in North America and their guests do not have to travel far to fish. “Other lodges will drive a good distance to get to our end of Eagle Lake for a taste of the outstanding fishing, especially muskie and walleye. The guests from other camps, however, have to leave mid-afternoon to get back to camp for meals. Also, if weather changes, it takes even longer across the vast, larger part of the lake. Our guests can go out early in the morning and still be very close for a hot breakfast. They also have those extra hours before dinner while guests from other lodges are again traveling. Add to this another 3 to 4 hours “prime time” low light conditions after dinner and it’s easy to see our muskie anglers have no problem getting plenty of quality muskie fishing in, fickle or not. Ed Tausk responded to feeding muskie anglers as being an issue of service, and service is what they are about. He went on to say they take great pride in the quality of meals they provide and coming from someone that has experienced them first hand, that’s a fact. Being flexible in scheduling, preparing and serving meals to fit the muskie fisherman is not a problem at Vermilion Dam Lodge. However, there is one consequence. If the muskie angler on a meal plan comes off the water without a good fish story, he or she may have to answer to the cook! In regards to needs, it’s simple to realize everyone’s are not the same. Some want meals, some don’t, some want guides, while others don’t and so on. I think you get the picture. So with that being a reality, I thought we should research what is available and what, if anything, might be missing. The question I put to the owners was this: what does your facility offer the muskie angler? At Century Lodge you will find they have a full American plan and limited housekeeping, nicely equipped 16 foot deep-V Lund boats and 18 foot Outfitter guide boats with brand new 25HP and 45HP Mercury outboards each season, a private landing, excellent launching and docking at no additional charge, seven docks located very close to the cabins with electrical power hookups, sheltered areas for docking, twelve modern cabins overlooking the lake with hot and cold running water, showers, private baths, lake view dinning with home-cooked meals, live bait for walleye and smallmouth, daily dock service, fish cleaning, freezer service, professional guides, detailed hydrographical maps, comfortable lounge with fieldstone fireplace, a tackle shop, and best of all great muskie fishing. Pehrson Lodge Resort offers the muskie angler a great location on Lake Vermilion. Located in a well protected bay, their docks are equipped with electrical power to the docks. They offer light housekeeping. Their lodge is located just off the shore of Lake Vermilion offering a superb view of the lake just outside the door. Lake Vermilion is 40,000 acers strong, has 365 islands and 1200 miles of perfect shoreline. At Pehrson’s you will find twenty-eight cabins beautifully placed on 2,000 feet of Lake Vermilions finest shoreline. All the cabins are situated for a great view and many offer dishwashers, fireplaces, multiple bathrooms, large decks and more. And best of all, is the fishing. Incredible trophy muskie, smallmouth and largemouth, walleye and very big northern pike, guided or unguided, rental or private boat, it’s all up to you at Pehrson Lodge Resort. Wiley Point Lodge is located in the Big Narrows region of Lake of the Woods and offers deluxe American plan accommodations (only) with incredible chef-prepared meals, full-blown

buffets with deserts to die for, and meals available basically anytime. And they also have a full off-lake menu to choose from. Wiley is staffed with some of Lake of the Woods’ best muskie and walleye guides. They offer Deep-V Lund boats as part of their packages, powered by new Mercury outboards. Their docking facility is second to none and is complemented by electrical hookups along every dock. Daily maid service and a full service bar set them apart from other facilities located on the lake. The lodge itself is located in a quiet bay, and their outside decks and dining areas offer some of the most spectacular views available from anywhere on the lake. Inside the lodge you will find two full bars, the main dining room and a lower-level group party room offering central air and satellite television. As I stated earlier, there was a time when all these amenities were not available to the muskie angler. A good deal of the attention we receive today is, in my opinion, due in large part to the growth of muskie fishing in general. But how do the lodge owners feel? Have they witnessed the same growth trends I have? Eric Brown Jr. says he can see a definite increase in the number of muskie anglers, not to mention a huge improvement in their skill level. Ed Tausk also says he has seen major growth in the past two years. “Vermilion may be somewhat of an exception compared to other muskie lakes,” Ed admits. “In the past Lake Vermilion has always been recognized as a bass, walleye and northern fishery. It was not until the late eighties that muskies were introduced to Vermilion. The real opportunity for a shot at a respectable muskie didn’t come about until the mid-nineties. And here we are today with a reasonably good shot each day at a fifty-plus. With that being said, we are experiencing steady increases in the number of muskie anglers. They respect their resources, and if trends continue, we can expect Lake Vermilion to excel beyond anyone’s furthest dreams”. Randy Tyran states that for the last fifteen years of owning Century Lodge, they have seen more and more fisherman each year interested in fishing for muskie. He also pointed out that an increasing number of serious muskie fishermen are hearing about the prime waters in their area and their outstanding resource. According to Randy, “the growth is not only in the amount of people that fish for them, but also in the desire these anglers have to release and protect the resources in which they hunt”. And, last but not least, I thought I would give the lodge owners an opportunity to turn the tables on muskie anglers with the following question: what is the number one thing as a lodge owner that you would like to request of muskie anglers in general? Eric Brown Jr. responded by expressing how wonderful he felt the sport of muskie fishing was and asked that all anglers share their knowledge and enthusiasm for the sport with others. “It’s the numbers that will win in the long run. Practice conservation, release and love a muskie.” Randy Tyran echoed that catch and release is the way to go. “We would love to have you experience the outstanding fishing for muskies we offer at our lodge. Regardless of where you decide to go, we encourage all muskie anglers to educate themselves on the use of proper equipment (braided lines, proper leaders, rods, reels, etc.) and the proper way to handle and release muskies. We also congratulate those of you who have seen their big fish swim back off into the depths. There is no greater feeling in the muskie fishing experience than to see your trophy go back healthy into its habitat to fight another day”. Pete Olson, “The KIng”, with a Lake Of The Woods Muskie