Simply Fishing Muskie Classic
was September 15-19, 2004
on Lake Vermilion in northern Minnesota
the world's richest muskie tournament
out of BayView Lodge and Vermilion Dam Lodge

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Tournament Video Projection supplied by

   
                  

We have a winning team at the 2004 Simply Fishing Muskie Classic

Winds may have dominated the surface of Lake Vermilion this past week for the first ever Simply Fishing Muskie Classic, but it wasn’t enough to stop two young anglers from netting more than $80,000.00 in cash, a set of matching first place trophies and custom made “Simply Fishing Muskie Classic” rings. However, it took some preplanning and effort to get there. The Simply Fishing Muskie Classic sponsored by Gander Mountain, Shimano, Ranger Boats, Beckman Nets, Epson America, and Globalstar proved to be an exciting and thrilling experience for all in attendance.

Long before anglers started to arrive, Bob Mehsikomer and the staff of Simply Fishing were busy organizing the headquarters site, Bayview Lodge. Rich Tuomi and others were selected to prepare the sister site, Vermilion Dam Lodge, located on the west end of Lake Vermilion.

A 60’ X 100’ tent was erected and fully equipped with audio visual technology. Beta SP machines, Mixers, P.A’s, Rear projection systems, while all working in concert with a Media 100 844X. To say there would be a grand show forthcoming would be an understatement.

At 6:00 pm on September 14th Bob Mehsikomer addressed the audience of anglers and supporters, numbering into the hundreds, announcing the teams and their ease out positions, followed by a complete rules reading.

The “Simply Fishing Muskie Classic” exhibited a very unique set of qualifying standards as far as the muskie world goes. Anglers would fish the first three days in hopes of capturing enough fish points to assure them a birth beyond the first cut. Who knew how many fish it will take? On the eve of the fourth day, anglers would be apprised of their point standings through the third day, and the top thirty would continue into Saturdays event. However, their points would be left behind. Everyone would start on Saturday and Sunday at zero. Points gained through their efforts would act as the measure of their destiny. If there was difficulty in qualifying enough anglers fish on Saturday, the rules call for them to achieve placement based on their qualifying rank. Only the top ten would continue on to fish again on Sunday and a real chance at the big money portion of the nearly $200,000.00 in cash, trophies and “Simply Fishing Muskie Classic” rings. The question is, who would make it? Out of the field of 158 pros, who had what it took to be called the “Simply Fishing Muskie Classic Champions”?

On Wednesday the 15th anglers found themselves departing from one of the two headquarter sites, Bayview Lodge or Vermilion Dam Lodge, all with the same goal in mind, to make the first cut. As the rules indicated there would be no access to the big money for any of these anglers failing to make the first cut, and that means catching at least one forty inch Lake Vermilion muskie.

The Simply Fishing Muskie Classic anglers found themselves facing some of the roughest conditions one could expect. The big lake, or Big Bay portion of Lake Vermilion was in turmoil from the word go. Waves were reaching the four to five foot variety at times. The rain fall was hard and steady and at times took on a horizontal appearance. The judges for this event showed their true merit. They had to sit and wait patiently, or in some cases navigate from team to team under the harshest of conditions. Hats off to the many judges who made this event what it was. However, weather is a hard fact of life in the muskie world and is often taken head on by the enthusiast of this sport. And this day would be no exception. Anglers hit the Big V, and they hit her hard.

The fist team to stake claim on their presence would be Bob Benson and Fred Hirsch. They would do so by posting a magnificent 51.75 inch fish at 8:30 am, securing them 97 points in their quest for championship status. However, only 30 minutes later, the team of Kyle Brickson and Jim Graca would pose a challenge with an incredible Jackpot fish measuring 46” and net them 74 precious points. Then only minutes later if you can believe it, Benson and Hirsch struck back with another Vermilion monster, a 49.75” and the race was on. It would be fair to say, these teams came to play serious.

