July 28, 2017 at 4:57 p.m.
41st annual World Musky Hunt to be held Aug. 24-26 in Lake Tomahawk
41st annual World Musky Hunt to be held Aug. 24-26 in Lake Tomahawk
Rickman will receive a replica mount of her catch at this year's banquet from Joe Fittante Replicas in Antigo.
The World Musky Hunt began as a dream of three people in 1977. The event was modeled after the Wyoming Governor's Invitational One-Shot Antelope Hunt. The event was envisioned to show off the Lakeland area, and to honor the state of Wisconsin and the elusive muskellunge. This year, as in the past, there are teams of three contestants known as "hunters" who will challenge the waters and the muskies. These hunters have this one chance to win the honor of winning team. After this time they are invited back each year as a "past hunter" to enjoy the area, friends and fishing. The contestants and past hunters are paired up with guides from around the area. These guides volunteer their time and equipment. The goal is to encourage good sportsmanship, friendship and great stories.
Over the years contestants have ranged from former state governors, politicians, astronauts, professional anglers, sports writers and business leaders. Contestants come from as far away as New Zealand, Europe and Canada, and across the United States. This year there are seven 3-person teams of contestants registered. In 2016, Governor Scott Walker joined to fish and later spoke at the welcome dinner about improving fisheries and invasive species eradication in the local waters.
Each year an individual who represents the traits of good sportsmanship and promotes the sport of musky fishing is chosen by the board of directors to be the honorary guide. For 2017 the honor goes to Matt McCumber. McCumber has been with the hunt since 1990 and has served on the board of directors for many years. He has won numerous awards over the years and is always at the top of the leader board for contestant guides. McCumber's wife Pam and daughter Alyssa have both fished as contestants in the hunt. He is employed by Dupont in Beloit, and resides in Janesville. McCumber has won numerous musky tournaments throughout the state and manufactures "Rubber Dubber Musky Lures." McCumber and his wife have a summer home in Lake Tomahawk.
The World Musky Hunt is a 501(3)(C) charitable organization. Last year a scholarship fund was created for biology students at Lakeland Union High School, and two graduates were awarded the scholarships for 2017. One of the many goals of the hunt each year is to promote the Lakeland area. Raffles held on Saturday evening at the banquet are full of items donated from the local businesses in the area. In the past money raised from the raffles has gone to restocking the Tomahawk chain with musky and making repairs to the Art Oehmcke Fish Hatchery in Woodruff. Other donations have gone to Kids with Cancer, the ALS foundation, Huntington's Disease and many local charities, as well as the town of Lake Tomahawk.
For more information contact Ron Rickman at 715-467-0123.
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