Musky Mauler
04-18-2014, 11:34 AM
While waiting for ice-out (will it really ever happen this year?) there is time for me to render another somewhat lengthy north woods fishing tale. Here goes:
Some years ago, Earl Tomek passed away. Some of you might have known Earl from back when he and Elsie ran The Old Log Inn. Good beer, great food, and excellent camaraderie. In addition, Earl was also a great musky guide. One of his favorite hunting grounds was Moose Lake. This was back when Al Kaiser was the only one who lived on the lake. Al, his wife and his young school-age daughter lived an isolated life on that lake. The girl once had a "Bambi" deer as a pet. It would come into their home much the same as a pet dog. She once also had a pet fox. It was kept outdoors, however, and tethered to a logn clothes line to be able to run back and forth.
After Earl Tomek died, he was cremated. Then, in accordance with his and his famiily's wishes, it was decided to scatter his ashes partially on his favorite musky haunt: Moose Lake. So, one fine summer day some years ago, his son, Scott Tomek and two of Scott's friends, Randy Wagner and Cathy Jordan, went to Moose Lake to do a bit of musky fishing. This was after all remnants of Al Kaiser's home and his few rental cabins had been razed and were long gone. Moose Lake had, once again, become a desolate place. This particular fishing trip would provide an opportunity to cast Earl's ashes as desired.
The reason that Randy and Cathy were along was because their fathers, Wally Wagner and Carl Jordan, used to fish regularly with Earl Tomek right there on Moose Lake. It was decided that Scott, Randy and Cathy would "do lunc"' that day on the island near the middle of the lake. So, after launching their boat, they motored over to the island to unload their cooler and foodstuffs.
Cathy had never been musky fishing. But, she had heard a good many tales from her dad, and from their across-the-street neighbor, Wally Wagner. (Wally was the brother of Millie Weseman. Al and Millie Weseman used to own and run Al's Place back before the days of Earl Gitzlaff's ownership and the eventual changeover to Fort Flambeau Condominiums.) After hearing tales from Wally Wagner and her own dad, Cathy was well aware of why the musky is called "the fish of 10,000 casts." As any true musky fisherman will tell you, they ARE somewhat difficult to hook and coax into the boat. So, while the boys were unloading the boat of the foodstuffs, they told Cathy to practice making some casts off the back of the boat . They wanter her to get used to tossing a musky lure in proper fashion.
Wouldn't you know - - on her THIRD "practice cast" she latched into and landed a nice 42-inch tiger musky!
It was enough to make a grown man cry. Later, she even taunted her dad by saying, "Dad, you've blown it all out of proportion. There's really nothing to it at all!"
After quick photos, the fish was put back into the place from whence it had come. Then, a bit later, they went to a favorite area that consisted of some Moose Lake musky cabbage and this was where Scott scattered Earls' ashes. As they drifted away, Scott tossed a "ceremonial cast" into the area where the ashes had been scattered.
And, believe it or not, he latched onto yet another musky!
Now, I'm sure that some folks will attach some sort of mystifying significance to this happening. A musky materializing right out of Earl Tomek's ashes? How does one account for this? All I can say is that it does give one pause to wonder about the wily ways of the musky gods.
Then, to top things off, at the end of the day, Randy also landed a musky.
This is a true story, and you can attach whatever significance to it that you might choose. In my own case, it does cause me to reflect upon some great times that I had while fishing with Earl Tomek. Also, I think I might hafta make a run up to Moose Lake this summer and see if any of Earl's ashes are still visible in that viable spot near that particular patch of musky cabbage. I wonder, will Scott, Randy or Cathy tend to reveal the actual location to me?
Musky Mauler
Some years ago, Earl Tomek passed away. Some of you might have known Earl from back when he and Elsie ran The Old Log Inn. Good beer, great food, and excellent camaraderie. In addition, Earl was also a great musky guide. One of his favorite hunting grounds was Moose Lake. This was back when Al Kaiser was the only one who lived on the lake. Al, his wife and his young school-age daughter lived an isolated life on that lake. The girl once had a "Bambi" deer as a pet. It would come into their home much the same as a pet dog. She once also had a pet fox. It was kept outdoors, however, and tethered to a logn clothes line to be able to run back and forth.
After Earl Tomek died, he was cremated. Then, in accordance with his and his famiily's wishes, it was decided to scatter his ashes partially on his favorite musky haunt: Moose Lake. So, one fine summer day some years ago, his son, Scott Tomek and two of Scott's friends, Randy Wagner and Cathy Jordan, went to Moose Lake to do a bit of musky fishing. This was after all remnants of Al Kaiser's home and his few rental cabins had been razed and were long gone. Moose Lake had, once again, become a desolate place. This particular fishing trip would provide an opportunity to cast Earl's ashes as desired.
The reason that Randy and Cathy were along was because their fathers, Wally Wagner and Carl Jordan, used to fish regularly with Earl Tomek right there on Moose Lake. It was decided that Scott, Randy and Cathy would "do lunc"' that day on the island near the middle of the lake. So, after launching their boat, they motored over to the island to unload their cooler and foodstuffs.
Cathy had never been musky fishing. But, she had heard a good many tales from her dad, and from their across-the-street neighbor, Wally Wagner. (Wally was the brother of Millie Weseman. Al and Millie Weseman used to own and run Al's Place back before the days of Earl Gitzlaff's ownership and the eventual changeover to Fort Flambeau Condominiums.) After hearing tales from Wally Wagner and her own dad, Cathy was well aware of why the musky is called "the fish of 10,000 casts." As any true musky fisherman will tell you, they ARE somewhat difficult to hook and coax into the boat. So, while the boys were unloading the boat of the foodstuffs, they told Cathy to practice making some casts off the back of the boat . They wanter her to get used to tossing a musky lure in proper fashion.
Wouldn't you know - - on her THIRD "practice cast" she latched into and landed a nice 42-inch tiger musky!
It was enough to make a grown man cry. Later, she even taunted her dad by saying, "Dad, you've blown it all out of proportion. There's really nothing to it at all!"
After quick photos, the fish was put back into the place from whence it had come. Then, a bit later, they went to a favorite area that consisted of some Moose Lake musky cabbage and this was where Scott scattered Earls' ashes. As they drifted away, Scott tossed a "ceremonial cast" into the area where the ashes had been scattered.
And, believe it or not, he latched onto yet another musky!
Now, I'm sure that some folks will attach some sort of mystifying significance to this happening. A musky materializing right out of Earl Tomek's ashes? How does one account for this? All I can say is that it does give one pause to wonder about the wily ways of the musky gods.
Then, to top things off, at the end of the day, Randy also landed a musky.
This is a true story, and you can attach whatever significance to it that you might choose. In my own case, it does cause me to reflect upon some great times that I had while fishing with Earl Tomek. Also, I think I might hafta make a run up to Moose Lake this summer and see if any of Earl's ashes are still visible in that viable spot near that particular patch of musky cabbage. I wonder, will Scott, Randy or Cathy tend to reveal the actual location to me?
Musky Mauler