MUSKIE Magazine

Transcription

MUSKIE Magazine

Photo Contest – March
by Brad Waldera, Photo Editor • pictures@muskiesinc.org
From Your Photo Contest Editor
I
▲
▲ Photo #1 I love this picture of Chapter 22 member Andy Harsanyi.
Talk about great timing. Andy was fishing the Ottawa River in tough conditions
after two days of very heavy rain. If that wasn’t bad enough, the water was
muddy and it was during a cold front. At the end of this tough day he and his
boat partners were admiring the sunset when this 43-inch beauty hit his surface lure. The guys knew this would be a great photo opportunity, so while
Andy was unhooking the muskie his buddies were literally counting down the
seconds until the sunset would be gone. It was an incredible sky and they got
this shot at a good moment. The picture is clear and in focus, the color is good,
and you can tell Andy was very happy. Thanks for the great story and photo.
’d like to take a moment to offer a few comments about submitting photos for the Photo
Contest and Member Photos sections of
MUSKIE. Take a look at page 15 of the
February issue if you want to review the complete list of photo guidelines.
I still get a few photos submitted without
all the required information. When I first took
over this position I was not getting very many
photos submitted and therefore had more time
to make follow-up contact with members if
information was missing. There was at least one
month when we were unable to run the Member
Photos page due to lack of photos.
I am currently faced with a much better
problem – I currently have a large surplus of
submitted photos. I currently have photos that
members sent in back in September 2009 which
may not get into the magazine for several
months. Because of this, I need to be a bit more
selective regarding which photos we select, so
please include all the required information.
Also, please keep in mind two other guidelines
which have been standard operating procedure
but which our photo team will soon clarify in
the official photo guidelines. The first is that I
need your chapter number for every photo submitted. The second is that we will only use photos of members on the Member Photos page.
We will consider photos of non-members which
were taken by members for the Photo Contest
page, but the competition for a place on that
page is really tough.
Thanks and please keep those great photos
coming! ❖
Photo #2 Here is another good
picture, and in tricky conditions as well.
First Wisconsin Chapter member Jason
Smith has submitted some great photos
in the past; I think this is one of his best.
Jason was fishing in Wisconsin under
bright skies and calm winds, which can
sometimes make for poor fishing and
poor photos, but not on this day when he
caught this 43.5 inch muskie. You can
almost feel the warmth of the sun in this
shot, but it’s not too bright – you can
make out all the details. As we’ve talked
about before, bright conditions like this
can make it very hard to get good pictures
- you may even need to use your flash
and tilt your hat up to avoid dark shadows
over your face. Keep that in mind the next
time you’re faced with such conditions.
Thanks for the photo Jason, nice fish.
MUSKIE magazine is published monthly and is the
Official Publication of Muskies, Inc. International
Office: Ellen Wells, International Sec., 1509 Stahl
Road, Sheboygan, WI 53081. Ph: 1-888-710-8286.
© Copyright 2010 by Muskies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Departments
IFC Photo Contest, Brad Waldera
2 President’s Message,
Dan Narsete
Contents
MUSKIE • VOL. 44, NO. 3
Features
14 Dairyland Reservoir: Aquatic Habitat
Improvement, Brad P. Foss
16 Dairyland Reservoir – training wheels for
muskie anglers, Darrell Taylor
3 About the Cover, Juris Ozols
3 Index of Advertisers
18 Ethanol: What All Boat Owners
Should Know, Patricia Strutz
4 MUSKIE News
22 Muskie Medic 101, Kevin Pischke
5 Lunge Log, Jim Bunch
12 Figure 8, Kevin Richards
15 Sport Show Locator
25 Chapter News and Views
34 Member Photos
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(to find the number of the Chapter you wish to join, see the Chapter News & Views section)
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www.muskiesinc.org
March 2010.....MUSKIE 1
International
Officers
President, Dan Narsete
Email: president@muskiesinc.org
Vice President/Finance, Jim Shannon
Phone: 612-670-8943
Email: vp-finance@muskiesinc.org
Vice President/Fisheries, Research & Youth,
Dr. Tom Betka, MD
Phone: 920-544-5868
Email: vp-research@muskiesinc.org
Vice President/Internal Affairs,
Perry Peterson
Phone: 253-850-5889
Email: vp-internal-affairs@muskiesinc.org
Vice President/Membership & Marketing,
Greg Wells
Phone: 920-457-3720
Email: vp-membership@muskiesinc.org
The President’s Message
by Dan Narsete
Vice President/Communications,
Dale Vercauteren
Phone: 920-826-5810
Email: vp-communications@muskiesinc.org
Treasurer, Kathy Goon
Phone: 419-945-2940
Email: treasurer@muskiesinc.org
Members Only Fishing Contest, Jim Bunch
Phone: 715-226-0295
Email: lungelog@muskiesinc.org
Web Master, Ron Groeschl
Phone: 262-271-1002
Email: webmaster@muskiesinc.org
Int. Administrative Secretary, Ellen Wells
1509 Stahl Road, Sheboygan, WI 53081
Phone: 888-710-8286
Email: secretary@muskiesinc.org
Regional Directors
Region 1
Term Expires
Rory Potter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2011
Carl Phillips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2012
Ron Teschner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2012
Region 2
Bob Timme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2010
Fred Brogle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2011
Robert Benson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2012
Region 3
Joel Johnson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2010
Chad Theesfeld . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2011
Doug Dible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2012
Region 4
Rich Gallagher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2010
Kimberly Cates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2011
Earle Hammond . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2012
2 MUSKIE.....March 2010
Muskies, Inc. International President
Email: president@muskiesinc.org
W
ith Spring right around the corner it’s time again to think about new beginnings. Ice-out, spawning fish, the first weed growth and emergence of our battlefields will come back into vogue. South facing rocks, shallow bays and
warm water inlets should all pay big early season dividends. As always though keep in
mind these fish will likely be pretty thin and on feeding binges to recover their lost weight
from the winter and spawn, so try to be gentle (as always) when handling them.
In writing this article I feel like somewhat of a broken record, but in a positive light.
The fish we all cherish are just getting so much larger. Many of you have traveled up
Highway 51 through Minocqua and stopped off at Bosacki’s Boathouse for a drink or a
bite to eat. Upon entering the restaurant you walk up a small flight of stairs to have your
eyes lay upon a U-Boat sized muskie of fifty (or so) pounds and 54-plus inches . . . growing up looking at that fish used to just blow my mind! A few months ago we had on our
ABOUT THE COVER
This month’s cover and a good portion of
this entire issue is dedicated to our Muskies, Inc.
Lunge Log. Jim Bunch (a.k.a. Mr. Lunge Log) is
now starting his 25th year of managing this amazing database for our members. It seems fitting to
have Jim on our cover this month with his personal best, a 52.25 inch muskie released in 2007.
Jim shared a few reflections about the Lunge
Log - “Back in 1986 Bill Davis, who had been
running the Lunge Log, needed to step down as
he was going to become M.I. president. He
called me and asked if I knew anybody who
would want to help out; I took the bait. That first
year I ran the Lunge Log out of loose leaf notebooks - it was the longest 12 months of my life. In those days every entry came to
me and I entered them.
Over the course of time we asked chapter contest chairpersons to enter the
muskies for their chapters. We have grown from 4,600 entries in 1986 to over
17,000 now. Thank goodness for the web site and for on-line fish submission!”
You also need to take a good look at the graph on our cover. It shows how
many 50-plus inchers our members have reported each year. It is an amazing trend
which you can read more about in this month’s Lunge Log (of course).
The Lunge Log continues to be one of our readers’ monthly favorites. Special
– Juris ❖
thanks to Mr. Lunge Log for his hard work and dedication!
INDEX OF ADVERTISERS
CABIN FEVER CHALLUNGE (KENTUCKY CHAPTER 45) . . . . . . . . . 20
FITTANTE REPLICAS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
GEORGE’S MINNESOTA MUSKIE EXPO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
GREEN RIVER LAKE, KY/TAYLOR COUNTY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
INDIANA MUSKIE CLASSIC (HOOSIERS CHAPTER 42) . . . . . . . . . . 33
MOREHEAD TOURISM COMMISSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
RED WING LODGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
YOUNG'S WILDERNESS CAMP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
www.muskiesinc.org
MUSKIE Magazine Staff
EDITOR
Kevin Richards
7618 Sunrise Ridge Road
Henley, MO 65040
Phone: (573) 280-2300
Email: muskiemag@yahoo.com
ASSISTANT EDITOR
Juris Ozols
Phone: (612) 747-0178
Email: assistanteditor@muskiesinc.org
PHOTO CONTEST EDITOR
Brad Waldera
Phone: (701) 642-1952
Email: pictures@muskiesinc.org
LUNGE LOG EDITOR
Jim Bunch
Phone: (715) 226-0295
Email: lungelog@muskiesinc.org
ADVERTISING SALES TEAM
Kevin Richards, Editor / Ad Manager
Phone: (573) 280-2300
Email: muskiemag@yahoo.com
Brett Beaupre, Advertising Sales Representative
Phone: (920) 323-0721
Email: brettbeaupre@yahoo.com
Terri Fierstine, Advertising Sales Representative
Phone: (218) 252-0947
Email: muskie_ads@arvig.net
PRINTING ACCOUNT MANAGER
Sunray Printing Solutions, Inc. - Stacey Thielen
MAGAZINE DESIGN
Sunray Printing Solutions, Inc. - John Windschitl
ILLUSTRATORS/CARTOONISTS
Richard Gross, Charles Weiss
FIELD EDITORS
Patricia Strutz, Colby Simms, Sean Landsman,
Adam Glickman, Bob Chochola,Steve Budnik
EMERITUS EDITORS
Rod Ramsell, Keith Ogden, Jim Smith
MUSKIE is published exclusively for the membership of Muskies, Inc. and subscriptions come with
a paid membership. Muskies, Inc. is a non-profit
organization. Membership classes and associated
annual dues are listed on the form at the bottom
of page one. Copies of MUSKIE magazine are
available at $3.00 each from the Muskies, Inc.
International Administrative Secretary.
Contributors grant rights for M.I. to publish once in
MUSKIE Magazine, both the print and on-line versions, including archives and on the M.I. Web site.
Submissions to
MUSKIE Magazine
Persons interested in submitting articles for
publication are directed to our website www.
muskiesinc.org for a link to MUSKIE Magazine,
where you will find links on the left side of the
page providing information necessary for submissions to MUSKIE Magazine. Further questions
will be answered by Kevin Richards, Editor.
Submissions may be sent to: 7618 Sunrise Ridge
Road, Henley, MO 65040 or by email:
muskiemag@yahoo.com. Phone: (573) 2802300.
P R E S I D E N T ’ S M E S SAG E ◆ A B O U T T H E C OV E R ◆ A B O U T T H E C OV E R ◆ I N D E X O F A DV E R T I S E R S
cover two fish OVER fifty-eight inches, three at fifty-six, a couple at fifty-five and of course
the “smaller” of the group at fifty-four. Now if that doesn’t “bake your noodle,” I can’t help
you and you may want to consider professional help. Or maybe you should read more of
this magazine.
Muskie fishing is getting better. I do not believe that it is simply because there may be
more people fishing for them, which without proper catch and release would hurt our fisheries. If anything, through our camaraderie, education and research we continue to march
towards a series of fisheries that have not seen muskies this big in over a century. On that
note a few years ago I regularly interviewed Ron Linder the famed co-founder of InFisherman and used to ask him where he thought the next world record would come from.
During the interview he thought that Mille Lacs was a contender and then proceeded to
ask me the same question. I replied that there are a number of places, such as Eagle Lake,
Georgian Bay, Lake of the Woods, and lastly I said Green Bay was a contender. “Green Bay
has big Muskies?” asked Ron. I smiled and enlightened him on the fishery. So the next
question I have for you is will the next world record class muskie come from Wisconsin or
Minnesota? You tell me . . .
Tight lines, Dan ❖
M U S K I E N E WS ◆ M U S K I E N E WS ◆ M U S K I E N E WS ◆ M U S K I E N E WS ◆ M U S K I E N E WS
Pelican Lake, WI (Oneida County)
Last month we reported that there is an effort to repeal the 50inch minimum length limit on Pelican Lake.
Apparently the Conservation Congress Warmwater Study
Committee meeting was flooded with people opposed to the Pelican
Lake 50-inch regulation. Against the counsel of DNR Fisheries
Chief Mike Staggs, the Committee decided to advance a question to
the 2010 hearings to return Pelican Lake to a 34-inch minimum
length limit for muskellunge.
Ironically, there were also two questions for new 50-inch minimum length limits (Whitefish Lake, Sawyer Co. and Redstone Lake,
Sauk Co.) which the Congress also advanced.
The Conservation Congress portion of the hearing is advisory to
DNR, so if this question passes at the spring hearings it will be
bumped to DNR for consideration as a question in the 2011 DNR
portion of the hearing.
If you have an opinion on the subject, the hearings are held at 7
PM in every county in the state of Wisconsin on April 12, 2010; the
Oneida County hearing is at the James Williams Middle School.
Anyone (no age or residency restrictions) may vote on the rule proposals. For further information you could contact WI DNR
Fisheries Biologist John Kubisiak in Rhinelander at: 715-365-8919
and check out:
http://dnr.wi.gov/org/nrboard/congress/spring_hearings/index.html
VHS Found in Lake Superior Fish
In late January, Cornell University reported finding trace
amounts of VHS virus in organ samples taken from a small number
of healthy fish in four sites in Lake Superior.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources and
Environment and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
said the finding by a Cornell University research team would not lead
to any immediate regulation changes for anglers or boaters.
“We want to caution anglers and others who enjoy Lake Superior
that this does not mean there has been a widespread outbreak of VHS
in those waters,” said Michigan DNRE Director Rebecca Humphries.
“What this study does indicate is that VHS has been observed in four
locations in Lake Superior, but it is not everywhere. Based on this
limited finding, Michigan is not planning to make any changes in its
regulations at this time.”
Humphries said the finding is not surprising, adding that finding
a VHS-positive fish at the east end of the Lake Superior basin is where
biologists have long thought a positive would be found first - near the
St. Mary’s River, which connects the basin to Lake Huron, a VHSaffected lake. “VHS remains a threat to all the Great Lakes, and we
will increase our efforts to slow the spread through public awareness of
the simple things boaters and anglers can do to help,” Humphries said.
Wisconsin DNR Secretary Matt Frank said that Wisconsin’s
strong VHS protections were already set with Lake Superior in mind.
