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Location: Rhinelander. | Envious, I agree with you toatally, its just a fish. Chill pills for those that need them. Congrats Tom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pfeiff |
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Location: Rhinelander. | I guess I have to say it!!!!!!!!!!! With attitudes like some people have here its no wonder that Mr. Gelb himself does not post or visit the site as his son said. He had every right to keep the fish last year and he did so. I hope he enjoys the mount on his wall for many years to come as I know I would. I hope someday I am invited to his house to see the mount as I'm sure it is very impressive. He tried to release the fish this year but was not successfull. Ya know what S--- happens, he tried and I applaud him for that effort. As I said and Envious said its just a fish and a very old one at that. I know many of you would have kept either fish as I know I would have. Whats wrong in saying I kept the fish of a lifetime? When we start to get that uptight over a trophy here and there being kept we need to to seriously step back and chill out. Its a fish and not on the endangerd list.
Pfeiff |
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| ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE FISH. Congratulations !!! |
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Location: Land of the Musky | That fish is awsome! Congrats if you are reading this!!! |
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Posts: 51
Location: Aitkin, Blaine, Minnesota | I am disappointed another huge fish is dead. I have no ill will towards tom or anyone who thumps one on purpose or not. I am wondering if we can learn anything here. I am with Mike Hulbert as I dont get it. I am of the school of thought that a well seasoned veteran is better at C&R than others, able to handle big fish with skill and composure. Also able use the tools properly for succesful release.
What I think we may learn- Were their any mistakes made that Tom remembers or factors that may or may not have played a part in the death. I am not on a mission to have an inquistion or crime scene investigation. I would simply like to know some details. It is "just a fish", but this kind of attitude could be slippery slope to justfying a thump and undoing some amazing history of unselfish C&R. From the sounds of it, Tom has unselfishly C&R'd many fish. |
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Location: Michigan | Gongratulations Tom Gelb on another late season Elephant! |
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Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Really now, it's simple. He tried to release the fish, tried hard, and it DIED. END of controversy, end of 'I don't get it's'. How hard is that to grasp? Congratulations to Tom on a true pig.
How inclined do you suppose Tom or anyone else is going to be to give any more information than already provided if your goal is to criticize? #*^@, get over yourselves. This will NOT become another argument. The story is what it is, and I will personally NOT let anyone work Mr. Gelb over, not one of you have earned the right or the privilege. |
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Location: Musky Tackle Online, MN | I have to believe the conditions made a successful release more difficult. 20+ mph winds, 12 degree air temps. Fish tend to release much easier in the cold water. But bitter cold air temps tend to tip things the other way. It's always important to plan ahead and know what you're going to do when you get a fish. Bitter cold air temps just add to the equation of things that might make a successful release more difficult. Just something to think about before hitting the lake this time of year.
Aaron |
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Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | And, AWH, I hope at Tom's age I'm able to FISH, much less row troll in brutal conditions. |
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Location: Waukesha, WI | Congratulations on a fine catch Tom.
MCMI #35 |
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Location: Musky Tackle Online, MN | Steve Worrall - 11/28/2007 10:35 PM
And, AWH, I hope at Tom's age I'm able to FISH, much less row troll in brutal conditions.
You and me both! Not to mention getting in the water in those types of conditions to try to revive the fish. Steve, I wasn't knocking Tom. Simply pointing out one of the obstacles Tom might have faced. Obviously, from what was stated by his son, he gave a great effort to get her to go.
Aaron |
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Location: Aitkin, Blaine, Minnesota | Steve,
I hope you wer not directing that at me. I am truly interested what you more experienced guys think. Was it the weather ,was the fish badly hooked , etc. Thats all. I truly dont know. From sites like this I have learned all of my C&R techniques. So excuse me for wanting some info. All i ever read is I tried to revive her.
I also want to when did everyone get so sensitive? "Lighten up francis" |
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Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | I wasn't. I was directing it at a couple posters I had to delete multiple times. That said, I believe Mr. Gelb's son said their entire story will be out soon, and I suspect our friends at Lax may provide us some of that information. The post was not from the angler, it was from his son, I believe.Matt, thanks for the images and story, and please tell your Dad congratulations for me.
Aaron, yup, know exactly what you are saying.
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Location: Rhinelander. | Whats not to get? A fish that size probaly exhausted itself out with the fight. Then the weather conditions made it even harder for Mr. gelb. If you know anything about him you would know that if he said he tried to release he did his best> I'd rather see it on the wall then think it was turtle food. I don't see where any of you can't grasp the fact the some fish die. Everyone who has released a fair amount of fish has probably had one die on them. They can't all make it. Thats all there is to grasp.
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Posts: 255
| Great fish Tom!! Obviously we all want every fish released. But the story was presented by Matt and I have no reason to not beleive him. Shame on anyone who speculates Matt or Tom as being untruthful. The truth of the matter is it is a legal fish and he can do what he wants.
