Board Minutes- February 3rd 2020

Board members in attendance: Cliff Bembeneck, Leon Check, Bernie Felcjowski, Daland Sheahan, Nick Starr, Fred Williams, John Thom, Don Gilbert, Fred Oksiuta.

Sheahan moved, Oksiuta seconded, acceptance of January minutes as printed.

Treasurer report: $11,966.43 in checking.

Steak and shrimp night: March 21st 2020: Tickets are selling fast. Contact Cliff Bembeneck; Prizes, for raffles are a work in progress. Guns, and jewelry have been purchased for raffles.

The State Musky plate is now available. 500 plates must be sold in 3 years to continue. Club awards, Biggest Musky, and Scholarship winners.

New Business: 4 board members terms are up for re-election in March 2020: (Check Starr, Sheahan, Gilbert) Contact Williams if interested in running.

GENERAL MEETING:

Introductions of board and general members, approx. 40 in attendance

General membership present, acceptance of the January minutes as printed

Steak Night, March 21st, 2020: Tickets are selling fast, RSVP ASAP

Board members in attendance: Bernie Felckowski, John Thom, Nick Starr, Fred Williams, Fred Oksiuta, Cliff Bembeneck, Don Gilbert, Daland Sheahan, Leon Check.

December minutes approved by Sheahan, 2nd by Starr, as printed.

Treasurer report $10,082.31 in checking

New DNR shock boat updated progress $22,500 in fund so far clubs etc.

Sammy Molski Foundation is a work in progress. rods have been ordered frin Elk River rods, each rod will be customized. First raffle will be held injunction with Steak night March 21st, 2020

Steak & Shrimp night March 21st 2020 Tickets will be available at December Meeting, prizes, raffles. Donation work in progress. Guns, possible drone raffle? Chest full of meat? Any ideas welcomed contact Bembeneck for tickets.

Club web site up & running, new web master -Brittney Garceau- asking for members to send, pictures & stories to her. She will be working on social media soon -Facebook-…watch newsletter for details. Check newsletter for E-mail Address and for instructions. Printing error caused confusion last month.

Club outing for 2020 has been set for June 6th- watch newsletter for updates

Club awards, Biggest Musky, & Scholarship winners set up for February 20th at Rookies, raffles etc. still work in progress. We need more member participation to make this event feasible.

New Business March elections contact any board member if you are interested.

Sheahan motioned to spend up to $750.00 on Lures and related items for Steak Night, Thom 2nd, board voted in favor.

Clothing: jackets, shirts, hats etc. , see Don Grorich s

Speakers: Any ideas contact Jim Firminhac

GENERAL MEETING

Introductions of Board and General Members. 40+ in attendance

Firminhac motioned, Williams 2nd to accept December minutes as printed

Treasurer report $10,082.31 in checking

Steak and Shrimp night 2020 tickets available now contact Cliff Bembeneck. March 21st 2020. Donations welcomed, contact any Board member with ideas Etc.

New Business: Larry Slagoski-President of Musky Alliance gave report on DNR shocking Boat. Read a list of all clubs etc. That have donated towards this project alliance probably will purchase the Boat to move the Project more quickly, Check for Updates.

Firminhac stated that round table stocking forum will take place January 25th cedar shack Adams County, DNR officials will discuss future of stocking for any and all clubs.

Slagoski reminded everyone to check out Bills Musky Club speakers

Clothing: See Don Grorich for ordering jackets and shirts

Speakers: Contact Jim Firminhac with info

50/50 and lures raffles Big thanks to Tim Raddatz for this donation.

Scott Ghinazzi spoke on collecting old lures and how he got started etc.

Respectfully submitted by Bernie Felchowski, secretary.

Board Minutes: December 2nd 2019

Board members in attendance: Bernie Felckowski, John Thom, Nick Starr, Fred Williams, Fred Oksiuta, Cliff Bembeneck, Don Gilbert, Daland Sheahan, Leon Check

November minutes approved by: Sheahan, 2nd by Check, as printed

Treasurer report: $12,156.02 in checking

New DNR shock boat: Updated progress $19,500 in fund so far clubs etc. (Still Donating)

Sammy Molski Foundation: Work in progress, rods have been ordered from Elk River rods, each rod will be customized. First raffle will be held injunction with Steak Night March 21st 2020

Steak and Shrimp Night March 21st 2020: Tickets will be available at December Meeting, prizes, raffles, donation work in progress. Funs, possible drone raffle? Chest full meat? Any ides welcomed contact Bembeneck for tickets

Club wed site is up and running: New WebMaster <Brittney Garceau> asking for members to send- pictures and stories to her. She will be working on social media page soon, <Facebook> watch newsletter for details. Check newsletter for E-mail Address and instructions. Printing error caused confusion last month.

