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Posts: 1660
Location: central Wisconsin | Reading the thread with the poll about keeping one is interesting in that hardly anybody seems to think they would keep one.
When I started over 30 years ago my goal to put one on the wall was 45". Then as time went by my target was 50" for the wall, I never have put one on the wall, neither my son or me has ever kept one. That is not to say that we haven't inadvertently killed a few. I imagine some did not make it especially in the swallow rig days.
Really the only way I see myself keeping a releasable fish nowadays would be if it was 60" or better which may not even be possible. But I would keep a biggie like that just to prove that they do exist.
So I ask the question especially to you older guys, have you ever kept a muskie? |
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Posts: 32955
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Yes I have. Quite a few, back in the days before CPR. |
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Location: Eastern Ontario | NO.... but if I ever thought I had something that could put O'Brien to rest I would... I have a number of friends that were at the Moon when the fish was brought in and I'm still confused. I know of people that claimed they were there and know they were not.
Edited by horsehunter 3/10/2014 10:36 AM
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| Yes, back when we first started as kids in the 80's, we actually ate them. They are extremely tasty. BR |
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Posts: 1300
Location: Hayward, Wisconsin | When I was growing up and introduced to muskie fishing by my Dad, he/we kept every legal fish we caught (30" and up). Almost everyone did in those days. None were wasted, we ate them all. My Dad, bless his soul, never did release a muskie, even after it became more the "norm". He even netted one I released once! How times have changed...and for the far better I might add! |
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Posts: 16632
Location: The desert | Yep, the smaller ones taste just fine. |
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Posts: 192
| Nope |
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Posts: 32
Location: Tower, Lake Vermilion | I'm dating myself now, but back in the 50's (Yes I said 50's) most people kept them and ate them. I can however say that I never ate a Muskie. I did however keep a couple to get mounted when I was in my teens. That was a long long time ago and I haven't kept one since 1967. That was the year after Muskies Inc started and It seemed like a good idea to me to start putting them back. I'm sure over the years that I may have killed a few that were difficult releases, but I hope it's been limited to a very few. Now I won't even consider keeping one even if it's a state record fish because none of that matters to me.
"Ace"
Edited by aceguide 3/10/2014 10:56 AM
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Posts: 362
Location: Western U.P. | Kept the first Musky I had ever caught. Fishing with my dad in the mid 70's, I caught one 31.5" long, and my dad had it mounted to give to me for my 12th Birthday. I'm pretty sure we ate it also. Still have that fish on the wall. |
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Posts: 1996
Location: Pelican Lake/Three Lakes Chain | I have kept one, in 1986.
The skin mount is on the wall in my office, 44 1/2 whole inches. I was 16 at the time, and catch and release was just in its infancy, how times have changed. |
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Location: Waukesha, WI, USA | Ditto on what other gold timers like Steve have said. Last kept fish was in the 80's. My daughter at age 16 insisted because it was her bday and she caught 3 that day trolling with dad. It tasted absolutely great. I tried teaching her CPR that day. She agreed with the first two that were released. Started crying on the third. Couldn't break her heart. |
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Posts: 540
Location: Leech Lake, Walker MN | The only Muskie I have ever kept was 51" and I caught it the day I got married
Got it at 10:00 AM and got married at 2:00 the only one great day leech lake |
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Location: Sawyer County, WI | Never kept one, and doubt I'll ever catch anything large enough to even warrant thinking about it.
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Location: Sawyer County, WI |
How did you prepare it ? I see quite a few recipes for baked musky online.
Pointerpride102 - 3/10/2014 10:46 AM
Yep, the smaller ones taste just fine. |
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Posts: 2893
Location: Yahara River Chain | Nope, I started fishing for trout and back in the late 70s and early 80s released many of those fish so I was not new to CPR. I started fishing muskies, in 1985 and released them all. I'm sure some have perished after their release and one comes to mine is a 37 on the Holcombe Flowage that swallowed a Bucher willoebuck and I had to cut the line and bring the lure out threw its gills. Its did take off and nosed into the mud, I pulled it back out and wiped off the mud and it slowly swam away.
I have eaten them (late 80s) as one guy had one die on him after a couple of hours trying to release it and failed. We fried it up that night as I remember, it tasted fine. lots of meat on a 41 incher.
