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Posts: 1086
| Awesome fish Tom! Congrats!
Yeah...it was said perfectly up above....surgeons in an operating room with perfect conditions and all tools and skills necessary can't save every patient. That's just a simple fact of life, with all living things.
What's to learn from this? Simply this: Just as every person in this world "has their time" spoken for them at some point...so does every fish. You can think you're the worlds best fisherman out there and you can think you never make one single mistake and you can think your releases are perfect every single time and you can think you've never killed a single muskie....WRONG! No one can be so naive. To be that naive is just ignorant. If you fish for muskies, guess what, it's pretty safe to say, you've killed a few yourself. Intentionally? No. That's not what I'm saying. I'm saying you have maybe seen every fish swim away and think they're perfectly healthy and think they're going to live to fight another day. But guess what....when that fish's time is up, it's up. Simple as that.
We muskie anglers can try all we can to save every single fish that we come in contact with. It's just completely unrealistic to think every fish will survive. Get with reality and understand this. Otherwise...quick sticking hooks in them and quit fishing for them.
It's just really a shame that someone can no longer get excited about catching a nice fish and no longer be able to share that moment, story or photos with anyone because of the backlash they'll get from the community.
Fishing is supposed to be an enjoyable sport, one that is hopefully a sport shared with others, one that should hopefully build and strengthen friendships and commeradery among other anglers....that...negative naysayers like this is what takes that magical spark away from this sport.
Pretty sad when fishermen such as Tom Gelb would have to probably fish in a vacuum by himself and to never share any of his catches or experiences with anyone else just to avoid the attacks and naysayers. Ten bux tells me he fishes for himself and his own self enjoyment...not to gain the acceptance of others. So...he's entitled to do as he sees fit with a legal fish.
He tried all he could do. Simple fact of the matter is..that fish's time was up. And that's that. It's better that he brought it on to land than left it for dead floating out there rotting away. And yes...like what was said above...many anglers from here forward, will now benefit from Tom's fish by the way of now having that mold to work from. For every mold made....that one fish has to be spared.
Lots of great things said by many here in this thread.
It really does get old reading these same threads over and over and over again with the same content and same bashing from the naysayers.
Imagine all of the other anglers out there catching huge fish that know the likes of the internet arm chair fishermen in places like that...that consciously never come on these boards to post their photos and tell their stories. Probably a smart move...but sad that they can't do that...all at the same time.
To each their own...
Again...congrats Tom! And thanks for the mold. I can only hope maybe one day, be fortunate enough to encounter a fish of that caliber..and then be able to call up Lax and ask to have a replica made using the mold from your fish!
Edited by MACK 11/29/2007 8:23 AM
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Posts: 691
Location: nationwide | I agree with Baldy, if this were my dad and he was geting ripped for keeping a fish, regardless of if he tried to release it or not, Sworrall or Slamr would block me from the site, probably forever.
I will also say if I get a fish from the flowage that size there are no chances of it being released.
Congratulations on your fish Tom, and go get another next fall.
Corey Meyer |
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Location: Grand Rapids, MI | Great fish Tom, kudos for going the extra mile to get her to swim away. Here's some perspective for those that have bashed Mr Gelb last year and this year…
There are a number of guides and anglers (some visit this site and some don't) that put 200+ fish in their boat each year. Even if we use a conservative release mortality of 3-5% their boat has still killed 6-10 fish in a season. 30-50 muskies over five years would be dead because of these people. Hmmm…
We all do our best but sometimes fish just die, for no reason. Some happen at the boat and some we’ll never know about, that's the reality of this game. |
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Posts: 5874
| Great fish Tom! Congrats to you.
I have but one thing to say. When you read the negative posts, just consider the source. You don't have to explain yourself to any of them. |
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Posts: 568
| refresh my memory , did he choose to keep last years fish or was it unable to be revived ? MD |
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Posts: 238
| Many many congrats Mr.Gelb on a super fine fish,awsome just awsome!Thanks for the story Matt as it brought back memories of my own being helplessly blown around in horrid conditions while trying to deal with a big fish,to those that
have experienced it,you know what i mean and to those that havent its much easier said than done!I myself had a big 48 incher die on me due to taking a bull dog super deep and tearing out a gill arch during battle,it brought a tear to my eye but ya know what?S&%#$t happens.Am i going to stop muskie fishing or throwing bull dogs?DEFFINETLY NOT its a part of this sport thats going to happen if you fish muskies,plain and simple.Its not what we want but it does happen.On another note as i had no intention of mounting the fish that died on me i had friends and family over and we ate it.It was delicious.The ony muskie i have and probubly ever will eat unless something unfortunate happens like this again.
