53 INCHES – 51 POUNDS, 2 OUNCES !!
Largest Muskie Taken in Vilas County in Over 30 Years

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The appearance of this magni. cent fish on the last day of the muskie season in 2006 is a blaring testament to the fact that LARGE MUSKIES do, in fact, cruise the depths of the lakes of the Eagle River area. This spectacular fish was taken by local muskie nut and well known muskie-fishing author Tom Gelb. For Tom, a man with hundreds if not thousands of muskies to his credit, this was the fish of a lifetime and it came under the harshest of conditions.

Early on the morning of this great event over coffee at the local hangout Tom was told by the author that he was "nuts for going fishing in this weather." To put this in the proper perspective you must understand that fishing to Mr. Gelb means something different than fishing means to most of the rest of the world. On this day, with the outside temperature at about 10 degrees Mr. Gelb set forth in his trusty blue 14- foot boat and rowed his way into the Vilas County history books. Tom catches most of his muskies by dragging large arti. cial lures behind his robin's egg colored rowboat. There is nothing random about the manner in which Tom fishes. He has made a fairly precise science of it. He pays attention to the time of year, water temperatures, clarity, natural forage available in the lake, and he draws heavily on his vast knowledge of his prey. His methods pay off big time. In the week preceding "the big fish" Tom boated and released a veritable pile of muskies. Most of us would have considered any one of those fish to be the fish of a lifetime. At any rate Tom Gelb is to be congratulated for his accomplishment and dedication to muskie fishing. When I arrived at the restaurant for coffee the next morning I was unaware of what had occurred since I last saw Tom. I found a fresh plate of crow at my place at the table.

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