Recently, there has been a lot of hype surrounding Muskie
angling and it bears recognizing that Musky Hunter Magazine (MHM) has only contributed to the problem
by refusing to speak out against the issues and practices that threaten the
health of our Musky fisheries as well as the Musky politics that diminish
the credibility of our sport.
This is not a surprise. An insight into the
mindset of MHM is evidenced by its self serving content.
For those of you who don't remember, the anniversary issue of MHM contained a series of self serving editorials that
appear to put forward the proposition that if it weren't for MHM, there wouldn't be an
organized sport of Muskie fishing.
Yes, it is true that since its first issue in 1989 (under different
management than that currently), the
magazine has contributed to the existing Muskellunge information base by repackaging
existing information in an organized format. However, the magazine of today is not on a
par with the magazine as it used to be and it certainly is not nor was not the only
wellspring of information for the Muskie angler.
Unlike the quality issues of the past, today the reader of
MHM is assaulted with relentless advertising as he seeks to gain a little Musky knowledge.
Today, the reader is subjected to skewed and self serving editorial proclamations
regarding the magazine's contribution to the sport of Musky angling in an obvious attempt
to justify its ever increasing subscription price to the Musky angling population at large while the
content of useable information continues to shrink.
To read the MHM editorials, one might think
that before 1989 there was no organized sport of Musky angling and that the people who did
fish for Musky were merely stupid clods without a clue as to technique or tactic. MHM
attempts to characterize itself as the messiah of Musky angling but the facts
just don't support that.
Sadly, it (MHM) gives little recognition to the one
organization that is probably the most responsible for the organized activity of Musky
angling, Muskies, Inc. They seem to have conveniently overlooked the fact that Muskies, Inc. (Established
in 1966, 23 years before the first issue of MHM) and its chapters are responsible
for over a Million Dollars in fishery
stocking activities that directly enhance our sport and the quality of our fisheries.
Another fact conveniently overlooked by MHM is that in 1977 (12 year before MHM)
Muskies, Inc. chapters established the first Musky tournament challenges bringing the
sport of Musky angling of age as Muskies, Inc. became an International organization.
Without the efforts of Muskies, Inc., there would likely
never have been the support base to justify a "For Profit"
publication like MHM. Now don’t get me wrong, profit is not
a dirty word. In order to be in business, any business must make more than it spends. As
Musky anglers, we must not loose site of the reality that any publication depends upon a
return on its investment in order to stay in business. One would hope, however, that that
pursuit would not give rise to a level of advertising that over shadows and
distorts the information
content.
MHM is not the
"lightening Rod" that furthered
the use of the figure eight, night fishing, twitch bait fishing, longer rods, better
tackle, surface baits or bucktails as MHM's self-serving editorials
have suggested. These approaches to Musky angling were developed by innovative Musky
anglers long before MHM was in print. It is also ludicrous to suggest that MHM is the
only printed publication where Musky anglers have been able to discover Musky fishing
information.
When it comes right down to it, there is very little in the
sport of Musky angling that hasn’t already been said when it pertains to
tactics and lure presentation.
As a dispenser of Musky
information myself, I recognize that I stand on the shoulders of the experiences of the average
Musky angler, both past and present. I take his stories, anecdotes, and those factual experiences and package
them with my own knowledge in such a way as to provide an ordered and entertaining envelop
for the interested reader. It is unfortunate that MHM has apparently abandoned its roots
for shirts with promotional patches and perks from manufacturers looking for
that advertising edge.
It all comes down to this...When you visit the
on-line pages Musky America, it costs you nothing to
peruse a broad base of Musky angling information.
When you join Muskies, Inc. you receive
the club magazine as recognition for your commitment to the collective health of our
Musky fisheries.
When you buy or subscribe to MHM in its current format, you are paying
for slick advertising that is interspersed with increasing smaller amounts of useful
information.
Tight Lines
