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A Blond and Her Boat Group Fishing Trips...
We hope to inspire, educate and provide opportunities for women to enjoy this wonderful
sport. How can we accomplish this?
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*2007 A Blond & Her Boat Fishing Trips
(Customized Group Trips: All-Women’s (WOW! Women on the Water), Couples, and Mixed Group Trips) *Prices include lodging, all breakfasts & dinners, daily instruction, hands-on demonstrations, detailed gear list, maps, prizes and more. Boat rentals, guide service, lunches, and miscellaneous are extra.
*Need a fishing partner? Don't have a boat? We'll help take care of all the details!
May 18 – 20: WOW! Women Canoe, Catch Fish, Campfire & Cook-Out: A pristine Northwoods experience…we’ll be fishing for bass, walleyes, panfish, and pike on lakes and rivers near Eagle River, Wisconsin…staying in rustic cabins or modern Northwoodsy motel rooms (your choice at: www.rivdale.com)… and enjoying the incredible wildlife springtime offers. Baby fawns, mergansers, and migrating birds are common sightings. Bring your field manual--a wildlife identification game is part of the fun! Paddling and fishing instruction is included--we'll even teach you how to filet your walleyes. Every detail is taken care of...We provide a thorough gear list (pre-trip) which includes dealer's lists for these items. We treat you to hearty homestyle breakfasts and suppers, enjoyed around a mesmerizing campfire. Pack your own lunch--we'll meet up during the day for an on the water flotilla/lunch break!
Price also includes canoe rental & transport; subtract $30 if bringing your own canoe.
$299.00 Instructors: Peter Stoltman & Patricia Strutz
 
June 6-9: WOW! Shimano’s Intermediate Musky Huntress: For gals with basic boating and musky fishing experience, this trip teaches advanced techniques. It’ll provide a chance at tying into a tiger musky at famous Lac Vieux Desert and area Land O Lakes, Wisconsin waters. We’ll be staying at an awesome private island lodge, circa 1920’s, on the Cisco Chain. A boardwalk crosses a lovely bog area, full of bird life, (bring your field manuals,they'll be a wildlife appreciation game thrown into the mix) and winds through this island retreat. Lodging includes adjoining cabins and nostalgic Northwoods quarters above the boat house. Decks overlooking the water, hammocks,and plenty of room to roam will make this a relaxing adventure. Wednesday evening will begin with a cookout over the campfire. Breakfasts will be served at Forest Lake Country Store (with an option of having them pack a lunch for you, too!) and the rest of the trip extraordinary dinners will be served up at The Bear Trap--including Friday evening walleye fry and Saturday Prime Rib dinner. Evening fishing available for those who desire more time on the water; a paved walking/biking trail is close-by, too!
*$499.00 Instructors: Karen DiPietro & Patricia Strutz
June 13-16: WOW! Shimano’s Beginner Musky Huntress: For gals new to chasing muskies, this trip teaches all the basics--like throwing a baitcaster reel, tying a Palomar knot, and sharpening a treble hook! Fishing St. Germain (WI) area “action lakes” will put you in contact with ‘ole esox; you’ll be removing hooks and smiling for the camera in no time! We'll be staying in cabins at St. Germain Lodge (www.stgermainlodge.com) and breakfast and dinners will be served at their on-site restaurant, Fibbers. Enjoy their perch or walleye fry, Shrimp Alfredo, and Bbq Ribs. Pack your own lunch, we'll meet up on the lake for a mid-day fishing report. Evening fishing available for those who desire more time on the water. Area hiking and biking trails also available. An optional hands-on boating clinic on day one-- sponsored and held at Heckel's Marina of Eagle River-- teaches how to safely launch, load, and operate your boat and trolling motor. Campfires and cookouts add to the fun of this complete Northwoods experience.
*$499.00 Instructors: Peter Stoltman & Patricia Strutz
July 18-21: WOW! (Women on the Water!) Women Bassin’: The Northwoods of Wisconsin offers a sleeper bass fishery, both smallies and largemouths. For gals new to bass fishing, this trip will teach you all the basics. For those women who already bassmasters, we'll add on some new, advanced techniques to try out. We’ll ply the unspoiled waters of the Nicolet National Forest and other Vilas county lakes. Bass fishing provides "rod-bending action"--you won't be disappointed! Lodging will be at the Hiawatha Motor Inn, located on the famous Eagle River Chain of Lakes.