Edited by muskie! nut 3/10/2014 11:28 AM
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Posts: 427
| I have only been chasing muskie for about five years so I cant talk about the good old days but we did keep a 38" last year to see how the taste. Probably will never keep another, was not bad eating but I would just as soon have catfish or walleye. |
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Posts: 1416
Location: oconomowoc, wi | nah |
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Posts: 183
Location: Grand Forks ND | No. |
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Posts: 1425
Location: St. Lawrence River | I've never kept one. My grandfather kept and smoked one probably 10-12 years ago. It wasn't bad.. |
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Posts: 93
Location: Des Moines IA | Back in the day when I worked at a resort on Leech Lake I would have to filet for the customers. Catch and release was just starting then. |
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Posts: 696
Location: Northern Illinois | We kept one that swallowed a mepps musky killer. We did everything we could to revive it but it kept coming back up every 5 seconds or so. After it went belly up for about the 15th time we kept it and ate it. |
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Posts: 216
| BenR - 3/10/2014 10:39 AM
Yes, back when we first started as kids in the 80's, we actually ate them. They are extremely tasty. BR
Oh man don't say that!! I've had a hundred ppl ask "do you eat em? How do they taste? I heard ppl say there good" and I say they stink like hell, are slimy full of bones that you'll choke on and there so fat it's just to fishy tasting you wouldn't want to eat one no way !! At least that's what I say.lol I've never ate one. |
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Posts: 576
Location: Elk Grove Village, IL & Phillips, WI | First one back in the 70's. Haven't since and never will again! |
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Posts: 1293
Location: Stevens Point, Wi. | guilty |
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Posts: 2083
| only one, 4 years ago.. found on its last "breath" belly up in the lake - 46", Y bones like toothpicks - fried up great! fed about a dozen hungry adults. Figured it was better than feeding it to the turtles. |
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Posts: 216
| Don thats funny,My good buddy Scott and I went muskie fishing on my wedding day too. He caught one I lost a few. Thought I was Probly the only nut that did that. My buddy said" wouldn't it be funny if we broke down out here on the river and you didn't make it in time?" no not really! I made it, the next day we wnent again and I caught two big pigs,with my new magic Muskie ring I called it! Redneck |
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Posts: 1041
| Kept my first one back when I was about 10 years old, 1984. 33 incher. Hangs on my wall today.
I'll never begrudge anyone for keeping their first legal fish. |
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Posts: 2893
Location: Yahara River Chain | Brozz88 - 3/10/2014 12:42 PM
I've had a hundred ppl ask "do you eat em? .
I just tell them I don't have a wife to clean them.  |
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Posts: 360
Location: Algonac, MI | Yes. Many of them. As already stated, it was the norm back in the day. Do I keep them now, no...have released most caught since the 80s.
They eat good, though. The tail meat has no bones, and the back strap is good too. Very mild, white meat. Broil a skinless filet with some butter and your favorite seasonings, wrapped in foil on a grill.
Cooked one two years ago, that didn't make it. Not one complaint from those who ate it. |
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Posts: 2389
Location: Chisholm, MN | No, I guess I'm too young for the keeping days. There is only one fish that I released that I think may have died. |
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Posts: 163
Location: NoDak | in the poll i answerd that i would only keep a state record, but if my personal best was dying id take it for a traditional mount, but smaller ones that wont make it in my carreer will just feed the ecosystem. dont think i have lost any yet and hope to keep the luck going for my most rewarding adversary. |
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Posts: 16632
Location: The desert | dfkiii - 3/10/2014 10:19 AM
How did you prepare it ? I see quite a few recipes for baked musky online.
Pointerpride102 - 3/10/2014 10:46 AM
Yep, the smaller ones taste just fine.
Like any other fish, fry it or toss it under the broiler. Not much different than a northern. I love northerns for eating. I'm not big on pickling but I had a great pickled northern this winter and need to figure out the recipe. |
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Posts: 182
| Brozz88 - 3/10/2014 12:42 PM
BenR - 3/10/2014 10:39 AM
Yes, back when we first started as kids in the 80's, we actually ate them. They are extremely tasty. BR
Oh man don't say that!! I've had a hundred ppl ask "do you eat em? How do they taste? I heard ppl say there good" and I say they stink like hell, are slimy full of bones that you'll choke on and there so fat it's just to fishy tasting you wouldn't want to eat one no way !! At least that's what I say.lol I've never ate one.
I have friends ask if I eat them and what do they taste like. Well, they taste like Bald Eagle of course! |
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Posts: 410
Location: Wakefield, MI | Pointerpride102 - 3/10/2014 4:03 PM
dfkiii - 3/10/2014 10:19 AM
How did you prepare it ? I see quite a few recipes for baked musky online.
Pointerpride102 - 3/10/2014 10:46 AM
Yep, the smaller ones taste just fine.
Like any other fish, fry it or toss it under the broiler. Not much different than a northern. I love northerns for eating. I'm not big on pickling but I had a great pickled northern this winter and need to figure out the recipe.
Dip in egg, then cracker crumbs, then fry in a skillet. Tastes like pike or bass to me.
