|
|
Posts: 57
| What is everyone’s take on all the pictures of musky caught out of season. Usually by walleye fisherman in rivers. Not pointing to a specific fishery . But I see a ton of mishandling and just bad practices in general . How do you feel about it? |
|
| |
|
Posts: 112
| Not a fan at all. It's one thing if they're walleye anglers who aren't too familiar with muskies and best handling practices, or a younger angler who is just too excited or isn't aware of the season. Then I can cut them some slack.
But frankly I'm not a fan when it's a multispecies angler who I know is familiar with the season and fragility of muskies, and when they do it to boast on social media. I don't mean to sound negative or anything. But these folks know better, and are jepordizing an incidental catch out of season by keeping it out of water too long, measuring, and taking photos just to promote themselves on social media. In my opinion out of season muskies warrant an immediate, in-water release with no measurement/weighing/photos. And in some states (as well Canadian provinces), an 'immediate release' for out of season fish is legally interpreted as no photos, no weighing, no measuring. Others should follow suit.
Edited by joh10891 3/28/2022 8:33 PM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 20245
Location: oswego, il | It is what it is. You can't expect everyone to be educated and experienced in handling musky or have the tools, net ect to handle them. I don't have an issue with a picture a prize catch is just that. We don't live in a perfect world.
I belong to a bunch of local FB fishing pages to promote our M.I. events and accomplishments. If I had a dollar for every bass, pike ect laying in and covered with dirt or grass next to the person's shoe, I could retire early. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 8820
| Logic would tell the otherwise uneducated angler that a fish that "eats everything in the lake" could survive the apocalypse, and I suspect most don't even know what a muskie is or that there IS a closed season. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 57
| Here’s the thing with handling, in most states and provinces it’s illegal to remove the fish from water being that it’s a closed season. So I offer another question then, would you let a pencil pike flip and flop in the bottom of the boat for 65 seconds while you decide what to do with it? In the modern times we now live in it’s at once amazing and appalling that the common angler knows so little of fish handling or regulations. Like joh10891 mentioned, maybe it truly is to further one’s social standing to the masses , and if so we’ve entered into another show of disrespect of fisheries and all they provide. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 270
Location: Central Pennsylvania | Sucks to see. We have an open season for esox in Pennsylvania, however, musky (especially tigers) are constantly by-catch for bass and walleye guys and this usually ends in the fudds either conking em with a stick because "they eat all the walleyes", or them being thrown around and rolling in the mud. Although, We cannot fault the uneducated for being uneducated. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 32919
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | It's our job to respectfully educate. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 669
Location: Duluth | Tough to watch, but if you have the chance to witness in person you can usually educate/change a mind.
"Catch these often?" is usually a good way to start. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1527
Location: Brighton CO. | I got bitten with fishing bug in the early 70's thanks to a 3 pound Pike and a cane pole. The Pike got away! I was with my dad and my grandpa we were looking for Bluegills on a little river in the North woods of Wisconsin. My dad caught a 20 pound Muskie on this river in 1950. Yes this river has Muskie and Pike and if we caught one I'm sure we only had needle nose. No one carried hook cutters or jaw spreaders back then. There are lakes here in Colorado that have Tiger's or Northern along with Trout I'm sure any Trout fishermen hooks a Tiger or a Pike that lure is going to stay in that fish. (bite off, break off or afraid to take lure out of fish) I know people who hooked Tigers and just cut the line! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 4080
Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | unintentional catches happen... a lot.
It's the intentional target of any Fish or game that is out of season that pizzes me off.
Same as Poaching. |
|
| |
|
| I think most people will respond positively if you approach them respectfully as Steve suggests. And yes, folks fishing for panfish or walleyes are not going to have the kind of net or release tools that musky fishermen carry. Why would they? I have hook cutters and heavy pliers in the boat while pursuing panfish from but that is because I have a carrier that stays in the boat. When I fish for crappie from a kayak, needle nose and forceps. No hook cutter, no giant net. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 112
| True. Education very important. When I was young, way before I ever fished muskie, I definitely didn't have the best handling practices simply because I wasn't aware. So I don't have any heartburn over that type of stuff. Can't blame em. Being polite and respectfully engaging them to teach is important.
But I guess the part that bugs me is when ambassadors to the sport- like musky guides who also guide spring walleye or musky social media folks who also fish walleye will take out-of-season fish out of water, weight them, measure, and get a bunch of photos to promote their social media presence. I guess I just hold them to a higher standard, because like I said, I would hope that they'd be ambassadors to the sport and promote conservation.
And again, I don't mean to sound confrontational or call anyone out. But I've just seen it happen too many times, every single year. I just think out-of-season handling practices/ethics is something that should be talked about. We all know about stuff like high water temps, post-release mortality due to excessive handling, keeping fish in the water if it's bleeding and limiting handling, etc. But ethics of handling out-of-season fish must've somehow mostly flown under the radar.
Edited by joh10891 3/29/2022 1:33 PM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 793
Location: North Central IL USA | joh10891 - 3/28/2022 6:49 PM
In my opinion out of season muskies warrant an immediate, in-water release with no measurement/weighing/photos. .
THIS!! |
|
| |
|
| Before throwing stones about folks taking out of season musky photos, think about all the folks that take pictures of 48" fish on Green Bay and at Lake of the Woods. Those are not legal fish either. Both have a 54" limit.
I understand no one wants to see a rare resource abused, just pointing out that there a lot of fish which would not be legal to keep measured, photographed by musky fishermen as well. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 112
| I get what you're saying. But photographing a fish that isn’t legal to harvest is a very different story than photographing a fish that isn’t even legal to fish for |
|
| |
|
| joh10891 - 3/29/2022 2:52 PM
I get what you're saying. But photographing a fish that isn’t legal to harvest is a very different story than photographing a fish that isn’t even legal to fish for
To a degree, but if you are taking a fish you know is not legal out of the lake, measuring it and taking photos, is that any less risk to the fish? Season or no season, the trauma to the fish is the same, isn't it? Following the logic in some of the posts, those fishermen on Green Bay and Lake of the Woods should be water releasing all fish clearly under 54". There are fish such as sturgeon where that is required. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 195
| North of 8 - 3/29/2022 3:43 PM
Before throwing stones about folks taking out of season musky photos, think about all the folks that take pictures of 48" fish on Green Bay and at Lake of the Woods. Those are not legal fish either. Both have a 54" limit.
I understand no one wants to see a rare resource abused, just pointing out that there a lot of fish which would not be legal to keep measured, photographed by musky fishermen as well.