Wednesday evening begins with a cookout around a relaxing campfire as we discuss the next days events. Breakfasts will be served up at nearby Leif's Cafe and dinners will be held at the adjacent Hiawatha restaurant. Pack your own lunches and we'll meet up mid-day for an updated fishing report. Evening fishing available for those who prefer more time on the water. Area hiking and biking trails also available. Bring your field manuals, a wildlife identification game will be part of the fun. An optional hands-on boating clinic on day one --sponsored by and held at Heckel's Marina of Eagle River--teaches how to safely launch, load, and operate your boat and trolling motor.
*$499.00 Instructors: Pete Schoetz & Patricia Strutz
Aug 15-18th: Frabill's Couples Chasing Muskies: Make your better half be “the net man” at this unique trip. Held in north central Minnesota, we’ll be chasing BIG fish on BIG waters. World class fishing on lakes Cass and Plantagenet interspersed with lakeside campfires and cookouts will make this a dream vacation for both husband & wife. We will stay in comfy, clean cabins at beautiful Birch Villa (www.birchvilla.com). Breakfasts will be served on-site, and you'll pack your own lunch. We'll boat over to historic Stoneypointe Resort (c. 1939) for late afternoon dinners...ribs, fish fry, prime rib...then, back on the water for an incredible evening bite. You won't believe the breaklines on these lakes! Get ready to rip some crankbaits and hold on! Area guide Tony Grant willingly shares his years of experiences and expertise.
*$765 per couple Instructors: Tony Grant & Patricia Strutz
Sept. 28-30: Couples Canoe, Catch Fish, Campfire & Cookout (sponsored by Costa Del Mar): Ah, autumn…soak in the woods ablaze with color as you discover unspoiled Northwoods lakes (in Wisconsin)…we’ll be setting the hook on bass, walleye, northern pike, and “the king of freshwater fish”-the muskellunge. Canadian geese, eagles, big bucks, and migrating birds are common sightings. Bring your field manual--a wildlife identification game is part of the fun! Paddling and fishing instruction is included--we'll teach you how to filet your walleyes or land a big musky without tipping over! Every detail is taken care of...We provide a thorough gear list (pre-trip) which includes dealer's lists for these items. We treat you to hearty homestyle breakfasts and suppers, enjoyed around a mesmerizing campfire. Pack your own lunch--we'll meet up during the day for an on the water flotilla/lunch break! Accommodations include cozy riverside cabins or modern, Northwoods decor motel rooms (your choice: www.rivdale.com) on this wonderful couples retreat.
$299.00 per person; subtract $30 (per person) if bringing your own canoe.
Instructors: Peter Stoltman & Patricia Strutz
 
this trip is open to men & women
Oct. 25-27: Trophy Time (sponsored by Rollie & Helen's Musky Shop): Now is the time to hunt for the biggest muskies of the year! Targeting big fish on waters in the Minocqua, Wisconsin area, we’ll share innovative techniques including variations on live bait presentations, jigging deep breaklines, and casting to complex underwater structure. “A Blond and Her Boat” will also share her experiences of fishing for suspended ‘skies while row trolling. So, if you’re a diehard…bundle up and head north for a chance to hook into a true trophy…We'll be staying at the Concord Inn. You'll really enjoy the swimming pool and hot tub after a long day of chasing around muskies. Dinners will be served up nearby at the Thirsty Whale.
$360.00 Instructors: Jon Solberg, Peter Stoltman, & Patricia Strutz
**Ready to Sign Up for a Trip? Send $150 deposit to:
A Blond and Her Boat
1214 Fire Tree Trail
Eagle River WI 54521
Please mark trip's name on the memo line. We will immediately send a confirmation receipt and cancellation policy. Prior to the trip (usually around 6-8 weeks) you will receive the directions, pre-trip gear list, itinerary and balance due notice.
**For an extra fee, you may enjoy spending the day with one of the guides. Please ask for details…
**All muskies at all venues are released. We also highly encourage CPR (Catch, Photo, and Release) of all other quality sized fish. We gladly share information and recommendations on graphite replicas.
**Gift Certificates Available! These trips make great Christmas, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, and Anniversary gifts...
Our trips are proud to partner with these fine businesses...
 
 
  
Instructor's Bios...
