THE RELEASE

AUGUST 2016
Website:
www.stcloudmuskies.com

Established in 1982

MEETING DATE:
AUGUST 16, 2016
Waite Park American Legion
Lake of the Month and Jerkbaits
Speaker: Tom Agnew

Time on the Water . . . . . . . By Bruce A. Kitowski, President

I hope everyone is enjoying the summer so far. Water temps are high now so please use your best judgment to
pursue or not to pursue our favorite fish. It is really hard on them right now and fishermen are finding a number
of large dead fish. I would also like to thank the board members that got together to visit the Minnesota Fishing
Museum in Little Falls MN. It was an outstanding evening. We had a private tour by Mr. Baret who is the
founder of the museum. You cannot believe everything they have unless you see it for yourself. That is why
our chapter supports them. It is a perfect time to take the kids and show them the fishing history of our state.
There is so much to see I am going back soon.

I should have written this last month but I must be

getting old as I forgot. On the front of our newsletter
last month you would have noticed a unique picture of
two muskies fighting over the same lure. (Reprinted to
the right) This painting was done by Rodd Umlauf for
Mark Palbicki. Mark is the owner of Hellkat
Shockbaits and has supported our chapter for years.
This was an actual situation that happened to Mark in
Canada a couple of years ago. This is something that
could only occur, not only in a life time but in many
lifetimes. There have been many people interested in
the rights to this picture but Mark has given us first
chance to use this as we see fit. We cannot thank
Mark enough for this opportunity and we will be using
this often. Also please check out the Hellkat as this is
one fine lure.

Please dont forget that we will resume our monthly

meetings on August 16th. Hope to see you there, be
safe and dont forget to support the stocking of new
lakes.

Bruce
POLITICAL RESEARCH DIRECTOR REPORT . . . . . . By Aaron Meyer
Once again there's a lot going on in the muskie world and we need your help. By now, I'm sure most of you
have heard the DNR approved the proposals to stock muskies in Gull Lake and the Fairmont Chain.

These are both huge wins! Gull Lake is a fantastic fishery that has outstanding muskie potential. Gull has also
previously gone through the public input process and been approved for stocking. At that time, there was some
sketchy closed-door political action that stopped the stocking from happening. The Fairmont Chain is in
southern MN, and is an area that desperately needs some muskie fishing opportunities.

Immediately after these announcements went public, the opposition started to rally. There have already been
more meetings, more petitions, and certainly more Legislators getting wound up. They are going to pull out all
the stops to try stopping these lakes from being stocked. The really big concern right now is that we are going to
have a special Legislative session coming up because they didn't complete their work in the regular session. I
can promise you, there are at least a couple Legislators that care more about ending muskie stocking than they
do about anything else they'll be working on!

Unfortunately the other proposals were shut down by all of the public opposition. It's really sad that such false
information, and complete fabrication, can garner so much public support.

So, here are the things we need people to do: First off, we started a petition of our own. As a general statement,
petitions are not the best, or most effective way, of accomplishing a goal. Ours is mainly to provide a little post-
decision support for muskie stocking, and also to counter the fact that the opposition has one going around that
they'll likely use in public situations.
Here's the link: https://www.change.org/p/don-pereira-fisheries-chief-stock-muskies-today

Second, we need to provide some support for the Legislators that have worked so hard for us. Over the last few
years, we've made numerous allies in the Legislature, and many of them have supported us. However, there are
a few that have gone above and beyond to protect our fisheries. These people have fought extremely hard for
us, in many cases against extreme pressure from their colleagues. Honestly, if it weren't for these legislators we
wouldn't have gotten the increased size limit, we wouldn't be getting these new muskie waters, we likely
wouldn't be getting ANY new muskie waters EVER, and in fact we very possibly might have seen the end of
ALL muskie stocking in Minnesota!! It has truly been that bad, and these are the people that have stopped it!

These Legislators are up for re-election and we need to do everything we can to support them. While marching
in parades, working phone banks, and knocking on doors are excellent ways to support a candidate, most of us
simply do not have the time to give. Fortunately, we can also support them with monetary donations. It does
not matter the amount, whether it's $5 or $5,000, please send a contribution to these candidates. Without them
we would be lost! Please send donations to the following outstanding Legislators, and be sure to include a short
letter thanking them for protecting and supporting our muskie program.

