Angler911.com - Show Your Support For A Great Cause

Angler911.com's vision is to assist people that have had their lives complicated by rare or terminal cancer. By making the connection between outdoors advocates and families in need, we can make a difference in someone’s life.

Patients and their families face many challenges when a loved one is diagnosed; the emotional and physical aspects are the most obvious, but what most people don't see are the financial difficulties that are often encountered.

Angler911.com’s goal is to create a website were professional and novice outdoorsmen can come together and make a difference in every aspect of the challenges that cancer creates. We plan to continue our work with additional beneficiaries and volunteers. Please take a moment and help make your difference.

SOB 16th Annual Fund Raiser 3/21/07

Please be sure to come out on Wednesday March 21, 2007 for our 16th Annual SOB Fund Raiser Dinner at Maravela's in Fox Lake.  It's always a great time, plus all the money we raise goes to stocking muskies, so show your support to the SOB's and muskie stocking and bring as many people as you can with you.  Without your support our muskie stocking program suffers.  Click here for the form or show up and pay at the door, but call us first, so we can an idea of how many dinners we need.  If you can't make the dinner, come anyways and join in on the raffle tables and auctions, lots of great stuff to win and bid on.  We need your support!

SOB Annual Awards Presentation - 4/18/07

Our annual awards presentation will be held at our last indoor meeting on April 18, 2007 at the Moose Club in Antioch.  The awards presentation will begin at 7:30pm followed by our monthly speaker Lee Tauchen - Madison Chain, WI & Mille Lacs, MN Guide.  For those of you who who are not familiar with Lee, he's a regular writer for Esox Angler Magazine and also appears on The Next Bite Esox Angler TV show and The Linder's Anglers Edge TV Show.  So be sure to stop in, especially if you placed in 1st - 3rd place in your division or won Lunker Month, so you can receive your award.  See you there.

2006 SOB News

2006 Release Contest Winners

SOB 2006 Lunker of the Months

2006 SOB Outings on the Chain!

Nick Cammarata won the SOB Fox Chain Traveling Trophy contest with a fat 46.25 caught during the June Outing, Congratulations to Nick.  September 20, 2006 Outing -  Unfortunately I don't remember how many boats we had at the outing, I waited to long to file the report and my memory has failed me, luckily I'm not under oath.  But I'm sure we had a great time and I know no one was able best Nick Cammarata's 46.5 incher from the June outing, so Nick won the Traveling (Stationery) Trophy, now all he has to do is get it from Tommy.  August 16, 2006 Outing - Unfortunately I was unable to attend this outing, but I heard we had a good turnout of around 10 boats.  The weather was nice and FINALLY there was no rain, but again the muskies were elusive, with none being caught that night.  With only the September 20, 2006 Outing left here is where we are at so far for the SOB Fox Chain Traveling Trophy contest.  In the lead is Nick Cammarata with a fat 46.25" muskie caught during the June Outing, in second place is Tom Olson with a pretty 40" muskie caught during the July Outing, in third place is Scott Bjornson with a 37" muskie caught during the May Outing & Bob Matusek is in fourth place with a 35.5" muskie also caught during the May Outing.  So it's still pretty close with any SOB member having a shot at winning the Traveling Trophy contest, so be sure to attend the September Outing on the 20th at Daddy O's on Rt. 173 in Antioch at 5pm until dusk.  See you there!

"Laugh no more!"

Here is a nice story from SOB member Jessi Shopiro on her 45" Muskie, she posted the story on Chad Cain's website.

Every year, my family goes to the North Woods (Hayward, WI) for two weeks. During the two weeks, my Dad (Rick Shopiro) and his friend, Rick Velasquez, go fishing with the "Famous" Chad Cain for two days on Lake Vermillion, MN. On the day my Dad left for MN, he sat me down, gave me the keys to the boat, and showed me how to wrap and unwrap it. Afterwards, I told him I wanted to take the boat up to Fawn Lake, and asked if it was alright to go through the channel. Our conversation went something like this:
Dad: "Sure, but be careful when you get to Fawn, because the water is low this year. And just out of curiosity, what are you going to throw?"
Me: "A black Llungen tail with a red and silver spinner"
Dad: "No, don't do that, throw a crank bait. They've been hitting on crank baits."
Me: " No Dad, I want to throw a Llungen".
Dad: "Fine, have fun catching no fish."
That night, I took the boat out with my friend Rachel bass fishing. While going through the channel, a boat of guys saw us and laughed at us. They asked us if we've been, "catching all the fish." and I replied, "Yes, a 20'' Bass and some more 17 and 18" bass." The bass fishermen said no more, but that wasn't the last encounter I had with men laughing at me while driving my Dad's boat. Which really, really made me want to go catch a big fish because I wanted to show them all up.