Why are you comparing an out of season fish with an out of slot fish? Two different things. So no, the guy taking a pic of an out of slot but IN season fish is ok in my books. The guy taking a pic of any OOS fish is not. |
|
| |
|
| BillM - 3/29/2022 4:10 PM
North of 8 - 3/29/2022 3:43 PM
Before throwing stones about folks taking out of season musky photos, think about all the folks that take pictures of 48" fish on Green Bay and at Lake of the Woods. Those are not legal fish either. Both have a 54" limit.
I understand no one wants to see a rare resource abused, just pointing out that there a lot of fish which would not be legal to keep measured, photographed by musky fishermen as well.
Why are you comparing an out of season fish with an out of slot fish? Two different things. So no, the guy taking a pic of an out of slot but IN season fish is ok in my books. The guy taking a pic of any OOS fish is not.
Why does one cause harm and the other not? That is my point. Both are fish you cannot legally take. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 195
| North of 8 - 3/29/2022 5:20 PM
BillM - 3/29/2022 4:10 PM
North of 8 - 3/29/2022 3:43 PM
Before throwing stones about folks taking out of season musky photos, think about all the folks that take pictures of 48" fish on Green Bay and at Lake of the Woods. Those are not legal fish either. Both have a 54" limit.
I understand no one wants to see a rare resource abused, just pointing out that there a lot of fish which would not be legal to keep measured, photographed by musky fishermen as well.
Why are you comparing an out of season fish with an out of slot fish? Two different things. So no, the guy taking a pic of an out of slot but IN season fish is ok in my books. The guy taking a pic of any OOS fish is not.
Why does one cause harm and the other not? That is my point. Both are fish you cannot legally take.
So you're not going to answer my question then? One is a legally angled and caught fish the other is not. I'm not too sure why you're trying to make the comparison between the two. Apples/oranges. |
|
| |
|
| BillM - 3/29/2022 4:30 PM
North of 8 - 3/29/2022 5:20 PM
BillM - 3/29/2022 4:10 PM
North of 8 - 3/29/2022 3:43 PM
Before throwing stones about folks taking out of season musky photos, think about all the folks that take pictures of 48" fish on Green Bay and at Lake of the Woods. Those are not legal fish either. Both have a 54" limit.
I understand no one wants to see a rare resource abused, just pointing out that there a lot of fish which would not be legal to keep measured, photographed by musky fishermen as well.
Why are you comparing an out of season fish with an out of slot fish? Two different things. So no, the guy taking a pic of an out of slot but IN season fish is ok in my books. The guy taking a pic of any OOS fish is not.
Why does one cause harm and the other not? That is my point. Both are fish you cannot legally take.
So you're not going to answer my question then? One is a legally angled and caught fish the other is not. I'm not too sure why you're trying to make the comparison between the two. Apples/oranges.
I did answer your question. The earlier posts were about the harm done to the fish. The assumption in those posts was that it was accidental catch, not deliberate catching of fish that are out of season. I certainly don't agree with deliberately targeting fish out of season. My post was with regard to harm done to fish.
I don't personally measure fish I judge to be under 40" nor do I take a picture unless someone asks me to. Those accidental catches are no more illegal than undersized fish. It is the possession that would be illegal. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 96
| joh10891 - 3/29/2022 1:07 PM
But I guess the part that bugs me is when ambassadors to the sport- like musky guides who also guide spring walleye or musky social media folks who also fish walleye will take out-of-season fish out of water, weight them, measure, and get a bunch of photos to promote their social media presence. I guess I just hold them to a higher standard, because like I said, I would hope that they'd be ambassadors to the sport and promote conservation.
This. I am still irritated by a NWO camp that did this last year and the picture then made the rounds through Musky Insider |
|
| |
|
Posts: 32919
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | ' One is a legally angled and caught fish the other is not. I'm not too sure why you're trying to make the comparison between the two. Apples/oranges.'
Unless the angler is specifically targeting muskies it's an incidental catch. If specifically targeting muskies in the closed season there's no debate, it's illegal to fish them and the angler should be reported to the warden.
Incidental out-of-season catch or short fish: A fish that MUST be released no matter what is out of the water getting photographed. The point that if a fish is undersized it should be water released is based upon the fact it's an illegal fish to harvest and a conservative approach should be taken and is not different from immediately water releasing any out-of-season fish. Apples/apples.
N WI has a C&R season for largemouth now and of course, pike after the general opener. I'll be fishing them with spinnerbaits and heavy bass gear. If I catch a musky doing that I'll release it in the water and get a picture of that. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 3907
| **** it. Let them take a pic and let it go.
If you guys are all hot on protecting the fish you can start walking the talk by quitting jerking big hooks in their faces. You can be sure a musky is 100% safe if you don't hook it in the first place. Pull a Shep; sell your boat and gear and buy a late 60's Camero SS.
Edited by Ranger 3/29/2022 5:52 PM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 57
| While I agree that education is the best way to curb mishandling, I tend not to fish the busy walleye rivers that also contain musky. We all know, or at least should have an idea, that some mortality from fishing certainly happens. But excessive and down right awful handling processes goes for all fish . With the influx of a large number of new fisher people nowadays the one thing the internet’s lacking is proper fish handling talk. Like the most simple one there is if you take a fish out of water hood your breath, once you struggle figure the fish is at the least doing the same. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 32919
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Ranger - 3/29/2022 5:50 PM
**** it. Let them take a pic and let it go.
If you guys are all hot on protecting the fish you can start walking the talk by quitting jerking big hooks in their faces. You can be sure a musky is 100% safe if you don't hook it in the first place. Pull a Shep; sell your boat and gear and buy a late 60's Camero SS.
No. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 112
| Not to derail the focus. But there's an interesting similar situation with bass fishing. With the popularity of swimbait fisherman for bass the past few years, I've seen a lot of instances of folks fishing 6"-10" hardbaits and soft plastics for bass in trophy muskie lakes before muskie season. Often times with no leader! Interestingly certain muskie leaders have caught on for bass swimbaiters who are concerned about their expensive baits bit off by pike/muskie. But for example I've seen folks using 10" soft plastics before muskie season on Mille Lacs, and "incidentally" landing a muskie, or breaking off that large bait due to no leader. Ha at that point they're targeting muskie moreso than bass, in my opinion. I swimbait fish for bass too, but never on lakes with muskies. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 3907
| sworrall - 3/29/2022 7:21 PM
Ranger - 3/29/2022 5:50 PM
**** it. Let them take a pic and let it go.
If you guys are all hot on protecting the fish you can start walking the talk by quitting jerking big hooks in their faces. You can be sure a musky is 100% safe if you don't hook it in the first place. Pull a Shep; sell your boat and gear and buy a late 60's Camero SS.
No.
Oh my, yes. All these guys preaching about ensuring the welfare of the fish, yet they hurt the fish every time they hook it and then drag it by its face back to the boat. I guess there are levels of respect I don't understand.
