Andrea Gurke catches and releases her personal best muskie on June 16 on a daddy-daughter outing on Lake Galena. The 43-inch tiger muskie came in a 5 1/2-inch Storm 360GT swimbait in the fourth cast, just after 5:30 a.m., made by Gurke, 26, who works at Illinois Masonic Hospital.
“Andrea and I have been going on father-daughter fishing trips with Tom Saccomanno, my childhood friend from Galena, for three years,” his dad Bob emailed. “Last year, we were a real skunk, but the year before he caught his first 31-inch musky. All he wished for was something closer to 40 inches.
“He got his wish, a 43-inch fish that wouldn't get in the boat. The fight of his life that he will not soon forget. And neither do I. Probably a lifetime memory for both of us.”
He caught and released another 40-inch tiger that same day.
FOTW, a celebration of big fish and their stories (the stories are important, as shown here) surrounding the Chicago fishing trip, premiered Wednesday in the Sun-Times newspaper.
To make a submission, email (BowmanOutside@gmail.com) or contact me on Facebook (Dale Bowman), Twitter (@BowmanOutside) or Instagram (@BowmanOutside).