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Posts: 284
| I am not getting up on a soapbox and bashing anyone with this topic. I am just trying to see what the thought on this is ....
Here in Illinois we have no closed muskie season, which I am sure everyone knows. Because there is no closed season there are people that are going out and targeting muskies through the ice.
The people that I know who are doing it are using small treble hooks rather than Quick Strike rigs. From what I have heard bite-offs and break-offs are common.
Any thoughts on this topic fellas (and ladies) ?
Is this hurting our sport or is the impact so minimal that in this day and age of CPR and proper handling techniques we should just look the other way ?? |
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Posts: 32930
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | If the equipment is correct, bite offs and breakoffs won't be at all common. Think about it now, lures have THREE trebles. If the angler is on the rig as soon as the flag pops, the fish won't be in for anymore potential harm than when it easts a bucktail.
Care does need to be taken not to freeze the fish's gills, though. I'd not target muskies when it's truly bitter on the ice. |
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Posts: 2089
| A tip I've heard from some here that target Muskies through the ice is to cut a "livewell" next to the hole.The purpose is that the fish goes DIRECTLY from the hole to the bigger hole which is filled with water.Eyes and gills are very suceptible(sp) to freezing.Please, if you do target muskies through the ice, be prepared and bring a chain saw. Steve |
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Posts: 185
Location: Pound, WI | Now, that's something I've never seen, but makes sense....a livewell in the ice.
Brian |
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| There is something to consider as to to the use if an ice livewell... There is a major temp difference from 10 ft down to capturing these creatures in an impoundment that is considerably colder... Sure no freezups but ????????Why not give'em a break from 24 hours a day all summer long angling pressure.... just go catch some pan fish with the kids and have a great winter..enjoy a fish dinner and giggle about it...Don't break the toy Waynr Klemz |
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Posts: 2089
| Wayne, long time no see. I like your idea best. Steve |
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Posts: 16632
Location: The desert | Wayne are you saying that the water 10 ft down is colder than the surface temps? If so that is not true. The water temps are relatively consistent throughout the water column and the warmer water is actually lower in the water column. Perhaps you meant that the water is considerably warmer 10 ft. down. Not criticizing just wondering. |
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| The water is warmer in deeper than ice.. than the water surrounded with ice!... take a temp probe and find out a few things... Helps us all in proper handling of these creatures...Also Hi Steve!..Wayne Klemz don't break the toy! |
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Posts: 16632
Location: The desert | Trust me I know that water is warmer below the ice and the further you go down. No need to tell me to take a probe out there. Just curious as to the way your first statement was phrased. I was confused. |
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Posts: 32930
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | We are talking a maximum of about 7 water temp degrees here, not a big deal. The air temp at zero in a wind...that would be a big deal. |
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Posts: 16632
Location: The desert | Right on Steve. The water is a bit warmer deeper down but nothing that is drastically going to affect the fish. Even in a livewell made into the ice. |
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Posts: 185
Location: Pound, WI | How much warmer? I would think that it is not a severe difference. Not like pulling a fish from 40' down to the surface in August.
Brian
Oops, I stopped for a while to adjust a few people and the thread passed me by. Sorry!
Edited by ostdc 2/15/2007 3:15 PM
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Posts: 3518
Location: north central wisconsin | We fish for big pike all winter long, very careful, and have a great track record pertaining to CPR. I have photos upon photos of pike we've caught, photographed and released, and caught again days weeks and in some cases years later. Now, I would rather not target them in the bitter cold, and will hold the fish in the hole under water until the camera is ready even on nice days(I never let them flop on the ice if I plan to release them). If things are done quickly and intelligently, it is no more harmful than catching them in the heat of summer(arguably less). As was mentioned, just take care of the fish, and be sure that eyes and gills are protected and not allowed to be in the elements for long. Otherwise, have at it!!
Edited by Reef Hawg 2/15/2007 3:33 PM
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Ice fishing for Muskies