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Simply Fishing has a Field Advisor Program - find out more HERE, and give us your input.
If you wish to host a
Simply Fishing Muskie Educational event such as STRICTLY MUSKIE PHD
please contact us: E-mail: simplyfishingstaff@simplyfishing.com
Review the 7th Annual Strictly Muskie PhD
August 20 - 27th, 2006
August 20 - August 27, 2006
at WILEY POINT LODGE on Lake of the Woods,
Sioux Narrows, Ontario, Canada
7 full days of muskie seminars and lots of muskie fishing
on BIG FISH WATERS !
Strictly Muskie PhD is instructed with Bob Mehsikomer, host of Simply Fishing Television, and 3 pro-staff instructors; Kyle Brickson, Brett Erickson, and Bart Rosen (shown bwlow). These 7 days on Lake of the Woods are filled with lots of muskie fishing, seminars, one on one time with Bob and the instructors, a fantastic experience with fellow muskie anglers, and a lifetime of memories.
  
Kyle grew up living and fishing on a Minnesota lake. Kyle has Minnesota Muskie Adventures guiding service. For over 20 years, he has been fishing and guiding and has developed some highly effective techniques for locating and catching the giant muskies. Kyle has a wealth of knowledge to share whether you like trolling or casting, as he is extremely proficient at both techniques. Kyle’s trolling seminars are extremely informative and second to none.
Brett is employed by Thorne Bros, a muskie specialty retailer, as the tackle buyer and has been there for over 10 years. Buying muskie tackle and inventory control is a big responsibility, not to mention knowing what’s hot and how to find it! If there is a question regarding muskie lures or tackle, Brett has the answers; he’s a walking encyclopedia. Brett is a seminar speaker, part-time writer, and he fishes muskie tournaments.
Bart has been fishing walleyes and muskies in professional tournaments for some time. In the past 3 years Bart began concentrating on muskies with hundreds of fish in the boat. Bart reached a milestone in 2005 by catching a 55-inch monster. Bart has appeared on a number of TV shows including Simply Fishing and Midwest Outdoors. Aside from spending most of his time on the water, Bart is actively involved inside of the fishing industry. Bart has helped develop the products of Beckman Net and Drift Control as their sales manager. Now with these products under the umbrella of Lindy Legendary Tackle, he is constantly communicating new ideas and assists with the development of the new Lindy products as well.
Here's How the Strictly Muskie PhD Event Goes
the classes
Your day will start with breakfast, followed with a short, video supported seminar session given by the instructors. Then there is a morning of fishing. At noon, Shore lunch is served back at camp, immediately followed by on-water demonstrations, and one on one work with instructors, who demonstrate products, answer questions and work with attendees. Then it’s break time or more fishing until Dinner service in the lodge between 5-6pm, allowing an extended evening for muskie fishing, the prime time. At day’s end there is time to ask questions and share the days’ events with the instructors and friends back at camp.
the final exam
Attendees may enter the optional two day “final exam” muskie tournament. The cost to enter the final exam tournament is $100.00 per entrant. These funds will all go to tournament payback, with other sponsor prizes that are donated. Be sure to bring your camera to capture your prize winning muskie. Other donated prizes may include rod and reel combinations, tackle boxes, and lure packages. Can anyone afford NOT TO ENTER this final exam tournament? There will also be other events such as a best backlash, best blunder, biggest and smallest fish to name a few, and also chances to win many other prizes.
the accommodations
Wiley Point Lodge is a full service American Plan resort situated in the heart of Lake of the Woods and in the middle of what might be considered the best muskie resource on the continent, accessible by water from sister resort, Totem Lodge in Sioux Narrows, or from Kenora.
the package
The Strictly Muskie Ph.D. Package includes all meals, lodging (based on double and quad occupancy), daily maid service, 17 1/2’ Lund Outfitter boat with 50 Hp motor and swivel pedestal seats, VHF radio, graph, gas, transportation to and from Totem Lodge or Kenora, and the complete muskie instruction course. Bow-mounted trolling motors are available. For those who wish to bring their own boat (highly recommended), designated dock space is provided with electric hookup and a gas allowance. Want to go - but no partner? No problem! We will match anglers (with and without boats) into pairs for the school. It’s a great week to make new friends, and catch muskies.
Info Call: 651-429-3351
E-mail: simplyfishingstaff@simplyfishing.com
Here is the story of our previous events !
  
Simply Fishing's Strictly Muskie PhD 2003 is a Great Success !