Edited by Ranger 3/29/2022 7:38 PM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 195
| North of 8 - 3/29/2022 5:43 PM
BillM - 3/29/2022 4:30 PM
North of 8 - 3/29/2022 5:20 PM
BillM - 3/29/2022 4:10 PM
North of 8 - 3/29/2022 3:43 PM
Before throwing stones about folks taking out of season musky photos, think about all the folks that take pictures of 48" fish on Green Bay and at Lake of the Woods. Those are not legal fish either. Both have a 54" limit.
I understand no one wants to see a rare resource abused, just pointing out that there a lot of fish which would not be legal to keep measured, photographed by musky fishermen as well.
Why are you comparing an out of season fish with an out of slot fish? Two different things. So no, the guy taking a pic of an out of slot but IN season fish is ok in my books. The guy taking a pic of any OOS fish is not.
Why does one cause harm and the other not? That is my point. Both are fish you cannot legally take.
So you're not going to answer my question then? One is a legally angled and caught fish the other is not. I'm not too sure why you're trying to make the comparison between the two. Apples/oranges.
I did answer your question. The earlier posts were about the harm done to the fish. The assumption in those posts was that it was accidental catch, not deliberate catching of fish that are out of season. I certainly don't agree with deliberately targeting fish out of season. My post was with regard to harm done to fish.
I don't personally measure fish I judge to be under 40" nor do I take a picture unless someone asks me to. Those accidental catches are no more illegal than undersized fish. It is the possession that would be illegal.
Fair enough, point taken. However it's not illegal to catch a fish out of the slot, it is illegal to catch a fish that's OOS whether that's an incidental catch or not. Now will a CO charge you for it? Doubtful.. Could he? Probably. Kinda like catching bass during pike opener, sometimes I need to move spots because the bass just won't stop.. I guess there's a grey area here that comes down to personal opinion opposed to hard facts. In Ontario I can angle for a muskie with a Conservation license that has a possession limit of 0, which means even if I meet the 54in min requirement (Depending on FMZ) that fish has to go back. So I guess the question is, what's the difference between catching a fish that's under the slot and a conservation license with a possession limit of 0? With your definition, it's illegal.
Ranger makes a good point, if we're that worried about the fish we wouldn't be burying giant trebles into their brains.
Edited by BillM 3/29/2022 8:22 PM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 1306
Location: E. Tenn | I've gone through the Wisconsin fishing regs, and although the word "possession" is mentioned frequently, there's no legaleze defining it..
Anybody?? and a link to said definition means a whole lot more than an opinion, or an interpretation thereof..
Thanks..
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 195
| Maybe possession means roped up on a stringer or in a livewell. Even up here you'll get different answers depending on what CO you're talking to. There was a CO who worked around southern Georgian Bay who was a hard ass. He's passed, I haven't met the new guy yet lol. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 32919
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | ' Fish not immediately released (i.e., prior to transport) are part of an angler's daily bag limit.'
https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Fishing/questions/possessionlimit.ht... |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1306
Location: E. Tenn | sworrall - 3/29/2022 10:50 PM
' Fish not immediately released (i.e., prior to transport ) are part of an angler's daily bag limit.'
https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Fishing/questions/possessionlimit.ht...
Understand, I'm playing the "devil's advocate" here, but what constitutes "immediate release"? These are things one sees so many times in the field, where offenders try to parse the rules/law to a subatomic level. I'm not up there during the closed season, but see similar sh..stuff going on.
Seriously thanks for the enlightenment..
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 498
Location: Northern Illinois | I talked to a CO near Eagle Lake Ontrario about the legality of fishing for pike before muskie season opens and whether a fisherman could be charged with fishing for muskie OOS even though he says he is targeting pike. The CO said that he had discretion to make the case. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 2305
Location: SE, WI. | I guess for me, I don’t tip up fish/ pike on lakes that have Muskie. What I don’t like is when these muskies are pulled through the ice, then they swim on the ice for a minute, then there’s a photo show that goes on for Minutes. Fins start to Freeze, and more importantly the eyes Membranes are effected. Not only that, but the amount of wire, and floro, that is left in the muskies mouth, because of swallowed bait. Every spring I seem to run into a ski that has leader, and hooks in their mouths. There have been many TV shows on weekends that have photo sessions of Muskies being iced. This is the wrong teachings, & it educates the public that it’s alright to do;( On sites this winter, many people complaining about walleye being undersized, and not catching legal fish. So, what they do, they take photos of their sub legal walleyes laying on the ice….laying there for who knows how long. Fins freezing, eyes freezing. Then they wonder why they don’t catch legal fish;( JD |
|
| |
|
Posts: 543
Location: NW WI | Maybe this is a dumb question, and yes I could certainly scour the web for this information I understand, but you guys prolly have more clear and trustworthy data I hope.
What's the purpose of a season on Musky? Aside from John Doe limiting the chances of 1 fish's ability to spawn to put on his wall.
Do they stress way easier in X cold temp range? Does stressing them in prespawn/spawn F-up their fertility %?
I'd seriously like to read some biological data if any has some. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 238
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota | 7.62xJay - 3/30/2022 12:18 AM
Maybe this is a dumb question, and yes I could certainly scour the web for this information I understand, but you guys prolly have more clear and trustworthy data I hope.
What's the purpose of a season on Musky? Aside from John Doe limiting the chances of 1 fish's ability to spawn to put on his wall.
Do they stress way easier in X cold temp range? Does stressing them in prespawn/spawn F-up their fertility %?
I'd seriously like to read some biological data if any has some.
Lately I have been wondering the same thing. I know that the fish are definitely weak during the spawn and immediately after. Part of me wonders why there is a season in a lot of our minnesota lakes that have 0 natural reproduction. Even with the season being closed these fish are consistently being caught after the general fishing opener by bass/walleye fisherman. The one I really don’t understand is why the musky season applies to the tiger musky fisheries here in the metro. A tiger musky can’t physically spawn so why does it need to be protected in the same time period a true musky does. From a conservative side I understand having a flat rule for all true musky lakes to allow them to recuperate from the spawn, but with as little natural reproduction that we have I wonder how much of a difference it actually makes
Edited by Ogandrews 3/30/2022 5:38 AM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 8820
| I've wondered that as well. I think they do spawn and that obviously takes a toll on them. Hybrids do not produce viable eggs, and with naturals the eggs do not reach maturity for various reasons. I say let them do their thing. If even a few have eggs that survive that's a good thing.
