Thank you for visiting the official website of professional musky angler Steve Heiting. On this site, you can learn more about Steve, find out where you can hear him speak, read some of his articles, and learn what tackle and equipment he uses on the water.
Big Fish Highlights
Summer Musky School
One of the tenets of fishing for big muskies is that no matter how difficult fishing may seem, a prime moon event may trigger a bite that results in a giant fish. Such was the case for Corey Tedesco.
The angler from Barrington, Illinois, was fishing with guide Bryan Schaeffer in the University of Esox Summer Musky Tactics school on June 8 when a large fish bore down on his bucktail and ate in the figure-8. The musky, which later measured 48-3⁄4 inches long, was Tedesco’s personal best fish. The time? Precisely 10:52 a.m., the exact moment of moon underfoot that morning.
“It was a wild figure-8 and fight,” said Schaeffer afterward. “The fish came charging in, and Corey did everything right and we got it.”
Tedesco’s musky was the largest of six caught during the weekend school, which saw anglers from six states converge on St. Germain Lodge and the adjoining Fibber’s Restaurant.
“We had a fantastic school this year,” said Jim Saric, host of the Musky Hunter TV show and emcee of the school. “The guys were really into it and asked a lot of great questions. They fished hard.”
Jamie Penkava of Cary, Illinois, caught two muskies during the weekend. Other students catching muskies included Scott Naylor of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin; Dylan Milis of Kaukauna, Wisconsin; and Kyle Feiner of Madison, Wisconsin.
Instructor Steve Heiting, who along with Saric started the University of Esox 30 years ago in 1996, reflected on the school’s history. “Jim and I have met and fished with a bunch of great people during over the years in our schools. In doing so, we have had a lot of fun and have made many longtime friends.” 
More than 3,000 muskies have been caught at University of Esox events.
The University of Esox will return to St. Germain Lodge and Fibber’s Restaurant June 5-7, 2026. Details will be announced this fall on this and other social media sites.
“Rob and Kaye Manthei run a great resort and restaurant, and offer a perfect location for fishing or family vacations,” Saric said. “Their lodge rooms and cabins are modern, clean and comfortable, and the food at Fibber’s is terrific.”
Northwoods Musky Reports Available Weekly On WJJQ
“Steve Heiting’s Northwoods Musky Report” has returned to WJJQ Radio for the 2025 fishing season and will run through September.
During the fishing season, anglers in Wisconsin’s northwoods can listen to new musky reports from Thursday through Sunday on Northwoods 92.5, WJJQ Radio of Tomahawk, Wisconsin, or stream them at wjjq.com. Segments become available on all podcast platforms Monday morning. 
“I can’t wait to get going with my fishing reports for a fifth season,” Heiting said. “Not only are they fun to do, but the interaction I have with listeners makes the whole project even more fun.”
The reports are usually less than four minutes in length. Heiting’s reports discuss current conditions, patterns and tricks for musky anglers, and highlight upcoming musky fishing events in the northwoods.
Mepps, the manufacturer of “The World’s #1 Lure,” of Antigo, Wisconsin, has signed on as the program’s title sponsor for the fifth consecutive year.
To listen to archived reports on Anchor, click here.
