Stolen Equipment Alert

[thrax]

ALERT. Yesterday afternoon I had nearly all of my muskie equipment stolen from my boat, parked at my front door in my yard, while I was gone for a couple hrs to register people for our chapter tournament. My HDS8 was stolen along with 6 muskie rods and reels including 3 Calcutta 401te's, an Abu C3 6500, 2 linecounter trolling reels. Also taken was a fishoflage Lakewood Monster STUFFED with baits and with Plano's stuffed with baits in all 3 pockets, also a Forest Green Lakewood Extreme filled to the hilt, including many custom large crankbaits, also taken was my Frabill net. Please keep your eyes peeled for stuff like this wherever you go, online etc. Crushing. Broad daylight, middle of the afternoon.

Included in these lures were 11 Supernatural Crankbaits, very unique customs and a couple were personalized in addition. In all between 160-180 lures along with all release tools, hooks, leaders etc were in those boxes. I am in the general Bemidji, MN area. This occurred between 1:30pm and 7:15pm yesterday. A suspicious large late model blue SUV and a small boat with a tan or brown cover was reported on a private dead end road immediately behind my property by neighbors to the sheriff while he was here last night, tracks were located on the dirt road leading into and from my property where they would have been obscured from view, along with scuffing indicating loading of heavy gear.

I implore everyone to keep an eye peeled and remind you to always take the time to secure your stuff. I'm in a reasonably secluded location in the country, the boat is parked where it always is and I never leave stuff in it, this is literally the only time I have done that and that one time for a few hrs really cost me. Take pictures of your stuff and keep an itemized list. I didn't. I am working with the insurance companies and don't know how that will go yet.

[LightningBG]

Totally brutal.

$10 says it's someone you know, and knew where you would be that day.

[huntnfish]

That's horrible! I would also put my money on someone that knew you were going to be gone and was watching. It seems like way to big of a coincidence that all this stuff was taken the one time you left your stuff unlocked.

[Archerysniper]

KCCO

Nice signature

Chive On

[Jeff13]

That is terrible for sure someone who knows you. Hope you get your stuff back or the insurance company pulls through for you.

[Gordie]

This really bites and I really hope you get your equipment back.

[CaptainMusky]

That sucks big time! I have had this happen to me as well makes you feel totally violated. Hopefully there is a good ending to your situation and the crooks get what they deserve.

[thrax]

Well, still no word about anything as of yet, but I've gotten unconfirmed reports of some similar grab and dash thefts in my area from the same afternoon, evening. A chainsaw from the back of a guys truck at a nearby public landing and at least one other boat completely cleaned out a little north of me. Still have to contact the sheriff's dept to see if they can confirm that and if they've gotten any other info yet.

To those offering to help me out its very much appreciated. Keep your eyes peeled on websites etc. Some very unique stuff here so there is a chance...

I would like to thank Kevin Cochran, Ethan Rogers, Chris and Duff Thury for the use of some equipment and baits until this gets settled. Even bigger thanks to Tom Wartman of Big Mama Lures and Jerry Sondag of Headshaker Guide Service who nearly brought me to tears with some donated baits and equipment this weekend.

[CaptainMusky]

Very cool to hear folks are helping you out. I wish I would have been so lucky.

I will keep an eye peeled for something to show up on auction sites and PM you if I do.

[Bob Schultz]

Thrax--No Words--Truly Sorry!!

World is definitely getting worse not better....

Hoping somehow they catch the guys and recover your stuff--what a sad day indeed!!

Hope to run into you and Jeremy on Big V this summer....

[Muskie Adict]

Thrax,

I feel your pain. I'm in the insurance business and you should have coverage under either you boat (for possessions in the boat) or under you home owner's policy. If you have a substatial loss, like this one, I think it's worth it to make a claim. You would be subject to a deductible, possibly, but if your claim is over $3-$4K it is worth paying a deductible.

Most companies offer a replacement when it comes to lost property, so you should get all your stuff back.

To ALL the muskie hunters out there, or fisherman in general. I would recommend what's called "scheduling" your high value fishing equipment on your home policy, this means you won't have to pay a dedcuctible if everything is lost, it broadens the coverage and eliminates the deductlbe. Here's an example, if your boat sinks, and all of your gear is at the bottom of the lake, having your items scheduled will mean you get everything replaced and don't have to pay a dime to replace it. If I can answer any questions about this for you TRAX, please give me a call, or send me a private message.

[huntnfish]

I saw a post on the Craig-ist that was selling 150 muskie lures with the location as Park Rapids. This was on the fargo Craig-ist site.

[Esox_Magnum]

Thrax got most of his gear back, the culprits were caught...

[walleye18]

Hope they hang-em by the "grape bag"!!

[delmuts]

Do we get to use them for targets as we cast muskie lures!!!

[CaptainMusky]

I may be wrong, but I believe one of those caught was someone who replied to his post here...

He posted on another site that is tackle was recovered and the scumbags caught and mentioned that one of the persons replied to a post "on another site". Assuming this one...

[bassfshin24]

Finally a happy ending to one of these situations. Glad the culprit was caught!

[thrax]

Guys, thanks for all the kind words. Two young men have been charged with my theft and with about 8-10 others all from my local area. I've recovered most but not all of my things. It was in fact someone who had been watching posts and knew me who discovered the criminals, as one of them was trying to sell a bunch of equipment out of his truck. A 21yr old with 50-60 walleye combo's, multiple locators, tackle boxes and other stuff in one truck just looked too suspicious. Both individuals are avid outdoorsmen who fish a local walleye league, hunting and fishing is what they do. I didn't know them but know lots of people who do know them. One of them did post a reply to a similar thread on a to be unnamed site. Bottom line lock up your stuff, you never know who's got their eye out on it. Hopefully the law will help make it right. this is one of those very rare cases that actually get cracked and I can tell you from meeting some of the other victims how awesome it is that they are getting all or most of their stuff back too!

[musky5555]

I know how you feel, I've had that happen to me at a public campground. Of course I didn't have pictures of all my equipment either. If there was a bright side, I went to Thorne Brothers and told them my situation, said that I was planning on spending $700, and asked if there was anything they could do for me. They gave me either a 15 or 20 percent discount off my bill! I was very thankful for that!

[eyeguy 54]

Sweet that you got the stuff back and they got nailed!