THE RELEASE

FEBRUARY 2016
Website:
www.stcloudmuskies.com

Established in 1982
 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2nd
BLACKBERRY EVENT CENTER
3125 CLUBHOUSE ROAD
SARTELL, MN 56377
5:30 - Meet N Greet Social Time to personally meet Laura, get an autograph, picture and socialize
prior to Seminar. For this Pre-event we are asking a $10 Donation to further our Youth Activities.
7:00 - Catching Family Values Seminar featuring Laura Schara (NO COST FOR THIS
SEMINAR)

This year the event features Laura Schara of Minnesota Bound, Due North Outdoors, Destination
Polaris, and North American Fisherman on NBC. Laura shares her experiences of growing up under
the guidance of her father, Ron Schara, as well as her own experiences in the Outdoors. Ron Schara is
a Member of the Minnesota Fishing Hall of Fame and is a nationally acclaimed Outdoor TV Producer.
The Catching Family Values Laura Schara Guest Seminar is an event dedicated to the growth and
nurturing of the next generation of Muskie Fisherpersons.

This event focuses entirely on our mission to add and develop programs for Youth and Families. It is a
fact that if a child hunts, fishes and enjoys the outdoors with Mom, Dad or other adult, this experience
will be a lifelong endeavor. On the other hand, without exposure, the child may not have the
opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors. This is especially true for financially struggling families where
cost is an issue.

We enthusiastically invite entire families, women and children to further explore the Outdoors, along
with Womens Fishing Clubs, Fishing Clubs of all Species, and anyone interested in joining us in
learning about the world we love.

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.
 REGULAR MEETING DATE:
FEBRUARY 16, 2016 - 7:30 pm
WAITE PARK AMERICAN LEGION
BRING YOUR 3 FAVORITE LURES
FOR ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION

ANNUAL FISH DINNER APRIL 29TH

Because of conflict with the Muskie Expo, the new date for the Annual Fish Dinner is April 29.

Watch your mail for your ticket packet that will be sent out this month.

*****NEW THIS YEAR: We will have a drawing for 10 prizes for all presold tickets. Ticket numbers will be
drawn and will be posted at the ticket table. The prizes can be picked up the night of the fish dinner.

We are still looking for donations for door prizes, tip boards and silent auction items.
Contact Bruce 320-290-7101 or Ken 320-290-6272 for prizes and
Eric to volunteer: [email protected] 612-636-7928

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

Please take a few minutes while reading the newsletter and check out all of the sponsors. They are the ones that
help us throughout the year to accomplish the things we do. When all is said and done we have raffles, Kids
Fishing Contests, Big Brothers/Big Sisters outing, Chapter outings, seminars and our Anglers Dinner
Fundraiser, which without their sponsorship it would be very difficult to put on all of these events. So if you
are looking to purchase something keep them in mind, and thank them for supporting us.

I would like to pass along a very warm welcome to our newest Board Member, Alex Lauer. He has taken over
the position of Webmaster, and we know he will be a great fit to the chapter. ([email protected])

On February 2nd at Blackberry Ridge we will be hosting our special seminar which includes Laura Schara. She
will be speaking on Catching Family Values. Read more about it in the newsletter, and hope to see you there.

Stay warm and remember that we are all ambassadors of Chapter 37.
Bruce
YOUTH DIRECTOR REPORT . . . . . . . . By Eric Kohn
Save the Date... Saturday May 7, 2016 - 9:30 - 1pm:
14th Annual Big Brothers Big Sister Fishing Outing,
Rock Island Park, Waite Park

February 2, 2016 - 7:00 pm: Please try to attend the upcoming presentation by Laura Schara. She will be
discussing how she was introduced to the outdoors by her Father Ron. We all need to be reminded on the future
of our sport and it is dependent on the involvement of our youth. We all have a part to play in the preservation
of our great outdoors. Take time and get kids active and involved in the outdoors.

If you have any questions or concerns feel free to contact me.

Eric Kohn [email protected]

PROGRAM DIRECTOR REPORT . . . . . . By Aaron Meyer

John Underhill, myself, and a few others from the MMPA recently attended the DNR Roundtable. This is an
annual event where the DNR brings together a couple hundred active outdoor enthusiasts and organization
leaders to get together with many of the leaders and key people within the DNR. There are presentations by the
DNR on many current topics related to managing our natural resources, and it gives us all a chance to have
direct conversations with those involved. There are also summaries presented from each of the species-specific
work groups, and this year I was selected to discuss the Pike/Muskie work group.

We are still in the middle of two big topics in the pike/muskie world. One is the current set of proposed muskie
lakes, and the other is the potential changes to pike management statewide.

At this time, neither is a done deal. The DNR's plan is to first work on the pike regulations. These changes are
extremely important, and it's going to take some effort to get it done right. Sounds like they plan to make a big
push to move this ahead in the next few months.