Edited by esoxaddict 3/30/2022 1:36 PM
|
|
| |
|
Location: SE/WI | I fish N/IL for them through the ice and pre-spawn as they don't have a closed season and try SE/WI if we get good early ice before December 31st when it closes, but still going to same lakes in WI for Pike and Walleye so basically imo there is no difference except that you can't keep them not that I would anyway. I iced one March 1st & one on the 2nd which were last days before ice out. 39.25"& 38.75". Fish are well cared for, bump board/tools and video rolling for screenshot afterwards when solo so the fish is out a very minimal amount of time.
Total of 8 with 2 iced, 6 landed and 3 lost at net for me open water in March the limited times I was out.
They grab eggs from Kinkaid yearly for stocking which Is pressured pretty well pre-spawn thru post-spawn so maybe they could compare it to other fishery's egg data but the fact that they are successful in hatching new stock from there tells you it probably doesn't matter all that much.
Edited by Musky-Slayer 3/30/2022 4:00 PM
(IMG_30032022_155049_(680_x_440_pixel).jpg)
(IMG_30032022_152201_(680_x_440_pixel).jpg)
Attachments
----------------
 IMG_30032022_155049_(680_x_440_pixel).jpg (157KB - 154 downloads)
IMG_30032022_152201_(680_x_440_pixel).jpg (149KB - 157 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 122
Location: Twin Cities Metro | The reason for the closed season is indeed to protect the fish from harassment during spawning. Note that fish do concentrate during the spawn, so there was/is a potential for exploitation during this time.
I will note that when people say things like “there is no natural reproduction”, they are unlikely to have data to support that. Yes, it SEEMS like natural reproduction is very limited, but we also don’t have many good population estimates for MN lakes, much less a meaningful genetic study of those populations to ascertain what percentage of the adult population is stocked fish.
One other little nugget on Hybrids: I read a scientific study (sorry, no citation!) that showed some hybrids CAN reproduce. How? They did a genetic study on some hybrids and found that some hybrids had mother that was a northern pike. All hybrids introduced into that lake were made with eggs from a muskie mother. So a hybrid male successfully bred with a female northern pike, it seems. And the sample wasn’t just one fish. Food for thought! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1369
| While unusual, it's not unheard of for several different species of hybrids, to occasionally, breed successfully, when they are typically considered sterile. |
|
| |
|
| TCESOX - 3/30/2022 9:06 PM
While unusual, it's not unheard of for several different species of hybrids, to occasionally, breed successfully, when they are typically considered sterile.
Interesting. I know several people have suggested that a fisheries biologist be a guest on one of Slamr's podcasts and this could be one of the questions for them. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 270
Location: Central Pennsylvania | I think I remember Larry Ramsell saying something about tigers being able to possibly back-cross with male purebreds. May have been on an old thread but I was hoping he'd have some pictures of one of these said back-crosses |
|
| |
|
Posts: 669
Location: Duluth | Season exists to limit angler contact. Hooks in the face aren't good for long term survival, muskie are a slow growing resource. Simple As |
|
| |
|
Posts: 2056
| Probably better to catch them around spawn when water is in the 50's vs catching them in July when water temps are 75+...if you are looking at long term survival |
|
| |
|
Posts: 112
| I guess there are levels of respect I don't understand.
Fair enough, it's a subjective thing. I won't claim I can even explain it well. But a perhaps helpful analogy- I think it's the same reason that folks who deer hunt wouldn't pose with an eight-pointer they accidentally hit with their truck. They didn't want it to happen in the first place, and posing with it and being proud seems out of place.
Edited by joh10891 3/31/2022 10:33 AM
|
|
| |
|
| joh10891 - 3/31/2022 10:32 AM
I guess there are levels of respect I don't understand.
Fair enough, it's a subjective thing. I won't claim I can even explain it well. But a perhaps helpful analogy- I think it's the same reason that folks who deer hunt wouldn't pose with an eight-pointer they accidentally hit with their truck. They didn't want it to happen in the first place, and posing with it and being proud seems out of place.
But folks that hunt deer do post photos of deer taken prior to the season, that is a better analogy. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 574
Location: WI | CincySkeez - 3/31/2022 9:43 AM
Season exists to limit angler contact. Hooks in the face aren't good for long term survival, muskie are a slow growing resource. Simple As
Who’s face? The muskies or the walleye anglers playing bumper boats below the dams. Would be interested to watch a musky angler navigate threw the crowds. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1527
Location: Brighton CO. | I think most muskies hooked before the season by Walleye fishermen are lost due to bite off or break off and have a jig or plain hook in them! I do know of a 45 pounder was caught in the late 70's on the general opener by Hayward on a minnow by Walleye fishermen. At that time there was no late opener and the fish was kept. At the same time I think this started the idea of going back to a late opening for Muskie. I think back in the 1930's and 40's there was a different opener for different fish and even what kind of bait. I think there was a time you could not use live crawdad till a certain date. I don't have all the facts but my late father told me some of this years ago. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 3907
| North of 8 - 3/31/2022 11:48 AM
joh10891 - 3/31/2022 10:32 AM
I guess there are levels of respect I don't understand.
Fair enough, it's a subjective thing. I won't claim I can even explain it well. But a perhaps helpful analogy- I think it's the same reason that folks who deer hunt wouldn't pose with an eight-pointer they accidentally hit with their truck. They didn't want it to happen in the first place, and posing with it and being proud seems out of place.
But folks that hunt deer do post photos of deer taken prior to the season, that is a better analogy.
Not better at all. That deer is dead and it wasn't accidently shot by a guy hunting squirrels. Only an idiot would post shots of a poached deer, but there are lots of idiots out there. My primary point is that a person who accidently hooks and lands a big fish is ok to take a pic before release. Tho they risk getting a ticket. My secondary point is that I got no patience with muskie guys who are militant about ensuring the welfare of the fish when they themselves are the biggest risk to that very welfare. Wanna be sure the fish is safe? Don't hook it in the first place.
I must be turning into a PETA anal unit. Somebody save me.
Edited by Ranger 4/1/2022 8:56 PM
|
|
| |
|
| Ranger - 4/1/2022 8:53 PM
North of 8 - 3/31/2022 11:48 AM
joh10891 - 3/31/2022 10:32 AM
I guess there are levels of respect I don't understand.
Fair enough, it's a subjective thing. I won't claim I can even explain it well. But a perhaps helpful analogy- I think it's the same reason that folks who deer hunt wouldn't pose with an eight-pointer they accidentally hit with their truck. They didn't want it to happen in the first place, and posing with it and being proud seems out of place.
But folks that hunt deer do post photos of deer taken prior to the season, that is a better analogy.
