300Meadow River 150Upper Mud Lake 586Stonecoal Lake 1,291West Fork River 477Burnsville Reservoir 1,390

Kanawha River 1,050Mud River 600

Total Fingerling stocking was 7,184

It is planned that Advanced Fingerling muskieswill be stocked in North Bend Lake, BuckhannonRiver, Monongahela River, Stonewall JacksonReservoir, Tygart Backwaters and WoodrumLake later in the year.

We are grateful to all who purchased or soldraffle tickets to once again make our Annual RodRaffle a success. A special thank you to thosewho bought or sold more than the ten ticketsmailed to each member.

John Kaltenecker, SecretaryWest Virginia Chapter 09 Muskies, Inc.

Headwaters chapter 12 of Muskies Inc is in fullswing with a very busy August. On August 9thHeadwaters chapter held there Directors meetingat White Stag in Eagle River and was well attend-ed. On August 16th headwaters chapter held ourmidweek open outing on a fish any lake opencontest.

Anglers were to fish from morning till 5.00 pm.Following fishing all members were to meet at 12Pines for some great pizza and stories about theDays event.

At our event on Wednesday we had a greatturn out with over 50 members showing up.Congratulations to our following members whoregistered fish. Joe Koschnik 41-1/2 inch, KipCramer 38 inch, Gary Myshak 35-1/4 inch, andrich Trumbull 34 inch congratulations to all thelucky fisherman and thanks Jim Richlitz for awell-run outing. Following our open outingHeadwaters chapter 12 had our general businessmeeting. A big thank you by our president billJacobs and a large round of applause to our raf-fle ticket chairman Jim Chamberlein for achievingour best year ever in ticket sales, congratulationsJim. Headwaters Chapter web site www.headwa-tersmuskies.com has been updated by FredBrogle with many new pictures as well as somegreat video clips and articles please be sure tovisit. Our

October 3rd meeting will be held at Eagle RiverInn, be sure to attend early, as Jim Heffner will begiving a poolside demonstration on the use andmethods of using Suick baits. On the weekend ofAugust 18th. Eagle River was a busy area withthe 21st Annual National Championship Muskyopen. This was a great tournament with over 1090anglers attending. Under tough conditions therewere 174 fish registered. Plan on next year’s tour-nament, which will be held august 16th, 2007. Allclub members please plan on attending ourOctober 28th Enduro Outing, which will be held atthe Eagle River Inn. This is a great way to fish afun end of the season outing, exact time and infor-mation can be found in the newsletter.

Regards and good fishing Glenn Matula

The Hayward Lakes Chapter’s annual kidsfishing day was the first Sunday in August, the 6th.


West Virginia1270 Federal Road

Little Hocking, OH 45742740-667-3571

http://westvirginiamuskiesinc.orgMeets: No definite schedule-call

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First WisconsinP.O. Box 122,

Chippewa Falls, WI 54729715-726-8896

[email protected]@muskiesinc.org

Meetings 1st Monday, 5:30 PM, Rod and Gun Club,Lake Wissota.

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Twin Cities414 Division St.

Excelsior, MN 55331952-380-1218

www.twincitiesmuskiesinc.orgMeets 2nd Tuesday 7:00 PM, Knights of Columbus,1114 W79th St Bloomington, MN, near the SE cornerof the intersection of I-494 and I-35W.

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HeadwatersP.O. Box 652

Eagle River, WI 54521715-477-2913 – Paul Hansenwww.headwatersmuskies.com

Meets 1st Wednesday 7:00 PM

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ChicagolandMuskie Hunters

7600 Kilbourn Ave.Skokie, IL 60076

847-677-0017 – Dean [email protected]

Meets 1st Tuesday 7:30 PM, Park Ridge VFW 10West Higgins Ave., Park Ridge, IL.

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Hayward LakesP.O. Box 609

Hayward, WI 54843715-634-4543

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Seventeen club members took twenty threeyoungsters fishing from nine until noon. We metat the Wisconsin Beer Hunters Restaurant on theTiger Cat Flowage, some guides fished therewhile others went to nearby lakes. Five Muskieswere caught along with fourteen bass and north-ern. At noon the club members cooked brats foreveryone. Each youngster received a bag of fish-ing goodies and we raffled off some bigger prizesincluding club memberships. If you’d like to joinus, next year’s event will again be the firstSunday in August. We can always use moreguides and more kids too!

The 29th Annual Fall Tournament is October6,7&8 this year so there may still be time to signup! We will be giving away $30,000 in prizesincluding a Lund Boat with a Mercury motor fromHayward Power Sports. You can sign up in per-son at Hayward Bait and Tackle by Thursdaynight October 5th , 11p.m. or by phone and fax,715-634-2921.

In our members contest, 67 fish have beenentered:Women – Brenda Dettloff, 2 fish, 34pts

Tera Neibauer, 2 fish, 15ptsMen – Mike Persson, 8 fish, 77pts

Eric Shymansky, 3 fish, 27ptsWayne Gutsch, 1 fish, 25pts,

a 51” from the Chip! Rodney Lee 1 fish, 16ptsJim Breen 1 fish, 9ptsJim O’Leary 1 fish, 6pts

Masters – Ted Muntz – 11 fish, 101ptsSenior Masters– Larry Ramsell – 23 fish,

266pts, includes a 53”,54”, and a 56” !!!

Tom Muntz – 21 fish, 222ptsWe award trophies and plaques at our awards

banquet, in March, to our top five winners, includ-ing a youth division. Send entries to Bob Timme,12677 Neumaier Road, Hayward WI, 54843,715-462-3053.

The November meeting is Tuesday the 7th at7:30pm, at Ran-Dees on highway B. We will electofficers for 2007 and begin our planning for nextyear.

