Proper Way to Handle a Muskie?

[jlreding]

I've fished Muskie twice in my life with a friend of mine who had significant experience. Had a great time and caught some nice fish. All the fish were kept in a large net in the water except for a quick picture & measurement.

While viewing Muskie videos on youtube, I came across the following video of a 55" Lake of the Woods catch landed without out a net and handled on the floor of the boat. Just curious whether these fish are hearty enough to withstand this type of handling? I can't imagine ever handling a trophy bass in that manner, but maybe I just baby them. Any rate, the user has several other Muskie videos posted handled in a similar manner.

55" Muskie Video

I fish bass primarily from a canoe / kayak, and rarely bring a net along. If I were ever to hook into a Muskie in that situation, any recommendations for the best way to handle / release the fish without harm? Thanks.

[JTeyes]

Well, at least they supported the body when holding it up for pictures, but that's about the only thing they did right. Although we didn't actually see the fish swim away, and even if it did, there's a chance that fish ended up dying. First, they didn't use a net and instead tired the fish out more than what was needed. Second, they placed it on the floor of the boat and slid it around removing the slime. Third, they kept it out of the water for way too long. I may be wrong, but the saddest thing is that it looked to be a guide that was handling that fish.

It will be interesting to see if this video gets the same response as the speared muskie. Although we can't be sure if the fish died, there's a possibility it did. I'd rather see a fish kept and killed rather than see a fish mishandled like this with the possibility of it dying after the release.

[jlreding]

Ok JT...thanks for the feedback. I guess that confirmed some of my initial thoughts upon viewing the video. If Muskie are anything like pike, than I can't imagine handling them in that manner and expecting them to survive. But, I didn't know if they were considered a "more durable" fish (for lack of a better term), and could sustain that type of treatment (I suppose like a carp or something).

Any rate, still would love to hear any recommendations on handling / releasing an unanticipated Muskie catch while bass fishing without a net. Perhaps it's as simple as cutting the line at the boat, but I hate leaving a lure hanging in a fish...I have a tough time believing the whole "acidic acid" in a fish rusts it out over time (heard that one from my uncle who taught me to fish). Thanks.

[JTeyes]

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But, I didn't know if they were considered a "more durable" fish (for lack of a better term)

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Actually, they're less durable. Pike are a lot tougher and revive much quicker than muskie.

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Any rate, still would love to hear any recommendations on handling / releasing an unanticipated Muskie catch while bass fishing without a net.

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It happens and you can only do the best you can do. You'll obviously have to wear them out to be able to gt the lure out their mouth. Either do a water release without a pic, or get a quick pic then get them back in the water a.s.a.p. and do a water release. Don't let them go until they go on their own and then watch the area for a little while to make sure they don't go belly up after the release. To revive them, I've had really good luck turning on my bow mount at fairly slow speed and holding the fish into the direction the boat is moving. This gets the water going into the mouth and out the gills like it's supposed to, not back and forth. If you wear out a big girl, expect to take a lot of time reviving her, it may take awhile.

[Muskycrazy]

JT is probably right in that that fish probably didn't make it . The analogy I have been taught in regards to landing a Muskie is its like the Muskie being a sprinter running a 500 yard dash and then holding his breath for minutes at a time if its taken out of the water . Big Muskies expend so much energy that any time out of the water is severe , compound that with being fumbled around like this joker did and its not good at all . I'll usually let them go right from the net and if I do snap a pic , I'll let them sit in the net ( temp. considered ) until they " catch their breath " . JT was right about the slime too . Its a protective coating and when you wipe it off they will loose protection and could be exposed to infections . This guy did probably everything he could do wrong . Very discouraging .

[Random guy]

That was brutal. Extended time out of the water, slid around the boat floor, the old back breaker hold (head twisted up sag in body with hand to far back), arms wrapped around fish wiping of the slime and just alot of banging the fish around. To bad I'm guessing the fish did not make it or got pretty sick before it healed up.

As for pike being tough they are just as easy to harm as musky, granted they may seem a bit more active after all the unhooking and handling but they suffered the same injuries as any fish would when handled in such manner.

[JTeyes]

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As for pike being tough they are just as easy to harm as musky, granted they may seem a bit more active after all the unhooking and handling but they suffered the same injuries as any fish would when handled in such manner.

