2010 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE By Craig Stapon
Another season has come and gone and our club continues to grow! In 2009 our membership increased to a total of 81 members! We have several outstanding members that continue to work and make our Club a success. All our planned outings have been successful and well attended. Our Bud Spud and Steak continues to run at the high level that Dave Korstrom set. Although we are a fishing club, it is good to see that members continue to be actively involved in local charities and as a Club a portion of our fundraising goes directly to supporting various charities. We are a fishing club, however, and as such we continue to focus on going in the direction of a fishing club, using monies that we have raised to promote fishing. This year, for example, we furthered our relationship with Angler Young Angler by purchasing a table for their annual fundraising banquet; contributing to an organization formed to provide an opportunity for kids to enjoy sport fishing. Let’s face it, we are a musky and pike club but how many of our members go out and chase old marble eyes. I am proud to be a member of the Canadian Esox Association and continue to chase toothy critters, yet I fish walleye and other species all the time. As a fishing club it is appropriate to support fishing in general but the Executive is also working on a plan to host our own program providing an opportunity for kids to get out pike fishing. This will be brought to the general membership after our Bud, Spud, and Steak.
Our Promotions Director, “Manitoba Musky,” continues to increase the educational component at our monthly meetings. Last year we started to have regular roundtables, providing an opportunity for members to contribute to the discussion about fishing, in whatever way they choose. In the first meeting of the 2010 year, in addition to the roundtable, the educational component was related to catch and release and members actively participated in the discussion. A survey of the literature on this topic revealed that THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR IN A SUCCESSFUL RELEASE IS REDUCING TIME OUT OF WATER. Two guest speakers are scheduled to speak at our March meeting. If you have any suggested guest speakers for future meetings contact Mark before inviting them to ensure that speakers aren’t double booked.
As a way to contribute to protecting bio-diversity in Manitoba, we are also continuing our efforts to start a musky stocking program in Manitoba, giving back to the species that we enjoy fishing for the most. Musky are an indigenous species in Manitoba but their numbers have not kept pace with other species of fish. Perhaps it is because of the dams that have been built on the Winnipeg River system or perhaps it is because musky haven’t been given the same helping hand in their natural range as other fish species in their habitat. Hundreds of thousands (perhaps millions) of walleye fry, for example, have been loaded into the Winnipeg River system over the years and it only makes sense to wonder if this has had a negative impact on a fish like the musky, which spawns later than other species of fish, and which, in comparison, receives little to no assistance.
To the exec, Mark, Dutch, Al, Sammy, Ron, and Rob you guys are a real pleasure to work with and keep things pretty positive. To all the members that come out and help, thank-you. Ray, you are the best!
Our thoughts and prayers go out to fellow member Craig Ferris. His wife passed and now he has a huge job of bringing two kids up on his own. Craig is always the life of the party and we hope that through strength and faith he will remain rock solid.
Congrats to my good friend Richard “Ranger Rich” who smoked his first lunge over 50! Way to go buddy we are all proud of you.
Hopefully our boat show participation will draw a few more members. Again thanks to all that helped fill the mega tank…you all know who you are!
I trust that we will continue to grow in 2010 and look forward to all our planned events. The membership is strong and I have made many new friends and I am very thankful for that. Good luck to you all and go smoke a 50+!