Good Fishing, Mike Persson

As indicated last month, fishing remains slow.However, Chuck, Norm, “The Pirates” and Tom Arecently took advantage of a cool spell and madesome good catches including a couple Tigers.Speaking of Tiger Muskies, Craig reported that1000 of them in the 8” range will be stocked in theDelaware this week along the Easton-Phillipsburg area. Craig says all the Muskies atthe hatchery are on live forage and doing welland expects a state-wide stocking of around10,000 Trues and Tigers this Fall. Starting inearly October keep an eye on mi22.com forstocking dates. Also mentioned by Craig wasthat 40,000 Channel Cats in the 7” range will beliberated in 38 NJ waters this week. TheGreenwood Lake drawdown is in fact expected tocommence around October 1st so launching andeven fishing may be tricky on the South end ofthe lake. By the time you read this, the FallChallunge will have taken place at LakeHopatcong and we’d like to thank our sponsors inadvance: Dow’s Marina, BKLURES.COM, MattLysek of Chapter 50, Warner Baits of Ch. 50,

Cabelas, Grandma Lures, Musky Innovations,Frank’s Tackle, Davis Sporting Goods, GanderMountain and Meltzer’s . Patronize these busi-nesses and let them know you’re an MI memberand appreciate their help. Looking ahead, thecalendar looks like this—

Fall Stocking in October (TBA’d) , Sept. meet-ing 9/26, Oct. meeting 10/31 , Nov. meeting11/28 (Final of 2006). All will be held 8 pm @Lake Arrowhead Lodge in Denville- directions onour site. Lastly, Managing Editor Jim Smithindicates that they’re working to deliver MuskieMagazine earlier in the month .

Submitted by Gordon CampbellVP Chapter 22.

The muskie action has been relatively slow forour local members so far this year. As of 8/14/06,our chapter has recorded just 86 releases. Weare optimistic these numbers will grow with thecooler weather upon us. Our contest leaders are:

Men’s Division: Robert Basic - 8 fish for 105 pointsMichael Nickel – 9 fish for 81 points

Men’s Master Division:Sherman Champlin – 22 fish for 156 pointsMike Clemente – 16 fish for 151 points

Women’s Division:Sharlene Simorale – 2 fish for 44 points

Junior’s Division:Nick Riveria – 3 fish for 41 pointsErik Nickel – 4 fish for 23 points

Largest Chapter Release:Robert Basic – 48” Lake St. Clair on 7/23/06

Largest Ohio Release:Frank Smith – 44-1/2” Lake Milton on 7/28/06

Catch ya later,Michael Nickel

Board members met on Thursday August 17back at the American Legend building in Milford.For a couple of months we were meeting atGodfathers in Arnolds Park but we are happy tobe back at the newly reopened American Legendbuilding which is now called Chap’s Club. Wewould love to see some new faces at our meet-ings. Some come and see us every thirdThursday of each month. We meet at 6 pm to eatdinner and our meetings begin at 7 pm.

On August 5th and 6th the club held its annualMoonlight Madness Tournament. The event washeld on Spirit Lake to avoid the summer boatingtraffic on Okoboji. It was a fun and safe event.Chapter VP Carl Waddell guided his fishing part-ner to her first musky ever. It just so happened tobe a big 43 incher that won her a brand new fish-ing rod. Congratulations, that’s a good way tocatch your first fish..

By the time this chapter message reach’s youfall will be upon us . The Fall Tournament and theIdso Fest Tournament would have come andgone. I will update everyone with results in thefuture. Enjoy this time of year and I hope every-

one can get some fishing in before we start see-ing that white stuff.

Be sure to visit us at our website:http://muskieclub.com

Sincerely,Pete Hildreth Chapter Editor

We have a couple important meetings comingup in the next couple of months for stocking andprotecting muskies in the St. Cloud area.

The first meeting is Wednesday September13th at the Sauk Rapids City hall from 6:00 to8:00 pm.. The meeting is about turning theMississippi river into a catch and release onlyfishery for Muskies. The river from Grand Rapidsto Coon Rapids would be protected if this passes.

The second meeting would affect Gull Lake. (1hour north of St Cloud):

A proposal to stock muskellunge in Gull Lakenear Brainerd will be the subject of a public inputmeeting in October. The Department of NaturalResources (DNR) is considering a proposal tostock 2,800 muskellunge fingerlings per year forfour consecutive years starting in 2007. Theproposal aims to create a muskellunge fishery inthe immediate Brainerd area, a popular anglingdestination in central Minnesota.

The public input meetings will be Oct. 6 from 7to 9 p.m. in the Central Lakes College cafeteria,501 West College Drive in Brainerd and from 8a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the DNR’s headquarters, 500Lafayette Road in St. Paul.

Jason JonesSt. Cloud Chapter

[email protected]

The end of this season is on the horizon. Now,the weather and our level of tenacity will dictatehow many days we have left on the water.Hopefully before the water ‘goes hard” we will allhave the opportunity to finish the season off on ahigh note with a Big Girl in the bag.

It is our pleasure this month to have SteveJonesi as our featured speaker. His presentationwill be on Minnesota Muskies. Steve is one of thetop people in this sport and we look forward tospend the evening with him.

Our club is very fortunate to consistently have“High Caliber” personalities from our sport join usat our monthly meetings. I would like to take amoment for a “Hat Tip” to Steve Crook and ToddMinor from our Board of Directors who areresponsible for bringing these speakers to youmonth after month. Thanks a lot guys.

Hopefully some of you have taken the chanceto join us in Green Bay the weekend of October6th. To 8th. This is a great opportunity to get onsome big fish. Details can be found on the web-site or by contacting Jim Ziebka at any of ourmeetings or by e-mail at [email protected].

On Saturday October 28th. Will be the secondhalf of our “Challunge on the Chain” Tournamentseries. The Spring Tourney was full and we hadto turn people away. With only a few short weeks


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New Jerseyhttp://www.mi22.com/22

Upper Great Plains1788 Hwy 4

Estherville, IA 51334712-362-2501

Meets 3rd Thursday , Legion Club, 1709 OkobojiAve., Milford, IA.

