Hopkins Crowned State Youth Champion

Jun 22nd, 2013 by OutdoorsFIRST

Modified Jun 22nd, 2013 at 12:00 AM

Emily Hopkins had never caught a muskie before entering the 1st Annual Wisconsin Youth Muskie Championship. She ended the day having released her first muskie and also having won her first tournament. The 18-year-old from Monona, WI caught a 47″ fish while “bomb casting” a Lee Lure’s Chopper in the early hours of the youth event that took place June 15th on Lake Waubesa in Madison, WI. After calming her shaking nerves, she told her dad, “Now I know why you fish for these things!”

The youth championship was open to anyone 18-years-old and younger. And although they could be accompanied by a non-fishing parent or other adult in the boat, the muskie fishing was all up to them. Hosted by Capital City Muskies Inc with support from the Madison Fishing Expo, the free event focused on fun, including gear giveaways, a meal, and awards for top finishers.

Fishing began for the 18 youth participants at 7:00am under overcast skies with the threat of thunderstorms. The rain held off, and within 30 minutes there were already two muskies registered, a 35.75″ fish earning 3rd place for 8-year-old Seth Niday of Oregon, WI, and a 36.5″ muskie winning 2nd place for 17-year-old Chase Mikula of Sun Prairie, WI. These were followed a short time later by Hopkins’ big 47″ fish, plus a second smaller muskie for young Niday. All fish were caught on topwater baits, and when sunny afternoon skies arrived, the action came to end. Most participants reported muskies spotted, plus some nice bonus pike and bass caught.

http://capitalcitymuskiesinc.org/

Hopkins Crowned State Youth Champion

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