Post on 04-May-2018
The Marker Buoy The Official Newsletter of the Rock Valley Anglers®
April 2015
Rock Valley Anglers® - The Stateline’s Premier Multi-Species Fishing Club
Upcoming RVA Meetings
IL Chapter
Next Meeting: Wednesday, 4/1/2015 @ 6:30pm
Meeting Location: Hoffman House Banquet Room, 7550 E State St, Rockford, IL
Meeting Details: IL Rock Valley Anglers® - Carl Kaufmann Speaking!
Join us in welcoming Carl Kaufmann! Carl will share Spring Time Bass Tactics. We are
also welcoming some area high school bass fishing teams! Come check out the club,
meet the crew, and hear a great presentation. Guests are always welcome!
Member Raffle: Bass Fishing Gear Pack
WI Chapter
Next Meeting: Wednesday, 4/15/2015 @ 6:30pm
Meeting Location: Boundaries Bar & Grill, 3807 S Riverside Dr, Beloit, WI
Meeting Details: WI Rock Valley Anglers® - Dave McCoy Speaking!
Join us in welcoming our very own Dave McCoy! Dave will share some terrific
information about Big Bay de Noc smallmouth fishing just in time for the club’s annual
pilgrimage to the UP. Come check out the club, meet the crew, and hear a
great presentation. Guests are always welcome!
Member Raffle: Grizzly Cooler
Boundaries Bar & Grill - Beloit, WI
www.boundariesbeloit.com
Hoffman House - Rockford, IL
www.hoffmanhouserockford.com
If you have ideas, corrections, or
content for the newsletter, please let
us know. Just send an email to:
RockValleyAnglers@gmail.com
The Marker Buoy The Official Newsletter of the Rock Valley Anglers®
April 2015
Upcoming Events
Meetings
IL Chapter RVA 4/1, 6:30pm, Carl Kaufmann Speaking, Hoffman House Banquet Room
Yahara Fishing Club 4/14, 7:00pm, Greg Fitch Speaking, VFW Hall, 133 E Lakeside St, Madison, WI
Topic: Marine Electronics
WI Chapter RVA 4/15, 6:30pm, Dave McCoy Speaking, Boundaries Bar & Grill
Outings
Menominee River Walleye 4/3-4/6, Contact Rod or Dave for additional info
Peshtigo River Walleye 4/17-4/20, Contact Rod or Dave for additional info
Milwaukee Coho 4/18 OR 4/25, Contact Jim Pankratz for additional info
Other
Minnesota Muskie Expo 4/10-4/12, Ganglehoff Center, Concordia University, 235 Hamline Ave N, St Paul, MN
CCMI Fundraiser and Seminar 4/11, 1:00pm-5:00pm, 5100 Bar, 5100 Erling Ave, McFarland, WI
Christian Laettner speaking. Come out and enjoy a great seminar and some terrific raffles.
2015 WI Spring Hearings 4/13, 7:00pm, Locations vary by county, 2015 Hearing Locations
On Monday, April 13, 2015, there will be 72 public hearings, one in each county starting at 7:00
p.m., where individuals interested in natural resources management have an opportunity to pro
vide their input by non-binding vote and testimony on proposed rule changes and advisory
questions relating to fish and wildlife management in Wisconsin.
News/Announcements
Membership renewal time - if you have not yet renewed your membership for 2015 in the Rock Valley
Anglers®, you can do so at the next membership meeting. Be sure to recruit a friend or neighbor, too.
Reminder - Starting in April, the IL Chapter of the Rock Valley Anglers® will hold membership meetings
on the 1st Wednesday of the month. That will be April 1st this month - no fooling! The location will stay
the same - Hoffman House Banquet Room, 7550 E State St, Rockford, IL.
WI Spring Hearings happen on 4/13 @ 7pm. Please take the time to attend your county meeting. Take
the opportunity to provide input and participate in the elections.
Fishing Reports
Check the RVA Closed Facebook Group for the most up to date pictures and reports.
www.FB.com/groups/242324835910467 OR search for “The Rock Valley Anglers”
The Marker Buoy The Official Newsletter of the Rock Valley Anglers®
April 2015
Nahma Inn - Nahma, MI 906-644-2486
www.nahmainn.com
Jerrys Sports Service - Beloit, WI 1-800-743-4309
www.jerrysboats.com
Subway - Rockford Area Subway Locations
www.subway.com
The Marker Buoy The Official Newsletter of the Rock Valley Anglers®
April 2015
Fishing Contests
People quietly shutter in reverence to certain awards. Iconic, almost mythical entities that define heroes:
The Lombardi Trophy, The Green Jacket, The Heisman Trophy, The Stanley Cup, and
The Rusty Propeller Trophy!