In the meantime, they are working on addressing the issues arising against muskie stocking. With some further
outreach, and some help from us, they'll likely make those decisions sometime this summer. We'll have more
work to do on this, and I'll keep you updated. Stay tuned
Aaron
MN Muskie and Pike Alliance Co-Chair
OUTINGS CHAIRMAN . . . 2016 Club Outing on Big Mantrap . . . . By Ryan Hoffman
DATE CHANGED TO SEPTEMBER 22-25
The dates for the Big Mantrap outing have been moved back one week to September 22-25. Hopefully this
isn't too much of an inconvenience if you had planned to go and already planned around the previous dates.

If you read about it in the previous newsletter we plan to stay at Norway Hills Resort. Check them out here:
https://www.norwayhills.com the pricing they quoted me is a 20% reduced rate from their summer rates shown
on the website. If we were able to fill an 8 person fully furnished cabin the price would be $158 plus tax per
person for 4 days/3 nights with dockside electrical and trailer parking included. Ultimately the individual
pricing really depends on how many people go and if we can fill up the cabin(s) or not. They have 4, 6, or 8
person cabins available so if you would like to book your own cabin to stay with friends or family at the same
time that option is available too.

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.

I would like to reserve the resort cabins as soon as possible to ensure the cabins are available for us. If you
plan to attend this outing, please let me know ASAP. As of now we have one group of 4 reserving their own
cabin and another 6 people who are going! A 20% deposit is required to book the cabin(s) so it's time to get
serious and commit to this great SCMI outing! I would like to be able to reserve the cabin(s) by the end of
January. If we get 8 people for a cabin the deposit will be $40 each. I will send an email right before the
January meeting to let you know how much the actual deposit will be once I get confirmations from people so
you know how much money to bring to the meeting for your deposit. Please call, text, or email if you are
interested in this outing or have any questions. [email protected]; 320-492-7369

The lake of the month presentation in April will be on Big Mantrap and will be given by an SCMI member that
has done very well out there and plans to join us on the outing!
http://www.rapala.com

SPINAL REHAB

January Meeting: Lure and Leader Building

Thanks Ryan, Nate, and Mike for all your
input last night at the meeting!
For those of you who missed it, we all got a
really sweet seminar on lure building, and
leader making!
This is the kinda stuff this group is about;
helping each other and sharing techniques to
simplify this trying sport.
MEMBERSHIP REPORT. . . . . .By Nate Rose
In January we didnt have any drops and gained one new member: Brad St. George from Big Lake.
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 REPORT. . . . By Nate Rose
Well the 2015 season is a wrap, not many fish were caught since Nov 23 and nothing HUGE so the
contest standings didnt change drastically. Id like to congratulate everyone who boated a fish this season and
especially those who boated 50 fish!!
Thanks for participating in the contest everyone and I hope you had a great season. Have a great winter
as you reflect back on the 2015 season.

Contest Standing December 31, 2015

CURRENT STANDINGS
Division Name # of Fish Points Largest Average
MensMasters Bryan J Thompson 9 150 44.00 42

Mens Alex Lauer 25 483 53.50 45

Eric W Poissant 16 273 51.00 43
Nathan Rose 8 134 48.50 43
Thomas Ardolf 4 79 47.00 46
Troy A. Schmitz 4 69 49.50 43
Bruce A Kitowski 4 49 51.00 38
Justin Sharer 3 38 51.00 39
Tom Agnew 2 31 45.00 42
Ken Schmitt 2 27 40.00 40
Chris Paye 2 24 40.00 38
Chad Berger 1 20 46.00 46
Eric Kohn 1 16 42.00 42
Mike Brister 1 13 38.50 38.5

LUNKER OF THE MONTH

Month Member Name Length Lake
June Thomas Ardolf 47.00 Mille Lacs
Eric W Poissant 47.00 Alex
July Eric W Poissant 51.00 Sugar
August Alex Lauer 48.00 Leech
September Bruce A Kitowski 51.00 Rainy Lake
Justin Sharer 51.00 Lobster
October Alex Lauer 53.00 Big Mantrap
November Alex Lauer 53.50 Bemidji
Corey Nazer 715-456-5531
www.NazeBaits.com
 NEWSLETTER EDITORS
Ken and Norine Schmitt
1208 8th Street South
Waite Park, MN 56387
E-Mail to [email protected]
WEB E-MAIL: [email protected]
 Proudly Supporting St. Cloud Chapter-Muskies Inc!
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3019 West Division Street
St. Cloud, MN 56301
(320) 251-4943
Visit us on the web:
www.stcloudauto.com

St. Cloud Muskies Inc.

1208 8th Street South
Waite Park MN 56387