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Cleveland34188 Euclid Ave., D-24

Willoughby, Ohio 44094-3351440- 269-2464

Meets 2nd Monday 7:30 PM

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39Fox River Valley

1253 Cobblers Crossing, Elgin, IL 601230847-741-9771 – Rich Gallagher

www.frvmuskie.com

Meets: 2nd Wed (Exc June/July) Poplar Creek CountryClub, 1400 Poplar Creek Drive, Hoffman Estates, IL.

St. Cloud312 18th Avenue N.Sartell, MN 56377

(320) 656-1160www.stcloudmuskies.com

Meets: 3rd Tues. 7:30 PM American Legion, Waite Park.

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left we hope you will fill out an entry form and getit in to the Tournament Committee. Once wereach 100 you will have to wait for Spring! This isa great time of year to hook up that “Fall Fatty.”We have cash payouts to tenth place. The topthree teams also receive a great trophy for theirefforts. Before the awards portion of the eveningwe have a great hot meal. Our merchandisedirector Todd Berg has once again amassed twopicnic tables full of raffle prizes to finish off thenight.

Our regular club meeting dates are the secondWednesday of the month. The Poplar CreekCountry Club is most gracious in providing uswith great accommodations. They also provideus with a great Buffet style dinner starting at sixp.m. before the 7:30 p.m. meeting. Check thewebsite the week before the meeting for info onwhat the meal will be.

Until Later,Return ‘em to the water Healthy and

Remember Our Troops.JT

Meetings are held the second Tuesday of eachmonth at the Buckeye Hall of Fame Café, 1421Olentangy River Rd., beginning at 7:00pm.Guest and the general public are always wel-come. For more information, call Ross Wagnerat 513-615-7586.

Just a short newsletter this month since thechapter hasn’t had an event since last month.Somehow all our newsletters are being lost somaybe this one will be included with several oth-ers. I’m resending last month’s because I want-ed to be sure the youth event made it in the mag-azine newsletter.

Our last two meetings have been at AlumCreek Lake and August’s meeting fell the dayafter a cold front, rats. Johnny did a fine job withthe fried catfish and hush-puppies which was thehigh-light of the evening.

Ross would like to remind us the club plans onhosting the Spring International Board Meeting.He’s finalizing the plans. He also states that wewill have a Caesar’s Creek outing this fall so weneed to keep watch on the message board.

Maybe we can help Ross figure out a few pat-terns on his new local lake!

We will be back at the Buckeye Hall of Fameon Tuesday September 12th and Ron Fisher willbe presenting a program on Boat Electronic(depth finders). October’s Program should be onWeather Patterns and we hope to have BenGelber give that one if he can work it into hisschedule. Also, note the Fall Shoot Out below.Date: October 14th and 15th, 2006Event Name: Fall Shoot Out at Alum Creekmore information will follow

Contact: Jack Worline - Tournament Directoremail: jackworline@wowwaycom

Elmer

Webster Lake Musky Club still has events leftin 2006 for our members to attend. Currentlyongoing is the Wednesday Night League whichstarts at 6PM and lasts until 1 hour past sunset.The league lasts until November 8th. Also on theschedule of events is the Ice Out Challengescheduled for November 4th. As of the lastweek in August, water temps have finally cooleddown enough that musky fishing can beresumed again. That is great news for those uswaiting to get back after our favorite fish.Congratulations are in order for 2 Chapter #49members. President Chae Dolsen recently boat-ed a 54” pig in Minnesota, and fellow Chapter#49 member David Cates, who also happens tobe Muskies Inc. President, recently boated a 481/2” gem from Lake St. Clair. Chapter #49 mem-bers MUST plan on attending Decembers meet-ing. Not only will elections be held for Chapterboard positions, but there is an excellent possi-bility that a speaker will be brought in for thepurpose of educating and entertaining us all.See everyone on the water!!

Greg [email protected]

Chapter 50 has had a quiet summer. Membershad to cut down on Muskie fishing due to a cou-ple of heat waves that hit the east coast in Julyand August. With weather already cooling downwe are looking forward to a great fall and winterMuskie season. Float stocking is underway andthe club has already helped stock over 3,000Muskies, with many more to come.

Many of our club’s original goals were recentlymet when PA adopted new regulations for Muskiefishing. The changes are dramatic and reflectexactly for what our club members tirelessly lob-bied.

New regulations for 2007 ,these will take affectJanuary 1st 2007. Created year-round fishingseasons on inland water for muskellunge, hybrids, northern pike and pickerel. Starting in2007, the daily creel limit for muskellunge willbecome one fish of at least 40 inches in length (down from 2 fish of at least 30 inches!).The limit for northern pike will remain at 2 fish ofat least 24 inches in length.

In related actions, the Commission also adopt-

ed a new special regulations program where theminimum size limit for muskellunge and musky hybrids will be 45 inches. TheCommission also moved to solicit public com-ment on designating certain waters Brood StockLakes where fishing for musky, musky hybrids,pike and pickerel will be on a catch and release only basis April 1 through May 31.

MI50 will be participating in the 2nd annual fallChapter Challunge. This will be held SundayOctober 1st att Lake Hopatcong. Lee’s Marina will be the main boat ramp . Chapter 22 does agreat job host this 3 club event and many of ourmembers are looking forward to participating.

Prospective members and those interested infinding out more about our club are invited to joinus at our monthly meetings at Caseys Bar in Quakertown, PA., or check out our newly updat-ed(!) website at www.mi50.com. Caseys is at thecorner of Cherry and California Rds. and themeetings start at 7PM on the first Wednesday ofthe month.

Chapter 52’s August meeting drew over 40 toa program on Cave Run Dam. A short businessmeeting beforehand generated some key deci-sions. We opted to take our 2nd quarter member-ship rebate out in MI merchandise and donated$150 additional back to MI to help defray the costof mailing the 2007 Calendar. One week for twolucky Chapter 52 muskie seekers at Andy MyersLodge, the chapter’s prize for the MI membershipdrive last year, is going to be awarded for nextyear at our Annual Awards Banquet. Threeremaining 2006 chapter outings were changed toone-day (Saturday) events. Some participantswill choose to stay over and continue to fish onSunday (especially if the fishing is hot!), but themember contest awards will be made and basedon Saturday’s results. Muskie guide, DavidNutter, won a Frabill lure retriever, and theMorehead Conference Center won approval as afine new facility.