Edited by kawartha kid 11/29/2007 9:27 AM
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Posts: 8844
| Anybody here think they could have done any better?
Seriously, think about what some of you are saying.
How many of you would even be out there on a day like that, row trolling on top of it? And if you hooked into a fish of that size, you really think you could have done a better job? What, are we going to blame the guy for fishing now?
Tom has has released more big muskies than 90% of the people posting here have ever SEEN, and years before most of us were BORN.
Frankly, I'm ashamed to be associated with those of you with that sort of attitude and ZERO respect for someone like Tom. What is it, jealousy? Short guy syndrome? Small pecker? Or do any of you actually believe you could have done any better?? And how many of you would walk up to Tom and say what you've posted here? You ought to be ashamed of yourselves. You probably consider yourself to be sportsmen, too, don't you? Stewards of the resource even?
I've got a better description, but I can't post it here.
Mr Gelb, I'd like to offer you my sincere congratulations on a tremendous catch. Some day I hope to catch one like that. If it dies? I'll offer no apologies to anyone, nor should you. Most of us will be lucky to release half the fish you have in your lifetime.
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Location: WI | Congratulations to Tom! Makes me want to get some oars for my boat! Way to go. You should be proud. |
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| Nice EA!!
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| Best post on this thread, EA! |
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| I assume the details of the stomach contents, egg sack development and age will be posted on this site when they are known? |
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Location: Rhinelander, WI | I agree GREAT POST Esoxaddict! Couldn't have said it better.
Nail A Pig!
Mike |
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Location: Georgian Bay, Ontario | Congratulations to Tom for catching another giant this season. I repsect the fact that Tom has the courage to post the story of the catch and pics of this impressive fish despite the fact his 2006 catch faced so much controversy.
Anyone that doesn't understand the risks associated with muskie fishing needs to get their heads out of the clouds. I am sure that Tom took all the necessary precautions to ensure he had the correct tools for a safe release... the bottom line is that sometimes the fish cannot be revived and they die. Even the ones that swim off often die!! Anyone who thinks otherwise is naive and probably shouldn't fish for any species let alone muskie. The only way to ensure the safety of the fish is not to fish for them at all!!
I am a proponent of CARE... have been and always will be. I dont claim to have a higher moral or ethical standard than others, I just think that the hunt is more exciting than the kill!! My opinion...
That said, I would never judge anyone that chooses to keep a fish that met the minimum size requirements for a particular region since it is their personal choice. I may not like it but I am in no position to criticize nor is anyone else since I ended up keeping a giant 56 1/2 x 26 1/2 three years ago that could not be revived despite my best efforts.
The armchair anglers that make all these self righteous comments about catch and release and the morals and ethics of keeping fish need to get off their high horses. I am willing to bet that guys like Tom Gelb have done more for the sport than they ever will...
The truth is most of those guys that are so quick to criticize Tom couldn't carry his tackle box!!
Tight lines, y'all...
TITAN
(Mike Dalakis)
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Posts: 1938
Location: Black Creek, WI | Congratulations to Tom should go without saying. Awesome fish!
The "controversy" over this kind of stuff never ceses to amaze me. So... I'll throw gas on the fire just for my own amusement.
Perhaps here is an example of why increased size limits are a double edged sword? Yup, that fish was larger than 50 inches... so in most cases it still would have been a legal fish to harvest. However, on virtual "catch and release" waters with a 54" limit that fish would have been forced to be turtle food... and most turtles are hibernating this time of year... so it most likely would have been completely wasted.
Considering the example presented by Will Schulz.... and the ability to harvest a fish should it croak seems like a nice option. Sure, many fish released that then subsequently die probably had a nice photo taken of them for a graphite replica... but what about in a scenario like Tom's where a good photo was unlikely to be obtained? Should we ban fishing for muskies alone? Ban musky fishing when winds exceed 20 MPH? Ban fishing when air temps drop below freezing?
