Catch & Release clowns!

[smeese]

I think they probably were clowns, but to ruin their moment by yelling at them is definately not the answer. I am sure they were just overjoyed with excitment.Which is no excuse but what do you do. To teach someone is great but how you come across it is even more important.

[DHanson]

A lot of good advice here.

I think it's important to not jump all over someone in a case like this. As muskie fishermen, we need to set an example, but we need to do that in the most sincere way as possible otherwise it will backfire.

The number of people muskie fishing is growing, but we are still in the minority compared to anglers targeting other species. With that, comes opposition to our style of fishing. I try really hard to be as nice as possible to everyone on the water. Because those people that once had negative attitudes towards muskie fishermen, now may have a different opinion after I show that I respect them. There are a few people who have one bad experience with a muskie fisherman on the water and automatically have a grudge against all muskie fishermen.

[Esox_Magnum]

While on the lake Saturday we happened across a new Wades Wobbler floating along. Attached to it a brass south bend snap swivel and about 18" of what looked like 8 maybe 10# mono. I saw a pontoon with what looked like 2 guys and a kid, 1 was throwing a small muskie sized bucktail on what appeared to be a M actiong walleye spinning rod. I'm pretty sure they are the ones who lost the Wades, my partner didn't have one, now he does.

I know I should have went and talked to them but I didn't, just glad they casted or got snagged and lost it not in a fish's mouth. Next time I see them I will stop and try and educate them, if they don't listen I'll follow and fill my box.

[bronzeback]

haha, better hope they keep fishing topwater baits or you're going to have to dive in for a few.

I saw a similar thing two days ago actually, two guys in a boat, throwing at a big steep point, they didn't acknowledge or give us a wave at all(which i shouldn't hold against them, but it's a peeve of mine) and after that i see the guy is throwing a bulldog on what is most likely a med-heavy bass rod, the thing is doubled over every time he tries to hurl it at shore. Sooner or later I'm sure something gave and he probably either lost the bait or hurt his rod or reel. Didn't see a net in their boat either, could've been there I spose but it's hard to hide a big net in a small boat, chances are they had better luck than we did haha, didn't see any fish floating on our way back though so that's a plus.

[nater]

I think most of us have seen this a time or two. I talked a trio at the dock that caught his wife's first musky (and theirs as well) trolling a daredevile, 30 minute fight, small net, taking pictures with the phone on the bottom of the boat. 48", they pondered keeping it but released it. Whether it lived or not is unsure, but at least they had the right idea about taking measurements to get a replica. I told them they did the right thing.

Its hard to watch or hear about, but like some have said there are many new muskie hunters on lakes (we were once rookies as well) and all we can do is give them advice and keep distributing proper information for handling them and hopefully releasing them. Maybe more info on replica's should be available, it maybe more expensive (I'm not sure) but would be worth it. This is also another reason to support the DNR's stocking efforts.

[FLnick87]

I caught my first by myself muskie on saturday afternoon, 42-43" roughly. I would guess the unhooking process took a couple minutes and the hooks got caught in the net towards the top so the fishes head was held out of the water during the unhooking process. I was concerned i was taking too long but when i lowered the net into the water the fish was swimming fine in the net so i lowered the net and let her swim out. never measured or picked her up. she swam away fine, but is that a bad way to release a healthy fish? i know if she was struggling i defanitly would not have done it. And do they often swim away and die later? or do people just assume all fish not perfectly handled die? I never want to kill one so just wondering if I did something wrong

[JimBuck]

Getting the 1st alone net job under the belt can be an experience. Sounds like you handled it fairly well. Typically, unless my hooks are poppin' out fairly easy I get the hook cutters and needle nose out to cut the remaining hooks. The head being out of water for 2-3 minutes is too long but it's good you asked. If you don't have one already, purchase a nice net. I bought a new one this Spring and it is so much easier/safer for all parties involved. Another thing that works when netting alone. If you have a spare rod holder on the boat, angle your holders down so you can lay your net in it and work your magic. I have my handle setup on the net so I can adjust how far I want the net out and keep it locked in place. Just a good way to free a hand. Yes, fish often swim away only to die later. Helping the fish work those gills and waiting until she's good and ready before letting her go is ideal. Nothing better than the tail splash to the face for a wave goodbye.

[dcmusky]

I've caught 200+ muskies in my life and I can remember the first ones I caught and can honestly say I would of cringed watching myself. If in doubt I say let it go if that's what you wish to do with it, there's a chance if it's in the water, no chance if it's on a stringer. I've caught muskies with grey torn gills, missing eyes, and other injurys.

People do get better with expeiriance so sometimes it takes a few fish to get more confidence in handleing them. One last suggestion would be if new to the sport go with an expeirianced muskie guy or gal. The best way to do this is join your local MI chapter, people there are always more than happy to help out someone with proper release tecniques. I know our chapter(54) covers this once a year.

[JRedig]

I've had good luck motoring up to people and congratulating them FIRST, then offering a few tips. Usually i get a nasty look and some have ended up in yelling matches, but most go very well. When they have a fish in hand, it may not be the best time, but i think it's worth trying after the release so the next one doesn't get handled so poorly.

One note too, i've timed it a few times, what I think is 5+ minutes has been 2-3 watching others. Gotta remember that your focus on what you think is important can make it seem like eternity. I still say anything more than 30 seconds is too much, someday most will understand that. How about signs at the launches with CPR techniques?

Sounds like these guys are ready for the metro tourney next year!