Senator Carrie Ruud Senator Matt Schmit Senator John Hoffman

Payable to: Payable to: Payable to:
Elect Carrie Ruud Schmit for Senate Elect John Hoffman
8363 Bluebird Lane PO Box 92 8224 109th Place North
Breezy Point, MN 56472 Red Wing, MN 55066 Champlin, MN 55316
Website PayPal Website PayPal Website PayPal
http://senatorcarrieruud.com http://schmitforsenate.com http://johnhoffmanmn.com
218-820-0779
Lastly, there is a Legislator we really need to vote
OUT OF OFFICE!
Tom Hackbarth, District 31B, has been opposed to
anything muskie related for years. If he gets re-elected
we are in trouble. We came out strong against him in
this last session because he did everything in his
power to end the muskie program as we know it. If he
gets re-elected he WILL wage all-out war on muskies.

We need to get Cal Bahr elected in District 31B!!

If you live in his district, or know anyone who does,

make sure you get out for the Primary on Tuesday,
August 9th and get Cal Bahr on the ballot. There are
MANY muskie and pike anglers in that district
(northern metro) and we need to support Cal.
Remember, we need to vote Cal onto the ballot next
Tuesday- August 9th. Pease pass this information on
to as many anglers as you can! To the right is a map
of district 31B.

Aaron
MN Muskie and Pike Alliance Co-Chair
OUTINGS CHAIRMAN .. 2016 Club Outing on Big Mantrap . By Ryan Hoffman
SEPTEMBER 22-25
My apologies for the entry in the last newsletter not being updated from June - time got away from me and I
didn't get a chance to send in an update for July. I hope you've had a chance to get on the water and have put
some fish in the boat this season. I've had limited time to go, but have been able to stick a few and one of
them looked like a fat November fish in July! We're now less than 2 months away from the outing on
Mantrap! Time is winding down and it will be here before we know it. I don't want to wish away the summer,
but I'm ready for the dropping temps in September and the fall bite to be here - I cannot wait! There are still
11 people who have paid a deposit and 5 spots left in the 2 eight person cabins. If we don't have more people
commit to the outing before the September newsletter I will need to contact the resort and change the cabins to
smaller ones to keep the cost down. As of now, we'll end up with one 8 person and one 4 person cabin or two 6
person cabins, which means with 11 people the cost per person will unfortunately have to go up $11 since the
$120 is based off the cabins being full. There has to be at least one more person out there that would want to
go!

The following people have committed to the outing and paid their deposit: Alex Lauer plus one, Michael Weis
plus one, Nate Rose, Eric Poissant, Justin Sharer, Scott Wold, Ross Kiffmeyer, and myself plus one. I will talk
with the resort this month and have specific info to put into the next newsletter about the cabins, check in/check
out times, etc. Cost is still $120 per person plus tax. Resort website: https://www.norwayhills.com

There is also tent camping available at the Mantrap Lake Campground and Day Use Area adjacent to the main
launch for those who may choose to camp. From the DNR website "The campsites are considered "primitive",
designed to furnish only the basic needs of the camper. The campsites consist of a cleared area, fire ring, and
table. Vault toilets, garbage cans, and drinking water are available. All sites are on a first come, first-served
basis. Cost is $14 per night and is required via registration envelopes available at the campground.

Please contact me as soon as possible if you want to reserve a spot or have any
questions! rhoffmanisu@gmail.com, 320-492-7369. Check out the resort here: https://www.norwayhills.com

See you at the next meeting!

Ryan
Monthly Lure Give Away
By: Sven Larsen

Did you know that as a member of our chapter, you have

the chance to win some Muskie Lures? At every
months member meeting, a name is drawn from all the
current members. If that member is in attendance, all
they need to do to win is show up at the next meeting
and claim their prize. One, two or three lures are
available for the giveaway. If the person drawn is not in
attendance, two lures are available the next month. If
we get no winner after two months 3 lures are available
and it stays at 3 lures until somebody wins. Maybe we
will draw your name!!!!!

YOUTH DIRECTOR REPORT . . . . . . . . By Eric Kohn

Last week a fellow musky angler asked me how to start to introduce kids to musky fishing. Here is a list a
suggestions I gave him.
1. Be patient
2. Dont worry about your fishing time it is only about the youth to start.
3. Use heavy bass gear and practice casting on land before going out.
4. Throw easy baits like topwater, minnow baits or smaller bucktails
5. Fish in shorter duration and try to find optimal times for success (moon phases, time of day, weather etc)
6. Take breaks, fish for something else for a bit and come back to musky fishing.
7. Teach appreciation for nature and the environment around you.
8. Teach good fishing ethics.
9. Teach the fundamentals (figure 8, discuss release plan etc)
10. Have fun and again Be Patient.
Above all else, measure success with time spent together not only on catching fish.

.
 Blackberry Ridge Golf Club, located in Sartell, Minnesota,
is an 18-hole Championship Golf Course, Event Center and Casual
Dining located just minutes north of Saint Cloud, Minnesota.
Blackberry Ridge offers a serene wooded setting for your golfing
and event experience. Blackberry Ridge Golf Club is known as the
finest & most beautiful golf course & venue in the St. Cloud Area
and Central Minnesota.

