MYSZEWSKI AND JOHNSON WIN MONONA

Photo Album ( Not All Photos Available )

Throughout the week prior to the Wisconsin Muskie Tour's (WMT) May 14th Lake Monona catch and release muskie tournament, tournament anglers were finding the muskie fishing on the lake to be "hot", and conventional lures and tactics were working. But when tournament time arrived on Saturday, a major cold front accompanied by strong winds, changed not only the fishing conditions, but the methods the tournament anglers would have to use in order to be successful.

The tournament anglers had to downsize their tackle to small muskie baits or to lures that are generally used for bass or walleye. Not only did the competitors have to finesse the muskies with smaller lures, but they had to slow down their presentation to entice a reaction from their quarry. It took until 9:11am to get that reaction, and for the water temperatures to warm up from their early morning lows of 48 to low 50's , for the first muskie to be registered by the team of Jerry Myszewski and Erik Johnson , measuring 38 ½ inches. They downsized their presentation with a small inline spinner called a Slippery Sam, and caught the muskie in the shallow waters of less than four feet deep.

As the day continued, the fishing conditions grew even tougher as the winds were picking up. By 3:00pm, another front came through the area and the winds diminished somewhat, but sporadic rains started. It was at this time, 3:04pm, that the team of Phil Schweik and Pete Hilman landed a 35 ½ inch muskie. Two more muskies would be measured in the last hour of competition. At 3:22pm, Kevin Mahlberg and Abe Lang scored on their 35 ½ incher using a small swimming jig with a soft plastic trailer, making their muskie the fourth and final of the day. Shortly beforehand, the team of Dennis Treinen and Tim Keyes landed second place with a muskie of 36 ¼ inches at 3:19pm.

The tournament paid down 5 places:

1st place: Jerry Myszewski and Erik Johnson, both of Janesville
2nd place: Dennis Treinen, Madison and Tim Keyes, DeForest
3rd place: Phil Schweik and Pete Hilman, both of Mosinee
4th place: Kevin Mahlberg and Abe Lang, both of Oconomowoc
5th place: Jeremy Paulsen and Dale Rotizza, both of Schaumburg, IL

Sponsors for the WMT's Lake Monona tournament are: J.T. Whitney's, Bourbon Street Grill, Cast and Blast Musky Strike Guide Service, Gervasi Marine, America's Best Value Inn, The Coliseum Bar, MidWest Outdoors, Speedtech Instruments, Heckel's Marina, Ranger Boats, Minn Kota, Yamaha Outboards, Rollie & Helen's Musky Shop, Captain Hooks's, G. Loomis, Fittante Taxidermy, Frabil, Suick, Mepps, Super Slayer Tackle Co., Figure 8 Lures, Luhr Jensen, Grandma Lures, Joe Bucher Tackle by Robert's Outdoors, KDC Lures, Skimmer Lures, Peterson Tackle, Holcombe Tackle, Hellraiser Lures, Mudpuppy Lures.com, Duke Snap Co., TNT Tackle, Drifter Tackle, Muskie Mania, Musky Innovations, Yakima Baits, Phantom Lures, Cat's Tails, Ducktail Lures and Nimmer Swimmer Musky Lures.

he next tournaments for the WMT are at Pewaukee Lake on May 21st and on Lake Okauchee on May 22nd. Both tournaments are one day qualifiers in the southern region, and with a field of 60 teams for each, both will pay out $10,000.00 to the first place finishers. There are still some openings for the tournaments, but both are filling quickly. If you are interested, please enter quickly to ensure a spot.