The season is right around the corner and THANK GOD I say!  Despite the mild winter, it seems like an eternity since I last fished for muskies.  I don’t always enjoy musky fishing, but I always feel the need to do it.  That need is getting larger and more imposing with each passing day.   June is a big month for musky guys and gals and we have a HUGE meeting planned for you. 

We’re having craft time at the ‘ol NMA Meeting.  We’re each going to make our own casting leader under the direction of Jiggin’ Joe and myself.  I’ll donate the swivels and we’ll use wire and Stringease from our stash.  Please bring a pair of pliers.   I’ll have the wire cut in advance.  A musky angler needs to be able to make their own leaders.  We’ll put a star in our books next to your name and you’ll get extra time for recess if you listen.

Marc Arena will give a complete procedural release presentation.  Don’t daydream while Marc’s speaking either.  Really listen to what he has to say.  If you’ve released one musky or 1000 of them, there is always something you can learn to make you better.

Our Guest Speaker will be Eric Graves from Brobeil Marine.  Eric will go over some of the new features Lowrance is offering in their fishfinder / GPS units and he’ll offer a few tips to make your engines run better and preventative measures you can take to insure they stay that way.  Adam is one hell of a mutli-species guide as well and I’m sure he’d be happy to answer any questions you may have.

If that’s not enough for you, the more experienced musky hounds in the club will field any and all opening day musky questions you have.  I think this next fact escapes members sometimes; there are hundreds of years of musky fishing experience at every meeting.  All you have to do ask.  Don’t be afraid to either.  (You should have heard a few of the gems I asked at my first few meetings.)  I think you’d be foolish not to ask us questions.  I would bet all my Perchbaits one of us will know the answer and/or be able to make you a better musky angler.

We’ll have Beckman Fin-Saver nets ($90) with 6’ handles for sale, as well as Knipex hook cutters, leaders, Stringease, replacement hooks and Rapala split ring pliers for sale.

 If you don’t have…

- A HUGE coated musky landing net

- Stainless steel leaders (By the way, can we stop using fluorocarbon leaders please!?  Seriously, let’s be the first musky club on the block to collectively say “No” to these bite offs waiting to happen!  A musky can bite through fluorocarbon!  I promise you they can!  I’ve seen it happen!  Do you really have to experience this in person to believe me?  Enough with the damn fluorocarbon already!!!)

- & Knipex hook cutters…

YOU ARE NOT PREPARED TO FISH FOR MUSKIES!  One more time… YOU ARE NOT PREPARED TO FISH FOR MUSKIES!  I don’t type this whenever I have the opportunity because I enjoy typing.  IT IS THE TRUTH!!!  If you don’t have these items, go bass fishing.

(I plan on perching myself on the soap box this season, and this is just a little taste.)

Go to the June Meeting.  The season is almost here.  Pick the brains of one of the veterans of the musky wars; it just may make your opening day a bit more memorable.  See you there.