|
|
| While fishing muskies often I see other muskie fishermen netting their fish and then bringing them in the boat for hook removal. It seems to me that most muskie fishermen I come across do this except for the more experienced ones. Does this decrease the chances of fish survival signifiganltly or not? Last year I caught a little muskie 33 inches or so that was yellow and wierd looking. It had distinctive net and carpet lines. It was healthy though. As for myself no fish allowed to touch any thing in my boat.
Ande |
|
| |
|
Posts: 32958
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | If it is for some reason necessary to boat the fish, I wet down the carpet really well before allowing the fish to touch the deck. If one doesn't remove the protective slime from the fish, no harm is done. Most of the boat damage I see is from the fish flopping around, which is the best reason to keep them in the net. USE LONG HANDLED RELEASE TOOLS, and be careful getting the bait out of the fish. |
|
| |
|
| I carry a half of a flannel blanket I wet it in the water then. lay the fish on it for dehooking and measurement ,no problems so far with cpr. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 124
Location: Rice Lake,WI | I don't see where bringing a fish "in" a net into the boat is better than leaving them in the water in the net. Certainly is not easier and way too many things can go wrong. Aside from pics just leave them in the best place they can be-the net. Hard to breathe on the deck,even if it is wet.
For those surgery fish that swallow a bulldawg to their you know what i'ts
almost crucial to keep that head in the drink while cutting and or removing
your hardware. Bringing a fish,especially a nice one into the boat with 10"
inches of ugly in her snout (flannel blanket or not) you no longer have the upper hand on controling the situation,the fish does. I rather have my fish get a few net scrapes than suffocate them at the bottom of my boat!
Jon Torok |
|
| |
|
Posts: 32958
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | I don't believe I or anyone else said it was 'better' to put the fish in the boat. I try most of the time to keep her in the water. If the situation causes me to have to boat the fish, I wet the carpet. And, as I said, if you reach into that net, be very very careful. Use long tools to get the fish unhooked, and make sure the lure is out of the net and in the boat before trying to pick her up for a photo, especially if the bait is large and has more than two sets of trebles. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1137
Location: Holly, MI | I think (help me here, you who might know better) that a large portion of the fish on Lake St Clair with this "mystery" Muskie Pox is fish that have lost a lot of slime from previous catch and releases. A lot of people don't know any better or care. A spot with slime removed is prone to bacteria or disease and winds up being a mystery "pox".
If nothing else..at least wet your hands to handle the fish. It will not remove the slime like a dry hand. Be careful though, as always, the wet hands on slime will be more slippery than usual. |
|
| |
