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June 2024 BLC Newsletter

Hello everyone, 

It's finally here, the 2024 muskie season. Hope you all got out over the weekend and were able to use some of the new baits you acquired over the winter. Now that the season is here let's remember to practice safe fish handling. Along those lines I would also like for people to keep in mind the fair chase aspect of the muskie fishing sport, these are very delicate fisheries and we need to do our part in making sure they thrive for years to come. 

Please come out next Tuesday to our monthly meeting. Which is at a new location, the Brainerd Eagles Club. We will be building baits, breaking down a few new lakes, and drawing for the lifetime youth lic. for one of our chapter youth. 

Thanks,

Levi Stifter

New Monthly Meeting Location!

Be sure to make note of our new monthly meeting location!

Brainerd Eagles Club 287

124 Front St, Brainerd MN

June 11th Meeting - Lure Building & Lake Discussion (outing schedule)

At this month's meeting we will be building lures as well as discussing our outing schedule for the year. On the outing schedule, there are a couple of new waters that we haven't gone to before, so we will be discussing those in more detail.

We will be building a bucktail or spinnerbait for the fraction of the cost of a new one. If you have a bucktail that's a little beat up and needs to be redone, bring them and we'll show you how to do it. J3 Tackle will have components and tools on hand to help you build.



FREE Lifetime Fishing License

We will also be drawing for a LIFETIME FISHING LICENSE to a BLC Youth Member at the June meeting. If you have a youth member that became a new member or renewed between January 1st and May 31st, those are the only eligibility requirements. Need not be present to win. But we do hope you'll be there!

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 *

June 11

Monthly Meeting - Lake Breakdown (outing discussion) and Lure Building

June 14

High School Musky Tournament (details below)

June 23

MHOTY Outing - Lake Bemidji

July 9

Monthly Meeting - Boat Rigging

Rules and Registration can be found here

Grade: 1st

Favorite fish: Walleye and Bluegill

Favorite lake: Cedar

Favorite lure: Green Pumpkin

Favorite boat snack: Apples and Peanut Butter

How many Muskies have been caught: 0 but I have caught 1 baby

Favorite person to fish with: Uncle Dave

“We were on Nolan and Finley’s lake, driving around on a mini snowmobile, looking at flags to see if we caught anything. We were ice fishing. We caught a pike, like 5 pike and 1 bluegill.”

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! **

The BLC needs YOU!

We’re looking for volunteers, like YOU! 

We have three upcoming youth events that we’re looking for volunteers:

• Kids Fishing Clinic - Lum Park - June 8th
• High School Muskie Tournament - Gull Lake - June 14th
• Brainerd Everything Outdoor Youth Expo - Crow Wing County Fairgrounds - June 15th

Spend a few hours during the day teaching youth about fish and fishing at both the Lum Park and Fairgrounds events, and share with them the passion that you have for the outdoors.

At the high school tournament, we are looking for a few folks that can be on the water with their boats and available to assist, if needed.

If you’re interested in volunteering a few hours of your time please contact Jadyn at: 218-821-3728

Jeff Young Memorial - 2024 Muskie Shootout

Registration for the 2024 Jeff Young Memorial Muskie Shootout is officially open and we already have 31 teams signed up!

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!

2024 BLC Muskie Hunter of the Year (MHOTY) Schedule

June 23

Lake Bemidji - Northwoods Access - 7am to 3pm

July 20

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 **

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.

Release Contest & Replica Eligibility

The 2024 season is under way! Here is our annual reminder to everyone of our annual release contest as well as our replica eligibility.

• Any BLC member that enters a fish into our release standings in a given month goes into a random drawing for a Musky Tackle Online gift card at the following month's meeting. MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN.
• ​You can enter your fish online through the Lunge Log or submit in person at any meeting to our Release Chairman, Nathan French. Submitting your fish electronically will save our release chairman a considerable amount of time.
• If you would like to have your fish entered in the chapter contest but not be submitted to the national Lunge Log, you can download and print out a release form to be submitted to Nathan. Be sure that you check the appropriate box on the upper left hand corner.

2024 BLC Replica Eligibility and Rules

1. Must be a current member in good standing at the time of catch

2. Attend at least four (4) monthly meetings per calendar year

3. Attend at least one (1) Muskie Hunter of the Year outing

4. Must submit a clear photo of the muskie's length on a bump board

Receipt of the photo is your entry into replica eligibility

Submit your photo to Release Chairman Nathan French at french.nathan22@gmail.com

5. Fill out and turn in a MI Release form to the Release Chairman within thirty (30) days of catch

Rules and Info:

1. The replica will be awarded to the winner with the largest (by length) release as per Replica Eligibility.

2. In case of a tie - the muskie that was caught first (by date and time) will be awarded the winner.

3. Winner of the replica will be ineligible for future BLC awarded replicas.

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!

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BLC Photos of the Month

Wayne Zitzow's grandson with his first ever muskie! Caught while trolling for walleyes. Congratulations, Will!

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.