Dreaming of the Muskellunge in Winter

There is no shinier lure to attract monster fish than the muskellunge lure. Certain proof of that was displayed last weekend at the 20th annual Milwaukee Muskie Expo, in which the first annual World Championship “Handcrafted” MUSKIE Lure Contest took place. The event was billed as having artisans from all over come and create artificial bait in categories such as “topwater, crankbait, and glide/jerkbait.”

On Sunday, the first 200 children received a free rod and reel. The scene was a kind of dreamscape, packed with photos of muskies next to stuffed muskies next to walls of lures, both sparkly and wooden. This was an event for the hardcore fisherman and was a definite fit for Wisconsin, which is home to the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame in Hayward that boasts a two-story tall muskie.

The Muskie Expo also featured many speakers that educated anglers on how modern reels are built, trolling techniques, spawning habits, “Shield Lakes” of the North Country, and night fishing. There was even a giant tank filled with smaller fish and lake bottom debris to demonstrate how the best lures and angles worked. TCD contributing photographer Jennell Jenney was there, and came back with an intriguing set of images. You can view them in slideshow below or at our flickr account here.

Muskie season is only 73 days away.