A floating musky

[drg700]

We were fishing a west metro lake today for bass and pike and saw the head of what looked like a small alligator. It was the first time we had seen a musky that close. We went up yp yhe fish and it seemed stunned and looked like it was struggling. We netted the fish and held it by the side of the boat until it got some energy back. When it did we released the fish and it swam away. Do muskies normally come to the surface for any reason or is it because of trouble? The fish was 51 inches.

[Hoffer]

On numerous occassions I have seen Muskie swimming with their heads - or really "nose" poking above the water. I have never really heard a great explanation for why they do this. However, your situation sounds like you came accross a Muskie that was recently caught and played out - or maybe suffering from some old age or health issues - being 51 inches long - that is a rare sized Muskie. When you revived the Muskie and it swam off - did you notice it again later??

[drg700]

We never did see it again and it swan away looking good.

[50inchpig]

nice work reviving the fish. tigers are known to swim on the surface, sometimes with their heads above water. i've seen it a couple times, watched one for close to 2 minutes earlier this year and almost got it on videotape. sounds like your was in distress and needed some tlc.

[delmuts]

Great job reviving that big fish!!

[goldie11]

ive seen tigers many many times swim with there head bobbing out of the water. cool thing to see.

[BartmanMN]

Sounds like you may have helped to save a nice one. Good job

[Barbelboy]

Crazy fish could have been sick, tired, drunk, lazy or who knows what. I've seen 'em roll, poke their heads out and float around like wayward topedos for no good reason.

Good job grabbing it and setting it right again. It must have been a little off kilter if you could net it.

[drg700]

It was until we got it in the net. Then it was full of fight.

[brad coin]

if you want to see the infamous tiger water ski show,,,on dead calm very hot humid days in July and August go to lake nokomis,,and the section between the pt and the two drain pipes that look like a double barrel shotgun on the east side of the lake is a good viewing area,,,has to be calm though

[10,000 Casts]

This was more than likely digesting a big meal.. they can go into a comotos state, I have seen it a bunch of times and when they do it, you can go right up and handle them, not reccomended though as I'm sure a fish that size full of energy can freak out..

[Apex]

It is usually from a musky trying to digest a fish that it has eaten. By sticking their head out of the water it is letting gravity do the work, instead of them.

[50inchpig]

i'm no biologist, but..........are you serious?

[grate8]

yea, I think netting them is a real bad idea

just leave them be

i seen it many times with tigers