Not better at all. That deer is dead and it wasn't accidently shot by a guy hunting squirrels. Only an idiot would post shots of a poached deer, but there are lots of idiots out there. My primary point is that a person who accidently hooks and lands a big fish is ok to take a pic before release. Tho they risk getting a ticket. My secondary point is that I got no patience with muskie guys who are militant about ensuring the welfare of the fish when they themselves are the biggest risk to that very welfare. Wanna be sure the fish is safe? Don't hook it in the first place.
I must be turning into a PETA anal unit. Somebody save me.
No, the deer is not dead. Photos taken on trail cams. Very common. Deer are still very much alive. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 8820
| Let's be honest with ourselves and admit the only reason we care about the welfare of the fish is so we can catch them for our own entertainment shall we? |
|
| |
|
Posts: 669
Location: Duluth | Ranger and esoxaddict, I agree.
Seasons are needed because hooks are bad for the welfare of the fish. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 543
Location: NW WI | But that's just it though. Ranger is totally right. Which, given the 0 data I've found so far, forces me to conclude that a season is kinda dumb. So currently we have an open window for folks to catch them with improper gear and improperly handle them, Musky personalites/influencers trolling deep diving cranks for "Walleye", or pitching Medusas for "big pike". It's up to the Warden and later the court to decide if a heavy bass rod,medium baits, 50-65lb line with a leader is "Ilegal musky angling or legal bass angling".
So, your telling me that the only people that can't catch them, are those who want to do it in manner that is possible safer for the fish's health?
Here's some thoughts:
If you wanna possibly lower the amount of muskies killed,kept, and injured by those who don't know anybetter- Educational Signs at landings, just like that smallmouth organization has been doing.
Open up an early season, catch and release only,maybe as a separate tag, maybe even only valid on certain waters of the county.
|
|
| |
|
| 7.62xJay - 4/2/2022 10:30 AM
But that's just it though. Ranger is totally right. Which, given the 0 data I've found so far, forces me to conclude that a season is kinda dumb. So currently we have an open window for folks to catch them with improper gear and improperly handle them, Musky personalites/influencers trolling deep diving cranks for "Walleye", or pitching Medusas for "big pike". It's up to the Warden and later the court to decide if a heavy bass rod,medium baits, 50-65lb line with a leader is "Ilegal musky angling or legal bass angling".
So, your telling me that the only people that can't catch them, are those who want to do it in manner that is possible safer for the fish's health?
Here's some thoughts:
If you wanna possibly lower the amount of muskies killed,kept, and injured by those who don't know anybetter- Educational Signs at landings, just like that smallmouth organization has been doing.
Open up an early season, catch and release only,maybe as a separate tag, maybe even only valid on certain waters of the county.
I had the opportunity a few days ago to ask a Wis. warden about this. He said that it is difficult to make the charge stick if they go to court with an attorney. In his territory, there is an area below a dam that is open to catch and release bass fishing right now, but, there are also big walleyes staging to spawn in the same area. He believes some of the guys are deliberately targeting the walleye, which are off limits but since they can argue the bait they are using is bass bait, almost impossible to make a charge stick in court. Obviously if someone keeps a walleye that is a different story. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 8820
| I talked to a warden about this once. What he basically said was "I can tell you from across the lake what you are fishing for. Muskie rods, muskie lures, big net, okay... You can try to convince me you were fishing for something else, but how do you explain doing figure 8's after every cast?? |
|
| |
|
| esoxaddict - 4/2/2022 10:41 AM
I talked to a warden about this once. What he basically said was "I can tell you from across the lake what you are fishing for. Muskie rods, muskie lures, big net, okay... You can try to convince me you were fishing for something else, but how do you explain doing figure 8's after every cast??
Sure and some guys will just pay the ticket. I had asked the warden the specific question about if the ticket is contested in court. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 32919
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Look at Kentucky, Ohio, etc.
If there's NR, protect the fish through the spawn. If not they are literally there for us to CPR for as many years as they survive from stocking to death. The shorter the season, the fewer are caught, and the lower the mortality. Reasonable conservation, absolutely, if we want trophy opportunity.
So why do we want trophy opportunities? To take pictures and show off the accomplishment. To enjoy the sport and the journey through it. I'll resist with everything I have anyone trying to screw that up no matter what the motivation. Catching the #*^@ed things is the whole idea. So we should do what we do by implementing the best conservation practices so others can catch and release the fish we caught and released and we can grow and improve the sport. The new term for hunting and fishing for some is 'blood sports'. Some folks don't like.
It's a sport fish. Take out the 'sport', and it's just a fish.
As to 'breaking the law', we all are good at figuring out where the penalties begin and push it right to the edge. Speed limits reduce human deaths (proven) and they are widely ignored. Everyone knows how much they can push any regulation or law, and human nature makes sure we will. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1527
Location: Brighton CO. | Years ago a fairly famous now deceased Muskie fishermen got in fist fight at the Minnesota fishing expo over the practice of fishing in western Wisconsin with small suckers after the general opener but before Muskie opener. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 543
Location: NW WI | sworrall - 4/2/2022 10:49 AM
Look at Kentucky, Ohio, etc.
If there's NR, protect the fish through the spawn. If not they are literally there for us to CPR for as many years as they survive from stocking to death. The shorter the season, the fewer are caught, and the lower the mortality. Reasonable conservation, absolutely, if we want trophy opportunity.
So why do we want trophy opportunities? To take pictures and show off the accomplishment. To enjoy the sport and the journey through it. I'll resist with everything I have anyone trying to screw that up no matter what the motivation. Catching the #*^@ed things is the whole idea. So we should do what we do by implementing the best conservation practices so others can catch and release the fish we caught and released and we can grow and improve the sport. The new term for hunting and fishing for some is 'blood sports'. Some folks don't like.
It's a sport fish. Take out the 'sport', and it's just a fish.
As to 'breaking the law', we all are good at figuring out where the penalties begin and push it right to the edge. Speed limits reduce human deaths (proven) and they are widely ignored. Everyone knows how much they can push any regulation or law, and human nature makes sure we will.
See I understand this point, simplified it's- Less time to hook one=less death of the fish. Quite simple formula yes. I'm not against this conservation practice.
I'm just struggling to understand why it's perfectly okay for what you could call "intentional accidental angling" which may have a higher mortality rate vs "proper angling" I suppose. Than you couple that with the fact that it's legal to angle muskies in water temperatures that have been shown to have a higher mortality rate on the fish annnd idk guys, I guess I'm just scratching my head on this one.
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 8820
| Ideally, for the sake of the fish, it would be good to have a law stating that it's illegal to fish for muskies when the water gets too warm. I think we'll have to police ourselves on that one because there's no way to monitor or enforce that on a lake to lake hour to hour basis. Closed season is easy. Do you what day it is? |
|
| |
|
Posts: 3907
| I didn't understand that North of 8 was talking about trail cam pics. Thought he was talking about pics of poached deer. Sorry 'bout that, 8. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 498
Location: Northern Illinois | 7.62xJay - 4/2/2022 11:52 AM
sworrall - 4/2/2022 10:49 AM
Look at Kentucky, Ohio, etc.