Chapter membership seems to be hoveringaround 130 (86 households) with comings andgoings gradually settling down. Since 32 of ourmember households do not currently have e mailaddresses, it is generally thought that we need anewsletter, but . . ..

Chapter 52 was included in discussions lead-ing to the establishment of KentuckyConservation Partners, a state federation of hunt-ing, fishing and trapping organizations with a con-servation mission. A charter document and a listof top concerns have been developed for reviewby each partner organization and for discussionwith the Kentucky Fish & Wildlife Commission,state legislators, and executive branches.

In spite of a record hot summer the Minor ClarkFish Hatchery reports that 2006 muskellungestocking goals are on track. The hatchery isscheduled for major renovations as soon as theponds are drained this fall.


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Central Ohio8494 Fall Gold Lane

Westerville, OH 43082614-451-0485 – Ross Wagner

Meets 2nd Tuesday 7:00 PM, Buckeye Hall ofFame Café, 1421 Olentangy River Rd.

41 52Daniel Boone

813 US 62, Maysville, KY 41056Phone: 606.759-7610

e-mail: [email protected]: Larry X. Besant

Meets on Fridays-call or email.

Webster LakeP.O. Box 670

No. Webster, IN 46555574-834-1669

49

Penn JerseyMatt Lysek, President

215-822-2472Website: www.mi50.com

Meets at 7pm on 1st Wed. at Casey’s Bar on Corner ofCherry and California Rds, Quakerstown, PA.

50

MEMBERSNOTICE

Members can change theirpersonal information on the web-site

www.muskiesinc.org

After logon to the "Member OnlySection" take menu item "MyMember Info"

You can change your address oremail address and see when yourMembership expires.


It’s important to understand when looking at musky numbers inMadison lakes that it’s DNR’s goal to maintain a healthy and sustain-able population, not an unusually high population. The robust sizeand health of the muskies you’ll see in these lakes is good evidence theprogram is working.

In addition to stocking, the fishermen whohunt muskies play another big role in the high num-ber and growing size of muskies found in Madisonwaters. Area fishing club members and anglers whotarget muskies in these metro lakes as a rule don’tkeep or kill muskies. The ethic of catch and releasekeeps the population high and allows the fish to getlarger with each passing year. Combine that with aminimum 45-inch size limit on these fish, and youhave a trophy musky fishery in urban Madison,Wisconsin.

The numbers of muskies in Madison’s lakesand the potential for a great fishery was strikinglyillustrated on Lake Monona during a Septemberweekend tournament sponsored by the Professional MuskyTournament Trail. The tournament was only a Saturday and half of aSunday with 150 boats participating. On the first day, 36 muskieswere boated, and during the following half day in just a few hours 31more muskies were boated. That’s 67 boated muskies more than 34”long in a day and a half. That averages to almost half of the 150 boatson the lake catching a musky over a weekend.

That’s record musky fishing, as any experienced musky fishermanwould know.

To be fair to this unusually high number of fish, a weather eventthe weekend of the tournament most likely played a major role in pil-ing up such a rare number of boated muskies. Lake Monona inSeptember is normally a busy urban lake on the weekends with a largenumber of recreational boaters out cruising the shoreline while a goodnumber of water skiers and jet skiers zig zag randomly around thelake. It’s their lake too and a normal part of the urban scene, but allthat noise, disturbance and wake action tends to send muskies intohiding and doesn’t make for the best fishing. But on the weekend ofthe tournament, cool rainy weather set in, and when all the pleasurecraft decided to stay home the muskies decided to go shallow. Withvirtually no wind the hot pattern that boated the most fish was cast-ing top water baits over still shoreline shallows.

Avoiding pleasure craft activity is a big factor in increasing yourodds of boating a metro musky. You can catch muskies in the middleof the day in the middle of the summer around water skiers and cruis-ing 30 footers but your chances are better if you fish in the earlymorning or evening. In the spring and fall when water temperaturesare low and pleasure traffic is less, your chances improve mid-day.

Which lake you go to also plays a role in what to expect from thefish below. You are wise to heed the advice and experience of areamusky guide, Wally Banfi, when choosing a lake. According to Wally,“If you want to catch a big fish, go to Monona. If you want action, goto Wingra. And don’t forget Waubesa for nice hybrids and trues.”

Wally’s advice runs true when you look at the musky numbers inarea lakes and the original intent of musky introduction into theseurban waters. After years of ever intensive fishing the Madison lakeswere losing their top predator – the northern pike. Biologists deter-mined muskies might be a better predator for Madison waters.Muskies are voracious feeders, which would help control a burgeon-ing prey population in the lakes, and they live many years and tendnot to be kept by most fishermen as pike often are. Plus, a big size

limit would allow muskies to grow larger than their pike cousins. As part of the stocking program, Lake Wingra over the years has

been stocked with only true muskies, no hybrids. It’s the smallest lakeof the four metro lakes, but it’s musky density has grown to about fourmuskies / acre, more than four times the average population in a goodnorthern musky lake and too high according to DNR’s Scott Stewartand area fish manager Kurt Welke. True muskies survive better than

hybrid muskies, and when predators like this live tobe more than 15 years old it takes time to see howa program is working. The muskies in Wingra donot have the choices of prey other lakes can provideand one of the results is a declining largemouth basspopulation. Welke says the stocking program forWingra will be cut back to maintain a healthy bal-ance of predators and prey that will keep Wingrahealthy for years to come.

Lake Wingra, with it’s University Arboretumand Madison Zoo shoreline, along with a no wakeboating rule is the most popular lake for anglerslooking for relative quiet.

