|
|
| Here in MN the season doesn't open ubtil the first weekend in June and now I am hearing that it is too hot to fish. Short season I guess if you consider the water temps won't drop back down to an acceptable level until the middle of September. I hear a lot of the I am not fishing when the watr hits 80 degrees and I have a hard time believing guys are canceling trips and guides are shutting down there source of income because the water gets too hot. I realize catching a muskie in these temps stresses the fish a heck of alot. One needs only to look at the pics with bleeding fins in them but if we look at all the reasons not to fish we may as well all join PETA. I am just a little skeptical when I hear all this "I am not fishing talk". |
|
| |
|
| It's called, "being serious about the conservation of resources".
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 1769
Location: Algonquin, ILL | Unfortunatly this time of year is when Joe Vacationer and little Joe go out fishing, even in the best of intentions and conditions these folks unknowingly due to lack of education put a lot of stress on fish they catch. Even the more seasoned Muskie fisherman
puts a lot of stress on our favorite fish during these warm water periods so what's the best course of action? I Don't know!
I suppose it should be left up to each individual if they want to fish for Muskie's or not as for me it's just too darn hot to fish so I guess I'll just go swimming at least I'm out on the boat 
|
|
| |
|
Location: Athens, Ohio | Here's an interesting link on-topic:
http://www.trentu.ca/muskie/biology/biol09.html
m |
|
| |
|
Posts: 2384
Location: On the X that marks the mucky spot | I just canceled a guide trip for this Sat. I hated to do it, but how can I or anyone else who works hard to make the fishery better in good concious be fishing in the metro right now?
If we had a cool down, a big wind storm to mix the water or a good rain to mix the water a bit and increase the oxygen content of the water it may be different. But when it gets this hot and still the upper layers of the water don't hold a lot of O2. It's the upper layers that we release the fish into after we're done.
Rivers, streams, and flowages that are moving may all be alternatives since the current helps mix/oxygenate the water. But stagnant lakes don't mix enough to keep up the O2. Otherwise dust off your bass stuff and start flipping.
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 8797
| I can attest to the fact that they do take longer to revive the warmer the water gets, but it's worth waiting for. So you miss 5 minutes of casting, so what. The last one I released took what seemed like FOREVER. It was probably under 5 minutes, but when you're leaning over with all your weight on your ribs against the gunnel it seems like a long time...
I did manage to notice a few very cool things (most of you probably already knew this stuff):
1. They know you're holding them upright. This particular fish would stop moving it's anal and pectoral fins when I supported it in the water, and as soon as I let go it would work on it's own to stay upright.
If you ever get a chance to try this, watch closely -- Muskies have amazing dexterity in their pectoral and anal fins.
2. Muskies eyes move independently of each other. She was looking around all over the place -- at me, at the boat, at my friend in the boat. I tried move my hand back and forth in front of her, her eyes followed it the whole way, VERY COOL. Probably trying to figure out how to bite me, LOL!
3. (This is purely speculation) By the time they swim off, they have it firgured out that you're not going to hurt them. It almost seemed like this fish enjoyed being held in the water (as much as a fish can enjoy that, LOL). I'd let it go, and it would swim forward until I put my hand under it and then it just sat there looking around. Finally, my friend asked if the fish was ok... "She's breating fine, got her strength back, she's holding herself upright, I can feel her tail moving but she's just sort of hanging out, what do I do now??" He laughed and said "you could try letting go of her." Sure enough as soon as I let go, she swam off, slowly dissapearing out of sight. Seemed like she would have sat there all day until I decided to let her go.
Anyway...
|
|
| |
|
| Esox Add,
No offense intended but just because the swim off doesn't mean they survive. Research indicates I high level of delayed mortality in stress released fish.
S |
|
| |
|
Posts: 8797
| Yeah, I do what I can -- unhook them in the net, get the camera out, hand it off...
Outta the net, two pics, back in the water on the other side of the boat, release shot in the water.
Surface temps were up near 78, (this was almost a month ago), so I'm done fishing there until late September.
This is the first one I've ever had that didn't soak me as soon as I put it back in the water, though, and I kind of wondered if she made it or not.
I'm heading North until the weather breaks. Namekagon this weekend. Gotta be some cooler water up there.
Jeff |
|
| |
|
Posts: 44
Location: ashland wi | ESOXADDICT,The water is the same up here,75to85dg depending where your boat is,thought this pic would get you fired up for your trip up here,46 incher caught this morning on Namekagon,also lost one at boatside and raised another.
