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Posts: 686
Location: Tomahawk, Wisconsin | Just a simple post to see how we all handle our fish differently once they are at boatside and are ready for picture-time! How many guys out there are hand landers?? Guys that lean over the boat and unhook the fish and let it swim away no netting at all. How many guys out there use cradles? How many guys Get The Net!! I use a net more often than not, and it seems like a gut instinct size wise on whether or not to use a net. More than once has a little thirty something gone gonzo on me as I tried to just try to pop a hook out at boatside without a net. What are everyone elses thoughts? |
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Posts: 3514
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | I have gotten to the point that any fish larger than 34 inches or so goes in the net. Fish of that size bother me a bit in that they can get so squirly at boatside, I feel safer getting them in the net so the hooks get caught up in the mesh...especially if there are 3 trebles on the bait. Thought process on this is to hopefully keep them away from my hands with a head-shaker, and if I need to cut multiple hooks, I won't lose the fish since it is in an oversized livewell.
If the fish is hooked lightly, and there are few hooks on the bait (many of my bucktails only have a single treble) I will quickly hand-land it, cut or pull hook as needed, and it's on it's way.
Steve |
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Posts: 1335
Location: Chicago, Beverly | I use the net on everything except real little guys under around 30", those I try and unhook with the bakers as quick as possible along side the boat... unless they are hooked bad, then they go in the net. |
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Posts: 20281
Location: oswego, il | I use the net. I will hand land bass but not a musky. If it's a small one i will grab the lure with the pliers and flip it off quick but I am not grabbing a musky untill the hooks are free. Been hooked to a musky once, it's no fun. I have no plans on doing it again. |
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Posts: 688
Location: Northern IL | In the beginning we netted and pictured most all fish except the really small ones, but as time goes on the net and or another pictured fish becomes less and less important.
Today we have landed over 800 muskies so you have to ask yourself how many 38"s do we need. Even my 4 boys today have seen enough fish that at least my 13 year old will say "if it's not 40" or better, No net needed". And that also depends on how many we have landed that day, or at that point in the year, or how hard we had to work for a fish that trip or that day.
In the early season we will get a few pictures of smaller fish but as the season goes on the Polaroid budget slows.
A couple of years ago we clipped off the 1st 40"+ at boat side and I still remember thinking "I can't believe I just did that" and "either we are getting spoiled or we are finally getting pretty good at the game of fishing." (I know it couldn't be the latter)
Don't get me wrong we still thrive and love the hunt!! But landing every fish or getting a picture is not nearly as important as it was a few short years ago.
Jerry Borst Spoonplugger instructor
Edited by jerryb 3/7/2004 12:05 AM
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Posts: 1916
Location: Greenfield, WI | I net all (+30") our muskies, and I net them pretty "green" (as quickly as possible). They have less stress initially, and the quicker they are back in the water, the better it is for the fish. I use a monster size net with the rubberized bag so that the fish can't roll itself into the net.
The bolt cutters, needlenose pliers, tape, and camera are all ready before the first cast of the day.
Minimizing the time in the net is always the goal.
Like the "Muskie Guru", Mr. ToddM, I have been hooked by a fish, it isn't any fun!
The smaller ones are actually the most dangerous ones because I tend not to be as careful with them because, "they are just the little ones!".
Edited by Steve Van Lieshout 3/7/2004 6:08 AM
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Location: Illinois-Indiana | If I'm with clients or in a tournament then I use a net. Let's say that a client has never caught a Musky then I will net the fish so they can have a picture. In a tourney, if the fish is not legal then they DON"T see the net.
If I'm just fishing for fun then they have to be around 40" before I will break out the net. I feal that I can release them with the big pliers just as easy boatside with less harm to the fish. Now if they are hooked real good and I have to work on them then I will slide the net under them to keep them in the water while I work on them. |
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Posts: 2361
| Rarely net any of my fish. I have had enough unpleasant UN-netting experiences to convince me my fish will do better if NOT netted or brought into the boat. I have also de barbed my three most commonly used lures to facilitate release and lesson the damage(and I can vouch for the ease of this method). As a frequent user of a limited resource and as a conservator of that resource I feel both these decisions are the best path. I would like to see more of the fisherman on this board take this route in the future. I do not endorse water release for inexperienced fishermen. |
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| I use the net on 40 inch plus fish, and hand land anything smaller.
Steve |
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Posts: 37
| I use the net on everything bigger then 30 inches. i usually just try to shake the small ones off but If Im in a funk I will net a small fish just to keep the slime on the hands |
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Posts: 136
| I net anything 30" or bigger. I dont take any pictures unless they are mid thirties or better. on some lakes, I dont take pictures unless they are 45" or better. But this is not the reason I net fish. I net them FOR MY OWN SAFETY. There is no need to take a hook in the hand by a bait like a Suick. Lets face the facts, a small low thirty muskies can weight 6-12 pounds, if he hooks you while in the water, he going to rip you pretty good. if i can shake a small fish off or unhook a small one in the water safely, i do. In my opinion, its stupidity not to use a net/cradle device on larger fish. i hate to hear people cry when common sense isint used. Just my thoughts......Marc |
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Posts: 477
Location: Iowa | Like others, if it's an easy release, I'll reach over with the pliers and pop the hook out on smaller fish. If not, then they all go in the net. I've been hooked to a 2 pound bass, and have no desire at all to be attached to a muskie of any size. It's just not worth it to me. |
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Posts: 1310
Location: Washington, PA | I hand land them all. |
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