Hodag Musky Challenge sees good fishing

Musky anglers fishing the Shoeder’s RV & Marine Hodag Musky Challenge can choose from many lakes around the Rhinelander area. Boom Lake and the Wisconsin River, the Moen Lake Chain, Pelican Lake, Lake George, Crescent Lake, Bearskin Lake, Lake Julia and the Sugar Camp Chain are all available for teams to fish. The top prize in the two-day tournament is $10,000. There are also monetary prizes for the largest musky, the largest northern and there is one random winner from all of the winners of largest fish on each lake.

This year the tournament drew 112 boats and paid out over $22,000 in prize money, according to one of the tournament organizers, Nancy Sattler. The tournament also raised over $16,000 for area non-profit agencies, she added.

Dan Gropengiser and Jarrod Haenel reeled in three muskies on Bearskin Lake that were 36 1/2, 40, and 41 1/2 inches long. The duo won the event in 2019 also.  

Second place went to Craig Lemmer and Bobby Sheldon with two fish from Moen Lake Chain. They also caught the largest fish registered at 46 1/4 inches. 

Third place went to brothers Derek Bartz and Travis Bartz, who also caught three fish from Bearskin.

Beckie Gaskill may be reached via email at [email protected].