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| Canada offers a great deal with a Conservation lic. that allows you to only keep 2 pike, 2 walleyes but no muskies. The non conservation is 6 pike, 6 walleyes and 1 muskie, but dont quote me on the numbers of pike and walleye, I think one of them is 5.
In my case, I have always got the Conservation Lic, just because if I ever killed one, in my postion I would be hung out to dry. But WHAT IF I say.....
Say I stick a fish 58" to 60" ski.....The fish of a lifetime, maybe the world record....What do I do then? | |
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| Lot's of Smiles [:bigsmile:]
Lot's of Pics [;)]
Lot's of Tears [:((]
Let her go[:knockout:]
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| If you do, get ready to be marinated w/ questions then thrown on an open fire...a modern day "Jason of Ark". I say this because it appears anything that one does out of the ordinary is scrutinized under a Hubbell size microscope, questioned, investigated to the inth + so on...rumors + accusations would fly...unfortunately a prerequisite for our "inquiring minds want to know" society.
Ask yourself these questions...will they believe me...will they still feed me...when I'm 64?...(sorry, that was a song)...can I handle the notoriety of a world record...can my family maintain their sanity....can you handle even MORE fame? Try this; throw a rock through a window at your local 7-11...when you go to court + are questioned as to why etc, see if you can handle the pressure...if so, then have at it![:sun:] | |
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| Sorry Jason.......How about huge supply of tissue paper and lot's of film.[:bigsmile:] It would be a gut twister.Blummer | |
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| Buy stock in Kleenex - Waaaaaaaahhhhaa, waaaaaaaah [:((] [:((] [:((] [:(] or buy non-conservation and thump the pig. Let the jealous bastard's rant. CPR only goes so far. A fish of that class is either at the prime or soon to go downhill. You will probably be the only person to ever stick her at that size.[8)] Thump, Thump!!! [:0] [:bigsmile:] [:sun:] [:praise:]
Al Warner
"It's your choice to Catch'em & Let'em Go!" | |
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| I have to agree with Doc and Blummer. Lots of pics, exact measurments(for the repro), and a 100# scale! And find as many witnesses as possible.
-ost | |
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| If you are worried about it, you just have to look at your license. If you bought the conservation license you have already made up your mind. If you purchased the other license you have already made up your mind. If you want to take a shot at the record then spend the extra money. If you want to get a great reproduction, don't spend the extra money on the license, spend it on film.
Jason, I know your heart is in the right place when it comes to Muskie's. So if you do catch that new world record fish, and you have the keeper license, hand it over to the DNR for validation. I know there is alot of debate of the validity of the world record, so set the record straight with a new world record. You will catch some grief for this decision, and I will probably get some grief for this opinion. I haven't kept a muskie yet, and don't plan to unless she is about 60+ inches, and even then it will be a debate. I know it would probably be a new Minnesota record, but will it be a world record? I will debate that one whenever it happens. Until then let them go, and let them grow, as other people on these board's write.
Lance | |
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| Get the conservation license....just make sure you have the 60" stick handy, the soft tape measure (for girth measurements) and the digital camera ready to roll. You won't want to kill her if you have these tools, but you may have this big girl pose for a few moments longer than usual.
Slamr | |
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| -ost- I'm not disagreeing that CPR is wrong. If you have the Conservation, you have no choice. If you have the non-conservation, it's your choice period!
I've seen two fish of this class and after the first one I decided I would need a big club before I'd even consider bringing that kind of fish into the boat (even for out of water photo.) 50" fish are a struggle to control out of water- Try holding up a a 70lb kid by a arm & leg- then tell him to try to get away ->yes he also get's to bite you! I understand why Louie Spray used a gun on his. You'll note I didn't say either of them hit! If they had and I managed to get them partially into the net (you'll need a Beckman Magnum Pen or equivalent)I'd have a hard decision to make. Witnesses on a Canadian lake? Not likely if you fish Canadian lakes like I do. Last year we were the only two people on the entire lake for three days. I really don't want to see another boat.