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Thanks Jon, you make a valid point. I think another reason why I have always thought pike were tougher is because most of the pike I've caught have been quite a bit smaller than many of the the muskies. I'm not sure if I'm correct, but in my experience it seems that the bigger fish are more difficult to revive. Maybe to due more lactic acid buildup?

[Random guy]

Lactic acid and the fact that to land a bigger fish it was played out longer. 25" pike comes in pretty qiuck, 50" inch musky is not so eager about come on board.

[esoxfreek]

that video made me wanna puke!ive caugt 100s of muskies and guided folks to many,many fish and i highly dought that fish made it.and if he is a guide he should be ashamed of himself,what a truely beautiful fish to get abused like that!

[10,000 Casts]

I have to say that I was expecting alot worse. I agree with everything that you guys said and the guide did make mistakes handling the fish but would have to say the fish most likely survived.

I like to get the hooks out while the fish is in the net, cut them if need be, support the belly for a quick photo and put the fish down gently and revive her if need be.

John

[DUCKJ]

After watching the vidio I watched it again. That fish was out of the water for 2 1/2 min, slid on the floor, sat on, slid across the floor again, held up, slid across the floor again, held up for a second time and then released. Way to long out of the water.

Wether the fish lived or not? We will never know. I hope so, thats one heck of a fish. If it didnt? I hope they kept it and just didnt let it float so they could keep on fishing(yes ive seen people do it).

Duck

[MuskieJunkie]

Wow that was hard to watch, 2 1/2 minutes plus however much they edited out of there. I would like to have a few words with that group.

[jlreding]

If interested, I've included a link to this user's other videos on youtube:

Lake of the Woods Muskie Videos

I've watched most of his Muskie clips now, and the "Lake of the Woods" ones seem to be the worst of the bunch...all real nice fish though, at 50+ inches. I did see a clip where a net was used--the "Topwater Musky" clip (small fish)--so mayhe he just forgot his net on one occasion out on the lake. He sure seems to handle the fish roughly though.

I've heard several postulate that he may be a guide. I'd have a tough time believing that.

[DUCKJ]

But even though he used the net he still lifted them into the boat and put them on the floor of the boat. This is not good for the fish at all.

[CaptainMusky]

This was a perfect example of what NOT to do when handling a musky, or any fish for that matter.

First of no net, big mistake. Granted I have done it myself, forgotten it at home, so that is somewhat understandable, but the rest of the video is deplorable. The guide even knelt down on the fish while unhooking it. I would bet money that fish is dead.

I subscribe to the theory of fight the fish as fast as possible to the boat so they expend less energy. Unhook in the net while in the water the whole time. Lift the fish for a quick picture, I usually don't take pictures of anything under 45".

[RK]

Hiya -

I watched a little of the video and I could pretty well see where things were headed... Sad deal.

I could go on for pages about handling fish, but the whole issue boils down to two things:

1.) The longer a fish is out of the water, the less likely it is to survive

2.) The head is the part that breathes

There's been some fairly recent research on the effects of time out of the water on a couple of other species. Basically, after more than a minute out of the water, the physiological damage increases dramatically. After 120 seconds, fish had difficulty even swimming.

With that as a basic foundation in fact, a lot of other factors play into it besides. How long did the fish fight? How big is the fish? (Bigger fish are more prone to stress) What other environmental factors are in play (big waves, water temperature...) How is the fish hooked? Stressors are cumulative.

Obviously (obvious to me anyhow), things like bringing fish into the boat and laying them on the floor are things you just should never do. There's no reason for it at all. Personally, I really don't like the current trend of using bump boards all that much either, though if it's done right it's probably fairly harmless unless there are a lot of other stress factors involved.

You can debate landing methods like netting vs. hand landing either way. I hand land most of my fish, and in probably 95% of cases I can hand land and unhook a fish faster than I could net it and unhook it. But I've been hand landing them for 20 years so I'm pretty experienced at it. If I were starting now, I'd probably net my fish, because the learning curve isn't as steep. It's all a matter of what the best way is for you personally.

Cheers,

Rob Kimm

[MuskieJunkie]

RK

What's your opinion on letting the fish "rest" in the net in the water before you pull it out for the picture? I have read in articles and seen on shows that it's a good idea. It seems to me that you would want to get it unhooked and released ASAP.