If there's NR, protect the fish through the spawn. If not they are literally there for us to CPR for as many years as they survive from stocking to death. The shorter the season, the fewer are caught, and the lower the mortality. Reasonable conservation, absolutely, if we want trophy opportunity.
So why do we want trophy opportunities? To take pictures and show off the accomplishment. To enjoy the sport and the journey through it. I'll resist with everything I have anyone trying to screw that up no matter what the motivation. Catching the #*^@ed things is the whole idea. So we should do what we do by implementing the best conservation practices so others can catch and release the fish we caught and released and we can grow and improve the sport. The new term for hunting and fishing for some is 'blood sports'. Some folks don't like.
It's a sport fish. Take out the 'sport', and it's just a fish.
As to 'breaking the law', we all are good at figuring out where the penalties begin and push it right to the edge. Speed limits reduce human deaths (proven) and they are widely ignored. Everyone knows how much they can push any regulation or law, and human nature makes sure we will.
See I understand this point, simplified it's- Less time to hook one=less death of the fish. Quite simple formula yes. I'm not against this conservation practice.
I'm just struggling to understand why it's perfectly okay for what you could call "intentional accidental angling" which may have a higher mortality rate vs "proper angling" I suppose. Than you couple that with the fact that it's legal to angle muskies in water temperatures that have been shown to have a higher mortality rate on the fish annnd idk guys, I guess I'm just scratching my head on this one.
I think that the premise of "intentional accidental angling" being ok is not true. I would say most people are not ok with it just as a way to get around the law. It's just hard to enforce. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 333
Location: SE Wisc | RLSea - 4/2/2022 11:21 PM
7.62xJay - 4/2/2022 11:52 AM
sworrall - 4/2/2022 10:49 AM
Look at Kentucky, Ohio, etc.
If there's NR, protect the fish through the spawn. If not they are literally there for us to CPR for as many years as they survive from stocking to death. The shorter the season, the fewer are caught, and the lower the mortality. Reasonable conservation, absolutely, if we want trophy opportunity.
So why do we want trophy opportunities? To take pictures and show off the accomplishment. To enjoy the sport and the journey through it. I'll resist with everything I have anyone trying to screw that up no matter what the motivation. Catching the #*^@ed things is the whole idea. So we should do what we do by implementing the best conservation practices so others can catch and release the fish we caught and released and we can grow and improve the sport. The new term for hunting and fishing for some is 'blood sports'. Some folks don't like.
It's a sport fish. Take out the 'sport', and it's just a fish.
As to 'breaking the law', we all are good at figuring out where the penalties begin and push it right to the edge. Speed limits reduce human deaths (proven) and they are widely ignored. Everyone knows how much they can push any regulation or law, and human nature makes sure we will.
See I understand this point, simplified it's- Less time to hook one=less death of the fish. Quite simple formula yes. I'm not against this conservation practice.
I'm just struggling to understand why it's perfectly okay for what you could call "intentional accidental angling" which may have a higher mortality rate vs "proper angling" I suppose. Than you couple that with the fact that it's legal to angle muskies in water temperatures that have been shown to have a higher mortality rate on the fish annnd idk guys, I guess I'm just scratching my head on this one.
I think that the premise of "intentional accidental angling" being ok is not true. I would say most people are not ok with it just as a way to get around the law. It's just hard to enforce.
I believe he was being sarcastic.
We live in an imperfect world, and that means making laws and having guidelines that will benefit most people/things/fish, most of the time. It’s never perfect nor can it be , and someone will always complain but that’s ok! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 122
Location: Twin Cities Metro | For me, if the fish at least go through the motions of spawning, I leave them alone. I don't want to spook them off natural spawning habitat, nor do I want to disturb that habitat at the exact time they are trying to use it. I don't care if there has been an assessment that natural reproduction is ineffective. The various D'sNR are typically trying to improve spawning habitat even when natural reproduction isn't contributing much to the population. If we want natural reproduction, we should encourage that.
MN has a closed season until the first Saturday in June. It makes me wince when I start seeing MI Lunge Log entries starting in May coming out of MN lakes. Presumably these folks were pike fishing with those muskie twitch baits they reported as their bait. *sigh* Pretty audacious to put them in the log when the rules indicate the entry has to be a legal catch. If people really are all fired up to see muskies before the season starts, they should try volunteering with the DNR to help them do their population assessments. While such assessments may disturb the fish as much or more than angling, they serve a legitimate scientific purpose related to the fishery and its management.
Edited by RobertK 4/5/2022 9:18 AM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 543
Location: NW WI | RobertK - 4/5/2022 8:53 AM
For me, if the fish at least go through the motions of spawning, I leave them alone. I don't want to spook them off natural spawning habitat, nor do I want to disturb that habitat at the exact time they are trying to use it. I don't care if there has been an assessment that natural reproduction is ineffective. The various D'sNR are typically trying to improve spawning habitat even when natural reproduction isn't contributing much to the population. If we want natural reproduction, we should encourage that.
MN has a closed season until the first Saturday in June. It makes me wince when I start seeing MI Lunge Log entries starting in May coming out of MN lakes. Presumably these folks were pike fishing with those muskie twitch baits they reported as their bait. *sigh* Pretty audacious to put them in the log when the rules indicate the entry has to be a legal catch. If people really are all fired up to see muskies before the season starts, they should try volunteering with the DNR to help them do their population assessments. While such assessments may disturb the fish as much or more than angling, they serve a legitimate scientific purpose related to the fishery and its management.
See that's the type of behavior I'm talking about.
My opinions stem from biased concern that will have to be explained.
When I was young I was introduced to duck hunting. Now, here in N Wisconsin you have 1-3 weekends of comfortable weather to hunt in. After that, when the temperatures drop, its nothing but the hardcores out freezing for a few birds. When I was younger and even now I thought it was so cool to bump into fellow hunters at 4-5am in freezing temperatures and have quick, friendly, professional conversations with them. Basic stuff, introduce yourself,shake hands, discuss where eachother is hunting for safetys sake, any other tips and advice etc. Sometimes, if it was a 1 spot waterway, we'd hunt together with total strangers as if they were your own friends. All these guys were +35 years of age, with exception father&son combos. Very recently duck stamp sales have been rapidly increasing, and its showing its face. Within the last few years I've seen way more "teens to twenties" out waterfowling, if I had to guess I'd say about 70% increase from what I've personally seen. They're easily identified by the hunting brand stickers and decals plastered on their trucks, mudmotor boats covered in lights, aggressive and wreckless boat driving, either they don't want to talk at all or their standoffish and rude, waaaaaaay over aggressive calling technique, frequent sky blasting (slang for shooting out of practical lethal range), little to no effort exerted to retrieve a crippled or lost bird. Also, in alot of early goose season field hunting parties Ive been on, less than half want to take their birds home, myself and others end up risking being overbagged so that the meat doesn't go to waste.(Jeez I sound like a grumpy old man, I assure you I'm not).