Just how much regulation is required over education?
I am so thankful Tom was willing to share his experience with us.... despite the dire consequences of everyone's opinions. For me... the glass will remain half full... not half empty. |
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Posts: 785
| Wow, back to back years man. I'd like to catch one that big in my lifetime, but back to back years.... Thats Crazy. Congratulations on being da man! Nice pictures as well, like the beard (good for winter fishing... hehe).
On a side note, no one (including Tom I'm sure) wants to see a big skii die but the only way to completely avoid that is to not fish for them (sorry, can't do that), and by getting these fish to Lax it will ensure big fish being released in the future. In order to have replicas of monster fish, a monster fish first has to die to make the mold. One of the few times I consider the loss of a big fish to be a good thing.
... and it doesn't matter anyway, he did all he could, and thats good enough for me. Congrats again man, and sorry all of us gomers are hashing over your catch, oh, and I wouldn't be caught dead on the water in 25 mph wind, and 12 degree air temps, thats just crazy!  |
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| Incredible fish for sure. And to think he stood in the water trying to revivie it in this weather... that should be respected.
Another great fish, Tom. |
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Location: Otsego, MN | Congrats to you Mr. Gelb that is a awesome fish! Fish die people, there have been some fish that size dead this fall on Mille Lacs do to an unsuccessful release, and I know they did not get a bashing like this one. A fish can die any time you catch it! If you don't want to kill fish then I guess we should all stop fishing. |
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Posts: 582
| For those questioning whether he should have been fishing or not under these conditions, you are on a slippery slope. Any angler fishing alone at any time of the year could be confronted with an awkwardly/deeply hooked fish and difficult release proposition. I am sure that Tom Gelb is upset that he couldn't get her released. Most of us are likewise disappointed that this big fish has been removed from the resource. What are you going to do about it? As has been said over and over, fish sometimes die no matter what you do.
But to start suggesting that he shouldn't have been out fishing at all, because he was alone and because of these weather conditions, leads us down the wrong path...for the reasons expressed by jlong above.
Again, fish sometimes die when deeply impaled on multiple, large, sharp treble hooks and then are fought to exhaustion. Last I checked, we all use large sharp hooks and then fight the fish until it is exhausted enough to be netted, and therefore, we all risk killing a fish every time we wet a lure. Sure, we take precautions. But none are foolproof. If you are truly upset about this fish dying under the circumstances described above, you really need to question yourself. Maybe you shouldn't be fishing for muskies at all.
On the other hand, I completely disagree with the justifications provided by some who are suggesting that this fish, and Tom's fish from last year, can be harvested from the resource with no adverse biological consequence because they aren't producing eggs. I find it hard to believe that most or all fish of this caliber are "ready to die" and are "infertile". I've seen way too many pictures of huge spawning female muskies to believe that once they hit a magic size they no longer can reproduce. Neither this fish or last year's fish look like they are on a downward spiral as far as overall health goes, and I don't believe that most fish of this caliber are about to be turtle food and die of old age. Besides, releasing big fish is positive for the resource and community for many, many reasons--not just for egg production. |
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| ManitouDan - 11/29/2007 9:04 AM
refresh my memory , did he choose to keep last years fish or was it unable to be revived ? MD
I believe there was a later addition to the original blurb last year that he did try and release that fish also, but was unsuccessful, however I am not positive, as it appears those threads are missing about last years fish. Looked for them and the particular story about attempted release, can't find them. Was it a gill freezing thing last year?
Amazing fish. Great catch. |
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| My pants are wet. OOPS! Unbelievable fish, congrats to Mr. Gelb.
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Location: Racine, Wi | One thing I just noticed because I'm a dork and eating lunch.
Tom caught this fish on Tuesday. Most of us were probably on the boards bickering about something. He was out in the great fall weather toughing it out for a big girl. We were all sitting on our butts fishing through the internet.
Who's the musky fisherman of the group here?
Once again, great job Tom. |
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Posts: 80
| A sincere congratulations to you Tom. YOU are the Man. nothing more to add E.A. summed it up in a nutshell in his post. |
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Posts: 1168
| This thread truly is amazing....
