The Results are In ...

Now that our votes have all been counted Webster Lake Musky Club has its new Board of Directors in place for 2017. I look forward to a great year as I hunker down for the winter that always seems a bit too long. See you on the water in 2017! (or at the sport shows) -  Bill Kopp

President:
​Bill Kopp

​​First Vice President:
Jim Welsh

​Treasurer:
Sean Bergsma

Secretary:
Fred Dobry

Chapter Representative:
Adam Wallace

Youth Director:
Jared Knipper

​Tournament Director:
John Dobry

2016 Fall WLMC Newsletter

The 2016 Fall WLMC Newsletter is available with all the upcoming events including 2017.

http://tinyurl.com/jug72uj

- Bill Kopp

Come gather round people, wherever you roam

If boats had rear view mirrors, smack dab in the middle of 'em would be the '16 Northern Indiana Spring fishing season. As I reflect back, with the exception of the same few guys (and btw, isn't that always the case) most of us have struggled in the first third of this year. The remembrance of those bitter cold, rainy fishless days are all too vivid to fade, questioning our mettle as Muskie anglers. We couldn’t have asked for a more miserable day to host this year's GFAD if we held it in Warsaw, Poland.  It began to feel like the season was never going to change. But, we motor forward, putting our faith in the Farmer's Almanac, Solunar tables and Bob Dylan.
 
"Come gather round people, wherever you roam,
  admit that the waters around you have grown,
accept that soon you'll be drenched to the bone,
if your time to you is worth savin',
  you better start swimming or you'll sink like a stone.
For the times they are a changin'."


Change indeed had come, and it wasn't just the weather. As most of you know by now, WLMC was put on idle last fall. This was not an easy decision, since the remaining B.O.D were founders of WLMC. No one reason or no one group was responsible for the shut down. With these same few members shouldering almost all of the day to day operations of the club, frustration set in. Complications with fund raising, participation in outings and tournaments along with the threat of not having resources to continue stocking  (just to name a few) fueled the decision to start up a new independent Musky club. M.I. bylaws require all charters to maintain a proper Board of Directors with all positions filled. With the absence of a '15 December meeting, no election was held, ergo, none of the open positions were filled. Rumors of WLMC folding began to spread as the deadline to assemble a B.O.D. neared. The reality of Muskies Inc. not having a presence in such a valuable and plentiful muskie area like the Tippecanoe Watershed was not a scenario a handful members of Chapter #49 were willing to live with. News of propping  the 'MC back up again reached the ears of Scott Law and the rest of the B.O.D. of  Hoosier Musky Hunters Chapter #42. Shortly after, the line communication between the two chapters began, which I might add in the past was rarely a static free connection. Their support was a big shot in the arm for the group of members who were poised to keep the charter afloat and staying afloat we did. An emergency B.O.D was formed. The new Treasure, Sean Bergsma and Event Director Adam Wallace, began a campaign to bolster the bank account by putting together lures and other tackle to be auctioned off. Thanks to their unwavering commitment and many generous donations from our sponsors, the auction was a huge success, bringing in over $2500.00 in much needed revenue. Their effort meant much more than a financial gain. It unified a previously splintered group. Idled members began to participate again, in the auction as well as showing up at our first two events of the season. Support from members of HMH #42 continued as two of their members took clients out for GFAD, one of them even recruited two groups of clients. U.S. Route 31 between Warsaw and Indy have been repaved.

"Come Mothers and Fathers throughout the land,
and don't criticize what you don't understand.
Your sons and your daughters are beyond your command.
Your old road is rapidly agin'.
Please get out of the new one if you can't lend a hand.
For these times they are a changin'."

The concept of lending a hand was catching on. After a profitable lure auction followed by a well-attended Iceout Challunge, the club was really starting to take shape. The B.O.D focus turned to whether or not WLMC would hold the annual Guide For A Day fundraiser. In the past, the club's P.R. department would attend 3 or 4 winter outdoor shows throughout Indiana with the objective to promote musky fishing and  gain new clients for GFAD.  With the club in idle mode, preparations were not made to attend any shows this past season. The odds of having a successful GFAD were pretty slim. The last minute decision to hold the event put the board under a lot of pressure. Thanks to the great job the club has done with this fundraiser in the past, we were able to contact previous clients and promote the event this way. To our surprise, we had more people clients than we had guides. Not wanting to turn clients away, the board scrambled to find members to fill the void. After the dust settled, we ended up with 10 members who stepped up to show the 22 clients the ins and outs of muskie fishing. Unfortunately, as mentioned before, the weather was miserable. Despite the weather, 3 fish were caught. Thanks to Ed Hamilton, Garrett Graham, Jeff Whitney, Eric Fleming, Rick Swain, Sean Bergsma, Bill Kopp, David Cates and Adam Wallace. Also to Mark Johnson for being in the bullpen in case we needed him. Efforts like these will surely carry the club safely into the future.

Plans and preparations continue in the organization of the Summer Picnic. It will be held Sunday August 7th at Lakeview Park in Syracuse.This will be a family event. The club, along with sponsors, will be providing a bounce house, cotton candy and snow cone machines. Typical picnic games will be held with prizes for the kids. So plan on attending this event. Invite your sons and daughters as well as the grandkids. More info can be found on the club website at www.websterlakemuskyclub.org. If all goes well, we are planning on making the picnic an annual event. For these times they are a changin'.

