The largest musky of Eileen Dusek’s life proved to be the biggest fish boated during the University of Esox Summer Musky Tactics fishing school.
The school, an offshoot of Musky Hunter magazine, was held June 11-13 at St. Germain Lodge and the adjoining Fibber’s Restaurant near St. Germain, Wisconsin. Anglers from five different states attended the 15th annual event.
Dusek and her husband, Russ, of Riverside, Illinois, were fishing with Musky Hunter managing editor Steve Heiting when she boated a 44 1/2-inch musky on a Baby DepthRaider crankbait. They were on a Vilas County lake, casting for suspended muskies near schools of ciscoes when the fish struck shortly after dark.
“Eileen said ‘I’ve got something” and the fish announced itself by jumping out there in the darkness. The boat lights illuminated it somewhat and I could tell it was a good fish,” said Heiting. “Then it went deep and put on a great fight, but Eileen kept her cool. The musky was well-hooked and eventually we got it in the net.” After photos, the musky was released.
Dusek’s fish, as well as six others, were caught by musky school students and staff despite unsettled, rainy weather that sent water temperatures crashing as much as 10 degrees in the week leading up to the school.
“No one pattern stood out,” said Musky Hunter editor and TV show host Jim Saric, who emceed the event. “We caught muskies on everything from topwaters to soft plastics from six different waters.”
The musky school combined eight hours of seminars with two days of fishing. Seminars focused on summer musky fishing tactics, and the school is held every June to give students a jump-start on the new season. Students meet after fishing times to discuss patterns and conditions, and share in each other’s success.
Joining Saric and Heiting as instructors of the event were longtime northern Wisconsin guides and Musky Hunter writers Roger Sabota, Rob Manthei, “Lunker” Lou Eich, Doug Smith and Kevin Schmidt.
St. Germain Lodge and Fibber’s Restaurant have been the school’s home for more than 10 years. “Besides good fishing, the host sites for all of our musky schools provide comfortable accommodations and great food,” said Saric. “Rob and Kaye Manthei and their staff again drew rave reviews from our students for the great job they did.”
The University of Esox will again return to St. Germain Lodge and Fibber’s Restaurant June 10-12, 2011. For more information, visit www.muskyhunter.com/uofesox.shtml or call (800) 236-8759.