It’s also the place to go for a good chance athooking up with a true musky, but according to Welke, the unusual-ly high numbers of muskies does have a down side. The less varietyof prey does affect growth rates, which makes the average Wingramusky smaller in size than an equal age musky from other area lakes.

Lake Monona and Lake Waubesa are being stocked with bothtrue and hybrid muskies. Hybrid muskies occur naturally in muskiewaters of the north and are a good fit for Madison lakes because oftheir fast growth rate and typical muskie appetite. Muskies are preda-tors of opportunity and aren’t real picky about what they will eat.These larger lakes offer muskies a varied and always changing preybase from suckers to minnows to panfish to rough fish. These largerlakes also offer more types of cover from weed beds to rock bars alonglarge expanse of deeper water. All of thosefactors add up in Monona and Waubesato lots of habitat and fast growingmuskies. As Wally Banfi says, area fisher-man and local fishing club members go toWaubesa and Monona to hunt the bigfish.

Lake Mendota is the largest lake inthe Madison area, but Mendota alreadyhas a top predator with its growing north-ern pike population. Pike in Mendotahave a 40-inch size limit that makes thesefish large, voracious and trophy sized.Accordingly, muskies are not intentional-ly stocked in Mendota, but some migra-tion up the Yahara River from Mononaoccurs so muskies are present but limitedin number in Lake Mendota.

Big fish are starting to show up at the boat, even in Wingra. A48 ? “ musky is the biggest recorded boated musky from Wingra sofar. Lake Monona has boated several muskies in the 49-inch range,but Waubesa has the largest recorded boated musky to date – a 50-?inch monster. According to Kurt Welke, the prospect is good thesefish will just keep growing larger if anglers handle them properly andkeep putting them back. ❖

Editors Note: Next month Doug discusses some specific fishing tech-niques. He also talks about “If You Go” and what to expect.

MADISON’S METRO MUSKIES (Cont’d from page 9)

If you’re a muskiefisherman used to onlyloon serenades breakingthe quiet of northernlakes you’ll have somethings to get used to ifyou fish muskies in theMadison chain.

Musky Killers, Mepps #5,Giant Killers, Marabousand Minnows…what self-

respecting musky hunter doesn’t own afew Mepps lures? Even more impres-sive—what musky hunter doesn’t havea “big fish on a Mepps” story? Theselures continue to be mainstays in theindustry and favorites in many fisher-men’s tackle boxes.

The original Mepps spinner was created in France in 1938 byAndre Mulnart. Around the turn of the century, Todd Sheldon start-ed a retail sporting goods store in Antigo, Wisconsin. Local soldiers,returning from the war, brought back Mitchell and Mepps spinnersfrom France. They gave some to Sheldon to try out. According toSheldon’s son, Mike, “Dad didn’t think too much of them in thebeginning. But one day when nothing else was working he tied oneon and ended up catching a bunch of fish. So, he purchased morefrom France and starting selling them in his shop.”

The Mepps lures caught on in a big way…by 1972 Sheldon hadsold his sport shop and started a wholesale Mepps business. It hascontinued to grow throughout the years, creating several additionsand expansions to the original grounds. Mike Sheldon explains,“The blades, clevises and beads are still made in France. The wires we

buy from Sweden. Many of our handtiers are here in Antigo. We assembleand package most of the lures here. It’sbeen a wonderful business over theyears. In fact, we still have a couple ofthe original employees working withus.”

What makes their spinners sounique? Current owner, Mike Sheldon,explains, “We’ve actually made big

changes from the original Mepps. They all had just plain treblehooks. We’ve done extensive research over the years and found squir-rel hair to be extremely attractive to fish. It just pulses differently inthe water than any other kind of dressings we’ve tried. It providesincredible action. My dad stumbled upon this fact one day while hewatched a kid outfish him. The kid had tied squirrel hair onto oneof our dressed hooks. Our marabous have different dressings but areequally as effective.”

Another advantage of the Mepps lure is that it is definitely a“multi-species” bait. “Our lures catch panfish, bass, trout, salmon,walleye, pike and, of course, muskies!” They provide lots of action tokeep the musky fisherman alert and ready for a strike.” Due to theirsmall size, Mepps spinners also make great early season and postcold-front lures (when you need to downsize to entice ole esox).Novices will find them easy to throw. “A steady retrieve, slow tomedium speed, is all you need to do. Certainly you can twitch themor allow them to flutter down. But, they work even with the mostbasic of presentations.”

Mepps offers a large variety of colors. Sheldon continues, “Wedo have a lot of browns and blacks intermixed with colors. Fromwhat we’ve studied, we’ve found that from around 10’ away most allcolors look brown or black to a musky. So, those colors are what orig-inally interest them. When he closes in and there is less water and fil-tering of the color, the actual color appears. We sell a lot of naturalpatterns and bright colors like orange and pink. I’d say the biggestsellers have been gold blades with natural squirrel tails.”

The World’s #1 Lure business remains true to its small townroots. The central Wisconsin factory offers free, guided tours duringnormal working hours (8 a.m. – 3 p.m. Mon-Fri). They are locatedat 626 Center St., Antigo, Wisconsin, (715) 623.2382

Dealer list available on their website:www.mepps.com

Author and fishing guide Patricia Strutz finds the Mepps #5 aperfect ‘first musky lure.’ “It’ll provide a lot of action to keep the newmusky hunter’s mind in the game. ❖

www.ablondandherboat.com(715) 891.1173


Showcasing Our Sponsors:

Mepps“The World’s #1 Lure”

by Patricia Strutz

INDEX OF ADVERTISERSBIGFISH CHARTER SERVICES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17FITTANTE TAXIDERMY REPLICAS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11FRABILL NETS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iiiJUST BIG MUSKIES DVD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26LAX REPRODUCTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12M.I. - 2006 FUNDRAISER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ivM.I. - 2007 CALENDAR FUNDRAISER . . . . . . . . . . . . 32M.I. - 2006 COMMEMORATIVE LURE . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17M.I. - CLASSIC COMMEMORATIVE LURES . . . . . . . . 23PASTIKA'S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8RED WING LODGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5ROLLIE & HELEN'S MUSKY SHOP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6SIMPLY FISHING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30SIMPLY FISHING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43ST. CROIX RODS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44TAYLOR COUNTY TOURISM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8TUFFY BOATS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iiWHITECAPS TACKLE CO. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15YOUNG'S WILDERNESS CAMP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25


As Sir John and Jo were checking out, Jo said to Kodie, “Myniece and her husband like to fish. We often visit them on Sundaysand she prepares a nice meal; stuffed Walleye or Northern—it isalways good!”

