Muskies Go "On Strike" at WMT's Lac Vieux Desert Event

After the Wisconsin Muskie Tour™ (WMT) opened the 2010 season in the southern part of the state, the WMT headed north to the lake and tournament that started it all for the WMT ten years ago, Lac Vieux Desert (LVD). The LVD event is the third "MUSKIE DOUBLE HEADER"™ qualifier for the 2010 tournament season, but unfortunately, there would be no muskies over 40 inches captured for the one day tournament.

The Lac Vieux Desert WMT qualifier is no stranger to getting shut out for a tournament. In 2002, the WMT's Lac Vieux Desert event contestants were "held off the board" after ten hours of beating the waters to a froth. Like in 2002, the WMT's 2010 event had the contestants catching a lot of muskies sub-34 inches, with a handful of teams reportedly landing muskies over 34 inches, but under the 40 inch legal limit for the lake. All but a few teams did have opportunities at muskies that were pushing the legal size, but the muskies just didn't commit.

The WMT is the largest professional muskie circuit in the world that culminates with the most prestigious muskie tournament...the "WMT Invitational Championship"™. It is for this reason that the WMT has always adopted the policy that if the muskies at a particular event are willing biters or not, all five places will be paid out at a one day event and ten places will be paid at a two day "MAJOR OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP"™. Over the years, some teams have taken advantage of a "luck-of-the-draw" to springboard them to a very successful tournament fishing season and or career...we will watch to see if any of the Lac Vieux Desert winners take advantage of their opportunity.

The WMT's Lac Vieux Desert "MUSKIE DOUBLE HEADER"™ winners were:

1st - Gene Erickson
2nd - Chad Schlei/Brian Mathwig
3rd - David Godin/John Cestkowski
4th - Bob Ziolkowski/Dan Rivers
5th - Joe Perry/Rory Tuff

The next tournaments for the WMT are "MUSKIE DOUBLE HEADER"™ qualifiers on the Phillips Chain of Lakes and Butternut Lake on the weekend of June 5th and 6th. There are still some spots open for each tournament. If you would like to fish the Phillips Chain event, you can sign up for the tourney on Friday, June 4th at the Birch Island Resort on the south shores of Wilson Lake on Wilson Lake Road between 5:30pm and 7:30pm. Registration for Butternut Lake will be at Northern Pines Resort on Saturday, June 5th between 6:00pm and 7:00pm.

If you are interested in becoming the next big winner, meeting a great bunch of men and women, and learning more about this great fresh water game fish, fish the Wisconsin Muskie Tour. For more information about the WMT, log onto www.wmtseries.com or call (715) 277-4411.

Sponsor partners for the 2010 Wisconsin Muskie Tour season are: Rollie & Helen's Musky Shop, Tooth Tamer Rods, Fittante Taxidermy, Tackle Industries(Super D), Hawg Seeker Tackle, Suick, Bait Rigs, Worden's Lures, Yakima Bait Co., Bobbie Bait Muskie Lures, Cat's Tails Lures, RJ Lures, Skimmer Lures, HellRaiser Tackle Co., Musky Armor, Mud Puppy Lures, Trophy Hunter Glittertail Musky Lures, Musky Mayhem Tackle, Dreamcatcher Bucktails & Tackle, River Run Tackle, Beast Teaser Tackle, Inhaler Lures and Tackle Co.