WMF Hall of Fame Tournament Championship Tournament™

The World Muskie Association, Inc. (WMA) announces the first annual World Muskie Fishing Hall of Fame™ Championship Tournament on September 27 – 28, 2008. The tournament will be held in Vilas, Oneida and Price counties on 10 area lake groups: Manitowish Chain, Eagle River Chain, Minocqua Chain, Three Lakes Chain, Pike/Round Lake Chain, Sand/Dam Lake Chain, Lac Vieux Desert, North/South Twin Lakes, Squirrel Lake and Boom Lake. Each lake group will have a set limit of competing teams.

The WMA expects the largest field to ever compete in a muskie tournament for the WMFHF Championship Tournament™. For a fee of $150.00 per two-angler team, competitors will be fishing for the Championship title and trophies. All teams are eligible for the cash drawing(s) and will be structured as follows:

When entries reach 200 teams, the Grand Prize drawing for all of the competing teams will be $15,000.00. The second drawing for the remaining teams will be $10,000.00 when 335 teams entered. The third drawing will amount to $5,000.00 when the field of participants reaches 400 teams, and more drawings of $5,000.00 (up to a maximum of eight) as the numbers of teams participating increases.

The WMF Hall of Fame Championship Tournament™ will consist of two anglers per team. A limit of two legal muskies per day per team will be in effect. Those teams who are competing in the WMF Hall of Fame Championship Tournament™ (but not the WMT Invitational Championship) will be given four affidavits that will be used to verify and record their catch during tournament hours, to be completed by the closest competing team at the time of the catch. The witnessing team will record pertinent information and the affidavit will be turned in to tournament officials by the successful team. The WMF Hall of Fame Championship Tournament™ is a catch and release only muskie event.

The World Muskie Association, Inc. is a non-profit organization that was created to preserve the muskie fishing heritage, educate the public about the biology and management of the species, assist state Department of Natural Resources and collegiate research study programs, and to elevate the status of the muskie for its long term survival. As a part of the WMA’s evolution, it has created the World Muskie Fishing Hall of Fame™ and Museum that when built, will be free to the public to attend. The museum will house the equipment used by the first muskie pioneers and will take the visitor in a progression to modern day. Interactive computer stations will be placed throughout the facility as an educational tool.

The anglers competing in the WMF Hall of Fame Championship Tournament™ will be making history as the results are entered into the Hall of Fame for posterity. The top 66 teams competing in the 2008 Wisconsin Muskie Tour Invitational Championship™ (to be held on the Big St. Germain Chain) are also invited to compete in the WMF Hall of Fame Championship Tournament™, raising the level of competition to the highest degree.

During the Muskie Championship Weekend™, 12 individuals will be inducted into the WMF Hall of Fame™, nominated by the 10-member induction board, which was voted on earlier during the year. The 12 charter members will have been chosen from muskie personalities that have made a significant, positive impact in the muskie fishing arena. The potential nominees will include, but is not limited to the following categories: guide, educator, writer, tournament professional, all muskie club members, biologist, lure manufacturer, painter, taxidermist, event promoter, etc. Also, an unveiling of a painting of the architectural plans for the WMF Hall of Fame™ and Museum building will take place at the event.

For the first few years, the WMF Hall of Fame™ will be a virtual entity while an exploratory committee actively seeks a permanent location for the Hall and Museum. A number of factors will play a role in the final decision as to the best location for the facility. The search will commence shortly after the Muskie Championship Weekend™ and will take an estimated 1½ to 2 years to complete the initial phase.

The WMF Hall of Fame™ tournament is open to the public. If you want to be a part of making history and have a great time doing it, enter to fish the WMF Hall of Fame Championship Tournament™. For more information on the Hall of Fame Championship Tournament™ or an entry form, log on to www.wmtseries.com, email huntemd@newnorth.net or call (715) 369-1394.