“We’re disappointed with Cornell’s finding, but not surprised. The
good news is that our VHS rules for boaters and anglers stay the same
and will continue to protect our inland waters. We included Lake
Superior when we originally passed regulations in 2007 because it’s
directly connected to waters that already had the virus present. We
appreciate the efforts of Wisconsin boaters and anglers who comply.”
Frank said that the result underscores the importance of anglers
and boaters taking required and appropriate steps to stop the further
spread of VHS within Lake Superior itself, and to inland waters.
“VHS has not gone away - whether you are boating or fishing in
Wisconsin or Michigan, you should drain all water from your bilge,
live well or bait bucket, and never take live fish away from any water,”
said Frank.
Anglers and boaters who recreate on Lake Superior can help both
the Michigan DNRE and Wisconsin DNR by reporting any significant fish kills they encounter on Lake Superior to the agencies. Also,
anglers and boaters should drain their livewells and bilge as they exit
a lake. Boats should regularly be cleaned and disinfected after use, as
well as any boating and fishing equipment.
Both states prohibit release of unused minnows back into the
water. Unused bait should be disposed of on land or in a trash can.
Also, both states prohibit the transfer of live fish from one lake to
another without appropriate permits. Wisconsin has additional rules
relating to the movement of live fish and the use and possession of live
minnows. For more information on VHS, please visit:
http://dnr.wi.gov/fish/vhs/
Jack Burns
Jack Burns, former editor of Esox Angler magazine, died on
January 31, 2010 following a snowmobile accident. Many of our
members knew Jack or had read his muskie writings. Our condolences go out to Jack’s family and to his many fishing buddies.
Spring Board Meeting
The Spring Board Meeting will be held on April 10, 2010. It will
be held in the Gangelhoff Center at Concordia University in St. Paul.
That’s the same building as the Minnesota Muskie Expo, which runs
from April 9-11, so there will be plenty to see and do before and after
the meeting.
Twin Cities Chapter is hosting the meeting. You can contact Eric
Schultz for questions about logistics (eschultz33@comcast.net).
President Dan Narsete reports that there will be an opening for
the position of VP of Fisheries, Research & Youth. If you are
interested in that position please email Dan right away
(president@muskiesinc.org). Dan also reports that the election for
our next president will occur in the fall. ❖
Another muskie for the Lunge Log…
Diane Worline, Chapter 41. 52 X 26, 10--30-09, Lake St. Clair, ON.
Crank Bait. Fish I.D. 283290.
by
Ji m B u n c h
Kendall Hill, Age 11, Chapter 33.
51.75, 6-21-09. Island Lake, MN, Bucktail. Fish I.D. 271294
2009 Entries by Chapter!
One of the features we have for the year end wrap-up is the list
of entries by chapter. Within that list we show the number of entries
from each chapter for men, for women, and for juniors plus the
total. The final two columns show the longest muskie entered for
each chapter, who caught it and
where. In some cases more than
one member tied for the longest so
we list those members’ names. In
those cases there is not enough
room to list multiple lakes so we
just list the anglers.
It is interesting to note that in
2009 there were 1,498 members of
Muskies, Inc who entered at least
one muskie. There were 100 juniors, 149 women, and 1245 men.
This is the first time I actually
came up with this statistic and I
find it very interesting. I had
hoped it would be a lot more interesting considering we have many
more members. I must assume one
of two things – either the muskiecatching success rate is lower than I
expected or quite a few members
are not reporting their muskie
catches. I kind of assume reality is
a combination of these two factors.
In 2009 there were 17,126
total entries; this is the most ever
for any year in our history. Four
years ago, 2005, was the next highest with 16,832. Once again there
is no real scientific reason that
would explain why 2009 was the
most. However we can assume
some specific reasons would have
an effect. First of all the muskie
range is expanding, we now have
entries from Washington New
Mexico, Wyoming, etc. Each state
has new waters producing muskies
www.muskiesinc.org
that they did not have in the past. Our members are expanding in several ways. They are getting better at what they do and they are reaching out and finding new places that may have always had muskies but
have not been fished by many Muskies, Inc. members in the past. We
(Continued on page 6)
Lu n g e L o g ◆ Lu n g e L o g ◆ Lu n g e L o g ◆ Lu n g e L o g ◆ Lu n g e L o g ◆ Lu n g e L o g ◆ Lu n g e L o g
g
nge L
u
L
e
o
h
t
(Continued from page 5)
also have some new chapters that are reporting
muskies. All in all, 2009
was a great year for numbers.
The totals by chapter
are revealing. Once again
the bigger chapters in the
heart of the muskie range
dominated the totals.
Capital City, Headwaters,
and
Fargo-Moorhead
recorded over 1100
entries each. Each year
they flip back and forth
for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place,
but history has always
had them near the top.
Central Ohio and AkronCanton were 4th and 5th.
Those two chapters are
well established chapters
with many great anglers
who also live in fairly
close proximity to the
high numbers of muskies
at Lake St. Clair. They
also are based in the state
of Ohio which has no
closed muskie season and
less frozen water than
most of the muskie range.
Up next at 6th on the list
is the West Virginia
Chapter. This is kind of a
surprise but think about
it. They are pretty close to
the state of Ohio, many
live in Ohio and fish it a
lot. The fishery in West
Virginia is well established. This chapter also
has a large number of
members who are not
afraid to travel any distance to locate a muskie.
Three Rivers, Milwaukee,
Flatlanders and Hopedale
fill out the top ten chapters (by numbers caught)
for 2009. Each one is
unique in their location,
their skill set, and the size
of their chapter.
I know a member of
Muskies, Inc here in
Wisconsin who joined 12
years ago. He has very
good numbers, is a good
muskie angler, but had
never caught a 50 incher until 2009. To him it was
the fish of a lifetime. It
should be and it was. He
went nuts when it finally
happened. Who would
have thought that his big
muskie for the year is tied
with 122 other 50-inchers
for 368th place on the big
fish list? Who would have
thought if you caught a 52
incher that it would only
tie for 112th place? Who
would have thought a 54incher would tie for
17thplace? Who would
have thought that if Mark
Carlson of the Flatlanders
caught a 58.25 incher that
he would not even win
Lunker of The Month? I
shutter to think what new
members will think when
they see this list.
In 2009 there was
486 fifty inchers recorded.
While this is totally awesome 2007 actually had
more, with 526 recorded.
Ten years ago, in 1999,
there were 181 fifty inchers caught and that was
an all-time record at the
time. At the Lunge Log,
as I watch daily what is
going on, I have said to
you from time to time
that the good old days are
now! This is the best way
to explain it. Many new
waters for muskies that
came into being 20 to 25
years ago are now mature
muskie fisheries. The
www.muskiesinc.org
2009
Fifty Inchers
– the Good
Old Days
are now!
muskies in these waters are
reaching near-maximum
length. When these big fish
get caught they are usually
released. We know some of
these muskies are caught
multiple times - the system
is working!
The positive effect
Muskies, Inc. has had on
the fishery is the reason for
the success today. Think
about this. Many years ago
when I started doing the
Lunge Log we printed it in
the magazine every entry
every month. Remember
that?
Back in 1979 there
was 1416 total entries.
Today we average that
many per month. Back in
1979 there were a total of
28 fifty inchers for the
year; in 2009 we averaged
about 36 fifty inchers in
most two-week periods
from
June
through
November!
The big news here is
that the average size of
muskies over 50 inches
being caught and released
keeps getting longer and
longer. Lake records are
falling like flies, state
records are in jeopardy. In
Muskies, Inc., the chapter
records change hands
almost monthly at times.
We kind of scared our
editor and our publisher
when they found out the
size of this list. We are publishing the whole 50-inch
list this month. If you like
it we may try it again for
2010. The list is huge there are 15 juniors on this
list plus 33 women and 438
men. The 50-inch list is
also on our M.I. web site so
you can sort it by name,
lure, lake, or whatever.
Enjoy the list.
Jim Bunch
The Lunge Log
lungelog@muskiesinc.org
715 226-0295
The rules &
regulations
for submitting
to the Lunge
Log are on the
Muskies, Inc.
website.
The same ones
have been there
since 2005.
– Log in to our
website.
– In the left
column click
Lunge Log,
then in the right
column under
Hot Links click
Release Forms,
then click
Lunge Log
Registration
Page 2.
– Scroll down
to the bottom
of the page and
there they are.
www.muskiesinc.org
Robert Rowe,
Chapter 21
55.75 X 26,
11-6-09
Mille Lacs, MN
Bull Dawg Jerk
Fish I.D. 282173.
www.muskiesinc.org
FIGURE 8 ◆ FIGURE 8 ◆ FIGURE 8 ◆ FIGURE 8 ◆ FIGURE 8 ◆ FIGURE 8 ◆ FIGURE 8
8Figure 88
by Kevin Richards
muskiemag@yahoo.com
Got Milk?
Nope, but this issue has two related stories
about Dairyland Reservoir in Wisconsin. You may
recall that in our January 2010 issue we used a couple of photos of this lake after the 30-foot drawdown which occurred in 2007. Often such a dramatic drawdown might cause serious fishery
impacts for years to come. As this month’s stories
point out, the Dairyland drawdown included some
smart (and early) planning for fish protection and
habitat enhancement. This may be a small lake to
keep your eye on!
1 Day – 2 Baits
In February and March 2009 I ran a little poll
on the Muskies, Inc. bulletin board. I asked members if they could fish just one day in 2009 which
date would they choose, where they would fish, and
what two baits would they use. To generate more
responses I later told folks they could pick one day
in Canada and one day in the USA if they wished.
There were only 35 responses, but they were
very interesting. Most of the dates picked were
between July 6 and November 16, which is not too
surprising. However, the 35 responses covered just
27 different dates – that’s because 8 dates were each
picked by two members. Are you wondering what
those 8 special dates were? You should be!
The 8 muskie dates picked by multiple members were: July 10, 21, 22; August 5; September 18;
October 15, 17; and November 2. You can look
on-line at the complete 2009 Lunge Log results to
see how those dates worked out. I can tell you a few
of them were great days to catch BIG muskies last
year, read on.
50-incher Summary
In this issue we are trying something different.
We are publishing the full list of 50-inch muskies
reported in the 2009 Lunge Log. You need to look
at the list and read the comments from Jim Bunch.
The Bunchman has an amazing long-term perspective of Lunge Log trends. He has been managing
the Lunge Log for decades.
Allocating so many pages of this issue for the
50-inch list is a bit of a risk, but I think members
will like it. Many of our members are constantly in
pursuit of those elusive 50-plus inchers and the list
www.muskiesinc.org
Over
ies
9,000 Musk
d
Release
On Sabaskong Bay
Six-time Muskies, Inc.,
Chapter Challunge Headquarters
1983, 1986, 1993, 1997, 2003, 2004
• Ultra-modern one, two, three, or four bedroom cabins
• Housekeeping or camping
• Floating docks, electricity for charging batteries, Lund Boats with swivel
seats and depth finders, Honda motors with electric start
• Dining room with food and liquor available for registered guests only
Call or write for data on musky catches:
1 (888) 488-5601 or (807) 488-5601
Red Wing Lodge, Box 1008, Baudette, MN 56623
The convenience of a drive-in camp with the privacy you would expect on an island.
www.redwinglodge.net
Family owned and operated for 40 years
FIGURE 8 ◆ FIGURE 8 ◆ FIGURE 8 ◆ FIGURE 8 ◆ FIGURE 8 ◆ FIGURE 8 ◆ FIGURE 8
is full of insightful information.
I took a detailed look at the 50-inch catches by date, but there
are countless other ways you could sort and analyze this big list.
Ponder this – 472 of the 486 muskies which were 50 inches or
longer were caught from June 1 through November 30. That’s an
average of 79 per month or 18 per week or 2.6 per day during those
six months. Many factors such as weather, water temperature, fishing pressure, moon phases, and even the distribution of weekends and
holidays impact the catch distribution.
With an average of 2.6 monster muskies caught per day you
might guess that most individual dates had zero to five of these whoppers being caught. You would be guessing right, 90% of the dates
during this period had zero to five 50-inchers reported. That means
10% of the dates (19 days) had six or more 50-inchers reported.
Actually, those 19 dates accounted for 138 of the monsters, which is
29% of all the 50-inchers reported for 2009.
I won’t detail all 19 of the best dates for monster muskies, but I
will mention a few to finish my story. The best 50-incher day of
2009 was July 22 when 12 fifty inchers were caught by our members. The second best days were September 6 and 8 with 9 fifty inchers caught each day. The third best days were August 5 and 15 with
8 fifty inchers caught each day. There were eight days (all in July or
August) on which members caught 7 fifty inchers (one of those was
July 21). Obviously my little pre-season poll for 2009 included
responses from some pretty smart muskie anglers!
My resolution for 2010 is to spend more time muskie fishing bigfish waters during July and August.
After the thrill of catching your next muskie do your best to carefully release it to fight another day; the future of our muskie resource
will literally be in your hands!
- Kevin
Dairyland
Reservoir
Aquatic Habitat
Improvement
by Brad P. Foss,
Environmental Biologist,
Dairyland Power Cooperative
Dairyland Reservoir in early October 2007
after the drawdown.
D
airyland Reservoir is a 1952-acre impoundment of the
Flambeau River located in northern Wisconsin. It was created in 1951 by the construction of Dairyland Power
Cooperative’s Flambeau Hydrostation (FHS). The reservoir boasts a
wide array of gamefish, with muskellunge, walleye, black crappie, and
smallmouth bass being the most abundant and widely sought after
species. There are three public access points located on the reservoir,
with Josie Creek Park providing not only boat launching facilities, but
also camping for tents and RVs, a small swimming beach, and a picnic area.
During the summer of 2007, a 30-foot drawdown of the reservoir took place, necessitated by the replacement of leaking tainter gate
seals at the FHS. During early planning for the 2007 drawdown folks
from Dairyland Power Cooperative and the Rusk County Wildlife
Restoration Association (WRA) saw a rare opportunity to improve the
aquatic habitat of the reservoir and to improve boater access.
A plan was devised to place rock, tree, and combination rock and
tree structures within the dewatered reservoir basin while the lakebed
was exposed. Additionally, the boat launches at the three public access
points would be upgraded. This all had to be accomplished during an
eight-week period, the duration of the drawdown.
The drawdown began on July 9, 2007, with the water level being
slowly lowered by 7.5 feet at a rate of 0.5 to 0.75 feet per day. The
initial drawdown was done slowly so that fish located in shallow water
areas would have time to move to deep-water areas. After the drawdown level of 7.5 feet was reached, the rate was increased to 1.5 to 2.5
feet per day until a total drop of 30 feet was achieved on August 4. In
roughly one month, the reservoir was transformed from a lake to a
river.