Yes! 100 lb scale + 80" Muskie Stick + digital camera + big club. Decision will be made when the time come's and it's mine, not your's or anyone else's. In fact harvesting her would probably be the easiest thing to do. But then again I will probably let her go!
This is why I fish for Muskies, I don't fish for anyone other than myself and numbers of fish mean nothing to me. If I want to catch numbers of fish , I'll go for pike, walleye, smallies, etc, etc.
I will carefully release all other Muskies. maybe I'll die before I get a hook into one of this class. Maybe not, but I will keep trying. Just seeing a +60" Muskie w/ a 10-12" wide head is an experience in itself. They take your breath away and make you weak at the knee's. Hell the first time I couldn't even tie a knot for 20 minutes. I just sat in the boat in complete awe of what had just transpired. I hope you all have the same opportunity. That's why releasing the 40" -> + 50" is important. But I also believe the final decision is your's.
Al Warner
www.youdontknowhowtowatchtv.com | |
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| Daggone dudes...just think...if we treated our wives as good as we treat fish, just think how many better women we'd have out there!!! BUT-- I still carry a club in the boat w/ me...I've tried grabbing sponge babe by the arm + leg in the boat + they will BITE...as well as scratch, kick, scream, roll, twist, turn, writhe, porpoise, flop, shudder etc...sometimes a "gentle tap" helps calm them down.....[:0] | |
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| For some reason I just don't see myself being in this situation any time soon. SO i'm not going to loose sleep over what I'd do, then I won't have a club, so i'd let her go. | |
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| The two things that bother me are long down cycle fish and acidental death.
What would happen if you set the hook on one of these super giants and they raise the white flag and die on you......I have heard this happen.
I dont think I could ever get myself to ever buy a club, nor ever use one for that matter. But is a old down cycle skinny 60" fish worth anything to a system? | |
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| I agree with Lance that you make your choice with the conservation license.
As much as I would like to see the weight record get broke,the law said that you have to release it! | |
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| Jason, I buy the regular license for a few reasons.
1. I make trips to Canada for species other than Muskies.
2. Accidental Death. If one croaks and it's over 54" (LOTW limit), then I would rather take it home than leave it for the Turtles.
As far as the club thing goes, I have one in my boat and it's always handy. Why? Am I a meat huntin' killer? Nope, never bonked one in my life but if ever I find myself hooked to a fish (and I have been in the past) that is thrashing and ripping the #### out of my hand, arm, leg, whatever and I can't get the situation under control...I'm going to bonk it. To me, it's a safety measure and also serves as a swatter since some of those flies and mosquitos get damn big! [:)]
As far as the skinny 60"er being of value, I say that it's a good candidate for harvest if someone was to make that choice.
Jono
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| Jason:
Let me play devil's advocate here.
Let's say you have bought your consevation (release) license and you stick a potential record fish. Who says you have to release it immediately to be in compliance with the law. If you have a cell phone with you and you stay on the location where the fish was caught, call the DNR to report a possible record fish, and keep the fish alive in a livewell (big livewell) or in the net. Isn't it possible that 1) the DNR will come to your location or 2) give you permission to transport the fish to an authorized meeting point? I would think they (DNR) would be equally as anxious to verify a potential record as you the angler. If you have notified them, they'll have to know you have no intention of keeping the fish, you're going to turn it over to them for verification. I mention having a cell phone because I wouldn't want to be transporting any fish anywhere for any reason under a conservation (release) license unless I had first contacted the authorities and obtained approval. This might be a good question to pose to the DNR and see what their views on the matter are.
Just my 2 cennts on the subject.