So the very next day, I woke up early, 8:15 a.m., and grabbed my friend Terri. We headed out to Fawn Lake to the exact weed line I wanted to work around 8:45 a.m., with the sun very bright and the water flat. Not a good sign. So I told Terri I probably won't catch a fish, but I might get a lazy follow. If I do, I told her I would say, "Follow, follow", and she should get the net, and so she can see her first Muskie. She replied, "OK, but what if you catch one?" I thought for a second, then said, "We're screwed."

On the next cast, I was bringing the lure into a figure 8 and saw a huge fish following it.
I screamed, "Follow, follow!!". Terri got up and grabbed the net. The fish flared it's gills and crashed down on my lure.. I was reeling her in and Terri took one look at her and said, "Holy S___!! It's huge!". I screamed, "Terri, put the net in the water, and net the fish!". Just as Terri put the net in the water, the fish jumped, and landed in the center of the net.  I quickly turned off the trolling motor (that I learned to work that day), and let the spool out.

"OK, OK", I said to myself, and got the pliers and bent down in the net.
The fish was pissed off. She kept thrashing and hit her head on the side of the boat. I had to hold the net away from the boat, but in the water, for about 45 seconds while she released steam. Then I tried to get the hook out. It was in her mouth, and I needed to use the jaw spreader. After I finally got them to work, I cut the hook that went through the bottom of her mouth and pulled the remaining hook out. She was free, and not bleeding, which was a very, very good sign.

Terri then got the ruler and said, "She is at least 35 inches". I responded, "Are you kidding? She is at least 40". Then while I was measuring her, Terri kept asking questions: "How big is she?" "Is she your biggest?" "Will she live?"
I replied, "Yes, she's my biggest, she's 45", and Terri, I need you to stop asking questions right now!".
She said, "OK" and got the cameras ready.

I frantically looked for the Musky Armor gloves that we had purchased at the Musky Show in Illinois. They were not in the lure box my Dad left. I said, "Crap, the gloves are with my Dad. You would think Chad would have enough!". (Turns out the gloves were there, I just looked past them in my rush). I went back to the net, and turned her over, and ran my finger until I found the bone. I quickly slipped in my unprotected hand, and said, "OK, Terri, get ready."
I slowly lifted her out of the water, and held her for the pictures. I then slipped her into the water away from the net, and she slowly took off.

I cleaned the boat and told Terri to watch for her. Sure enough, about ten minutes later, we saw a big fin swimming around. I trolled over to where she was, and as soon as she saw the boat, she kicked off real strong. We stayed for about ten minutes more, and then I told Terri she would be fine.

Instead of continuing to fish, we drove straight back to the bay where our cabin was, and told everyone what happened, and showed them our pictures.

My Dad came home the following day, and I told him the story. I got a lot of, "You're kidding me" and "Unbelievable!". Turns out that my fish was:
a) the biggest landed by anyone in our boat;
b) on the lake on which my Dad really wanted a fish (although he outfished me on three other lakes in the chain); and
c) caught with the lure my Dad told me not to use.

So, thank you, Dad for teaching me how to fish, how to work the boat, and for taking me fishing all the time (you are the one who made me love it). Thank you, Chad, for teaching me and my Dad so much about Musky fishing. Without you, that fish would probably be dead. And thanks to Rick Velasquez, for teaching me patience and how to get the hook out of a fish. And thank you Ted Cushna for giving my clues about the spot to fish and what lures to use.

I will email Chad to post the pictures of the fish since I do not know how to do it on this forum.

From All SOB Members, Congrats to Jessi on applying all you have learned about muskie fishing into a spectacular catch!

July 19, 2006 Outing - Conditions were PERFECT for some muskie fishing on the Chain, of course we had a lite drizzle to start the outing off, but no real rain.  We had two fronts move in, but the fish were uncooperative, unless you were in Tom Olson's boat.  Tom always seems to find where they're biting.  Tom was fishing with his son Nick and was able to land a 40" for the only fish of the outing.  It was still a fun time, we had 6 boats with about 15 members participating.  The next outing will be August 16, 2006, see you there.

