Muskies 101 - A quick guide for proper gear selection and fish handling

[UglyStick]

Thanks for the positive feedback guys... I would love to see this posted at the launch of every waterbody stocked with Muskie but I'm afraid it may be a bit much to ask. This season though, you will see new "Know the Difference" muskie signs going up around the state.

As for the leader requirement, I've been at enough NJ F&W forums over the years to realize that all decisions and especially code changes are a delicate balancing act between the different public sector interest groups. Even though I actively participate in the promotion and protection of a high quality muskie fishery here in the great state of NJ, my personal opinion is that such a requirement may not be fair to all of the anglers out there. Is it fair that a fisherman should have to use a steel leader when fishing for trout or jigging through the ice for perch in muskie stocked waters? Probably not... I can go on but I think everyone gets my point. But imagine if every angler out there knew and practiced proper fish handling technique regardless of species? Although legal protection of any resource is necessary, conservation based education is the best tool we realistically have available. That's why this education based philosophy is central to most of the conservation based fishing clubs. Just my 2 cents...