Off-year For Muskies on Mille Lacs, says guide

Matt Treno knows a thing or two about Muskie fishing on Mille Lacs. The young guide from the south shore works at Thorne Brothers Muskie Shop off highway 27 and takes plenty of folks out in search of the elusive giants each year. He also talks with a host of other guides around the lake. And he's been at it for a more than a few years. Treno echoed the sentiments of many I've talked to this year, saying the Muskie catch was way off in 2008. He said about a third of the usual amount of Muskies were caught. He said Gene Miller, the legendary guide and Isle Postmaster, caught only 35 fish this season in contrast to more than 100 he has caught in recent seasons. "It was pretty slow by most accounts," Treno said last week. He did mention a recent 55-inch catch on the big pond but had few other details about it. "There are still a few die-hards out there fishing."