June 14, 2006 Outing - OK the rain is getting a bit tiresome now.  The June outing started out, of course, with rain, but we still had around 6 boats with 10-12 members and friends who put on the raingear to take a shot at catching some muskies.  Nick Cammarata took the honors with a fat 46 1/4" on his 5th cast of the evening.  His boat partner also hooked up with a 30+ inch fish and they moved a few other fish.  Bob Matusek had a couple friends along with him, one of them got a 30+ incher and Bob lost a nice fish on a topwater bait.  Bill Kilimnik & Bob Macko both had low to mid forty-inch fish up, but couldn't get them to commit.  All in all, despite the early rain, it was a fun time on the water.  Here is a photo of Nick's fat 46 1/4", click on the image for an enlargement.  The next outing is July 19, remember to bring your raingear, because the way things are going, you'll need it.

May 17, 2006 Outing - Well, if you waited out the lightening and braved the pouring rain & hail, then during the last hour and a half you got to see the sun.  That describes the first Outing on the Chain for 2006, where 11 members in five boats braved the weather for a chance at catching a muskie.  But for Scott Bjornson & Bob Matusek the weather was no match, as they each got to net muskies and that's what it's all about.  Scott & Bob were able to hook into a couple nice fish after all the weather cleared.  Scott caught a 37" and won the Outing and Bob caught a 35.5".  Click on the photo below to enlarge.  Don't forget to stop by on June 14, one week earlier then normal, for the next Outing.  Hopefully the weather will be a bit more cooperative.

Musky Fix Guide Service

SOB member Ben Modica has started his own guide service on the Fox Chain.  Ben has been a member of SOB for the last 3 years.  He has caught numerous BIG fish from the Chain including a couple 48"s, a 47.5" & a pair of 46"s.  His new website is www.muskyfix.com and has a lot of information including a Message Forum with Fishing Reports for the Fox Chain.  So if your looking a good Fox Chain guide, be sure to check out his new website.

2006 SOB Fund Raiser

We have changed the date of the 2006 Fund Raiser to a Saturday.  It will be held on March 25 at Maravela’s in Fox Lake on Rt. 59.  Members will be getting their registration flyer in the mail shortly.  Please make a point to sign up as many friends as you can.  It’s always a great time with a lot of great items to bid on & all the proceeds go to help fund the club and stocking the Chain Lakes.  If you have any items to submit for the Fund Raiser, please contact Bill Nuyttens at 847-838-1784.  For more information on the Fund Raiser please contact Ed Kukulski at 847-691-5718.  Click here for a printable pdf copy.

2005 SOB News

2005 Release Contest Winners

SOB 2005 Lunker of the Months

SOB Monthly Outing Winners

Amazingly no SOB members caught a legal muskie during the 3 months open for the Traveling Trophy, so Bob Matusek will hold on to it for another year.  We have also merged the May & September Silver Lake Outings into the Fox Chain Outings.  So now all monthly fishing outings will be held on the Fox Chain and all 5 will apply for the Traveling Trophy in 2006 and beyond.

SOB Muskie Stocking

We will be stocking 300 plus muskies into the Chain on December 21, 2005.  We would like to get some members to volunteer to help out.  We have to pit tag 200 of them and fin clip 150 of them.  We are starting at 10am at Daddy O’s (formally Mentones) on Rt. 173.  Any members interested can also join us for breakfast at Squires on the corner of Rt. 173 & Rt. 83 in Antioch at 8am; you can contact Lenny Szulc at 815-385-9026 for more information.  IDNR Regional Biologist Frank Jackabesic will be on hand to help out.  Frank will also be our guest speaker that night at out regular monthly meeting at the Moose Club.  Don’t forget to bring a new wrapped lure for the grab bag, as this meeting is also our annual Christmas Party; hope to see you all there.

We also need volunteers to help man our booth at the All Canada Show at Pheasant Run in St. Charles on Jan. 12-15, 2006.  Please contact SOB member Frank Walter at 847-689-2133 for more information.

SOB Members catching BIG Muskies!

Well, this year has certainly seen some big muskies in the nets of SOB members. Who would believe that the top 3 muskies caught by SOB members would total 163", WOW! The women have been cleaning house, with two of the three biggest muskies caught by SOB members. SOB member Linda Rice went to Lac Seul, ON and oh what a trip she had. Linda caught a 42.5", 46", 48", but she wasn't done. She also got a pair of 30", which probably looked like bait to the 57" she caught boat side on a Top Raider, talk about making your knees shake.

SOB husband & wife members Terrence & Dianna Napolski went on a trip to Lake of the Woods, ON. Terrence got a nice 47", but not to be out done Dianna top it with a 51".

SOB member Bill Pilarski went to Rowan Lake, ON home of some monster muskies and he did not leave disappointed. Bill caught a 44", 46.5" & a 55", Rowan sure did live up to its reputation.

