So what happened in 2010?
2010 George Wahl Tournament Benefits Metro-Area Fishery - October 2nd, 2010
Abright, sunny day yielded only 10 muskies for the 175 anglers who participated in the second annual George Wahl Memorial Tournament on October 2. The biggest fish in the tournament was a 54.5-inch beauty boated by Chris Blachowiak on Minnetonka (pictured on right).
An awards program and feed was held on the grounds of Thorne Bros. at the end of the day. The ten winners each received a shadow-box plaque complete with a George Wahl Eagle Tail and a picture of their fish, a $50 Thornes gift certificate and a bait package with an Eagle Tail, Super D, Larry Dahlberg’s Whopper-Plopper and a custom-designed, commemorative Phantom created just for the tournament by Todd Cleveland featuring one of George’s favorite color combinations. The top five anglers also received a cash bonus.
Every particiant who registered a fish was eligible for the grand prize drawing. Winner of the grand prize, a week stay for 4 at Whitefish Bay Camp, Lake of the Woods and $1000 cash was Greg Kappes.
Raffles were available for all who attended the awards with prizes that included a $600 tree planted in your yard from Green Acres Tree Moving; a $340 G-Loomis rod from Joe’s Sporting Goods; stays at Amason’s Obabikon Resort, Lake of the Woods and Pine Beach Resort, Lake Garfield; electronic equipment, and guide trips with Josh Borovsky, Ben Olsen and Dave Gustafson, and pedestal bait boxes from Reed’s Sports.
George Wahl passed away in 2008 and this tournament was conceived as a way to honor him, his love of muskies and muskie fishing, his contribution to the muskie fishing industry, his generosity sharing information with others, and his encouragement to muskie anglers. 100% of the proceeds from this tournament will go toward the metro area muskie fishery in one way or another.
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.
3rd Annual 2011 George Wahl Memorial Muskie Fishing Tournament - September 24 - Minneapolis/St. Paul Metro Area
On-line registration is open! Details for this years tournament are as follows:
- GRAND PRIZE – One Week Stay for up to 4 People at Whitefish Bay Camp, Lake of the Woods plus $1000. Modified American Plan – the folks at Whitefish Bay Camp know you will want to be out early to chase muskies and probably not be tied to coming in for lunch at a certain time. Dinner will be provided for you with ample time to go back out afterwards. Grand Prize is awarded by draw of all contestants registering a muskie 40 inches or longer.
- FIRST TEN PLACES – Plaques and prizes will be awarded through 10th place – CASH UP TO $500 for top 5 places
- JUNIORS – Commemorative Shadow Box with Eagle Tail Lure and Photo, Thorne Bros. Gift Certificate, and Lure Package to top three juniors.
- MARY VILLNOW MEMORIAL – Top three women anglers registering fish
will receive cash prizes totaling $500. In honor of Mary Villnow..
Lake Minnetonka Anglers
Awards Program and Feed
THORNE BROS. - 10091 CENTRAL AVENUE NE, BLAINE
- Feed starts serving at 5:00 pm. Additional meals available at nominal charge.
- Bring non-fishing family members or friends.
- Awards program starts at approximately 6:00 pm.
- RAFFLES with custom Thorne Bros. rod, guide trips, resort stays and more!
2011 Proceeds
You are making a contribution to keep muskie fishing in the metro area successful. 100% of the proceeds raised by this event will go to improve the local metro-area muskie fishery through stocking and other projects.
