View this email in your browser

If your email program cuts off the bottom of the email click "View this email in your browser" up top to see the whole thing.

March 2025 BLC Newsletter

Hello Everyone, 

I hope you all have had a good winter. Here at the Brainerd Lakes Muskies Inc. we've been hard at work, getting the summer event list put together, youth night organized, and tournament permits submitted. Along with getting those things done, we've found the time to organize the 21st annual Sportsman's Banquet. We are bringing more guns this year, different games and best of all a bigger event space. We are still holding it at Cragun's, but have moved it to the Pine Ballroom. Now that the banquet committee has got the event planned and is ready for March 22, we need your help to sell the tickets. We only sell 160 tickets to the event. In the past we have sold out of tickets well in advance. If you are thinking about coming or know someone that would be interested in coming make sure you get them today. We want to see you there. All the proceeds that come from the banquet help the chapter do the things we do throughout the year. Such as, supporting three local fishing teams, Aitkin, Brainerd and Pillager. Also, purchased pit tagging equipment for the Glenwood DNR fisheries, supporting Muskie Mission Complete, hosting our annual youth night, the high school muskie tournament, along with helping at many other youth events in the Brainerd lakes area. Without your support at the annual sportsman's banquet we would not be able to support our local fishing communities.  

Levi Stifter

March 11th Meeting - Greg Berg - 7:00 pm

Greg Berg, the Mille Lacs Lake Area Supervisor, will be joining us in March to talk about Mille Lacs. From muskies to walleyes, the topics are wide ranging on this lake. It should be a great discussion. Bring your questions!

Meetings are open to the public and FREE to attend! Chance to win various prizes from lures or maybe a rod in our meeting raffles. Come to hear and share fish stories and more. One random door prize drawing for those in attendance. Bring your friends!



* 2nd Tuesday of the Month - Brainerd Eagles Club 287 - 7 pm *

March 7-9

Minnesota Muskie Expo - State Fairgrounds

March 11th

Monthly Meeting - Greg Berg - Mille Lacs

March 22nd

BLC Sportsman's Banquet

April 8th

Monthly Meeting - Lure Swap

BLC 21st Annual Sportsman's Banquet

March 22, 2025

The Brainerd Lakes Chapter's 21st Annual Sportsman's Banquet is just a couple of short weeks away. Tickets are available on the BLC website and we encourage you to get yours today!

Buy Tickets Here

Check out the details of our brand new Indoor Fishing Contest that you will get to participate in at the banquet. We have also put together a Things To Know graphic that should help address most questions and just give you some general ideas of what you can expect if you haven't attended one of our banquets in the past.

This is our biggest and most important fundraiser of the year. The banquet allows us to do all of the things that we do through the year from our monthly meetings to other outside events, focusing on Muskies Inc's core values of Youth, Fisheries and Research.

Banquet Photos Needed!

We would love to share your pictures at the 2025 Sportsman's banquet! If you have pictures from this past season that you would be willing to share for our banquet slideshow, please send them to Levi at levistifter1@gmail.com. Pictures of your own catches, your kids, etc., all are welcome.

Find the BLC at the MN Muskie Expo

The Minnesota Muskie Expo is being held this weekend at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. Come check out all of the great vendors and a great schedule of speakers.

The BLC will have a booth as well. Come find us just to say hello, buy your banquet tickets, sign up for the 2025 Shootout, or just chat to see what we all have planned for 2025.

** Pictured is a sneak peak of our new Expo displays. Thank you to Esox Ink Creative for the design help! **

Jeff Young Memorial Muskie Shootout

October 4-5, 2025

Registration is now open! It's never too early to start planning for our annual tournament! The Jeff Young Memorial Muskie Shootout will once again be heading back to Agency Bay Lodge on Leech Lake. Agency Bay Lodge has been a great partner for us and they help us put on a great event. He hope you will be able to join us on October 4th and 5th this year.

Youth Member Spotlight - Will Fleck

Grade: 9th

Favorite fish: whatever is biting but I really want a muskie

Favorite lake: Mille Lacs Lake

Favorite lure: Rat’l Trap

Favorite boat snack: Peanuts

How many Muskies have been caught: 1, caught June 2024 on Mille Lacs

Favorite person to fish with: Dad and Grandpa Wayne

We’re looking for more youth members to spotlight for our newsletter! Contact Jadyn at naturelover0224@gmail.com to be featured! 

** NOTE: Muskies Inc is a proud supporter of getting youth outdoors and on the water. Photos and stories can be about any fish that your youth finds exciting! **

2025 BLC Muskie Hunter of the Year (MHOTY)/Outings Schedule

June

•  28th; Bemidji Memorial Tournament - all lakes “fair game”
• 7am-3pm

July 

• 15th; Lake Alexander - Ladies get double points for muskies caught
• 4pm-10pm
• 19th; Lake Miltona - potluck at Noon
• 7am-10pm

August 

• 5th; Lake Shamineau - Kids get double points for muskies caught
• 5pm-10pm 
• 10th; Moose & Deer Lakes
• 6am-4pm

September 

• 2nd; Cedar Lake - sponsorship night - fish must be caught using a BLC sponsors lure
• 4pm-9pm
• 20th; Leech Lake
• 7am-3pm

October 

• 11th; Pelican Lake
• 8am-3pm
• 25th; Lake Roosevelt
• 9am-4pm 

**Schedule subject to change**

** Potluck picnic to follow after most outings**

Bump Boards for Sale

As a board (no pun intended) we made the decision to invest in some new bump boards for the Jeff Young Memorial Muskie Shootout that we hold every fall on Leech Lake. We did this to add both the chapter and shootout logos to the boards. But we also wanted to support an operational bump board company in Muskie Bumper. The original bump boards for the Shootout were from T's Tackle and they have not been in business for a number of years now.

So that means we have a bunch of bump boards that we need to find new homes for! Are you in need of one for yourself or know someone that is? These are all in excellent condition, with the majority still looking essentially brand new. And we are selling these for just $70 each. A similar bump board purchased brand new will cost over $120. So this is a great deal and they will be first come, first served.

We will have a few available at each of our monthly meetings until they are gone. If you would like to reserve one to make sure we have one for you at our next meeting, just respond to this email to let us know.

Save 10% at Musky Tackle Online

Orders placed with Musky Tackle Online that are delivered at monthly meetings are eligible for a 10% discount (and no shipping charge, of course). You need not be a member. You simply need to show up at the meeting to receive your order. It's that simple!

How does it work?

1) Register an account at Musky Tackle Online.

2) Email Aaron at MTO to let him know that you would like to have your order delivered at the next meeting.

3) He will set your account up to receive the appropriate discount.

4) He will let you know when you can proceed with putting in your order. Discount will apply automatically in your cart.

The BLC will get paid too! For every order that is placed this way, MTO will match the discount amount in the form of a donation to the chapter in the same amount. So not only will you get a great deal on some gear, but you will be contributing financially to the BLC!

CHAPTER SPONSORS



Please support our great sponsors that support us. We wouldn't be able to do the things that we do without their help!

Special offers from select sponsors for BLC members.

Connect with us