SOB member Rick Shopiro went up to Lake Vermilion, MN and fished with guide Chad Cain. Chad has been nailing some truly big fish on Vermilion this year, with 128 muskies in the boat, 41 fish 45" or larger, 22 fish 48" or larger and his personal best a fat 55". Chad was well worth the money, they got a 43", lost a 40" & a 45" and Rick caught a 47.5" on a Llungen Tail.

SOB member Jim Stella & Keith Eldrup also traveled up to Lake Vermilion to fish for a day. Keith caught his personal best, a Fat 53" on a Llungen Tail, which resulted in a classic 'Chinese Fire Drill' in the boat, according to Jim. At one point during the fight, Keith & Jim were standing shoulder to shoulder on the front side of the boat, when Keith said to get ready with the net, "here she comes", "here she comes" said Keith. Then almost on cue the muskie jumped clear out of the water, BEHIND us! I would have paid a $1,000 for a photo of our faces as we whip lashed our neck around to she her cart wheeling across the surface towards the front of the boat and OH NO, THE TROLLING MOTOR. After getting the trolling motor out of the water and unwrapping the line from it, you couldn't believe our surprise to find her still on the end of the line and then, finally, safely into the net. Jim said he has never been shaking so much before, and all he did was net her.

The Fox Chain has also been popping out some nice fish. SOB member Ben Modica has a 48" & 47.5" along with a number of other fish. SOB member Scott Bjornson also got a nice 45" out of the Fox Chain. Here are some photos of the BIG GIRLS caught by the Women & Men of SOB.

Tournament News

Spring ‘05
SOB Members continue to tear it up in 2005 tournaments.  SOB Member John Risius and his partner Colby Simms won the PMTT Cave Run Tournament in April with a 40 1/2" & a 40 1/4", SOB father & son members Ron & Rich Weidner placed 12th with a 34 1/4".  Continuing with the winning streak in the PMTT, SOB member Tom Olson and his partner Seamus Hanley won the PMTT Pomme De Terre tournament in May with 3 fish a 45", 40 3/4" & a 38 1/2", then they continued their success with a 2nd place finish in the PMTT Eagle River, WI in June with a 45", 39 1/4" & 34 1/2".  SOB member Bob Matusek & his brother Bill placed 10th with a 35" in the FRV Spring Tournament on the Fox Chain & SOB members Jim Stella & Rob Frechette won 1st place at the IMTT Shawnee Musky Hunters Spring Tournament on Lake Kinkaid with a 44", 44", 41" & 36", SOB husband & wife members Bill & Dinna Nuyttens also place 6th with Dianna's 40" Kinkaid muskie.  Great job SOB's.  Here are some pictures of the fish they caught, click on the photo's to see it enlarged.

SOB Outings on the Chain - Next up 7/20/05.

The May outing was held on 5/11/05 on the Fox Chain.  It was cold & windy, real windy.  We had about 7 boats with one fish.  SOB member Jim Stella caught a 32" on a Shumway Hot Tail.  The June outing had a good turnout of members, but unfortunately not muskies.  One muskie was caught by former SOB member Doug Kloet.  The July & August outings also had good turnouts, but again the elusive muskie proved just that, ELUSIVE!

2004 SOB News

2004 Release Contest Winners

SOB 2004 Lunker of the Months

NEW Muskies Inc. Website

Muskies Inc. has redesigned the website.  It has fresh new look and a lot of new features.  One of those features is that you can enter your own fish online.  Click here for the instructions on how to do this.  And don't forget to check out the New & Improved website www.muskiesinc.org

SOB Monthly Outing Winners

The Silver Lake outing was held at the Silver Minnow on 5/19/04.  A good time was had by all who attended even though no legal size muskie were caught.  The June Outing was held on the Fox Chain out of Double D's (formally Mentones) on 6/16/04.  Bob Matusek won with a nice 35.5".  The July outing on the Fox Chain was won by Tom Olson with two fish a 41.5" & a 32", his son Nick caught a 38".  The August outing was won by Bob Matusek with two fish a 37" & a 34".  The September Outing was held on 9/15, we had a good turnout, but unfortunately the muskies decided not to par take.  A couple shorts were caught and some members raised a couple nice ones, one was even lost by our Master Muskyteer Lenny, but none made it into SOB nets.  So, after 3 Outings on the Chain our Chain Challenge Traveling Cup winner is Bob Matusek with a 35.5" caught at the June Outing & a 37" & 34" caught at the August Outing.  Congratulations to Bob!

Three 50"+ Muskies Caught on the Fox Chain this Year!

