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Posts: 1168
| With many heading out for the spring walleye run already how many of you take muskie release tools with you?
Last year before the season opened I was out on the WI river, had my muskie net in the boat, hook cutters, linesman pliers, etc. I didn't even have a rod in my boat as I was out scouting different areas. A couple of guys hooked a mid 40's class fish and didn't have the means to get that thing landed so I motored over and netted it for them and helped them send her on her way. They had never handled a fish like this before. We sat there and chatted for a few minutes and I left but was stopped by another boat who chastized me for having a big net in my boat and accused me of targeting muskies out of season eventhough I didn't have any rods along.
I'm not looking for validation of having that stuff in my boat to handle such a fish because I'd rather have the ability to release a fish properly than risking killing one but am wondering if anyone else does the same. Just some food for thought since incidental muskies of good size are a fairly common occurrance during the walleye run. |
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Posts: 2691
Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin | I will give you a ATTA BOY for looking out for the muskies in that area.
I always offer help in any way to people who look like they need it. Icefishing is one area where muskies will be taken out of the water and worked on with bad results. Most people will try to pull the hooks out because they have wire leaders. Some hooks can be cut and then twisted some to cut the other parts to free up the treble in the throat. I know I have saved plenty of large muskies in the past years that would have died for sure.
Any help is better that no help.
Incidental catches are going to happen, learning how to handle a muskie from a muskie fishermen is priceless. |
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Posts: 3240
Location: Racine, Wi | I think you are doing the right thing as well. You know you are walleye fishing, but you are also helping show how to properly handle fish that are caught out of season.
Don't worry about the nay sayers, and continue to educate in the safe handling of those fish. (you can always say you are fishing only for biiiiiiig eyes with the musky net.  |
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Posts: 16632
Location: The desert | Way to go Bob! I would tell the guys that complain to you that they know exactly where they can stick it!
Mike |
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Posts: 5874
| I always have my release tools in the boat. Would like to have used them a couple times last year, but I figured after seeing the fish dropped about 6 times in the bottom of the boat, and held up for minutes on end for all to see, it would have been wasted efforts. When the one guy asked me whay I thought of the 46" muskie he was holding up, I said, "I think think you just killed that fish".
Keep taking your net, and release tools. You're doing the right thing. If anyone biotches at you, just tell them 832. |
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Posts: 2015
| Good subject. Last year I was able to fish the entire month of June on LOTW. Smallmouth fishing occupied my time between taking groups of walleye fisherman out. I never carried my Big Frabill for the fear "people" would think I was targeting muskies - In hindsight I should have - I caught many muskies targeting smallmouth -though I never even took the fish out of the water - there were several that I remember thinking ..."if I only had a net I could get her back sooner"... fish are hard to hand land on 10lb line .....and even though the water was cold I felt like they often had to fight longer than I would have liked.....I think it is a good idea to bring ALL release tools in the boat when there is any chance of an incidental catch....Would be interesting to hear a game wardens opinion? Would he say you were targeting muskies if you have a big Kahuna in the boat out of season? |
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Posts: 4266
| I saw pictures last year that a guy was showing off of muskies that he caught below a WI River dam. He was "fishing for walleyes" with magnum Husky Jerks and in 2 weekends he and his friend managed to catch 8 muskies. I saw pictures of a 46,48 and a bigger one. They only had a walleye net and "beached" the muskies.
There is one area that I wish the DNR would step up their patrols. Seems that guys are using some rather large minnow lures while fishing below the dams from shore targetting walleyes.
Beav |
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Posts: 1270
Location: Stevens Point, Wi. | Actually Beav.,those large minnow baits are great walleye baits. We need better education of the general fishing public as to a quick release of ALL out of season fish. Better enforcement would be great too, but with budgetary constraints, that's a whole new story. Best we can hope for is the cold temps. aid in the survival. |
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Spring Walleyes...incidental muskies