[MinnesotaMuskie]

I've had good luck motoring up to people and congratulating them FIRST, then offering a few tips. Usually i get a nasty look and some have ended up in yelling matches, but most go very well. When they have a fish in hand, it may not be the best time, but i think it's worth trying after the release so the next one doesn't get handled so poorly.

One note too, i've timed it a few times, what I think is 5+ minutes has been 2-3 watching others. Gotta remember that your focus on what you think is important can make it seem like eternity. I still say anything more than 30 seconds is too much, someday most will understand that. How about signs at the launches with CPR techniques?

Sounds like these guys are ready for the metro tourney next year!

I have to agree with your thoughts...petty hard to learn without help.

[fishuhalik]

I didn't read all the replies on this forum since I've read these same posts 20 times, but here's my two cents.

At least they released it. Alot of people just don't know that it's bad for a fish to be out of the water for "only a few minutes". For example, I lived on a little lake in northern MN. It was an ok eye lake, not great, but decent. Anyways, I was talking to my new neighbors about the importance of cpring the bigger eyes and pike in the lake, and they agreed. Said they'd never heard of cpring fish (this was maybe 7 years ago) but said it made sense and they'd make sure to do it so we could all have good fishing in the future. Well, that spring the guy caught a 33" eye out of the lake, by far the biggest I've heard of. He caught it on the opposite side of the lake, put it on the stringer, brought it all the way back to his house with his 5hp motor, took about 20 pics, and let it go. He told me the next day and said he thought about mounting it but it was sooo cool to watch it swim away. I was almost sick, but told him good job on releasing a fish like that. I then told him, in a very nice way, about how to PROPERLY handle a big fish like that. When I told him the fish probably died from mishandling, he looked like he was going to start crying. I just made sure that he knew that he just didn't know, and now that he does know, he can be sure to successfully release his fish.

Just my .02

[hans84]

First let me clear up some inaccuracies in MuskyRookie's account of me catching my first muskie ever (and my buddy who manned the net who has caught and successfully released many muskies over the past 6 years.) The fight with this muskie lasted no more than 3 minutes, the fish was tired enough to be safely handled, but not worked to death prior to landing. My net man netted the ski and left the net AND fish in the water, the muskies head was underwater the entire time minus when the hook was removed. Yes we took several pictures of the fish, one when my netman removed the fish from the net, one when it was on our measurement scale, and two with me holding my prize, and one when my buddy was performing CPR on the fish at the time of release. According to the time stamp on my camera the first picture was taken when the fish was removed from the water at 9:25 am, and the final picture as the fish was swimming away was taken at 9:26 am. That is 5-6 minutes less than what MuskyRookie reports. Could our handling of the fish been performed quicker? Of course we could have left it in the net and released it from there, but being this was my first muskie and due to the size (49 3/4") we wanted to get pictures and measurements for a replica if it was over 50". Anyways, every single muskie fisherman would have wanted a picture with this fish, especially if it was your first.

So MuskyRookie, you are lucky you didn't approach us. As all the other posters noted you would have been out of line doing such. And given the fact that we didn't mishandle this fish in anyway you would have been wrong.

[Quackaddict9]

now two sides of stories, whos to believe?...sounds like the fish swam away successfully. Congrats on the nice fish!

[dudeness]

So what makes you think that Muskierookie is talking about you anyways? They sound like two completely different stories.

I don't mean to upset you. just curious.

[Scoot]

OK fellas, keep it civil. Regardless of please keep threats and name calling out of this thread (and all future threads for that matter).

[bronzeback]

I'd love to see the pictures, (and the time stamps) sounds like a nice fish regardless.

And it really does sound like two different stories, I'd say it would be hard for him to mistake 5-6 minutes with 1 minute out of the water.

[b1gf1sh1]

Quote:

this was my first muskie and due to the size (49 3/4")

wecome to HSO now you don't have to be a ''lurker'' anymore and congrats on your first!

[Cooter]

Not fair, I've fished for several years and my biggest is 49!!

[propster]

Scoot, I must have missed something. Where's the name calling and threats?

[MuskyRookie]

I'm just curious, why would I make up the story and spend the time to stretch the truth of what I saw with my own two eyes, maybe just to get attention and have people get all upset? I don't think so. And then to make matters worse, you not only made up your own story to lessen the guilt, you stretched the truth of it's size.

I know what I saw, only the bottom half of the fish was in the water while in the net and it stayed that way for WAY too long! All I hope is that you learn how to properly handle an endangered species!

Oh and by the way, have a nice day!

[JRedig]

All I hope is that you learn how to properly handle an endangered species!

Um, who's fishing for/handling an endangered species? Nobody in this forum...

[eyebjim]

What the heck is wrong with you guys. I watched the video. It was not nearly as bad as you say and if the dang fish is so endangered none of you should be fishing for it. Lighten up for crips sake. The fish also appeared to swim away fine. Why not find something else to sport-bi#$% about and leave this guy alone.

I do agree it looks like he fibed on the size but he is after all a fisherman.

[MuskyRookie]

hey eyebjim, I think you are a little confused. This thread is not about the Youtube video, that is another subject all together. Please read more carefully!

[eyebjim]

My bad on the video thing. You are right the video is from another post. I guess I surf too much . For that I am sorry. I still think the preaching is way overboard. One should always try to get any fish back in the water as soon as you can. That's any fish not just supposed endangered Musky. We should all try to educate others on the proper handling of fish that will be released in a respectful manner or you will likely cause them to take their time getting their next fish back in just out of spite.

[JRedig]

What is with this endangered thing? Since when were muskies (a stocked species in 90% of the discussed lakes etc) endangered?

Get your terminology right people.