My first venture out on Big Tom was during the 2002 World Muskie Hunt, which is an invitational event. Participants can compete only once, after which they may return as a "past hunter." I was fishing with Don Herr, who caught a 44-incher on a Herr-Tail bucktail over a deep-water bar. It turned out to be the biggest fish of the tournament that year, netting Herr a trophy and a replica mount by ace taxidermist Joe Fittante of Antigo.

A year later, I returned as a past hunter and was roped into guiding when another guide couldn't make it. In two days of fishing Big Tom, "Kawa" and Minocqua, my anglers landed two short fish -- which kept the skunk out of my boat, but I didn't really earn the guide's jacket they gave me.

Russ Smith, guide and designer of Smity Baits, said deep-diving crankbaits work well here from July through November when muskies feed on ciscoes. Row-trolling with live suckers is another popular technique, but don't let them swallow the hook!

Three good landings serve the lake, and Big Tom is also accessible via a channel from Lake Minocqua. If you go alone, take a good lake map. There is plenty of competition on the Minocqua Chain from other anglers, and a good deal of recreational boat traffic all summer long.

Contact: Minocqua Chamber of Commerce, 1-800-44-NORTH, or www.minocqua.org.

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There are at least a dozen other waters I wish we had room to explore here, including shallow gems such as Palmer and Tenderfoot, and most of the Eagle River Chain and the Three Lakes Chain. Among the deep lakes we had to skip are Grindstone, Plum, Star and North Twin. Then there are the lakes that defy classification, having both shallow and deep basins, such as Upper and Lower Buckatabon lakes and Pewaukee Lake. To top it off, there is the Chippewa Flowage, which deserves a book of its own.

If you learned anything here, I hope it's that you'll find muskies both shallow and deep, and that conditions and the type of lake should dictate your approach. Match those well and you'll find yourself in a lot more grip-and-grin photo opportunities this season.

Find more about Wisconsin fishing and hunting at: WisconsinSportsmanMag.com