Save The River® Upper St. Lawrence Riverkeeper®

Save The River is a non-profit, member-based environmental organization whose mission is to preserve and protect the ecological integrity of the Upper St. Lawrence River through advocacy, education and research.

The Dan Tack

Muskie Catch & Release Tournament

Named in honor of long-time seasonal Thousand Islands resident and supporter of many North Country nonprofits, the Dan Tack Muskie Catch & Release Tournament is a celebration of the anglers working to preserve our precious fishery and this iconic species.

Enter Below

To enter the Dan Tack Tournament, anglers must successfully catch and release a muskie on the St. Lawrence River during regulation muskie season and submit a record of the event by completing the form below.

Angler must also submit a photograph of their catch (a photograph is required for entry into The Dan Tack Tournament but is not required for the general Muskellunge Release Award) and demonstrate proper handling of the muskie to be eligible for the grand prize. 

All participants receive a free Michael Ringer print, titled Sovereign, as recognition for their efforts to keep the fishery healthy. Thank you to all the fisherman and guides working to preserve the St. Lawrence muskie population

The St. Lawrence Muskellunge is an iconic fish species renowned across the globe. Generations of fisherman have come to the River seeking a prize muskie for it’s large size, menacing teeth, and overall mystique. As part of our heritage and culture on the River, it’s vital that we preserve this species for generations to come. 

Dan Tack began fishing for muskie onboard his own 1960 Chris Craft Sea Skiff. Dan fished with three generations of Garnsey family fishing guides: starting in the early 1970s with Jeff’s grandfather, Roly Garnsey, on his series of boats named Muskie, then with Jeff’s father Joe on both his boats, Muskie and Fin and Feather, until Joe’s death, and finally onboard Jeff’s current Muskie for the past decade.

“As early as the 1980s, Dan also realized that our indigenous population of muskies was too valuable to catch only once,” said Jeff Garnsey. “We owe him a huge debt in helping to revitalize the population of this top of the food chain apex predator and reestablish the popularity of Muskie fishing.”

“Dan Tack was one of the most generous and supportive Thousand Islanders I have had the pleasure to know,” said John Peach, Executive Director of Save The River from 2018 to 2024. “Naming this tournament, which will help us record the catch and release of Muskies on the St. Lawrence, in his honor is a small recognition of all that Dan did for so many organizations in the North Country.”

Learn more about Dan Tack here.

Catch & Release is just like it sounds. It’s when anglers release the fish after catching it.

Techniques to ensure a successful catch and release including holding the fish with two hands sideways, not up and down, or unhooking the fish while it’s still in the water. Some fisherman also use antiseptics to help heal hook wounds. 

The most important thing to remember is that the longer a fish is out of the water, the worse it is for the fish. Please consider the health of our St. Lawrence fishery and release fish in a timely manner. 

Save The River shares all data collected by local anglers with the Thousand Islands Biological Station and Dr. Farrell to further their St. Lawrence Muskellunge research. 

Muskie Season:
June 15 - December 15

Josh Garnsey sits with Dan Tack 

Submission Checklist:

  • Successful Catch & Release
  • Photo Taken
  • Within Muskie Season

The winning angler will receive a trophy at the 37th Annual Winter Environmental Conference in January and have their name placed on the custom-designed tournament plaque housed at Save The River. 

Please write, “N/A” in boxes you can’t answer and reach out to info@savetheriver.org with any questions.