Metro Muskies

[Castinski]

Just because you have the right doesn't mean you don't have a responsibility to the fish, and frankly to other musky anglers as well.

Exactly. I understand that this is their job and that they are trying to drum up business or whatever, but the part of the article that bothers me is:

"They've been really active with the hot and muggy weather and I've been seeing a ton of big fish," he said. "The days that have been the hottest have been the most productive on my trips."

He goes on in other parts basically saying the hotter the better....... No shame. It will only encourage others to do the same.

[TheHawgTrough]

I understand that this is their job and that they are trying to drum up business or whatever, but the part of the article that bothers me is:

"They've been really active with the hot and muggy weather and I've been seeing a ton of big fish," he said. "The days that have been the hottest have been the most productive on my trips."

He goes on in other parts basically saying the hotter the better....... No shame. It will only encourage others to do the same.

I am pretty sure he is referring to lakes from Mille Lacs to the lakes up north which haven't been as warm. I don't know of any metro guides who were fishing here during the hot stretch the past week and a half.

[Castinski]

I hope so, but comments like this:

"Mille Lacs hasn't been the only lake that Stevenson has been catching fish on. Several lakes in the metro area such as Forest, White Bear, Minnetonka, and Waconia have all produced fish for him and his clients."

and this

"Some guys think it's too hot to fish, but I like it — it seems the hotter it is the more active they get," he added. "This has been a good old fashioned Minnesota summer and the last two weeks have been really good for the guys that went out in the heat."

Lead me to believe otherwise. My point is, it's one thing to go out and do it and another to talk it up like everyone should be out there hammering them. I guess it's his "right" to do so.

Anyway, I feel like I'm beating a dead horse. I'm out.

[Nick Kuhn]

Probably are beating a dead horse. I don't recall there ever being an ethical code of muskie fishing sign-up sheet, so there's really nothing you can do except encourage people not to chase them during the middle of the day during a heat wave. Some people schedule trips many months in advance, you can't expect someone to completely forfeit a trip they've been looking forward to for some time. It's a conundrum because what are you to do, break out the bass gear where any incidental muskie catches are really going to be stressed (especially if you completely left the muskie net and release tools home). You can't exactly have an iceberg shipped to the lake.

[BEEFEATER]

It is a quite uni-formed post indeed! caught 5 muskies in the past 15 days that all released just fine. On a 3 day trip to millacs to fish for walleyes recenetally, mostly slip bobbers in the evening and after dark,we had 3 fish between 21-26 inches go belly up and we couldent do anything about it cuz the slot. I felt real responsibe then knowing i could have been muskie fishing and releasing them just fine.

[BEEFEATER]

when i read newspaper articles like that from guides, it usually translates to: im so worried theres going to be one less fish for me. ecspecially when i seen his pickup truck at waconia, and mound beach on tonka.

[FutbolGuru]

Sorry didn't realize you guys were bass fishing, 2 to 3 fish an outing, and every outing a fish ha ha!! Get real.

Hahaha.. The guys probably are boating fish, but I like your style Topwaterterror.

I'm not fishing muskies till Favre announces he's coming back... Dead muskies, zebra mussles in Tonka, click it or ticket - yep, the world is definately ending. It was a good run!

[MN Musky]

It is a quite uni-formed post indeed! caught 5 muskies in the past 15 days that all released just fine. On a 3 day trip to millacs to fish for walleyes recenetally, mostly slip bobbers in the evening and after dark,we had 3 fish between 21-26 inches go belly up and we couldent do anything about it cuz the slot. I felt real responsibe then knowing i could have been muskie fishing and releasing them just fine.

Alot of dead floating muskies were released "just fine". Ignorance is bliss. Stick a pig.

[propster]

MN musky hit it on the head.

[FLnick87]

has anyone ever personally seen a muskie truly release fine, and end up finding it dead later??? just wondering

[scsavre]

I have found more then a few floaters. Some of which looked as if they were obviously hooked recently. ripped lips etc. I even found one with cut hooks a day after hearing a guy tell me a story about his fish that he cut hooks on. The fish I found was the same size as the one he said swam away just great.

