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Posts: 153
| I had posted a note on the Fishing Reports Forum and "sobering" asked me to move the post to the General Section.
Last Thursday night my buddy Tom caught a 50 incher in the Northwest Angle portion of LOTW. The water temp in the bay was 81 degrees. He has caught many 48 to 49 inch fish. He really wanted a out of the water photo, and can't blame him. His lure (a spinnerbait) was barbless, the fish was netted (I would not say it was a hot fish at that point, but not exhausted either), we had it out of the water for less than twenty seconds, probably less than 15 seconds. And did our best to support the fish horizonitally. There was a little blood on the tail. I released the fish and really felt it was a good release (I have had the opportunity to handle a ton of big fish), it swam (or should I say paddled) away almost immediately when put back in the water.
The next day we went back to that bay and I noticed three Bald Eagles on shore. The fish was on shore. My buddy was very bummed out, as was I. I have a rule in my boat: You get one out of the water photo on a 50 incher, after that it is all water release shots. I am not saying had we done this the fish would have survived, but may have increased its chances.
I am fairly confident the high water temp had an impact on the fishes survival.
I also am certain that over the years, other fish have passed that have been caught in my boat. But never have seen a sight like this.
Dan
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Posts: 925
| I was up there last week too and fished main lake most of the week. We had consistent water temps around 76. Most fish swam away nicely, but a few struggled. We did what we could and stayed around for a little while to make sure they didn't go belly up. But there is no way to know if they survived or not. It does suck, but that's part of fishing.
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Posts: 667
Location: Roscoe IL | It happens and it's part of fishing. I'm sure some I released may not have survived but we do everything possible to prevent it. Live learn and apply..
Most accidents happen in the bathroom. For me it's just before I make it to the bathroom  |
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Posts: 321
| This post is classic. Start a memorial:-) Seriously it is a fish. If you feel bad donate a few dollars towards stocking. H
Edited by Homer 7/24/2012 4:50 PM
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| This is amazing. The sorrow that is felt over the death of a fish. I love fishing muskys, and will always do it. I have abstained for the last week and half because its too hot, for me, and the fish. But this saddness some people have for these creatures, is unfathamable to me.
I have some freinds that would also cry over a dead fifty. But at the same time, speak about how they dont trust, hate, wouldnt help, or just plain discriminate against certain segments of the human population(not saying the OP feels that way, just people that I know who also cry over dead fish). How can people be so in love with a fish, yet have such disdain for their neighbors? ITS A FISH!!
What im trying to say is, if you are so inlove with these majestic animals, and you think that driving giant hooks into their faces dosent have a high likely hood of hurting or killing them, then you are dilisiunal. If the love for these fish cause you to become sad enough that you need to create memorials for them when they die, then fishing for them isnt for you. I would suggest focusing your attention towards protection and conservation. Which would include fighting to have musky fishing banned. Why are you trying to kill these animals(which is what these giant hooks will do) when you have such love for them.
Full disclosure: I religously practice CPR, and do everthing I can to safely and effectivly release these fish that I love fishing for.
-sorry for the poor grammer and spelling. In a hurry. Have a good day. |
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| Well said WOW . I would not feel great about seeing a fish I caught die no matter what the size was , but we walk a fine line with the lures and equipment we use . Muskie lures definatley are not healthy for muskies ! Also i dont think 81 water temps killed the fish . Just my opinion |
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Posts: 559
| About 4 years ago I had a 45 -46 roll the line around it about 6 times from its head to tail. I could not move the fish , the water was warm and released it 4 times . The fish did not make it my buddies found it 3 days later . I wish I would have kept and mounted it out of respect for the fish. Just felt bad it went to waste .
Ps I have caught bigger fish |
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| I think some of you took the message the wrong way. |
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Posts: 992
| yeah I agree...I understand the disappointment as those are naturally reproducing fish as opposed the hatchery reared fish they probably pump into most of your waters homer...
