This article chronicles the extraordinary 12-day muskie fishing expedition undertaken by brothers Tony and Fred Burmek in October 1955. Setting out from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, they achieved an unparalleled feat in the sport's history, landing 17 muskies in challenging weather conditions, with the smallest weighing 25 pounds and many exceeding 30 pounds. Their most impressive catch was a 43 1/8-pound muskie, the largest reported from the Hayward sector that year. Their consistent success brought immense excitement to Hayward, known as "the muskie capital of the world," establishing their legacy as legendary anglers.
The Burmek brothers' incredible journey began on October 29, 1955. From their very first day of fishing, October 30, they made headlines in Hayward with catches of 31¾-pound and 38½-pound muskies. Despite facing freezing winds that made it nearly impossible to keep their boat steady for casting, they returned each evening with trophy-sized fish. The townspeople were captivated, gathering nightly at Rifkin's general store to witness the weigh-ins. Julian Gingras, publisher of the Sawyer County Record, even joked about needing a daily paper to track their progress, comparing the excitement to a baseball home-run streak. By the end of their 12-day endeavor, the Burmeks' total muskie haul amounted to an astonishing 533¼ pounds, plus a 26-pound northern pike. Their generosity meant many freezers in Hayward were stocked with muskies, some so large they had to be cut in half to fit into ovens.
Tony Burmek, a 43-year-old muskie fishing guide, was the driving force behind this remarkable success. His dedication to muskie fishing spanned over two decades, focusing solely on this species. Tony's meticulous approach included observing barometric pressure changes, believing that rising pressure signaled optimal fishing conditions. He would abandon all other activities to be on the water during these times. Furthermore, Tony utilized contour maps, even conducting annual airplane flights to study subtle changes in lake bars due to silting, which allowed him to discover productive reefs not marked on conventional maps. His deep understanding of the waters, coupled with his innate fishing instincts, set him apart.
On their initial fishing day, despite a low barometer when they arrived in Hayward, Tony's keen observation noted a climb from 29.75 to 29.90 by noon, with the temperature at 39 degrees, west wind, and overcast skies. This was enough for Tony. He and Fred launched their boat onto Round Lake, a renowned muskie lake. They opted for drift fishing over deep mid-lake bars that Tony knew intimately, places few others ventured. Fred started with a homemade plug, previously deemed ineffective, but on his third cast, he hooked and released a small muskie. Moments later, using the same plug, Tony landed a 38½-pound muskie. Later that day, Fred, again with the homemade plug, caught a 31¼-pound muskie, which Tony noted as the largest male he had ever seen. Most of their catches during this trip occurred in deep water, with fish striking upwards at a plug kept three to four feet below the surface.
The subsequent days mirrored this success, though not without challenges. On the second day, despite being delayed by enthusiastic Hayward locals, they again caught and released muskies on Round Lake. The third day brought a warmer, cloudy day with an east wind, yielding several fish, including a 48½-pound muskie, the largest in the Hayward area at that point. This fish required Fred's quick action with a gaff as the plug became dislodged. The relentless cold became a significant factor on the fourth day, causing their knuckles to bleed, yet they persevered, landing more muskies and a large northern pike. By the seventh day, Fred's last day of fishing, the cold was so intense they had to build a fire ashore to warm up. They even developed a technique of using a wet gunny sack to revive exhausted fish before releasing them. After Fred departed, Tony continued his quest, venturing alone to the Chippewa flowage, a legendary muskie water known for holding the world record. He continued to catch and release fish, even musing about the potential catches if he had a hundred dedicated muskie fishermen with him.
As the expedition neared its end, Tony's resilience was tested. The physical toll of battling wind, waves, and constant cold, along with wet, cracked hands and bleeding knuckles, began to wear on him. On the final, 12th day, despite his weariness, Tony agreed to fish for just one hour with his partner, Clayton Slack. The cold was so severe that they rotated casting and rowing to stay warm. Tony ultimately landed the trip's final fish, a magnificent 43 1/8-pound muskie, marking it as the largest of the season in the Hayward region. In total, they boated 17 muskies and released 22, with a cumulative 42 fish either caught, lost, or released. Tony's profound understanding of muskie behavior and his willingness to adapt his techniques, such as varying casting speeds and lure presentations, were key to his success. He also emphasized fishing the mid-lake bars rather than just the shoreline. While some in Hayward questioned the Burmeks' extraordinary catches, Tony's impeccable reputation stood as the ultimate answer to any skeptics, proving that deep knowledge, relentless effort, and a bit of luck are the true ingredients for such an unparalleled fishing saga.