THE RELEASE

SEPTEMBER 2017
Website:
www.stcloudmuskies.com

Established in 1982

Meeting Date: SEPTEMBER 19TH

Speaker:

7:30 p.m.
WAITE PARK AMERICAN LEGION

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

I would like to wish everyone a very nice Labor Day. With Fall fast approaching we should all be getting the
BIG GIRL ITCH. This is my favorite time of the year, and looking forward to the cooler mornings and
evenings.

Please take note of all our sponsors that have helped us out throughout the year by buying ads in our newsletter.
Support them and make sure that they know you appreciate them. Last month I wrote about a few positions that
were going to be opening up in December on the Board. We are going to need members to step up and help
out. We will make sure the transition will be as smooth as possible. Thank you. I would also like to thank all
the new members for joining our chapter. We are very glad that you chose the St. Cloud Chapter to be your
home in Muskies Inc.

Have a great holiday and try and get those kids on the water.

Bruce
OUTINGS CHAIRMAN . . By Ryan Hoffman

Only a few weeks until the 2017 SCMI outing on Big Mantrap! There are 8 members going and we can't wait
to share the pictures and a new video with you when we're back! The cabin at Norway Hill Resort is full but if
you still want to go, there is a daily use campground right by the launch that is very cheap or if you want to just
drive up and fish for the day, all are welcome to join us. Please contact me for any questions -
[email protected], call or text 320-492-7369

Here is the video from the outing last year:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIGAqq7jgP8&t=121s

Here is the resort website, you may recognize a few faces on the fishing page!

https://www.norwayhills.com/html/fishing.html

Good luck on the water!

Ryan

POLITICAL RESEARCH DIRECTOR REPORT . . . . . . By Aaron Meyer

I want to start off by reminding members that there are several spots opening up on the Board of Directors.
Hopefully you all feel that we've been doing a good job of leading this chapter, but whether you do or don't,
now is your chance to consider having a greater impact on this chapter. We all hope for continued success and
growth, and you just might have the ability to influence that!

So now, on to fishery issues. Some of you have already received this through email. Please read, and respond.
There is an impending threat to our access to public waters. It is an aquatic invasive species "pilot program"
intended to grow and spread across the state.

The Wright County Soil and Water Conservation District, in conjunction with several local lake associations,
is attempting to implement a new program requiring all boaters to go to a central check station for
inspection prior to launching their boat in area lakes. It involves attaching a tether between your boat and trailer
proving you have been checked and have not launched the boat in any other water since being checked.

The current plan involves three lakes in Wright County... Sylvia, John, and Pleasant. It severely limits access
to these lakes for anyone who doesn't live on or near the lakes. Inspections can only be done at this central
check station, only within certain daily hours, and you must be inspected prior to launch or face fines. If
implemented, it would hamper the possibility of such things as an early morning fishing trip or a quick evening
on the water after work, unless you had the time and opportunity to go get inspected some prior day.

The plan makes claims that it would only slightly inconvenience people, and add only a few miles to a trip
there, but that's only true if you are already driving near the checkpoint. And as a pilot program intended to
spread, the unique circumstance of the close proximity of these lakes would be impossible to replicate
throughout the state.

This plan is really about property owners who want to keep the public off of "their lake", and is veiled behind a
certain of concern for AIS.
A public input meeting was recently held. The meeting was a total sham. They actually cancelled it about 20
minutes after it was supposed to start- with a couple hundred people in the room! They basically just bailed out
on providing any information, or taking any input. When it was announced that no one from the public would
be given a chance to speak or provide input, a group of the property owners behind the plan cheered and
clapped! They knew the public was going to voice opposition to the plan and they were happy that the
opportunity was taken away.

I encourage you to write in and oppose this plan. If it takes hold on these lakes, your favorite lake is likely to be
in the crosshairs next.

Contact Alicia O'Hare with the Wright Soil and Water Conservation District at: [email protected]

The DNR is taking comment on this proposal at: [email protected]

It also wouldn't hurt to send comments to the DNR Commissioner at: [email protected]

Please send input quickly. This thing was kept pretty quiet, and the deadline is basically NOW!!

Aaron
MN Muskie and Pike Alliance Co-Chair

______________________________________
SEPTEMBER SPEAKER Eric Altena

Department of Natural Resources

16543 Haven Road
Little Falls, MN 56345
320-616-2450
[email protected]

Anglers who fish in Benton, Morrison, Mille Lacs and Todd Counties benefit from the management, habitat and
oversight work of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources' Little Falls area fisheries staff.

Area Fisheries Supervisor Eric Altena and a staff of four full-time and two part-time employees manage 90
fishing lakes and 471 miles of rivers and streams. These waters include popular fishing destinations such as
Alexander, Big Birch and Shamineau lakes plus portions of the Mississippi, Crow Wing, Rum and Sauk rivers

Corey Nazer 715-456-5531

www.NazeBaits.com
MEMBERSHIP REPORT. . . . . .By Nate Rose

In August, we had one new member Spencer Ledwein, so welcome him to the club if you see him.
There are no membership renewals due in September. 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

In August, we had 10 fish registered with Eric Poissant taking the lunker of the month title with a 44
fish from Miltona, congrats! Bryan Thompson, Troy Schmitz, Scott Wold, and Justin Sharer also landed some
fish this month. Great job guys.