Sheahan motioned give $60.00 to her for services: Oksiuta 2nd, all voted in favor

Club outing for 2020 has been set for June 6th: watch newsletter for updates

Club awards and scholarship winners set up for February 20th: at Rookies, Raffles etc. still work in progress

Clothing: Jackets, shirts, hats, etc. (See Don Grorich)

Speakers: Any ideas contact Jim Firminhac

Videos: See Leon Check

Oksiuta motioned, Thom seconded: To close the meeting

General Meeting:

Introduction: Of board and general members: Approximately 35 in attendance

Rudy motioned, Kennedy 2nd: To accept November minutes as printed

Treasurer report: $12,156.02 in checking

Steak and Shrimp night 2020 tickets available now: Contact Cliff Bembeneck. March 21st 2020 Donations welcomed, contact and board members with ideas etc.

Club award and scholarship winner set for February 20th 2020: At Rookies. Any ideas on how to get more people to it welcomed. Contact any Board member with ideas.

Clothing: see Don Grorich for ordering jackets and shirts

Speakers contact Jim Firminhac: With info

DVD and Videos Available: See Leon Check

50/50 and lures raffles.

Annual Christmas Party: Food, drinks served, fishing and hunting stories told. Sent the stories to WebMaster, they would make for good reading

Respectfully submitted by: Bernie Felckowski, secretary

Not to be outdone By: Freddie O’s story of the mustard belly suick, but here’s my version of lost rods and reels. When I first discovered the Wisconsin River System, not saying what year cause that will age me, we found carp fishing to be a blast. We came across some incredible great fighting Fish, weighed one once with a scale that went over 30 pounds, the scare went “thunk,” thinking the fish was closer to 40 plus pounds!

One day we went fishing on little Biron, had night crawlers on the line, just letting them sink to the bottom. I realized I had the release bait and laid the rod down to go to grab it. With a sudden tug, “WHAM” the pole was gone, bait, caster, reel etc. all gone. Tried to snag it with other poles and lures, but nope, it was gone. A week later I took my nephew out to the same spot and told him the story of my vanishing pole, and on the second cast with a jig; He snags my lost pole with his! What are the odds of that happening? I felt like I had won the lottery, got everything back, the fish had only snapped the line. I still have that reel today, even bought my nephew a steak dinner afterwards. I have more stories about carp fishing, like jumping out of the boat to retrieve poles, losing a pair of glasses in the process. That’s a wild story, but I’ll have ti save that for another day. Wisconsin River fishing can be an adventure, lots of carp and cats, caught every species in there I think, including slimy dog fish. 

Board Minutes For November 4th, 2019

Board Members In Attendance: Bernie Felckowski, John Thom, Nick Starr, Fred Williams, Fred Oksiuta, Cliff Bembeneck, Don Gilbert

Absent: Leon check, Daland Sheahan

Oksiuta motioned: Williams’ seconded, acceptance of October minutes as printed.

Treasurers Report: $13,447.78 in checking.

12 Apostles Musky Club Stump Trophy Challenge October 12th vs Bills Musky Club: See November Newsletter for final details and winners.

Donation for New DNR Shock Boat: After much discussion and finding out the Musky alliance donated 5000.00 towards this project

Bembeneck motioned to donate 1000.00: Thom 2nd, Money be sent to Musky Alliance, they started funding the program for all clubs to get credit, including non-Musky clubs as well; they promised club logo on boat once the project is complete in 2 or 3 years.

New Business: Sammy Molski Foundation is work in progress

Steak Night March 21st, 2020

-Tickets will be available at December Meeting: Prizes, raffles, donation work in progress

Thank you letters received from: Boston school forest & moose lodge for club donation they received.

Club Banquet set up for February 20th, 2020: At Rookies/ Park Ridge restaurant food, raffles, prizes donation work in progress.

Club website up and running: New WebMaster (Brittney Garceau) asking for members to send pictures, and stories to her. Check Newsletter for E-mail Address and instructions.

Clothing: Jackets, shirts, hats, etc. See Don Grorich

Videos: See Leon Check

Oksiuta motioned, Thom seconded to close the meeting.

General Meeting:

-Introductions of Board and general members. Approximately 35 in attendance.

-Dale Sheahan Motion: Harry Hilger 2nd October minutes as printed.

-Treasurer Report: $13,447.78 in checking

-October 12th Stump Challenge outing Bills Musky Club vs. 12 Apostles Musky Club: See November newsletter for final out come.

-Steak & Shrimp Night: March 21st, 2020. Tickets will be available December 2019 meeting, ANY donation would be appreciated. Any member find good deal on items please contact Board Member.

-Speakers contact Jim Firminhac with info: Club decided to forgo speaker in December.

-Club Christmas Party: Food will be served & Ffish stories will be told.

-Musky Alliance told Club they have New Vice President: Fred Oksiuta Congratulated to him on being new Vice President.

-Clothing: See Don Grorich for ordering Jackets and Shirts

-Videos/DVDs: See Leon Check

-50/50 and lures raffles

-November Speaker: Don Kempen Spoke on recent event they had in October musky fishing in Minnesota

-Respectfully submitted by Bernie Felcowski, secretary.

I was introduced to this particular lure back in the day, on Lake Nokomis. My buddy and I caught 4 muskies in about an hours’ time, while going around what I remember as the “Grassy Island.” Three of the fish were caught on his Mustard Belly Suick, my next trip North included a stop at Rollie and Helen’s to get this hot bait. Over the next few years, I caught a few fish on it, both in clear and stained water, It took its place in my box alongside the other assortment of Suicks I used and still consider the best baits for the type of fishing I like to do.