 Pete Schoetz
is a licensed fishing guide in Texas and Wisconsin. His specialty? Fishing for bass! "Bass fishing offers lots of action, this is a great way to hook new anglers onto the sport of fishing." Pete is a bass touring pro (FLW, BASS) and also works for Heckel's Marina in Eagle River. You'll enjoy a day on the water fishing with Pete...when we pre-fished for the women's bass trip this year, he tied into a 6# smallie. He's a lot of fun and a great bass fisherman! To book a guide date (WisBassin Guide Service) contact him at: teamrangerboats@yahoo.com
 Karen Di Pietro is a lifelong fisherman. "It was my absolute disgust for worms and leeches that started my fascination with fishing tackle!" (I'm with you, there!) Karen now owns Producer Tackle, which manufactures Rattlin' Shads and Ducetails. She's also fished the PMTT (Professional Musky Tournament Trail) for the past five seasons. She's an enthusiastic, knowledgeable musky fisherman and I look forward to working with her. Contact: producertackle@sbcglobal.net
 Peter Stoltman is the epitome of a Northwoods guide...a skilled multi-species fisherman and a gentleman. Peter also handcrafts his own bucktails--Pete's Musky Maulers--and works at the world famous Rollie & Helen's Musky Shop. Anyone lucky enough to spend the day in his boat will appreciate his willingness to share his knowlege and experiences and his keen sense of humor. You can visit my good friend's website at: www.lastcastguideservice.com or email him at: pjs53@frontiernet.net
 This man hardly needs an introduction..a famous name in musky fishing, I'm thrilled to be working with Tony Grant. Tony hails from Kentucky where he owns Mountain Muskie Lodge. He guides there part of the year and in Wisconsin and Minnesota during the summertime. Tony continues to be one of the busiest guys in the business-guiding, hosting fishing schools & clinics, presenting seminars, writing articles,competing in tournaments...and he's one of my favorite guys to fish with because he's a plethora of knowledge and willingly shares it. Visit his website at: www.kymuskie.com or contact via email: info@kymuskie.com
 Jon Solberg has fished competitively for many years-both for bass and muskies (Redman Bass Tournament Trail & WMT). He is definitely a "thinking man" of the sport--deeply analyzing structure and techniques...his experiences from chasing predators around has provided him with unique methods that really work! Join Jon at our Trophy Time October trip as he guides you to a late fall FATTIE. To contact Jon for a guided trip, email: jsolberg@commercial-bag.com
 Jim Behm was born a natural fisherman. When the bite is tough the guy can still jig up a walleye or catch more muskies than the rest of us. This can be frustrating since I have to live with him...for those of you who don't know--Jim is definetely my "better half" and I'm excited to work a few trips together. He's a patient teacher, outstanding outdoorsman, and always provides comic relief. He'll make your vacation memorable!
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MY MISSION:
**It is truly a mission of mine to get more women out on the water...If you have a gal in your life that shows any interest in the sport (your wife, daughter, mother, daughter-in-law, friend...) please contact me. I love to share my knowledge, skills, and enthusiasm for the sport with other women.
*Guided trips in my Crestliner Fishhawk: I'm thrilled to help gals learn how to fish.
I am very patient when it comes to teaching things such as throwing a baitcasting reel or netting a large fish. Remember, when you hire a guide you are to expect an educational and entertaining day. I have gear especially suited for a woman's smaller frame, hand size, and strength constraints. I promise you a comfortable, relaxing day on the water with no worries!
*Guided trips in my rowboat: If you enjoy canoeing or kayaking, you will probably love to learn to "row troll (fish while rowing)." I have a comfortable rowboat! We'll get a little exercise, enjoy the beautiful scenery and hopefully catch a fat walleye or musky!
*Seminars:
I present seminars to groups, organizations and at tradeshows that discuss the "how's" of getting more women on the water. These are in-depth presentations that discuss proper "female-friendly" gear and techniques. If your group is interested, please contact me.
*Women's 11th Annual Musky Tournament: Held at Island View Lodge in Mercer, WI. We fish lakes Fisher, Catherine and Cedar. Limited strictly to "women who love to fish and have fun doing it!" Men are welcome to join in...the guys handle all the food preparation and beverage serving afterwards! This is a fun outing. This year's date is not determined yet (it's usually toward the end of Sept.) Contact Ellen Wells ewells@excel.net
***Female-Friendly Gear Recommendations***
I. General Fishing Apparel
It is always colder & more windy on the lake...You want to stay warm & dry to be comfortable and enjoy your day. So, wear weather appropriate clothing! This means:
a. If rain is forecasted, bring both rain jacket & pants. Make sure they will fit over your clothing and you'll still be able to cast in them. Quality raingear made for women is available at Gander Guide Series, Cabela's, and made by Columbia and Frog Toggs.
