Who is George Wahl?
George Wahl knew a thing or two about what lures a muskie to the hook. And as an avid muskie angler and inventor of the Eagle Tail lure, he'd caught his share and helped others catch theirs, too. Along the way, he was a longtime ambassador for muskies and muskie fishing who helped make Minnesota a preeminent muskie fishery.
An accident at work forced him to change careers. He began making and selling his famed hand-made Eagle Tail muskie bucktail - one of the most popular muskies baits ever. George figured he made about 80,000 Eagle Tails and another 120,000 Little Eagles and Mini Eagle lures in his basement workshop.
He fashioned the fish-fooler in a few weeks. After a few days of direct selling, he signed dealers in Wisconsin and snagged an exclusive arrangement with the old Burger Bro's. store.
George not only caught a lot of muskies - he stopped count years ago around 400, his biggest was a 56-incher - he made a lot friends. Most tackle makers and fisherman hold close their secrets, but not George. He'd teach anyone how to make his lure and help people launch tackle businesses. If he saw a fish somewhere , he would take you to it, and watch you catch it. To George, it made good marketing sense to freely give his lures away to strangers he met while fishing.
About 14 years ago George founded the Minnesota Muskie Expo - an annual three-day show that attracts thousands of muskie fanatics annually in the Twin Cities. In 2009 it was renamed "George's Minnesota Muskie Expo."
George donated portion of the show's proceeds to Muskies Inc., the national group formed in Minnesota to promote muskie fishing. He once served as president of the Twin Cities chapter and was involved in the early efforts to stock muskies in Twin Cities lakes. He inducted into the Muskies Inc. Hall of Fame in 2006.
George got hooked on muskies while fishing on Ontario's Eagle Lake in 1972. "A muskie almost jumped into my boat, chasing a lures," he said. "It was a big fish, too; scared me to death. You see something like that, it changes your life." It changed his. "Since then there's been nothing but muskies," he said. "Since 1976, I've caught one walleye and that was on accident."
Muskie fishing is an addiction to many. "You literally eat, sleep and breathe muskies, period," George once said. All us fellow muskie addicts will miss him.
2009 Tournament Wrap Up
The wind picked up, temps dropped, rain fell and registration for the Inaugural George Wahl Memorial Muskie Tournament picked up.
In the end over 200 contestents registered, went out and challenge their skills on 12 lakes across the metro.
With over $5000 in cash prizes at stake the contestants end up caughting 21 fishing over 40 inches on 7 of the designated lakes.
The tournament proceeds are ear-marked to stock fish in the metro lakes so we can continue to enjoy a sport we are addicted to and as George once said, "You literally eat, sleep and breathe muskies, period,".
A special thank you goes out to Thorne Bros for hosting the closing ceremonies, Todd Cleveland of Phantom Lures with the custom colored (using George's favorite colors) commemorative Phantoms, Musky Mayhem for donating Eagle Tails and Paul Villnow for donating the unclaimed Mary Villnow Award cash to the stocking fund and all the contestants of this years tournament.
Michael Schaffer from Ostego was the Grand Prize Winner of $2500 in cash and a resort stay at Whitefish Bay Camp with his 40" muskie from White Bear Lake.
The final standings from the 2009 George Wahl Memorial Muskies Tournament can be found on the results page.