[cjac]

Hi,

I'm upgrading to a Frabill power catch with the Pow'R Lok yoke this season. I was going to replace the bag on mine with a fin saver bag but they are 1/2 the cost of a new Frabill. Some of the bags with the thinner mesh really cut up the tail fins. These Frabill's are slick, no guessing on lining up the push button like I do now. They cost $110 to $150 for the Big Kahuna, but are worth it in my opinion. Remember, it's usually someone else netting your fish, unless you're alone. Either way the easier to use and the easier on the fish the better.

I net the fish and keep her in it while I grab the release tools/cutters/camera. She's out of the water 20 seconds tops. My goal this year is more in-water release photos. I think those are some of the coolest shots. Regarding measuring, I'll use the float stick while the fish is in the water, gets me close enough. Besides, 42 or 43 inches, does it really matter? Just a pretty and healthy fish to catch and release.

Chris

[CaptainMusky]

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Hi,

I'm upgrading to a Frabill power catch with the Pow'R Lok yoke this season. I was going to replace the bag on mine with a fin saver bag but they are 1/2 the cost of a new Frabill. Some of the bags with the thinner mesh really cut up the tail fins. These Frabill's are slick, no guessing on lining up the push button like I do now. They cost $110 to $150 for the Big Kahuna, but are worth it in my opinion. Remember, it's usually someone else netting your fish, unless you're alone. Either way the easier to use and the easier on the fish the better.

I net the fish and keep her in it while I grab the release tools/cutters/camera. She's out of the water 20 seconds tops. My goal this year is more in-water release photos. I think those are some of the coolest shots. Regarding measuring, I'll use the float stick while the fish is in the water, gets me close enough. Besides, 42 or 43 inches, does it really matter? Just a pretty and healthy fish to catch and release.

Chris

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IMO get the Big Kahuna. I gave my buddy dump after he got his, but I tell you, they are well worth it. The fish can swim around in there!

[MuskieMojoTackle]

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Hi,

I'm upgrading to a Frabill power catch with the Pow'R Lok yoke this season. I was going to replace the bag on mine with a fin saver bag but they are 1/2 the cost of a new Frabill. Some of the bags with the thinner mesh really cut up the tail fins. These Frabill's are slick, no guessing on lining up the push button like I do now. They cost $110 to $150 for the Big Kahuna, but are worth it in my opinion. Remember, it's usually someone else netting your fish, unless you're alone. Either way the easier to use and the easier on the fish the better.

I net the fish and keep her in it while I grab the release tools/cutters/camera. She's out of the water 20 seconds tops. My goal this year is more in-water release photos. I think those are some of the coolest shots. Regarding measuring, I'll use the float stick while the fish is in the water, gets me close enough. Besides, 42 or 43 inches, does it really matter? Just a pretty and healthy fish to catch and release.

Chris

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IMO get the Big Kahuna. I gave my buddy dump after he got his, but I tell you, they are well worth it. The fish can swim around in there!

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I personally see no need for the Big Kahuna. The bag is just too big if you ask me. Almost makes it a little tough to corral a fish.

I have a Power Catch and am confident that the net can safely hold any fish you will encounter.

[Black_Bay]

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RK

What's your opinion on letting the fish "rest" in the net in the water before you pull it out for the picture? I have read in articles and seen on shows that it's a good idea. It seems to me that you would want to get it unhooked and released ASAP.

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Probably the worst thing about letting them rest boat side is the fish has to stay in much warmer water than they probably came from. Think about how "cold" your feet are when you jump in a lake. It's plenty warm on top but many lakes cool off pretty fast even at 6 feet. It's best to get the fish in as quickly as possible and not play them to exhaustion. That way you don't have to let them rest. Obviously if you're going to take a few pics it to keep them in the water until the camera man is ready. Hopefully they're getting the camera while you unhook the fish. There was a good article in Esox Angler a year or two ago and may still be available on the next bite site.

[cjac]

At 40x44 inches the Kahuna is a monster that simply put takes up too much room in the boat! Power catch is 32x41, so to Baldy's point, I'd love to see a fish that wouldn't fit in that size net.

Chris

[lots of luck]

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At 40x44 inches the Kahuna is a monster that simply put takes up too much room in the boat! Power catch is 32x41, so to Baldy's point, I'd love to see a fish that wouldn't fit in that size net.

Chris

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I also have a power catch, the day I cannot fit a muskie in that net is the day I will stop fishing for muskies and Louis Spray will be be forgotten about.