The remainder of the first day was made up of an additional 6 fish over 40”. Brett Erickson, of Mounds View MN. and Jim Murphy, of Brooklyn Park MN. presented the judges with a beautiful 48.50 incher for their efforts, followed by Ty Sennett, of Hayward WI. and Luke Ronnestrand, of Holcombe WI.. Mike McCullen, of Sandstone MN. and Rollie Olson, of Brooklyn Park MN. were awarded 66 points toward qualifying for Sunday’s “Big Show” as a result of their 44”. Day one would also find Matt Polman, of Mt. Horb WI and John Augustine, of Appleton WI capturing a 42” for 58 points. And, cleaning up on day one would be none other than Dan Wojtusik of Rhinelander WI and Jason Long of Black Creek WI.

On day two things were changing. Winds were still stiff, however their direction had changed considerably and temps continued to drop. Would the fish move? Would they even bite? These were just some of the questions confronting the field of pros collected for this, the richest event in muskie fishing history.

Anglers departing in the first flight on day one were rotated to the position of last, anglers in the second flight would move into first and so on. The team of Jeff Miller and Bob Lauderville would be the first to depart from Bayview and Brad Martinson and Dave Galatka would lead the pack at Vermilion Dam Lodge. In a word, the entire field was pumped.

By 9:00 am on day two it would be undeniable, these teams knew their tasks at hand and were confident in their approaches. The team of Dave Stewart of Slinger WI. and his brother Wayne Stewart of Milwaukee WI boated a 43.75” to join the hunt. Followed at 9:50 am by Gary Rutherford of Pengilly MN and Ken Worel of Grand Rapids with their prize of 43”, worth 62 points. At 1:00 pm things started to awaken again as the #7 team of Stewart and Stewart sealed the deal for the first cut with their second fish measuring 46”, giving them a current total of 139 points. However, no one said it was over. At 1:20 pm, Ken Lang of Big Bend WI and partner Gregg Laffin of Oconomowoc WI yielded a 43” for their first sight at Fridays cut. At 1:50 pm James Roerig of Embarrass MN and David Swenson of Cotton MN. would chime in with their offering of 42”, and yet another team of contenders was born. This was building to be a very exciting field of pros on their way to the first cut. It was truly anyone’s game, and if you were here living it, it was obvious to everyone, you were among the best of class in the muskie world. The father and son team of Ron & Steve Barnes of Rosemount MN. would make a statement and measure a 41.5”, followed very shortly at 3:00 pm by the team of Curt Fenton of Hopkins MN and Bill Engber of Madison WI.with a legal 40”.

Day three brought improving conditions as far as muskie fishing goes. But how would the pros deal with the never ending weather changes, in a word, very professionally. Within an hour and a half of ease off, P.M.T.T. President Tim Widlacki of Frankford IL. and Jason Summers of Lino Lakes MN. would prove to be worthy contenders as they successfully boated and released a 48.25”. Followed only twenty minutes later by the team of Chip Porter of Lake Zurich IL and John Campbell of Marco Island FL ( fishing with three broken ribs I might add) and the measurement of their offering of 46”, building an even more impressive list of true contenders for the $80,000.00 first place cash prize. At 10:10 am Ernie Dennis and partner Robert Hagen, both of Park Rapids MN. would call for a judge and subsequent measurement of their 43.25”, adding yet another team to Friday’s event. And then things went very quite until 1:20 pm when the father and son team of Dave and Dennis Schaeffer, from Tower MN. and Inver Grove Hgts respectively, shattered the airways with an announcement of their success by calling for a judge to secure, measure and release their 53”. A truly huge hawg by anyone’s standards. Meanwhile, fifty minutes later Scott Duberowski and Ryan Lahman of Parkers Prairie MN. would be denied big fish of the day as their 52.25” monster failed to upset the Schaeffer’s previous catch. By 2:20 pm we were off measuring the last of the days offerings with a 42.25”  caught by Dan Peckels of Pewaukee WI and Steve Miljat of Milwaukee WI., ensuring them a birth to Saturday as well.

The field was set. Twenty teams had met the qualifications for the first cut and would again ease out from the two host sites in the quest of their goal, yet another legal 40” or better muskie. Because of the format, anglers would truly always be in the hunt if they succeeded in catching a legal fish or better during the process.