[BEEFEATER]

Not me, but it does happen... could happen despite how well u handle the fish, could happen in 60 degree water temps too... I think im just going to stop fishing period in case i accidentally kill a fish. Im going to stop driving too in case my tire falls and i fly in to oncoming traffic. Im going to stop deer hunting to cause i might hit it true in the vitals with an .06 and it might be a freak occurance where it gets away....

[BEEFEATER]

ive found tons of floaters, several on waconia and dozens on tonka, and the list goes on. But i have know clue how they were handle nor will i speculate.

[FLnick87]

Yea but who would say that they handled a fish poorly and then cut the hooks as a last ditch effort which is likely to be what happened! I agree some fish die but I find it hard to believe a lot of these fish are caught by muskie fisherman who handle them with care. Personally, i think if u keep the fish in the net, minimize handling it, and let them swim away under its own power, if they swim away...they are fine. could be wrong, just my opinion

[Apex]

2 words, delayed mortality.

[2000AlaskanDC]

Went out tonight, havent fished for about a month or so, didnt even know where to begin looking, so I tried a little bit of everything and saw nothing. Then I remebered what JRedig said on here..."muskies eat everyday" and POW before I knew it I had 9 fish in the boat!!! Now I know your secret......

[Nick Kuhn]

What do you guys just troll around looking for floaters? I would say over my last 5 years of fishing I've seen on average just 2 floaters/year that weren't pan/rough fish, and only one that was a muskie in my life (and I believe that was in October). And I fish plenty and am plenty observant.

[propster]

Not me, but it does happen... could happen despite how well u handle the fish, could happen in 60 degree water temps too... I think im just going to stop fishing period in case i accidentally kill a fish. Im going to stop driving too in case my tire falls and i fly in to oncoming traffic. Im going to stop deer hunting to cause i might hit it true in the vitals with an .06 and it might be a freak occurance where it gets away....

Ever heard of odds? That's like saying I drive fine when I'm at .07, and since it's legal I think I'll just continue to do so. Screw the odds, I could have an accident even if I was completely sober. Not responsible at all in my opinion.

[tweedlap]

It is not necessary to hold up every musky for a picture. Half of the

time they flop on the bottom of the boat and then get dropped while

the hero hoists them for a picture.

Keep them in the water, measure them and release.

tweed

[Castinski]

Sorry, I unintentionally hi-jacked this thread to another high water temps discussion.

So, back to topwaterterrors original query: < metro muskies this year?

I have struggled quite a bit more this year than last, especially after the beginning of July. It may be higher water temps/weather related or simply my inability to adapt. It also seems like pleasure boat traffic was crazy through July and early August (probably weather related too). It had me wishing gas prices would go back to $4. I have put some fish in the boat doing things I haven't in the past. Big rubber over open water or burned really shallow are examples. Use it as an opportunity to try some new tactics and you might be surprised. Get yourself out of that "comfort zone" a little bit.

[Shoot2Kill]

If a guy started reading this thread at the beginning it would be great with a big ol bag of popcorn and a large pop.....

Note to Mother Nature......BRING ON FALL.

[BEEFEATER]

Oh absolutally, i think a large percentage of floaters were results of delayed mortality. I also agree the majority of floaters were not caught by muskie fishermen, or at least muskie fishermen with proper equipment... Ive been fishing muskies for to many years to even remember but i know i dident really start seeing alot of floaters untill within the last 6 or seven years when muskie fishing kinda became the thing to do. Just to many fish being handled for there not to be some casualities. Also not all floaters were handled fish, some are just casualities of mothernature, extreme water temps, birds of prey, well i guess as i said mother nature. Also fish are prop killed etc... Anyway i think fishing in the the metro has been way better then central and northern Mn, with the exception of the extreme pressure, and all the great stuff that comes along with living in such heavy populas

[Kodiak]

does anyone fish the muskies in the metro during the oct full moon? new to muskie fishing...i have been out trying and havent landed one yet.

[Shoot2Kill]

does anyone fish the muskies in the metro during the oct full moon? new to muskie fishing...i have been out trying and havent landed one yet.

I don't fish the metro but yes, people are defintely fishing all through October, November, and until there is ice on water or the season ends for muskies. Keep after em man......lots of fishless days are common before one hits the net. I did a 16 hour day the other day and saw 2 fish. Couldn't wait to go back out and do it again.

[Kodiak]

thanks!

what i meant was at night