|
|
Posts: 79
| I was wondering how many of you have taken a break in the action with the hot water temps in Minnesota and Wisconsin?
I haven't been out in quite some time now. Hopefully it cools down soon.
I have been surprised at how many and who are still fishing though. Makes me wonder should I be still fishing anyway?
Attachments
----------------
 heat stress.JPG (40KB - 114 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 321
| You need to trust your gut, there is no real "cut-off" temp, just a feeling you get. H |
|
| |
|
| I will not fish muskies again until I know the water temps drop into the mid 70's I measured water temps over the July 4th weekend down to 30 fow of water. Surface down to 6' was 80.1 It was still 77.6 at 14' At 16' it dropped too 72.3 I would love to be out rowwing, but will wait until temps drop. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 8834
| Too hot to be out anyway |
|
| |
|
Location: Apple Valley | I haven't gone out in 3 weeks now for muskies. I've been bass and crappie fishing. Just so hot. Water temps pushing 90's. Just insane!
Brian |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1184
Location: Iowa Great Lakes | Bass fishing for us.....guess it's a good time for the boat to be back in the shop.... |
|
| |
|
Posts: 357
Location: Duluth, MN | Breaktime for me up here. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1906
Location: Oconto Falls, WI | Was planning to be in northern WI this coming weekend but have chosen not to head up due to temps. Have not been out since the 4th timeframe. |
|
| |
|
Location: Contrarian Island | going bluegillin tomorrow night in madison...I about fell over last tues nite watching 2 younger guys casting for muskies on Monona...84.5 surface temp...unreal. it's the experienced guys that should be setting the example and not fishing.... and i know some guides are still on lakes in MN over 80...sad. |
|
| |
|
| Flatheads make for an exciting break...but, with the water so high...urgggggh. No metro trips for me the entire month of July!! This sucks!! I've also been shocked by the number of guys still fishing. Had trouble releasing a couple of 50+ fish in June! I think, since it's an election year, Al Gore turned his global warming machine back on! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 2691
Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin | The muskie guides and well known muskie sticks on each body of water need to be an example. I canceled all my guide jobs the last few weeks and talked to all the clients that have trips booked through July and into August. They understand the issue and most were very very good about it. The ones that were less than understanding I can't help and just won't rebook. Plenty of buisness out there. I will go out of my way to help the people who care about the health of the fish.
Let's all be good examples and help spread the word about heat related stress and delayed mortality.
I was out Saturday night looking around, havin a few cold ones, listening to some tunes and saw two dead muskies. Both had fresh flesh tears from being caught. I talked to a couple guys at the launch that just got in from targeting muskies. They had no idea of the dangers. I was very nice and explained all the issues. They said they would give it a few weeks before they tried again. Spreading the word will help. Be nice and people will listen.
If a guide is giving up $1000 to $2500 a week they can take a break also.
A muskie can swim off but the effects of the catch will not be good. Delayed mortality, stunted growth, infection, etc. Nothing good about stressing them out when they are at their weakest point all year.
My hats off to everyone who is giving the muskies a break. Let em grow and live for another year. Heat kills. Dead fish don't excite anyone. |
|
| |
|
Location: Sun Prairie, WI | I’m seeing reports on other sites of “guides” on two south central Wisconsin flowages posting pictures of recent musky catches in mid-80’s water temps. One is even posting on FB about upcoming openings he has the next few days for clients to book with him. Unreal…
Edited by gtp888 7/17/2012 9:18 AM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 582
| we were out swimming this past weekend and surface temps were warm.. (83 degrees), but once you get about 2 feet down the water was alot colder. We measured it at 73 degrees by dropping my transducer. |
|
| |
|
| I think some of these guys should be more versitile and target other species during this hot weather. I know there is one guide in particular fishing and guiding on some MN lakes above 80. One of the lakes is a broodstock lake well over 80 degrees. Same individual will slam people for fishing in Indiana when the lakes are even close to 80. Why is it ok to fish out of state in 80 degree water temps but not in your own state? That seems very selfish. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1901
Location: MN | "we were out swimming this past weekend and surface temps were warm.. (83 degrees), but once you get about 2 feet down the water was alot colder. We measured it at 73 degrees by dropping my transducer."