Mike | |
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| Mike,
One problem with that is that the DNR biologist need to identify the species, and also need to be sure that the fish has not been made heavier by artificial means. Meaning, they need to cut it open and make sure it doesn't have any lead weights sitting in it's stomach. I read an article a couple years back about a 26 lb largemouth in california that looked like the new world record, when they cut it open they found a 2 and 1/2 lb weight in it's stomach. The fish had swallowed it a few years before because there was skin on all sides of it, but it was disqualified because it wasn't all natural weight. If you read the record submission forms from the dnr, you will find they want the fish for verification.
Lance | |
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| Lance,
I was pretty sure any fish held for entry into the records is going to perish. I think, not absolutely sure about this, there is a required waiting period (several hours) before the fish weight can be considered offficial anyway. So I guess that's a consideration any angler wishing to offer up a fish for record consideration has to deal with. It just boils down to how important it is to an individual angler to posses a record. My mention of keeping the fish alive was only so it could be released if the DNR knew it wasn;t going to be record class since a conservation license specifies release (where the angler is concerned). I suppose with so many of we musky hunters practicing CPR, purchasing conservation licenses, and the like, when and if a new record is established it will likely turn out to be caught by someone who wasn't targeting muskies in the first place. Murphy's Law, eh?....[:blackeye:]
Mike | |
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| I always get my clients conservation licenses, they are not taking anything home and if they ever try to change their mind on the water well I can use the " it's illegal " excuse.
Jason if you are fishing waters that can possibly produce a world record it is up to you to decide ahead of time if your going to keep it or not. | |
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| I buy the regular license. If I get a record fish, and I am CERTAIN it is a record, you will hear the thump in Atlanta!! Great big IF...not likely.
I believe it is illegal this year in NW Ontario to have a live fish in your livewell. All kept fish must be gilled and stored, and must be dispatched with the gill method, not bonked. If you have a fish in the well, it is considered harvested, and counts toward your limit, or fine if you don't have the correct license.
I usually eat pike up there for many meals, but will not be taking any home this year with that regulation. I don't like cleaning them after they sit in a cooler for hours, and certainly won't carry them around in the well dead for any length of time.[:blackeye:] | |
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| Jason- I'm w/ Steve on this subject. It's a choice you have to make when you buy the license. "Am I going to stick a real pig, with potential WR?" If you go for the conservation license, I think once she hit's the livewell (How many boats have live well's this big, +60"?) she's legally a kept fish and you're in trouble. Any Ontario MNR out there have some enlightenment, as Jason's discusion was relative to fishing those great waters?
If you have the non-conservation, you can put her in the livewell and let her go anytime you want. But, God help you when you try to get her out, if she's revived, it would be an awesome video, I want first copy! I'll pay $200 just to see you trying to get her out! "Yes doctor this +60"-> 70 lb + Muskie latched onto my forearnm like it was a 10 lb walleye and started shaking her head." [:0] [:0] Louie Spray didn't take a gun along just for the fun of it!
Al Warner
www.icantplayfindmyfootbutiveseen2wrmuskies.com | |
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| Jason,If a fish of a lifetime would happen,I would want to be able to legally take it.A fish of that size would be hard to let go,UNLESS the law said you had to.I believe in catch and relase,but if I every get a fish of this super size,well I'd want to take it.Blummer | |
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| I have always had Conservations licences...and from the looks of it...will continue to do so.
Come on ...What are the chances anyway!!!![:p] | |
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| Just remember the camera. You might be able to get a new covergirl for the site. I can see the headlines now. Jason Smith gets a 66" fish while fishing in canada. He can be seen here holding the fish. All support letters can be sent to his local mental institution, as all he can say is: "Why? Why? Why? She was so big." He has been sobbing constantly since his return. His friend Steve Cady said, "The fish was huge. I had to distract Jason somehow to get the fish away from him. It only seemed natural to push him overboard. I distracted him, and released the fish all in one motion. I didn't think it would bite off two of his fingers." [:bigsmile:]
Good Luck,
Lance[;)] | |
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Canada, Conservation or Non Conservation.