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Posts: 2691
Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin | This year the muskies have been very active under the ice. I have caught them while icefishing for walleyes and while fishing for pike.
The question for all who are reading this is: What would you do if you have a muskie on the line while fishing for walleyes or pike?
I know of a thread that was posted that got out of hand when a picture was posted of the fish being released.
What would you do if you had a muskie on and up to the hole?
Some choices would be:
1)Cut the line asap-------leave the hook where it is.
2)Get the head of the fish out of the hole to see if you can remove the hook before the release.
3)Pull it out and take some pictures while unhooking it.
I use mono and a number 12 treble hook for my rigs, I know that this will be easy for the fish to eat around if it had to.
I also use small trebles for pike(no.10's)just because of the muskie population I have to fish around.
Never will I use a wire leader fishing for pike on my home lake. I would hate to see a no.8 or no.6 treble hook attached to a wire leader swallowed by a muskie. You can't get to a flag fast enough to take a chance.
What is some of the opinions you would like to share on: Muskies by accident.
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Location: Hayward WI | My choice would be #3, snap a pic while unhooking it. I feel, contrary to some that hooks left in a fish don't "dissolve" or rust out, and that it isn't going to do the fish any good swimming around with a hook in it. Choice 2 isn't really possible, muskies can't swim backwards down the hole so your going to have to take it out anyways. That being said, don't lay the fish on the ice/snow while you dig for the camera, be ready or forgo the pictures. |
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| After reading the "other" post, I'd no doubt apologize profusedly to the fish, then do a hand stand with my head in the hole in the ice until I drowned. At the very least I'd dump all my gear down the hole to prevent ever accidently catching another one outta season, then drive to the nearest 7-11 confessional(phone booth) and speed dial a priest---------- |
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Posts: 2691
Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin | erico, we caught 3 muskies last Sunday and I took pictures of a 37 that my brother was catching. The fish was out of the hole and returned as fast as he could turn it around. The hook was in its mouth so unhooking it was very easy.
We also caught 2 northerns (26.5 and 27.5-inchers) and 2 Walleyes (16.5 and 23-inch).
I am not going to stop icefishing because muskies live in the lake I fish. I do down size with all my hooks and line to keep the hurt factor down.
ps: The ice is only 12-inches and the longer muskies can pull back down the hole if left alone for a second or two.
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Posts: 5874
| You might find out tonight what I do!
While I do not target muskies during the closed season, it is inevitable that at some point, I am going to have one eat my bait. I'll get the fish in, remove the hook, and snap a few quick pics, especially of the release, and let her go.
Absolutely no problem doing it this way.
I think you're just trolling, or maybe you miss G Ame Idiot! LOL |
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Posts: 158
Location: Eagan, MN | I read the 'other' post as well. I believe the regulations in MN state the fish must be returned to the water immediately. Seems to me that implies it is ok to remove the fish from the water. You can't return it if it hasn't been removed in the first place. I've never caught a muskie through the ice, but have caught plenty of them out of season while fishing other species. What do I do differently? Nothing. Remove the hooks, take a picture if you want, send it on its way. |
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Posts: 3518
Location: north central wisconsin | I fish for pike all winter and practice catch and release on all of them(save for one or two up north each season to eat). I would do the same thing with a musky that I do with the big pike we plan to return. Catch the fish, grab it under the gill as you would in summer, hold it in the hole while unhooking as they always hold their mouths open when this is done, get camera ready, pull out, support belly weight, snap photo, turn fish around, put head first down the hole. Never takes me more than 30 seconds(unless really hooked bad) to unhook, photo and release this way. The worst thing for them is time out of the water and frozen gills(can happen quickly with the weather we've been dealt lately). It is also bad to allow any fish you want to release, to flop around on the ice and snow but we all know that is a no braner right? Good luck!!!! |
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Posts: 20281
Location: oswego, il | I would pretend it was somebody else's tip-up.
has anybody tried circle hooks on their tip-ups? |
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Posts: 3242
Location: Racine, Wi | I would first call the DNR and tell them that I was sorry, and that I wasn't targeting them directly. Then I would get a note from the head warden that gave me permision to remove it quickly from the hole as I unhooked the fish. I would then have my professional national geographic photographer that follows me around snap some action shots in the 3.2 seconds it took to get it back in the water so that mr. G. Ame Warden didn't harrass my 3rd wife. 
I know that everyone on the board knows the right thing to do, as everyone that has posted is pretty much right on the head. Now only if there was a species specific tip up, that would automatically pull away for fish that hit out of season. 
4 more weeks Mike!!!!!!! |
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Posts: 1936
Location: Eau Claire, WI | Mike,
It happens up here with some frequency as well..
