Well, after work today I figured it wouldn't be worth taking the boat anywhere so I went to a lake and brought an ice rod to go crappie fishing and a muskie pole to put the crappie on for bait. (I do this a lot) So I catch a crappie and put it on my muskie pole then my Ice rod is pulled into the lake and I lost it. (Probobly a bass, almost had that happen a few time)

And I'm using another guy's pole with a treble on it trying to find my ice pole. I notice my musky bobber is a couple inches under the water. The crappies do that a lot themselves, but I just had a weird feeling so I set the hook. Boom I'm on and in the biggest fight of my life. I think it literally lasted 5 minutes! I don't play the fish out either. It was crazy. Anyway It was a 45-46" fish and I got it to me and got my berkley lip grip on it. It feel off 3 times before I had it on and it stayed on, then i got the hook out and then it pulled away with the lip grip attached. (no picture) I'm a little worried about the fish. A 5 minute fight in warm water with a lip grip attached. Will it be easy for the fish to get the grip off? I feel pretty bad about that. Although I thought about how the pin comes loose when its just sitting and it came off 3 times on the fish. But I dont' know for sure, I"m still worried.

I've never had a fish die to hot water, but I've always had a chance to revive them good. But it was really thrashing so It should be ok

I have a good net, but dont' bring it with when I'm just fishing off a dock, plus its a pain in the butt to fight a fish and deploy the net.

Zach, congratulations on a really great fish! Even the pros make a blunder once in a while so move on to the next fish. Crimeny, anyone who knows you at all knows what a musky nut you are. It doesn't make you exempt from unexpected trouble even though I have a hunch you've played all kinds of scenarios in your mind trying to be prepared for the "unexpected". Just keep doing your best and as was said before, "Chalk it up for experience."

My advice... Lay about 10 rods and a big net in your boat and practice the "Al Lindner 2-step!" Doesn't it crack you up sometimes to see such a seasoned angler fumble around all the tackle laying in his boat? I wonder how many rods he's trashed.(lol) As I recall, the biggest pike he ever caught was on an outing when he forgot his net. Hmmmmm?  Surely not Al.......!