47" muskie Sunday evening

[Hare's Ear]

Went out Sunday evening with my buddy. We were fishing the American side between 9 mile and the 400 Club in 15 FOW. We had three rips without a fish to the boat. Then all heck broke loose. A 47" muskie slammed a white belly perch off the planner board (1 and 35). We knew it was a big fish because she stayed down and faught hard. When my friend finally got her to the boat we saw that she was a pig. She almost broke my net she was so heavy. That's the good news. The bad news, we forgot the camera so no pictures. The worse news, we spent 45 minutes trying to revive her but she didn't make it. We tried everything. We would hold her in the water with the boat running dead slow and she would swim off only to float to the surface 20 yards off. We circled over and netted her again - same thing. I was so focused on trying to revive the fish I cut of my planner board lines when my circles got too tight! We did that 4 or 5 times. The last thing we tried was running a line through her lower jaw so that we could drag her behind the boat. I didn't have a Boga gripper. I have since bought one. Nothing worked. Anyone have any great tips on reviving a big pig muskie that faught their hearts out? I have seen these portable lives wells, but I don't have the space on my boat for one big enough.

[PencilPlugger]

I've seen guys go into the water so that they can get the fish into cooler water by diving down with the fish.
At least you gave it your best. I haven't been out for ski's yet this season...how are the floating weeds in that area?

[billya]

Try the musky plung. After dragging the fish thru the water to get fresh oxygen to it then pick them up out of the water and plung them in head first. This will shock them into swimming off. It has worked for me but at least a last try.

[Will Schultz]

Some things to consider...

When fighting the fish did you stop the boat to land it? Extended fight times in warm water increases mortality.

Also, out of the water time is critical when the water gets warm (75+). If at all possible the fish should not be brought out of the water after it's netted. The slime removal and stress on a fish when it's no longer in a weightless environment increases mortality. Unhook in the water and if you need a photo have everything ready so the fish is only out for a few seconds, not minutes.

When releasing them, the best thing for them is to stop the boat and hold their tail keeping them upright. It may take them a while but they'll finally get their strength back and swim away on their own. I would never reccomend plunging a fish. This may cause it to swim a little but if it was having trouble in the first place it will likely belly up again. When the water gets warm out there (80+) the best thing to do is stop fishing until it cools back into the mid-70's.

[Hare's Ear]

Guys-

I tried the muskie plunge after several attempts of holding her tail. She kept turning her head before she got very deep. The one time I got her to dive deep she floated back up 15 yards away. That was when I chopped off the second planner board line turning too close to try and save her.

I called a buddy who is a MOMC member on my cell phone. He suggested going for a swim and taking her down deep. I had visions of taking the fish down deep, reviving her and then have her turn on me! We decided to pass on the swim approach.

[lost leader]

Heavy lines, I use 40 and 50 pound test lines, to shorten the time it takes to bring them to the boat. Although the hook removal is a little tricky with a violent fish, I cut hooks often, all the while they are in the water. Usually the minute they get free they swim off fast. I have only brought one in the boat in the last three seasons and spent twenty minutes waiting for her to revive, as she swam away I figured leaving them in the water was better for the fish.

[Krull]

Sounds like you did all you could so do not sweat it. Unfortunately that is the nature of fishing. I bet we would all be surprised how many properly released fish do in fact perish. It is impossible to imagine the stress that is put on the fish, from the viloent hook set to an all out battle against a much larger predator (man) and against the currents. Obviously any handling of fish, especially musky or pike, does damage to the fish. That said, I would not hesitate to get a picture of a nice fish then release it. Perhaps you will get to the point where a picture isn't necessary (I am not quite there). I agree 100% with the post regarding the line. Use the heaviest line you can given your equipment. No need to play the fish. The sport in Musky fishing (IMO) is in the hunt, not the catch or the fight. They will give what they can but with 50 LB and the right rod reel combo you should bring them in in well under 5 minutes and get them revived and back into the water.

[HoytKimberShimano]

Definitely do not sweat it. You did everything that you could. That warm water can be a real pain for trying to revive fish, no doubt about it. I've yet to lose a muskie, but have lost several smallmouth. :(

I must say that I'm not really sold on the "plunge". I've yet to see a fish really take off and recover from it and we usually end up circling back. We ALWAYS go to neutral to fight a fish and bring all the lines in, which is usually pretty easy for us because many times we will only have two rods in Canada. Then I'll usually hold the fish by the tail and push her through the water to revive her, idling in gear if need be, but usually just subtle strokes in the water is all that is needed. I've spent 30 minutes getting a fish to swim, so it can take time and they almost always just sit on the surface for a few minutes. Just make sure that they're staying upright. We'll hover close by until we see that first good kick and the fish begin to swim. We've yet to lose a fish this way, and they all swim away under their own power on their own terms which makes me feel relatively confident that it was a successful release.

