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| Hey Everyone,
All I can say is that I feel extremely lucky to have been there and proud to have Gary and Carson Lehnherr fishing the PMTT. This is their second year fishing the PMTT together, though Gary has been fishing it for years. Being there filming the winning fish was incredible and one of the most selfless acts I have ever seen anywhere in my life.
Gary is obviously an accomplished fisherman and a very good troller. He is a local that knows his water well and was trolling spoon plugs on Wabesa. Yes, I said spoon plugs. He was trolling the soft - hard bottom transition areas in the 18-22 foot depth range at about 4mph. In the week leading up to the tournament he caught over 10 muskies with this technique.
When interviewing Carson and Gary on Saturday (which Carson had the whole crowd laughing), Gary told everyone that Carson reels in all the fish and he just nets them. Now, I wasn’t so sure I totally believed him myself. I mean, the fat 45” they caught already probably darn near weighed as much as Carson . But boy was I in for a treat.
I jumped into their boat on Sunday mid morning with a camera man to do some interviews with them because they were leading after day one. Not to mention that part of the team was only 7 years old. Well while interviewing them in their boat as we trolled around, they knew others had caught some fish and that they may need another one or two to win. No sooner said, they got a rip. Without hesitation they both jumped up and Gary said “back of the boat Carson , usual spot”. Gary then took the rod out of the rod holder and handed it to Carson .
As Gary kept talking to him as any partner would with the typical advise, keep reeling, keep the rod tip down, it’s staying down, it’s a good one, keep pressure on him, etc, Gary then ran around the boat with his back to Carson and reeled in the other rod, backed off the throttle, killed the motor and then got the net out and got into position. Carson never stopped reeling.
At this point with the camera rolling the entire time Gary points down at Carson . We then notice that the rod is so big for him that he has it straddled between his legs like a witch riding a broom. There is about half of the butt of the rod sticking out his backside and he keeps reeling like he is riding a bucking stick horse.
Several times during the fight, Gary told Carson that this fish could be worth $40,000 but never once lost his cool, yelled or tried to take the rod away from him. As the fish got closer Gary kept words of encouragement like keep reeling, you ok, you’re not tired, reel, reel, reel, lift it up, hard as you can, and Gary scooped it.
Once in the net, I think I screamed and yelled more then the two of them. After photo’s and measurements Gary held the fish up, Carson kissed it and said “Dad, this might do it, I think this one’s in the bag”. I said to Carson , “all these guys out here, you don’t sweat any of them do you. Carson smiles and says, “nope”.
Knowing full well what was on the line with this fish and the event, but at no time did Gary think about taking the rod out of Carsons hands and taking any part of this special moment away from him. They were doing it together, father and son, win or lose.
The only word that best describes this again, PRICELESS!!!
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Posts: 81
| Tim, thanks for sharing that story. It is one for a lifetime. If one knew nothing more that this act from Gary, it is more than enough to know he is a great father and human. Gary sets an example for all parents and I am happy that I got to shake his and Carsons hand at the event and had a little time to talk to them.
Gary did, however, create a problem for me. Now I have convince my wife to adopt a 7 year old.
Gary and Carson, again, congrats and enjoy this moment as I know you will.
Dewey Stewart | |
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Posts: 4080
Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | How cool is that !
Now, Gary what are you going to do when your 4 year old wants to go muskie fishing ? Maybe take turns ?
Keep up the good work, and God Bless all of the Dads that do this sort of stuff with there children.
Jerome | |
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Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Paying it forward, doesn't get better than that. | |
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Posts: 1636
| Wow. Incredible. Thank you for the story. Congrats!!!! I know I knock spoonplugging all the time, but its just for fun ( mainly because the spoonpluggers called us baitchuckers :) ). I have seen it work in person on this exact lake, but there is more to it than just trolling around. Great to see this tournament won by someone doing something off the wall. Well deserved guys!
Edited by Reelwise 10/15/2009 3:25 PM
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Posts: 133
Location: Wausau, WI | Congratulations to Gary and Carson! This is the best story I've heard in a long time. I give Gary mad props for staying calm and not taking to rod from Carson's hands. I don't know too many other people that could stay calm like that with 40K on the line. Again, Awesome job guys! | |
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Posts: 36
Location: Mpls/St Paul Minnesota | Gary had the muskies figured out for the weekend. On Saturday he said Carson reeled them in, I was not sure I believed it. Taking into account it's the largest musky tournament of the year and he was letting a 7 year old reel them in.........seemed risky.
A great story and both Gary and Carson are top notch people! Congrats to them and I'm very excited for them both.
Jason Summers | |
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Location: Arlington Heights, IL | Congrats to you and Troy also Jason, a 2nd place finish at the championship and a 2nd place for team of the year. Pretty impressive also.
Jim | |
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Posts: 133
Location: Duluth, MN | I fished the MAC vermilion tournament with my eight year old son. There is no way I could write in this post all the things that made that weekend unforgetable. From the start how he was amazed "it was like a boat race" and to my question "should we call it a day" at the end of day one when I called tourney officials with 10 minutes left in the day to see we had to come by water to the check in and found out there wasn't any fish caught yet. His Responce was are you kidding me if I catch a fish on my next cast we will be winning the tournament.
Day two was exciting also. He caught two nice pike both were on top water and both fish missed the first shot at the lure and he stayed with them and hooked them both half way back to the boat. When you here the big splash and don't see the fish and you him say theres one it gets pretty exciting. Day two finish time was 3:30 and at 3:20 we stopped fishing and had questioned me about tournament hours and told him it ended at 3:15. Later at the awards banquet he found out the tourrnament ended at 3:30. He was very upset that he didn't get to fish the last ten minutes. Also during day 2 we trolled so we could eat lunch but couldn't stand not casting.
On the way home he said dad if you need a partner to fish a muskie tournament I will fish again and was sleeping in about 30seconds.
His Monday school journal was all about the tournament and he got tell his class all about his weekend.
MuskieFIRST Photo:
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Posts: 133
Location: Wausau, WI | Great Post Yooper,
I strongly agree that more young kids should be involved with fishing in general. Kids like Carson and your son will now be able to start a whole new generation. If they get one or two of their friends interested in fishing, the cycle will continue as their friends get more kids interested. Once again, great post. | |
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Location: Medford, WI | Brian,
I couldn't agree more with Brandon...that was a great post. I'm really glad that you and your son had such a great time - sounds like he wouldn't have traded that weekend for anything. Thanks for getting him involved and keeping the cycle continuing. Even through a tough bite, you were able to provide him with entertainment and congrats to him on the two surface pike. Thanks for sharing your story.
-Jake Bucki | |
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Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | It's the Dads taking the kids out on the water, and even into competitive angling atmospheres, that are needed for the future of fishing in general. Great story, Brian, there's a couple images of you and your son in the Vermilion album. | |
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Location: Northern IL | Congratulations Gary! Von called yesterday and told me all about it, Nice job! | |
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