MuskieFIRST | Summertime Muskies » General Discussion

Muskie Discussion Forums

You are logged in as a guest. ( logon | register )

Moderators: Slamr	View previous thread :: View next thread
Jump to page : 1 Now viewing page 1 [30 messages per page] Muskie Fishing -> General Discussion -> Summertime Muskies

Message Subject: Summertime Muskies

AFChief

Posted 7/22/2003 8:30 PM (#76588)
Subject: Summertime Muskies

Posts: 550

Location: So. Illinois

I'm a novice looking for guidance. I live in So. Illinois where the temps are getting hot and the local lake temps are up. I have read that it is not recommended to fish for Muskies during the period of Late June through Sept if water temps exceed 80 degrees. But yet the local DNR regs state I can fish for muskies all year round. I understand a muskie cannot tolerate the stress and often dies if caught when water temps are up. But yet I have read articles where people practice a torpedo release where they force the fish deep. I also have read threads where it is obvious people are fishig for muskies when water temps are up, catching them, and hopefully releasing them unharmed. I have not fished for Muskies since mid June because of the water temp issue. Is this sound logic or am I sitting out the summer for no good reason? I have developed a deep respect for the conservation of muskies over the last 7 months and want to approach this new found activity ethically and responsibly. I look forward to inputs and discussion on the topic.

Chief

Schuler

Posted 7/22/2003 8:57 PM (#76597 - in reply to #76588)
Subject: RE: Summertime Muskies

Posts: 1462

Location: Davenport, IA

Heres my personal opinion. I fish for muskies in water over 80 degrees and have caught muskies in water over 80 degrees. I never have them out of the water more than a couple seconds and I have never killed one. I have seen a dead midsummer muskie, but it was big so it coulda been old age or it must have been mishandled. I honestly think that "warm water" deal is overhyped.

ToddM

Posted 7/22/2003 9:33 PM (#76607 - in reply to #76588)
Subject: RE: Summertime Muskies

Posts: 20281

Location: oswego, il

Torpedoing a musky is not a good idea. I go round and round with my dad on this. If they are not ready to swim off and you torpedo the fish, it will belly up, maybe you see it, maybe you don't. Either way it's out of your reach to help the fish. My dad has done it and I have seen it. Luckily they eventually righted themselves but there is no guarentee.

Some lakes have good oxygen content even when the surface temps get above 80 degrees. IMHO these are natural lakes for the most part. Some resiviors can have deep oxygen in the cooler depths but I have never seen it to be so with illinois resiviors. Your better off looking for alternative waters to fish at that time.

Schuler

Posted 7/23/2003 11:46 AM (#76642 - in reply to #76588)
Subject: RE: Summertime Muskies

Posts: 1462

Location: Davenport, IA

Todd probobly makes a good point on the "torpedo" thing. Always revive the fish til they can swim off on their own power. I'll only let a fish go if I cannot hold them back. Also keep a look out for the fish. Make sure they aren't going belly up around you.

Jump to page : 1
Now viewing page 1 [30 messages per page]

Search this forum
Printer friendly version
E-mail a link to this thread