I think we've kept three that died on us. A 47" that we got mounted, a 44" and another that I don't remember the size on (was legal though) that we ate. We've since got quicker with the releases so haven't had one die in a long time that I know of. |
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Posts: 791
Location: WI | My grandpa kept one in the mid 80s and had I caught one then when I was young I may have. He taught me catch an release ( probably so he didn't have to clean fish) but I have his musky on my wall. Lots of memories associated with that fish. Would like to get a rep. Of my pb tiger some day. |
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Posts: 1082
Location: Aurora | I went to separate schools together with someone who kept one. |
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Posts: 455
| No but I had a Donzi speed boat run one over I just let go. Fish was only 30 feet from my boat and dude musta been going 65mph! |
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Posts: 1352
Location: E. Tenn | One, a 42" in '82.. |
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Posts: 1916
Location: Greenfield, WI | No, I haven't even thought about keeping one myself. Joe Fittante can make a replica which would look better than the fish would look alive.
I don't care if someone else in my boat would keep one, but I couldn't imagine keeping one myself for any reason other than if it would not live through the release process.
Edited by Steve Van Lieshout 3/10/2014 10:32 PM
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Location: Lake Tomahawk, WI | I have not killed a musky in many years, that I know of. I used to kill two a year for resort fish fry's, and make no mistake, they were delicious. Even then we selectively harvested out of lakes that were over run with mid-30" fish. That time has come to an end. CPR |
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Posts: 483
Location: NE PA | Kept one a few years back. I was fishing a creek mouth at the local river and a shore fisherman hooked one hard. He tossed it back and I saw it floating a short time later. I spent about a half hour trying to revive it, but the fish was a goner. Took it home and ate it. I wasn't impressed. Maybe it's just my cooking skills lol.
And I had to laugh about going out on the wedding day. Haha |
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Location: SE Wisconsin | I don't see a point in letting it float if you have one belly up on you. Might as well keep it and do something with it - eat it, give it away or get it mounted. Hopefully you don't have one die one you, but they're fish, they die sometimes, so rather than get down on yourself about it if it happens, make some use out of it. |
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Posts: 122
| I agree if one was probably going to die I would keep it, however the law of 48 inches makes that one tough. I saw some kids trolling with a 42 incher probably in the net trying to revive her. Ahhhh their method let's not go there circle net etc... they tried though so I give them credit. It was a sad thing later to boat by and see her floating belly up. She was done for. If legal I would have scooped her up and tried muskie.
Luckily I haven't had one die on me, but my husband teases me as I freak about getting them back in the water fast. Lol |
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Posts: 209
| Never yet and don't see why I would in that I do not mount fish ?
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Posts: 1530
| in the 1950 era we live baited muskies under a cork float. steel rods mason black line.
every musky met a gaff then a hammer on the head.
we cleaned them,fried in fat. then we nailed the heads on the shed wall,or put them in an ant hill.
back then ya ate what ya caught.
catfish/bullheads were a Friday feed as back then folks ate fish on Fridays. |
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Posts: 1425
Location: St. Lawrence River | Sam Ubl - 3/11/2014 12:02 PM
I don't see a point in letting it float if you have one belly up on you. Might as well keep it and do something with it - eat it, give it away or get it mounted. Hopefully you don't have one die one you, but they're fish, they die sometimes, so rather than get down on yourself about it if it happens, make some use out of it.
Couldn't have said it any better |
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Posts: 386
| Never, ever, ever, ever . . . though I do NOT judge people who do. Muskies are, for reason I simply cannot understand, my religion and my law, and taking one would be completely sacrilegious to me. |
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Posts: 4342
Location: Smith Creek | Sam Ubl - 3/11/2014 11:02 AM
I don't see a point in letting it float if you have one belly up on you. Might as well keep it and do something with it - eat it, give it away or get it mounted. Hopefully you don't have one die one you, but they're fish, they die sometimes, so rather than get down on yourself about it if it happens, make some use out of it.
What's more wasteful, removing a protein source from the ecosystem to feed those which don't need it to survive, or leaving it in the ecosystem to feed animals who require the food to survive, and eventually become food for apex predators?
I've kept and ate them, but I don't kid myself by telling myself or others that nature will waste it.
If you give it to the old guy down the road and it sits in his freezer for 3 years before it gets thrown out, that's wasteful. |
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Posts: 386
| Flambeauski - 3/12/2014 11:38 AM
Sam Ubl - 3/11/2014 11:02 AM
I don't see a point in letting it float if you have one belly up on you. Might as well keep it and do something with it - eat it, give it away or get it mounted. Hopefully you don't have one die one you, but they're fish, they die sometimes, so rather than get down on yourself about it if it happens, make some use out of it.
