Garett with a Northern Pike that was brave enough to smack a Muskie bait. You gotta love those critters with a "BIG DOG" mentality.
Clint with a 39.5 inch Muskie! A train engine with fins... these Muskie could eat a Weber grill just to get at the meat!
Take a look at the next set of pictures to find out more about the Youth Muskie Weekend!
On famous Lac Vieux Desert Lake, Land O' Lakes, WI....at Sunrise Lodge!
47 anglers participated in this great event. Boys, girls, men, and women all came together to create the foundation of life long memories and traditions!
One of the major sponsors Jerry "the Weasel" Messman. It is through movers and shakers like Jerry that the future of outdoor skills is built. These two boys are holding some of Gander Mountain's Guide Series muskie gear...ready to be deployed with those big grins!
Among the participants were Mike Scholler, Amanda, ChuckStrysick, and Muskie Guide Patricia Strutz! Even with cold weather, that boat looks HOT!
Tyler and Don with 28 inches of "fast attack cruiser" Muskie! If you've ever wondered what a bear trap on the end of a fishes body would look like, go fish for Muskie!
The lodge..... it wasn't even Halloween yet, and that grass ain't white from old age. It snowed for the Muskie hunters.... and you can't even use it for tracking. But it sure does make the Sunrise Lodge more cozy. Let's go in, shall we?
Son....out of my way! This picture looks good enough to eat. Folks, the Sunrise Lodge has a great breakfast -- piles of pancakes,French toast, sausage, orange juice, bacon, eggs, syrup, coffee. What a way to live. The Youth Muskie weekend was supported by more than just sportsmen. Take the lodge for example... they extended their hospitality. In doing so they provided a platform for the youth to gather and start to know what "fish camp" feels like... I wouldn't forget a meal like this with great friends -- could you?
2006 Youth Muskie Weekend..... they didn't have to do it. This was about sportsmen and women, sponsors, volunteers, a body of water and boats, experts and in-the-field classes, time volunteered and time remembered. It's a formula for the youth, so when you "do the math" it adds up to some very large dividends!
Some day one of these kids may be giving a speech as a Conservation Warden or Professional Muskie guide, or be bent down on the end of a pier helping their small son or daughter cast for the first time.... and in their mind they'll always remember where it started!
Between the Lakes Muskie Inc chapter from Sheboygan, WI teamed up with 22 supporting sponsors donating financial support and products to make this a memorable experience. Youths were chosen in early August from an application process where they related participation in past outdoor experiences. They attended two evening educational sessions becoming familiar with identification of the muskie, their habitat, proper equipment to use, assessing weather situations for safety, reading maps and electronics to navigate a lake and find potential fishing spots & refreshing boating safety skills to ensure a safe memorable fishing adventure.
They had another evening session entailing hands-on casting for Muskie at pond-side. This adventure was made possible by a BTL member sharing their boat and expertise of the fall Muskie hunt with the youth and their chaperones. Each group took to the waters of Lac Viex Desert on Friday afternoon & Saturday to chase the King of fish, the muskie. They had state-of-the art muskie equipment and baits donated by sponsors. They used their newly found skills in navigating the waters and reading detailed maps and electronics to develop a plan to successfully hook into a muskie.
Each evening culminated with a camp fire circle to share their experiences of the day and to interact with local guide & Muskie expert Patricia Strutz on how to successfully fish the Muskie. Fish Management Technician Kiepke, from teh Woodruff area, talked about creel surveys, the importance of creel surveys, recovery of Muskie habitat, and catch & release fishing.
We encourage your assistance in putting out a "Turning Leaf Challenge" to other sportsmens' clubs to become involved in educating our future anglers in a most-enjoyable outdoor adventure.
This is just the second year of the muskie adventure, but by the enthusiasm it garners through both our members and the recipients we look forward to many more such adventures.
There are many other clubs and organizations that may be willing and able to jump onboard and TAKE A KID INTO THE OUTDOORS, and we encourage the media to challenge such organizations to partake in and support these youth outdoor education programs.
Wolfpack Adventures -- lead the way!