“We’d love to have them visit us; be sure and tell them aboutLonesome Lodge.”

“I will, I think they would enjoy coming up here.” Said Jo.“We look forward to meeting them.” Both Keg and Kodie said

as they carried their luggage and Fly Fishing gear out to the vehicle.“Thank you for the wonderful time,” said Jo to Kodie.“I really enjoyed the Muskie Outing,” said Sir John, “is Albert

about so I can thank him?”“Yah! It vas a goud time goin’ out vid yew.” Albert said as he

walked up, “I’m tinking ‘bout figgerin’ ‘ow ta make sum a dem bigfeddered tings yew ust ta catched dem Muskie on.”

“Streamers are what they’re called, Albert, and here is the one Icaught them on. You can use it for a pattern.” Sir John said.

“Yumpin’ Yimminy….tanks, I vill cher…cher….keep dis vonfer dat pattern yew said, vhatewer dat iss. Vhut’s dat ting hangin’fom dis screemer?”

“Tippet.” Answered Sir John.”“Tip It? Sir Yon….I taught yew cast it. Howdeya ‘Tip It?’”“I’ll explain it Albert,” Rod said as he strolled up, “I’ve got a

Book on Fly Fishing; maybe we can find something in it onStreamers and Muskies.”

Kodies’ mind was running a mile a minute, “Muskie on the FlyRod…..Hmmmmm…..sounds like a new adventure…ah….fever!”

“Yabut, you said that I can’t get a Bamb…” Keg said excitedly.“You can’t….but…..we both can.” Kodie countered.Rod interjected, “No more Bamboos available, but I’ll check my

suppliers…maybe order a Heddon Mark Series Power Plus Fly Rod,heavy reel, HDH line and heavy Tippet Material.”

“Dere’s dat Tip It agin!”They all laughed, bid their farewells, watched and waved as the

Robins Egg Blue Packard backed up and then slowly pulled away; SirJohn and Jo answering the good-by waves.

——-SOME TIME PASSES——-One morning, Harold said to Keg and Kodie, “They’re on their

way!”“Who?”“Jo’s niece and her husband.”“When?”“By noon——you know by now everyone arrives here at this

time.”“Hmmmm..” said Keg, “You’re right.”“And it is almost that time now, let’s go and sit by the big front

window and wait for them.” Kodie said.“Great idea!” Keg acknowledged.“WOW! Take a gander at that wing swept De Soto pulling up

out front,” said Keg, “I haven’t see…”“Shhh,” said Kodie in a low voice.“That’s right….I almost forgot…..but it is a nice four door

sedan, charcoal and white and narrow white side walls….Sir Johnand Jo’s Packard still had the full white side walls.”

Keg and Kodie walked out to greet them, “Hi and welcome toLonesome Lodge—I’m Keg and this is Kodie.”

“Bud ‘N Rose,” The tall gentleman said as he stuck out hishand.

“Boy, that’s a pretty name for your wife,” Said Kodie, “BuddingRose.”

The gentlemans’ head went back as he smiled and the ladygrinned. “I’m Bud and this is my wife Rose.”

Kodie gulped, “Well, it sure sounded like Budding Rose to me.”Bud is about 6 feet 2 or 3, a lean strong face with a few wrin-

kles, gray and white hair, wearing khakis, folded tipped brown shoesand a straw hat with a green front brimmed sun visor. Rose is alsoof tall stature, a good 5 feet 10, dark brown shoulder length hair,smooth skin, straight back; both wore glasses.

“We’ll help with your things and get you checked in. You canfreshen up, relax some and then come to the Dining Room for anearly Dinner; after which, we’ll sip a cordial and talk Muskies!” Kegsaid.

Bud said, “That’s what we’d like to catch; John told me abouthis experiences here. We’ve caught Walleyes and Northerns and Rosereally knows how to stuff and bake them.”

“That’s what Jo said; maybe we’ll turn her loose in thekitchen—give the cooks time off.” Kodie said.

“Not too loud, Kodie—remember, these walls have ears!” SaidKeg as they were walking to the check in desk. Bud and Roseignored this comment but seemed to sense something aboutLonesome Lodge.

Introductions were made and check in complete. A short timelater, they all met in the Dining Room. James introduced himselfand led Bud and Rose to the big round table where Keg and Kodiewere waiting.

Bill appeared and introductions made; orders were taken andBill commented on Bud and Rose’s DeSoto. The meal was servedand the after dinner cordial presented. Rose commented on the fan-tastic meal.

“Thank you! I’ll relate this to the cooks and——they can’t waitto get time off when you stuff and bake a Muskie!” Bill replied.

They were taken aback as Keg said, “See, Kodie, these walls dohave ears!”

“We’re going to like it here!” said Bud while Rose added, “AuntJo did tell us how enchanting this place is!”

……To be Continued…..

A COUPLE OF

SEASONED ANGLERS VISIT

LONESOME LODGE–PART I


In an effort to inform you of the direction I wouldlike to take MUSKIE Magazine, I would like to explainsome of my thoughts.