Massive habitat complexes were placed along
the old river channel and on points.
Once the lakebed had dried sufficiently to allow vehicular movement, habitat improvement activities commenced. Workers and volunteers from a number of different groups used heavy equipment to
haul materials and construct the structures, which consisted of large
pine trees placed horizontally on the lakebed and anchored with cinder blocks, rock piles made of washed field and cobble stone, and
combination rock and tree structures, which somewhat resembled
porcupines when completed. Structures were placed in sections of the
lower reservoir, which would ultimately be inundated by 10 to 15 feet
of water at normal pool elevation. In order to not interfere with recreational boating activities, the structures were built to heights that
would leave at least five feet of water between the tops of the structures and the surface of the water. In total, multiple structures were
constructed in roughly 50 locations in the lower reservoir.
At the same time the structures were being constructed, improvements to the reservoir’s three access points also occurred. The North,
Community Park, and Josie Creek boat launches were all redone, the
parking areas at both the North and Community Park launches were
paved, and an informational kiosk was erected at the Community
Park launching area. The kiosk has numerous photographs of the
drawdown, which document the construction of the habitat improvement structures. It also has a large aerial photograph of the lower portion of the reservoir, which shows the locations and names of the
structures. GPS coordinates of the individual structures are also located at the kiosk.
During early planning for the 2007
drawdown folks from Dairyland Power
Cooperative and the Rusk County
Wildlife Restoration Association
(WRA) saw a rare opportunity to
improve the aquatic habitat of the
reservoir and to improve boater access.
Once maintenance work on the FHS tainter gates was completed and work on the fish structures was finished, refilling of the reservoir began on October 4. By October 31, the water reached normal
pool elevation. This date marked an end to an incredible effort by
Dairyland Power Cooperative, the WRA, and many other groups and
volunteers whose efforts improved the reservoir for its aquatic inhabitants and also for its many recreational users. But, the effort was not
over yet.
Since the drawdown in 2007, work has continued to further
improve the aquatic habitat of Dairyland Reservoir. During the summer of 2009, hundreds of large pine trees were laid both perpendicular to and stood upright along sections of the northern shoreline and
anchored to the lakebed with cinder blocks. This winter, rock will be
placed on the ice at specified locations and in specific formations to
complement the trees. Plans are for these activities to continue
through 2012. As with the structures created during the 2007 drawdown, these new structures are/will be located deep enough in the
water column to not pose a hazard for boaters.
While the purpose of the structures which were put in place during the 2007 drawdown was to improve mid-depth/deep-water habitat in the reservoir, the new structures along the shoreline in the reservoir’s littoral zone are to improve shallow-water cover and increase production of forage
species such as troutperch and emerald shiners. This, in
essence, represents a “build it from the bottom up”
approach, whereby habitat is created for invertebrates
and small minnow species. This in turn leads to more
feeding opportunities for larger predatory fish, such as
walleye, muskellunge, black crappie, and smallmouth
bass.
Environmental staff from Dairyland Power
Cooperative plan to conduct electrofishing surveys of the
lower portion of the reservoir each spring to document
changes in the reservoir’s fish species composition and
abundance. Musky anglers who fish Dairyland Reservoir
on a regular basis are already reaping the rewards of the
habitat improvement project. Numerous muskies in the
Building a large rock pile.
mid 40-inch range and a few surpassing 50 inches have been caught
off the deep-water structures, while other fish are already being taken
on the newer shoreline structures. You can read more about
Dairyland Reservoir’s muskies in the article by Darrell Taylor in this
issue of MUSKIE. ❖
If you would like information on the habitat improvement project or on
fishing Dairyland Reservoir the following contacts can assist you:
- Brad Foss, Environmental Biologist II, Dairyland Power Cooperative,
(608)787-1492
- John Thiel, Senior Environmental Biologist, Dairyland Power
Cooperative, (608)787-1353
- Jerry Carow, President, Wildlife Restoration Association, (715)4924733
Fishing Hot Spots, in late 2009, published a new map of the Dairyland
Reservoir which shows the locations and lists the GPS coordinates for all
structures constructed during the 2007 drawdown.
Close up of a man-made rock pile “reef”.
SPORT SHOW LOCATOR – Calendar of upcoming events in 2010
DATES
EVENT NAME/WEBSITE
LOCATION
CITY
Mar. 5-7
Illinois Fishing & Outdoor Expo
www.showtimeproduction.net
Minnesota Muskie Expo
www.minnesotamuskieexpo.com
Indoor Sports Center
Rockford
Concordia University
St. Paul
April 9-11
www.muskiesinc.org
STATE PHONE
IL
815/877-8043
MN
763/786-6031
A
aaahh,” screamed Courtney Spizzirri from the back of the abundant crappie, smallmouth bass and walleye instead of the magboat. That scream followed by a splash meant she had just nificent muskellunge. In fact, several trips to the Big Chip during
experienced a muskie encounter. The fish actually those years, and more recent trips to Missouri’s Pomme de Terre failed
launched itself out of the water alongside the boat while she was prac- to yield a legal muskie for us. Fortunately for us the muskie mystique
ticing her ‘figure eight’. Muskies like to do that – they take advantage remains and to this day our daughters make an annual excursion to
of anglers having a momentary lack of concentration. I know this to fish Pomme de Terre, which is near my home.
On their 2008 visit we planned a Northwoods family vacation
be true because the next day another muskie rocketed from the water
for the following summer. It meant we would need accommodations
while Robyn Simonic, was practicing her figure eight.
What fun! We experienced an incredible thrill from both episodes. for 12 to 14 adults and a baby. After much looking we eventually
Evidently the muskies had followed one of our lures to the boat with- found a rental home on Dairyland Reservoir near Ladysmith, WI
(www.vrbo.com). There are no
out anyone noticing, and just to play
resorts on the Dairyland Lake but
with our emotions, they hung
there are a couple of motels in
Dairyland Reservoir offers numerous
around under the boat until another
Ladysmith.
lure presented itself. And then kerweed beds and excellent habitat to
After briefly researching the
splash followed by an adrenalin rush
support aggressive muskies plus other
lake and learning it contained
strong enough to make our hair tingle. Our week on Dairyland
species. It is a great lake for new muskie muskie, we reserved the cabin.
Later, a more thorough investigaReservoir provided great training
anglers because they can learn by
tion uncovered some alarming
wheels for some new muskie anglers.
experiencing follows, catch some
information – the lake had been
This vacation/muskie fishing
trip came about because of our
muskies, and learn how to release them. drained to little more than a river
two years prior to our planned visit
daughters’ memories of fishing
and many fish may have been lost.
vacations at the Chippewa Flowage
A few phone calls turned up little
when they were teenagers. Both had
to ease our concerns but we decidfond memories of the colorful birch
ed to take a chance anyway.
trees, the sweet smell of pine trees in
Much to our delight, we
the morning and the beautiful
found a fishery with numerous
Northwoods scenery. They rememmuskie, pike, smallmouth and
bered the ever-present nesting
walleye, plus some crappie and
eagles and other wildlife, and, oh
perch that were hungry and eager
yes, the opportunity to catch a
to eat most of our offerings.
muskie. Now they wanted their
Construction of the Dairyland
children to enjoy those same experiReservoir dam was completed in
ences.
1951 creating about 1,900 surface
But for new anglers, maintainacres of water. The powerhouse
ing interest in the fish of 1,000 casts
contains three turbine-generators.
can be a problem, the length of
The project is operated as a run-oftime between catches or encounters
river flow project – a type of hydrocan be discouraging. Truth be
known, our fishing interest in the Fishing the middle portion of Dairlyland during the 2007 Chapter electric generation where the natural flow and elevation drop of a
1970s was often piqued by the
Challunge, before the drawdown.
river are used to generate electricity. Power stations of this
type have less impact on the normal flow of the river; this
represents a more eco-friendly mode of operation.
Dairyland’s conditions were nearly perfect during the
last week of July, with air and water temperatures in the middle 70s and a mild current flow in the lake. Numerous small
to large weed beds extended out to the 6 or 8 foot depths
with wild rice and reeds from the shoreline to about two feet
of water. The water color was mildly tamarack with 3 to 5
feet of visibility in most places.
Larry Barton, owner of Flambeau River Outfitters in
Ladysmith (www.paddleflambeau.com) offered this advice
for hunting muskie in the spring, summer and fall.
“I like to troll a Bobbie or Suick along the dropoffs in
the springtime. The weeds aren’t developed yet so it makes
trolling easier,” said Barton. He runs these baits just inside,
Chapter 30 member Leif Tolokken with big Dairyland muskie taken off the
over and just outside the lip of the dropoff because the edge
new deep-water habitat structures. (photo by Brad Foss)
of the dropoff often harbors prey and deep water offers stability and cover.
Mostly I threw a silver-colored
“Weeds become a factor in May
Creek Chub Knuckle Head and
and June, depending on how temperKnuckle Head Jr. My family tried
atures are progressing for the year.
lures like Bobbie’s Wake Maker,
During these months I like to troll a
Bucher’s Top Raider and some ‘top9-inch weighted Bobbi along the
per’ style lures with both single and
weedlines – but not into the weeds.
twin props. The best action came
Five to 13 feet seems to be the most
when working topwater baits with
productive depth this time of year,”
steady, rhythmic action.
said Barton. He also likes baits such as
We concentrated on the abunBull Dawgs and Hawg Wobblers in
dant weedbeds on flats and points
the springtime.
between the bridge at County Road I
In July and August, Barton opts
and the dam. Most areas produced a
to cast surface lures like the Hawg
fish or an encounter in the form of a
Wobbler, concentrating on the muskie
strike or follow on our topwater baits.
prime feeding times of early morning
These areas were so entertaining that
and late evening.
we didn’t bother exploring the many
Our July experience mimicked
rock
and wood fish cribs that were
Dairyland has a healthy population of muskies and other
Barton’s advice for using surface lures
installed in conjunction with the 2007
species. It’s a good place to learn how to fish for
and the best fishing times except we
muskies and catch some in the process!
drawdown, which you can read more
used a number of different ‘smallish’
about in the article by Brad Foss that
lures with good results on undersized fish, plus follows from several
begins on page 14 in this issue of MUSKIE.
40 to 50 inch muskies. Weed tops varied from the surface to one foot
Recently I chatted with Jerry Carow, President of the Rusk
under, making surface baits the logical and easily fished choice.
County Wildlife Restoration Association, who has been deeply
involved with habitat restoration projects at the lake for several years.
“During the drawdown and since, volunteers have placed or submerged 800 trees and 500 to 800 cubic yards of rock for fish habitat,”
Carow said.
In recent years, volunteer groups from throughout the state have
contributed time and money to enhance the fishery. Groups included
about 400 students from local high schools, the Flambeau
Bassmasters, and two Muskies, Inc. chapters – First Wisconsin and
God’s Country.
Dairyland Reservoir offers numerous weed beds and excellent
habitat to support aggressive muskies plus other species. It is a great
lake for new muskie anglers because they can learn by experiencing
follows, catch some muskies, and learn how to release them. ❖
www.muskiesinc.org
Gordy Roytek with a post-drawdown Dairyland muskie.
Darrell Taylor lived in Illinois for over 40 years before retiring to
Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks. Most of his family members share his love
for fishing and the outdoors. Darrell is a freelance outdoor writer and a
past-president of the Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers
(AGLOW). Darrell can be reached at: darrellt@yhti.net
Ethanol:
What All Boat Owners Should Know
by Patricia Strutz
Photos by Tom Fischer of TF Marine
What is ethanol?
Ethanol is a clean-burning, high-octane, American-made,
renewable fuel. Produced mainly from corn, it is basically denatured
alcohol. Adding ethanol to gasoline oxygenates the fuel; this makes
the fuel mixture burn more completely and reduces emissions. The
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires the use of oxygenated gasoline to improve air quality. The most common blends of
ethanol with gasoline are:
* E10: 10% ethanol and 90% unleaded gasoline.
* E85: 85% ethanol and 15% unleaded gasoline. For flex fuel vehicles only..
AUTHOR’S NOTE: The use of ethanol is very complex. This article touches on just a few of the issues. It
is my hope that it instills an interest to visit the listed
websites to learn more. I have interviewed both pro
and anti-ethanol subjects in an attempt to provide a
fair and thorough perspective for our readers with a
fair be fairness. As boat owners, it is important that
we understand the repercussions of using ethanol and
the adjustments needed to manage its use.
Why are we using ethanol?
* To decrease petroleum use and dependence on foreign oil
imports.
* Economic development: additional market for corn and related
businesses.
* To replace methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) as an oxygenating
agent. MTBE, a carcinogen, has shown up in drinking water
sources.
* To meet requirements of the Clean Air Act (decrease pollution
and carbon monoxide)
* To meet state quotas for renewable fuels.
BEFORE
AFTER
Does ethanol affect fuel economy?
Ethanol’s heating value is 30% less than gasoline’s heating value.
That means E10 gas yields around 3%-5% lower mileage. Fuels containing higher levels of ethanol have a corresponding reduction in
mileage. E85 fuels produce mileage approximately 30% less than gas.
Are marine engines compatible with ethanol?
Current components of engines will withstand up to 10%
ethanol. There have been many problems the past few years with E10
use, but, with proper education regarding storage along with some
part modifications, boaters are slowly adjusting to managing this
fuel.
All the marine engines manufactured to date are designed to run
on E10, but not a higher percent. So, if regulations change and
someone pumps E15 into their boat, engine warranties could be
voided, motors and fuel systems could be damaged, and many safety
and liability issues could occur.
What service issues have
marinas seen with ethanol use?
Around 2006-07 boat manufacturers started using ethanolresistant components - resistant, not ethanol-proof. Boats manufactured prior to that time may have parts that are suspect. If you have
a fiberglass gas tank it MUST be re-fitted immediately with another
material. Ethanol melts the resin in fiberglass. It turns to goo and
Fuel line damage before using E10. Fuel line damage after using E10.
clogs up the fuel systems. This is mostly a “big boat” problem, but
affects some smaller boats with fiberglass gas tanks.
Fuel hoses and fuel pick up hoses, if made out of the old style
plastic tubing, will be dissolved by ethanol. The particles of that tube
become one with the fuel and clog up the fuel filter; leading to break
downs and mechanical failures. You’ll be stranded somewhere. The
line that goes from the tank to the fuel filter needs to be taken
out and a new ethanol-resistant line should be installed.
Fuel filters used to be 50 micron (the size of particulates
they filter out). Ethanol makes much smaller particles so now a
10 micron filter needs to be used.