The few theories I can come up with for this recent uptick in young waterfowlers is: 1-waterfowling vs bow hunting, waterfowling stimulates short attention span.
2-Its popular to post, you see your friends all camoed and painted up with a spread from a successful hunt and you wanna join in.
3-Media, Whether it's Duck Dynasty or any of the loads of popular youtubers, exposure and entertainment level is waaaaaaay higher than its ever been. Therefore people will be influenced to try it.
You also see a similar morale decent(my opinion)in bow hunting. What used to be a special season for traditionalists with an appreciation for the difficulty of the pursuit has now been turned onto its head and has become about "farming techniques",baits,attractants, pop ups and box blinds,and Crossbows that make the most modern compound seem obsolete.
Back to Musky Talk.
With those sports the goal is to kill your game, so really nothing I whined about is relevant right?
But okay now take those attitudes, the influences, the lack of education, and lack of respect and carry it over to Musky Angling.
When I was at the Wausau Show this year it seemed to me that the most popular booth was Chaos with Brian Hoffes of YouTubes Angling Anarchy. Watching and listening in on some of the conversations he was having with fans was pretty darn funny, I'd imagine that was a cringey taste of what Comic-con or a StarWars convention would be like. Thats a bit of evidence for the following statements.
I'm scared gentlemen. If you don't think that people are out there targeting out of season with lighter equipment to be "legal" in order to get views or to cure their itch? Sorry, your dead wrong.
Like some of you said, "there's always someone bending the rules". I'm scared someone's is going to become alot of "darn near everyones".
So what do we do? Policing ourselves only works for the responsible for which laws don't need to be written for.
Do you specify regs in a manner that makes fining easier?
Do you open game fishing later with your musky opener? All water or just some?
Do you go with the safe heroin site route and open up musky on certain less desirable waters with regular opener to allow em to get their fix?
Do you force an educational program to get a fishing license?
I don't have the answer, all just 1a.m. thoughts.
Call me paranoid, but please keep a vigilant eye as time and trends move. For what I do know is that cementing your feet into "what is" because it worked for "what was" is good way to miss the buss headed to "what's next". Us humans have a tendency of screwing up nature because we waited too long.
And EssoxAddict: yeah, I sort of did, half of June,most of July,most of August. I spent most of last year exploring new muskyless water.
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 514
| 7.62xJay - 4/6/2022 1:46 AM
Back to Musky Talk.
With those sports the goal is to kill your game, so really nothing I whined about is relevant right?
But okay now take those attitudes, the influences, the lack of education, and lack of respect and carry it over to Musky Angling.
When I was at the Wausau Show this year it seemed to me that the most popular booth was Chaos with Brian Hoffes of YouTubes Angling Anarchy. Watching and listening in on some of the conversations he was having with fans was pretty darn funny, I'd imagine that was a cringey taste of what Comic-con or a StarWars convention would be like. Thats a bit of evidence for the following statements.
I'm scared gentlemen. If you don't think that people are out there targeting out of season with lighter equipment to be "legal" in order to get views or to cure their itch? Sorry, your dead wrong.
Like some of you said, "there's always someone bending the rules". I'm scared someone's is going to become alot of "darn near everyones".
So what do we do? Policing ourselves only works for the responsible for which laws don't need to be written for.
Do you specify regs in a manner that makes fining easier?
Do you open game fishing later with your musky opener? All water or just some?
Do you go with the safe heroin site route and open up musky on certain less desirable waters with regular opener to allow em to get their fix?
Do you force an educational program to get a fishing license?
I don't have the answer, all just 1a.m. thoughts.
Call me paranoid, but please keep a vigilant eye as time and trends move. For what I do know is that cementing your feet into "what is" because it worked for "what was" is good way to miss the buss headed to "what's next". Us humans have a tendency of screwing up nature because we waited too long.
Interesting take Jay, good food for thought.
One thing to add - should new regs be developed a tightening of existing regs be put in place be prepared for a boatload of folks peeing and moaning about how their rights/liberties/freedoms are being infringed upon.
I don't know when it began, but there seems to be a mindset that a lot of people don't care what's best for the resource if interferes with their feelings (or instagram posts). Go figure. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 20245
Location: oswego, il | RF_Musky - 4/6/2022 7:21 AM
7.62xJay - 4/6/2022 1:46 AM
Back to Musky Talk.
With those sports the goal is to kill your game, so really nothing I whined about is relevant right?
But okay now take those attitudes, the influences, the lack of education, and lack of respect and carry it over to Musky Angling.
When I was at the Wausau Show this year it seemed to me that the most popular booth was Chaos with Brian Hoffes of YouTubes Angling Anarchy. Watching and listening in on some of the conversations he was having with fans was pretty darn funny, I'd imagine that was a cringey taste of what Comic-con or a StarWars convention would be like. Thats a bit of evidence for the following statements.
I'm scared gentlemen. If you don't think that people are out there targeting out of season with lighter equipment to be "legal" in order to get views or to cure their itch? Sorry, your dead wrong.
Like some of you said, "there's always someone bending the rules". I'm scared someone's is going to become alot of "darn near everyones".
So what do we do? Policing ourselves only works for the responsible for which laws don't need to be written for.
Do you specify regs in a manner that makes fining easier?
Do you open game fishing later with your musky opener? All water or just some?
Do you go with the safe heroin site route and open up musky on certain less desirable waters with regular opener to allow em to get their fix?
Do you force an educational program to get a fishing license?
I don't have the answer, all just 1a.m. thoughts.
Call me paranoid, but please keep a vigilant eye as time and trends move. For what I do know is that cementing your feet into "what is" because it worked for "what was" is good way to miss the buss headed to "what's next". Us humans have a tendency of screwing up nature because we waited too long.
Interesting take Jay, good food for thought.
One thing to add - should new regs be developed a tightening of existing regs be put in place be prepared for a boatload of folks peeing and moaning about how their rights/liberties/freedoms are being infringed upon.
I don't know when it began, but there seems to be a mindset that a lot of people don't care what's best for the resource if interferes with their feelings (or instagram posts ). Go figure.
The instant validation social media gives a person. Post a pic get some likes. If you point out fish mishandling even in the most respectful way you will get pummeled. It's quite common to see a fish laying on the ground next to a person's foot covered in dirt or grass or a toothy critter held in a cringing manner of as stated above. I made this meme as a joke.
