50 + pounder

50 + pounds – yesterday near Eagle River WI (Tom Gelb)

Sorry guys this picture is covered by copywrite laws. We need the owners permission to post it.

WOW!! Way to go!!!

Ed

any details? still must be some open water up there

AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WOW!!!!!!

Details man, DETAILS!!!!!!!

Any story with that beast?

Nice fish!!!! we need the story, Know that you got our att. LOL Congrats

I saw this fish a few days ago. It was 53″ with a 28″ girth. What a beast

Saw this on another site. I think it said he just caught it yesterday. What a brute.

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On a day when you would think that anyone crazy enough to go fishing would deserve a big fish, Tom Gelb boated the largest musky of his life.

Gelb, of Conover, WI, and a Musky Hunter Field Editor, launched his row-trolling boat in air temperatures that had sunk into the single digits on Thursday, November 30, the final day of Wisconsin’s 2006 musky fishing season.

When he returned, Gelb had boated the largest Wisconsin musky reported since 1989.

“Everybody says they want to catch a 50-pounder, and I caught one!” Gelb laughed while standing at Eagle Sports Center in Eagle River, WI, while his giant musky hung from a nearby scale. Gelb’s fish weighed 51 3/4 pounds, measured 53 inches in length, and carried a 28 1/2-inch girth.

The last Wisconsin 50-pounder was caught by Robert Grutt from Big Round Lake in 1989. The last time a 50-pounder was caught from Vilas County waters was in 1975, when Gene Allen caught a 51-pounder from the Flambeau Chain of Lakes.

Gelb’s fish was rapidly freezing in the 14-degree air as he recounted how he caught the big musky.

“I had just a devil of a time getting it into the net. I knew it was a 35- or 40-pounder, but when I finally got it netted and saw its side, I knew I had something special,” Gelb said. “I couldn’t lift it into the boat, so I rowed to shore. In the boat, I measured a 30-inch girth but it was sliding around so much. I couldn’t believe it.”

Gelb’s musky struck a straight model, Harley Davidson blue DepthRaider.

After today its tip-up city! , yesterday – the last day of the Wis. muskie season , under freezing , brutal conditions , Tom Gelb of Connover WI , row-trolled up the first Wisconsin 50 pounder since 1989! 51 1/2 # 53″length 281/2 ” girth !!!! A Bucher Depth Raider was the Bait.

Is “Row-Trolling” a muskie thing, haven’t heard of it before? Sounds like a lot of work! Nice fish!

Definately a fish of a lifetime. Congratulations.

Do we have permission yet?

I want to see it!!

GNFISHN said it was on Musky Hunter .com…I don’t have the exact url.

I believe in WISC.a lake that has muskies in it you can not use a trolling motor while fishing. Someone from WISC.can maybe clear this up but that is what i got out of reading the regs.

There are certain designated lakes in Wi. that motor trolling is illegal. Its not all muskie lakes but a select few. I think I would be waiting for a good wind before I would be out looking for a set of oars. Thats probably why I haven’t caught a 50 incher yet too.

you are correct. Row trolling is an unbeliveably effective way of fishing for big ‘skis when it’s cold out. Lots of the old timers did it way back when.

I have a couple friends in Eagle River and this guy catches lots of big muskies row trolling. The boats are specially made for this type of fishing. They look a little like a crew boat.

Nice fish………copyright laws?

I’m assuming he kept the fish?

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Nice fish………copyright laws?

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Yep and just plain old fair play. The last thing IDA staffers and guests want to see is thier pix getting swiped and posted on another website without permission.

Most of the time there is no problem posting a Link to the hosting website.

By the way, I did not know Harley Davidson made an outboard motor. How cool is that!

-J.

Looks like a pretty old motor. I imagine outboard motors was another area Harley Davidson tried to branch into but didn’t stick with it (Golf Carts in the early to mid 70’s).

That is one FAT fish!!! Way to go!!

Wonder what that will cost to get mounted?

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Wonder what that will cost to get mounted?

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10-12 per inch- Low end would be $530.00—>$636.00 then add to that what ever you want it mounted on…Drift wood for example

According to the story the fish had an EMPTY stomach and maybe a couple pounds of eggs in her. That fish could have easily been close to 60 lbs if she had a meal or two in her plus a full load of eggs. A true trophy monster