Five musky anglers boated their first musky during the University of Esox Fall Trophy Hunt Musky School held October 17-19 at Angler’s Haven Resort near Hayward, Wisconsin.
In all, 16 muskies were boated during the weekend. University of Esox Musky Schools combine seminars with fishing to try to give students immediate positive reinforcement of their learned skills, and several of them managed to do just that.
Catching their first muskies during the school were: Joe Isely of Green Bay, Wisconsin, 38 1/2 inches on livebait; Kevin Tiernan of Western Springs, Illinois, 37 inches on livebait; Mike Spradau of Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, 36 inches on livebait; Brad Small of Wheaton, Illinois, 35 inches on a Warlock jerkbait; and Pete Small of Clarence, New York, 25 inches on a Hellhound jerkbait.
“It’s always terrific when somebody catches their first musky, and I’m especially proud when it occurs at a University of Esox Musky School,” said Musky Hunter Editor Jim Saric, who emceed the event. “This was especially cool that so many students accomplished it during this particular weekend.”
With water temperatures in the low 50s and air temperatures during the day to match, fishing was relatively comfortable and the muskies responded.
“There were two distinct patterns over the weekend — livebait and glider jerkbaits,” said Musky Hunter Managing Editor Steve Heiting. “Everybody experienced some kind of action and there were lots of stories of strikes, jumps, and happy people.”
Randy Weiser of Wallaceburg, Ontario, earned both the school’s Big Musky and Top ’Lunge Awards, the latter going to the student who catches the most muskies during the weekend. Weiser was fishing with Musky Hunter Field Editor Dave Dorazio on Saturday when he caught a 38-incher on livebait and a 30-incher on a Hellhound, and then fished with Saric on Sunday and boated a 41-inch musky on livebait.
Other students who boated legal-sized muskies over the weekend were Dave Swanson of Batavia, Illinois, 40 and 34 1/2 inches on livebait; Walt Peterson of Coal City, Illinois, 39 inches on livebait; and Jon Small of Brooklyn, New York, a 36-inch hybrid on livebait.
Students enjoyed eight hours of seminars focused on fall musky fishing with major seminars on proper livebait use and high tech trolling. Joining Saric, Heiting and Dorazio as instructors were Kevin Schmidt, “Lunker” Lou Eich and Daryl Neibauer.
The school was the 14th held at Anglers Haven Resort, which is located on Lac Courte Oreilles, south of Hayward. “This is like a second home to us,” said Saric. “The staff of Anglers Haven — Bruce, Sarah and Paul Wick, as well as Jordan and Kelsey — provided terrific lodging and food just as they have every year we’ve been there. We’re proud to be affiliated with Anglers Haven.”
The University of Esox will return to Anglers Haven on October 16-18, 2009 for its 15th Fall Trophy Hunt. Call Musky Hunter, 1-800-23-MUSKY (236-8759) or visit www.muskyhunter.com/muskyschools for more information or to sign up.