catch and release for musky tips and discussion

The first musky topic has got me thinking what steps do each of us go thru to try to release their catch the saftest way. Just figured it may teach a few people some new techniques and i for one am always open to learning a new trick or two to help.

I wrote this piece about OUR routine for safely handling muskies in another forum. Everyone has their own methods and should get confident, but NOT too comfortable with their routine: Heres the article. Enjoy.

Proper handling and releasing of muskies is pretty much like fishing for them in itself. Over time and through hands on experiences, you will develop an effective routine which will suit you fine. Everyone needs to have a common respect and care for the fish that they plan on releasing, bottom line. If you do that, you WILL make efforts to do what is right in proper fish handling which includes reading, acquiring the proper tools and finally applying what you've collected....knowledge and gear alike. It is pretty simple really...have the attitude that you want to keep that fish out of it is environment for as little time as possible ensuring it's safety as well as your own. Develop a routine that is both effective and comfortable for you. Below, I share my own personal routine that I thoroughly go through with each new person that fishes with me.

1. Always TRY to fish with at least one partner. Make every effort possible to fish with somebody if you can. If you fish alone, good luck! Educate any passengers prior to fishing so that they know and understand what you expect beforehand. Trying to go over it while scrambling around with a fish, may turn into disaster for you.

2. Make every effort to purchase or acquire the best quality fish handling equipment. Here is what I use
- a long set of needle nose pliers (mine are 16” long)
- heavy duty, long handled bolt cutters
- Boga Grip - modified with 18" handle.
- a quality, rubber dipped landing net
- regular needle nose pliers
- tape measure

THE ROUTINE:
1. After bringing a fish to the boat, be sure the fish is well played out before attempting to net or Boga the fish. (I once had a 42" muskie, that was still green, swim so hard through the net and got wedged in the net half way through! I had to cut my net and I’m sure it was not good for the fish). Lesson learned!

2. When captured (whether with net or Boga), keep the fish in the water until your partner gets what you need ready. Typically bolt cutters or pliers at this point. There is no need to pull a fish into the boat while it still has a lure attached to it. (One of the things I cannot stand to see is when guys hold up fish for a picture while the lure is still attached…a sure way to learn an unfortunate lesson and a terrible example for novices to see!)

3. At this time, one person just needs to keep a little pressure on the leader/line so that the other person can cut away the hooks with the bolt cutters while the fish is still hanging over the side and body still in the water. If the fish is lightly hooked, gently pry out the hooks with the long nose pliers.

4. Once the lure is free, lift the fish out of the water by supporting its weight near the belly. If you gill the fish, be sure to slide your fingers between the gills and outer gill plate or just use the Boga. Again, remember to support the fishes weight with your other hand!

5. Take a quick measurement and Photo and back to the water as quickly as possible.

6. The process of releasing a fish is certainly debatable…again, do what works best for you. I have found that as long as I lay the fish into the water and support it upright, it generally takes off fine. However, some fish need a little help so gently, I MEAN GENTLY, rocking it back and forth will help. Every once in awhile, I will let the fish go on its own to see if it will balance upright on by itself. If the fish does this, it is typically good to go in a few seconds.

7. Finally, it is always gratifying when a ski gives you the splash salute! I’ve had a few of these and I love every one!

A Couple Quick Notes:

Believe it or not once you have developed a solid routine, 1 through 5 in the “routine” should only take less than a minute and I mean that literally. Just sit there and focus on your watch until a minute goes by and you will get a true sense of how long it should take.

I know that the use of a Boga Grip type tool is debatable and sometimes controversial. I personally and simply look at it like this. We are impaling fish with 5, 6 & 7 O hooks…what can possibly be worse? Have you ever seen a muskie roll in the net literally 50 times in 5 seconds? My own safety and the safety of my passengers are slightly more important than the safety of the fish I catch. I’m sorry if that offends anyone, but it’s the way it is! If folks feel the other way around, and believe it or not, there are some fishermen out there that do; Maybe they should consider not fishing at all. Simply mere observation.

I felt the need to mention that not every fish we catch enters the boat either. In fact, most fish NEVER leave the water. If the fish is smaller and the “catcher” does not want a picture, the hooks are removed and the fish immediately released.

If I missed anything, please feel free to add anything that works for you!

HOPE THIS HELPS!! Good Luck out there on the water and be safe!

Shutupandfish,

Great post...Definitely don't take the fish out of the water in the net.  It never ends up well for the net, fish, or gear.

Always have extra treble hooks for the lures your using, cause 9/10 of the time its easier and safer to just cut the hooks (as close to the fish as possible, it will fall out on its own).