The numbers were down for August, most likely due to the warm water temperatures. Most of the fish
were caught on bucktails but even more interesting is most of the fish were low 30s to low 40s. Its a good
sign for the future of muskie fishing!

We are nearing September so the fishing should pick up significantly. Just a reminder we have our
Mantrap outing coming up in September so hopefully we can hook up with a number of nice fish! Good luck
everyone!

Nate
Contest Standing August 28, 2017
CURRENT STANDINGS
Division Name # of Fish Points Largest
MensMasters Eric W Poissant 3 53 45.00
Bryan J Thompson 2 35 44.00
Mens Thomas Ardolf 4 64 48.50
Tom Agnew 4 61 45.00
Brad St George 3 60 47.00
Eric Kohn 3 57 52.00
Troy A. Schmitz 3 43 47.00
Nathan Rose 2 36 44.50
Scott Wold 3 35 41.00
Steve Bautch 2 33 42.50
Chris Paye 1 15 41.00
Justin Sharer 1 13 39.00

LUNKER OF THE MONTH

Month Name Length Lake
May Scott Wold 39.00 Redstone
June Eric Kohn 52.00 Mississippi River
July Thomas Ardolf 48.50 Mille Lacs
August Eric W Poissant 44.00 Miltona
Lure Raffle and Member of the Month By: Sven Larsen

Back in May we drew Scott Wold's name for the member of the month. Scott was in attendance at that meeting
and it is my understanding that he was at the boat show in June so he wins the lure pack of the Jolly Roger black
buck tail, the Kracken Creaper and 9 inch Suick Thriller. Congratulations Scott. Because Scott won, we went
back to one Lure in August where we drew Dennis Kobiela's name but he was not there. Dennis missed out on
a Special Rad Dog Flashabu Small Mouth colored spinner bait. We'll add a weighted 9" Suick Thriller to that
for the member of the month in September.

In August along with a few of our smaller lures, we had a lot of certificates, books and a DVD from Eric
Jacobson and Just Big Muskies in the lure raffled. Eric donated a box of DVDs to us and we'll be using them at
upcoming lure raffles and at the fish dinner. We raffled off nice gift certificates from Gilliland Chevrolet and
the Blue Line Club. Our friends from Stop Light Bait gave us a bunch of certificates for sucker minnows to
raffle off. Three of these went in August and we'll be raffling off three more of these in September and
November. Some of the certificates are good for Suckers over 17 inches! If you are a Sucker fisherman, throw
in some bucks for your chance to win. In September I'm also going to throw in a certificate for a 6 month
subscription or subscription extension for Outdoor News. We've got another "Accidental Muskie" book for the
raffle, another DVD from Just Big Muskies and I think I'll bring a bunch of crank baits to round if off. This
year our members have done a great job of contributing to the lure auction and that really helps the club. See
you in September.

Sven
The Web:.
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.

NEWSLETTER EDITORS
Ken and Norine Schmitt
1208 8th Street South
Waite Park, MN 56387
E-Mail to [email protected]
WEB E-MAIL: [email protected]
 OPEN BOARD POSITIONS:
There will be several openings on the board this year and below are descriptions of the open positions. Please
carefully consider running as an officer or for a committee appointment. There are a lot of great members out
there with a lot to offer to the Club. It is for the good of the Club that the members engage themselves in the
leadership of the Club so everyone has a chance to enjoy the benefits of the Club and not continually get burnt-
out by taking on too much. As Bruce mentioned in his Presidents message, the resigning members will be
around to help the transition as you assume the new leadership roles. Elections are in December.

Secretary:
Take minutes and distribute to board members.
Manage and check the chapters three email addresses
Check membership list monthly to determine eligibility for member of the month
Update inventory of lure auction lures and high value items that are held as inventory
Organize lure auction for monthly meetings and provide storage for lures
Report to international MI as needed
Provide screen and projector at monthly meetings as needed by meeting speakers
Provide guidance on old business at board meetings to insure completion of projects
Maintain officer/committee list

Webmaster:
Update the website
Post monthly meetings and upcoming events
Post the monthly newsletter
Update calendar to include monthly activities
Update sponsors
Update home page with current months activities

Vice President:
Assist the President in setting up the board and membership meetings
Run the board meeting and membership meeting in the absence of the president

Treasurer:
Monitor/reconcile bank accounts and transactions monthly
Pay approved bills
Prepare monthly reports for board meetings
Prepare IRS tax audit information yearly

Fish Dinner Chair:

Organize committee to run event
Prepare budget for event
Set up donations for tip-boards and silent auction
Organize food service with venue

Newletter Editor:
- Put together monthly newsletter, request articles, and email out
- Print newsletters for mailing to those without email service
- Coordinate mail/email list with Membership Director
- Solicitation of Newsletter Ads
- Contact current advertisers for annual renewal
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
St. Cloud Muskies Inc.
1208 8th Street South
Waite Park MN 56387