Do not mix ethanol with non-ethanol fuel. The fuels can
mix and heat up in the fuel injection pump. It turns into an
ashy, slimy substance which clogs up filters.
If phase separation has occured the tank will need to be
pumped. It’s necessary to completely remove all free water from
the system and replace the fuel before continuing operation. Tell
tale signs include the engine not starting, or the engine running
very poorly (won’t idle, doesn’t get up on plane), coupled with
finding water in fuel filters, carburetors, or fuel injectors.
The lowest point of the fuel tank is where the water goes.
To get rid of this water sometimes the fuel
sender needs to be removed or holes may need
to be cut into the fuel tank. Some new boat
manufacturers have actually re-designed the
boat lay outs so fuel tanks are easier to access.
If the fuel can be “polished” it is run
through a machine which sucks all the sludge
out of the tank; sediment in fuel can change
the consistency to a gel. Then the fuel is run
through a series of filters (10-microns down to
1-micron). This is only done if the quality of
the fuel (the octane level) is not degraded.
Normally all the fuel is removed and fresh is
added to start anew.
How does ethanol
cause these problems?
Ethanol is a solvent. It dissolves plastic,
rubber, fiberglass, etc. The dissolved particles
clog up the filters.
Ethanol absorbs water right out of the
atmosphere; it doesn’t even need rain or free
water entering it. When it reaches the saturation point the alcohol and water drop out of
the gasoline. This is called phase separation.
The ethanol and water drops to the bottom of
the tank. The gas and a significantly reduced
level of ethanol is now on top. The bottom
layer of water/ethanol (alcohol) can reach the
fuel inlet and be pumped directly to the engine
causing many problems. The fuel level on top
has a reduced octane rating which can result in
engine problems, too.
Cars replace fuel often. This normally prevents phase separation. Boats store gas in tanks
for extended periods between use or re-fueling.
Ethanol’s shelf life is in debate. Some experts
say it is one year, others say 90-days, and still
others have seen phase separation within 30
days of non-use.
These problems affect many other gasoline powered products such as chainsaws, lawn
mowers, and ATVs.
www.muskiesinc.org
ETHANOL
Recommendations and preventative measures:
Use:
* Purchase non-ethanol fuel to avoid the issue altogether. Most
marinas carry it. Know what fuel you are using and don’t mix it.
* Make sure your fuel lines are alcohol rated. They will usually say
right on them, you might need your mechanic to look at it. Fuel
hoses should be marked as J-1527.
* Use a 10-micron fuel filter. Check filter frequently to make sure
no water has settled in it. All motor manufacturers are telling
consumers to carry a spare fuel filter. That is the first course of
action if the engine stalls.
* Check the O-ring on your fill cap to be sure it isn’t cracked or
missing.
* Go musky fishing often during the season! Your gasoline doesn’t
go stale and it’s just another excuse to chase muskies (like we need
one.)
Storage:
* For long term storage, fill the fuel tanks to 95% full, leaving room
for expansion. A tank that is almost full limits the amount of air
in and out of the vent, which reduces the chance of condensation
adding water to the fuel (from Boat US)
* Storage procedures are also an issue that experts disagree on. A
prominent engine manufacturer recommends running the tank
down to almost empty and then adding stabilizer; adding fresh
gasoline in spring. Other experts disagree with that scenario. If a
few gallons are inadvertently left it might attract enough condensation to cause separation.
* The worst choice is leaving the tank a quarter to half full. The
tanks breathe more and attract large amounts of moisture.
* Use an ethanol treatment. This won’t prevent the absorption of
water but it will chemically stabilize the fuel. The EPA lists over
6,000 fuel additive products! Research indicates you should avoid
additives that contain alcohol and avoid additives that contain
water absorbing agents or are water soluble. This would seem like
a no-brainer, right? However, in viewing a table of additives, I
found several popular brands that were alcohol based or water
absorbing. Perhaps these are perfectly good products, but, it
seems odd; why would one add more alcohol to prevent ethanolalcohol gas problems? Attempts to contact the companies to discuss their products went unanswered. Gas Shok, Sta-bil Marine
Fuel Stabilizer, Starbrite Startron Gas Additive, and Amsoil
Gasoline Stabilizer have received many accolades. All are alcohol
free and are not water soluble or absorbing. Gas Shok allows
water to mix with the fuel and become steam. This de-carbons
the engine because it cleans injectors.
Do ethanol’s benefits outweigh
the associated problems?
What happens until the
EPA makes their decision?
American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) remarks, “First of all, we
feel many of the associated problems are purely anecdotal, not supported by science. Boat manufacturers have stated that their crafts
will accept up to 10% ethanol so many of the problems folks are
attributing to it are actually not ethanol related.”
“Secondly, we are all for choice. If boat owners don’t want to use
ethanol in their boats, we want them to be able to use straight
unleaded. We don’t want to force ethanol on anyone. Conversely, if
we want to burn a cleaner fuel that we manufacture ourselves, like
E15, we should have that choice available to us. E15 would not be
mandatory, it would be an option. It is unacceptable to us that
because certain engines -frankly, the most polluting engines - can not
run on E15, that it is not available to the rest of the fleet.”
Freedom of choice is great, but, it is already difficult to find
non-ethanol gas in certain areas.
If you live in an attainment (high pollution) area, you may have
to search on the outskirts for non-ethanol gas. Oxygenated fuel is
mandatory in those areas. Some states, like Minnesota, require 10%
ethanol but provide exceptions. Boats can be filled with non-ethanol
from a dedicated pump.
ACE relays that if there is a market for straight unleaded (an airport or a marina) it will always be offered. Opponents counter that
private gas stations are already facing difficulty locating a fuel distributor willing to sell non-ethanol. With the government funding tax
credits, many fuel distributors readily changed over to ethanol.
A diverse coalition of environmental groups, business associations, and public interest groups (such as the NMMA) continue to
be watchdogs. The ethanol lobby attempted to circumvent the EPA
by attaching an amendment to an appropriations bill (Senator Ben
Nelson, D-NE). There was so much vocal opposition that Nelson
decided not to offer it. It is expected that they will keep trying to
implement it legislatively, so the coalition remains vigilant.
As individuals, it is important that your voices be heard. No
matter which side of the issue you stand on, contact your state senator and representatives to share your concerns. The following folks
and organizations all provided valuable input; visiting their websites
will provide current status of legislation, grassroots lobbying info,
and links to legislators.
What about the campaign to increase
the amount of ethanol to 15% (E15)?
NMMA
Mat Dunn and Christine
Pomorski
www.nmma.org
American Coalition for
Ethanol
Ron Lamberty
www.ethanol.org
BoatUS
www.BoatUS.com
Clean Fuel and Tank
Randy Mote
www. Cleanfuelandtank.com
TFMarine Consulting
Tom Fischer
www.WeGotBoats.com
Patricia Strutz is a fishing guide, outdoor writer, and Field Editor
for MUSKIE Magazine. For information, visit her website at:
www.ablondandherboat.com
Last year Growth Energy, a pro-ethanol lobbying organization, and 54 ethanol producers
petitioned the EPA for the increase. A comment
period drew thousands of comments from concerned boaters, the marine industry, and others. The
EPA has determined that E15 is not substantially
similar to E10; there are serious design and certification distinctions.
The Clean Air Act requires significant testing
before new fuels are introduced. So, the EPA recently announced they are delaying their final decision
on Growth Energy’s waiver petition to allow E15
until more testing data is available.
The EPA noted that studies indicate that E15
may be tolerated by newer autos but further studies
are pending. The EPA suggests it may approve E15
for 2001 and newer vehicles by mid-2010 unless
data reveals problems. The National Marine
Manufacturers Association’s (NMMA) view is that
no decision should be made until the studies confirm that it is compatible with both on-road and
non-road engines. They continue to call for testing
on marine engines and boat fuel systems.
If E15 is introduced and a misfueling incidence occurs, who will be liable?
The consumer. It is the responsibility of the
consumer to make sure the correct fuel is pumped
into their vehicle or craft. Stringent labeling regulations will need to be enacted and enforced.
www.muskiesinc.org
Muskie Medic 101
By Kevin Pischke
S
o you’ve been preparing all winter for your first big trip of the
season. Your hooks are sharpened, line spooled, tackle box
organized, boat is prepped, truck is loaded and reservations confirmed. Everything is ready to go, or is it? What happens if . . . You
get stung by a bee on the water? One of the guy’s on the trip is diabetic and his blood sugar bottoms out? Your fishing partner is taking
his lure out of a lunker’s mouth and gets his hand sliced open? A fellow angler slips and falls at the boat landing breaking his leg?
Naturally, we focus all of our preparation on the fishing aspect of
our trip, sometimes forgetting that we may be heading to a remote
location where we may be on our own if things go wrong. With a little extra preparation you can be ready for many of those not so good
situations and make the outcome a whole lot better.
If you are in an emergency situation it is extremely important to soft drink or fruit juice. This can provide a quick rise in blood sugar,
identify the problem, to contact the appropriate agency for help, to be but a substantial meal will need to be eaten soon after to maintain an
able to describe where you are and what happened, and to be able to acceptable level of blood sugar. A small tube of cake frosting works
provide first aid until professional medical help is available. Keep in great for an ‘initial treatment’ and fits easily in a small first aid kit. If
mind that in some areas 911 may not be accessible and depending on the patient is unconscious or you are unable to control them, seek
tower locations, a cell phone call could be answered by an operator in emergency care right away.
Anaphylaxis is a severe
a different state or county. One simallergic
reaction, defined as an
ple solution in most emergency situIf you are in an emergency situation it is
exaggerated
response to a subations is to directly call the local
extremely
important
to
identify
the
problem,
stance
the
person
comes in conSherriff ’s Department of the county
to contact the appropriate agency for help, to tact with. This reaction can be
or parish you are in. Don’t always
from food, insects or other envicount on the luxury of 911 services!
be able to describe where you are and what
elements. Mild reacWith a simple search on the Internet
happened, and to be able to provide first aid ronmental
tions consist of a warm sensayou will be able to access alternative
until professional medical help is available.
tion and redness of the skin as
emergency phone numbers while
well as itching. Mild allergic
preparing for your trip.
reactions
can
be
treated
with
an
over-the-counter
antihistamine like
Because it is so important to be able to provide emergency first
diphenhydramine,
(a.k.a.
Benadryl),
but
before
taking
any new overaid until you can secure professional treatment, another key step during your trip preparation should be packing the supplies for a basic the-counter medication consult with your personal physician.
A moderate to severe reaction may consist of hives over a large
first aid kit. The essential supplies should fit into a sealable plastic
area of the torso, plus swelling and trouble breathing. Because of
container about the size of a shoebox.
swelling in the neck and chest people experiencing these reactions
Medical Emergencies
often have the sensation of their “throat closing”. This severe respiraHypothermia is the body’s reaction to overexposure to a cold tory emergency needs urgent advanced medical care.
Many people diagnosed with a severe allergic reaction will carry
environment. The onset of shaking, a decreased mental capacity and
loss of coordination are some tell-tale signs. Initial treatment consists an Epi-Pen. This is a vial containing the medication epinephrine that
of getting the patient out of the cold, removing any wet clothing, and has a spring loaded needle to deliver the medication. If needed, they
wrapping them in warm blankets. Until the patient is warm, func- will inject the medication into their thigh. If someone in your fishtioning, and responding in their normal demeanor do not allow them ing party carries an Epi-Pen ask them how you should assist them if
to eat, drink or smoke. Unresponsive individuals exposed to a cold needed. I can assure you they will be more than glad to explain it to
environment may have a slow weak pulse, 60 beats per minute or less. you. You’ve probably asked your fishing partner how to operate their
camera or landing net – take the time to ask them if they have any
An unresponsive patient needs immediate emergency medical care.
Hyperthermia is the reaction from exposure to heat and over medical conditions of which you should be aware.
Shock is a reaction caused by the cardiovascular systems inability
exertion. Signs of hyperthermia include muscle cramps, weakness,
exhaustion, dizziness, fainting, a rapid pounding pulse and decreased to deliver oxygen rich blood to vital organs. It can also be attributed
mental capacity. Get the individual to a cooler environment and to the dilation (enlarging) of blood vessels and or blood loss. Some
place ice packs in their arm pits and/or groin. Seek medical help if signs of the onset of shock would be large blood loss, restlessness, anxsymptoms continue after cooling efforts. Unresponsive individuals or iety or combativeness. To prevent, control and treat shock have the
those who are experiencing the above symptoms and are no longer are injured lay down, stop any bleeding, prevent heat loss and if possible
raise the legs several inches off the ground. Raising the legs helps keep
able to sweat need immediate emergency medical intervention.
Hypoglycemia is also known as low blood sugar. Hypoglycemia needed blood circulating to organs and the brain. While waiting for
typically occurs when physical activity uses up all the body’s available emergency help to arrive monitor and address any additional bleeding
sugar. Diabetics experiencing low blood sugar will often present an and calm and reassure the patient.
Angina or chest pain is due to the lack of blood flow to the musaltered mental status and uncharacteristic behavior. If the patient is
conscious and able to effectively swallow they can drink a high sugar cles of the heart; it should be treated as the onset of a heart attack.
People diagnosed with angina may take aspirin on a daily basis and
have prescribed nitroglycerin to relieve acute angina. Aspirin
relieves inflammation and interferes with the role of blood platelets
in forming clots. It is this last effect that appears to impact on risk
for heart disease. A 325mg aspirin tablet is the recommended
dosage; the tablet should be chewed. Nitroglycerin is a “vasodilator.” It widens the blood vessels helping the flow of oxygen and
blood to the heart. By making blood flow easier it keeps the heart
from having to work so hard. Someone experiencing angina typically describes it as a heavy pressure or crushing pain in their chest.
This pain may also spread to their arms or jaw. Nitroglycerin
should never be taken without a prescription. Aspirin cannot be
taken by those who are allergic or on blood thinners.
Cardiac Arrest, commonly referred to as a heart attack, is the
sudden stop of the heart beat and cardiac function. This results in
the loss of effective circulation. According to the American Heart
Association there are four components needed for a chance at a
successful outcome.
1. Early Access to Emergency Care must be provided by calling 911
or the appropriate Emergency Services.
2. Early CPR should be started and maintained until emergency
medical services (EMS) arrive.
3. Early Defibrillation can re-start the heart function of a person in
cardiac arrest. If an automated external defibrillator (AED) is available, a trained operator should administer defibrillation plus CPR
as quickly as possible until EMS personnel arrive.
4. Early Advanced Care, the final link, can then be administered as
needed by EMS and E.R. personnel.
