Gil Hamm, a 62-year-old building contractor from St. Paul, Minnesota, founded Muskies, Inc. in December 1966. He and thirteen other individuals comprised the original membership. The organization’s first Board of Directors meeting was held in February 1967 at Hamm’s office in St. Paul. Articles of incorporation were filed, and the Internal Revenue Service subsequently granted Muskies, Inc. tax-exempt, non-profit status.

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One of the early Board members, Darrell Trumbauer, owned a bait shop and a commercial minnow hatchery in Battle Lake, Minnesota. This facility became a Muskies, Inc. rearing pond for muskellunge and the center of a stocking program that, over the years, provided more than $1,000,000 in value to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

 

Muskies, Inc. continued raising muskellunge in these ponds until 1980, when rising operational costs and water quality issues led to the ponds being drained. Over the years, as many as six Muskies, Inc. chapters have established rearing ponds, with members dedicating significant time and effort to raising muskellunge for stocking programs across multiple states.

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In 1978, Muskies, Inc. launched a campaign to establish additional chapters. As a result of this effort, fourteen new chapters were created. The Board of Directors guided Muskies, Inc. to a new level of growth, and the organization became an international entity.

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On November 8, 1984, Gil Hamm passed away following a series of heart attacks.

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Today, Muskies, Inc. includes 48 chapters in 14 states and has a membership of more than 7,500 individuals.

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Hamm summarized his vision for himself and the organization as follows:

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“We didn’t build a knife-and-fork club. We built a working club that does something good for the muskies. So many members have given so much of their time and energy that it would be impossible to mention them all. I’ve got a strong hunch we’re anticipating new, massive private interest in the preservation and extension of our outdoor heritage. We didn’t make this; the Creator left it to us in trust. Growing like we have has increased our effectiveness. They’re taking muskies and Muskies, Inc. all over the country. I think Muskies, Inc. will be around as long as a daredevil lure catches fish. But if I had never started this damn club, I would have done a lot more muskie fishing.”