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July 2024 BLC Newsletter

Hello Everyone, 

I hope the first part of the summer has been good to you. Now that we've had a month of muskie fishing, if you have been lucky enough to boat a few fish remember to get them entered into the lunge log. Just a reminder we do give away a free replica to the largest fish entered to the lunge log for the year. There are a few criteria that need to be followed. Most importantly is the picture on the bump board. For more information check out our website. I would also like to announce, we will be starting a 50" club, you will receive a shirt at the banquet. We will also recognize anyone that catches their first muskie with a shirt at the banquet. There is more information further down in the newsletter. As always we are looking for volunteers to help with our youth night coming up in August, if you are able to help with that please reach out to our youth director Jordan Moss. With the 4th of July weekend upon us, let's try and get the youth out on the water for a little summer time fishing. 



Tight Lines and Happy 4th of July.   

Levi Stifter

July 9th Meeting - Boat Rigging

Join us for our July monthly meeting where we’ll be talking about different ways that you can modify your boat - from adding new (to you) electronics and placement of them, to painting your boat or even extending your casting platform. It all can be done with a little bit of inspiration! A few members will have their boats at the meeting for you to take a look at what they’ve done to upgrade their rigs to their liking.



Our meetings are OPEN to the PUBLIC and FREE to attend - bring a friend!

**Reminder - our monthly meetings are now held at the Eagles Club, located behind the Brainerd Police Station.

Meetings are open to the public and FREE to attend! Chance to win various prizes from lures or maybe a rod in our meeting raffles. Come to hear and share fish stories and more. One random door prize drawing for those in attendance. Bring your friends!



* 2nd Tuesday of the Month - Brainerd Eagles Club 287 - 7 pm *

July 9

Monthly Meeting - Boat Rigging

July 20

MHOTY Outing - Any lake in Minnesota - 6am to 11pm

August 13th

Monthly Meeting - Youth Night - Nisswa Community Center

BLC Youth Night - August 13th

Our annual Youth Night will be held the night of our August monthly meeting and it will once again be held at the Nisswa Community Center from 6 pm to 8:30 pm. We will have a similar set up to last year, only we are hoping for no rain this year so we can do everything that we have planned outside!

Look for registration to open up the last week of July. We do cap the event at 75 kids, so registration is required (and FREE). Spots have filled up very quickly. So you'll want to jump on that once we send out notification that registration is open.

Volunteers needed! We are extremely grateful for all that volunteered their time to help put this on last year. But we could use a few more this year, especially if we are back outside. Please let us know if you can help by responding to this email or contacting any board member.

2024 MN High School Musky Tournament Results

Thank you to all of the participants of the high school muskie tournament on June14th! Though there were no muskies caught, plenty of pike and bass made it into the boat for these teams.

Two teams will be moving forward to the MN High School Muskie Championship on Lake Vermilion for the state tournament in August.

Thank you to Llungen Lures for your continued support of this great event!

Youth Member Spotlight - Nolan Stifter

Grade: 2nd 

Favorite fish: Muskie 

Favorite lake: Spider

Favorite lure: Perch Shallow Invader

Favorite boat snack: blue Jolly Rancher

How many Muskies have been caught: first muskie on June 8th

Favorite person to fish with: Silas - my brother 

Tell us a story: “Dad casted a scum frog and had a dogfish behind it. Then I casted in the same spot and caught it. It was the first time casting my new bait caster. I caught it on a spinner bait. He came in easy.”

We’re looking for more youth members to spotlight for our newsletter! Contact Jadyn at naturelover0224@gmail.com to be featured! 

** NOTE: Muskies Inc is a proud supporter of getting youth outdoors and on the water. Photos and stories can be about any fish that your youth finds exciting! **

Jeff Young Memorial - 2024 Muskie Shootout

Registration for the 2024 Jeff Young Memorial Muskie Shootout is open and just three months away. We have 33 teams signed up to date.

We will once again be headed back to Agency Bay Lodge on beautiful Leech Lake. Clear your calendar for the weekend of October 5 - 6, 2024 and register your team today. Remember, starting positions are determined by the order of registrations. So it pays to sign up early!