Don't stop Believerin'
Jim Welsh

Muskies Inc Article

 For the past 15 years, the Iceout Challunge has been the outing that has jump started Chapter #49's open water fishing season. After months of watching our boats collect dust in the garage, it was finally time to rip off the cover and head to the lake. On the third Saturday of last March that was exactly how some 15 boat owners  chose to spend their day. The much anticipated kickoff event was contests by over 30 anglers from five different M.I. chapters and by the time the last boat was loaded back on its trailer over 25 muskies were hoisted over their gunwales. Although many fish were too small for registration, 6 of them qualified for Muskie Inc MOFC points. One boat in particular had a very busy day. Chap #42 Hoosier Muskie Hunter team member Nikki Swain boated five fish and registered 3 for a total of 32 points which was enough to put her clear of the rest and earn her the title of 2016 Iceout Champion. HMH team member Jeremy Sivis claimed 3rd place with a nice 39'' musky. Sivis' points combined with Swain's bested HMH over WLMC , Chicagoland Musky Hunters #3 and Michigan Muskie Alliance #47 securing the covenanted Travelling Trophy and bragging right for 2016 . Jordan Kane from CMH came in 2nd place landing two muskies, the largest being 36". On behalf of the WLMC, I would like to thank everyone who came out and supported this outing. Outings like these are the biggest reason most of us join clubs and organizations. Like minded members discussing muskie fishing after a day of chasing our favorite species is as rewarding as the catch itself. Well, almost.

Our next event will be the 23 hour Ironman Tournament.  It will be held June 10, beginning at 6:00pm and ending the following evening, June 11 at 5:00pm. All M.I. chapter members are invited. If you are new to tourney fishing, this event is a great way to get your feet wet. Modest entry fees and friendly club atmosphere  gives one an opportunity to hone their skills for next year's Indiana Muskie Classic without all the pressure. Like all our events, swapping strategies and telling fish tales over a warm meal will be taking place at the awards presentations immediately following. If you can't make out on the water, stop by the Pavillion in North Webster for a bite to eat and some club camaraderie. Rules and entry fees will be posted on our club website, websterlakemuskyclub.org  or on our Facebook page.

We are in the planning stages of organizing a family picnic for our members. The proposed date is August 6th. This will be the first non fishing event WLMC has planned in a while. If you are interested in attending or would like to be added to the picnic planning committee, please get in contact with a board member. We look forward  to any ideas people have about fishing or non fishing events you would like to see held in the future. Remember, this is your club. Your participation is much needed and desired. Let's make 2016 the best club year ever.

WLMC would like to welcome the following new members. Matthew Ledford, Tommy Frederiksen, John Boehning, Kevin Holland, Jared Knipper Family, Kyle Halderman, Mark Asuras, Ciara and Laura Spangler, Pamela Brescia and Dave Brosky.

Don't stop Believerin',

Jim Welsh 

Upcoming Events

Spring Guide for a Day is shaping up to be another great event this Saturday. Looking forward to getting out there with all the new and returning clients. Thank you for your support !

We also have IRON MAN scheduled for June 10 and hope to be publishing details of our August Family Picnic soon. Also, look for details on the fall Hey Vern annual tourney. That has always been a great time.

I hope you get a chance to get out there and get your net wet soon,
Bill Kopp

Congrats on 20 Years !!

Congratulations to The Hoosier Muskie Hunters Muskies Inc. Chapter 42 on their 20 year anniversary. Great article by Scott Law in this month's Muskie magazine chronicling their journey and all their accomplishments that helped make a real impact of the muskie fishery here in Indiana.

If you have an interest in muskie fishing and are not yet a member please consider joining Muskies Inc. For $25 per year you can have access to the Lunge Log data, online magazine, chapter events, and so much more.

Bill Kopp
Webster Lake Musky Club Chapter #49

It's almost here..

With the mild winter we already have open water to fish here in Indiana. Not all the surfaces are clear but some of our members have already put fish in the boat. Clearly an indication of a great upcoming season. Today I walked down to the shore and tested out some of those new lures I made, bought, or won over the winter season. Some definite winners in the bunch. I twisted up some new inline spinners on thinner wire after seeing a seminar at the Chicago musky show. Those bad boys got some crazy shake and shimmer to them. Can't wait to give them a true field test.

We have the Ice Out Challunge coming up March 19 and look forward to seeing you all there !!
It'll feel good to get back out onto the water again.
Bill Kopp

News you can use, Updated Feb. 15, 2016

Look for information regarding the Ice Out Challunge happening in March as well as other events in the works such as GFAD and news on league outings. We hope to have auction items available soon on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/muskyfleemarket from Sean Bergsma. All proceeds of these auctions will go to the Webster Lake Musky Club. We plan to run these auctions throughout the winter. If you have anything you would like to donate there is still time.

Feel free to email us at wlmc49@gmail.com. And check us out on google+, twitter, or facebook.

Thanks,
Bill Kopp