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Posts: 199
Location: Nebraska | With great anticipation I have awaited 9/13 for our annual 10 day muskie trip to ON. Until last week, that is. My boat partner called and said his vacation wasn't approved! I get a 10 day trip a year to chase 'skis and he is bailing on me! After calling everyone I know to see if they happen to be able to get off work for 10 days on three weeks' notice  it looks like I am going alone. Other than eating all of the gas (It's over 1000 miles one way from Nebraska), it doesn't really bother me.
We have been fishing this stretch of the Winniepeg river (Minaki ON area) for 12 years, so I know the area well. I have a 16 1/2 ft bass boat. I have a 30" Frabill landing net. The purpose of this background is to solicit advise on any tips or tricks for landing, photographing and releasing muskies alone. I've always had a partner to run the net and the camera. I'm sure that a lot of you have gone it alone and I am hoping for any advise.
Oh, BTW, anyone want to go to Minaki 9/13-9/23 
Thanks,
John |
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Posts: 1936
Location: Eau Claire, WI | I fish alone (or with the dog but she's not much help) a lot, have for years.
Big thing about fishing alone is the safety aspect of it. Make sure you have a marine radio that works, an inexpensive flare gun isn't a bad idea either if you will be on larger bodies of water.
Redundant release tools, long handle pliers, hook cutters, jaw spreaders, etc. That way if you loose one, your not up a creek without a paddle...
Camera suggestion. Most cameras have a 10 second self timer. I have a device made by Nikon ($25) that is made for clamping to the side window of a vehicle. I use it to mount my camera to the windshield/bubble on my consol. Get the camera all set up, while the fish is in the net with it's head under water, with the 10-second timer ready to go. Reach in grab the fish, press the shutter realease button, get in postition(usually up by the butt seat) camera goes off, the fish goes back in the water. This method has worked very well for me in the past whether alone or with a guest in the boat that isn't comfortable handling a musky.
You can find the nikon device at Cabela's or most better quality sporting retailers. It's primary purpose is for mounting a spotting scope to the window of a vehicle but the 1/4" bolt is the same size as camera mounts.
Good luck
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Posts: 1137
Location: Holly, MI | Make sure people know where you are and when to expect your return.
I hate trying to net with one hand and hold the rod with the other. In my solo trips I usually hand land muskies. Pliers are in back pocket within reach so when I have the fish in hand the free hand that has dropped the rod can grab the pliers. Small fish get the net because they usually go nuts with wild shaking. Pictures are the toughie. I can't remember photographing a musky while fishing alone, but they have all been single afternoon trips not a big trip like you are talking about.
Good luck and be safe. Don't forget to have a good first aid kit along. |
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Posts: 3240
Location: Racine, Wi | One thing that goes along with remembering your tools, is keep them near you. (lobi says in da back pocket, but I think near would be okay). Also, set up your camera in your boat BEFORE you go that way you'll know where to put your camera when the time comes to snap a shot with the timer. I fish with my pooch quite a bit as well, and as Mark said, they don't do much for helping you land and take pics of fish. So taking 10 mins to practice taking pics will make things easier on you when you score.
Good Luck!!!! |
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| I fish alone a lot. Just have everything ready. Camera on tripod already set on timer mode is a must. Just play the fish out and take your time netting her. Try to get a good net scoop so she stays belly down while you get the camera ready. I also like to focus the camera on something near where you will be standing. I focus on my my front casting seat and then kneel right next to it during the photo.
Best of luck. |
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| Video works great when fishing alone, net your fish , unhook, then get your camera ready (using a windshield mounting system as described) then pull your fish out of the net for a quick video shot and release. This is much easier than a 10 second still shot (for you and the fish) and gives a better look at the fish later, plus you can pull a frame off digital videao and make a picture from it.
BT |
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| Stien, where you staying? |
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Posts: 199
Location: Nebraska | Thanks for the replys thus far. I like the idea of the video. Takes a lot off of the effort of hitting a still photo. Get a big enough memory card and hit the button as soon as it's in the net, unhooked. I can always pare down the video later or pull a still. Pics aren't that important at the risk of the fish.
muskie! nut:
We stay at paradise park www.paradiseparkminaki.com now. For the first 10 years we were at Bayview Lodge. Paradise Park is nice, 3-4 years old and still only $35.00/day. Nice docks and the cabin that we stay in is right next to the boat ramp. Nice to have gas right there as well. We go up (until this year!) with 8 guys and 4 bass boats. I love the area. We have, for big fish, 44, 47, 48, 50 and 50.5. I had 6 between 36 and 44 last year. One evening was the best fishing that I will see in the forseeable future. I caught a 44", went to another spot, caught a 36" after 7 casts, went to a third spot and caugt a 37" after 6 casts. Three fish over 36" on 13 consecutive casts. Not bad for once-a-yearers. 
I couldn't get the pics into the message, but here's the 44"
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f357/68017/Muskie2.jpg
And one of my wife's FAT 42"
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f357/68017/KarlaMuskie.jpg
Edited by Stein 8/21/2006 12:47 PM
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| Stein, the reason i asked is because I am staying at Bayview the 9th - 16th with a buddy. I will PM you when I get home and maybe we can get together a talk muskies?