THE YAHARA FISHING CLUB WINS THE 2014 RUSTY PROPELLER TROPHY!
This contests pits the Yahara Fishing Club against the Rock Valley Anglers® for southern Wisconsin and
northern Illinois angling supremacy. The Yahara Fishing Club came out of the gate swinging in the con-
test’s inaugural year capturing the trophy with a dominant performance. Congratulations to the Yahara
Fishing Club for the win (and all those great fish caught)! 2015 promises to be another great contest.
Rock Valley Anglers® - after the disappointing loss in 2014, I am expecting a resurgence. We now have
the combined forces of the IL Chapter and the WI Chapter to wage battle in 2015. Men and women, young
and old, go forth and catch huge fish so that we may right this ship in the coming year. Good luck to eve-
ryone on the water!
The Marker Buoy The Official Newsletter of the Rock Valley Anglers®
April 2015
Fishing Contests Continued
The 2014 Rusty Propeller Trophy Results:
Any Waters Largemouth Daniel Puser 21.25”, John Raisbeck 20.5”, Tom Wilke 20.5”
Any Waters Pike Doug Card 45”, Daniel Puser 43”, Duffy Kopf 42.5”
Any Waters Muskie Paul Hennig 48.5”, Pat Abrahamson 45.5”, Mark Tiffany 44”
Any Waters Bluegill Stan Nichols 11.25”, Carl Otto 10.5”, Paul Zoch 10”, Gard Strother 10”
Any Waters Crappie Dave McCoy 15”, Jerry Paffenroth 14”, Kevin Tvedten 14”
Any Waters Perch Paul Zoch 12.75”, Jerry Paffenroth 12.5”, Kevin Tvedten 12.25”
Any Waters White Bass Kevin Tvedten 17”, Gard Strother 15.5”, Paul Zoch 15.5”, Rod Bondele 15.5”
Any Waters Catfish Mike Mohr 36”, Tom Klein 34”, Gard Strother 33”
Inland Waters Smallmouth Jeff Western 20.5”, Tom Wilke 20.5”, Gard Strother 20”, Rich Connor 20”
Inland Waters Walleye Jeff Western 28”, Paul Zoch 28”, Kevin Tvedten 28”
Inland Waters Brown Paul Zoch 21.25”, Stan Nichols 17.25”, Jack Hurst 16”
Inland Waters Rainbow Stan Nichols 23.5”
Great Lakes Smallmouth Dave McCoy 21.5”, Quinn McCoy 21”, John Driscoll 21”, Walt Koch 21”
Great Lakes Walleye John Rasmussen 27”, Dave McCoy 27”, Quinn McCoy 25”
Great Lakes Brown Paul Zoch 30”, Dave McCoy 27.5”
Great Lakes Steelhead Phil James 33”, Kevin Tvedten 28.5”, Paul Zoch 26.5”
Great Lakes King Paul Zoch 36.5”, Kevin Tvedten 32”, Phil James 26”
Great Lakes Coho Paul Zoch 22”
The Marker Buoy The Official Newsletter of the Rock Valley Anglers®
April 2015
JNB Guided Fishing - Markesan, WI 920-394-3114
www.jnbguidefishing.com jeffbennett@centurylink.net
Your Fishin’ Pal Guide Service - Oconomowac, WI 262-370-6771
www.fishinpal.com Lynn@FishinPal.com
Reel Encounters Muskie Fishing Guide Service - Madison/Minocqua, WI 815-713-9705
www.reelencounters.com ReelEncounters@gmail.com
The Marker Buoy The Official Newsletter of the Rock Valley Anglers®
April 2015
Fishing Contests Continued
Details of the Rock Valley Anglers® versus Yahara Fishing Club Traveling Trophy Contest...
The Battle for the Rusty Propeller Trophy! The “Rumble in the Watery Jungle!” The “Thrilla in southern
Wisconsin and northern Illa!” ...Okay, I’m done now.
1. Must be a member of the club to compete. Dual members can make entries on behalf of only one club.
2. Contest runs from January 1st to December 31st each year.
3. Entries should be substantiated by a photograph or witness.
4. All entries must be caught from public waters in Wisconsin or Illinois. Date and location of catch must
be reported.
5. Entries will be ranked by length and should be reported accurate to 1/4 inch.
6. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in each category will be awarded 3, 2, and 1 points respectively. In the case of
ties, both entries will receive equal points.
