|
|
Posts: 572
| Recently I saw a muskie swimming with its head out of the water. When I took a closer look, I saw its mouth wide open. It did this for about a couple of minutes before going back under. I stayed around the area for a few minutes wondering if the muskie might come back up again......I guess I was wondering if the muskie was in some kind of trouble or sick. When it disappear under the water it looked like it was healthy.
So, what makes a muskie swim with its head out of the water with its mouth wide open? |
|
| |
|
Posts: 147
Location: Northern New Jersey | i made eye contact with one that was skating on the surface once.....i felt my heart stop and time go backwards. all could figure was they are lookin for ducks to eat. |
|
| |
|
Location: Green Bay, WI | Lots of theories behind this behavior. Have a look here:
http://muskie.outdoorsfirst.com/board/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=65...
TB |
|
| |
|
Posts: 536
Location: deephaven mn | they do it becasue they can, why do some people stick their heads out the window
when driving down the road? |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1126
Location: Minnesota. |
I've witnessed this behavior a number of times too, in a few different lakes. The fish have their heads so far out of the water at that 45 deg angle their gill-plates cleared the surface. And they swim a few yards to a hundred or more, as another poster mentioned. Cool sight to see.
Two seasons ago on Vermilion, calm day, we saw one dam_ed determined, large fish chase another fish (a meal!) down on the top for a few blazingly fast runs of 6-8 yds apiece.
If that doen't get you crankin'...
Jeremy. |
|
| |
|
Location: Green Bay, WI | Well, there goes my theory of Air Surface Respiration...LOL. And given that their vision is best-suited for underwater, it isn't likely that they're doing the "muskellunge periscope" imitation.
So they must be gulping air--either that, or the things are just plain nuts.
TB |
|
| |
|
Posts: 269
Location: Oregon, WI | Topwaters |
|
| |
|
Posts: 8723
| "hey, see that guy over there fishing? Watch this!" |
|
| |
|
Posts: 956
Location: Home of the 2016 World Series Champion Cubs | Of the several times Ive seen this, I have yet to get one of them to even come and sniff a lure let alone take a bite. Any of you guys get any action after seeing this? |
|
| |
|
Posts: 180
Location: Elgin, IL | I haven't seen a Muskie doin' it but have seen Northerns swimming with it's head out as well. Always did wonder why, interesting. I figured it was their way of being curious as to what's out there. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 759
Location: Ames, Iowa | Been discussed here many times in the past. Seen it a lot on Leech- mostly at dusk. They don't appear to be the least bit interested in any baits at that time. Suggestions range from the fish are trying to rid themselves of parasites to they are trying to digest their prey. I go for the Far Side explanation- "hey, watch what those guys up there do when I do this!" |
|
| |
|
Posts: 540
Location: MN | KARLOUTDOORS - 5/6/2012 3:04 PM
Of the several times Ive seen this, I have yet to get one of them to even come and sniff a lure let alone take a bite. Any of you guys get any action after seeing this?
Two years ago I saw one swimming with its head above the water so I threw my pounder a few feet away from it then it went under water. I made two rips and it absolutely crushed my bait that fish turned out to be a chunky 48"er. Now whenever I see them doing the periscope thing I make a cast to them. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 147
Location: Northern New Jersey | oh yeah they will hit.....they will hit for sure. missed my first musky this way. had it boatside and it banged on the motor and came unbuttoned =( rookie mistake! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 203
Location: Alexandria, Minnesota | I have heard that they have just feed and they are trying to get whatever they ate down their throats.....Think of the times that you come to a spot and you see mulitple fish porpusing around you, Most of those times you have arrived to the spot too late and the most of the fish in the area have already feed... |
|
| |
|
| i caught 2 one evening last fall and have caught 1/2 dozen or so in that last 5 years after seeing them swimming with their head out, all on dawgs, its pretty tough to get them to hit, i feel like you need to cast close enough to them with a large enough splash to get their attention but not so close that it spooks them. i hit right beside one once and watched him tailwalk about 30 yards away from my lure |
|
| |
|
Posts: 2361
| Guest - 5/8/2012 2:33 PM
i caught 2 one evening last fall and have caught 1/2 dozen or so in that last 5 years after seeing them swimming with their head out, all on dawgs, its pretty tough to get them to hit, i feel like you need to cast close enough to them with a large enough splash to get their attention but not so close that it spooks them. i hit right beside one once and watched him tailwalk about 30 yards away from my lure
Unbelievable. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 20181
Location: oswego, il | These are male muskies that refuse to ask for directions. If the water is really clear you can often see a big angry female jist below him. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1449
Location: Kronenwetter, WI | ToddM - 5/8/2012 6:40 PM
These are male muskies that refuse to ask for directions. If the water is really clear you can often see a big angry female jist below him.
Thas' funny stuff right there. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1220
| Every time something like this comes up, I remember the time there was this certain musky in the big tank at the Guides Choice Pro Shop in Eagle River. The musky would rise to the top, stick his head up out of the water, and then the guy who worked there would pet the fish on top of the head. So, it's possible that when you see this on the water, you have encountered a fish who is "looking for some love!" Maybe sort of like Rodney King saying, "Can't we just all get along?" Another possibility, that I would give a bit more credence to is that the fish is the appointed "look out fish." He counts the boats, identifies the baits, and then transmits the intel to the the rest of the pack so that they don't get caught. |
|
| |
|
| They are gulping air for their air bladder in order to suspend like they like to do sometimes.
cheers. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1120
Location: West Chester, OH | Had a follow that began to gradually fade laterally away from the bait, while raising its head higher until it was swimming w/head completely out of the water.
Sort of had the feeling that it might be blind on one side & was trying to keep track of the bait. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 8723
| Remember that wack-a-mole game?? |
|
| |