What's more wasteful, removing a protein source from the ecosystem to feed those which don't need it to survive, or leaving it in the ecosystem to feed animals who require the food to survive, and eventually become food for apex predators?
I've kept and ate them, but I don't kid myself by telling myself or others that nature will waste it.
If you give it to the old guy down the road and it sits in his freezer for 3 years before it gets thrown out, that's wasteful.
+1
Edited by gopackgo 3/12/2014 11:49 AM
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Posts: 1202
Location: Money, PA | The true question is...How many have you released???
Thousands... |
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Posts: 1660
Location: central Wisconsin | ShutUpNFish - 3/12/2014 11:52 AM
The true question is...How many have you released???
Thousands...
I thought of asking this question but figured it would turn into a d**k measuring contest.
Edited by Jeff78 3/12/2014 12:04 PM
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Posts: 280
| gopackgo - 3/12/2014 11:22 AM
Never, ever, ever, ever . . . though I do NOT judge people who do. Muskies are, for reason I simply cannot understand, my religion and my law, and taking one would be completely sacrilegious to me.
Not sure how many you have released but if as someone said it is "thousands" then you have probably killed more fish than many who may want to keep one for a skin mount have caught or will catch in a lifetime. Many who fish muskies will spend a week or 2 in the quest. For a lot of guys catching 3 maybe 4 legals in that time period is a very good trip. Many prolific fishermen and guides claim to put over 100 fish in the boat every year. Not all those will live even though carefully handled before release.
Edited by fins355 3/12/2014 12:40 PM
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Posts: 101
| Kept first legal- 52"....will keep first over 60" as well when I catch her....until then CPR |
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Posts: 167
Location: Tomahawk, WI | I've kept a lot of muskies over the years. The only one in recent times has been a 45" that went belly up after we worked on it for over two hours. That was my fault for fishing when the water was at 80 degrees. Shame on me!!! We don't kill them to eat anymore, CPR on every fish that can swim off on its own. I do know a few guys that still keep one every year to smoke. |
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Posts: 441
| I kept a few, back in the late 1970's. I was just getting out of high school. I would take trips up to Winchester, Wisconsin, with my buddies.
The bait shop in Manitowish Waters, across from the Pea Patch, would have weekly contests. I would enter some of the bigger muskies, and usually win the weekly prize.
Those were the good ole days. We would fish all day, then go to The Bear Bar, or the Oasis Bar, at night. We were 18, and it was legal to drink.
That is where my obsession, for muskies, started. I fished muskies for about five years, then gave up fishing muskies, and obsessed with bass. I didn't fish muskies for almost twenty years, then picked it back up, around 10 years ago.
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Posts: 2026
| Do people even measure ducks? |
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Posts: 1202
Location: Money, PA | fins355 - 3/12/2014 12:37 PM
gopackgo - 3/12/2014 11:22 AM
Never, ever, ever, ever . . . though I do NOT judge people who do. Muskies are, for reason I simply cannot understand, my religion and my law, and taking one would be completely sacrilegious to me.
Not sure how many you have released but if as someone said it is "thousands" then you have probably killed more fish than many who may want to keep one for a skin mount have caught or will catch in a lifetime. Many who fish muskies will spend a week or 2 in the quest. For a lot of guys catching 3 maybe 4 legals in that time period is a very good trip. Many prolific fishermen and guides claim to put over 100 fish in the boat every year. Not all those will live even though carefully handled before release.
This is certainly true, but as long as we make the effort to do the best we can for fish we plan to release....All we can do. That said, I'm confident with the routine that we have in my boat, the survival rate of released fish is very very high....It should be, it has been practiced over and over many times...At this point, any better would be to quit fishing all together. |
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Posts: 176
Location: ON | ARmuskyaddict - 3/12/2014 9:47 PM
Do people even measure ducks?
Whacked a 24" full plummage Mallard last December, full ring. Pretty bird. |
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Posts: 4342
Location: Smith Creek | Was it pining for the fjords? |
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Posts: 2754
Location: Mauston, Wisconsin | None yet. But if it died and was legal length, its fish fry time...... Northern Pike is mighty tasty with Italian bread crumbs.
Have fun!
Al |
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Posts: 358
| Yep, my first Muskie 43 " and regret doing so to this day. Can't look at the mount without regretting killing it ! At the time I knew no better. Wish I could reverse things  |
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| not yet but when i read some reply i should try |
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Posts: 1247
Location: On the Niagara River in Buffalo, NY | Yes, I had my 1st 50"er mounted back in 1982. We use to eat smaller ones then as well. The Niagara River area did not start cpr until a small group of 7 of us sat down in a bar in 1993 and started the Niagara Musky Assoc.. |
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Have you ever kept a muskie