Here, Cabela's GuideWear kept me warm and dry and able to turn a client onto a very nice musky on a miserably rainy day!
b. Dress in layers, you can always take them off! I suggest a windbreaker layer and a hooded sweatshirt. If you are fishing in early spring or late autumn, bundle up...Check out Cabela's or Gander Mountain's waterproof hunting clothes for men, women, or youths (depending on your size). I wear waterproof coveralls in the late fall.
c. Hats....a necessity to keep the hair out of your eyes and the glare of the sunshine off your face. I find many women prefer visors.
d. Shoes...don't forget to protect your feet, too! If it is going to rain, wear waterproof shoes!! There's nothing worse than soggy, cold feet. I wear boots made by Wolverine. In the summer, I wear their uninsulated Julia Hikers. During cold weather, I wear their insulated, waterproof Ridgeline boots. I highly recommend them. To find a dealer near you, check out the store locations on the site www.wolverine.com
e. Polarized sunglasses: These are a must to adequately look at underwater structure (and enjoy the adrenaline rush of a big musky following your lure!). I suggest Costa Del Mar's MP2 series, in the green mirrored glass. These glasses fit a gal's smaller sized face very well (and they look great!) and the lens color works in variable light conditions. Visit www.costadelmar.com for a complete dealer list.
f. Gloves: Again, if you are fishing in cold weather, you'll need to protect yourself. I wear waterproof, fleece gloves that are from Cabela's women's hunting catalog, style # GP-91-2236. Sadly, I've just found out they've discontinued this product. Ladies: please call Cabela's and ask that they once again offer these gloves! Speak to product development or customer service and make sure they log in your inquiry. There is strength in numbers and if we all make an attempt to let our voices be heard, they may bring these gloves back. If they do, buy two pairs. You'll love them!!
g. Jewelery: Take it off. You don't want to catch your diamond ring in the mouth of a musky! I do wear a quality, waterproof sportswatch. I suggest St. Moritz's diver's watches, the Momentum series. Log onto their website: www.st-moritz.com to find their stores and web dealers. Yep, mine even has a PINK face!
h. Cosmetics: Definitely not a requirement! However, do apply sunscreen or lotion with spf on any exposed skin. During windy conditions, I really like Kiehl's Non-Freeze weather shield...it's a great balm. Aveda and Burt's Bees make fantastic products, too. Burt's Bee's Lifeguard's Choice Lip Balm and Shea Butter Hand Repair Creme are wonderful.
II. Musky Huntress Gear
A. Rods & reel combos:
a. Beginner musky huntress: Shimano Compre CPCMF70MH or H rod (7'0"-7'2" musky rod, med-heavy power, med-fast action) / Shimano Cardiff 300 reel. Spool with 65# Power Pro and 80# fluorocarbon leader (for small bucktails, topwaters, spinnerbaits, etc.)
b. Intermediate musky huntress: Compre CPCM62XH or 66H rod (6'2" -6'6" musky rod, heavy or extra heavy power, fast or med-fast action)/ Cardiff 300 reel. Spool with 65# Power Pro and a solid steel leader.(For walk-the-dog lures, gliders, jerkbaits, twitchbaits)
c. Diehard musky huntress: Compre CPCM7676H rod (7'6" -8'0" musky rod, heavy or extra heavy power, fast action)/ Calcutta 400B reel. Spool with 65# Power Pro and 80# fluorocarbon leader.(For bulldogs, larger crankbaits, larger bucktails, longer casts)
 Shimano Rods are "female-friendly" because they are lightweight and have a narrow, contoured foregrip. This ergonomic design will create less fatigue when throwing big musky plugs for several hours. Inherently, women lack upper body strength. Holding the rod by the foregrip, instead of palming the reel, takes the weakest part of the hook set (the wrist) out of the equation and adds the power of the lower body.
I couple my rods with either Shimano Calcutta 400's or Cardiff 300's. The Shimano Cardiff 300 reels are especially female-friendly because they are lightweight and have a recessed reel foot. If you do decide to "palm the reel" this set-up is much more comfortable. The drag systems on Shimano reels are without comparison!
Visit www.shimano.com for complete dealer list
B. Line, leaders
a. On my musky reels, I always use a superbraid line called Power Pro. I use 65# test. This is a thin diameter (equivalent to 14# monofilament) line that is very strong, resilient, and easy to tie knots. Have your local tackle shop put a mono backing onto your reel (to cut costs and prevent slippage) and then spool on the Power Pro.
www.powerpro.com 
b. For all straight retrieve lures, tie on an 80# test fluorocarbon leader. This is a very hard & resilient line that looks similar to monofilament...only it is thinner, so you can still tie knots with it!
c. For all lures that I have to manipulate (jerkbaits, twitchbaits, etc.) I tie on a solid wire jerkbait leader.
....More to follow...anytime I hear of a "female-friendly fishing event or information" I will be glad to pass it on...
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