We do use a regular landing net and get a picture of almost every fish just because they're relative few and far between for us. I'd love to use a cradle, but the amount of freeboard on the boat makes it impossible.

Anyway, don't sweat it. The fish may have been weak or unhealthy too. Very nice fish by the way!

[milmo1]

"A" for your effort. Some will die no matter what you do. I often feel guilty when i choose to keep a big walleye or trout, but fish will die. This musky could have been destined for the "die off" we've heard so much about. Just do your best, and don't lose any sleep.

[Hoosier Daddy]

Cheers to the effort and great fish. All part of the game. Great advice from others on how to give a fish the best shot you can. Thats what makes this site great.

[allucaneat]

Don't beat yourself up 2 bad, you did what you could. I dont think I would have been to keen on taking a dip and a dive w/a fish that BIG!:yikes:

[gunrod]

I read an article some where recently where scientist are experimenting with putting a small needle into the fish and letting air from the air bladder. Apparently it can fill up when you bring fish up from deep and they have trouble expelling it. The air bladder will heal itself right away no permanent damage to the fish.

If I find that article I'll try to post it.

[kbkrause]

I read an article some where recently where scientist are experimenting with putting a small needle into the fish and letting air from the air bladder. Apparently it can fill up when you bring fish up from deep and they have trouble expelling it. The air bladder will heal itself right away no permanent damage to the fish.

If I find that article I'll try to post it.

Here's one... http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/MNR/pubs/Fizzing.pdf

[gunrod]

Thanks, that's it. Matter of fact I believe it was another thread on here that mentioned and lead me to the article. Seems like a last resort method but maybe one that could have helped in this situation.

I applaud the effort to revive the fish and maybe more study on how to safely return fish could be done by scientist. I know there is a threat of lactic acid poisoning too if the fish is fought too hard and removed from the water too long, especially in cold water fish.

[toothycritter]

you can alwasy burp a musky by running your nuckles under its belly with a little pressure. this works extremly well in reviving the fish expecially with the water gettign warmer. many times a fish must be burped multiple times but it saves them to fight another day. the fish will actually make a little noise to let you know that it has been burped.:fish:

[Hare's Ear]

I wouldn't think that air bladders and burping would be an issue. LSC is so shallow. These aren't lake trout that are coming up from 100 feet down. Anyway- I will keep it in mind if I have a problem again.

I was muskie fishing with a buddy who has a Boga Grip with a 15 foot line attached. He grips the fish and ties the gripper to a cleat and drags the fish slow behind his boat. He towes them for awhile, checks em and if they are revived he releases the gripper without even touching the fish. Pretty slick. I bought a lip gripper.

I also bought some heavier rods with more backbone. I think this will shorten the fight.
I guess I am a true american. If I have a problem, I throw money at it.

[mkroulik]

In my experience, when it's an air bladder problem it's obvious. Their Air bladder is coming out of the gullet. That's about the only time I can see that puncturing it would have any affect. And that happens a lot to perch in the bay when fishing 45 to 50 ft. You real them up so fast that their air bladder does not have time to adjust to the pressure change, and expands. I could be wrong, but that's how I understood it.

Mike

[jake2112]

Hey guys. My first post. Been lurking on this site for a while. Read Hare's Ears' story and decided to share what happened to us on Sunday during the MOMC. We were off the Red Barn in about 17 - 18 ft and hooked into a nice 52 incher (2 and 50 off the inside board rod). Fish took another 25-30 ft of line. We had him about 50 ft from the boat when our out rod starts singing. We landed the smaller fish (36-38") first along with a successful release. Then landed the 52, long fish but skinny, 27 lbs. The fight took a little longer than should have and the revival even longer. Upon holding with a Boca for quite some time,it seemed he was ready to swim. Upon release, swam for about 20-30 yards then belly-up. We circled back around and the crew member who released him upset at what he did. Went swimming. He went in right after this fish and swam with it for 20-25 minutes. I've heard of this but never actually seen it. It was something else! Another nice fish lives to fight another fight thanks to people like those on this site.

[Will Schultz]

I wouldn't think that air bladders and burping would be an issue. LSC is so shallow. These aren't lake trout that are coming up from 100 feet down. Anyway- I will keep it in mind if I have a problem again.


Actually, the way a muskie is built they are more likely than most fish to have a bladder issue. It's got nothing to do with bringing them up from a greater depth. What generally happens is that a fish when being fought will have air forced into it's bladder. Due to stress, the fish can't burp as it normally would and goes belly up. This seems to be much more common trolling and quite common when dragging fish if the boat isn't stopped during the fight.

Particularly with the added stress on these fish of Picisrikettsia and VHS it should be our #1 concern to do the best we can with each and every fish.