Safe release time??

[dcmusky]

Well let me put it to you this way, run around your block once then dunk your head under water. Now would you like it there for 30 seconds or 2 minutes?

Don't remember asking about feelings. Just trying to get someone to understand one of the most importaint factors of a successful release, this along with handleing are the 2 most importaint things you can do to insure a good release. Do you have a better analogy so people can guage for time out of the water? Besides I wouldn't even let my kids see Bambi becouse it's so antihunter.

[dcmusky]

WOW, as a hunter, and former 100% catch and release guy, I find it hard to believe that I sorta agree with the PETA folks. My thinking now is that I should only be fishing if I intend to keep SOME fish. Weather that be looking to keep only a trophy, or looking to keep certain eater size fish, I won't go fishing anymore without looking to keep something. Often I still end up not keeping anything, but that is no longer my intent when I start.

Now as far as a safe release time...if I am at all concerned about the fish making it I won't take a picture, so that means I rarely take a fish picture anymore unless it is swimming through the spear-hole. Not taking a pic certainly decreases release time and I encourage others to do the same. Of course those pics of fish as they are being released IN THE WATER are pretty sweet!

That wasn't my intent, I don't think just becouse a person want's to keep some eaters they are PETA's henchmen.

[DTro]

Dan (and anyone else I may have upset). I really need to apologize.

Sometimes I just get all wrapped up in these discussions and it takes getting away for a while and going fishing or whatnot to realize I'm probably wrong.

No doubt about it, without dedicated guys and gals (as exemplified in this thread here) the state of Musky fishing in MN would be nowhere near what it is today. Sometimes it can be a thankless endeavor and a lot of people deserve credit for the great fishery we have here now. A big part of that is the education of safely handling fish after they have been caught to be properly cared for and released.

I will add though that I think there are times of irony in which there are some that are so boisterous to protect fish at all costs yet, have no problem using them for their own personal or financial gains, even if that means "not so proper handling".

When the day is done, I still see fish as fish no matter the species, and for newcomers to the sport, youth, or outsiders looking in, the Musky community needs to be careful not to portray itself as a sport that you have no business partaking in if you can't properly release a fish in X amount of time or under.

[dcmusky]

My fuse is alittle short this week as it's been a tough one. I don't want anyone to feel like they can't fish muskies if they don't pass the release test. ( I made that up) I think photos of fish are good for the anglers memories. I also realize there's a learning curve. But there's great info on how to do this that wasn't out 20 years ago. I 100% agree about some and their muskie prostituting.

[RK]

Hiya -

Dtro - I think the point behind the jog around the block analogy isn't about emotion, but physiology. The head is the part that breathes, and whether you're a fish or a fat guy such as myself, if you exert yourself your body needs oxygen to metabolize lactic acid, etc. Holding a fish out of the water or dunking my head under it causes the same physiological condition - an inability to gather and metabolize oxygen. I think the jog around the block then soak your head analogy is a good one, in part because muskie anglers are, generally speaking, fairly weak-minded, and simple illustrations really help us out It also gets across the key point - the head is the part that breathes...

As far as safe time out of the water - I think the simplest answer is the best - as little as possible. For some fishermen getting a picture is a really important part of the experience. No problem - go for it. Just be ready to do it quickly and efficiently, and don't turn it into a long photo session. Pick it up (safely - for you and the fish), snap a few, and get it back in the drink. If you like in the water photos (cjac mentioned Jack Burns' photo - and he had some spectacular pics like that that nobody ever saw) those are great too. Just be aware of the time, and conscious of conditions like higher water temps, high wind, or a complicated unhooking process that can add to the cumulative stress on the fish. That's all there really is to say I think - get the thing back in the water as soon as you can, and you're doing as much as you can to make sure the fish survives the experience, which is, after all, the whole point.

Cheers,

Rob Kimm

[mainbutter]

You're definitely right RK, in that for plenty of fishermen getting that picture is a pretty important part of fishing.