Use proper tackle (rod, reel, line ect) when targeting musky.  It does no good to target them on light tackle especially in the heat of summer.  The fight will last to long and more then likely make a live release impossible.  If caught on light gear by accident then attempt to bring the fish to net as quick as possible.

To add to the release, hold the fish facing into the current.  If in a lake with no current, have someone use the trolling motor and slowly move to make a false current which will help run water through the gills.  Moving them backwards (water moving from gills to mouth) is what suffocates the fish.

Well put I always try to net a fish as soon as possible another thing is to get the best net you can afford I had a 47 incher roll up in my net before had to cut the net and hooks. Best to get a hook proof net since I have got one haven't had any problems. I have sacrificed pics for the safe release of a fish that is something your have to learn from experience.

I personally will never pinch barbs down on my trebles. Simply because I have invested much time, money and heartaches into the sport. When I finally hook into a muskie, I want to have every variable to ensure I bring the fish to the boat. One of those variables is certainly the barbs on my hooks. Call me selfish or whatever, but I choose not to take it to the extreme of removing barbs, I'm sorry. Another case of "To each his own".

If you fish a lot by yourself go to walmart and get yourself a mono pod for you camera. I have mine attached to the front of my boat with some u bolts works great. As far as removing barbs I ain't going that extreme that's what bolt cutters are for. I've lost enough fish with barbs not giving the fish anymore advantage than it already has

Now that i think of it since we started doing so we havnt had the need to use bolt cutters once on a fish but that could be plain luck on our part. I do know my heart skips a beat every time one of the beasts launches itself out of the water tossing its head in every direction lol

ORIGINAL: ShutUpNFish

I personally will never pinch barbs down on my trebles. Simply because I have invested much time, money and heartaches into the sport. When I finally hook into a muskie, I want to have every variable to ensure I bring the fish to the boat. One of those variables is certainly the barbs on my hooks. Call me selfish or whatever, but I choose not to take it to the extreme of removing barbs, I'm sorry. Another case of "To each his own".

evidence suggest that barbs "lightly" pinched, not the full way, actually hold fish better than barbless or full-barbed, but hey, to each his own.

I could see the lightly pushed barbs holding better cause you would have a smaller angle to the main hook and barb causing a better hold factor.  The entry hole would be smaller which would help from the hooks pulling back through also...

ORIGINAL: ShutUpNFish

I'd like to see that evidence...

ill dig up the issue tomorrow... but it was in fly rod and reel last year.

or you could just google it.  I'm really not kidding. 

ill dig up the issue tomorrow... but it was in fly rod and reel last year.

No offense, but that explains alot...Of course they are going to promote barbless/or partly barbless

PlumbBob - good read...its always nice to get perspectives from different views and anglers...I really like the idea of the rolled up netting. Innovative. The only reason I like the Boga is because I believe it does the fish much less harm than a net does. And the only Boga I use is the real deal, because they are full proof and the spinning mechanism will never malfunction like many of the knock-offs do. When that happens with a spinning muskie on the other end, you can either break and arm or break the fishes jaw! Other than that, it has worked flawlessly for me for 10 years now. If we fish together this year, I will bring it along and show you how its done....make a believer outta you yet! I made modifications to mine which make it a safer tool as well....here are some pics and an example of my daughter holding a fish with it.

I like a canvas cradle versus a net..the hooks dont get caught and if youve never had a muskie get its head stuck in a net lemme tell ya that can get hairy real quick...also you can modify bogas to be less traumatic to the fish...you just need to weld 1/4" round stock to the teeth on each side....more surface area spreads the grip out. definately cradle the belly though..a heavy fish will will suffer harm from being held up by its lip.....(who wouldnt?)

ORIGINAL: ShutUpNFish

ill dig up the issue tomorrow... but it was in fly rod and reel last year.

No offense, but that explains alot...Of course they are going to promote barbless/or partly barbless

you do know that the majority of issues in those fly fishing mags revolve around bigger species than musky correct? I just don't want any reader bias affecting your posts, Joey.

stop and look at your avatar before you post sometimes.

I put a signature up just for you dude...

I've read your posts on pinning, and have heard from various sources who have fished with you that you snag half the fish you land (steel).

you've basically typed a book, and I'll seriously dig up that issue tonight, pdf it, then put it in my signature.

You do realize guys targeting musky generally fish with 60-100# braid and 7-8' rods as stiff as a telephone pole, right?  Yet somehow a miniscule bump on a 7/0 hook will make a difference in hook sets?
 
Sorry but I don't believe that a barbed hook would make the slightest difference in hook penetration regarding muskies.