Steve Hulyk, who is SOB member Ben Modica's PMTT partner caught and released this beautiful 50.5" muskie on the Fox Chain in July '04.  Congrats to Steve on a great catch.  Also Two other 50+ have been reported caught on the Fox Chain including another 50.5" caught by Randy Chappel pictured below that won the SOB Reproduction Award for the first verified 50" caught on the Fox Chain.  Congrats to Randy on a great catch and winning the SOB Reproduction Award.

Tournament News

Spring ‘04
SOB Members have been hitting the Tournament Trails hard this Spring and our results have been great! SOB member Bob Matusek & his brother Bill won first place in the FRV Spring Tournament. SOB members Jim Stella & Rob Frechette finished 5th at the PMTT Cave Run, KY Qualifier & 2nd at the IMTT Shawnee Musky Hunters Spring Tournament on Lake Kinkaid. In the PMTT Lake Shelbyville, IL Qualifier SOB father & son members Ron & Rich Weidner placed 11th, SOB member Ben Modica & his partner Steve Hulyk placed 12th SOB member Jeff Gembala and his partner Stu Weigner placed 14th and SOB members Jim Stella & Rob Frechette placed 18th. SOB members Ted Loster & Rick Jaeger took 3rd place in the IMTT Jake Wolf Tournament.
Summer ‘04
SOB member Tom Olson and his partner Seamus Hanley took 19th place at the PMTT Eagle River, WI Qualifier. In the PMTT $100,000 Mike James Memorial Mega Musky Tournament SOB member Tom Stygar and his partner Tom Neubauer took 9th & SOB members Tom Olson and Lennny Szulc took 18th place.
Fall ‘04
SOB embers Jim Stella & Rob Frechette took 3rd place in the IMTT Lake Shelbyville, IL Tournament. SOB members Jim Stella & Rob Frechette took 14th place and SOB father & son members Ron & Rich Weidner placed 18th, in the PMTT Lake Minnetonka, MN Qualifier.
6 SOB teams have qualified for the PMTT Ranger Boats World Championship in New York, NY. Here are those teams, with their overall placement in the Top Gun Standings. Congratulations to all of them and Good Luck in the Championship!
Jim Stella & Rob Frechette – 4th
Ron & Rich Weidner – 9th
Ben Modica – 26th
Jeff Gembala – 40th
Tom Olson – 45th
Tom Stygar – 49th
Here are some pictures of the fish they caught.

Honda's New 150 VTEC
Submitted by Tom Olson

During the fall of 2003 I had the opportunity to run one of the first few new Honda inline 150 four-strokes. This was a pre-production motor which incorporates the powerful VTEC and dual-stage induction (DSI) technology. It's also used in Honda's BF225 outboard that's been out on the market for several years.

Honda's VTEC was developed in the early 90's for sport cars and Formula One race cars. The Honda 150 VTEC engine is a car designed, 2.4L block and it is the same 16 valve, fuel injected, four stroke engine found in the Honda Accord. A very true and tested engine! The outboard has a vertical oiling system with an external oil cooler and filter.  Additional features include a 40-amp automotive style alternator. 

I was running this pre-production motor on a Lund 1800 Pro-V. The motor was bolted all the way down on the transom. No Jack plates here. The propeller was a Power Tech 15 1 / 4 " x 19" stainless 3-blade. Top speed on this pre-production motor was 47 m.p.h. at 5600 rpms using GPS.  The VTEC engaged at around 4500 rpms religiously. The added power could truly be felt when the VTEC kicked in. 

For actual fuel results, I can't give you specifics but I can tell you that after running this motor from the beginning of September through December 11, 2003, three plus months, I was using less fuel then I had when I was running my 130 four stroke Honda. Now that's very impressive.  I had been told that the 150's fuel economy would be better then the 130 and they sure were right. I was also running on average 4500 rpms, anywhere and everywhere I could. I trolled with this motor and everything in between. Yes, it was cold with a November and December's North wind greeting me solidly in the face running and gunning. with this added speed.

This motor will fill the gap that has existed between the 130-200 Honda lineup. The motors weight was 478 lbs. That's 17 lbs less then the BF130.

If your thinking about powering a new or older rig, you won't be disappointed with the performance, reliability and strong fuel economy that this new BF150 will deliver.

Tom Olson won the 2003 Traveling Trophy, for the second consecutive year, for the Fox Chain Outings for June, July & August this year.  He caught a 40.5" at the August outing.  SOB members who also caught fish at the outings include: Lenny Szulc with a 36" at the June outing.   Tom Olson with a 40.5", Bob Matusek with a 31" and Jim Stella with a 31" at the August Outing.  Congratulations Tom.

2003 SOB News

2003 Release Contest Winners

SOB 2003 Lunker of the Months