Bring'em up through the hole, get the hook out and let them go. I don't find a need to take pictures but I guess that's up to the individual.
By all means try not to let them lay/flop on the ice, I know most wouldn't but I think it still bears mentioning.
On water that has various species of fish it is bound to happen from time to time. On a lake like Pewaukee that has probably one of the highest musky densities in the state it is bound to happen with some degree of regularity.
Good luck, have fun, be safe...:) |
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Posts: 2037
Location: lansing, il | after doing whatever it takes to safley release the fish, my partner and i have a pact that weve made...what it consist of is this, whoever is the one pulling the fish out has to stand at attention while the other person takes our northern gaff stands in front of the other and procedes to place gaff firmly between the others legs and pull up quickly and hard. then a few phone calls are made to other fellow musky hunters. while the guilty partner is then thrown into a nearby ditch or hole, and stoned when the other hunters arrive |
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| I just got off the phone with the WI DNR division of law enforcement (608-266-2141).
The fish MUST be released IMMEDIATLY according the the person I spoke with. If the hook cannot be removed IMMEDIATELY it should be cut. By taking pictures and not releasing the species IMMEDIATELY, you may be cited. When I asked about picture taking, she said, "No way would I want to be caught with a picture of a Musky out of season."
She also said that all means must be taken to release the fish without removal from the water.
So it looks like #1 and #2 are the best choice.
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Posts: 2037
Location: lansing, il | so by having the word "immediatly" thrown in there, we again have another law that is the descretion of the warden, depending upon how fast you can remove the hook or cut the line. or in his mind if you did it fast enough or not. i see no problem with a quick photo and release, which i do with 90% of my fish anyway while ice fishing.
***disclaimer*** this is all my personal opinion which nobody has to agree with..... how many names can one man go by before he relizes hes a phoney? |
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| I think Immediatly is pretty self explanitory. If a fish can be released while still in the water, it should be....not my opinion, it's that of the WIDNR. |
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Posts: 2691
Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin | I can catch one and have the hook out or line cut in about 30 seconds. That is enough time for a picture if you are fishing with someone.
Never will I let a fish hit the ice or take any longer than it should.
The DNR has way to many "its up to the warden" rules.
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| But 30 secs isnt Imediatly is it?
I dont understand....guys preech CPR this and "I wont hurt a fish" that, but they think it's ok to remove a Musky (out of season) from the water in WINTER and take pics???
The woman who I spoke with at the DNR said that picture taking may be a Possession issue, keeping an illegal species AFTER hook removal is a NO NO.
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Posts: 2037
Location: lansing, il | so then we have the question, is 30 seconds immediatly or is it not? i think 30 seconds is plenty good enough a turn around to get a fish back, but does a warden think that too???? also from a fish survival standpoint which is better, cut the line in the hole and let the fish digest the hook or remove the fish from the hole, get the hook out if you can and then release it? personally id rather see the fish come out of the hole, and have a shot at swimming away with no hook , rather than just cut the line
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| Step 1: Hook Removal (if in fact the fish needs to be taken out of the water then do so) Step 2: Release. There should be no step 3.
I agree with not just cutting the line, but if the fish was hooked that bad that I had to take it from the water to get the hooks out, its probally already stressed enough...why add to it by keeping it out longer?
I'm sure no Warden is going to have an issue with a guy having his pic taken while removing the hooks. I bet they would if you were standing around posing with it.
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Posts: 3518
Location: north central wisconsin | Good Question. Sorry, but if you spend any amount of time ice fishing, you too surely know it is better to release a fish of any species down the hole head first. In the time period of turning a fish around it is possible for a partner to snap a quick pic. We do it almost daily with nice pike. If that partner is not standing there ready, or the hook cannot be removed effectively without cutting, no pic should be taken. We have taken several muskies through the ice, but only have one picture, as it was the only one where we were both ready when it was caught. I too agree that immediately means immediately, but certain measures are taken to assure the safety and health of the fish, and that is what is important here for sure. |
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Posts: 5874
| Nobody is talking about standing around, posing with a fish. This is no different than that stupid discussion on position fishing with a sucker. I'll say it here again. It all depends on the warden you come in contact with. Some won't mention it, some won't think twice about issuing a citation. That said, there is no way I'm not going to try to remove a hook from a fish I intend to release. Pike, Muskie, Walleye, Sturgeon, Catfish, Trout, etc. And if somebody happens to have a camera ready, well, then I guess they might just take a picture of me. If I get a citation, I'll go to court, and I'll probably win. |
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Posts: 2037
Location: lansing, il | well put shep!!!! |
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Muskies caught by accident---now what do you do?