October 13, 2022 at 2:51 p.m.
Musky Moon event held at Camp American Legion
Organizers hoping to hold more events to benefit veterans
Musky Moon event held at Camp American Legion
Schultz said he and his son were watching a hunting program on television about the Wounded Warrior Project when they came up with the idea to give back. He had been into musky fishing for many years and he wanted to share his passion for it while giving back to veterans at the same time. Schultz contacted the Wounded Warrior Project around Christmastime of that year, and the event started the next year, with two veterans. It has grown consistently from there.
"I handed it off to Big Jeff in 2020," Schultz said. "And he has blossomed this into something bigger than I anticipated and more than what I even thought even I could do. It's a great event to get our veterans outdoors and enjoying the water, fish or no fish."
Musky fishing teaches a lot about life, he said. It teaches that, if a person works hard, the reward at the end is going to be big. Seeing the veterans just relax for the weekend, he said, was bigger than seeing them catch a 50-inch fish.
This year's event was held at Camp American Legion in Lake Tomahawk with the assistance of Take Em Outdoors, a non-profit organization dedicated to severely ill or terminally ill children and combat-wounded veterans. The mission of the organization is to get those people outdoors into the woods or on the water to enjoy fishing and hunting. Stolenson, who is the veteran's representative for Take Em Outdoors, said the group also had a hunt going on in Wyoming on the same weekend, with terminally ill children from several states taking part in an antelope hunt of a lifetime.
In all, there were 11 veterans and eight guides who took to the lakes of the Northwoods for two days of fishing for the elusive esox. While the muskies were less than cooperative, Stoleson said the anglers were able to raise a few. Several good-sized northern pike were also caught, he said,
Events such as this one are much less about the catching fish than they are about spending time on the water, and at the camp. The camaraderie between veterans and between veterans and guides is the biggest part of the event.
"It's the smiles on the vets' faces," Stoleson said. Veterans from Minnesota, Illinois and Wisconsin took part in the event this year. Guides came from across the state from clubs such as Bill's Musky Club in Wausau, God's County Musky Club and the Musky Shop in Minocqua. Veterans received a rod from Bear Rods, as well as gear from a variety of manufacturers such as Musky Mayhem, who has been involved for 10 years, Musky Innovations, Suick, Llundgren Lures, Indian Creek Bucktails, Sasquatch and Big Joe's. Local businesses, such as the Lake Tomahawk Meat Market and the former J&J Sports also supported the event.
Some veterans had never thrown a musky lure while others were more experienced. Many did not know the Camp existed and were excited to come and spend the weekend there once they heard about it.
One of the veterans, Patrick Hazelton, started musky fishing a few years ago, but this was his first year fishing the Musky Moon. He spent the weekend staying at the camp and looked forward to get on the water.
Stoleson said, looking to the future, he hopes to have more events at Camp American Legion. He said he hoped to plan a full week where veterans could spend time on the water and just relaxing at the camp. He is also hoping to create other hunting and fishing events for veterans the in years to come.
Those looking to donate can do so directly to Take Em Outdoors. For specific events, such as the Musky Moon event that is held at Camp American Legion, he asked that anyone looking to donate do so directly to the camp.
"I would rather have the money go directly to them," he said. "They're doing us the favor. So anything that we do raise, I'd like to see it come back to here. We'll take it, but I'd prefer it to come to camp. Chances are, it's not going to just help us, but the other guys that come to camp, too."
Beckie Gaskill may be reached via email at [email protected].
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