SALMO HODAG MUSKIE CHALLENGE 2005

Two lucky fishermen reeled in $20,000 with a triple catch of a 39½”, 36” and a 47¼” muskies, totaling 173 points, to claim first place in the 2005, 18th Annual Salmo Hodag Muskie Challenge. Brothers, Dan Wojtusik and Mike Wojtusik, both of Rhinelander, caught their winning fish on Boom Lake. This year’s tournament produced 58 muskies in total. Forty on Saturday and eighteen on Sunday.

The second place team, winning $5000, were Brian Petoskey of Sussex, WI and Craig Petoskey from Franklin, WI. with two fish 42¾” and 36¾” caught on Crescent Lake totaling 106 points. The third place team winning $2,550 was Tom Urban of Rhinelander and Charlie Zarter of Lake Tomahawk. Their two muskies measured 37¾” and 40¼”, caught on Boom Lake, points totaling 100.

Prizes are awarded on a point system of 30 points for each legal muskie caught plus 1 point for each ¼ inch over legal size. Prizes are based on total points accumulated during the two days of fishing. The following is a breakdown of places four through ten:

Fourth place with a $1,100 cash prize went to the team of Kurt Felber of Mosinee and TeeJay Lansin of Rhinelander, with two fish, 38” and 38 ½”, off Boom Lake. Fifth place $700 cash prize went to our very own SALMO team of Tom & Marcy Zenanko of Minneapolis, MN. with two fish, 35¾” and 40” off Boom Lake. Sixth place cash prize of $600 went to the team of Scott Gindt of Jackson, WI & Brian Gindt of Birchwood, WI with one fish 47½” off Pelican Lake. Seventh and eighth place tied with a cash prize of $450 went to the team of Dean Calhoun of Plover and Mike Lazers of Stevens Point with two muskies 35¼” and 38½ off the Moen Chain. The other team was Ed Durkee and Mark Durkee both of Rhinelander with one fish at 47¼”. Ninth place cash prize of $300 went to the team of Seth Rehfeldt and Joel Janssen both of Stevens Point with a 47” muskie off Crescent Lake. Tenth place of $250 went to the team of Ray Wopat of Elroy and Mike Running from Tomah with one fish 44”.

The 47½” muskie was the largest muskie recorded in this year’s tournament caught on Pelican Lake by the team of Scott and Brian Gindt. There is also a cash prize of $100 given for registering the largest northern. This year’s winner was the team of Tom Urban and Charlie Zarter, with a 34½” fish off Boom Lake.

The Salmo Hodag Muskie Challenge is presented by the Rhinelander Area Chamber of Commerce and sponsored in part by Salmo Performance Fishing Lures.