A Morning on Lake Wissota with the AGLOW Fishing Tournament

Last week, I had the chance to spend a few hours on Lake Wissota with one of the local Musky Club members as part of the AGLOW Fishing Tournament, sponsored by Fish Donkey. Even though we didn’t land a single musky, the morning was unforgettable.

This year, the tournament featured 24 volunteer captains and about 50 enthusiastic anglers. I was originally supposed to captain a boat and take some folks out, and Captain Mike Schoonveld had some creative ideas for filming interesting content. At the last moment, we had to pivot (we’ll be revisiting “how to rig your boat for trolling” in the spring!), and I was fortunate to go out with a local guide instead. That turned out to be a real treat, since I don’t know these waters well, and it gave me the chance to create content like the interview I did that morning. That interview will post tomorrow morning on all podcast platforms and on YouTube Saturday morning.

My volunteer guide Tyler was an absolute blast to fish with. He shared so much about Lake Wissota, the Musky Club, and all the conservation efforts the club has done to keep the lake and flowage healthy. It was fascinating to hear about the work they do to ensure muskies and other fish species thrive, and I loved hearing his stories about past tournaments and local fishing lore. Even without a bite, I felt like I learned so much from him and walked away with stories that are just as valuable as landing a musky.

We even had some unexpected excitement as we pulled up to the dock: my truck was being loaded on a flatbed! I had assumed the tournament/AGLOW had negotiated all parking fees during the site visit we did earlier this year when we met with the rod and gun club, and in my neck of the woods, generally only trailer parking is normally charged. Extra cars usually don’t pay, add in the fact that it is so rare that I find myself at a boat launch without a trailer that I never thought to double-check. Imagine us pulling up and me panicking, “wait, that’s my truck, that’s my truck! I have to give a podcasting seminar in an hour and a half!!”

THAT was definitely a lesson learned.

You know what they say about assuming…..

Luckily one of the fishing club members had run over to explain what was going on and that there had been a misunderstanding, and for a quick $20 tip he happily unloaded my truck.

It turned into a funny story, and sometimes the best part of a fishing trip story isn’t even catching the fish, it’s the shenanigans that ensue!

The AGLOW Fishing Tournament is designed to be fun for everyone, whether you are a seasoned angler or just starting out. There are prizes for the longest northern pike or muskellunge, walleye or sauger, bass, panfish, and even a mixed bag of overall champions and wild cards. The great thing is that every participant gets a chance to win, and more importantly, everyone walks away with a story to tell.

We had donations from a lot of companies like Flambeau, Outdoor Edge, St Croix Rods, and Scheels. Fish Donkey provided the platform, but I can’t express enough how amazing Visit Eau Claire did. They really went above and beyond to coordinate and find willing volunteers for this and all the events.

Events like this make me grateful for the people who volunteer their time and knowledge, and for organizations like Fish Donkey, and the sponsors that included the giveaways that make participation seamless and fun. I always walk away from these mornings with a renewed sense of excitement for the outdoors and a few new fishing tips tucked into my back pocket.

If you get the chance to attend the Niagara, NY AGLOW Conference in October 2026, be sure to take part in the Fishing Tournament, the conference is in October instead of September next year to take advantage of the tremendous bite on the river. But, even if the fish don’t bite, the experience, the stories, and the camaraderie will be worth every minute.

If you’re on social media just look for the #AGLOWEauClaire2025 hashtag to see all sorts of great photos, videos and updates!