That may be true, but the top 2 feet is the zone where much of the fight will take place, the zone where the fish will be netted and contained while removing hooks, and also the zone the fish will be released into. It's still an iffy deal at best, and up to each individual. While most on here have at least been informed, amazing how many are out there don't know or aren't aware of any of this or the effect on the fishery. Better days ahead hopefully. We need an Alberta clipper! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1039
| I haven't made a musky cast in July. I hung it up a little early as that was when the gills left my very shallow Bay.
I did take my best friend's 7 year old fishing for pannies last week, though. It was actually pretty fun.
Now it is time to chase some salmon around. It is also time to get the fall gear ready to go. |
|
| |
|
Location: Contrarian Island | it's nice to see guides like Mike Koepp, Todd Forcier and others cancelling trips when water is too hot...wish other guides would do the same...some will blast guys in their home state for fishing 80 + but then travel to MN and do the same thing....hypocrisy at it's best!!!!!
the experienced anglers, guides/"pro staffers" should set the example....
Edited by BNelson 7/17/2012 11:11 AM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 321
| bluegill tast good. H
Edited by Homer 7/17/2012 10:48 AM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | Golf Ball flies farther when it's warm out ... |
|
| |
|
Posts: 7090
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | When it's too hot to fish...
Attachments
----------------
north-ave-top.jpg (250KB - 138 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 373
Location: Maine Township, MN | esoxaddict - 7/16/2012 4:35 PM
Too hot to be out anyway
For sure. I'm getting sick of this heat! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 143
Location: La Crosse, WI | This year has just been insanely hot! I would like to credit everyone on this website for informing me on the dangers of fishing muskies in high temps. Even though I love to chase them it doesn't seem right if the fish has a high percentage of dying. I've also been able to inform some of my fishing buddies on the dangers of fishing in high temps. All in all, I probably saved the life of the one muskie we would have caught all month haha!
Depending on guiding muskies as a way of life and cancelling trips due to high water temps is a slippery slope. Its easy to sit back and make that decision for the person but much more difficult if you're the one depending on the income. I'm just glad the information is out there and many people choose to hang up their sticks for a month or longer...
Best guess for when we'll be able to get back into the action? |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1416
Location: oconomowoc, wi | same here.. haven't tossed a musky bait since the end of june. the 620vs is rigged up for salmon and trout on lake michigan. having a blast with those til we cool back down.. besides, salmon taste better then musky anyways! kidding of course! 
(july 16th michigan 003.JPG)
Attachments
----------------
july 16th michigan 003.JPG (29KB - 129 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 61
| Chuckin Baits - 7/17/2012 11:57 AM
This year has just been insanely hot! I would like to credit everyone on this website for informing me on the dangers of fishing muskies in high temps. Even though I love to chase them it doesn't seem right if the fish has a high percentage of dying. I've also been able to inform some of my fishing buddies on the dangers of fishing in high temps. All in all, I probably saved the life of the one muskie we would have caught all month haha!
Depending on guiding muskies as a way of life and cancelling trips due to high water temps is a slippery slope. Its easy to sit back and make that decision for the person but much more difficult if you're the one depending on the income. I'm just glad the information is out there and many people choose to hang up their sticks for a month or longer...
Best guess for when we'll be able to get back into the action?
Mid August if we are lucky. Probably more like the first week of September down here in SE Wisconsin. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 582
| Propster - 7/17/2012 10:26 AM
"we were out swimming this past weekend and surface temps were warm.. (83 degrees), but once you get about 2 feet down the water was alot colder. We measured it at 73 degrees by dropping my transducer."