It is estimated that for every minute in cardiac arrest without
CPR the probability of recovery drops by 10 percent. When each link
in the chain works successfully, the likelihood of surviving cardiac
arrest increases greatly. Contact the American Heart Association
(www.americanheart.org) or your local Community/Technical College
for information on CRP classes.
Traumatic Injuries
Bleeding and Soft Tissue Injuries
Bleeding is the most common injury we normally encounter during our outdoor adventures. There are three classifications. Capillary
bleeding is dark oozing blood that clots easily. This is what you would
see from abrasions. Venous bleeding is dark red and flows from the
injury. This comes from veins, the blood that is returning to the
heart. Arterial bleeding is bright red and spurts from the injury, this is
oxygen rich blood that has left the heart. Arterial bleeding is the most
sever and hardest to control.
Soft Tissue Injuries can be classified into three categories.
Abrasions are scraping injuries to the outer layer of skin, superficial in
nature. This is normally referred to as “road rash”. Lacerations are
breaks/cuts in the skin caused by forceful contact with a sharp object.
They can range for superficial in depth (which are easily controlled)
to deep with severe uncontrolled bleeding. Penetrating wounds are
injury that occurs when an object pierces the skin and enters body tissue, creating an open wound.
Abrasion care includes washing the area, applying a topical first
aid cream and bandaging to help clotting and prevent infections.
Superficial lacerations can be handled in the same manner as abrasions with the addition of utilizing bandages to help close the wound.
Prior to bandaging a moderate laceration you can attempt to help
close it and control bleeding with the application of several butterfly
closure bandages or products like new-skin liquid bandage.
The most important task in the field for deep lacerations and
heavy bleeding is controlling the bleeding. Cleaning the wound can
be very difficult as attempting this may increase bleeding and may be
www.muskiesinc.org
Eye Rinse, First Aid Cream, Band-Aids, Gauze Pads, ABD Pads,
Cling Wrap, Triangle Bandage-Sling, Medical Tape, Cold Pack,
Antiseptic Wipes, Trauma Scissors, Cake Frosting, Hook Removal
Kit, Exam Gloves, CPR Mask, Chewable Aspirin, over-the-counter
Pain Reliever, Antihistamine, and Anti-Motion Sickness Pills –
everything but the muskie rod should fit in your first aid kit.
very painful for an already distressed patient. The best method of
controlling the bleeding is with direct pressure and gauze pads. Place
several gauze pads in the palm of your hand and hold them over the
injury applying light pressure. If the gauze pads become soaked in
blood don’t remove them, add fresh pads on top off them. By removing them you may disrupt the natural clotting process. Once bleeding has slowed add a few fresh gauze pads and secure them by wrapping over the gauze. A better option for covering large and deep lacerations is an ABD pad. These are sterile all-purpose bandage and
wound care pads that are flexible, absorbent and breathable; a typical
size is 5x8 inches. Utilize them in the same fashion as you would
gauze. They are excellent for controlling bleeding and preventing
contamination of large wounds. Feminine hygiene pads will also
work for this purpose.
Moderate lacerations with controlled bleeding will need to be
evaluated, cleaned and repaired by a Doctor within a reasonable
amount of time. Deep lacerations and those with uncontrollable
bleeding need emergency medial care; with large amounts of blood
loss shock is also possible. Underlying damage is also a major concern
in such injuries.
Penetrating wounds should be cared for in the same manner as
deep lacerations. If the object is still lodged in the victim, do not
remove it. Pad around it with clean pads or towels supporting the
object and preventing it from moving. Secure this padding with cling
wrap or strips of clothing, towels or sheets. Underlying damage and
internal bleeding will need to be evaluated by emergency medical personnel. Penetrating wounds to the eye should be secured in place as
with any penetrating injury, but the other eye also needs to be covered.
Because of the coordinated movements of the eye moving the uninjured eye moves the injured one too; this could lead to further damage.
Embedded hooks are an issue that most muskie anglers will have
to deal with at some point. Having performed the cut and push out
on myself with a 3/0 musky treble I can tell you it is a very painful
experience. I have since learned of the string pull method. My recommendation would be to check out www.fishhookremoval.com for a
very simple and affordable hook removal kit and directions. I have to
agree with Dr. Neil Saley of hookremoval.com when he explains how
this method is less painful, much safer and more sanitary than other
MUSKIE MEDIC 101
methods. Most hospital ERs use a mechanical pull device which produces the same effect and outcome.
and below the break. Secure your splint board with strips of clothing,
towels, sheets, or even cling wrap. Remember to remove any
footwear, clothing or jewelry around the injury site. Swelling will
occur and any items left on in those areas could reduce circulation.
Ice is also a very good tool for reducing swelling and pain in the field.
I have found that bump boards work great as temporary splints.
A longer pike/musky board is perfect for legs and a walleye size is great
for forearms. Shoulders and upper arms can often be successfully
splinted with a makeshift sling. Ankle and foot injuries are splinted
by wrapping a pillow, blanket or large towel around the foot and
securing. Once your splint is securely in place help the patient into
the most comfortable position for them; you may need to put a pad
under the splinted extremity.
Burns
Check out www.fishhookremoval.com for a simple and affordable hook removal kit with instructions for use.
Bone and Joint Injuries
Sprains and strains are common injuries, but are distinctly different from each other. A sprain occurs when excessive force is applied
to a joint; the ligaments that hold the bones together may be torn or
damaged. Strains are tears in the muscle, sometimes called pulled
muscles, they usually occur because of overexertion or improper lifting techniques. Mild sprains and strains can be treated with ice packs
and an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory agent. Moderate to major
sprains will require professional medical attention.
Fractures or broken bones can be closed or open injuries. A fracture with the skin intact at the site of the break is a closed fracture or
simple fracture. A compound fracture or an open fracture is a fracture in which the skin is
perforated and there is an
open wound at the site of
the break. In both types
of fractures internal bleeding and soft tissue injuries
are
major
concern.
Compound fractures also
have the threat of infection. These injuries will
need immediate emergency medial care.
The damage and pain
from a severe sprain or a
bone fracture can physically incapacitate an individual. The movement of
either injury subjects the
patient to further damage
and pain. These injuries
require splinting before
moving them. For splinting in emergency situations utilize any means
you have. For sprains and
dislocations, immobilize
There are many ways to splint and sup- the bone above and below
port severe sprains or fractures before the joint. For a fracture,
moving an injured person; check out the immobilize the joint above
unique use of the “bump board”.
Superficial burns damage the outermost layer of skin, an example would be sunburn. These are treated with medicated lotions or
sprays. An over-the-counter pain reliever may also help with comfort.
Partial thickness burns involve damage to the outer and middle
layers of skin. The damaged skin will be red and blistered. These will
be very painful. Full thickness burns involve all layers of the skin and
the under lying tissue. They can look black and charred. The area of
the full thickness burn may not produce pain due to nerve damage,
but the partial thickness burns surrounding the area will.
Immediately stop the burning by cooling it with water, remove
any clothing or jewelry around the burn. You can continue cooling
with cool water for several minute. Remember with a full thickness
burn, the damaged area can not regulate body heat. Too much cold
water or ice could cause hypothermia. Cover the area with loosely
secured sterile dressing. For smaller partial thickness it would be feasible to seek medical care within a reasonable amount of time. Larger
partial thickness and any full thickness burns need immediate emergency medical care.
Summary
The most important thing you can do in any emergency situation
is quickly call 911 or the appropriate number for emergency services.
Once you make the call for help provide medical care for the injured
individual to the best of your ability. If the injury or medical condition is not serious or life threatening but still requires medical attention, go to the nearest medical facility for care. Remember that the
electronic mapping on your GPS unit may have hospitals and clinics
in its database. Check in advance if your unit has this capability.
Put together a first aid kit that you can keep in your boat, cottage, or vehicle. Consider putting together basic kits as a club
fundraiser. Bulk first aid supplies can be purchased from a company
like Emergency Medical Products (www.buyemp.com). Remember
that when treating an injured person it is highly recommended that
you protect yourself with non-latex type exam gloves.
The skills, tools and knowledge shared in this article can be
applied to many non-fishing situations. With a little preparation you
can be the first step in assuring that an emergency situation has a positive outcome. Please consider taking a CPR and first aid class
through the American Heart Association, the American Red
Cross, or your local community college. Basic CPR and first aid
classes can be completed in 4 hours. This could be a great Saturday
event for your chapter during the winter months.
Special thanks to my fellow firefighters Quincy Koltz and Kurt
VandeKolk for their assistance with this article. ❖
Kevin Pischke is a Firefighter and EMT with the Green Bay Fire
Department. He is a member of the Titletown Chapter and guides on the
inland muskie waters of central and northern Wisconsin.
ATTENTION
CHAPTER
CONTACTS:
Please make sure
your chapter address
and phone number
is correct on this page
AND on the M.I. website.
Whenever you update
chapter information on
the website, please send an
email to the Editor so we can
keep this page current. Thanks!
No. Chapter, Address
Special Events
2010
May 14-16, 2010
14th Annual Indiana Muskie Classic
www.indianamuskieclassic.com
Contact: Kenton Smith, DirectorIndiana Muskie Classic
sourcegroup@prodigy.net
or (317) 523-7004
Aug. 25-27, 2010
2010 Gil Hamm Chapter Challunge
at Lake Vermilion, MN.
Contact: Jeff Young:
jyoung@brainerd.net
or (218) 821-3669
September 10-12, 2010
Pomme de Terre Chapter Annual
Muskie Tournament
Lake Pomme de Terre, MO
www.missourimuskies.org
Special events listings are provided at
no charge to Muskies, Inc chapters.
To list your chapter's event,
email to:
muskiemag@yahoo.com
or by ground mail:
Kevin Richards,
7618 Sunrise Ridge Road,
Henley, MO 65040
Please send announcements
at least 2 months in advance.
www.muskiesinc.org
Phone #
01.....Twin Cities, 6311 Steller Circle, Excelsior, MN 55331......................................952-474-5967
02.....Fargo-Moorhead, Box 2021, Fargo ND, 58107................................................701-298-9032
03.....Chicagoland Muskie Hunters, 7600 Kilbourn Ave, Skokie, IL 60076 ...............847-677-0017
04.....Titletown Muskies, Inc., 3097 Inverness Lane, New Franken, WI 54229 .......920-866-9705
05.....Pomme De Terre, PO Box 5, Hermitage, MO 65668 .......................................417-993-0035
06.....First Wisconsin, PO Box 122, Chippewa Falls, WI 54729 ...............................715-864-2269
07.....South Side Muskie Hawks, 5211 S. Narragansett Ave., Chicago, IL 60638......773-581-8650
08.....Capital City, PO Box 8862, Madison, WI 53708...............................................608-669-5046
09.....West Virginia, 1270 Federal Road, Little Hocking, OH 45742 .........................740-667-3571
10.....Heartland, 239 8th St SE, Mason City IA 50401 ..............................................641-424-0827
11 .....Mississippi Valley, 5301 11th Ave “C”, Moline, IL 61265 ..................................309-797-1803
12.....Headwaters, PO Box 652, Eagle River, WI 54521...........................................715-891-5574
13.....Hayward Lakes, PO Box 609, Hayward, WI 54843 .........................................715-634-4543
14.....South of the Border, 28926 W. Big Hollow Rd, McHenry, IL 60050.................815-385-9026
15.....Star of the North, 16774 West Bay Drive, Pengilly, MN 55775........................218-885-1677
16.....Three Rivers, 119 Bus Lane, Renfrew, PA15136 .............................................724-789-7866
17.....Quad County, PO Box 185, Plano, IL 60545....................................................815-695-1494
18.....Hopedale, 15 Township Rd 125, Dillonvale, OH 43917 ...................................740-769-7269
19.....Akron-Canton Muskie Maniacs, 10957 Northwood Ave NE, Bolivar OH 44612.330-874-2773
20.....Between the Lakes, PO Box 61, Sheboygan Falls, WI 53085-0061 ...............920-564-3226
21.....North Metro, PO Box 41216, Plymouth, MN 55441 .........................................952-469-2155
22.....New Jersey, http://www.mi22.com/ ..................................................................................TBD
23.....Cleveland, 5608 Brave Chief Lane, Ravenna, OH 44266 ...............................330-296-2398
24.....Brainerd Lakes, 18031 Heritage Road, Brainerd, MN 56401 ..........................218-838-5509
26.....Central Wisconsin, PO Box 263, Medford, WI 54451 ......................................715-748-4874
28.....Shawnee Muskie Hunters, 61 W. Jennings, Wood River, IL 62095.................618-610-5003
29.....Upper Great Plains, 1788 Hwy 4, Estherville, IA 51334...................................712-362-2501
30.....God’s Country, PO Box 1461, LaCrosse, WI 54601 ........................................608-786-4062
31.....Penn-Ohio, 309 Spring St, Jamestown, PA 16134...........................................724-932-5815
32.....Flatlanders, 5776 Vesper Drive, South Beloit, IL 61080 ..................................815-389-4622
33.....Lake Superior, 2031 Hwy. 33 S., Cloquet, MN 55720......................................218-879-2712
35.....Milwaukee, PO Box 28842, Greenfield, WI 53228...........................................262-442-6260
37.....St. Cloud, 312 18th Avenue N., Sartell, MN 56377 ..........................................320-656-1160
38.....Vikingland, 2909 Wicken Lane NW, Alexandria, MN 56308.............................320-846-7975
39.....Fox River Valley, 1253 Cobblers Crossing, Elgin, IL 60123.............................847-741-9771
41.....Central Ohio, 870 County Road 9, Fremont OH 43420 ...................................419-992-4504
42.....Hoosier Muskie Hunters, PO Box 501371, Indianapolis, IN 46250 .................317-577-8050
45.....Kentucky, 212 Linden Ave., Southgate, KY 41071...........................................859-441-1666
46.....Bemidji/Cass Lake, 16256 Andrusia Rd NE, Cass Lake, MN 56633...............218-335-8597
47.....Michigan Muskie Alliance, PO Box 512, Caledonia, MI 49316 ........................616-447-1688
49.....Webster Lake Musky Club, PO Box 670, No. Webster, IN 46555 ...................574-834-1669
50.....Penn-Jersey, 510 Bryton Ave., Pottstown PA 19465.........................................484-459-5940
52.....Daniel Boone, 813 US 62, Maysville, KY 41056 ..............................................606-759-7610
53.....Huskerland Muskie Hunters, 15706 Hamilton St, Omaha, NE 68118...............402-498-8959
54.....Southern Crossroads, 1524 Country Club Rd, Albert Lea MN 56007 .............507-373-1818
56.....SW Ohio Muskie Assoc., 524 Sterling Meadows Place, Brookville, OH 45309..937-833-1833
57.....NW TigerPac, P.O. Box 5515, Kent, WA 98064 ...............................................253-850-5889
58.....Lake St. Clair Muskies, Inc., P.O. Box 805915, St. Clair Shores, MI 48080....586-873-5781
59.....New Mexico Muskies, Inc., P.O. Box 65575 Albuquerque, NM 87193.............505-363-4624
CHAPTER NEWS & VIEWS ◆ CHAPTER NEWS & VIEWS ◆ CHAPTER NEWS & VIEWS
Chapter News and Views
CHAPTER NEWS & VIEWS ◆ CHAPTER NEWS & VIEWS ◆ CHAPTER NEWS
01
Twin Cities
6311 StellerCircle • Excelsior, MN 55331
952-474-5967
www.twincitiesmuskiesinc.org
Meets 2nd Tuesday 7:00 PM, Knights of Columbus, 1114 W79th St Bloomington,
MN, near the SE corner of the intersection of I-494 and I-35W.