Edited by ToddM 4/6/2022 8:31 AM
(2019-05-20-09-47-18_1647458775714_1649251728257.jpg)
Attachments
----------------
2019-05-20-09-47-18_1647458775714_1649251728257.jpg (189KB - 174 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 574
Location: WI | 7.62xJay - 4/6/2022 1:46 AM
Do you specify regs in a manner that makes fining easier?
Do you open game fishing later with your musky opener? All water or just some?
Do you go with the safe heroin site route and open up musky on certain less desirable waters with regular opener to allow em to get their fix?
Do you force an educational program to get a fishing license?
I don't have the answer, all just 1a.m. thoughts.
These seem like great ideas to get non musky anglers who are indifferent to musky fisheries to support those who are against them. Education and self policing are the answer. If the musky community wants their muskies to be protected during the spawn, incidental catches and targeting out of season are going to happen. If you want more regulations that complicate things for those who don’t fish for muskies you aren’t going to have a whole lot of support when you want stocking programs expanded or even maintained. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 123
| my opinion does not matter whatsoever. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 543
Location: NW WI | curdmudgeon - 4/6/2022 10:12 AM
my opinion does not matter whatsoever.
Sure it does, all opinions matter, even if they conflict someone else's. Let's hear it. Remember, important discussions can't be had without conflict, and that's okay. Any given post I might make a fool of myself, but if people come in and explain why it was foolish, than I can at least reflect on what I said and possibly see things their way.
Take Raftmans response for example:
He's totally right, wasn't something I had considered.
Yet, some food for thought is that there's multiple styles of public land refuge programs for
the management of single or multiple species.
Also, some water systems go on lockdown for sturgeon spawn. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1264
Location: Walker, MN | Here on the Rainy River we have a catch and release sturgeon season, a short season where you can harvest one with a tag, and a 6-week late-May and June closed season. If you catch one when you are walleye fishing in June, it's common practice to take a quick picture...pretty sure that it's perfectly legal.
The problem is, the definition of a "quick muskie pic" varies drastically. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 32919
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | 'I'm scared gentlemen. If you don't think that people are out there targeting out of season with lighter equipment to be "legal" in order to get views or to cure their itch? Sorry, your dead wrong.
Like some of you said, "there's always someone bending the rules". I'm scared someone's is going to become alot of "darn near everyones".
So what do we do? Policing ourselves only works for the responsible for which laws don't need to be written for.
Do you specify regs in a manner that makes fining easier?
Do you open game fishing later with your musky opener? All water or just some?
Do you go with the safe heroin site route and open up musky on certain less desirable waters with regular opener to allow em to get their fix?
Do you force an educational program to get a fishing license?
I don't have the answer, all just 1a.m. thoughts.
Call me paranoid, but please keep a vigilant eye as time and trends move. For what I do know is that cementing your feet into "what is" because it worked for "what was" is good way to miss the buss headed to "what's next". Us humans have a tendency of screwing up nature because we waited too long.'
Some folks will bend the law and some will break it, but nothing even close to what was the wholesale slaughter that used to be will ever happen again. Muskies Inc has seen to that instilling a culture of CPR that is quite strong, even outside of the membership. I see more pressure to conserve the resource on social than the opposite, do something untoward and suffer the wrath, and I guarantee I spend more time there perhaps than all the rest of the folks here combined.
Our sport is in far more danger from a few of those who do not fish muskies at all than from all that do. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 20245
Location: oswego, il | Definitely a wrath for wrongdoing on musky related social media sites but not general ones. Constructive criticism comes with the same wrath as a poorly handled or kept musky would on a musky page. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 669
Location: Duluth | Musky fishing is like pornography, you know it when you see it.
I have no qualms about reporting someone, but as we know its hard for CO's to be in multiple places at once. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 8820
| sworrall - 4/6/2022 9:45 PM
[...]
Our sport is in far more danger from a few of those who do not fish muskies at all than from all that do.
Yes. WHY?
Here's how I see it:
1. Those very folks who are anti-muskie are misinformed. They don't know that muskies typically eat the stuff you don't want in the lake anyway. They don't know that WE are the ones eating all the walleyes/crappies/whatever. They don't know that muskies don't eat dogs and children. Many of then don't want to know, and there's not much we can do about them. But the others? Those are people who like fishing. We like fishing. That's a greater bond than what we fish for.
2. Did you ever wonder if those folks don't want muskies in their lakes because they don't want muskie fisherman on their lakes? And maybe it has something to do with our attitude towards them and their preferred (non esox) quarry? All other fish are bait...
I don't worry about out of season anglers nearly as much as I worry about the one who kills every muskie he catches, partly because the guys who fish for them are a-holes, and Joe at the bar tells the same story after a few too many about how he can't limit out as easily as he once did because the muskies are eating him out his Friday night fish fry. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 3518
Location: north central wisconsin | IAJustin - 3/31/2022 10:00 AM
Probably better to catch them around spawn when water is in the 50's vs catching them in July when water temps are 75+...if you are looking at long term survival
Exactly. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 3518
Location: north central wisconsin | 7.62xJay - 4/6/2022 1:46 AM
Call me paranoid, but please keep a vigilant eye as time and trends move. For what I do know is that cementing your feet into "what is" because it worked for "what was" is good way to miss the buss headed to "what's next". Us humans have a tendency of screwing up nature because we waited too long.
Watching what has become a complete clinic on disrespect to fish/resource, and other humans with regards to the spring walleye bite on several of my favorite, once pristine rivers, you couldn't be more right. That some of this behavior has been complete cause/effect based on recent tv/internet shows highlighting specific areas once void of fishermen(some of this void based on safety, which has been cast aside for sake of stardom and mug shot with limit of egg laden females), it will only continue. The fact that most folks have bigger faster safer and comfortable means of travel to and from sporting, is both blessing and curse. I'd suspect your duck marsh would've erupted in calls to Art Bell in 1979 had a fully LED/mud motor rigged Havoc exploded from the cattails onto the rowboat scene. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 32919
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Muskie season on the CC Spring online Q this year. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 20245
Location: oswego, il | I've seen on FB the darkhouse spearers would love to open up northern Wisconsin to their kill mentality. Who knows that might be a voting item in the future.
Edited by ToddM 4/13/2022 7:20 PM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 8820
| Extending the season later into the fall certainly would allow muskies to be taken through the ice. And last time I checked you can't successfully release a fish once you put a spear through it.
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 8820
| There are a lot of good questions in the survey. If you haven't taken it already, I'd suggest you do so. Don't know if it helps much, but it sure can't hurt. |
|
| |
