Fourteen area teams of two fishermen participated in the event June 20.

 

While no fishermen pulled in a muskie during the muskie tournament, Kyle Buchholz and Tyler Madsen landed a 29” Northern Pike, which was the default fish should no one reel in the great big muskie.

 

Buchholz and Madsen received plaques, lures and t-shirts for finishing with the biggest fish but the best news was they immediately qualified to participate in the state tournament on Mantrap Lake in Park Rapids Friday.

 

Buchholz and Madsen are avid fishermen and were aided in their quest for the giant muskie by Kyle’s dad and uncle.

 

“My awesome uncle Chris is an avid musky fisherman and he lent us a couple of high quality rods and gave us some tips for where, how and what to catch the fish with,” Buchholz said. “We mainly caught our fish on Bucktails and big spinnerbaits, usually in the 10-14' range. We were extremely fortunate to use my Dad's boat and the Hummingbird electronics in it.”

 

Buchholz and Madsen caught around a dozen or so fish all the time they were on the lake including a few small northerns and a few bass. The tournament is a catch-and-release event, which Buchholz really appreciates.

 

“It's great to know that 30 kids can potentially catch a 40-50 inch fish and know that it will be released and live to grow even bigger,” he said. “We caught our northern and the judge boat for the tournament drove over and measured it and the fish was released as soon as possible.”

 

No matter the time of day, the weather or the fishing prospects, Buchholz and Madsen can most likely be found trolling the area lakes and waterways, pursuing all species of gill-bearing aquatic animals.

 

“No matter how early it is, you can bet that we will be up and on a lake, casting over and over just waiting for that big fish,” said Kyle. “We fish all the local lakes, keeping a few lakes secret for ourselves as well — since all good fisherman deserve a whole lake to themselves every now and then!”

 

“There's so much I love about fishing. It's the quiet mornings where you're the only one on the lake. It gives you time to reflect and almost meditate in a way and just calm your mind and really slow down,” says Buchholz.  “Then there's the adrenaline rush when you feel that fish hit your spinnerbait or you see your line running through the water with a monster bass on the end.”  

 

Buchholz says he loves the thrill of never knowing how big or what is going to bite. 

 

“You can fish for 8'' sunfish and accidentally hook into a 35'' northern and have the absolute time of your life,” he said.  “It's pretty hard not to smile after catching a fish. I think I can speak for both Tyler and I when I say that fishing is more than a hobby or a sport, it's a passion and a true love of both of ours.”

 

The state fishing tournament on Mantrap Lake is about two-and-a-half hours and 150 miles north/northwest of Becker.