Steve Schneider Memorial Musky Tournament Leaves Wounded Warriors in Action the Winner
Temps in the high 80's welcomed fishermen to the 2013 Steve Schneider Memorial Musky Tournament Saturday August 24. But that did not stop 34 teams from spending the 10 hour day on the water to raise money for the Wounded Warrior in Action Foundation, A national organization with a camp just outside of Phillips WI that helps rehabilitate wounded combat Veterans using outdoor skills.
The field lined up at 6:30 am in front of the Harbor View Pub and Eatery on Long Lake and eased out one by one racing across the lake to their first spot in hopes of claiming the first fish bonus.
The first team to score was the father and son team of John and Jeremy Sattler with a 34.25" fish at 7:15 am on Long Lake. Shortly after at 7:38 the husband and wife team of Brandon and Nicole Dunbar scored as Nicole hooked a 34.5" fish on Lake Duroy. Nicole didn't waste any time hooking another fish. Brandon netted his wife's 38" fish at 8:50 am also out of Lake Duroy.
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There is a 2 fish tournament limit so Brandon and Nicole Dunbar had to pull their boat from the water and wait until 4:30 to see how many other teams would double and if any of them would tally more total inches. The next fish was caught just 10 minutes later as John and Tom Tingo boated a 34 incher at 9:00 am.
It was just over 2 hours before the next team would be on the boards as another husband and wife team Jason and Kylee Baratka would capture the big fish of the tournament. The hefty 44.5 inch fish came at 11:05 from the smallest lake on the chain, Elk Lake. Brandon and Nicole were still holding on as the next fish came in at 1:34 with Jake Stiener and Steve Holzum hooking a 40.5 from the waters of Duroy.
At 2:49 the team of Jaime Schneider and Jason Lazar boated a 39" fish on Lake Duroy. Jaime is the Daughter of Steve Schneider who this tournament was named after and they were fishing out of his boat making this one of the most special fish of the tournament. The fish were not done for the day and Brandon and Nicole only had less than 15 minutes to wait when the team of Joel Walczak and Rick Godager put their name in the books with a 41" Duroy fish at 4:17.
In the end Brandon and Nicole Dunbar held on to the lead all day and took the first place prize $4,015 and 2 limited edition WWIA knives donated by the WWIA
Brandon's Cousin Jason Baratka and his wife Kylee took the second place prize of $1,620, Rick Godager and Joel Walczak were 3rd and received $1,080. 4th place and $540 went to Jake Stiener and Steve Holzum. 5th to Jason Lazar and Jaime Schneider with a $465 prize. The first fish bonus of $320 went to Jeremy and John Sattler and the big fish bonus of $320 went to Jason and Kylee Baratka.
Seven out of 34 teams caught 8 measurable fish and raised over $1,600 for the Wounded Warriors in Action.
Drawing winners:
| Wisconsin River Trip Jesse Heinz & Peter Polacek |
Spring Bay Resort John Carlson & Jason Johns |
Special thanks Chuck Bolton and John Carlson each teamed up with a WWIA Purple Heart Veteran to fish the contest with.
Pictured are the first place teams 2 fish, the big fish of the tournament, Knife presentation to winners by WWIA, and rules meeting
Thanks to:
Ross’s Sport Shop
Birch Island Resort
Harbor View Pub & Eatery
Spring Bay Resort
Chuck Bolton
St. Croix Rods
The Potter Place
Beach’s Roadside
Phillips Lanes
Dave’s Legacy Guide Service
Linda Carlson (Ross’s Sport Shop)
WWIA Purple Heart Veterans
Brad Wirt Guide Service
Bob Boltz
John Carlson
Duane / Bonny Grube
Dan / Holly Virnig
Linda Christman
And of course,
all the participants/fishermen
THANK YOU EVERYONE and anyone I missed.
For lodging, guide, dining, and entertainment information and much more connect with Price County Tourism and Executive Director Kathy Reinhard at www.pricecountywi.net, 800-269-4505 or tourism@c0.price.wi.us.
John Carlson-N.P.A.A. #378
Ross's Sport Shop & Guide Service
286 North Lake Ave
Phillips, WI 54555
715-339-3625
715-820-0958 mobile
rossport@pctcnet.net
www.rosssonline.com