The Rhinelander Daily News - Online news and information for the Rhinelander, Wisconsin region

Haul out the big Suick, it’s time to go musky fishing.

No, this isn’t row trolling like Grandpa and Uncle Stosh used to do, it’s the 21st Annual Rhinelander Hodag Musky Challenge, big time fishermen, big engines and big boats.

One of Northern Wisconsin’s premier musky tournaments, the Hodag Musky Challenge has a new title sponsor this year, Rhinelander Toyota.

This catch-and -release tournament, Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 20 & 21, is also sponsored by the Rhinelander Area Chamber of Commerce. The top prize is $20,000 with payouts up to 10th place.

Prizes will be awarded on a point system: 30 points for each legal musky caught plus one point for each one quarter inch over legal size. Prizes will be based on total points accumulated during the two days of fishing.

According to a Chamber of Commerce press release, there are “new prizes, new sponsors, more money and more fun in store. Rhinelander Toyota is the new title sponsor. This means new hats, new merchandise and the backing of a local sponsor.

Heckels Eagle River Marina is another new sponsor. Catch the first 50 inch musky and you will be towing home a brand new 618 Ranger Fisherman.

Fittante Taxidermy is back with a new prize package. Catch the largest musky and receive a replica from Fittante.

Potlicker Sculpture is donating a fun and exciting sculpture again this year. And there is a guaranteed $20,000 first prize. 80% of the money collected from registrations is paid back in the form of prize money.”

Other changes include three different times to attend the Friday Night mandatory rules meeting and registration and a new Director, John Stellflue. His job is to oversee all aspects of the fishing tournament.

Tammy Gobert is the Community Outreach Coordinator for the Rhinelander Area Chamber of Commerce, “We had 170 entrants for the fishing tournament in 2007. The numbers are down this year. I attribute the lower numbers to the economy and high gas prices. I’m hoping we’ll fill up the remaining spots. We have a new series of ads in Marshfield, Wausau, Appleton and further south starting today. We’re trying to make the tournament more angler friendly.”

Gobert was reluctant to hazard a guess as to the number of anglers registered for the tournament. She did say the spots have filled up for three of the lake chains involved. Though the Chamber is making fishermen aware of changes in the invasive species rules and changes to the DNR’s fishing tournament rules, Gobert said the changes haven’t affected participation in the Musky Challenge.

DNR changes include establishing a permit system to help the state better track where and when tournaments occur, and to enable scheduling of events to make sure they are less likely to cause problems for other boaters and anglers. There’s also a provision that allows the DNR to write conditions into the permits that such “catch-hold-release events must meet to reduce fish mortality, including reducing bag limits if predetermined temperature limits are reached.

The DNR started writing the fishing tournament rules after a 2003 law was passed responding to growing citizen complaints about tournaments, including perceived problems with crowding at boat ramps, concern over fish dying after being caught during tournaments and other factors.

For more information, call Tammy Gobert at 715-365-7468 or go online at www.rhinelanderchamber.com.

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Bob Dunn wrote on Sep 17, 2008 12:52 AM:

" I doubt the bank is going to allow anything to be given away, Heckels knew this months ago according to court papers. But in retrospect this is why they went bankrupt and closed the doors Sept 12, Instead of being honest and just being upfront they went on letting people believe they were giving away a boat knowing they were liquidating, As a previous artical quoted Dick Heckel, "It's business as usual" I guess thats true. Unfortunately for the public. "

MIke wrote on Sep 5, 2008 8:13 AM:

" Whe is Heckels sponosoring this and offering a free boat as a prize when they are in bankruptcy. I guess its another item of inventory the creditors won't get paid for "

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