7. Each individual member can receive points for only one fish in each category.
8. The club with the highest point total will keep the Rusty Propeller Trophy for the following year.
9. In the event of a tie, the club with the most 1st place entries will win.
10. Contest categories:
Inland lakes and streams Any waters
Smallmouth Bass Largemouth Bass
Walleye Northern Pike
Brown Trout Muskie
Rainbow Trout Bluegill
Great Lakes Crappie
Smallmouth Bass Yellow Perch
Walleye White Bass
Brown Trout Catfish
Steelhead
Coho Salmon
King Salmon
The Marker Buoy The Official Newsletter of the Rock Valley Anglers®
April 2015
Fishing Contests Continued
Details of the Rock Valley Anglers® Big Fish Contest...
$10 for 4 species, $20 for 8 species, $30 for all 12 species.
Species: Muskie, Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Sauger,
Chinook Salm on, Catfish, Rough Fish, Bluegill, Crappie, Perch
For each participant, $2.50 will go into the selected species’ pots. The largest fish of each species wins the
pot.
If you have already filled out the membership form, it’s NOT too late. You can enter the Big Fish Contest at
any time. You just need to be entered in the contest prior to any submitted fish being considered for the
contest.
1. Contest open to paid members of good standing in the Rock Valley Anglers®.
2. Contest starts on January 1st and ends December 31st. Members must be entered in the contest prior
to any submitted fish being considered for the contest.
3. All entries must be legally caught in accordance with the state fishing regulations. Fish must be taken
from waters open to the public.
4. Entries caught in a river system, flowage, or lake bordering more than one state shall be entered as a
fish caught in the state where the angler holds a valid state fishing license and accessed the body of
water.
5. Entries should be substantiated by a photograph or witness.
6. Muskies, Northern Pike, and Panfish will be judged by length only accurate to 1/4 inch. All other species
will be judged on a points system which compares the fish caught with the state record in the state it
was caught.
7. The largest fish of each species will win. In the case of ties, the winnings will be split equally.
Submitting fish for any of the contests is very simple. On the CONTESTS page of our website,
www.rockvalleyanglers.com/contests, there is a copy/paste email template. Paste that template into an
email, fill out the questions, attach picture(s) of the catch, and send to rockvalleyanglers@gmail.com.
We will evaluate all entries to determine if they are eligible for the RVA vs. YFC Traveling Trophy Contest
or the Big Fish Contest.
We are expecting some monstrous fish entries to help us wrestle the Rusty Propeller Trophy away from
that wily Yahara Fishing Club!
The Marker Buoy The Official Newsletter of the Rock Valley Anglers®
April 2015
Angler’s Edge Fishing & Marine - Loves Park, IL 815-877-6062
www.anglersedge.net
Nature’s Touch Taxidermy - Janesville, WI 608-754-9401
www.naturestouchtaxidermy.net
Hillside Inn - Ellison Bay, WI 920-854-2928
http://doorcounty.com/dcvbmember.php?id=IL55900
Dana’s Gifts & Flower Shoppe - Beloit
www.danasgiftsandflowershoppe.com
The Marker Buoy The Official Newsletter of the Rock Valley Anglers®
April 2015
Recap
Rolling Meadows Indoor Fishing Flea Market - 3/7
February and March are a fishing tackle junkie’s dream. Between the YFC auction, the RVA auction, and all
the fishing sales, the last month has been awesome. The Rolling Meadows Indoor Fishing Flea Market
started things off this month with a bang. The event was held at Rolling Meadows High School - home of
the Mustangs. This was a great event. Big enough to warrant the drive, yet small enough to get through in
an hour or two. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality and quantity of items. Lots of muskie stuff, too. I
may have even found a secret weapon or two that will certainly help me best Roger, Ted, and Reggie on
the water this summer! 45 minutes from Rockford and 60 minutes from Beloit, this one should be on your
list for next year!
Stoughton Fishing Sale - 3/8
The Stoughton Fishing Sale was next on the list. I would not call this sale a destination, however, I did see
some gems amongst the various tables. If it’s close by or on your way, it’s worth stopping in. They did
have a breakfast buffet throughout the morning which alone made the trip worthwhile.
The Marker Buoy The Official Newsletter of the Rock Valley Anglers®
April 2015
Recap Continued
Rockford Fishing Sale - 3/8
I would describe the Rockford Sale as more of a buyer’s sale than a seller’s. The crowds were the largest of
the bunch. I would recommend getting there early as the sale was really over by 2:00pm. The Stoughton
Sale followed by the Rockford Sale was a great way to spend a wintery day.