__________________________________________________

WEBMASTER. . . . . . .
Check out the chapters Facebook page for happenings in the Chapter. Feel free to share your catch and release
pictures for all to see. Those pictures inspire us to get out there and see what is around the next bend!!

Each member that has a Facebook account can simply select SHARE and we can inform many, many more
people about the Club. So, please, take the time to do that and share the Club with others and encourage
membership.
SPINAL REHAB
 NEWSLETTER EDITORS
Ken and Norine Schmitt
1208 8th Street South
Waite Park, MN 56387
E-Mail to KENOR@JUNO.COM
WEB E-MAIL: info@stcloudmuskies.com
MEMBERSHIP REPORT. . . . . .By Nate Rose
In June, we had no new member or any members that dropped. Up for renewal in July, we have Mary
Weihrauch, Ken Avery Weihrauch, Tom Rusin, Steve Katke, Ryan Hoffman, Rachel Hoffman, and Lane
Hoffman. The easiest way to renew your membership is online. The website (muskiesinc.org) should prompt
you for renewal once your membership expires.
Spread the word and encourage anyone interested in muskie fishing/management to join our chapter, it
would be great to see our chapter grow.
Contest Standing July 30, 2016

CURRENT STANDINGS
Division Name # of Fish Points Largest
MensMasters Bryan J Thompson 7 100 44.00
Eric W Poissant 5 76 45.00

Mens Alex Lauer 8 113 49.00

Eric Kohn 3 44 46.00
Chris Paye 3 35 43.00
Tom Agnew 2 34 43.00
Brad St George 2 30 42.00
Troy A. Schmitz 2 15 37.00
Nathan Rose 1 20 46.00
Thomas Ardolf 1 13 39.00
Scott Wold 1 11 37.00

LUNKER OF THE MONTH

Month Name Size Lake
June Nate Rose 46 Alex
July Chris Paye 49" Miltona
July Alex Lauer 49" Kitchie
Contest Report

By Nate Rose
It sounds like everyone is having a good year and July was no exception! There were 21 fish logged this
month which is great to see. Even a couple 49 fish from Chris Paye and Alex Lauer, great work you two! It
appears that fish were caught all over the state including Bryan Thompson take a trip out to Lake St Clair. I bet
that was a fun trip. Alex has really been doing well up in northern Minnesota as well.

As we transiting into August, the water temps on lakes are mid 70s approaching 80 so make sure to take
a quick picture and get them back in the water. Looking forward to the rest of the summer, weve got the
Mantrap outing in September so hopefully we can log a number of fish during that!
 Lake Landing Cleanups
DONT FORGET TO HELP OUT CLEANING UP OUR LAKE LANDINGS
SCMI cleans up the south landing on Sugar Lake.
SCMI cleans up the landing in Sartell by the dam.
SCMI cleans up the west landing on Lake Alexander.
SCMI cleans up the west landing on Lake Shamineau.
SCMI cleans up the Mississippi River landing in Sartell.
SCMI goes to the Horseshoe Chain of Lakes and spends all day with several boats cleaning shoreline.
SCMI does an annual cleanup of the Mississippi River shoreline on the west side in Sartell.
 Corey Nazer 715-456-5531
www.NazeBaits.com

Proudly Supporting St. Cloud Chapter-Muskies Inc!

St. Clouds Only Best Price Dealer
3019 West Division Street
St. Cloud, MN 56301
(320) 251-4943
Visit us on the web:
www.stcloudauto.com
LITTLE FALLS FISHING HALL OF FAME: By Eric Poissant

As you know, there was no member meeting in July due to busy schedules and fish needing to be caught but
some members of the Board met in Little Falls at the Fishing Hall of Fame of Minnesota. Al Baert took us on a
personal guided tour of the most amazing and extensive collection of MN fishing history you will ever see. We
were beyond kids in a candy store, we were anglers in a fishing museum! For some of us it was a first and for
others they were seeing some of their own contributions to the epic collection in a place they return to from time
to time. The Hall features artifacts and memorabilia from all rivers lakes and different fish species from all
corners of the state dating back hundreds of years ago. This is a must see for all of us and much support is
needed for the future expansion of the museum and the educational center they have proposed for hopefully the
near future. Truly an inspiring trip down memory lane and a meticulous lesson in fishing history. My, how far
we have come in Minnesota to protect our priceless resources. Hats off to you Al and all others who put this
icon on the map. We are discussing the possibility of hosting a monthly member meeting at the Hall of Fame in
Little Falls - so do let us know if you are interested!
St. Cloud Muskies Inc.
1208 8th Street South
Waite Park MN 56387