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Old 12-30-2014, 11:05 AM
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Default Muskies 101 - A quick guide for proper gear selection and fish handling

With everyone getting muskie fever lately, I feel obliged to give a little 101 on the necessity for proper gear selection and handling when targeting these awesome fish. The below information is just a top-line of a few of the concepts any angler should practice when hunting the fish of ten thousand casts.

For all of their size and strength, muskies are actually fragile fish that can be stressed fairly easily. Although it can be fun to fish with light tackle, muskie fishing should be the exception to that rule. To be able to land a musky of any size on light tackle, the fish will have to be played to exhaustion or close enough to it. In these cases, even if the angler takes the time to properly revive the fish and sees it swim off, there is a good chance it will die later. In warmer weather or if the fish sustains injury or is bleeding, delayed mortality increases even further. Unfortunately, muskies hooked and landed by anglers targeting other species using light tackle often fall into this category.

For this reason, it is critical to use heavy tackle in order to land your fish in the least amount of time reasonably possible and avoid putting undue stress on the fish. This means using heavy action rods and reels, strong line, and high quality snaps, swivels, leaders, and hooks. This also minimizes the chance of a muskie breaking off and swimming away with your favorite lure stuck in its mouth. Muskie fishing also involves large and heavy baits which also require the use of heavy tackle.

An example of an appropriate general purpose muskie set-up would be a 7 ½’ heavy, fast action rod rated for 3-8 ounce lures mated with a solid casting reel such as a Calcutta 400 with 60-80lb braided line and a 100-130lb fluoro leader with heavy duty hardware. Trust me… this is not overkill…

The other part of the equation in safely landing and releasing a muskie is having the proper net and release tools at the ready in addition to using proper handling technique.

Hand landing is not recommended… having a musky net large enough to properly hold, or “pen”, the fish is important. Scooping the fish from the water and letting it flop around on the floor of the boat is a recipe for disaster. You also want to have the proper tools such as long needle-nose pliers (for hook removal), jaw spreaders, and small compound bolt cutters, such as Knipex, for cutting hooks if deeply embedded or hooked near sensitive areas like the eyes, gills, or undersides. It is better to cut a hook than either injure the fish trying to remove a hook or keeping the fish out of water for an extended period of time. If hooks are cut, be sure to remove as many pieces as possible while trying to limit tissue damage.

Always remember to minimize "out of water" time. If possible, remove the hooks and take your measurements while the fish is still in the water in the net. Always revive the fish before letting it go. Sometimes it's almost instantaneous, and sometimes revival can take up to 20 minutes or more so be patient. Hold the fish by the tail section before the caudal fin with one hand, while using your other hand to gently balance the fish under its belly behind the pectoral fins. This gives the fish additional support. Gently roll the fish from side to side to ensure that the gill covers are moving softly. This helps force water through its gills and increase oxygen intake. When the fish is strong enough to wriggle away and stay upright, it's a candidate for successful release. If the fish is having problems maintaining its balance after release, the revival process should be continued. In the summer when water temperatures are in the high 70’s to low 80’s muskies are subject to high rates of mortality due to angling stress. In these situations avoid muskie angling if you possibly can or at least reduce "fight time" to the absolute minimum and do not remove the fish from the water.

Never lift a muskie vertically by its jaw. This has the potential of causing severe injury to the fish especially if it's a big one. When lifting a muskie for a photo or any other reason, always wet your hands first and lift the fish horizontally using your other hand to support it under its belly. Also, never ever hold any fish by its eye sockets as this definitely causes damage to the fish. A quick Google of “muskie handling technique” will provide some good articles and video examples.

I encourage anyone interested in pursuing muskie fishing to take a moment to speak to the representatives from the NJ chapter of Muskies Inc at the following events:

Garden State Outdoor Show in Edison – Jan 8-11th

Ramsey Outdoor cast N Blast in Succasunna – Feb 21st
(a presentation on muskie fishing is typically part of the event schedule)

World Fishing and Outdoor Expo in Suffern – mar 5-8th

Pequest hatchery Outdoor and Sportsman Show - Mar 28-29th

Thanks for reading and happy hunting…
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Old 12-30-2014, 11:38 AM
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Thumbs up Re: Muskies 101 - A quick guide for proper gear selection and fish handling

Great read. Thanx Jim!!!!!
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Old 12-30-2014, 01:05 PM
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Default Re: Muskies 101 - A quick guide for proper gear selection and fish handling

great post Jim, hope everyone reads it and respects these amazing fish like we do
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Old 12-30-2014, 08:00 PM
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Default Re: Muskies 101 - A quick guide for proper gear selection and fish handling

Thanks Jim! Can't wait to put that advice to good use!
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Old 12-30-2014, 09:11 PM
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Default Re: Muskies 101 - A quick guide for proper gear selection and fish handling

Very Informative Jim Heavy Tackle is a must as well as having the proper equipment once you catch one and careful handling to ensure a successful release......
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Old 12-31-2014, 09:01 AM
liveitup1.75liter liveitup1.75liter is offline
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Default Re: Muskies 101 - A quick guide for proper gear selection and fish handling

There's signs for evey stupid thing imaginable!!! I wish the state would put a Sign up at launch ares n such at are musky waters.. Especially trophy waters.. put up signs that are useful and would educate ppl.. All they really need to do is copy n print what u said..hah.. may the musky gods bless u!!
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Old 12-31-2014, 09:09 AM
liveitup1.75liter liveitup1.75liter is offline
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Default Re: Muskies 101 - A quick guide for proper gear selection and fish handling

And what do u ladies think about a leader required to fish in designed trophy waters.. this would really jus require bass fisherz to use a leader so they dnt get bit off.. maybe 1 or 2 less bass to save a 10+ yr old fish.. Im not one for lettin the man tell u how to live but id be up for leader requirement... I think???? What ya ladies think
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Old 12-31-2014, 09:31 AM
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Default Re: Muskies 101 - A quick guide for proper gear selection and fish handling

Quote:
Originally Posted by liveitup1.75liter View Post
And what do u ladies think about a leader required to fish in designed trophy waters.. this would really jus require bass fisherz to use a leader so they dnt get bit off.. maybe 1 or 2 less bass to save a 10+ yr old fish.. Im not one for lettin the man tell u how to live but id be up for leader requirement... I think???? What ya ladies think
I'd be interested in what the Musky guys have to share on this also.

Great thread btw!!!
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Old 12-31-2014, 10:11 AM
yumasdad yumasdad is offline
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Default Re: Muskies 101 - A quick guide for proper gear selection and fish handling

Good information for the novices. You had it all covered except for maybe using a pair of gloves when handling the fish-make sure that you wet the gloves first as to not disturb the slim layer protecting the fish. This goes for all species-never handle a fish with dry hands. The hook incision will heal but the slim is a fishes front line to protect them from bacteria when they are most vulnerable after a release.
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Old 12-31-2014, 10:42 AM
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Default Re: Muskies 101 - A quick guide for proper gear selection and fish handling

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...
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