Well, another Muskies Inc. tournament has now come and gone. And once again, the crew of guys that I fish this tourney with (6 in all this year) go home empty handed, except of course for the three days worth of Musky memories, and the dream that perhaps “next year” will be our year to bring that Ranger home.
The weather for the most part was good, with high winds (15-20) from the SE/NW/E marking Friday, Saturday and Sunday A.M.’s respectively. And calmer, warmer weather each afternoon. Our group fished 3 lakes, Leech, Cass, and Bemidji, with varied success. Friday yielded 22 Pike out of my boat trolling Off-Shore planer boards on Portage Bay, with large spinnerbaits and shallow cranks being the best producers. Cass produced 2 follows for Bill’s boat, they mainly pitched bucktails and spinnerbaits. Bob got blanked, first on Bemidji then in the afternoon on Cass. Saturday was O.K., Bob’s boat and my team started the morning on Walker and Agency Bays, with no luck. We pulled up and went to Cass and were fishing by noon. My partner Kevin and I raised 7 different fish, 2 in the upper 40’s class, and one that should have gone 50″. I say should have, because this was an up close and personal meeting between this fish and myself, and I am still seeing her in my dreams. HAWG-O-RAMA!!!! Bob and Mike picked up a 29″ fish just down the break from us later on that afternoon. And Bill and Bruce got skunked.
Sunday was short and sweet with only 3 hours to fish. I had one fish blow up boatside, never saw it. Bill and Bruce got blanked again, and Bob… Poor Bob had a 40+ crush a Phantom boatside with a half hour left to go in the tourney, it made 4 hard runs and whatever hooks that were sunk came flying out, F.
A big thanks is in order for:
Bill- For setting us up with great digs for the weekend
Ron Hunter- formerly of Judds on Winni, for solving our Lowrance chip problem, and giving us some last minute spots.
Muskies Inc.- For putting on one great tourney!!
Dan Larson
In-Depth Angling Field Staff
Hawg Hunters Guide Service
612-247-9398