Ever since I became editor I have requested the boardto allow MUSKIE to become a self-sustaining publica-tion. The first of this year we increased the advertisingrates in order to accomplish this. There has been very lit-tle grumbling about these rates. Mostly it has been a fewof those folks who have been long time advertisers andremember the “good old days”. Here is the issue. Wenow have rates that could sustain the magazine. TheInternational has subsidized the magazine for many years.If we are successful with selling enough ads and assumingthe chapters will participate, your membership dues willbe able to be used elsewhere. Part of the chapter partici-pation will be the understanding and accepting the phi-losophy of eliminating trade ads and comp ads so we canincrease our income to appropriate levels. Today tradeads and comp ads cost MUSKIE magazine right around50% of the income necessary to operate at a break even.

By the elimination of this drain (trade & comp ads)on the magazine the International will not be required tosubsidize but very little, if any, of our magazine.

Trade Ads Chapters and M.I. Board members are usingtrade ads as a vehicle to pass debt for booth space at asport show, a logo on a T.V. fishing program, a trade forplacing an M.I. membership application in their maga-zine if we run their ad in MUSKIE, or something of likevalue. The problem here is that they are merely acting asa “middle man” by passing the expense on to the maga-zine in trade for advertising to offset the cost of theirbooth space or whatever. They (the chapters) receive thebenefit of the ad in their publication vs. ours or T.V.exposure for free and the magazine has not received anybenefit nor any income to pay for the ad(s) space.

Comp Ads Complimentary advertising is quite similar totrade ads. Mostly a chapter will receive free booth spacefor a sport show, a guide offering a free-guided fishingtrip, a sporting goods dealer giving free gear, or a tackleshop putting a new member application in their catalogin return for ads in MUSKIE.

Here are some of my thoughts. Most sport showswant M.I.’s participation. Some even give M.I. freespace. Most shows offer charitable organizations a 50%discount on their booth space. In Colorado we used totrade the show producer a speaking engagement from achapter member, in exchange for free booth space. I per-sonally spoke at these shows a number of times inexchange for our space. The producer was paying aspeaking fee in the $500-700 dollar range and I probablysaved our chapter around to $3,000.00 over the years.

NOTE: President Cates has circulated Emails stating that there willbe no more trade ads without Executive Committee approval (Emailsdated July 13 & 14 2006) This includes “comp ads”

Bottom line: MUSKIE Magazine will no longeraccept trade ads, comp ads or any other non-incomeproducing arrangements (for the benefit of MUSKIEMagazine), without prior approval of the M.I. ExecutiveCommittee, in writing.

Insertion Orders An insertion order is a documentspecifically describing the size and color of ad and themonths in which you wish it to be run in MUSKIEMagazine. I can accept electronic copies with a typed sig-nature. Once I have your insertion order and ad copy, Iwill place your ad in the appropriate month(s) issues.Please request an insertion order 60 days in advance ofthe month in which you want your ad to run. In theevent you require your ad to be designed by the magazinestaff or an outside contractor, I will send you a copy ofyour layout for final approval prior to publishing it.Please keep these dates in mind for your tournament ads,fundraiser ads, annual events, etc. Let me know well inadvance. I am most happy to accommodate your needs.The effective date of this specific directive will be January 1,2007.

MUSKIE MAGAZINE ISSUES

MUSKIE Magazine To Become a “Self-funding” Publication

Muskies, Inc. is an active, service-oriented, non-profit organization with the single focus ofimproving the sport of muskie fishing for men,women, and children. Our mission is to unite allmuskie fishing interests for the promotion andprotection of a high quality muskellunge sportfishery in the United States and Canada. We willaccomplish this by supporting conservation prac-tices and research based on sound scientificmerit, and carried out by authorized federal orstate agencies, appropriate academic institutions,Muskies, Inc. chapters, and their members.We are committed to the abatement of water pol-lution; maintenance of records for muskie habits,growth, and range; and the dissemination ofmuskie information to everyone.”

Adopted, April 2002

Advertising Policy“Muskie” magazine offers advertisers to thesports fishing market a unique medium to reacha distinct audience of anglers with a special inter-est in a single species: the Muskie. Muskies, Inc.offers a service to these suppliers by making thepages of “Muskie” available to them regularly andreach the audiences represented by our member-ship and to others who receive the publication.Muskies, Inc., however, reserves the right toreject any advertising which is not in keepingwith the high standards expressed by our purpos-es. Advertisers and advertising agencies assumeliability for all content (including text, represen-tation and illustrations) of advertisements print-ed and also assume responsibility or any claimsraising there from against Muskies, Inc.

Publication StaffJim Smith Managing EditorJuris Ozols Assistant Managing Editor

MUSKIE MagazineThe Official Publication of Muskies, Inc.

Phone: (623) 388-3225Email: [email protected]

We work to improve fishing!

Supplying Electronic FilesQuark, Illustrator, Photoshop or Acrobat files areaccepted. All associated image files and fontsshould be supplied. A contract proof mustaccompany file. All bitmapped images shouldbe saved as CMYK and supplied in PDF, TIF orEPS format with a minimum resolution of 300dpi.

Discounts and Terms15% discount to recognized agencies if advertis-ing is paid in full within the 30-day billing peri-od. Forfeiture of the discount if ad is paid afterthe due date, which is 30 days after thebilling/print date. Invoices are due within 30days to those on approved credit. All otherscash/credit card. There will be a 1 1/2 % servicecharge added each month after the initial billingto any unpaid balances with a $10.00 min chargeeach month after ad amount is due.

Ad SizesFull Page 7 13/16" x 10 1/4"2/3 page (Horizontal) 5 1/8" x 10 1/4"2/3 page (Vertical) 7 13/16" x 6 15/16"1/2 Page (Horizontal) 7 13/16" x 5"1/2 Page (Vertical) 5 1/8" x 7 9/16"1/3 Page (Horizontal) 7 13/16" x 3 1/8"1/3 Page (Vertical) 2 1/2" x 10 1/4"1/3 Page (Square) 5 1/8" x 5"1/4 Page (Horizontal) 3 7/8" x 5"1/4 Page (Vertical) 5 1/8 x 3 1/2"1/6 Page (Horizontal) 5 1/8" x 2 1/2"1/6 Page (Vertical) 2 1/2" x 5"

Trim size for full page is 8 1/2" x 11"Bleed size for full page is 9" x 11 1/2"

Ad Design and ProductionAll production services are available includingtypesetting, layout, keylining, and color separa-tions. Quotes furnished upon request.

