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Posts: 34
Location: Iowa | Last week I spent a week up in Canada and we got into some big northerns. The biggest was 46" with a monster head. It swallowed the spinner all the way down to the back of the throat.
It was hard getting the lure out of the mouth with 9" needle nose and the jaw spreader didn't do a thing. The fish was out of the water too long and very hard to revive. We think we got her OK, but worry about long term survival.
What do you guys carry to release big fish? What are some do's and don'ts?
(I might use some of your comments and insight for a future article)
Edited by Reels 6/13/2006 7:57 AM
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Posts: 1769
Location: Algonquin, ILL | Probably the most important tool is a good set of hook cutters
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Posts: 501
Location: Norway | Hookcutters, Baker Hookout or similar.
When one are 2 persons on hold the fish in the gillplate and the other the upper lip, they usually keep their mouth open then.
Another problem is the warm waters now, the fish get exhausted, and the buildup of *acid kan kill the fish. What we do then is to always carry a very thin fishingline with us, tie it to a small hook, attach the hook on the fish, and lower the fish with the anchor to deeper water, which has more oxygen and cooler temps. You easily feels when the fish frees it self.
*never remember what the acid is called in english.
Michael |
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| I would start with the patience and time on the water to actually put one in the net! LOL |
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Posts: 1086
| Lactic acid.
Carry bigger jaw spreaders. Longer pliers too. At least one or two sets of 11" pliers would be necessary. You can get even longer ones if you'd like. 11" should do the trick just fine.
Bolt cutters are a must as well. |
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| a big net (frabill, beckman or stowmaster) with a big bag
keep the fish in the water, especially it's head when unhooking it. essentially important in warmer water.
knipex bolt cutters, jaw spreaders, 11" pliers, and even some type of glove.
wet your hands b4 handling.
you can also try the old slap on the butt to get them moving...sometimes they need a little kickstart (not hard mind u, just a lil tap with your hand). |
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Posts: 1916
Location: Greenfield, WI | You may consider having a bag of ice in a cooler that can be dumped into the livewell water over the fish. A great friend of mine, Darrel Mack (DH Buc on this website) has had very good success with releasing stressed warm water muskies, if they didn't respond to traditional methods.
Edited by Steve Van Lieshout 6/13/2006 1:39 PM
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Posts: 19
Location: North Central Iowa | Thanks for all the release tips. |
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Posts: 501
Location: Norway | MACK - 6/13/2006 8:26 AM
Lactic acid.
Thank you, written behind my ear, but now I dont remember the norwegian word for it either... 
Michael |
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Posts: 4266
| THE most overlooked hook removal tool is the biggest pair of needlenose Visegrips that you can get your hands on. Once that baby is clamped on a hook, it's not coming off until you want it to.
I also like to fill the live well and put some of that blue stuff that the Bassmasters use (can't remember the name) and let the fish setttle down in the well with the aerator running. Easier than hanging on to their tail and then losing your grip and chasing them around while they flounder on top.
Try going barbless. That makes deep hook removal much easier.
Beav
Edited by Beaver 6/14/2006 6:21 AM
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Posts: 381
| Reels
Like the other had mentioned, When you are targeting these first you should have a large PEN style net. This way you can work on the fish like he is in a live well in the lake.
You don’t want to bring the fish into the boat unless you absolutely have to.
I also would suggest a pair of knipex bolt cutters.
Simply fishing makes a very nice tool called the extractor. 11” long pliers and they sure have helped me save my hands.
What happened to the second week?
How bad was the walleye fishing?
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Posts: 1767
Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | I NEED to get longer pliers. I have been taking care of the fish very well, I wish I could say the same for me! My fingers have been gouged numerous occasions the past few summers.
..One thing I have noticed....While you want to release a fish as soon as possible, when you get those fish that fight by running at the boat right away, they do NOT behave in the net. Sometimes in my rush to get the fish back to the water it has cost me some blood ( kinda like last week).I definetely need these giant pliers that are being spoken about and I am also going to get a glove before I head to Canada next week and try something different
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What to have for releasing big fish?