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...

[ScowardNJ]

haha, I was more interested in what you guys thought are the best leader materials for muskie fishing. I got hooked up with a sweet Musky whoopin stick this year that has been on my side the last few trips. I cast it here and there but don't really have a clue about the business end of the set up. Sorry but I'm not tying on 130# fluoro leaders for jigging walleyes on my smaller set ups.

[UglyStick]

Originally Posted by ScowardNJ

haha, I was more interested in what you guys thought are the best leader materials for muskie fishing. I got hooked up with a sweet Musky whoopin stick this year that has been on my side the last few trips. I cast it here and there but don't really have a clue about the business end of the set up. Sorry but I'm not tying on 130# fluoro leaders for jigging walleyes on my smaller set ups.

Oh... that leader question... lol... sent you a pm with some info

[jimmythegreek]

I think the state should make musky of ANY size catch and release only, for at least 5 years and give the trophy waters a chance to catch up to fishing pressure. I also think the same thing for walleye fishing in NJ, its good right now, but with all the money we spend on fees to the state and the tax bundled into every piece of outdoor gear the novice fisherman should be able to hit a stocked lake and at LEAST get one fish. We do have reproduction in this state of quite a few gamefish that supposedly dont reproduce, many of us have seen this firsthand. If we got all the bucketeers throwing everything back for 5 years things would be phenominal in this state.........Ill never forget 2 thanksgivings ago when I saw 2 foreigners gaff a musky on LH on thanksgiving morning telling me that its good eating.......an undersized fish no less that they paid for dearly later on thanks to a call from park police at lees to a F+G officer

[Capt. Lou]

Good info on C &"R as well , can really be applied t a variety o FW fish ! I always try to release any size trout in water , never touch , hemo to get out hook and free.
Also try to accomplish release in quiret water so they can get some strength back & be able to swim away w/o help . I had big ones hang by my boots foe several minutes before swimming back to safety!

[liveitup1.75liter]

not a leader requirement on all musky stocked waters but but trophy lakes I think absolutely!!! Its a trophy lake for a certain species n that shout trump all.. n no kill makes sence to me