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| Hello Everyone
It is with deep sorrow that I have to announce the passing of musky author Eli Singer.
Eli passed away at 5pm this past Monday. Unlike most writers, Eli's books were not created from just one point of view. His books where made up of interviews from many of the most established musky anglers and respected guides of past and present. Eli was happy to drift rivers or fish out of an old fashioned aluminum boat for muskies. He avoided the commercialism and the politics of the sport. He was an honest writer and one of the first to openly cast doubt on the Spray fish. Even though at the time some well known figures openly criticised him and pressured some stores into no longer carrying his books. He often addressed issues that other in the musky community would not. In his life he landed over 450 muskies, many over twenty pounds all the way up to 32lbs. I know his dream was always to land one over 40lbs. Eli was loyal to Wisconsin, he had no desire to fish Minnesota or Ontario waters. He once told me that it would not mean as much to him as it would pulling a 40lber out of his home waters. Eli wrote the Musky Chronicles 1, 2, and 3, as well as the Big Fat Musky book, followed by two more musky books. Much of his books take the reader back to a simpler time, and shares a unique perspective of Wisconsin's musky history. I respected him because he called a spade a spade and treated no man less or greater than another.
He was my friend
Thank you |
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Posts: 280
| Sorry to hear that Mark. I have his books and enjoyed them all.
Prayers and condolences to his family and his friends.
DougP |
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Posts: 243
| I last talked to Eli over the winter and he was very excited about this year's season. He caught some of his biggest muskies in recent years. I liked the general format of his books, which were mainly interviews with musky fishermen and old time resort owners. I was in one of his books and felt fortunate to be included amongst many of the all time greats and northwoods characters he interviewed over the years.
One of his biggest obsessions was the debunking of the Spray fish as standing records. He believed in the Cal Johnson fish. Whether or not you agreed with his views on certain topics, he was quite a linguist and always made for an interesting read. Sorry to hear he passed, but as Eli himself would say, he's probably enjoying himself casting right now in that big weedbed in the sky. RIP E.S.
Edited by IM Musky Time 6/26/2013 4:25 PM
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Posts: 256
| I never met him but have all of his muskie books and enjoyed them very much. It was always a great treat when a new book came out. He will be missed. |
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Posts: 218
| Mark
Sorry to hear about Eli.
Do you have titles and sources for his last two books. I have read and reread his first four books several times. I enjoyed his writing; he was a good man.
Ray |
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| The last two books that Eli wrote were Here, Musky Musky Bite Me! and The Magical Musky time Tour. We often spoke of world records though I thought the Cal Johnson fish was probably a 50lbs class fish I never thought it was of record size, of course I once thought the O,brien fish was the deal. lol I live in Ontario where we have great musky fishing, but I was always envious of Wisconsin's great history. I t was very important to hear the great stories of people like Dick Slieght or Bruce Tasker, Marv Heeler or conservation ideas from folks like Skip Summerfield. Eli made it possible for ideas and a history of this sport to live on. |
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Location: Green Bay, WI | Very sad news indeed. I have That Big Fat Musky Book but haven't read it in a while. I talked to him once several years ago, but really didn't know him well at all. I hadn't heard he was ill. My condolences to his family.
RIP, Mr. Singer.
TB |
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Posts: 4343
Location: Smith Creek | Very sad news. Enjoyed all of Eli's books.
Will pour a sip in the Flambeau in his honor. |
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Posts: 5
| Hi: This is the first time I have ever posted on a forum and I have been reading them for years. I too knew Eli and he was a friend. I saw him Sunday morning in the hospital before he passed away that evening. One of the last things he said to me is "I hope you catch a 40 pounder". The musky and writing became his life. I have been to his home numerous times. He lives as he spoke. Intelligently, compassionately and minimalistic. I admired him! When he would take a stand on an issue he spoke his mind truthfully with no hidden agenda. There are fewer and fewer people like Eli left in the world. I will truly miss him. Ed |
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Posts: 1288
Location: WI | Good books, love the interviews! Sad to hear there won't be anymore now. RIP! |
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Posts: 300
Location: Minocqua, WI | Ran into him at boat landings on multiple occasions west of Park Falls in recent years. Even crossed paths on his home river multiple times. Always enjoyed the conversations with him. Sad news to read. |
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| RIP Eli. I enjoyed our time on the water and along the shore. |
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Posts: 34
| I posted here and it it disappeared! He was a very neat guy and I loved his books I only wish I knew him better. I had a lot of chances to go talk with him when I was younger  |
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Posts: 17
Location: Indiana & Wisconsin | I only knew Eli from talking with him on the phone..I have read his books and really enjoyed his love of history of Musky fishing and enthusiasm and respect of tradition for Wisconsin musky fishing! You will live on through your books Eli!! Xoxo! Jamie
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Posts: 574
Location: Elk Grove Village, IL & Phillips, WI | Very sad indeed! I have all of his books and he was a very nice guy. Price County lost a good one! RIP Eli!! |
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Posts: 5
| Hi: I just wanted to let everyone know that Eli's family has decided to sell his home and property on the N. Fork of the Flambeau River in Sawyer County, WI. They have entrusted me to help them. There will be an auction of his personal items this fall. Eli still had quite a few unsold books and the family is still not sure how to liquidate them. I went fishing near Eli's home waters and assumed I stood in the same place as he in the past when he would fish casting off the shore. It is too bad I didn't do that when he was still alive. If there is someone you want to go fishing with but have been putting it off because you are too busy. Go. Just go. |
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| Know a friend of Eli's who would like more info regarding his passing. Also, hoping to contact family. Is there a number I can call you at. Thanks so much. |
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| Sad to hear Eli's gone. Really enjoyed talking musky's with him.
Jim Stroede |
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| I am shocked to learn of Eli's passing. I was priviledged to appear in Musky Chronicles 3 and to connect Eli with my best friend, Pat Sheahan, who then appeard in The Big Fat Musky Book (Pat also passed away tragically in 2012). I first met Eli in the Park Falls public library where he signed copies of MC 1 and 2 for me. We had a wonderful chat, which led to many susequent and long discussions by phone, tape recorder and, of all things, post card (certainly not email) about musky fishing and writing. I learned much about, and from, this unvarnished, highly educated, immensely literate, honest, complex (yet simple) man's own past and fascinating life story.
Amen to the previous post about making the time to fish with special people before it is too late. It is very true, and a hard lesson to learn as there few things in life worse than regret - make the time to avoid it whenever possible.
RIP Eli, and thank you. |
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