What happens when you take a group of dedicated muskie pros and a group of students willing to learn, put them together at one of the finest resorts on Lake of the Woods for a week of fishing, fun, and education? You get Strictly Muskie PhD 2003!!
This year's event was once again held at Wiley Point Lodge on Lake of the Woods, Sioux Narrows, Ontario, Canada. The dates were August 24 thru 31, 2003. As always the Wiley staff, facilities and services are some of the finest. This years schedule had some new changes. Classes were held in the morning right after breakfast and lure demonstrations right after lunch. This allowed for more time dedicated to fishing muskies.
The lineup of instructors for muskie PhD this year included Bob Mehsikomer, Rich Tuomi, Matt Thompson, Brett Erickson and Kyle Brickson. All the instructors were on hand to ensure that all attendees received a thorough education in muskie fishing and helped them to have a memorable trip.
 
Muskie PhD was filled with alot of fun, laughter and great fishing. The students attended from all parts of the USA - Pennsylvania to California, and Arizona to Minnesota. We were gratified to have Emilio and Rosa, a husband/wife team, from Valencia, Spain. All were anxious to fish and the weather did its best to accommodate everyone. With over seventy fish caught and released, one 50 1/4 by Tom Rahlf, ensured alot of great action for everyone. Many in this year's class caught their first muskie ever.
  
This great fishing action was only enhanced by the sponsors and manufacturers who generously donated product for the attendees. These included: Artistic Anglers - a graphite reproduction for the biggest fish over 50", Lindy - Tiger Tubes, Mepp's - Musky Killer bucktails, Optimum Baits - Swimbaits, Eagle Claw - 5/0 hooks & hats, Drift Control - Rod wraps, Best Tackle - Swim Whizz, Big Fork - Crankbaits and bucktails, Drifter Tackle - Believer lures & hat/shirt for biggest fish on a believer, Western Filament - XP fishing line, Ranger Boats - slimer towels & 2 Ranger jackets, Muskies Inc - 3 memberships, Solunar Tables - solunar tables & Moon Up, Moon Down Book, RiverRun Tackle - Manta lures, Poe's Lures - Jackpots & bucktails, Strike King - Mag King Jr's, Musky Innovations - Invaders & Bulldawgs, Shimano America - Corsair reels & Compre rods, Thorne Bros - Leaders, Suick - Cisco Kid, Grandma Lures - Crankbaits, Fishing Hotspots - Maps, Plano Molding Co. - Tackle cases, Rollie & Helen's Musky Shop - Leaders.
During the week several different contests were held with prizes for the winners. The winners were Paul Craven for Best Backlash - Corsair reel, a tie for Biggest Fish for Sandy Kugler and Tim Anderson - Corsair reel & Compre rod (respectively), Sylvia James for Smallest Fish - John Alden Knight's Moon Up, Moon Down, Mike Mueller for Best Blunder (being many miles from camp and unable to place his location on the map) - Ranger jacket, and Al Matthews for Biggest Fish on a Believer - Drifter hat & T-shirt. Names were drawn and prizes were given away that included Plano Tackle cases, 3 Muskie Inc memberships, a Ranger jacket, Shimano Compre rods, Shimano reels and lure packages.
The optional Final Exam Tournament was exciting as always with the winners being:
1st Place: Jon Matthews $500.00, Compre rod, Plano tackle case.
2nd Place: John Kugler - $300.00, Compre rod, Plano tackle case.
3rd Place: Chris Benson - $100.00, Compre rod, Plano tackle case.
All prizes and awards were handed out at the closing ceremony on Saturday night with Bob Mehsikomer and Matt Thompson as MC's. They recounted highlights from the week with much laughter and passed out diplomas to all the attendees. For everyone, the week passed much too quickly.
If you missed this year, you can't miss next year. Simply Fishing is now taking reservations for The Mike James Memorial Strictly Muskie PhD 2004. Either mail your registration form with your deposit or call Lisa at 1-800-222-8775 to register. Reservations are limited to 70 people. A printable registration form is at the bottom of this page.
Info Call: 651-429-3351
Reservations: 1-800-222-8775
E-mail: simplyfishingstaff@simplyfishing.com
Results from our Lake of the Woods Muskie Course, August 2002
Released - September, 2002
Strictly Muskie PhD 2002 - muskie course, a roaring success!!
This year’s event was once again held at the beautiful Wiley Point Lodge on Lake of the Woods, Sioux Narrows, Ontario, Canada, August 25 thru September 1, 2002, where the staff, facilities and services are some of the finest and only helped to make Strictly Muskie PhD the success that it was.