Congratulations to Jake Koelling for winning the RVA 50/50 raffle!
Yahara Fishing Club - 3/10, Membership meeting w/ Mike Pecosky speaking
After winning the 2014 Rusty Propeller Trophy, the award presentation occurred at the Yahara Fishing
Club’s March meeting. The excitement and anticipation were palpable. The Yahara Fishing Club rejoiced in
the win. To the victor go the spoils!
Mike Pecosky shared some multi-species information about the Madison Chain. I certainly picked up a few
ideas I will use during the coming open water season. More members should really consider taking ad-
vantage of some of the opportunities made possible by the Yahara Fishing Club. They are a great bunch!
The Marker Buoy The Official Newsletter of the Rock Valley Anglers®
April 2015
Even Keel Marine - Rockford, IL 815-963-1105
www.evenkeelmarine.com
Skip’s Friendly Village - Afton, WI
fvcatering@charter.net
Road Dawg Family Restaurant - Beloit
www.roaddawgjanesville.webs.com
Afton Pub and Park - Afton, WI
608-365-2891
Webb’s Guide Service - Rockford, IL 815-979-2911
www.FB.com/WebbsGuideService wwebb@ppg.com
The Marker Buoy The Official Newsletter of the Rock Valley Anglers®
April 2015
Recap Continued
IL Chapter - 3/11, Membership meeting w/ Rob Manthei speaking
We had a great turnout for the March membership meeting. It was good to see some new faces and get
some new members. They picked a terrific night to attend as Rob Manthei schooled us all on panfish, wall-
eye, bass, and muskie. After hearing this presentation, I had to start rigging my panfish rods when I got
home - at midnight!
Congratulations to Brian Vogrinc for winning the member raffle - a St Croix Premier rod and Shimano Sedo-
na reel! I have a feeling Brian will catch a walleye or two on that rig this spring.
Congratulations to Caleb Turner for winning the Mountain of Tackle!
The Marker Buoy The Official Newsletter of the Rock Valley Anglers®
April 2015
Recap Continued
CCMI Muskie School - 3/14
I saw a few Rock Valley Anglers® taking advantage of this terrific opportunity. The CCMI Muskie School
brought in over 200 attendees. It was great to see so many young people with interest in the sport. As
usual, it was difficult to decide which classes to attend among so many great choices. I always wish I could
clone myself to get into a few more. If you are interested in fishing for muskies, there isn’t a better way to
spend a pre-season day. Thanks to the Capital City Chapter of Muskies Inc. for putting on such a great
event.
Jeff Hanson and Bill Buechner with pool demonstrations
Adam Oberfoell presenting on High Tech Muskies
Lee Tauchen giving some tips
The Marker Buoy The Official Newsletter of the Rock Valley Anglers®
April 2015
Club Leadership
Office Member Contact Information
WI President Dave McCoy 847-772-5071 fishonranger620@yahoo.com
WI Vice President Denny Leis 608-676-5164 leis5164@charter.net
WI Secretary John Driscoll 608-756-2262 johnsfunfishing@gmail.com
WI Treasurer Craig Roberts 815-703-7679 southworm@hotmail.com
WI Activities Rod Bondele 815-389-4584 tvfishermn@charter.net
WI Advertising/Librarian Roger Sands 608-921-6756 rogsands@att.net
WI Technology Dan Corfman 608-234-0942 dancorfman@yahoo.com
IL President Nate Bergman 815-871-0847 nbergman55@yahoo.com
IL Vice President Pat Abrahamson 815-670-0423 patrickjabrahamson@yahoo.com
IL Secretary Scott Campbell 815-298-1656 scott_campbell@cinfin.com
IL Treasurer Bruce Youngberg 815-871-8142 bay37@comcast.net
IL Fundraising Ron Lund 815-222-0758 thelunds2@comcast.net
Online resources
RVA on the web: www.RockValleyAnglers.com RVA on Twitter: twitter.com/RVAnglers
RVA on Facebook: FB.com/RockValleyAnglers RVA on Instagram: instagram.com/RockValleyAnglers
RVA Closed FB Grp: FB.com/groups/242324835910467 RVA on YouTube: YouTube.com/RockValleyAnglers
Uncle Josh - Ft Atkinson, WI
www.unclejosh.com
If you have ideas, corrections, or
content for the newsletter, please let
us know. Just send an email to:
RockValleyAnglers@gmail.com
Uncle Josh - Ft Atkinson, WI
www.unclejosh.com