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Posts: 2515
Location: Waukesha & Land O Lakes, WI | Don't know if this one's been covered, but got to thinking about it over the weekend. Do you guys believe that a Musky has a better chance if we fish in pairs than one angler alone? What are your thoughts?
Edited by Gander Mt Guide 10/3/2005 10:44 AM
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| I fish alone a fair amount and have made the following observations:
1. Releasing a fish may take a little longer, as it's nice to have another set of hands to get tools, unwrap the net if a fish rolls up in it, hold the net and generally help manage the situation. That said, the fish is still in the water during the entire exercise so I'm not sure how much of a difference it really makes.
2. I don't set the timer on the camera for pictures of me holding the fish out of the water, rather I simply take a couple of shots holding it in the water during the release procedure. Less time out of the water is obviously a good thing for the fish. I do take the time to get pictures of me holding the fish when I've got someone in the boat with me.
In short, I think mortality issues have more to do with a person(s) experience in handling fish efficiently and effectively rather than the number of people in the boat....just my two cents. |
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| I would agree with the above post. It may take longer to get things done, but as long as the fish is in the water, it can breathe. The only problem I have run into is when a fish twists up in the net...they can get their head up higher as they do this, and out of the water.
One major thing I do is cut a bunch of hooks rather than try to work them free. Cutting gets it done faster, which means the fish is under less stress in the net overall.
If you fish alone, take the time to make a tether for your net. pretty easy job too and it makes it so you can let go of the net altogether and work on the fish with two hands, without risk of losing the net overboard.
Steve |
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Location: Des Moines IA | My net handle fits right in the Downeast rod holder. Easy way to 2 hand the fish while keeping the net in the water securely. |
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Posts: 172
| After netting the fish, I lay the handle across my boat seat and then lock down the seat. The fish remains in the water while I grab my tools. Works great. |
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Posts: 2427
Location: Ft. Wayne Indiana | If you fish by yourself, where is what I do.
Leave the camera at home... no inter "pressure" then to get a photo.
Put the pliers and bolt cutters by your feet.
When you land a fish, shake her off.
It's that simple |
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Location: Contrarian Island | I fish alone quite often and I take the camera and I can honestly say it takes at most 3 seconds longer to take the pic than it does with a person in the boat...The fish are in the net/water the whole time until I pick them up out of the net..measure if needed, hit button on self timer and one quick pose and back in she goes...7-10 seconds out of the water...
I have it down to a science and I don't think having another hand in the boat if you know how to properly handle/unhook the fish is any worse or better than one person in the boat to do it all...
Edited by MSKY HNR 10/3/2005 12:57 PM
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| A fish has a better chance of being landed AND surviving with two people in the boat. If you want documented evidence check out one of the other sites where a very successful fisherman:
1. Has a 50+ fish die because of equipment failure leading to prolonged stay in the net for the fish. If you would ask this person he would say he would have been able to release the fish faster with another set of hands.
2. Keeps another fish in the net for 10+ minutes due to an injury.
3. Gets drug around by a fish because he can’t safely land it without running his boat up on rocks in windy conditions. Ends up losing the fish.
Bottom line – fishing alone increases the odds of additional stress being placed on the fish. With that said, I’ll continue to fish alone when my fishing partner is not around. What choice do you really have? You do the best you can in those situations.
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Posts: 1243
Location: Musky Tackle Online, MN | As already stated, I think a lot of it depends on the individual as well as the conditions you're fishing in. I fish by myself a fair amount. When I'm by myself, the fish is out of the water LESS, as I'm not taking pictures. The only added stress that might happen occasionally is a slightly longer fight time since I won't be quite as aggressive netting the fish when I'm going at it with one arm. Windy conditions can also make it a little more difficult when fishing solo.
All in all, I can not say that any fish I've caught would have definitely been better off had I been fishing alone or with someone else.
Aaron |
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Posts: 4266
| I fish alone a lot, and I can say that I take the time and extra steps to be prepared to get the fish back in the water ASAP, just like I would if I had a partner.
Small fish that don't need to be netted get the needlenose Visegrip shake.
Fish that need to be netted, whether because of size or hook position, get the same treatment because I'm prepared.
I have the Knipex out, the jaw spreaders and more tools. As soon as a fish is netted, I start cutting every hook that I can see so I reduce the risk of injury, tangling and getting a hook embedded in me. Once all of the hooks are cut and the lure is out of the net, I take a measurement if I want to and then get the fish back in the water.
I've been fishing alone long enough to know what I need and where I need it. Before I make a cast, the hook removal tools are in place and the net is easily accessible.
One guy, two guys, three guys.....be prepared. I've seen 2 guys take longer than I do because one guy is trying to find the tools in a strange boat while the other guy is barking orders.
Be prepared.
Beav |
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Posts: 2037
Location: lansing, il | if im out alone before i even start casting i make sure everything is out and ready to go. set up kinda a work station where i plan to bring the fish in. i dont think it would make a differance except for maybe the picture which if im alone may take a extra 20 seconds, i usally have my camera sitting on a windshield mount where all i have to do is flip the cover open and hit timer while the fish is still in the net recovering. if i time it right the timer starts before i even lift the fish from the net. i do cut more hooks when im alone to speed things up as well. |
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Fishing Alone and Mortality