The Follow Up – September 2012
The First Wisconsin Chapter of Muskies, Inc.
Chapter Website: http://firstwimuskiesinc.org
Editor: Jim Bunch 715 226-0295, [email protected]
Dates to Remember
Sept. 10 - Board Meeting, Tour. Final – VFW, Starr Ave. Eau Claire, WI – 6 PM
Sept. 14, 15, 16 Annual First Wis. Tournament.
Oct. 1 - General Meeting, Fill Inn, Chippewa Falls, 7 PM
Speaker will be Heath Benicke, DNR Fish Biologist
Oct. 15 -Board Meeting, VFW, Starr Ave. Eau Claire, WI – 6:30 PM
Oct. 20 -Fall Melt Down on Lake Holcombe, sun up to sun down.
Nov. 5 -General Meeting, Fill Inn, Chippewa Falls, 7 PM, speaker is pending.
Nov. 19 -Board Meeting, VFW, Starr Ave. Eau Claire, WI – 6:30 PM
This date may change due to deer season
Dec. 3 -General Meeting, Fill Inn, Chippewa Falls, 7 PM
Speaker will be Spencer Berman, Lake St. Claire Guide.
36th Annual First Wisconsin Tournament
September 14, 15, 16
You have 17 different lakes to choose from. It is a 3 day extravaganza
that high lights the totally awesome fall fishing we have in our area. Our
success ratio of Muskie captures in this tournament is 2nd to none.
This is our major fund raiser of the year, please don’t be caught sitting
on the sidelines.
The Big Minnow at Lake Holcombe will be our Tournament
headquarters from Thursday night sign up through Saturday night. You
may also sign up at Mouldy’s in Lake Hallie on Thursday night
September 13th. Or as you read this “Follow Up” you will notice a
registration form for the tournament is included. The fish board will be
at The Big Minnow and will be updated nightly. Sunday our awards
Banquet will be held once again at Paradise Shores. The Sunday awards
are very unique and include massive door prizes to virtually everyone in
attendance. Everyone who catches a Muskie gets a prize and the value of
many of these will blow your mind. On top of this there are three $500
cash drawings for all people in the tournament and you don’t even have
to catch a Muskie. The rules and details are on the chapter website. Get
on board now.
Tournament Housekeeping. When you read the tournament rules please pay attention
to the rule about phoning in you catches on Friday and Saturday by 10 pm to 888-7266733. The rules are precise about this and there are no exceptions. Also you must hand
deliver a written release form to Paradise Shores by noon on Sunday. These two simple
rules have been in place for 36 years but are the most common miscues we have.
President / Chapter Representative Report-Joe Heil
The 2012 version of the Gil Hamm Chapter Challenge was just recently completed on
Lake of the Woods. There were 22 teams from 12 chapters. There were 99 muskies
caught in the 2 ½ day event. The longest Muskie released was a 51.5 inch by Mike
Lundberg of the Star of the North Chapter. Jim Beaty of the Shawnee Musky hunters
released a 50.5 inch. First place went to Chicagoland Muskie Hunters with 11 muskies
for 157 points. Second place went to Star of the North with 8 muskies and 116 points.
Third place was Fargo Moorhead 9 muskies for 110.5 points. Fourth place was Brainerd
Lakes with 7 muskies and 108 points. Fifth place was Capital City with 8 muskies and
102 points. Our chapter had a 4 member team made up of Len Rubesch, Rob Given,
Jim Coffin, and Dan Husby. While they caught 7 muskies during the week only Jim
Coffin got a Muskie during the tournament, it was a 37 incher. So the chapter ended up
in 19th place with 11 points.
Hayward Chapter Of Muskies Inc. will be hosting this
year’s fall Regional meeting on October 13, 2012. Our
chapter Vice President Tom Riedel will be attending.
The 2013 Kleeba state chapter challenge will be hosted
by 1st Wis. Muskies Inc. on Lake Holcombe. Need
someone to chair this event.
Just a reminder. If anything changes regarding address,
phone numbers, or e-mail address, please let me know. It
could delay any mailing’s you may get. 715-839-7089,
715-559-2945 or [email protected]
Bob Neidhold 41 inch in League
Our chapter is in need of a merchandise chairman. Duties include maintaining a stock
level of 1st Wis merchandise to be available for sale at all the winter meetings and at our
tournament. It is not hard to do. Please consider helping out. We need someone ASAP.
Also I am looking for fish release charts that someone may have. These are chart that
we give to resorts free of charge to keep track of catch and releases of muskies. We
think some may have some in their house. If so please let me know.
Just a reminder. If anything changes regarding address, phone #, or e-mail address,
please let me know. It could delay any mailing’s you may get. Thanks
715-839-7089, 715-559-2945 or [email protected]
Remember the September 10 Board meeting is a week earlier than
normal and is at the VFW on Starr Ave. in Eau Claire 6:00 PM…
not at the Rod N Gun Club.
Youth Committee – Dave Jann
Dave has put out feelers to all-state chapters regarding a State Wide High School
Muskie Tournament in 2013. We want to see how many chapters would like to be
involved.
Chapter Fishing Outings
Wednesday Night League is winding down
with 4 nights remaining in September. The
September 12th date is for Dells Pond on the
north side of Eau Claire, We will meet at the
boat landing on Riverview Drive just north of
the North Crossing.
Jess Hanvold 1 of 3 muskies (41, 42, 40.75)
Aug. 22 Lake Eau Claire
The Fall Meltdown will be October 20 on Lake Holcombe.
This is a team event and goes sun up to sun down. We all meet at Teds Timber Lodge at
noon for lunch. Use of suckers in this event is encouraged. Awards will be at the Big
Minnow at dark thirty.
First Wis. Members Only Fishing Contest
Starting in 2012 our chapter’s minimum size limit for muskies will be the same as the
International at 30 inches. When you enter muskies on the web site please respond to
the two questions on hours between captures. This is for DNR studies. As of September
3 we have 260 Muskie reports with 5 fifty inchers. For weekly updates go to our
chapter website listed above.
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REGISTRATION FORM
First Wisconsin Chapter Muskies Inc. Annual Musky Tournament
P.O. Box 122 Chippewa Falls, Wi 54729
(Please Print Clearly)
Name ____________________________________________________________________
* both names if husband & wife entry – both signatures also required below *
Mailing
Address___________________________________________________________________
City ______________________________________ State _____ Zip Code ____________
Phone: _________________________ Email: ___________________________________
__ Single $55.00
__ Husband & Wife* $80.00
__ Junior $20.00
I have read and agree to follow all tournament rules and hereby release the tournament directors/sponsors from all legal liabilities.
Signature(s) _______________________________ / _______________________________
Entries are non-refundable & non-transferable
* Husband & Wife entries have 2 entries in the Grand Prize Drawings