Eagle River angler takes third in 2026 GWMT

Eagle River angler takes third in 2026 GWMT 

The 38th annual Greater Wisconsin Musky Tournament recently wrapped up Oct. 4 after two days of fishing on 10 different local lakes. Eagle River angler Jeff Blanck finished third individually after boating a 43.25-inch musky on Saturday morning of tournament weekend. He caught one of 15 muskies over the two days.

The tournament allowed anglers to fish local lakes around St. Germain, including Big St. Germain Lake, Little St. Germain Lake, Big Arbor Vitae Lake, Little Arbor Vitae Lake, Plum Lake, Sand Lake, Pickerel Lake, Lost Lake, Found Lake and Dam Lake. 

Little St. Germain and Big Arbor Vitae Lakes had the biggest fish of the tournament. First-place individual Michael Bulgrin, of Pardeeville, caught the tournament's best fish at 47.25” out of Little St. Germain. Marty Pollard, of Madison, took second place away from Blanck by a quarter of an inch. Pollard netted a 43.50 fish on Plum Lake, while Blanck took third with his 43.25” musky. 

Oak Creek’s Jerome Dittmann and Midland, Mich. angler Wes Talbot rounded out the top five of 250 registered anglers with muskies caught at 42.50 and 41.50 inches, respectively. 

Team results

While individuals were awarded for the tournament’s biggest fish, Pollard and Bulgrin were part of the top three teams as well. Lawrence Kallay and Adam Bower, both from Franklin, had an average length of 36.88 inches after Kallay caught a 39.75-inch musky on the opening day of fishing and netted a 34-inch fish a few hours later to win first place in the team division. Both muskies were caught on Lost Lake. Bulgrin and Lars Erlandson finished in second with an average length of 23.63 inches.

Pollard and Tony Pollard took the third-place team trophy with an average length of 21.75 inches while fishing Plum Lake.