If i have to get out in the hot weather i go early in the morning,4:00 am till 9:00,the temps have dropped 3to5 degrees overnight then rise again during the day,i also will stay on the leeward side of the lakes where the cooler water can roll up from underneath in a steady wind.
Edited by propwash 7/14/2005 1:23 PM
Attachments
----------------
 46in nmkgn.jpg (144KB - 97 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
| Shawn's a stand up guy - puts his money where his mouth is! Lots of others sound the alarm in other states. Who else is taking action? |
|
| |
|
Posts: 8797
| Nice fish, Propwash!!
We're probably going to fish early, hang it up about 10, then get out again at dusk and catch the night bite.
What are they going on up there?
Jeff |
|
| |
|
Posts: 2515
Location: Waukesha & Land O Lakes, WI | I sure as hell wish the DNR would allow us some ice time for Musky here in Wisconsin...no reason not to allow the season to go through January. I think it'd be cool as hell to have a 13" sucker working from a tip up. |
|
| |
|
| I have been fishing for muskies for more than 30 years.
I have fished them spring, summer and fall.
I release every fish that I catch, and occasionaly will take a picture of fish in the mid 40's and up. I try to not net fish that look like they can be released without any harm to them or me. If I can grab them and cut out one or two hooks and then release them when they can right themselves, that's what I do.
So, here I am. Packing for a 2 week family vacation in N Central MN. Am I supposed to leave my muskie gear home because the summer has been warm and lose 2 of the 4 weeks that I get the privelege to go muskie fishing? No way dudes! It's not my fault that it's been warm, and I'm not giving up half of the muskie fishing that I'll get to fish this year.
I will go the extra mile to make sure and handle the fish that I catch briefly and extra carefully, though I don't know what more I can do than I usually do. Last summer was cold, and I was catching fish with fall-like girths. I haven't seen any pictures posted of fish that look skinny and drawn out. Fish are cold blooded, so their body and metabolism are regulated by the water temperature. They're eating well and digesting their food at a rapid rate just because of their body temperatures. I think that being at the top of the water food chain, they adapt well to all conditions that they encounter during the years that they live.
We're going, and I'm fishing muskies every day. I am also fishing walleyes, perch, pike and anything else that bites. It's hot, so I'll have to adapt, but I am not giving up my rare chances to go muskie fishing because it is hot.
Does the PMTT have any tournaments during this hot spell? Did they or are they going to cancel them?
I think that most of us on this site are very concientious, serious anglers and do our best to make sure that the fish that we catch live to fight another day whatever the season or circumstances.
Sorry that I am not blessed enough to be able to fish when ever I want to. I take a couple weeks with my family in the summer, and take time by myself during the fall. This summer will be no different. Dad will go out before it is light and fish for muskies for a few hours. Then we'll do other family fishing and then dad will put in more muskie time and then we'll finish off the day casting or trolling for walleyes until dark.
I'll do what I can, even if I have to put a fish in an oxygenated live well for a long time until it can swim upright by itself. I've babysat fish for long periods, and take my revival duties seriously. But I am not going to stop fishing because it is hot. |
|
| |
|
| No, the PMTT doesn't schedule tournaments at this time for that exact reason. Do what you need to do on vacation but people talking about concern for the fish can only help. I'm sure you are a big expert and will do the best you can. Alot of guides are pulling off the water. I commend them for doing so. When it is the way they make a living and they stop... makes you think a bit...
Keep them in the water and make the fight fast.
Split it |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1137
Location: Holly, MI | I fish any chance I get (there is never enough). The musky definatly take longer to revive in the warmer water but I believe they make it ok. I don't mind, and actually enjoy the time spent with a fish. It takes so long to catch one why not enjoy a little intimate time holding it in the water if it will let you. I get great pleasure out of the fight any fish has to give and won't horse them into the boat to be sure to land them. If I lose a fish from not bringing it in fast enough I consider it a long distance release. I fooled the fish into biteing and it managed to get off the hooks..we both win. Very important in warm weather is to wet your hands as to remove as little slime as possible. I also try to release as many fish as possible without even touching them. If they are not going crazy at boatside I'll reach overboard with the pilers and set 'em free untouched. I used to take a lot of pictures but have gotten over it. Fish smart. Take care of the future..it might be you catching the same girl when she is bigger. |
|
| |
