Morgan Kelly's 28" muskie was caught on Lake Shelbyville May 22.

IMTT Exposing Youngsters to Muskie fever

Saturday May 22nd, 2010, The Lake Shelbyville Muskie Club hosted the inaugural event on the new Youth Muskie Tournament Trail. This Youth Trail, is affiliated with, and sponsored by the Illinois Muskie Tournament Trail, with strong backing from Dick's Sporting Goods of Springfield, IL., and the Rodney T. Miller Triathlon, of Decatur, IL. All involved felt the day was a definite success, look forward to the two upcoming dates, and to the future of the YMTT.

The sunny, warm weather and water levels a bit below summer pool on Lake Shellbyville, made catching muskies a challenge for even experienced muskie hunters, but the young participants and their adult guides followed one of the main tenets of muskie fishing, which is "Patience and Persistence". The youngest participant, Morgan Kelly of Buffalo Grove, IL was rewarded with a 28" Muskie , and Dakota Forsyth had a mid-thirties musky up to the boat, before it threw out the hooks. All muskie fisherman know that feeling. Several other Muskies were sighted, and a few bass, walleye, and even a carp were hooked, making fishing interesting throughout the day.

The day began at 7:00am with an instructional seminar on the basics of Muskie fishing. The young fisherman then joined their adult guides / supervisors for 6 hours of fishing for the elusive Muskie. Afterward they returned to the pavilion for a well earned lunch, participation plaques, and a bag of "goodies" to help them continue their enjoyment for Muskie fishing.  Really, the smiles and obvious good spirits, said it all.  It was a great time, and a great day, enjoyed by all involved.

 Roy Schodtler

 LSMC / IMTT