I was crucified when i kept a 53" musky when I was unable to successfully release it alive after a 1 hour attempt. People don't care what you say. They are so hell bent on their stance. Education not Criticism. Trust me it is much more effective. I am sure Tom is not in need of education he is well aware of what works. I defend his decision no matter what. I have been there! Congrats Tom. I think I might see if i can go fishing with him the whole last week of the season next year-Just in case!!! LOL!!
Edited by Musky53 11/28/2007 11:22 PM
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Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | First off, Tom great fish!!! We all dream of catching a fish that big 24/7 especially in WI! I'm sure you tried your hardest to release her!! Getting in the water my hats off to you!
On the other hand what can we learn? I'm curious what the water temps were compared to the air temps? Seemed darn cold at 15 degree air temps if I remember correct. In peek summer months I have read a lot on how extreme hot weather can be "bad" on a musky while out of the water. If 90 degrees air temp, surface temps lets say around 80 degrees but how about ten feet down? 15 degree air temps water surface temp not even sure? 35 degree? That is a big temp difference too, comparing the peek summer temps? I'm not an ice fisherman but catching a musky through the ice and cpring it seems like it cannot be very good either? Lot of questions that can or cannot be answered.
I do know trying to release a fish this large is a lot more difficult than smaller siblings! They put out huge amounts of energy during the fight. |
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| alright - i hesitate to do this... i can't beleive i've let myself get sucked into this as much as i have (actually i can believe it), but i'm darn proud of my dad for the two big ones he's caught here at the end of the last two seasons... he's worked at this skill for many years (starting in the early 50's, getting back into it in the early 80's) and as a side note - his last kept fish was in 1982 prior to last year's 51 + lber. 1982. That's hundreds and hundreds of his own CPRs and hundreds of other CPRs by those in his boats (including a few dozen - and all mind you - of mine)... i can appreciate everybody's opinions, and whether or not any of the above justifies anything is up to each individual as has already been discussed ad nauseum last year and this - this is just my addition and perspective. the one last thing i'll note is that these last two fish may or may not have ever reproduced again and may or may not have ever been caught again if released last year/revived this year, but from my perspective and the stories that i hear and that i am told, these fish have done and will do a lot of things for a lot of people in the eagle river and vilas county community, as well as the wisconsin musky fishing community overall.
(i'm obviously expecting for there to be both positive and negative posts after this one... my dad knows this stuff is out here (as is noted in his email) as everyone tells him about it, and knows he's getting positive feedback from some, negative feedback from others, and a combination from some... anyway... here's the email he sent to a few folks that will hopefully answer some questions...
(as noted, comment as you may after this, but when i talked to my dad it actually sounded like he was initially more upset that the musky died than happy that he caught it...)
from the email, subject: the bad and the good news:
The Bad news is that it died.
The good news is that I caught it.
So here is the story.
Caught about noon on Tues, 11-27- 07
Three days after the full moon and about 1:20 hour after moon set.
Weather: Wind gusting to 24 mph, snow and 12 degrees air temp
Fish hit an 8” Tuff Shad- silver scale and black.
The lure was 16 feet down over about 34 feet H20.
Weighed at Eagle Sports scale 47 1/4 # 52 ¼” Length 27 ½ “ girth
Weighed at Lax certified scale 48 # 52 ¾ “ Length 27 ½ “ girth
The fish fought very hard and was hard to get in as the boat was blowing with the wind. I could tell it was big. Very good fight. But when I got it to the boat, the front (7/0) treble was completely in her mouth. The jaws were pined shut, 2 points in the bottom and one in the top. At boat side and it was beat and fairly still. But I could not get the hooks loose, a spreader did nothing and I could not get at the hooks to cut them. So I had to put her in the net, which I guess was a bad move. Finally got the head up and finally some of the twisting had exposed one of the hooks. After lots of trouble I managed to cut one of the hooks out. (I have lost most of the strength in my hands, so it was really hard to cut them.) I finally managed to get the other two cut and the bait out.
I tried to hold her upright, but she was really to long for the net. So I got the net out and tried to hold her upright at boat side. This didn’t really work as the boat was blowing downwind crossways and I could not hold her head first and was dragging her backwards. I finally got her along the boat on the down wind side, but she would not stay upright. She got away from me twice and just floated on her side. I had to row back up wind to get her. I finally drifted to shore and got out. She was whipped and didn’t even move. I held her upright and tried to get her moving, but at that point she was almost gone. I probably spent another 20 minutes and could not get her upright.
All this took to about 2:00. I finally gave up and put her in the boat, with lots of trouble.
If someone had been with me to hold the boat, I probably could have save her, but no such luck.
I know I am going to take a bunch of heat on the Musky message boards. But I tried as best I could to get her revived. I don’t need another mount!
