The Lake Shelbyville Muskie Club along with the Illinois Muskie Tournament Trail held a tournament on Lake Shelbyville on May 19. High skies and high air temperatures made for a tough bite. As in most cases there is always one team that figures out a way to catch the fish no matter how tough the bite can be.

The two man longtime muskie angling team of Victor Fox (Waterman, IL.) and Duane Landmeier (Hinckley, IL.) figured the muskies out on this day. They trolled 9 inch Drifter Tackle crank baits in the standing timber to trigger the fish to bite. Both fish that the two anglers caught hit the bait after the bait had made contact with a submerged standing timber tree. The two anglers started the day off casting and could not raise a fish. So they changed their tactics to trolling. Their reward was a 38 inch muskie that Victor landed. An hour later Duane scored on a 34.75 inch musky to seal the deal.

These were the only fish caught for the day. These to anglers are not only good muskie anglers. They are great active Muskies Incorporated members who have over the last 25 years been very involved in conservation and fisheries related issues that affect the states muskie fishery.

The two gentlemen along with their club the Quad County Hawg Hunters Chapter of Muskies Inc. in Plano, IL., have made a difference in the musky fishery in our state by attending meetings and donating time and money to make fishing for muskies better than ever in our state. Their hard work ethic has rewarded them on the water and the public with a great fishery.

Congratulations to the two anglers on their accomplishments.