Lijewski and Shroeder make Muskie Fishing History
Category: press release
Nov 10th, 2008 by OutdoorsFIRST
Modified Nov 10th, 2008 at 12:00 AM
When the second day of competition was completed at the 2008 Wisconsin Muskie Tour Invitational Championship, Mark Lijewski and Clay Schroeder would make muskie fishing history by winning the most money in a tournament, over $207,000.00 in cash and prizes. Mark and Clay’s victory at the Invitational Championship was as impressive as their run in the second half of the season on the WMT tour.
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Lijewski and Schroeder
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For the team of Lijewski and Schroeder, the 2008 WMT series was a tale of two seasons. Eighteen tournaments were scheduled for the 2008 season, and at the end of the ninth qualifying tournament, Mark and Clay had not registered a muskie yet and were trailing the leaders of the Lapp Trophy (Team of the Year) by 269.5 points (inches). However, the second half of the season for Mark and Clay would be history in the making.
Saturday, June 28th would prove to be the start of the most impressive turnaround ever in muskie tournament fishing. Lijewski and Schroeder would score on their first muskie of the year at the one-day “Muskie Double Header™” event on the Pike/Round Lake Chain, with a 41.25 inch beauty. The next day, the WMT qualifying tournament was held on Squirrel Lake and their 37.75″ muskie would land the duo in fifth place. It wasn’t until the next qualifying tournament (the two-day R.A.M.M. Open Championship on the Manitowish Chain), where Mark and Clay quadrupled to win the event, did the men start to think they had a chance to catch the Lapp Trophy leader and a chance to win muskie fishing’s great prizes – the “Muskie Grand Slam™” and the “Muskie Triple Crown™”.
Lijewski and Schroeder entered into the next one-day event on the schedule trailing the new Lapp Trophy leaders by 88.25 points. Mark and Clay would score on two muskies during the Lake Mohawksin tournament, giving the team the victory and the second leg of the “Muskie Grand Slam™”. Mark and Clay would continue to battle during the WMT’s remaining qualifying season, putting more muskies “on the board” and winning the final qualifier of the season at the “Autumn Classic Open Championship, held on the Minocqua Chain.
Entering into the final event of the season, all Lijewski and Schroeder had to do is win the WMT’s Invitational Championship to earn the biggest prize in muskie fishing history. However, they would be competing again the top 65 muskie tournament teams of the 2008 season and they would have their work cut out for them! At the end of the first day of competition on Saturday, September 27th, there would be a total of eleven muskie registered, with Lijewski and Schroeder being the only team to double-up for the day. On Sunday, seven muskies would be scored, one being a 37.5 incher by Mark and Clay to seal the deal and give the team the victory.
Mark Lijewski and Clay Schroeder would set several new records during their 2008 run to be the best. They set the record for the most points in a single season with a total of 579.25 to take home the Lapp Trophy. During the 2008 season, the duo would be the only team to ever win four tournaments in a single season. But the biggest accomplishment that the two experienced was winning all of the following: the $30,000.00 cash bonus for the “Muskie Triple Crown™”, an Open Championship, the Lapp Trophy, Invitational Championship and the $100,000 cash bonus for the “Muskie Grand Slam™”, which includes all of the “Muskie Triple Crown™” criteria in addition to winning a one-day “Muskie Double Header™” event.
By winning muskie fishing’s biggest prize, the “Muskie Grand Slam™”, Mark Lijewski and Clay Schroeder are at the pinnacle of their profession and their status as being one of the top muskie tournament professionals can never be in doubt.
If you would like to meet Mark and Clay, a press conference has been schedule for 11:30am on Wednesday, November 12th at Rollie & Helen’s Musky Shop in Minocqua.
If you are interested in becoming the next big winner, meeting a great bunch of men and women, and learning more about this great fresh water game fish, fish the Wisconsin Muskie Tour. For more information about the WMT, log onto www.wmtseries.com or call (715) 369-1394. The 2009 season schedule is now available online or call for an application.
Sponsor partners for the 2008 Wisconsin Muskie Tour season are Heckel’s Marina, G Loomis, Smokey’s Musky Shop, Fittante Taxidermy, Rollie & Helen’s Musky Shop, Hawg Seeker Tackle, Ace Baits, Suick, Bait Rigs, Optimum Baits, Worden’s Lures, Yakima Bait Co., Bobbie Bait Muskie Lures, Cat’s Tails Lures, RJ Lures, Smity Bait, Drifter Tackle, Duke Snap Co., Skimmer Lures, Beast Teaser, HellRaiser Tackle Co., KDC Lures, Lunker City LLC, Musky Armour, Tackle Industries, Mud Puppy Lures and Grim Reaper Lures.