Don't even know whether posting this is worth it because i get so much unnecessary shit from some people here but i thought venting on my situation may be o.k.
This past weekend while fishing my waters in northern Wisconsin, I experienced the most unfortunate of events. Worse than anything I could have ever imagined besides maybe dying in a boating accident!
On Sunday October 5th, I was fishing in Vilas co. in the Boulder Junction area, lake-hopping and fishing multi-species. The first lake was fished for Muskies (skunk) and the second lake was for Bass (awesome).
At the second lake when my friend and I switched over to Bass fishing is when the unfortunate incident took place. Prior to launching out on Little John Lake (east of Trout Lake/ west of Big Muskellunge), and even before we got there, we threw all of the Bass gear that was in my car into the boat and put all the musky gear tucked away and hidden into the car because I didn't want all of it in the boat.
We made it out to Little John Lake at approx. 1pm and enjoyed a decent but cut-short 2hrs of Bass fishing. While working the water in the northeastern side of the lake (500yds away from landing), we noticed two separate individuals walk down and observe the water. One was an older guy wearing hunter orange colors and camo while another was some guy in a jean jacket. Both people were there at separate times sometime between 1:30-2pm.
After maybe an hour of fishing the region near the landing, we made a run down to the opposite end of the lake.
After about two hours of fishing, an older couple came across the lake motoring over to us at about 3pm, asking whether the "tan station wagon with the busted window" was ours.
YEP! We immediately knew something bad was up and the enjoyment of some good Largemouth Bass fishing we had experienced was now lost!
As we arrived to the scene, the driver side window of my tan Ford station wagon was busted into and completely shattered. With the large heavy rock sitting sitting on top and placed nicely onto my dashboard in hopes of possibly trying to make a statement, whoever the culprit was apparently forgot to steal all of the visible electronics consisting of radar detector, I-pod, and other gadgets.... Also, we couldn't believe that he bypassed the 5 large plano stowaways sitting covered in my trunk with hundreds and hundreds of dollars worth of musky baits.. Rather than take those items, he went for my 3 Musky rods and reels, and my friend's one rod and reel combo.
COMPLETELY BUSH-LEAGUE AND MADE DURING AMATEUR HOUR!
Noted above, I think it was definitely the hunter who was wearing the camo and orange... With the four rods going away for a walk, it seems likely that whoever did this came by foot.
At approximately 3:45pm, a call was made to the Vilas county Sherriff and immediately an officer rushed over to the scene to examine and document. A police report was filed (# 08-010757) and information was given.
The items stolen were the following. . . . All of which was bought brand new over last winter.
Rod 1) = 7.5ft Shimano Compre (med. heavy 2-6oz) $120, and Okuma Induron 400X w/ power handle ($120)
Rod 2) = 7ft St. Croix Premier (med. 1-3oz) $160, and Quantum Cabo 30PTS casting reel ($160)
Rod 3) = 7.5ft Gander Guide Series (med. 1-3oz) $80, and 1968 vintage Sweden Abu Garcia 6000C (all black + power handle / reel was used since day-1 by grandfather, restored over winter, and losing this one hurts the most)
As for my friend, he lost a 7.2ft Shimano Compre with a brand new Abu Garcia 6500 C3. About $200 set-up.
Insurance, neither car nor boat, would cover this one to make it worth it. Trust me.
Keep in mind that I JUST got into this Musky fishing stuff within the past year and this is a huge blow for me personally because it's all gone... Everything I saved up for and went out of my way to buy is lost and no longer to be. No more rods, and with the plethora of baits I have here with me, I have to do this all over again and spend so much unnecessary money again for some fish that I spend maybe 10-20 days a year for. . . . . . Kind of makes me just want to give up and quit this kind of fishing, but because I frequently vacation in "musky country", I can't!
I realize that there is really nothing much I can do regarding this vandalization incident as well the stolen rods and reels, but as a fraternity of anglers, I feel it would be proper to at least spread the word regarding this incident. . . If you have the time, maybe keep an eye posted on Ebay or Craigslist, look around at the area baitshops throughout Vilas and Oneida co., check the classified ads sections of newspapers in Vilas and Oneida co. to make sure whoever did it isn't out to make a profit. Last but not least, it'd be good to watch the other area boat landings so that these occurrences would no longer happen.
It's unfortunate and an unlucky break.
What happened is completely unfair, and have not smiled in 3 days, and I am now trying not to look forward to a long winter in which I will be turning poor from trying to re-stock and replenish my arsenal of Musky rods and reels.
Not asking for sympathy or get-well cards, nor for free gear or any kinds of deals. I just want to inform everyone that this shouldn't happened and it's a joke that it even did at such a great place and cool area for fishing.
