Frank Schneider Memorial Muskie Tournament

2013 Frank Schneider Memorial Muskie Tournament

On September 6,7, and 8^th over 500 anglers competed for the top prize in the Frank Schneider Memorial Muskie Tournaments on 20 different lakes in Northern Minnesota. 

LOA Guide Jeff  “Jiggy” Andersen, his brother Joe Andersen and friend/fellow musky guide John Hoyer competed. The tournament is an individual tournament, which allows you to fish with as many anglers in one boat as you choose.   The team ran a  fully prepped Lund 2010 Pro Guide powered by 200 hp Mercury Verado.

The trio started the morning off with John catching a 41 incher 20 minutes into the tournament.  Joe later in the morning then caught two muskies back to back, which were 42.5 and 44 inches.  After the morning bite slowed guide Jiggy Andersen made the call to transition to a different location, which proved to be the right call as Joe set the hook on a beautiful 47 incher.  After day one Joe was sitting in second place.  “I’m blessed to be able to fish these waters on a consistent basis and understand with changing conditions, you as an angler, have to also make adjustments” Guide Jiggy Andersen.

Day #2 the bite had slowed with calm winds as there was only 9 total registered muskies caught out of the over 500 musky anglers.  Joe was one of them with a 40.5 incher.  The trio also boated 2 short fish measuring 36 and 38.5 inches.  Joe moved to first place in the tournament.

Day #3 clouds came and the wind blew.  “We knew the bite was going to be game on and felt Joe needed another fish to take home the gold.”  Said fishing partner John Hoyer.  The anglers failed to convert three good opportunities and did not land a musky for the shortened day.

Despite their failed efforts at catching a musky the final day, Joe took home first place in one of the largest musky tournaments in musky fishing. 

“It’s a huge honor to win such a big event!  I just sat in the front of Jiggy’s boat and casted where he told me to.”  Said champion Joe Andersen.

“We made on the water decisions as a team, mistakes as a team, and ultimately Joe came home with the win!  In reality with the bites and lost fish, all three of us should have been in the top 10 but, that’s musky fishing!”  Explained previous champ and renowned fishing guide Jeff “Jiggy” Andersen 

The anglers used a new prototype bucktail made by Bigtooth Tackle called the JUICE Series of Musky Bucktails.  "It was amazing to see how these muskies chowed this bait even in tough conditions!" Said Champion Joe Andersen.  Click Here to See more about this winning Musky Bucktail! 

Top Three

1^st Joe Andersen 42.5, 44, 47, 40.5

2^nd Tony Sommerfeld 50, 49, 44

3^rd Stephan Nielson 52.5, 47