***end of email***
have at it everybody...
Edited by mattgelb 11/28/2007 11:57 PM
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Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Mr. Gelb, thank you for the email and the story. Again, congratulations to Tom on a very bittersweet fish, and extreme congratulations for working as hard as he does ( and you do) and releasing the hundreds and hundreds of big fish over the years.
No need to worry about taking ANY abuse here, it's not going to happen. It's a shame that sort of critical bull#*#* happens anywhere, this is a classic example of trying as hard as could be expected to release a big girl.
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Location: The desert | Now, what's not to get? Congrats on the monster Tom! And thank you for all you have done for the sport and the countless CPR'd fish! |
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Location: Musky Tackle Online, MN | mattgelb - 11/28/2007 11:53 PM
comment as you may after this, but when i talked to my dad it actually sounded like he was initially more upset that the musky died than happy that he caught it...
I've had that feeling once in my life and that was just on a 46" fish that I think might have died. I can only imagine the sick feeling that must go through someone on a fish of a lifetime like that. I've never met Tom. But to me, that quote right there says a lot about him as a fisherman and his intentions. And the story within that email definitely backs that up. Congrats on a great accomplishment on boating a monster. Unfortunate that it couldn't have turned out better.
Aaron
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| Case closed, IMO. AWESOME CATCH, MR. GELB!!!! Ignore the naysayers! You did all you could (a surgeon can't save EVERYONE he/she operates on), and then some it sounds like! |
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| I've never had the pleasure to meet Mr. Gelb but he has always been one of my musky heros. Congradulations on another great catch.
I do a lot of salmon fishing and I noticed when the fish have there mouths "hooked" shut with a treble that they do not fight nearly as well as one that can open there mouth. Probably they can't get a good water flow through there gills. We always keep the salmon so I don't know how they release compared to one that can breath while fighting but it's not surprising that they would have a harder time reviving since they basically culd not get any oxygen the whole time the fought. |
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Location: Athens, Ohio | "have at it everybody... "
OK! Fantastic fish, even more: fantastic angler and a brave man to be out in those conditions. Tuff Shads rock, another monster falls to a West Virginia bait. My congratulations to the Gelb family and my hopes for many, many more. m
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Posts: 280
| My congratulations to Tom!!
One thing to remember.....for everyone who is in favor of REPLICAS rather than skin mounts. I would assume [?] that Rick Lax will be casting Tom's fish as well as skin mounting it. I would also assume [?] that this NEW blank will be made available to the musky world. These molds don't last forever and the opportunity for NEW molds are welcomed by any taxidermist/mold maker.
I hope I'm not assuming too much, but if I'm not mistaken [?] you can purchase a replica of Tom's 50+ from last year. My hat is off to Tom Gelb.....
Those of you who prefer replicas.....you now have another blank size to choose from!!
Take a look at the replica Rick Lax made of Tom's fish from last year..........it is difficult to make a replica from a fish that has been released. 
Also...a BIG "congrats" to Rick Lax for being chosen to mount another "Brute"! 
Best Regards,
Doug Petrousek
Edited by fins355 11/29/2007 7:31 AM
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| Great fish and great story. Way to go Tom. This does prove one thing.
Tom's = 47 lbs, Spray's = 69 lbs. No Way Spray. |
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Location: Avilla, IN | Exactly right Jimbo.............Spray's fish supposedly weighed almost 50% MORE than Gelb's recent monster................YEA RIGHT!! |
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Location: Racine, Wi | Very nice fish Tom, and great story. He's been a musky fishing icon for years, and has done more for this sport than most of us can wish. The only bad thing, is it makes me want to call in sick tomorrow and give 'er one more shot. |
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Location: Lebanon,Mo | congrats to you mr. gelb and everything you have done for the sport. please ignore all the negative feedback you get on a forum. i hope to be out in those conditions at your age. a true blessing!!! |
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Location: Algonquin, ILL | WOOHOO Great Fish Tom!!!!!!
Thanks for trying to release her but as most of us know a sucsessful release does not always happen
Rick Lax: Hope you can have the Beast ready for display at the Harper Show
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Posts: 2378
| HUGE fish!! Way to go Tom.
It really is no wonder that more pros and guides don't frequent this site anymore...with all the self proclaimed experts telling them why they are wrong.
You are perfectly entitled to your opinion and disappointment that this fish died. You can wish that it survived, but you are not entitled to degrade Mr. Gelb for the circumstances surrounding this fish.
Fish die...this one just happened to be HUGE.
Just sit back and imagine how you would feel if you were Matt Gelb...coming to a website to attempt to defend your dad about a FISH...to a bunch of people that have never even met him.
I'll just say that Matt has handled this much better (calmer) than I would. Editor's Note:
Many Pros and Guides DO frequent this site, they simply don't post much.
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