The Rhinelander Area Chamber of Commerce has announced the winners from the 2015 Fishing Hot Spots Hodag Musky Challenge held on five lake groups in the Rhinelander area September 25-27, 2015.  Eighty-two teams competed for a chance at $15,000 in cash payouts. Winners from this weekend’s Challenge include:

1st Place: Mark Lijewski and Jeff Piazza from Minocqua , fishing on Crescent Lake and Lake Julia.

2nd Place: Kent Stadler and Doug Bloch from Ringle, fishing on Oneida Lake and Lake Hancock.

3rd Place: Buck Rogers and Bob Becker from Appleton, fishing on the Moen Lake chain

4th Place: Tom McInnis and Dave Schmitz from Lake Tomahawk, fishing on the Moen Lake chain.

5th Place: Simon Cherney and Scott Anderson from Tomahawk, fishing on Oneida Lake and Lake Hancock.

6th Place: Phil Amstadt and Greg Kliss from Rhinelander, fishing on the Moen Lake chain

7th Place: Sam and Frank Krainz from Rhinelander, fishing on Crescent Lake and Lake Julia.

8th Place: Kevin Black and Phil Graham from Greenville, fishing on the Moen Lake chain.

9th Place (tie): Tim Rutzen and Ryan Bock from Three Lakes, fishing on Lake Thompson and Lake George.

9th Place (tie): Ben Ogiba and Mike Jost from Birnamwood, fishing on Oneida Lake and Hancock Lake.

Largest Musky Caught Saturday: Phil and Nick Wilkinson from Atkins, IA with a 45 ½ inch musky caught on the Moen Lake chain.

Largest Musky Caught Sunday: Charlie Bromann and Clayton Christopherson with a 44 inch musky caught on the Moen Lake chain.

Largest Northern Pike Caught for the Weekend: Arthur and Bryan Kurtz from Rhinelander, with a 37 inch Northern caught on the Wisconsin River flowage.

Thirty-eight muskies were successfully caught and released by 26 different teams over the course of the weekend.  Fish were measured and registered by a team of volunteer judges that staffed boats on all five lake groups in the Rhinelander area.

The Fishing Hot Spots Hodag Musky Challenge would also not be possible without the support of local area business sponsors. The Rhinelander Area Chamber of Commerce sends heartfelt thank yous to Fishing Hot Spots, Shoeder’s RV & Marine, and the Musky Shop, as well as the many businesses and donors for the Challenge’s raffle prizes.

Those seeking more information about this year’s event or for next year’s Fishing Hot Spots Hodag Musky Challenge should contact the Rhinelander Area Chamber of Commerce at 715-365-7464 or info@rhinelanderchamber.com.