Gerard
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Posts: 199
Location: Nebraska | muskie! nut:
I'd love to discuss your results when you return. If you see a solo fisherman running around in a maroon Cajun bass boat, stop by and say Hi.
Thanks,
John
Edited by Stein 8/21/2006 2:16 PM
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Posts: 2894
Location: Yahara River Chain | Stein, you have a PM. |
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Posts: 303
Location: Valentine, NE USA | John -
I normally fish alone, it not that big an issue as long as you make sure that one or two people alsways know where you are, when you'll be leaving, returning home, etc.
Netting a fish can be/normally is a problem, though. I usually hand-land fish when alone, much easier that way.
Brian Sanger
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Posts: 2753
Location: Mauston, Wisconsin | I fish alone a lot- safety has to be #1. A good first aid kit- (a couple of the guys here put together a good kit for muskie fisherman ( I believe Todd Forcier or Muskie Medic, had something to do with it)Wear your PFD! Go barbless & you won't have to worry how you're going to get that green thrashing fish unhooked from yourself. Not many folks have the gonad's to pull a 3/0 - 5/0 barbed hook out of their own flesh.
Have fun!
Al
Edited by ESOX Maniac 8/21/2006 6:33 PM
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Posts: 75
| Many good suggestions so far but here are some additional ones.
If you want to use a net, check to see if you can fold a seat back over the handle with the hoop over the side of the boat. Use the strap to keep the seat folded. This will help hold the net in place while you work to release the hooks.
Place a cord on your release tools. If you drop them over the side you can pull them back up.
Make sure the reel is in free spool once the fish is in the net. Place the rod away from the side of the boat.
If you get one while trolling, get the bow mounted trolling motor in the water before you get the fish in the net. It will keep you off the rocks.
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Posts: 199
Location: Nebraska | Thanks for all of the suggestions guys. One benefit to this thread--Musky Brian from the group here is going to join me! I'll only be fishing alone for about half of the trip and he is coming up to catch the last week.
John |
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Posts: 3867
| I also fish alone all the time. Lots of good ideas above but I strongly disagree with one suggestion - hand landing the fish at boatside. I used to do that, but one bad experience sent me to the hospital to get the hook cut out of my hand. If she thrashes your auto reaction is to jerk your hand out of the way. Needle sharp hooks, you hand going up and the fish going down.... Plus, a badly hooked hand, puts a big damper on the next few days of fishing, and it can mean a buddy has to spend a lot of time helping you, including taking you to the hospital.
Now I have a BIG Frabill net with a long handle that I place my knee on as I get the toolds ready, starting with putting on the Lindy gloves. The texture of those Lindy gloves give you a lot of grabbing power and you don't get little cuts from the gills or teeth. (Lots of little cuts add up quick over a long fishing trip, soon your hands are swollen and sore.) The fish stays in the water, in the basket, until I'm ready to take the pic. Tools are immediately available, hanging in tool holders I bought and installed. Plus, my mini-bolt cutters are held in place only with velcro, I can grab and rip them away with either hand. Side cutters, no matter how strong/sharp, will NOT cut large 3X hooks. Barbless is a good idea, but I've never really tried it (works for Al though). Keep the boat clean of baits laying around, always put them away in the box so you don't accidently sit on, fall over on, etc. Once your bait is out of the fish, don't set it just anywhere, take the time to hang it on the rod and tighten up the line. When the fish stays in the net at boatside you can take your time and do everything right. |
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Posts: 2091
Location: Stevens Point, WI | I remember the story Ranger, scary stuff. I fish alone alot too since I have time off during the week and it's hard to find partners with a similar schedule. I always net fish and cut hooks and get the bait out of the way first. Occasionally I will picture a fish, I don't take a tripod with me, I need to get one of the windshield mounts for cameras. Always have some form of communication with you, be it a marine radio or a cell phone, let people know what body of water you are on and when to expect you home. It's definately a little trickier to land and release a fish by yourself, but can be done. I caught this little guy yesterday alone and managed put the camera on top of a folded down seat, set the timer for ten seconds while I still had the fish in the water, lifted it out quick and released it right after the picture. The fish was only out of the water 30 seconds tops. Good luck and be safe.
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Posts: 291
Location: Minneapolis | I'm with Ranger - no hand landing big fish. Or small, green fish. I use a big Beckman by myself, and it's not too bad. For small fish, I use a Boga Grip, which keeps my hands away from the hooks. All my tools are within easy reach, they have wrist tethers, and I like to have spare bolt cutters and pliers.
One thing I like to do is use a downeaster rod holder to hold the net while I work on removing hooks and get the camera ready. I put the net handle in the holder with the yoke of the net just beyond the holder. The fish stays in the water and recovers in the net. It works great. I've done that with fish up to 48" without a problem. |
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Posts: 1137
Location: Holly, MI | rpike - 8/25/2006 4:07 PM
One thing I like to do is use a downeaster rod holder to hold the net while I work on removing hooks and get the camera ready. I put the net handle in the holder with the yoke of the net just beyond the holder. The fish stays in the water and recovers in the net. It works great. I've done that with fish up to 48" without a problem.
Excellent idea! |
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