Proper Musky Release technique (Mod's make this a sticky)

[Jimmy_1]

Hi all,

Sorry to post this, but there are an increasing amount of fishing reports for musky with the fish being held improperly.
This can lead to fish fatalities....keep in mind a 50" musky can be 30 years old!!!

Therefore, to assist and as this is an educational site that promotes community angling and spirit I am passing on the Muskies Canada Link for proper release and handling techniques.

Hopefully all members can take a look and read this. Musky really are a resource to protect and handle with care.

Not to dump on anyone here, and congrats to all who have caught them. However, a little knowledge can go a long way to help preserve this species.

Mods, please consider making this a sticky...

http://www.muskiescanada.ca/articles/ca ... e_tips.php

[lifeisfun]

It ain't going to happen, since even the mods think that you can do anything you like with your catch... sad, I'm done here....

[cprince]

Mods, please consider making this a sticky...

Thank you Jimmy for posting this. Making it a sticky might be more of a site admin decision rather than a mod decision. I am not against it, but there are MANY species of fish, with MANY different "Scientifically" "proven" methods of holding them to decrease mortality.... to make them all a sticky would be ridiculous in my opinion. I would also want equal time dedicated to the proper way to cook the damn things or how to make a proper skin mount...

It ain't going to happen, since even the mods think that you can do anything you like with your catch... sad, I'm done here....

Too bad, you have posted a great many excellent reports and have been a voice of RESPECTFUL caution. Even though your pronouncements about what mods think is way off base and myopic, I have come to enjoy your posts and pics.

No sense in asking you to stay as you would look pretty foolish staying around after telling everyone that you are leaving... so I wish you the best of luck.

Craig

[fishin mission]

next musky i catch i am going to pull out my filleting knife and chop him up to pieces and feed it to the seagulls and geese at petrie!

[ShawnD]

next musky i catch i am going to pull out my filleting knife and chop him up to pieces and feed it to the seagulls and geese at petrie!

Professional crap disturber right here.

[fishin mission]

no Shawn just don't like the fish hawk police telling people how to hold and how to handle fish i will handle fish the way i see fit and no one will tell me different
some people need to get a life and go fishing,,,this is the whole reason why fish hawk has gone down hill because some people don't know when to shut there cake holes. I lurk and will never post a report due to the police watching us all the time.

[TheDon]

This is beyond ridiculous. I never imagined being flamed for advocating ethical handling of fish. Times have changed- science has proven that many of the handling techniques previously thought to be harmless are indeed harmful. It's simple logic- if you're going to release a fish, release it in the best condition possible. There are many forums that won't allow you to post pics of trout on rocks or laid on the shore.

[Super]

Back 50 years ago my Dad taught me to hold a pike by squeezing it by the eyes.
Pretty gross to me now, but occaisionally I still see some people doing it or showing pictures with them doing it.
Back then all fish were heading to the frying pan, but still not a nice way to hold a living fish.
If people do it now and release the fish, I would presume that it will be seagull food pretty soon.
I belive everyone on this form, when they were starting out, landed fish and pinned them to the rocks to get the hook out, or let the fish flop around the bottom of the boat, or kept them on stringers all day and then let them go. Not very good practices.
We have learnt how to hold/handle fish properly because someone else showed us.
Nothing wrong with this post.
David

[Jimmy_1]

As Fish-Hawk states it is a web site to come and learn I figured "Why not post something educational about handling a fish?"

I see, that sadly this has divided folk.

I personally have congratulated people on their catches and this post was NOT aimed at anyone. I have just noticed several posts about incidental musky that have frankly made me cringe a bit. I honestly saw no harm in passing on some info about proper handling and release techniques.

NOW...I realize fully that incidental musky will continue to be caught and yes a lot of time they were NOT the species being targeted. Guys catch em on frogs in the slop, jigs for walleye, spinners for pike etc etc.....

Doesn't mean "If you fish the following bodies of water ye must have in your possesion pliers, cutters, large net etc....

But if even 1 person reads, learns and practices I am happy.

[Woodyman]

Just a thought: we worry about handling these fish, we take them from the water to take pictures. In an earlier post a person stated that they would like to meet someone who catches a musky and doesn't take a photo of themselves with it. I moved to an area with an healthy mushy population and catch 10-15 per year while targetting walleye and bass. After breaking off two musky I changed my approach, loaded up with 50 pound braid and 80 pound floro leaders, so I can bring them in quickly when they are caught by accident. I also bought a large net to handle the fish and I don't take them from the water for pics. I take the hooks out or cut the hooks when the fish is in the net. This is the best way to preserve a fish. Why take a photo??? This year alone I have found musky floating after being released to quickly by people targetting musky. On one occasion I spend 15 minutes running the fish in a cradle beside my boat, it eventually swam off strong. I am not saying that people should not take pics people are free to do what they want. I am saying the whole issue is the way we approach fishing whether its beating an area with large baits, trolling for hours in an area disturbing birds, bald eagle and osprey and not respecting the river. Leaving the smallest footprint . At the end of the day people all have different fishing styles and ethics. But actions speak louder than words.

[cprince]

Just a thought: we worry about handling these fish, we take them from the water to take pictures. In an earlier post a person stated that they would like to meet someone who catches a musky and doesn't take a photo of themselves with it. I moved to an area with an healthy mushy population and catch 10-15 per year while targetting walleye and bass. After breaking off two musky I changed my approach, loaded up with 50 pound braid and 80 pound floro leaders, so I can bring them in quickly when they are caught by accident. I also bought a large net to handle the fish and I don't take them from the water for pics. I take the hooks out or cut the hooks when the fish is in the net. This is the best way to preserve a fish. Why take a photo??? This year alone I have found musky floating after being released to quickly by people targetting musky. On one occasion I spend 15 minutes running the fish in a cradle beside my boat, it eventually swam off strong. I am not saying that people should not take pics people are free to do what they want. I am saying the whole issue is the way we approach fishing whether its beating an area with large baits, trolling for hours in an area disturbing birds, bald eagle and osprey and not respecting the river. Leaving the smallest footprint . At the end of the day people all have different fishing styles and ethics. But actions speak louder than words.

Very well said.

Craig