As we pass through our winter months, waiting for soft water
and amazing fishing, our chapter continues to be very active. We
hosted a successful fundraiser to help with medical expenses for
long-time member Tom Glander. Many members contributed
items for the silent auction and drawings. Past President Jim
Kroupa did a great job with his organization and leadership of this
event. At that meeting Terry Norby of Motor Clinic presented a
session on trolling motors. In addition to listing what to do and
what not to do, he related a number of anecdotes about things he
has seen people do with their electronics. He stayed and
answered everyone’s questions.
Our banquet was February 20, 2010 at the Minnesota Valley
Country Club. Chair Joe Mellott and his committee did a tremendous job with the preparation of this important event. The proceeds from this event will continue to fund our Military family fishing day, the fishing and shore lunch day of the Minnesota Veterans
Home, our annual Capable Partners event which pairs members
with physically disabled anglers, our stocking program of yearlings
in Minnetonka, White Bear Lake, and other lakes, our participation
with the Fish-A-Thon organization to host youth outings in the
metro area, and various other events.
All of the chapters from Minnesota have worked together and
purchased feeder troughs for the Waterville Hatchery. This will
have a very positive impact on production of muskies to be
stocked. We are proud that all chapters have stepped forward and
are working together on this project.
Member Eric Schultz won our Summer Muskie League for the
second year in a row. He has received the traveling trophy and is
on his way to a three-peat.
We are organizing a chapter trip to the Winnipeg River on July
17-24. This event fills up early. Please contact George Selcke at
952-933-2608 if you are interested.
Respectfully submitted, Tom Keith
04
Titletown
3097 Inverness Lane
New Franken, WI 54229
920-866-9705
Titletown kicked off the New Year with their January meeting.
The Banquet date and location are set. It will be taking place at
the Green Bay Yacht Club on Saturday April 3rd. Watch our website for exact times and ticket info.
Mike Keyes was our guest speaker. The focus of Mike’s presentation was on Green Bay Muskie’s. If you have never seen Mike
speak; look for him at all the major musky expos. You can also
view episodes of his show, Keyes Outdoors at www.keyesoutdoors.com
Jeremy Fusek was the winner of our Tuesday night fall
league. Carl Kagelman and George Owen tied for second place.
Jeremy Van Ert registered the largest fish of the year by Titletown
members. Jeremy’s 53” was caught on May 24th opening week-
end for Wisconsin’s northern musky zone. He caught it using a
Stinger Bucktail. It was also M.I.’s Lunker of the Month for May.
Tom Steber was the winner of our rifle raffle.
Keep an eye on our website, www.titletownmuskiesinc.org. I
plan on having it completely updated by April 1st.
Kevin R. Pischke, Secretary
05
Pomme de Terre
P.O. Box 5 • Hermitage, MO 65668
314-878-7732 – Wayne Humphrey
www.missourimuskies.org
Meets: Various days-Call for schedule
We are sorry to
report that Lloyd Colbert
passed away suddenly
in January. Like many of
us, Lloyd got the muskie
bug late in life and it bit him
hard. He fished Fellows Lake
in Missouri for many hours and
became a fixture on the lake.
Lloyd could spin a pretty good
story and his tale of tracking
down a lost lure through a
garage sale was a great one.
Lloyd and his sense of humor
will be missed.
By now all the sports shows are over and we move on
to fishing time in this part of the world. I will keep reminding
everyone that the Fall Tournament will be September 10, 11,
and 12 this year due to a scheduled draw down of the lake in
October. Should be good fishing and you should plan to join us.
The Pomme chapter donated $1,000 to the GO FISH! program which is run by the Missouri Department of Conservation. It
is a seven session program to educate children ages 8 to 15 on the
fundamentals of fishing. There should be more information about
this program in the May 2010 issue of MUSKIE Magazine.
Check the chapter newsletter for more information about
events and other activities or check out our website: www.missourimuskies.org
Wayne Humphrey
06
First Wisconsin
P.O. Box 122, Chippewa Falls, WI 54729
Jason Smith - 715-726-9912 • 1-888-726-6733
www.firstwi.muskiesinc.org
Meetings 1st Monday, 5:30 PM, at Rod and Gun Club, Lake Wissota from May to
September and at the Fill Inn Station, 104 W. Columbia St., Chippewa Falls from
October to April.
2010 Calendar of Events:
March 1 – Monthly Meeting, Fill Inn Station, Chippewa Falls,
Speaker: Rich Reinert.
March 15 – 6:30 PM Chapter Board Meeting, VFW, Starr Ave, Eau
Claire.
April 5 – Monthly Meeting, Fill Inn Station, Chippewa Falls.
Speaker: Marquardt Skeeter Boat Center on “Side Imaging”.
07
South Side Muskie Hawks
5211 S. Narragansett Ave. • Chicago, IL 60638
773-581-8650
Our meetings are held every third Wednesday of the month at Mama
Luigi's located at 7500 S. Harlem in Bridgeview, IL starting at 7:00 pm.
The Chicago Muskie Show was held January 8-10 and, as
usual, the South Side Muskie Hawks manned a booth. We had a
great turn-out of workers, and many thanks go out to those who
participated in one way or another. Those participating included
Don Sobczak, Duke O’Malley, Jim Burke, Bob Burke, Jack Frost,
Pete Barber III, Tom Roberts, Rick Noerenberg, Larry Konieczka.,
Tony Dyrkacz, Saban Dzabiri, Paul Miletich, Joel Janecek, Ian
Niemiec, Sean Kays, Ron Rodak, Bob Arnony, George Benda, Ed
Waliczek, Paul Kann, Mike Blazek, Ladi Lapin, Fred Howes, and
John McNicholas.
Special thanks go out to Pete Barber III and Ron Rodak for
their super efforts at selling tickets for our mini-raffle at the show.
We managed to net over $1200 over the three days, which is going
toward stocking a fish pond for the Illinois Veterans Home in
Manteno. A handicapped-accessible pier has recently been built
there, which will allow the vets to get outside and do a little fishing,
or just enjoy the fresh air, wildlife, and a change of scenery. Tickets
for the mini-raffle will be sold up to April 21st, when the drawing will
occur. Prizes include a full day guide trip with Berm’s Guide
Service, a muskie rod and reel, and a tackle box with a selection of
lures.
Our January meeting had Jim Kopjo, “The Crappie Professor”
as our speaker. He spoke on some of the finer nuances of ice fishing, such as selecting the right type of ice fishing shelter, where to
drill your holes, the different types of augers, use of GPS and other
electronics, and types of equipment and baits. However, he also
strongly emphasized safety on the ice, and stated that he never
goes out at first ice, but waits a week or so until it thickens up a bit
and watches for the tell-tale signs that the ice is not safe. After his
talk, there were quite a few questions that he stayed to answer,
www.muskiesinc.org
and we thank Jim for presenting his informative program.
Following the program, we held a split-the-pot raffle for the
benefit of Haiti Earthquake Relief. The winners of the raffle were
Saban Dzabiri and Don Sobczak, who immediately donated their
half of the winnings back to the club. A total of $140 was collected,
which will be sent to the American Red Cross and earmarked for
the Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund.
Our annual awards night will be held on Wednesday, March
17th, so be sure to be their for an enjoyable evening camaraderie,
tasty food served by Mama Luigi’s, home-made desserts brought
by our members, and the presentation of awards to our best fishermen of the year.
The South Side Muskie Hawks meet at Mama Luigi’s restaurant on the third Wednesday of the month at 7 PM. All are welcome
to attend, and we look forward to seeing you there.
Respectfully submitted, Lynn Polyak, RVP
08
Capital City
P.O. Box 8862, Madison, WI 53708
608-669-5046 – Gerard Hellenbrand
www.capitalcitymuskiesinc.org
Meets 2nd Monday at The East Side Club, 3735 Monona Dr. Madison, WI.
The weather is warming, the days are getting longer, and the
lakes are thawing, if they have not already thawed. Club members
are chomping at the bit to cast muskie baits again. Those who
can’t wait to wet a line will fish for other species for a couple more
months until the muskie season opens, or they will go south, to
Illinois, Indiana, or even Kentucky to fish for muskies. The fever
grows, but it will not be long before muskies that haven’t seen a
bait for almost five months are seeing them everywhere. In the
meantime, club members have gone to fishing shows and fishing
schools, bought new tackle, and developed new plans to fool our
prey. We can’t wait.
There is still time to be better prepared for this coming muskie
season. The Capital City Chapter of Muskies, Inc. annual
“Intermediate and Advanced Muskie School” is scheduled for
March 20, 2010. This one-day event is held at Waunakee High
School in Waunakee, Wisconsin and provides new, but especially
experienced anglers, a great opportunity to learn about new
waters, study new techniques and presentations, and develop new
skills. For more information about the school, go to the Capital City
Chapter of Muskies, Inc. website at www.capitalcitymuskiesinc.org
or contact Geoff Crandall at crandall@msbnrg.com or 608-8316020.
The annual Awards Banquet on February 8, 2010, when members in the club are recognized for outstanding angler achievements, was a great event. Winners in a variety of categories were
recognized, and Matt Hill, the Master of Ceremonies did a great
job. Congratulations, Matt.
Russ Warye, professional muskie and smallmouth bass guide,
educator, and writer, is the featured speaker on March 8th at the
monthly membership meeting. Russ has written 14 books on fishing. We look forward to his presentation.
As mentioned last month, Gregg Thomas, owner of Battle
the Beast Guide Service, author of many fishing articles, producer
of DVDs, and frequent guest on TV fishing shows, will be the featured speaker at the CCMI Annual Fundraiser Fishing Seminar on
April 15, 2010. The fundraiser will be held at Doubledays in
Cottage Grove this year. Check the CCMI website at www.capitalcitymuskiesinc.org for more details.
Wally Banfi, fishing guide and National Professional Anglers
Association member, will be the featured speaker at the May 10,
2010 membership meeting. Banfi has fished the Madison Chain of
Lakes for many years, and members are looking forward to hearing his insights on catching Muskies in and around Madison.
Lee Bartolini, Vice President
The March 1 speaker is Rich Reinert. Rich grew up in the
Hatfield, WI area fishing the local lakes and rivers. Rich is a tackle designer, manufacturers rep, former guide and speaker. He has
been associated with the tackle industry for 28 years. He is
responsible for more new products, designs, and presentations
than anyone else in the musky industry over the past 15 years.
He has helped design several musky lures or components that
may be in your tackle box today. Rich is an innovator that goes to
the extremes to put fish in the boat. Rich has 40 years of musky
fishing experience, and 17 years as a full-time guide. He has
been featured in Outdoor Life, In-Fisherman and Midwest
Outdoors. He has had over 1500 muskies in his boat over the
years and he has spoken on many radio programs and at numerous sport shows.
Denise Shervey received the
Mike Malone Memorial Award at
our annual awards banquet for the
outstanding service and time she
donated to the Chapter in 2009.
Congratulations Denise, we couldn’t do it without you! Denise is our
secretary and our treasurer.
Beginning March 1st, 2010,
our newsletter called “The Follow
up” will be available on our chapter
web site. You will no longer be getting it by mail unless you don’t
have email. You musk let Joe Heil know so that you can receive it
in the mail. We will only send out to members who do not have
access to a computer. Joe can be reached at 715 839-7089 or
jlheilsr@yahoo.com.
Thanks, Jim Bunch
CHAPTER NEWS & VIEWS (Continued from page 27)
09
West Virginia
1270 Federal Road • Little Hocking, OH 45742
740-667-3571
http://westvirginiamuskiesinc.org
Meets: No definite schedule-call
In 2009, WV Chapter Members registered 673 fish, far more
than in any previous year. This is particularly remarkable since
several members who usually turn in large numbers of fish had disappointing seasons.
Zack Kirkpatrick fished hard and often to earn our Men’s
Division Championship. Zack released 36 muskies, all from WV
and Ohio. Top Men’s Division finishers were:
Zack Kirkpatrick
36 Fish
388 Points
John Cade
28
279
Robin Clegg
27
266
David Kaltenecker
21
260
Bill Looney
22
257
Ed Lawton
27
237
Dave Johnson
14
186
Chris Burnette
19
180
Daniel Haddox
15
144
For the third time in the past four years, Dave Wenzel is our
Master’s Division Winner. Dave released 55 muskies including
some big ones for 651 points. Top Master’s finishers were:
Dave Wenzel
55 Fish
651 Points
Bernie Klug
66
596
Michael Pack
48
486
John Kaltenecker
60
456
Charles Carpenter
41
439
Bill Boggess
30
325
Steve Koreski
15
133
For the third consecutive year and the eighth time in the last
nine years, Shelia McCord has topped our Women’s Division.
Shelia registered 4 fish for 58 points for a super average of more
than 40”. Debbie Bever gave a great effort fishing at every opportunity late into the year to boat 9 muskies worth 54 points. Most of
her time was spent on the Little Muskingum and Hughes Rivers.
These streams provide good numbers of legal fish but not a large
average size. Congratulations to both of these ladies who are
patient and dedicated muskie anglers. Women’s Division standings:
Shelia McCord
4 Fish
58 Points
54
Debbie Bever
9
Lu Ann Lancaster
2
28
Kathy Burdette
1
5
Co-Winners of our Longest Fish Award for 2009 are Chuck
Braniff for his 53” Burnsville Lake muskie and Dave Wenzel for a
53” muskie from Lake St. Clair.
