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Posts: 4
Location: Davenport, IA / Watersmeet, MI | This may be a question for a conservation officer, or a fisheries biologist, but it seams like you guys know a thing about muskie conservation.
What is the best net/cradle for the protecting the fish and the pocket book? What is better for the fish? Nets? or cradles?
Also, there are a lot of products out there for walleye and bass fishermen that help keep their fish alive and healthy while in their livewell. Are there any products that muskie fishermen should be aware of that would give our fish a greater chance of survival? What about with warm water conditions and low oxygen levels? Is there anything fishermen should do to help reduce the stress on the fish besides minimizing the fish’s time out of water?
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Posts: 2089
| Kid,
In my opinion, purchase the biggest net you can afford.Cradles are used by some, but can be difficult to handle and are a 2 person deal.I'm using a Big Kahuna from Frabill and it literally swallows 50" ers. The nets used by muskie guys/gals are what I consider to be "in the water livewells". Net the fish and just leave it in the water with the hoop of the net resting on the gunwale.Oh, yeah, I see you're in the QC's. If you get a chance, check out Lake George in Rock Island County.At one time there were some really fat , shad fed fish in there.Good Luck! Steve |
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Posts: 2112
Location: The Sportsman, home, or out on the water | I'm liking the net. 1/2 of the fish in our boat unhook themselves in the net. |
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Posts: 2754
Location: Mauston, Wisconsin | Cradles can be difficult for landing the fish, versus nets can be difficult for in-the-water measuring of the fish, I have both in the boat- big Beckman XD fin saver net to capture/land the fish and a cradle for in water measurements.
If you're on limited budget-go for the biggest net you can afford. Beckman, Frabill and Stowmaster are all good choices.
Have fun!
Al |
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Posts: 85
| I asked the same question several ago of a couple muskie guys.
One of them in return asked me a question. "Do you want to use a cradle and lean over and have a 50 inch fish that's barely hooked on a lure with three treble hooks a foot away from your face as you try to get a cradle under it?"
That did it for me!! Big ole net!
Chris
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Posts: 1996
Location: Pelican Lake/Three Lakes Chain | I too opt for the biggest net that is practical. Frabill's Big Kahuna swallows up any size fish you can imagine, and like Steve said, is a livewell in the lake. I can't imagine anything short of not hooking them to start with being easier on the fish. |
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| Cradles work but it takes two guys and I have found the net is simply better and easier to use. Get the best net you can afford and you will be set. You can also learn to water release most fish and only net the bigger ones when necessary. |
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Posts: 32935
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Knotless coated nets like the Frabilll are the key. Use the largest net you can effectively carry and operate. The Big Kahuna is a great net, but Sue can't use it very well becuase of the size of the net and hoop, so we went with a Powercatch. Big guys like Steve Jonesi would have no problems, but Sue was 'slow' with that model, so I added that one to a 'netless' friend's rig last year.
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| In terms of what's best for the fish....re: landing it
1.) Craddle is good (but two person operation is the downside as well as over playing the fish to land it sometimes versus a big hoop net to scoop in fish)
2.) Big hoop net - rubber coated fin protector
In terms of what's best for the fish after landing it ....to minimize out of the water experience:
1.) Let fish sit in craddle or big net for several minutes to recuperate before taking pic's
2.) Take pic with horizontal hold and <30 seconds (which means prep your camera before, determine best location for pic, get lures out of the way, etc.)
3.) Take measurements of fish in the water - not in the boat to reduce potential for delayed onset of mortality. |
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| Go with a big net.Cradles can be very dangerous.It takes 2 people to use it and when the fish is coming in it can launch forward and up, sticking baits in your arms.I saw a guy get hurt bad after a fish launched over the cradle and stuck a depthraider in his arm with the fish attached.I use the big kahuna and love it.
Jeff Hanson |
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Posts: 906
Location: Warroad, Mn | Cradles are hard to "net" fish with. Even with experienced guys it's hard to get a fish to come into a cradle (seem like they don't want too). It's also very easy to catch a hook on the cradle when trying to get the fish in it, with lots of bad results. Big nets are lots easier. I use the Frabil big Kahuna.
However, I do use a cradle for measuring fish and for handling fish after we've netted them. I net the fish with a big Kahuna and if it's something we need to measure accurately or want picture of we'll put it in the cradle. The cradle I use (again Frabil) is a measuring device and is easy to use in the water (which is easy on the fish).
Doug Johnson |
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Posts: 786
Location: Minnesota | I have a Frabill Kwik Kradle but, am usually alone and just got a Big Kahuna. IMO the cradles are the best but, as others here have said it is usually a 2 man job. The big nets are nice as you can work them alone by trapping the handle under the seat. Just my opinion.
James |
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Posts: 37
Location: searchin for the first legal. | i think the best net is beckman. may cost a little more but will last you a very long time. also get a net with rubber coating because its better for the fish and your lures dont get caught up in the net meshing. |
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| I put over 200 fish a year in my net.I used beckman for years, the last 3 that I used them I had fish blast threw the net by the end of the year.The last year that I used them I wrecked 2 bags. Its not fun having to net your clients fish twice after the first time it tore out of the side of the bag.I swiched to Frabill nets and have not had any problems.
Jeff Hanson |
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Posts: 3913
| I'm suprised they even still sell cradles. Get a high quality big net with the rubber coating to protect fins.
BTW - look at the pic to the left of this post. That's what can happen when you try to unhook a fish that's laying in the water (not in a net) at boatside. Sharing a Jackpot with an upper 30"s fish sent me to the ER.
Edited by Ranger 3/13/2007 10:19 PM
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Posts: 79
Location: S.E. Wisconsin | I also agree with going with a net, with a cradle people have a tendency to play a fish to long, with a net its possible to get him in the bag and let him cool down before release, very important when the water temps start getting higher. |
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