“What an incredible week,” said Musky Hunter Editor Jim Saric as he looked back on an event that amassed record numbers of large fish. “It seemed everybody got in on the action before the week was over.”

Twenty-five students joined the University of Esox staff and caught 174 muskies, the third most ever in the 11-year history of the school. Even more amazing was that a record 108 of these muskies surpassed 40 inches, with five topping 50 inches.

Three muskies stretched to the 54-inch mark. Lodge owner Bill Sandy caught a 54 1/2-incher on a TopRaider in a figure-8, while Saric and student Mike Zuhlsdorf of Tomah, Wisconsin, each boated a 54-incher on Double Cowgirls. Previously, several 52-inch muskies held the record for a Canadian Musky Adventure.

Zuhlsdorf and his father, Jerry, enjoyed a fabulous week with both catching their personal best fish. Jerry caught a 51 1/2-inch musky on a Polish Perch crankbait. Each also boated 45-inchers -- Mike on a Double Cowgirl and Jerry on a Bull Dawg. Mike’s 54-incher was the largest by a student at the school and earned the Big Musky Award.

“I couldn’t be happier for Mike and Jerry,” said Musky Hunter Managing Editor Steve Heiting. “They have a work ethic second to none and are willing to do what it takes to catch big fish. Their muskies are proof of that.”

The fifth of the 50-inch muskies was an even 50-incher caught by Saric on a Double Cowgirl.

Unsettled weather had been the norm for Northwest Ontario leading up to the school and musky fishing had been challenging. “It was difficult to find a pattern because muskies were still in weedy bays as well as on rocky reefs,” noted Saric. “However, bucktails stood out prominently as the lure to use, especially Musky Mayhem’s Double Cowgirl.”

Indeed, 130 of the 174 muskies were caught on bucktails. Another statistic that stood out was that at least 63 muskies were caught in figure-8’s.

“Another plus was having Bill Sandy involved,” added Saric. “His terrific knowledge of Lake of the Woods and understanding of the musky fishery resulted in many, many fish for our students. We are thrilled to be working with Bill and can only see good things to come.”

The huge year class of muskies first recognized by the University of Esox staff in 2002 continues to get bigger and right now they’re in the 40- to 44 1/2-inch size. “This year class or two just continues to dominate our catches,” said Heiting. “This year we had 75 in that size range, or 43 percent of the total catch. Last year, they were 39 to 43 inches long and comprised more than 38 percent of our catch.”

Jim Weihbrecht of Green Bay, Wisconsin, earned the school’s Top ’Lunge Award which goes to the student who catches the most muskies during the week. Weihbrecht caught 16, with 49- and 48-inchers on Double Cowgirls and a 46-incher on a Crane Bait topping his list.

Other musky school students and staff who boated fish in excess of 45 inches included: Heiting, 49, 47 and 46 1/2 inches on Double Cowgirls, and 45 inches on a Suick; instructor Kevin Schmidt, 48 1/2 and 46 inches on Double Cowgirls; Ryan Marlowe of Winnipeg, Manitoba, 48 1/2 and 45 inches on Double Cowgirls; Steve Kroll of Chicago, 48 1/2 inches on a Double Cowgirl; Tom Pfeffer of Cudahy, Wisconsin, 48 1/2 inches, his largest, on a Double Cowgirl; Saric, 48 inches on a TurboJack;John Mich of Bartlett, Illinois, 47 inches on a TopRaider, and 46, 45 and 45 inches on Double Cowgirls; Marc Ericksen of St. Michael, Minnesota, 47 inches on a Double Cowgirl; Eddie O’Neill of Dwight, Illinois, 46 inches on a Double Cowgirl; and 45 1/2 and 45 1/2-inchers on bucktails.

Other students who boated their largest muskies at the school included Ron Starr of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, 42 inches on a Double Cowgirl, and Chris Kohn of Champlin, Minnesota, 38 1/2 inches on a Shallow Invader.

The school was the first ever at Sandy’s Blackhawk Island Camp, which added a huge main lodge to accommodate large groups. “What an unbelievable facility,” noted Saric. “The camp has always been one of the nicest anywhere in Canada, but the addition of the new main lodge and American Plan takes this camp to a whole new level. The food was incredible and the service second to none.”

Heiting echoed Saric’s comments. “We expected a bump or two in transition to this new facility but there weren’t any. I can’t say enough about the effort that Bill and Cindy and their family put forth not only in preparing the new main lodge but in accommodating our students. Everybody was raving about the service and food, and when you add in the incredible fishing we experienced, the whole week became an unforgettable event.”