John Kaltenecker
13
Hayward Lakes
P.O. Box 609
Hayward, WI 54843
715-634-4543
In January the Hayward Chapter had its annual budget/planning meeting. At this meeting we set a budget to plan our spending for 2010, which can change if new projects or needs are identified as the year goes along but we do allocate our spending
according to what our resources are. We plan to again donate to
and support Fishing Has No Boundaries, The Freshwater Fishing
Hall of Fame, The Hayward Lions Club Catch and Release Fishing
Contest, The Wisconsin Musky Alliance, Walleyes For Northwest
Wisconsin, MI International Gil Hamm Fund and other organizations.
Each year we award scholarships and again this year we will
assist local member Todd Dale who is going to LCO College to
become a fisheries technician. We will also assist another local
member and veteran, Pat Brown, who is attending UW Stevens
Point and studying Wildlife Ecology and Management with an
emphasis on fisheries. We are pleased to be able to assist our own
local club members.
As the year goes on we will explore stocking and other fisheries related projects to invest our money in. Over the past 30
years we have raised and donated over $321,000 to fishing, primarily in the Hayward area; $220,000 of our funds have been used for
stocking. The money we raise comes mostly from our tournament
so everyone who participates should know they are part of our
effort to enhance musky fishing and the sport in general.
The next club event is our annual awards banquet which is
always the first Saturday in March - the 6th this year. At the banquet
we award trophies and plaques to the winners in members contest.
The location has not been chosen as of this writing but reservation
forms will be sent out in advance. If you did not receive one please
call Mike at: 715-634-4543.
The calendar of our club meetings and events will also have
been sent out during February and will also be available on our
web site: www.muskiesinc-hayward.org.
Good Fishing, Mike Persson
16
Three Rivers
119 Bus Lane, Renfrew, PA 15136
724-789-7866 – James P. Buss
http://threerivers.muskiesinc.org
Meets 2nd Monday 7:30 PM, Northside Sportsmans Club, Wexford, PA.
With seven (7) fish for 68 points, Nathan Winger edged his
brother Josh to repeat as our Junior Division Champion. Bailey
Brewer and Tyler Turner also registered qualifying fish. We are
proud of all of our Jr. members. Junior Division standings:
Nathan Winger
7 Fish
68 Points
Josh Winger
6
60
Bailey Brewer
2
29
1
6
Tyler Turner
Bernie Klug released an incredible 66 American Muskies for
596 points to win our American Waters Division. This is the most
muskies in one year from U.S. waters ever by a WV Chapter
Member. Bernie caught most of them from Ohio Lakes.
Our longest WV muskie was caught by Chuck Braniff from
Burnsville Lake. At 53” this fish would have established a new WV
length record had Chuck chosen to keep it. Chuck will receive the
Don Smith Memorial travelling trophy for this release.
Hello Three Rivers members!! At our meeting in January, the
new officers were installed with President Jim Burr presiding. By
the time you receive the March issue of MUSKIE our awards banquet will be history. There will be a full report of the awards banquet and award winners in the April issue.
Three Rivers Chapter has some exciting events planned for
2010. The March meeting will feature some of the clubs top musky
catchers demonstrating leader building techniques plus door prizes
and raffles.
The April meeting will feature Larry Hines, musky fisherman
and Manager of Musky production and rearing for the
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. Larry will discuss some
breakthrough technology with the musky rearing program. You
won’t want to miss Larry’s presentation.
Our first tournament of the year will take place on Saturday,
May 15th at Pymatuning Lake. Members and non-members are
19
Akron-Canton
10957 Northwood Ave. NE • Bolivar, OH 44612
Gordon Selden - 330-874-2773
http://muskie_guy@tripod.com
Meets 3rd Monday 7:00 PM, Belgrade Gardens, 3476 Massillon Road,
Akron, OH.
The Muskie Maniacs are getting ready to attend some upcoming Sport Shows to pass the time during the winter months.
Our first event of the season will be our Annual Lure Auction on
Feb. 15th. This event is a fundraiser for our club and we hope to
have a good turnout. We also hope that our honorary auctioneer
Dean Herrick will be feeling better so that he can once again make
this event a lot of fun for everyone. Our next big event will be our
Annual Awards Banquet to be held Mar. 6th. A lot of hard work has
gone out to make this banquet even better than last year. I will give
you the highlights of the Lure Auction and our Awards Banquet in
our next month’s article. On Mar. 13th and 14th, our club will be setting up our booth at an area sport show to hand out articles promoting our club and muskie fishing and will also do a couple of
seminars during the show. This event will get us ready and
pumped up that as soon as the weather breaks, we will be on the
water to catch our first fish of the season. Our first tournament of
the season will be Apr. 17th and 18th at Saltfork Lake. Hopefully we
will be able to catch a few fish between these two events to prepare us for some tournament action.
Kevin Proffitt
21
North Metro
P.O. Box 41216
Plymouth, MN 55441
763-537-0781 • www.nmmuskies.com
Meets 3rd Tuesday, North Air Banquet Hall, Fridley (6831 NE Hwy 65)
Our annual banquet was held on Saturday January 16, 2010.
Dan Moak did a great job in his first year as MC. Jim Saric from
Musky Hunter was the featured speaker sharing data on his 158
over 50” muskies. Funds to support numerous projects for the
chapter were raised through a general raffle, silent auction, bucket
raffles and games. Lax produced and Dave Parks presented replicas for the MOC in both the adult and junior divisions. Vicki did a
great job again this year with the food. We would like to thank
everyone who donated and/or attended the banquet.
Dave Parks is organizing another rod building class with Gary
Wicks. This year we can build a selection of rods in the event you
don’t need another muskie rod. Gary will have new 9’ blanks. The
date hasn’t been set. Check our web site for the latest.
The 2010 Red Wing Outing will be August 14-21, 2010.
Details will be posted on our web site as they become available.
Vermillion will be the site of the 2010 Chapter Challunge
August 26-28. We are trying to get at least two teams to participate.
Check out our web site to purchase some of the new North
Metro merchandise including sweatshirts, tee-shirts and caps.
Chapter members who are not receiving the electronic monthly newsletter please contact Bob Anderson at pikebob@charter.net
or call him at 763-441-3108.
North Metro MI meets the 3rd Tuesday of every month
(September – May), 7:00 PM, North Air Banquet Hall (formerly the
KC Hall), 6831 Hwy 65 NE in Fridley.
Ross Fischer
www.muskiesinc.org
New Jersey
22
http://www.mi22.com/
Chapter meetings are held monthly the last Tuesday of
each month, September through May. Summer meetings
will be held on the water. Check our web site for details.
New Jersey Chapter 22 has the treatment for cabin fever - get
involved in some of the chapter activities going on now!
Operation Christmas Tree Drop- We are actively working
with NJDFW to place evergreen tree structures in musky waters to
provide year-round cover. We have been assigned a biologist to
work on where, when and how to complete the project over 64
trees have been acquired already to help out check out the website or contact any officer.
Musky Size Limit Increase Proposal- We have started the
process and introduced
a proposal to raise the statewide limit for muskies to 40” and
add a few more lakes to the designated Trophy Waters. We are
also seeking an increase in the size for trophy waters.
Freshwater Division Chief Lisa Barno has requested catch
and release data from the chapter to aid in the decision making.
Please send in your catch data and log your catch into the Lunge
Log. This information is extremely valuable for all who fish NJ
waters.
Musky School- 2010 is set for May 15th at Lake Hopatcong.
This is our main fundraiser for the year so mark your calendars we
will need dozens of helpers, instructors, boats and loads of help.
We can use any and everyone on this project. Contact Kevin
Johnson to help out.
Brood Pond Nets- We plan to set up a working weekend at
the Hackettstown Hatchery with Craig Lemon to continue on the
next phase of installing the anti-predation nets over the musky
rearing ponds at the hatchery.
Chapter Meetings this year will include several guests
speakers. We plan to have the meeting start with an outside
speaker followed by a local expert with a brief fishing related
demonstration. January26th, North Jersey Marine representative
will speak on How to Use you Sonar Most Effectively; they will be
showcasing the latest Lowrance products. This seminar will be
useful to the beginner and experienced alike. We also will have
demonstrations on how to repair soft plastic lures. In February a
rep from Interstate Batteries will visit to answer everything you
wanted to know about deep cycle and starting marine batteries.
Come with questions or post them on the website and they may be
included in the presentation. Also plan to talk about Rod types
and lengths. What is the craze about new long rods, What to use
when and why. We are working on additional speakers and your
ideas are welcome.
We plan to continue our series on lure repair and modifications
so send in your tips.
March- Get ready for Spring Time: Rattle baits and spring time
trolling.
We have a lot of things going on and we need your participation to make these a success!
Thanks, Kevin Johnson
24
Brainerd Lakes
18031 Heritage Road • Brainerd, MN 56401
218-838-5509 – Donny Hines
www.brainerdmuskies.com
Meets 2nd Tuesday 7:00 PM, Water Fall Inn, Hwy 371 north of Brainerd by
Brainerd International Raceway.
During our January meeting, we hosted our annual game
night. First, we started the meeting off with fishing stories. BLC
(Brainerd Lakes Chapter) Member Randy Rider shared his story from
the spear house. Randy saw a monster 45” northern pike, but
luckily for the pike, Randy did not get the opportunity to spear him.
welcome to participate. See ya at the next meeting! Our meetings
are on the second Monday of every month and are held at the
North Side Sportsmen’s club in Cranberry at 7:30 PM.
Musky Joe
Jeff Young, BLC President, gave an update on the MN DNR
muskie stocking proposal. Jeff stressed how important it is to
have as much BLC representation as possible at the public meetings. Jeff expects opposition from the different lake associations
and fishing groups.
Jeff also gave us an update on the Gil Hamm that the BLC is
hosting on Lake Vermillion. Vermillion Dam Lodge, Gil Hamm
tournament headquarters, is completely rented out. It sounds like
there are still some openings left at Muskego Point Resort and if
you are still looking for accommodations, speed is of the essence.
Jeff said that it looks to be one of the best attended Gil Hamm
tournaments ever.
Meeting attendees then separated into four teams to play the
BLC Amazing Race. The BLC Amazing Race started with Round
One - all team members to put on and take off a selected bag of
clothes as fast as possible. The teams were awarded points for
the speed in which they completed this. Round Two - all teams to
fill out the correct answers on a BLC quiz. Again the teams were
awarded points for the speed in which they completed this.
Round Three - four rounds of Wheel of Fortune. Each round was
worth more points to reflect the increased difficulty. The team to
answer each round correctly won the points. The team that
received the most points won a muskie lure. The game was
well received by the meeting attendees.
A big thanks goes out to Jeff & Jody Young who put together
The BLC Amazing Race. Our meeting concluded with raffles.
Upcoming events include an ice fishing outing (to be determined)
and our annual lure swap on March 10th. For more information,
please visit our website at www.brainerdmuskies.com.
Damien Williams
26
Central Wisconsin
P.O. Box 263 • Medford, WI 54451
715-748-4874 – Art Klimpke
www.centralwis.co.nr
Meets 2nd Thursday of the month at Happy Joe’s on Hwy. 13 in Medford, WI
- 7:00 PM.
Marty got some feedback from Jeff Schierer at the DNR. They
prefer dropped trees from the shore, so the “Octapod” is being
redesigned using tree tops instead of logs. Jeff states that Muskie
stocking is not in the foreseeable future in Rib Lake unless there
proves to be no natural Muskie reproduction. It may take some
encouragement to get the DNR to electroshock Rib Lake in the fall
of 2010 to answer that question. The Annual Awards Banquet is set
for Sat. April 24 at Florenas Supper Club in Medford (same place
as last year). Social hour 6:00 PM, dinner 7:00 PM and Juris Ozols
will finish his talk on “Digital Muskie Photography”. The Third
Annual Joint Consolidated/Central WI. Muskies Inc. outing will be
o
n
the Wisconsin River Sat. May 8 with a get together at 6:00 PM at
the Anchor Bay Bar and Grill. It was a great time last year.
We are organizing a Lac Seul Houseboat Trip this summer.
Call me at 715-457-2192 if interested.
Jerry Bucholtz
28
Shawnee Muskie Hunters
61 W. Jennings • Wood River, IL 62095
618-610-5003 – Manuel Santa Cruz
cruz61@charter.net
www.shawneemuskiehunters.org
Check out our website (shawneemuskiehunters.org) for lots of
good information. Thanks to Jerry and Cheryl Ford for taking over
our website and adding new items such as: Hot News, members
looking for fishing partners, and much much more.
January has been brutal for us in the Southern zone. We had
not seen temperatures this cold in 11 years. I know the members
that live north of Chicago and those that live in other cold weather
areas; this is a normal winter for you. Since you have seasons for
muskie, the long winter does not bother you. Here on our home
lake of Kinkaid, we only have a week or two that we can not fish
due to ice around the boat ramps. I hope to get back on the water
by February.
We had one of our members, Jim Beaty, become the Points
Champion in the IMTT Tournament Circuit this past year. I was
looking through my notes and some how I missed this item and it
should have been in the earlier club news articles. Jim, I hope you
can forgive me. This was a very big event to be crowned State
Champion of the IMTT Tournament Circuit.
I would like to thank all the volunteers that helped out at our
booths at the sports shows the last couple of months. One of our
members, Ken Ryder, deserves a big hand for going beyond the
call of duty. He helped setting up the booths and worked all the
show hours and then helped tear down the booths after the shows.
We could not have had the success that we had at the shows with
out his help and dedication.
March 20th we will be hosting the Border Wars Tournament on
Kinkaid Lake. This is a friendly tournament with our neighboring
chapter Pomme De Terre. This is our 4th year for this tournament.
It is lot of fun and a very good way to meet other members of
Muskies, Inc.
March 31st is the dead line for the early bird drawing for position in our May 1st and 2nd spring warm up tournament.
Remember I’m in the other Lund, Walt Krause
29
Upper Great Plains
1788 Hwy 4
Estherville, IA 51334
712-362-2501
Meets 3rd Thursday , Legion Club, 1709 Okoboji Ave., Milford, IA.