That may be true, but the top 2 feet is the zone where much of the fight will take place, the zone where the fish will be netted and contained while removing hooks, and also the zone the fish will be released into. It's still an iffy deal at best, and up to each individual. While most on here have at least been informed, amazing how many are out there don't know or aren't aware of any of this or the effect on the fishery. Better days ahead hopefully. We need an Alberta clipper!
did i say anything to the contrary? Did i once mention i am good to go fishing in these temps? What some of you don't realize is the top 2 feet of water column is not the entire lake. i have successfully released lots of fish in warm water temps. I traditionally don't fish for muskie in warm water, but there are lots of people on my lake doing it and i am not going to yell at them. This is a sport fish, and i care about the quality of this sport as much as the next guy. But some of you are way over the top believing that if a fish dies, the end of the world is coming. Its a fish! and if your that concerned its probably not a good idea to catch a muskie with possibly 3 giant treble hooks yanked thru its mouth and gills and you should stick to bluegill. That being said, i do care enough and am lucky enough to be able to fish for other species until the conditions IMO improve. But thats not the same for everyone else. People who enjoy fishing for them, spent $2000 a week on a cabin etc... its up to all of us to do the right thing as we see it, but its not illegal to fish for muskies when the temp hits 80 degrees so i won't be standing at the boat landing with a sign on or anything condemning anyone else.
Edited by jackson 7/17/2012 12:43 PM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 148
Location: Milwaukee, WI | This AM, on the radio, I heard the Manager of MN DNR say MN has already had more than one case of northern pike die-offs from temperature related stress in shallow lakes. There is no place these fish can get refuge from high-temp/low 02 in the shallow, weedy lakes. If its happening to pike, muskies are likely under stress too. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 4343
Location: Smith Creek | Can someone lend Slamr a camera with zoom? |
|
| |
|
Posts: 7090
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | Flambeauski - 7/17/2012 12:57 PM
Can someone lend Slamr a camera with zoom?
No offense to muskie fisherman and nature viewing on the lake is cool and all but when THIS is right in front of your tourney HQ, you're glad you chose volleyball instead of hockey years and years ago...
Attachments
----------------
zoom.JPG (233KB - 123 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 1901
Location: MN | "did i say anything to the contrary? Did i once mention i am good to go fishing in these temps? What some of you don't realize is the top 2 feet of water column is not the entire lake. i have successfully released lots of fish in warm water temps. I traditionally don't fish for muskie in warm water, but there are lots of people on my lake doing it and i am not going to yell at them. This is a sport fish, and i care about the quality of this sport as much as the next guy. But some of you are way over the top believing that if a fish dies, the end of the world is coming. Its a fish! and if your that concerned its probably not a good idea to catch a muskie with possibly 3 giant treble hooks yanked thru its mouth and gills and you should stick to bluegill. That being said, i do care enough and am lucky enough to be able to fish for other species until the conditions IMO improve. But thats not the same for everyone else. People who enjoy fishing for them, spent $2000 a week on a cabin etc... its up to all of us to do the right thing as we see it, but its not illegal to fish for muskies when the temp hits 80 degrees so i won't be standing at the boat landing with a sign on or anything condemning anyone else."
Jackson, not sure where this rant came from. I also did not make any accusation toward you or anyone else. If you took this the wrong way, sorry. In case anyone misinterpreted your post as a rational that it was okay to go ahead and fish - I'm not going to do any harm because two feet down it's much cooler - I just wanted to point out what others may not have thought of, and what your post appeared not to address.
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 8834
| Slamr - 7/17/2012 1:12 PM
Flambeauski - 7/17/2012 12:57 PM
Can someone lend Slamr a camera with zoom?
No offense to muskie fisherman and nature viewing on the lake is cool and all but when THIS is right in front of your tourney HQ, you're glad you chose volleyball instead of hockey years and years ago...
But how do you concentrate on the game? I'd be thrown off the team for letting the ball go right by. Again and again and again... |
|
| |