Is there anything that won't get criticized? A guy catches a fish pushing 50 pounds less than a year after he catches a legit 50 pounder, tries his best to release both and gets thrown to the dogs. Guys post pics and get hammered by armchair photo analysis experts who argue that a fish has a girth or length that is an eighth of an inch smaller than what was reported. They are told that a personal best or that 50 inch milestone isn't significant because a fish was skinny, has a scar on it's side, they know the lake too well, it's an easy body of water to fish, they caught it trolling, they had "perfect conditions," and on and on. You put in time to stock fish and are told it wasn't a good weekend to stock fish because water temps were too cold, it was too rough, it was too calm. You post a pic of a fish and you are hammered for the way you are holding that fish....
For anyone who criticized Tom Gelb for keeping the 50 pound fish last year, I have to ask how many 50 pound fish have you successfully released? Anyone criticizing his fish this year, how many 47 pound fish have you successfully released? It's not as if he was out there looking to fill up a trophy room. They guy is out there because he loves the thrill in pursuing these fish. When he was out in freezing temps, a stiff wind, and row trolling on top of it, many fancier, shinier, more expensive boats were tucked away because it was too cold on Tuesday.
There are better ways to spend our time than to bicker. When there are efforts to increase size limits, change season dates to protect spawning fish, educating others about muskies so they are better understood and are not "eating all of my walleyes/bass/panfish/etc.," in order to protect the fisheries we have and to ensure that we are leaving them in a good condition for our kids and grandkids we spend our time splitting hairs over a fish having a 26 or 26.5 inch girth, vilifying a guy for doing what he could to release two enormous fish, or arguing about what state is better.
The egos need to be kept in check guys. When you lose the ability to congratulate someone for a true accomplishment such as these two fish that he caught, a first 50, a multiple fish day, a personal best, then the ego has gotten out of control. Could be jealousy, could be short man's disease, could just be someone who got beat up on the playground too much as a kid and now feels the need to take it out on others behind the safety of a computer screen...who knows. What I do know is that the Wisconsin season isn't even closed yet and there is a thread like this full of nonsensical arguing....so a good long winter of reading stuff like this should kill off plenty brain cells.
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| Tom - I'm jealous! Louie S. |
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Posts: 815
| That fish is amazing, congrats. I hope to catch one that big someday! |
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Location: Illinois | THAT MAN IS MY HERO!!!!
CONGRATS, YOU ARE THE MAN!!!
U-N-B-E-L-I-E-V-E-A-B-L-E ! ! ! |
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Posts: 170
| I'm going hunting...but I wanted to add another atta boy on this fish. I forgot if it was this or another "discussion" re: this could have been a record some day. Yep, "could" have...but many fish peak out at the 52ish" mark.
Whatever...I'm not getting into this crap. It's going to be a loooooong winter for some folks.
Thought I'd add about 2.5 cents before this one turns to dust....too bad it has to be ripped apart like this. Sad... |
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Location: Rhinelander, WI | Tom made the decision on his own to keep last years fish, please read the following and at least stop arguing that point.
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=554999
You know what’s cool, Tom most likely isn’t even reading all this crap because he is probably out fishing right now. We are all just POSERS when you think about it!
Nail A Pig!
Mike
Edited by MRoberts 11/29/2007 2:06 PM
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Location: Wishin I Was Fishin' | Great fish.
Thanks for sharing the story.
I look up to Tom. He truely is one of the sports greatest!
It is my dream to be still fishing at his age and doing it everyday.
Edited by Jomusky 11/29/2007 3:02 PM
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Posts: 9
| That is a REDICULOUS (in a good way) FISH!
It's even better that Mr. Gelb EARNED that fish! Like many have said - I'm sitting in a cube farm typing at a computer. I got chilly at my lunchtime smoke break... and he's out on an open lake 7 hours north ROW TROLLING. That's dedication and love for the sport! (and apparently how you meet a world class fish!)
Mounts or replicas are not cheap - the fact that he's having it mounted even though he doesn't necessarily need or want it shows the respect he has for the fish and muskies in general. And now I know there will be a replica blank for when I get mine! (not gonna get it sitting at this desk, but it's fun to dream!)
Congrats on a fantastic fish! |
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