What a winter it has been! As I type this I can hear the wind
howling outside. We have 20-35 mph winds with gusts up to 50
mph. Sad thing is that’s been the norm this winter. As muskie fisherman it’s tough enough going through a long winter not being able
to fish, but holy cow the freezing temperatures, deep, snow, ice
storms, and blizzards are taking their toll on all of us. Spring just
can’t come quick enough. One nice thing about winter is making
preparations for the upcoming season. Board members have been
working hard planning and taking care of chapter business. We
are pleased to announce that we have 6 tournaments planned for
the 2010 season. The 2nd annual Iowa Muskie Tournament Trail
dates have been finalized. The 4 lakes chosen for this year are
Pleasant Creek, Clear Lake, Spirit, and the Okoboji’s. The trail
begins May 16th on Pleasant Creek, then June 13th on Clear Lake,
June 27th on Spirit, and ending August 29th on East and West
Okoboji. Positive feedback and a demand for more club events
helped us make the decision to continue the tournament trail. I am
really excited about this year’s lakes and dates. They should be
prime times to pursue Iowa’s top predator fish! Tournament rules
and application forms are available on our chapter website. I
encourage you all to come and join us for our tournament trail
events as well as our annual tournaments we hold up at the Iowa
Great Lakes. The 30th Annual Fall Muskie Tournament is scheduled for September 17, 18, & 19. The 22nd Annual IDSO Muskie
Fest is October 2nd. Please mark these events on your calendar.
We held our annual chapter awards on February 27th at the
Prime Rib in Spencer. The banquet is always one of my favorite
events of the year and thanks to all in attendance. I love to reminisce with everyone and talk about all the great things from the previous year. One of the awards we hand out is the Angler of the
Year trophy. Leo Kofoot was this year’s recipient. Leo serves as
our chapter’s Regional Vice President. Leo represents our chapter at the international level of Muskies Inc. This role requires a lot
of time from Leo including traveling to international board meet-
35
Milwaukee
P.O. Box 28842 • Greenfield, WI 53228
262-442-6260
www.milwaukeemuskiesinc.com
Meets 4th Tuesday Jan. thru May, Sept. & Oct. Meets 3rd Tuesday in Nov. only: 6:00PM Board,
7:30 PM General, Waukesha Elks Lodge #400, 2301 Springdale Rd, Waukesha, WI 53186.
January’s board meeting met beginning at 6PM. Meeting minutes can be found on the chapter website. Funding for the efforts
in 2010 is obviously an important subject. The main banquet won’t
be organized for this year and planning for the traditional
Pewaukee Classic may expand to three lakes and contain an
expanded format.
January’s general meeting kick-started 2010 with Phil Schweik
from Hooksetters Fishing Services. Phil presented tactics for fishing river and backwater muskies. Phil’s presentation was informative, and it filled the timeframe with interactive questions and
answers from youth and experienced alike.
March 23rd will be the Awards Banquet for the 2009 Members
Only Fishing Contest. The annual booklets will be on-hand in limited quantities and research is being done to offer the ability to order
copies online. Research is also underway to provide an interactive
booklet on a CD. April’s meeting will be held on the 27th.
The 24th annual Milwaukee Chapter vs. Quad-County challenge will be held on Saturday, May 1st (7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) and
Sunday, May 2nd (7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.) on Pewaukee Lake. This
is an unorganized event that simply awards the winning chapter
the bragging rights and the traveling trophy for the year. The honor
system is used to “register” fish and the Muskies, Inc. point system
is used for length. If you are interested and can make this two day
commitment and represent our chapter, sign up at our general
meeting in March or April. Chapter representatives are on a first
come-first served basis. We take up to 30 contestants and it is
FREE and FUN. Contact Darrel Mack at 262-542-5845 if you cannot make the meeting.
Please follow the chapter website for the latest information,
Mike Phelps
39
Fox River Valley
1253 Cobblers Crossing, Elgin, IL 601230
847-741-9771 – Rich Gallagher
www.frvmuskie.com
Meetings and banquets: Chandlers Chop House at the Schaumburg Golf Club, 401
N. Roselle Rd. Schaumburg, IL 60194. Dinner will be available starting at 6PM.
NOTICE: OUR MEETING LOCATION HAS PERMANENTLY
CHANGED. Please be aware that moving forward, ALL Fox River
www.muskiesinc.org
Valley Chapter monthly meetings and banquets will be held at:
Chandlers Chop House at the Schaumburg Golf Club located
at 401 N. Roselle Rd. Schaumburg, IL 60194 - (847) 885-9009
www.chandlerschophouse.com/directions.php Dinner will be
available starting at 6PM!!!! Cost will be $12.00/adults and
$7/kids under 12!!
We decided to mix things up for our March presentation. FRV
has had a lot of great presentations about specific lakes, areas of
the country, and techniques. All of these speakers have been
informative, but we can’t all fish the lakes these folks concentrate
on. So with that in mind, FRV came up with a presentation we
thought EVERYONE could benefit from. As long as you fish for
‘skies with the traditional rod & reel approach, show up to our
March FRV meeting on March 10th for a presentation from
Dave’s Reel Repair. Who doesn’t wish they knew more how to
take care of their own reels? Or at least, take better care of you
reel so it has a longer life? That’s what our March meeting is
about, so unless you don’t fish with a reel… we figure we’ll see all
of you there!
If you weren’t able to make it to the FRV 2010 Banquet and
Fundraiser on Saturday, Feb. 20th at Chandler’s Chophouse, you
really missed out. We had another great night with great food,
great auctions/raffle prizes, and an outstanding awards presentation from FRV VP Dan Koniewcz! The end of the evening finished
off with everyone rocking out to the exceptional live music of local
band Without A Net! What a show! Thanks again to everyone who
both donated and/or participated to raise funds for our club. This
makes what FRV does all year possible. We were really thankful
to see everyone there. Hope to see you next year folks!
Straight ahead for FRV… we’ve got Gregg Thomas as our
April 14th speaker, a club outing to Lake Shelbyville from April 1618, and the 16th Annual Spring Challunge on the Chain Tournament
will be held on April 24th (so let the registration begin!). With everyone preparing for the 2010 fishing season, it’s going to a busy and
exciting spring for all of the FRV members!
Please visit our beautiful and revamped website at www.frvmuskie.com. Feel free to leave comments about the look and feel
of the site if you’d like. We appreciate your feedback. Hope you
like it. So long until April . . .
Mark Lamont, Newsletter Director
49
Webster Lake
P.O. Box 670
No. Webster, IN 46555
574-834-1669
Hello everyone,
I sure hope your winter was not so bad, now that we are
weeks away from open water. I know I can’t wait; anyway I would
like to fix something that I messed up in one of last years articles.
I wrote that Rick and Nikki Swain had won 2nd place in the 2 day
cash tournament last year, when it was actually Tom and Patty
Kampen, sorry for the mistake, now back to business, I would like
to thank everyone who has helped me with the outdoor shows so
far this year, you guys rock, now all we have to do is get some
client’s for the guide for a day. That is our biggest fundraiser for
being able to stock fish.
Here is our schedule for 2010:
March 12-14 - Outdoor Sports Lake and Cabin Show, Ft.
Wayne, IN
March 20 – Ice-Out Challunge (Backup date is March 27)
April 24 - Guide For A Day
June 5 - Outing TBA
June 18-19 - Terry Anderson Iron Man
August ~ October - Friday Night Leagues
ings. In 2009 our chapter hosted the spring international board
meeting in Spirit Lake. Leo was instrumental in planning and hosting the event. Leo does an outstanding job representing our chapter and was rightfully acknowledged for all his work. Thank Leo for
all you do! In addition we honored anglers with their fine catches.
Here are your 2009 division winners: Master Division: (1) Dick
Crail 75 fish 874 pts. (2) Dick Manske 52 fish 832 pts. (3) Tracy
Crail 68 fish 792 pts. Open Division: (1) Chris Wulf 12 fish 197 pts.
(2) Shawn Haley 5 fish 68 pts. (3) Clayton Will 3 fish 44 pts.
Women’s Division: (1) Joanne Will 3 fish 20 pts. (2) Karen
Schlenger 1 fish 4 pts. Junior Division: (1) Allen DeGoei 4 fish 80
pts. (2) Colten Wiersma 2 fish 12 pts. (3) Brandon Crail 1 fish 9 pts.
50 inch Releases: Dick Manske 54,52,50,50; Chris Wulf 50,50;
Shannon Green 53; Pete Hildreth 52; Daryl Krogman 51; Allen
DeGoei 51; Leo Kofoot 51; John Wiersma 51; Randy Meyer 50;
Scott Bringle 50. As you can see this was a record year for 50 inch
fish for our chapter. Congratulations to all our award winners!
I have more to talk about, but you’ll have to wait till next month
for more chapter news. For additional information please visit our
website at www.muskieclub.com or give me a call anytime.
Sincerely Pete Hildreth (712-363-0755)
September 18-19 - Fall Cash Tournament
October 2 - Fall Guide for a Day
November - First Saturday – Ice-On Challunge in Michigan
(Thornapple)
December Meeting - date and speaker TBA
William Bennett - onemuskynut@embarqmail.com
219-201-6123
57
NW TigerPac
P.O. Box 5515, Kent, WA 98064
www.nwtigermuskies.org
email: nwmuskie@comcast.net
Hot line: (253) 850-5889 • Perry Peterson, President
Our very own lure maker Brett Olsen gave a great talk on
building your own crank baits and gliders at our January meeting.
The NW TIGER PAC has a busy year starting now. Next week
a bunch of club members are volunteering to man our club’s booth
at the Sportsman’s Show in Puyallup to spread the word about
Tiger Muskies again. Mike Floyd is giving seminars about Tiger
Muskie Basics and Brett O. is talking about TM behavior: How and
Where to catch them in the Blue Theatre and Perry Peterson is
showing Techniques for catching them at the Warm Water Demo
Tank this year.
Dates have been set for the Adopt a Highway Program where
we clean up the roads around Lake Tapps. Check the club website to find out when.
Our tournament schedule is out also and we have a bunch of
fun ones planned. I’m listing them here so you can see if one fits
into your travel plans this summer:
May 15, Silver Lake Open
June 12, Pend Oreille Pike, Chapter Members Only
July 24 and 25, Lake Mayfield Open
August 21, Lake Merwin, Members Only
Sept. 11, Lake Tapps, Members Only
September 24, 25, 26, Curlew Lake 24-hr Extravaganza,
Members Only. This starts at 7:00 pm Friday and ends at
7:00 pm Saturday
October 23, Pend Oreille Pike, Members Only
We also have a Chapter 57 table at Cabela’s in Lacey on
March 6&7. Mike Floyd is giving a Tiger Muskie Presentation at
Auburn Sports and Marine in April. On May 1st our club and Green
River Steelhead Club are sponsoring a Trout Derby for Kids at Mill
Pond in Auburn.
Our own Don Wittenberger is leading the charge to get free
fishing licenses for our military personnel in this state.
We hope you’re all wiping down your rods, lubing up the reels
and sharpening the hooks on those crankbaits. Hope to see you
on the water somewhere this year.
Bill and Rosann
59
New Mexico Muskies, Inc.
P.O. Box 65575, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87193
(505) 363-4624
www.newmexicomuskiesinc.org
A new year is upon us and with that, comes new projects, clinics and events! We are in the process of our 2010 Minnow
Project, which you can find details for on our website at
www.newmexicomuskiesinc.org This project will require a great
deal of volunteer time as well as financial demands, so if your interested in helping our Tiger Muskie fishery, any donations are greatly appreciated!
We have added Muskies, Inc. friendly lodges in New Mexico
to the website, so if you’re planning a trip to NM, be sure to check
the site first!
We are excited for what the new year has in store for our
chapter, and look forward to continuing in the conservation of this
great fishery.
Regards, Jared Blaschke, President
Here’s a photo of one of the newest members, Sean O’Donnell,
with a giant Tiger from Quemado Lake.
L ATE ARRIVAL…
03
Meets 2nd
Ridge, IL.
Chicagoland Muskie Hunters
7600 Kilbourn Ave. • Skokie, IL 60076
847-677-0017 – Dean Rosset
dlrosset@sbcglobal.net
Tuesday 7:30 PM, Park Ridge VFW 10 West Higgins Ave., Park
Greetings Thrillseekers,
Chicagoland Muskie Hunters has been rocking and rolling with
great meetings. Guest speaker Chad Cain of Chad Cain’s Muskie
Guide Service (www.chadcain.com) shared spring season fishing
tips. Chad guides in both southern Illinois and Northern Minnesota.
Chad reviewed key issues of spring fishing including the importance
of water temperature and color, presence of bait fish, daily movement of muskie, impact of cold fronts, presentations and lastly, preferred lure selection. Looks like some of us will be picking up a few
new baits from our local tackle shops like Angler’s International
Resources in Palatine, Illinois.
Steve Statland, active member, past president of Chicagoland
Muskie Hunters and Muskies, Inc., founder of Tri-Esox Productions
and the producer of the very successful Chicago Muskie Show was
elected into the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame as a Legendary
Angler. Steve is always willing to share his knowledge...just one of
the great members at Chicagoland Muskie Hunters.
Membership in the club continues to climb. Raffle ticket sales
are going well. Winners of the Members Only Contest for 2009
were announced at the last meeting. Lastly, seems the Indoor
Fishing Flea Market at Rolling Meadows High School on March 13,
2010 will be quite successful once again. All are invited.
Come to the next Chicagoland Muskie Hunters meeting which
is held on the second Tuesday of the month at the Park Ridge VFW,
10 W. Higgins Road, Park Ridge, Illinois at 7:30pm with free pizza
being served about 8:00pm. Keep the calls coming with questions
about joining Chicagoland Muskie Hunters. As always, feel free to
call Dean Rosset at 847-677-0017 or dlrosset@sbcglobal.net or
myself at 847-434-1400 or Kevin.Lynch@svn.com
Take care, Kevin M. Lynch
MUSKIES, INC.
1509 Stahl Road
Sheboygan, WI 53081
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Chapter 28 member Jerry Ford caught
this personal best while pre-fishing for
last year’s Chapter Challunge. It measured 50+ inches. Congratulations Jerry.
Peter Janik caught this nice
50 incher while fishing Minnesota’s
Lake Waconia last year.
Larry Emerson of Chapter 12 caught this 45.25 inch fish
while fishing Minnesota’s Lake Miltona last August.
Chapter 8 member Troy Schoonover
got soaked by this 45.5 inch fish while
fishing Lake Waubesa in 2009.
Ed Martens of Chapter 12 took this shot of
fellow Chapter 12 members during an outing
on Lake of the Woods last year.
Harry Marfin took this shot of his wife Susan with a beautiful 48.5 inch
fish from Chautauqua Lake. Both are members of Chapter 16.
Wow, check out this pretty tiger muskie
caught and released by Chapter 26
member John Carlson. It measured 44
inches and was caught from
Wisconsin’s Flambeau River.
Lake St. Clair was good to Chapter 16
member and VP Mike Yerman last year
when he boated this terrific 50.5 incher and
his wife Lyn got this great shot.
Capital City Chapter member Brian Wienski caught this awesome 50.5 inch
personal best while fishing a Minnesota lake last year. Congratulations Brian.

MUSKIE Magazine

Transcription

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