Thanks.
Andrew
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This past weekend while fishing my waters in northern Wisconsin, I experienced the most unfortunate of events. Worse than anything I could have ever imagined besides maybe dying in a boating accident!
On Sunday October 5th, I was fishing in Vilas co. in the Boulder Junction area, lake-hopping and fishing multi-species. The first lake was fished for Muskies (skunk) and the second lake was for Bass (awesome).
At the second lake when my friend and I switched over to Bass fishing is when the unfortunate incident took place. Prior to launching out on Little John Lake (east of Trout Lake/ west of Big Muskellunge), and even before we got there, we threw all of the Bass gear that was in my car into the boat and put all the musky gear tucked away and hidden into the car because I didn't want all of it in the boat.
We made it out to Little John Lake at approx. 1pm and enjoyed a decent but cut-short 2hrs of Bass fishing. While working the water in the northeastern side of the lake (500yds away from landing), we noticed two separate individuals walk down and observe the water. One was an older guy wearing hunter orange colors and camo while another was some guy in a jean jacket. Both people were there at separate times sometime between 1:30-2pm.
After maybe an hour of fishing the region near the landing, we made a run down to the opposite end of the lake.
After about two hours of fishing, an older couple came across the lake motoring over to us at about 3pm, asking whether the "tan station wagon with the busted window" was ours.
YEP! We immediately knew something bad was up and the enjoyment of some good Largemouth Bass fishing we had experienced was now lost!
As we arrived to the scene, the driver side window of my tan Ford station wagon was busted into and completely shattered. With the large heavy rock sitting sitting on top and placed nicely onto my dashboard in hopes of possibly trying to make a statement, whoever the culprit was apparently forgot to steal all of the visible electronics consisting of radar detector, I-pod, and other gadgets.... Also, we couldn't believe that he bypassed the 5 large plano stowaways sitting covered in my trunk with hundreds and hundreds of dollars worth of musky baits.. Rather than take those items, he went for my 3 Musky rods and reels, and my friend's one rod and reel combo.
COMPLETELY BUSH-LEAGUE AND MADE DURING AMATEUR HOUR!
Noted above, I think it was definitely the hunter who was wearing the camo and orange... With the four rods going away for a walk, it seems likely that whoever did this came by foot.
At approximately 3:45pm, a call was made to the Vilas county Sherriff and immediately an officer rushed over to the scene to examine and document. A police report was filed (# 08-010757) and information was given.
The items stolen were the following. . . . All of which was bought brand new over last winter.
Rod 1) = 7.5ft Shimano Compre (med. heavy 2-6oz) $120, and Okuma Induron 400X w/ power handle ($120)
Rod 2) = 7ft St. Croix Premier (med. 1-3oz) $160, and Quantum Cabo 30PTS casting reel ($160)
Rod 3) = 7.5ft Gander Guide Series (med. 1-3oz) $80, and 1968 vintage Sweden Abu Garcia 6000C (all black + power handle / reel was used since day-1 by grandfather, restored over winter, and losing this one hurts the most)
As for my friend, he lost a 7.2ft Shimano Compre with a brand new Abu Garcia 6500 C3. About $200 set-up.
Insurance, neither car nor boat, would cover this one to make it worth it. Trust me.
Keep in mind that I JUST got into this Musky fishing stuff within the past year and this is a huge blow for me personally because it's all gone... Everything I saved up for and went out of my way to buy is lost and no longer to be. No more rods, and with the plethora of baits I have here with me, I have to do this all over again and spend so much unnecessary money again for some fish that I spend maybe 10-20 days a year for. . . . . . Kind of makes me just want to give up and quit this kind of fishing, but because I frequently vacation in "musky country", I can't!
I realize that there is really nothing much I can do regarding this vandalization incident as well the stolen rods and reels, but as a fraternity of anglers, I feel it would be proper to at least spread the word regarding this incident. . . If you have the time, maybe keep an eye posted on Ebay or Craigslist, look around at the area baitshops throughout Vilas and Oneida co., check the classified ads sections of newspapers in Vilas and Oneida co. to make sure whoever did it isn't out to make a profit. Last but not least, it'd be good to watch the other area boat landings so that these occurrences would no longer happen.
It's unfortunate and an unlucky break.
What happened is completely unfair, and have not smiled in 3 days, and I am now trying not to look forward to a long winter in which I will be turning poor from trying to re-stock and replenish my arsenal of Musky rods and reels.
Not asking for sympathy or get-well cards, nor for free gear or any kinds of deals. I just want to inform everyone that this shouldn't happened and it's a joke that it even did at such a great place and cool area for fishing.
Thanks.
Andrew
sorry to hear, that must really suck