Later in my wanderings on the water, a buddy and I were on Lac Vieux Desert one morning. It was still pretty foggy, not necessarily meaning the weather. A hard day of fishing the previous day ended up in some down time with our favorite refreshments. I was throwing the Mustard Belly and caught a musky, low 30’s in length. Not wanting to bother with the net, and being young and foolish, or at least foolish, my buddy grabbed the fish as I put my rod down and looked for the pliers. Not quite thinking clearly yet, I didn’t hit the free spool. The fish slipped out of my buddy’s hand back into the drink, pulling it with my rod, reel and bait.

We immediately started casting buck tails and letting them sink down, hoping to hook my line. About all we accomplished was uprooting these big stalks of cabbage. Like most of us, I felt gut-punched over loosing an old friend like the Suick, but it happens now and again. Must have looked like we were a few baits short of a full box, but after awhile I saw something white bobbing in this floating mass of weeds. It was my Suick with the white paint I put on the back, fish still attached. It kept going down and then resurfacing, obviously tired from dragging the rig around through the weed bed. Finally we got close enough to the net the fish and I had my prized Mustard Belly Suick back. Over the years she got pretty beat up and I tried to revive it with clear coat, but I think I really did it in. Now it resides not in my box but on the wall of infamy. Oh yeah…after all that, I also got my rod and reel back too.

-Fred Oksiuta

I attended the Fall Meeting of the Musky Clubs Alliance of Wisconsin. There was much discussion about adding $50,000 to the Alliance’s Endowment fund to provide annual scholarships to UWSP fisheries students. This would be a one time donation, with the earnings from the fund providing scholarships ninety in future years. Ultimately, it was decided to leave the endowment as is and donate $6000 for next years scholarships.

The National Championship Tournament is always looking for help setting up, taking down, etc. They are also looking for sponsors to put advertising on the back of tickets. The Clubs are asked to donate 5 lures each, to give to the kids in the tournament, of which there were 80 last year.

Tim Parks, DNR Fisheries, was at the meeting and talked about all things muskies including:

-The Walleye initiative, which affects the number of muskies raised at the State hatcheries.

-VHS, which is still a big concern and threat to the fisheries.

-How to produce a better product ie. muskies’ survival rate, which size fish do the best when stocked.

– How stocking is more difficult in Northern waters due to low conductivity in the water.

-How the DNR looks at stocking quotas. Tim discussed how the musky population is down in Lac Couderay, maybe due to habitat degradation, while Spider Lake is still overpopulated.

Board members in attendance: Bernie Felcowski, John Thom, Daland Sheahan, Nick Starr, Fred Williams, Fred Oksiuta, Leon Check, Cliff Bembeneck.
Absent: Don Gilbert, Big D
Sheahan motioned: Thom seconded, acceptance of September minutes as printed.
Treasurer report: $13.819 in checking.
12 Apostles Musky club Stump trophy Challenge October 12th vs Bills Musky Club: See November newsletter for Final details & winners.
Stocking report September 19th Stevens Point Flowage: 800 Musky Stocked & Pit Tagged by Local DNR personnel. Cost fish & tags, $10.307.00 Big Thank you for all who helped.
Donation for New DNR shock Boat: Tabled due to not enough info.
Buying more pit tag reader: Tabled due shipping time frame.
Daland motioned: Bembeneck 2nd to Give Brittney Garceau 100.000 For working on club web site. Site still is work in progress. Getting better but needs be fine-tuned yet. We hope to post more pictures of members and fish soon.
New Business: Bembeneck spoke on donation he received from Family of late Sammy (Samuel) Molski. Club received 1.500.000 After much Discussion Club will purchase 2 high quality rods & reels father/son combo(?) parent/kid(?) For next 3 years to be raffled off at Steak night & maybe at club award dinner, 2020 process be kept. After 3 years, the Money raised be used to stock Bluegills in lake or river in his memory, final Details still may be changed a little. Sheahan motion, Starr 2nd to move forward with this Board vote all in favor.
Starr, purchased large lot Good Lures: 45 of them for 194.50 Club motioned to buy them use for club meeting & event
Clothing: Don Grorich
Videos: see Leon Check
Bembeneck motioned, Sheahan seconded, to close the meeting.

General Meeting
Introductions: Of board and general members. Approximately 35 in attendance.
Hilger motion: Witt 2nd September minutes as printed.
Treasurer report: $13.819.10 in checking
October 12th Stump challenge outing Bills Musky Club vs 12 Apostles Musky Club: See November Newsletter for final out come.
Steak & Shrimp Night: March 21st 2020 tickets by DNR staff, look at board minutes for details.
Currently all pit tag readers are loaned out
Clothing: See Don Grorich for ordering jackets & shirts
Videos/DVDs: See Leon Check
50/50 and lure raffles
October speaker: Dan Bogg Spoke on Fly Fishing outfitter service he runs. Fly’s he uses & makes & how use them properly to land more Musky’s on Wisconsin River respectfully submitted by by Bernie Felcowski, secretary.