Musky Shop Blog

Musky Shop Down
Musky Shop Northwoods Fishing Report: Late March
March 24, 2023

Musky Shop Northwoods Fishing Report: Late March

We are in the time of year here in the Northwoods of Wisconsin when the ice fishing season is winding down, and we are all patiently waiting for open water.

Read more

Musky Shop Lake of the Month: Hasbrook Lake
March 20, 2023

Musky Shop Lake of the Month: Hasbrook Lake

estled in between these two behemoths is a small, but productive water that deserves its day in the sun: Hasbrook Lake.

Read more

Livingston Titan Junior Release Promises Exciting Season Opener
March 17, 2023

Livingston Titan Junior Release Promises Exciting Season Opener

The Livingston Titan Junior designed by Steven Paul, is a 6”, 1.5 oz lure guaranteeing the same easy dive and rise action of its predecessor.

Read more

Traditional Polish Fish Pierogi
March 13, 2023

Traditional Polish Fish Pierogi

Traditional Polish Fish Pierogi

Read more

Musky Shop Northwoods Fishing Report: Early March
March 10, 2023

Musky Shop Northwoods Fishing Report: Early March

The game fish season in northern Wisconsin has come to an end.

Read more

Musky Fishing on the James River
March 06, 2023

Musky Fishing on the James River

To satisfy that curiosity it’s only natural that we focus our lens on the great state of Virginia and give the James River a bit of praise for its muskellunge management.

Read more

Musky Shop Annual Customer Appreciation Sale on Saturday!!!
March 03, 2023

Musky Shop Annual Customer Appreciation Sale on Saturday!!!

Musky Shop is having it's Annual (In-Store) Customer Appreciation Sale on Saturday, March 4th.

Read more

Winter Project Series: Toploading Your Lake X Toad
February 27, 2023

Winter Project Series: Toploading Your Lake X Toad

The Lake X Toad is a great bait without any interference, but if you want to get some extra mileage out of it this season, take a minute to give it a little enhancement

Read more

Musky Shop Northwood's Fishing Report: Late February
February 24, 2023

Musky Shop Northwood's Fishing Report: Late February

The Wisconsin game fish season is winding down as it ends March 5th 2023. Ice fishing has been quite good despite the swings in the weather.

Read more

Musky Shop Lake of the Month: Crab Lake
February 20, 2023

Musky Shop Lake of the Month: Crab Lake

Crab Lake is truly a lovely lake tucked up near the Michigan border, and whether you love it or hate it, it does hold some truly gigantic muskies.

Read more

Musky Upgrades: 10 Accessories We’d Rather Not Live Without
February 17, 2023

Musky Upgrades: 10 Accessories We’d Rather Not Live Without

So here are a few accessories to gussy up your fishing gear collection that you may not need, but your heart will definitely desire.

Read more

Musky Shop North Woods Fishing Report: Early February
February 10, 2023

Musky Shop North Woods Fishing Report: Early February

We have had a few really cold days that slowed things down a bit but that cold blast is gone now and warmer winter temps are on the way.

Read more

Daniel Cellar: Pennsylvania Musky Lure Folk Artist
February 06, 2023

Daniel Cellar: Pennsylvania Musky Lure Folk Artist

While delving into the depths of musky information to provide our ever-growing audience with content, I stumbled into a single bloggers collection of Lure Folk Art.  If you aren’t familiar with folk art, it can be described as typically handmade items that can be decorative or utilitarian that reflect a communities’ cultural or traditional history.  In this case, we’re talking about folk art consisting of hand made lures created and designed with the intention of enticing the mighty muskellunge. 

Before mass production and injection molds, musky lures were typically hand carved wooden lures adorned with natural features, like feathers and fur.  Some of the more exquisite examples were then lovingly painted to resemble baitfish or other lake targets.  While conducting research and delving into the topic, I was fascinated by what seems to be lost information about a man who seemed to really represent an era of expansion and industrial growth with his hand carved creations.

Daniel Babst Cellar, born in October 20, 1887, was a forward-thinking creative mind that handmade some fascinatingly detailed musky baits.  His story is likely similar to many of his era where catching giant muskies would have garnered great attention in the greater Pittsburg Area of Pennsylvania.  Cellar studied engineering at Yale Sheffield Scientific School and became an Engineer for the PA Railroad, an occupation not far removed from his father who retired as the Superintendent of Telegraph for the Pennsylvania Railroad.