Low-Cost Pit Tag Readers

Any reader that will read full duplex (FDX-B) ISO 11784/11785 tags should work. Search "ISO 11784/11785 reader".

There are differences in the read ranges, display, interface options, data storage, etc. Some may be water resistant, but if not it might be necessary to use them inside a small plastic bag, but that shouldn't affect the function of the unit. 

Once you have the information from the pit tag, you will need to send the numbers to a DNR fisheries manager. Their contact information will be online,. Here is a list of who you need to get in touch with. 

For Bemidji Andy Thompson - Brainerd David Lockwood - Detroit Lakes Mike Harbrat - Fergus Falls Jim Wolters - Glenwood Alex Letvin - Grand Rapids Steve Mero - Little Falls Eric Altena - Tower Matt Hennen.  

I will have a pit tag reader at this month's meeting on Tuesday. 

Thanks!

Levi

2024 BLC Muskie Hunter of the Year (MHOTY) Schedule

June 23

Lake Bemidji - Northwoods Access - 7am to 3pm

July 20 (NEXT UP)

Virtual - Any lake in Minnesota - 6am to 11pm

August 6

Lake Roosevelt - Ladies/Kids get double points for muskies caught - 4pm to 9pm

August 11

Lake Pokegama - 7am to 3pm

September 3

Cedar Lake - Sponsorship night - fish must be caught using a BLC sponsor's lure - 4pm to 9pm

September 21

Leech Lake - 7am to 3pm

October 12

Lake Waconia - 8am to 3pm

October 26

Lake Roosevelt - 8am to 4pm

** Schedule subject to change **

** Potluck following most outings **

Find our entire outing schedule, results and MHOTY standings on the website.

BLC Memorial Outing

September 14

Mantrap Lake - 7am to 5pm

This is separate from the MHOTY schedule and is run a bit more like a tournament style with prizes for the winner as well as big fish pot and raffles afterwards.

**NEW** BLC 50” Club and First Muskie Club

Catch a 50”+ muskie during the 2024 Muskie season, or catch your FIRST muskie and automatically get in for an annual, commemorative shirt!

Here’s how it works:



• You must be a current member in good standing as of the time the fish was caught 
• Submit a release form, minimum, to the BLC

Send us your photos - we’d love to be able to post these to social media, use in the newsletter, submit to MUSKIE magazine, use at the end of the year, and more! These photos can be of any fish caught throughout the season, not just the biggest fish - all Muskies matter!

Release forms can be filled out online (https://muskiesinc.org/) or sent to Nathan French at french.nathan22@gmail.com, along with any fish photos throughout the summer.

NOT the actual shirt that you will receive. Image for attention only!

2024 Release Contest

The season is underway and some BLC members are already finding some success!

Current Release Standings

If you would like to participate in our 2024 release contest or be eligible for a free replica, please make sure to check out the above link and scroll down for requirements. Also remember that it can pay to participate in our release contest. All fish registered the previous month will go into a monthly drawing at our monthly meetings for a $25 Musky Tackle Online gift card. Must be present to win!

Save 10% at Musky Tackle Online

Orders placed with Musky Tackle Online that are delivered at monthly meetings are eligible for a 10% discount (and no shipping charge, of course). You need not be a member. You simply need to show up at the meeting to receive your order. It's that simple!

How does it work?

1) Register an account at Musky Tackle Online.

2) Email Aaron at MTO to let him know that you would like to have your order delivered at the next meeting.

3) He will set your account up to receive the appropriate discount.

4) He will let you know when you can proceed with putting in your order. Discount will apply automatically in your cart.

The BLC will get paid too! For every order that is placed this way, MTO will match the discount amount in the form of a donation to the chapter in the same amount. So not only will you get a great deal on some gear, but you will be contributing financially to the BLC!

CHAPTER SPONSORS



Please support our great sponsors that support us. We wouldn't be able to do the things that we do without their help!

Connect with us

BLC Photos of the Month

The Stifter family has been finding some success on the water!

Let's see what our fellow members are up to! Would you like to have your pictures featured in the next monthly newsletter? Send your fishing or outdoor related pictures to us at brainerdmuskies@gmail.com. Include a brief caption if you would like anything included with the picture.