I am a CPR fisherman. Not just a catch-and-release fisherman, but a catch-PHOTOGRAPH-release fisherman.

A large part of fishing for many people is chasing after that trophy. For some people, it's just the experience of catching the big one. For other's it's mounting or eating their catch. For me, it's photographing.

I am a very efficient photographer. That's because 99% of my photographs are with a partner, always with digital autofocus point-and-shoot cameras that are hard to take a bad picture with. It is also because with all the SUCCESSFUL fishing I have done, I have gotten enough experience to understand how to handle fish effectively to reduce dehooking time, and be able to keep out-of-water time to be as short as my fishing partner can snap 3 pictures with a digital camera. That's usually 15-30 seconds.

However, the only way to get that experience has been to start at the beginning. Ever see an 8 year old try to unhook a deep treble? Most aren't very good at it. I have to imagine the same goes for people who are new to fishing.

Everyone who is a CPR or catch-and-release fisherman does their best to limit out-of-water time, because the end goal is for the fish to swim away healthy.

I just hope that some of the people who are newer to fishing or who just don't have the free time to do it as much don't get too much grief from other fishermen if they take a little longer getting a hook out or getting a picture taken, because they just haven't gotten it down to a science yet.

[bronzeback]

Thankfully, the first time I really got out muskie fishing was with Tim Anderson out of the Brainerd area, and he stressed to my friend and I the importance of a quick release, and all the tools necessary to do so. Fortunately for Mike and I we were able to watch the process three times that night.

I didn't read through all of the pages of this thread, and I'm unsure if this has been brought up, but I can't stress how much you learn from a few hours out with a guide. We've only been back to the lake we fished with him two times, but we've managed to use some of that information on different bodies of water and we've done alright for ourselves. And fortunately, no casualties.

Last thing--guys that are out fishing alone, take practice pictures with a tripod, or setting your camera up in the front or back of your boat, BEFORE you get a fish in the net. Get the hooks out, let the fish chill out in the bag, set up your camera, photo, and let her go. 20-30 seconds MAX out of the water. Can(and should) be even faster with someone else in the boat.

[dcmusky]

With practice the tripod works great. I love that my camera also has a mode that it takes 2 self shots so I set camera in the right spot.

Push timer button. Get fish out of net thats in the water.

Stand in my spot for pic and fish is back in water 15 to 20 seconds later. It takes some practice and I'd try it with pike so you can get more practice at this.

Once I put the fish in the water then I measure.

[cjac]

Wearing a Packers hat and T-shirt is not recommended for a good pic though.....

For the record: dcmusky boated a giant this year with another one of those super-cool water level release pics. In my opinion, the best image capture of a giant fish. Nicely done, despite the apparel.....

[Comit 2]

Quote:

Asking someone "how would you feel" is 100 percent based on emotions. Reread this thread and you will see where the emotional factor came into play.

I can answer the "how would you feel" I would feel like a fish and have a brain the size of a pea and would have never had a original though in my life.

Have a net big enough so you can put the handle down in the boat and not have the fish out of the water.....

[bronzeback]

Have a net big enough so you can put the handle down in the boat and not have the fish out of the water.....

or have a boat small enough...

[scsavre]

Well at least i didnt have to see a plumbers crack there. The small boats bring back some great memories. Seems some of my best fishing came out of the little boats.

[dcmusky]

Wearing a Packers hat and T-shirt is not recommended for a good pic though.....

For the record: dcmusky boated a giant this year with another one of those super-cool water level release pics. In my opinion, the best image capture of a giant fish. Nicely done, despite the apparel.....

Those MN muskies hate the packer garb. One of my secrets!

[bronzeback]

all of my best fishing has come from that little boat. Not very fast, but she's great on gas.

And fortunately I don't think there was any crack to be seen, though I am willing to admit it was dangerously close.