Sad picture from Blair road

[Bonesey]

Usually when you see them early in the spring, it's a result of being caught through the ice, hooked deep, played until exhausted or the shock of being pulled into the cold or held out too long.
A thing to remember with muskies is that they are really wimps. They're big and strong but stress out easily. They're like a big strong guy, lots of power but little stamina. That's why it's recommended to use heavier tackle and keep the fight as short as possible so that the fish doesn't exhaust itself or stress itself outcompletely. Many may swim away but belly up later on.

i agree i hooked a pike this summer early morning when camping but he wasn't 2 big at all maybe 2-3lbs and i hooked him deep(obviously not on purpose) and it took him awhile to swim away guessed he was in shock but eventually swam away when i was holding him for 3 mins and i went to the same spot later that evening and there he was belly up:( i felt really bad seeing that and i wish there was sumthing i coulda done to make him survive but i guess that just happens sumtimes when fishing

[Relic]

By the looks of that fish, you weren't the first to find it dead.

It appears as though the cleithrum has been removed....or maybe you removed it???

[lifeisfun]

Not sure, I didn't see it in the morning ( around 7am)
but it was the first thing I noticed on the shore when I got back 11am.
I didn't' touch the body.

[Rico24]

I didn't' touch the body.

I dont blame ya!
I wouldn't have touched it either

[FishingIsHealing]

That's too bad, People need to return the fish to water ASAP....I give myself 30 seconds for every fish.....

I have my camera ready, I lift it up, take the hook out, take a picture and it's on it's way.......

There's lots of Muskie in the River.......for that 1 there is thousands........

I think there are more Muskie than people think............

At least in the rivers i know....

I've caught 2 by chance in the rapids of the Rideau....which is extremely strange.....

There are more Muskie for all!

Since not many people keep them, there should be a good population. I can't think of any reason tokeep one.

IT should be illegal to harvest them.....................

Why not eat a pike? Why destroy a Muskie? They probably taste like an old muddy pike......Much better left alive for people to catch and release.....1 fish may give 100 people one of the best moments of their fishing life............

[Lunker Larry]

FishingIsHealing.
Here's a couple reasons not to keep them. The Ottawa is considered trophy waters with a 54 inch minimum for a legally kept fish. Secondly, in the MNR eating chart, Muskie are classified as toxic.

[Tip-up]

Some really great points here and I don't think it should be illegal to harvest any type of fish unless it is endangered or on the brink of extinction. Were taking away what fishing is really about and the grassroots of the sport.

So Larry, I could not mount a 52'' fish from the Ottawa if I wanted? I don't know all the regs for this specie of fish

[Jimmy_1]

Tip-up,

It depends on the body of water.
54" is the legal limit for the Ottawa. It is smaller for the Mad.
The Larry is 48" but MCI and others are trying to make it 54" for the 2010 regs.

While I believe in and practice C&R, and I'd have a fiberglass mount made over a real mount any day...I still can't fault someone for harvesting a legal fish....

Despite what we morally believe is right....the law is the law and they are legally entitled to it.

Regardless of if we think its right or wrong....


J

[lifeisfun]

After fish is declared endangered or on the brink of extinction it's too late.

[Jimmy_1]

I don't think that Muskies are even close to brink of extinction nor are they endangered.

In some bodies of water they have been hit hard from VHS.

I think we say that BIG muskies are few and far between. But it seems almost daily 1-2 members here are catching 50"+ fish..(and if I weren't always working I'd join em on their invites too!!!)

I don't think fingerling or small muskies are too endangered. I've boated 8 muskies this year. 3 of them being sub 40" fish. Let me tell you they were all in stellar shape! Not a mark on them!

J

[lifeisfun]

My coment was in general

[fordson]

The only problem with the Muskies I've caught was Lamprey. Almost every fish had one or two on it or marks where one had been recently.

How do we cut down on those nasty things?

The 54 I caught was one old fish that had lived in this river for a long, long time. Like I said before it was blind in one eye and wasn't the greatest fighter of the season. She swam away strong and was FAT FAT FAT so I think she's probably still alive but her natural lifespan is probably coming to an end soon...that is sad I'd like them to be like Sturgeon and live a century or more. (I believe I've read this about Sturgeon and if I'm wrong one of you will surely tell me )

[Jimmy_1]

Lampreys have been an issue in waterways for a long, long time.
Best thing to do is make sure you do not accidentally introduce them into another water body.

Therefore, ensure that your boat is clean before putting it in another waterbody and never use them as bait!

[Relic]

And kill ever one of them that may be attached to a fish you have caught.

[troutnmuskiehunter]

And kill ever one of them that may be attached to a fish you have caught.

You do that too eh?