Ad Commitment is 45 daysbefore month of printing.Copy is due 35 days beforeprinting. Issue is mailedapprox 7-10 days prior to issuemonth EXAMPLE: Januaryissue: must commit by 11/25.Copy in by 12/02. Mail date approximately: 12/20

Cancellations cannot be acceptedafter closing date.

Effective 01/01/2006 for March Issue

B/W 1X B/W 3X B/W 6X B/W 12X B/WFull Page $525 $500 $475 $4502/3 Page $385 $360 $335 $3101/2 Page $300 $275 $250 $2251/3 Page $250 $225 $200 $1751/4 Page $220 $195 $170 $1451/6 Page $210 $185 $135 $110

Full Color – Please add $175.00 to the above pricesOne Color – Please add $100.00 to the above priceInside Cover* $765 $735 $705 $675Outside Cover* $790 $760 $730 $700*Note: Cover prices are full page size, full colorand are gloss

Muskies, Inc. Resource Section (Classified adseach month). We will also include them on ourwebsite in a special section for no additionalcharge. Three month minimum. Monthly costwill be $50.00 for a fifty-word ad. Plus 10¢ perword over the minimum. (2 column inches max-imum) Photos will be included for an additionalcost of $35.00

Website AdvertisingAnnual advertisers will be provided a “free” linkon the Muskies, Inc. website www.muskiesinc.orgAdvertisers are asked to provide a link back toMuskies, Inc. Links are available to any advertis-er for $35.00 per month.

MUSKIE Magazine is the officialpublication of Muskies, Inc.

MUSKIE Magazine is a 48-page magazine. It ispublished monthly (12) times a year. Muskies,Inc. is the largest muskie fishing organization inthe United States and Canada. Our membershipis dedicated to the goal of promoting not onlythe actual sport of muskie fishing, but the quali-ty as well.

SALES/ADVERTISING CONTACTJJaammeess TT.. SSmmiitthh

15045 W. Double Tree Way • Surprise,AZ 85374-8568Phone:/FAX: (623) 388-3225 • [email protected]

☞Proper Muskie

Holding Techniquesfor MUSKIE Magazine Photos includ-

ing Covers, Article Support, PhotoContest Entries

& Member Photos


Tom Olson took this shot of son Nick with anAugust 44-incher from Lake Vermilion in

Minnesota. Is this another case where thefish is longer than the young angler?

Many other things are caught while Muskiefishing, besides Muskies. Yourself or your

boat partner are prime candidates. Becareful! Photo by Russ Peterson. Ron Crass sent in two unique pictures taken on Sand Lake in Vilas County,

Wisconsin. A friend of his had on a 28” northern when a 48 inch Muskie came by,decided it needed a snack, and then apparently didn’t like the taste and spit it out.

Korey Lindberg sends in this shot of her holding the first everMuskie brought into their boat, caught on Rush Lake in

Minnesota. “It was caught using a simple fishing pole (notvery suitable for Muskies) with 8 lb. test line wound on it anda 4 inch Mepps Bucktail as a lure, that I had justpurchased the night before.” Well, who says you

need fancy tackle, the Muskies don’t care.

Richard Schuit releasing a 49 1/2” Muskie in August onLake Vermilion, Minnesota. The size of the head on

the fish is amazing.

Chuck Lynema holding a fat 50 1/4-incher he caughttrolling on Thornapple Lake with an orange tiger

Shallow Invader.

Larry Besant: “Eighteen Chapter #52 members caught 7fish on Buckhorn Lake, which has Kentucky’s only 40”

minimum (at our request). Mine was 36” plus I lostanother about that size on a jump at the boat and lost

another 45+” on a figure 8.”

Bob Bushe’s grandson Cade, 6 years old and 40” tall, show-ing off his first Muskie, a 23-incher that he caught (with a bit

of help from his dad). And, as per the usual way Muskiethings go, he also lost a bigger one earlier that evening.

Adrian Bomar caught and released this silvery 40-incher onthe Winnipeg river shortly after sunset. A figure 8 with a

spinner bait did the trick.

Bruce Faanes took this fine Loon shot on Eagle Lake, Ontario with a Canon D-30camera with a Canon 100-400mm I/S lens. “We fish there 3 weeks a year, and in

the past 2 years, I’ve been lucky enough to get photo’s of a large bull moose swim-ming, a cow moose in the pencil weds, and 8 and 10 point bucks in the water.”

©2006 ST. CROIX ROD

OUR PREMIER® MUSKY RODS HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY REVAMPED.

The Musky IS STICKING WITH HIS MILLION-YEAR-OLD DESIGN. WE SMELL OPPORTUNITY.

When you’re built like a torpedo with a personality to match, evolution isn’t high on your to-do list. Who’s got the guts to messaround with King Musky? Not your average rod. No, what this fella needs is a tussle with a new Premier® musky rod. We com-pletely re-engineered the blank, coaxing more strength, less weight and faster action out of the same premium SCII graphite. Thenwe fine-tuned 10 models to fish all the best lures including bucktails, jerkbaits, crankbaits and topwater. There’s no better rod for themoney and no better way to handle a musky with an attitude. Which, last time we checked, was all of them.

www.stcroixrods.com | Handcrafted in the USA | (800) 826-7042

BUY A ST. CROIX ROD AND REEL COMBO AND GET UP TO $30 BACK ON YOUR PURCHASE.Offer valid from December 1, 2005 thru December 31, 2006 | Log on to www.stcroixrods.com for more details.

NON PROFIT ORG US POSTAGE ST CLOUD MN PERMIT #1316 OctFinal.pdf · Departments 2 President’s...

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Transcript of NON PROFIT ORG US POSTAGE ST CLOUD MN PERMIT #1316 OctFinal.pdf · Departments 2 President’s...