Air Bladder Musky

[Fordo]

I caught a musky tonight and for the first time I just couldnt get her to swim away. The fish keeps trying to swim to the bottom but just kept coming to the surface. The fish looked good upright everything seemed fine it just wouldnt go down. Ive heard about muskies air bladders getting full but i thought that was only in very deep water like 30ft+? I caught this fish in only 10ft is it possible its air bladder was full? I held her in the water for a good 20 minutes and watched her she just sat upright on the surface gills moving looked healthy and good just wasnt going anywhere. I ended up leaving for 15 min and coming back to where she was and she was gone. Can the fish eventually release the air on there own? I found ways to help get the air out that I will keep in mind if it happens again.

[RK]

When they have swim bladder issues, or other more severe problems, they usually go belly up. Muskies have a center of gravity above their swim bladder, so it doesn't take much to get them to roll over.

May have been that the fish was just not doing well for who knows what reason. Could be ill, old, or just worn out from even a short fight. Fish are like people - they're all a little different in how they handle stressors. I know I've had some stay on the surface a long time and just not want to swim off. Others go like they're shot out of a cannon.

Main risk when they do that is getting hit by a prop, but hopefully it swam off ok eventually. Sometimes turning on the trolling motor can get them to scoot off, but if that doesn't work just have to be patient and hope it swims off. Not a lot one can do.