Advice on handling/landing muskies - esp alone

[WallyGator12000]

NDNick-

I know exactly what you are dealing with. I fished for muskies for 4 years out of a 14 ft Lund until I was able to buy a bigger boat this year. If you're interested, I'd be willing to sell the smaller beckman net I rigged up for use in a small boat. It has a smaller hoop size so it fits in the boat, but I added a much larger fin saver bag. I've caught and released a 52" out of that boat with that net and it worked great. I also attached a carabeener on the handle so you can just clip the net to the other side of your boat and handle the fish solo. Worked great. Email me if you'd like pics or measurements of the net. [email protected].

[kingfish689]

On fish that cant be hand landed . These are also the ones that will make a mess in your net (to many hooks in the way )IMO this is where you have to have a nipex or some kind of good hook cutter in the boat.netting the fish and cutting all hooks is the quickest way to get the fish back in the water.and spend the time saved replacing hooks insted of reviving a fish.JMO

[RK]

Hiya -

Lots of good info here already. I'll just summarize with a few thoughts...

1.) Have the right tools.

• You must have hook cutters. It's a 'have them or don't fish' requirement, IMHO. It's not just for the fish's safety either. I've seen some nasty stuff happen where being without hook cutters would have made a very bad situation way worse.
• Long nose hook outs. I use 11" needle nose with a 45 degree angle jaws. The angled jaws help get the business end of the pliers out from behind your hand so you can see what you're doing when you reach down to unhook a fish.
• Jaw spreaders. Used more on pike than muskies in my boat, but nice to have anyhow.
• A net is optional, but awfully nice to have. I still hand land most of my fish because that's how I learned back in the days before coated, fish-friendly nets, and it's what I'm most comfortable with. But if you're inexperienced to begin with a net is a huge help. What someone said earlier about practicing with a wet towel is great advice.
• I have cable loops taped to the handles of my release tools so I can stick my wrist through them when I use them. Lets you get your hands out of harms way in a hurry if you need to and keeps you from sending a pair of hook cutters to the bottom of the lake.

2.) Have your tools organized and at hand before you hook a fish... Especially alone, once a fish is hooked is not the time to start digging for tools.

3.) Take your time and be deliberate about what you're doing. While you're working on a fish, remember that the head is the part that breathes. Keep it in the water as much as possible.

4.) Learn the jaw hold. It really helps immobilize fish while you work on them. It really helps if you can practice on a mounted fish, but basically, take your first two fingers and curl them slightly. Run them under the gill flap so your finger tips are just inside the gill cover and slide them forward until you can't anymore. Keep your finger tips in contact with the gill cover all the way up. If you stick your fingers straight in you'll stick them up into the gill arches... Not good for the fish, and you will end up very, very bloody. When your fingers can't slide forward any further, clamp down with your thumb - it's almost like a handle. KEEP YOUR THUMB BELOW THE FISH'S JAW. If you stick your thumb in the corner of their mouth...you'll be on the way to the hospital.

The biggest thing with the jaw hold is that once you're committed to it, hang on. In for a penny, in for a pound.

5.) When you're alone, really think about the baits you use. Single hook bucktails, spinnerbaits and the like are a lot easier to unhook fish from than multi-treble baits. A lot of jerkbaits and crankbaits especially have more hooks than they need. Consider removing 3 smaller trebles and replacing them with 2 bigger hooks.

Above all, be deliberate, be patient, and keep their head in the water. You'll do fine

Cheers,

Rob Kimm

[Nick Kuhn]

The biggest thing with the jaw hold is that once you're committed to it, hang on. In for a penny, in for a pound.

I learned this the hard way. Wish I could have read this a few years back, I'd still be scar free if I had.

[JimBuck]

Tell me about it. My first muskie was kind enough to rake my thumb before the release in Sabaskong Bay. The front of my thumb looked like an open-faced roast beef sandwich and I bled like a stuck pig. I was a good 25 miles from the lodge and another 2 hours from Kenora. Ended up waiting in the hospital for over 6 hours and payed 200 bucks for the experience....NOT FUN. Keep that thumb locked in and away from those pretty teeth.

[sdpikehntr]

Muskie fishing is not cheap you can expect to spend $1000 to catch and release your first fish

Wow, you got into it cheap! I would say that took me on my first two trips. Just rods, reels, net, leaders, and lures. Since then there have been head lamp, in boat organizations equipment, Hook cutters, hook removers, net, and more lures.

If my wife would see the bill thus far, I'm sure there would be a "FOR SALE" sign on the boat and tackle.

P.S. I am still waiting for the 1st Muskie to be landed... Hows that for a kick in the *uts?

[HugoBox]

I think being firm and deliberate are great pieces of advice on how to hold a fish. Below is what happens if you let them shake their heads.

Also careful about holding a the net between your legs. I had a big one "kick" me in the nuts last year when doing that.