On day 4 the twenty teams proceeded to their prime waters and the race was on, in a manner of speaking. First to make their mark were Dan Wojtusik and partner Jason Long, with an incredible 52.50” at 8:45 am. What a way to start your day. At 11:20 am Tim Widlacki and Jason Summers would again prove their skills as muskie masters as they challenged the leaders with a 49”. Both of these teams had done their homework. They knew the system and were both executing perfect game plans. The rules were in place and as the event ended on day four, they would be joined by eight other teams with previous qualifying points. Simply put, day four would prove to be only a two fish day. Wojtusik and Long followed by Widlacki and Summers would lead the ease out on day five in front of Bayview Lodge followed by the remaining point leaders who did not catch a fish on day four.

I don’t think even one of these teams remotely considered sleeping on the eve of the final day. However, they were all present and in line for the ease off proceedings, with each team being assigned a shadow boat to insure the proper successful release of these final fish.

At 7:00 am the top ten again went out in qualifying order. At 11:20 am Wojtusik and Long did it again, another Vermilion monster was in their net and a clear shot at winning was in their sights. Followed by the team of Ty Sennett and Luke Ronnestrand with their 40.25 incher to finish them behind Wojtusik and Long and ahead of all other contenders.

To see this event truly unfold, follow the crews of Simply Fishing as they followed the pros of this event in January 2005, on Simply Fishing the television series. Go to www.simplyfishing.com

Well, the “Simply Fishing Muskie Classic” is now in the history books. We have some winners and they aren’t necessarily Wojtusik and Long, they are the countless thousands of anglers who enjoy the sport of muskie fishing, because muskie fishing has just entered a new level. Keep posted on future events.

In closing I would like to personally thank Gander Mountain, Shimano, Ranger Boats, Beckman Nets, Epson America, LakeMaster and Globalstar for all the support and confidence they displayed by assisting our efforts in running the “Simply Fishing Muskie Classic”.

President,
Bob Mehsikomer

Simply Fishing Muskie Classic September 15-19, 2004 Lake Vermilion, Minnesota   FINAL STANDINGS
Place	Team#	Name	City	ST
1st	27	Wojtusik, Dan	Rhinelander	WI
		Long, Jason	Black Creek	WI
2nd	76	Sennett, Ty	Hayward	WI
		Ronnestrand, Luke	Holcombe	WI
3rd	57	Widlacki, Tim	Frankfort	IL
		Summers, Jason	Lino Lakes	MN
4th	52	Benson, Bob	Chectec	WI
		Hirsch, Fred	Hayward	WI
5th	7	Stewart, Dave	Slinger	WI
		Stewart, Wayne	Milwaukee	WI
6th	28	Schaeffer, Dave	Tower	MN
		Schaeffer, Dennis	Inver Grove Hgts	MN
7th	46	Duberowski, Scott	Parks Prairie	MN
		Lahman, Ryan	Parks Prairie	MN
8th	34	Erickson, Brett	Mounds View	MN
		Murphy, Jim	Brooklyn Park	MN
9th	50	Hale, Dave	Somerset	WI
		Stodola, Scott	Somerset	WI
10th	23	Brickson, Kyle	Carlton	MN
		Graca, Jim	Oak Forest	IL
11th	70	Porter, Chip	Lake Zurich	IL
		Campbell, John	Marco Island	FL
12yh	44	McCullen, Mike	Sandstone	MN
		Olson, Rollie	Brooklyn Park	MN
13th	21	Dennis, Ernest	Park Rapids	MN
		Hagen, Robert	Park Rapids	MN
14th	3	Lang, Ken	Big Bend	WI
		Laffin, Gregg	Oconomowoc	WI
15th	72	Rutherford, Gary	Pengilly	MN
		Worel, Ken	Grand Rapids	MN
16th	2	Peckels, Dan	Pewaukee	WI
		Miljat, Steve	Milwaukee	WI
17th	26	Roerig, James	Embarrass	MN
		Swenson, David	Cotton	MN
18th	55	Polman, Matt	Mt Horb	WI
		Augustine, John	Appleton	WI
19th	25	Barnes, Ron	Rosemount	MN
		Barnes, Steve	Rosemount	MN
20th	42 42	Fenton, Curt	Hopkins