Fishing with her husband Bob, Julie Collman caught this 50½-inch monster muskie in the Fortune Bay Casino Muskie Tournament held on Vermilion Lake. Julie and Bob took first place with this catch, while second place went to Gunflint Lodge fishing guides Kevin and Frank Walsh. Photo submitted by Julie Collman
Whether you catch fish or not, most would agree that fishing is an enriching experience. For the husband and wife team of Julie Collman and Bob Baker, a recent fishing outing was truly enriching in a couple of ways.
Bob and Julie took first place in the Fortune Bay Casino Muskie Tournament held October 5 on Lake Vermilion, and took home a pile of loot to boot.
The couple entered the contest, along with good friends and longtime guides of Gunflint Lodge, Kevin Walsh and Frank Walsh, who finished second in the tournament.
It was a clean sweep for the Gunflint Trail!
The Saturday event ran from 7 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on a miserable day. It was rainy, with temperatures in the mid-40s and winds that gusted to 25-30 mph. Tough fishing to be sure.
It was the 3rd Annual October Tournament for the casino. Parties fished in pairs of two per boat.
Around 9:30 a.m., Julie, the only female entered in the contest, hooked a big muskie on a lure called the Baby Beaver. Julie wrestled the monster to the boat where Bob netted the fish, which measured 50½ inches. After measurement and a few quick photos, the trophy was released to the dark, stained waters of its Lake Vermilion home.
Meanwhile, Kevin and Frank were fishing hard in the harsh weather, and around 12:30 p.m., Kevin hooked into a big muskie. Kevin fought the fish to boatside and Frank scooped the beauty into the net. After another quick measurement and a couple of photos, the fish was quickly released.
It was unknown to the entrants until the end of the contest if any other fish were caught. The winners were announced in the bait shop at the landing once all contestants were back at the dock.
The director announced the tournament winners were
Boat No. 3, Julie and Bob with Julie’s 50½- inch muskie taking first place. In second place was boat No. 9, Kevin and Frank with Kevin’s 48-inch muskie. They were the only two fish caught for the tournament with 26 contestants.
In a stroke of luck, Frank won the drawing for a two-night stay at the casino. When asked if they used the room, it was said, “No, we prefer to camp. We have an Alaskan eight-man tent, and a Clam fish house set up, so we are comfortable. And it’s more fun to camp anyway.”
The winners took home cash with first place $2,600, and second place $1,560.
“It was a day and a fish I will never forget,” says Julie.
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