How to properly handle pike or muskie............

[Bass Addict]

hey guys
i.m looking for some tips on how to properly handle pike or muskie,

when posing for a pic or weighing a larger fish....

[MuskyMike411]

When holding a larger fish for pictures, the back/stomach needs to be supported. If i can figure out how to get pictures in topics I will post a few. I am just too new at this, so give me a bit to figure it out.

You can lift it 2 ways, one, under the gill play, being sure not to touch any part of the gills and the other, slide your hand down the belly between the fin and the anus. This protects all the vital organs and the spine of the fish. It puts little stress on the body of the fish, ensuring survival.

As for time out of the water, I would like to see no more than 3 or 4 pictures taken then back in the water.

I use a Frabill Power Catch net, which doesnt harm the fish, keeps it in a pen and most importantly keeps it in the water. It removes no slime and wont split its fins. Some disagree that a net shouldnt be used at all, but for the safety of both the fish and the fishermen, I think a Big Game net is a must.

NEVER hold the fish vertically.

Let me know what you guys think,

Mike

[HuskieMuskie]

If you go to the Muskies Canada site "muskiescanada.ca" and look under "Articles", there are several there that discuss release techniques.

[joco]

http://muskiescanada.com/






joco .....be sher to have all tools close to you and the right one to.

very long noce..cuters to cut the hooks.gloves....and one off the best thing........big net..that way the fish stay in the water,,during your action to unhook him or cuting the hooks or to guive him time to recuperate.

not to take to mutch time to take pictures.just think not supose to be out off water more then you can have your head in the water.. ..but right..

if water is hot.......not to good for the fish....so dont take you time nring it to the boat unhook as fast as posibble and help him to recuperate.


hold him wit yout to arms or hand undet the fish.horizontaly NOT verticuly..could hurt is neck and kill him........and never never like people did before.by the eyes.... ....



tons off great info on this all over the net.



joco

[joco]

great link and great tip.clik on tip and release..


http://www.muskiesinc.org/default.asp?n ... r&NC=1890X

[slop]

I've never weighed a Muskie before. I have used the length x girth ÷ 800. Is this more accurate than vertically holding/ harming the fish for a weight on a scale?.....I'll let the elitest's weigh in and give their expert advice for all to see.
As far as pictures are concerned, the horizontal hold seems to be the most commonly practiced hold and is approved by the Muskie fraternity.

[master caster]

If you can remember the length and girth you can try a calculator such as:

http://www.fishdreams.com/calculator.all_species.html

http://www.myoan.net/fishing/weight_calc.html

I haven't tried these personally but maybe someone else can vouch for their accuracy????

but would be nice to know a quick and dirty measure so you can get a weight on the spot to brag about

[troutnmuskiehunter]

Proper Release of Muskellunge
THE PROPER HANDLING AND RELEASE OF MUSKELLUNGE
Prepared by the Niagara Musky Association Inc.

Necessary Tools:
· Net or Cradle
· Hook-outs
· Jaw spreaders
· Long nose pliers
· Side cutters for cutting hooks
· Extra hooks
· 60 inch measuring stick
· Flexible tape to measure girth
· Camera!
Landing Methods: Net or Cradle.

Net:
-The rim of the net should he at least 30 inches wide.
-The net should be rubber coated and at least 40 inches deep.
-Lead the fish into net head first.
-Always keep a netted fish in the water.
-DO NOT bring a netted musky into the boat. A large musky thrashing on the floor
of the boat can cause serious injuries to the fish and/or the angler.
-Remove the hooks

Cradle
- Requires two people.
-Lead the fish into cradle head first.
-Close the cradle around the musky and hold securely.
-Keep the fish and cradle in the water.
-Remove the hooks (paragraph III).
-If you want to weigh the musky, do so in a cradle, net, or weigh sack device which supports the frill length of the fish. Hanging a large fish by the jaw may cause injuries to the jaw, skeletal vertebrae, and internal organs and should be avoided.
-Length x girth x girth divided by 800 will give an accurate estimate of the musky’s weight without the stress of weighing it.

Unhooking
- Take a moment to observe the situation while the fish is in the water secured by the net or cradle.
-As long as the fish is in the water and allowed to breathe, it will be ok.
-if necessary, you can secure a small musky by holding it tightly behind its head, or by the tail, and a large musky by the gill plates (be careful not to damage its gills, and beware of the gill rakers).
-Remove hooks using long-nose pliers or hook-out device.
-If hooks do not remove easily, cut them with hook or bolt cutters. Hooks are plentiful and cheap, muskies are not. Remove hook remnants with
-If you don't have hook cutters, your hooks should be barbless. Hooks on store bought lures can be made barbless by either pinching the barbs in or filing them off.
-If the musky is deeply hooked, use jaw spreaders to keep mouth open to enable you to reach in to remove hooks.
-Always exercise extreme care in unhooking and handling any musky. A hook in the hand, leg or arm, or a hand tendon severed by a sharp tooth will not only ruin a day's fishing, but can cause serious physical injury.

Measure fish
-Cradles have built-in length measurement, otherwise use a sixty inch the stick.
-Lay stick next to fish while in it is in the water. Measure from the tip of lower jaw to the tip of tail.
-If you desire, you can use a plastic tape measure to measure the girth at the widest part of body.

Photograph fish.
-Photograph the fish while it is held in the water being resuscitated for release.
-If you want to hold the fish out of the water, cradle one arm under its belly while the other hand securely grips the gill cover. Always support the full length of a large fish.
-Do not lift or hold the musky vertically. Fisheries biologists believe that vertical lifts increase risk of injuring the jaw, skeletal vertebrae, and internal organs.
-Try not to keep the fish out of the water for more than thirty-seconds. The longer the musky is out of the water the greater the chances of delayed mortality. Good rule: don't keep fish out of water any longer than you can hold your breath.
-Photography can be tough on a muskellunge. Consider releasing most of your muskies without taking out of water pictures.
-Warm waters of summer are especially tough on angler caught muskellunge. Consider not removing the musky from the water during July and August.

Release Fish
-Hold the musky upright in water until it's able to swim away under its own power. You may have to support the belly of larger fish to keep them upright.

[wolfe]

When holding a larger fish for pictures, the back/stomach needs to be supported...

NEVER hold the fish vertically.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

Still amazed at how many people will continue to vertical hang big esox, I think because it makes a more dramatic photo.

W.

PS: don't slide your hand into the gill, past the gill plate. Gill rakers, like razors -- yeowww!! Plus it's detrimental to the fish, of course. Like someone handling your lung tissue.

[JimmyBuffett]

Like wolfe said refrain from holding large fish vertically.... even if you own Boga grips and think a 40" lunge is small.

[Bass Addict]

Well thanks for the info guys,

Thats the end of me holding pike verticaly, from now on.l

[troutnmuskiehunter]

Like wolfe said refrain from holding large fish vertically.... even if you own Boga grips and think a 40" lunge is small.

Nice new handle Rich...I mean Uver...

[JimmyBuffett]