Our Simply Fishing lineup of instructors for the event were Bob Mehsikomer, Rich Tuomi, Matt Thompson, Brett Erickson, Kyle Brickson and Jim Graca who were on hand to help the students have a fun and educational experience. Our first 4 days began with breakfast and instruction and then time to go fishing. Returning back to the lodge for shore lunch, on-water demonstrations and more instruction. Then it was time to meet one on one with the instructors and manufacturer representatives who included Robert Betts, Jeremy Sweet, Marc Mills, Rick Zimmermann and Randy Angell from Shimano America, Sylvia James and George Liddle from Ranger Boats and Perry Smith from Muskies Inc. After these sessions it was time for more fishing or relaxation. Dinner was then served at 5:00 with more fishing until sundown.
The weather turned out to be great for fishing and everyone was anxious to be on the water. The fish were very cooperative also. With an average of 3 fish per student caught it made for an exciting week. Then there were the personal best and trophies that were caught and released that made the week even more exciting. Kim Martin of Oregon IL got her personal best with a 46" and Frank Stoncek of Minneapolis MN who had yet to get a Muskie, caught his first 2. We are proud to report that 3 fish over the 50-inch mark were caught and released. These being George Liddle with a 50.5 incher, Al Matthews with a 51 incher and Doug Martin with and awesome 54.5 incher. You can bet they will be back next year.
Also the manufacturers who could not be at the event but generously donated product for the students included Drifter Tackle - Believer lures, Lindy - Tiger Tubes & marker buoys, Optimum Bait Company - Swimbaits, Yakima Bait Company - Giant Jackpot and Awaker lures, Grandma Lures, Peterson Tackle - inhaler bucktails, Thorne Bros. - Gift certificate, leaders and bags, Musky Innovations - Bull Dawg and Invader lures, Holcombe Tackle - Musky Buster lures & hook sharpeners, Western Filament - Tuf-Line Fishing line, Plano Molding Company - Tackle cases, Artistic Anglers - a graphite reproduction for the biggest fish over 50" and Strike King - spinnerbaits. We thank them and greatly appreciate their support.
Throughout the week different contests were held such as a scavenger hunt won by Scott & Erik Miller for an evening of fishing with Bob Mehsikomer, Biggest fish - Doug Martin 54.5" for a Calcutta TE reel, Smallest fish - Mike Schirm 18" for a Catala Reel, Best Backlash - Jerry Messman for a $25.00 gift certificate from Thorne Bros, Best Blunder - Scott Miller for a Plano tackle case and No-Fish - Al Peters for a Ranger jacket. The graphite reproduction was awarded to Doug Martin for a 54.5" Muskie caught on a jointed Believer lure.
Friday and Saturday were then reserved for the Final Exam Tournament for those students who wished to participate. Fee was $100.00 per entrant with total payback to tournament winners. With 12 participants it was sure to be an exciting final exam. This year’s winners were:
1st place - Jeremy Husbeck winning $600.00,
Calcutta TE reel, Compre rod, Plano Tackle case
2nd place - Al Matthews winning $400.00,
Calcutta TE reel, Compre rod, Plano Tackle case
3rd place - Perry Smith winning $200.00,
Calcutta TE reel, Compre rod, Plano Tackle case.
Saturday night was graduation and the awards ceremony with Bob Mehsikomer and Matt Thompson as MC’s. They presented the tournament and contest awards, recounted highlights from the week and passed out diplomas to all the attendees.
Starting in 2003, Strictly Muskie PhD will be known as the Mike James Memorial Strictly Muskie PhD. We at Simply Fishing feel this would be our tribute to the legacy of a man that accomplished so much in such a short period. Mike James was a pioneer in establishing the Ranger brand in the north country and insuring our fellow anglers access to the finest fishing machines on the planet. We will all feel the void left by Mike’s passing for years to come. But we will not forget the man and what he stood for, character, sportsmanship, compassion and humanity. The act of renaming our event in the name of Mike was the least we could do and we are proud Sylvia James has given us her blessing.
If you missed 2003, or 2002, you won’t want to miss 2004. We are now taking reservations for the Mike James Memorial Strictly Muskie PhD 2004. Either mail the form with your deposit or call Lisa at 1-800-222-8775 to register. Reservations are limited to 70 people.
E-mail: simplyfishingstaff@simplyfishing.com
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