Though not much can be found about Daniel Cellars, his time at Yale was noted with his membership to Phi Gamma Delta, a prestigious fraternity naming not only Calvin Coolidge amongst it’s more notable members, but also more recently VP Mike Pence.  As his own brother proceeded him to Yale, making it seem obvious that education was a prized priority in the Cellar family.  Quoted in his Yale pages, “men of few words are the best men.”

Daniel Cellar’s life is not well known, but a majority of it he mainly lived in the Pittsburgh region, so we can imagine the Ohio and Allegheny Rivers led him on many musky hunts.  Cellars would have only been in his late 30’s when Lewis Walker Jr caught a whopping 57”- 54lb 3oz behemoth musky, Pennsylvania’s state record, that continues to boggle the minds of musky anglers.  I can only imagine what kind of further inspiration that provided in producing ever more detailed hand carved lures inspired by such a unbelievable catch in hopes to be the next to break it.

(Lewis Walker Jr 1924)

Not much more can be detailed of Daniel Cellar other than hopes that he led a fulfilling life as a engineer and musky lure craftsman.  His work is still admired and collected.  Hopefully his family carries on his love of the sport in some manner tradition.  It seemed important for this blog just to highlight his great achievement as a folk artist and creative musky mind. 

Follow this link for the blog that led to Daniel Cellars lures operated by Chance Dunlap.

 

 

Read more

Winter Blues? Use Parts & Pieces to Mod Your Tackle
February 03, 2023

Winter Blues? Use Parts & Pieces to Mod Your Tackle

There are many useful tools, parts, and pieces that can help you create, adapt, and upgrade the baits you already have in your musky catching stash.

Read more

The Over-Planner’s Guide to Canadian Fishing Trips
January 30, 2023

The Over-Planner’s Guide to Canadian Fishing Trips

Canadian holidays are fantastic for those traveling from the Northern States to enjoy as it is a quick jaunt over the boarder to many lakes with muskies ripe for the taking, but I’ll share a few pointers to keep the newly traveled fisherman a float.

Read more

Musky Shop Northwood's Fishing Report: Late January
January 27, 2023

Musky Shop Northwood's Fishing Report: Late January

We hope you are having a great winter and are getting out to do some ice fishing.

Read more

9 Best Muskellunge Fishing Lakes in Ohio
January 23, 2023

9 Best Muskellunge Fishing Lakes in Ohio

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has been stocking muskies diligently in several of the state’s man-made reservoirs for decades, and the results speak for themselves.

Read more

Musky Shop Lake of the Month: Tom Doyle Lake
January 20, 2023

Musky Shop Lake of the Month: Tom Doyle Lake

Tom Doyle Lake is nestled near a slew of big and small lakes that dot the wilderness just 20 minutes North of Rhinelander.

Read more

What's The Deal With Drag?
January 16, 2023

What's The Deal With Drag?

One of those seemingly simple similarities are the adjustment and maintenance of baitcaster drag.

Read more

Musky Shop Northwoods Fishing Report: Early January
January 13, 2023

Musky Shop Northwoods Fishing Report: Early January

Fishing Report for Early January

Read more

Southern Musky Fishing | Cold Water Musky Tactics
January 06, 2023

Southern Musky Fishing | Cold Water Musky Tactics

As temperatures continue to cool during January and February Southern muskies make moves towards deeper structure and cover.

Read more

Welcome to a New Year with Musky Shop!
January 02, 2023

Welcome to a New Year with Musky Shop!

As the owner of our small business, I really appreciate each of you and my my staff for their dedication, hard work and caring for this business as they too enjoy serving you.

Read more

Winter Project Series: Making Your Own Bucktail
December 30, 2022

Winter Project Series: Making Your Own Bucktail

You can assemble the perfect bucktail in any color, size and configuration.

Read more

Musky Shop Lake of the Month: Moen Lake
December 26, 2022

Musky Shop Lake of the Month: Moen Lake

This month’s lake, Moen Lake, resting just east of Rhinelander in Oneida County is a great place to hang your ice fishing hat without leaving all the creature comforts behind.

Read more