I agree though, if we cared that much we wouldnt try to hook their faces all the time |
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Posts: 209
| People care about killing them because they know that they can't catch dead ones. I don't think it's really "caring" for the fish, necessarily. |
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Posts: 2378
Location: Chisholm, MN | MuskieMark01 - 7/24/2012 7:23 PM
People care about killing them because they know that they can't catch dead ones. I don't think it's really "caring" for the fish, necessarily.
+1 |
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Posts: 153
| WOW!
You obviously don't know about hooks. A RadDog spinnerbait hook and barbless is not a massive hook. And a hook set with a long soft rod doesn't drive a massive hook into the fishes mouth.
Dan
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Posts: 3
| Ultimately sucks-casts a shadow on his PB no question. That is the nature of the game though you will lose some fish no matter what, that is why you spend big bucks on the best nets and release tools, but in the end some fish die. I was on a charter in Costa Rica and we caught a 14' black marlin. Most awesome thing I ever witnessed-trying to reel that fish in was like trying to pull in a VW beetle. THe captain was very aggresive with boat positioning and kept shouting "get that fish in". We literally horsed it in as best we could-but it was 600# plus. We tried our best but the fish would not go back. Talk about a fishing high and then a low. The captain said later 75% of marlins that large literally fight themselves to death. I feel your guys pain, but it happens. Just keep doing your best on clean releases and overall it is still better than C+R for the muskies than 20 years ago. Remember the "cradle"??? that at one time was the way to proper way to C+R release these fish-keep casting and do your best. No matter what some fish just inhale a bait loaded with 2-3 #7 treble hooks and it is most likely over before you even set the hook no matter the water temp. |
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Posts: 1086
| If you're ever out fishing and have one of these fish pass away on you, which can happen from many different reasons other than heat related water temps and time out of water and hooks going through the jaw, if the fish is of legal size to have in your possession on that lake that you're on and you feel the fish isn't going to make it...even after an hour or two of multiple attempts to revive it...harvest the fish. Skin mount it if you'd prefer and can afford it, the taxidermist can donate the meat to a local food bank if you're not interested in having the meat for yourself, or...take it back and filet it up, grill it, have it smoked. I won't go into the whole dead-beaten horse topic of whether or not muskie meat is or is not any good to eat, that topic has been beaten and overkilled enough.
All I'm saying is...if you feel the fish won't make it and you're feeling bad about it, don't waste the fish. You have options. If the fish is undersize for that particular lake and you're forced to release it, even knowing it's not going to make it, well then...yeah, it's a bummer. It is what it is. However...just take a look at what was described above, the fish was released to the best of their ability and with the best of intentions, yet, it perished, washed ashore and a pack of Bald Eagles, a bird that was/is on the endangered species list, had their bellies full, and what the Bald Eagles didn't finish, I'm sure the raccoons did later, completing the cycle of the food chain, rendering it not wasted. Bummer it's a lost fish...of any size, but, it happens. It's part of the sport.
Delayed mortality is a fact, it can and does happen to a percentage of fish. Even a percentage of the fish caught by highly experienced guides, that might do everything perfect, to the letter and by the book with perfect experienced handling and release techniques and efforts, perish. Things happen that is beyond human control at that point. Can't be so naive to think that a percentage of guide-caught fish never perish. That's b.s. Cardiac arrest can happen in these fish too, even in cold water, just like humans that no two humans have like health conditions, same goes for the fish.
Edited by MACK 7/24/2012 8:25 PM
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Posts: 1150
Location: Minnesota. | Dan,
Nice post!
You did a good job on the release by the sounds of it. If the photo shoot was short I dunno if it'd made any diff. anyway since the fish was pooped and the warm water was a huge factor.
Good on ya! This is a blood sport afterall and you cared enough to give the critter your best.
Jeremy...who also killed his first fish in 30 yrs (that I knew of) a couple weeks ago. Couldn't get her back quick enough and it bugged me awhile but I was in a big wind and drifting really close to rocks and I was alone. |
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| Why even put this up here? Fish die, we loose deer that we hit, but why would you put this up here?????? Everyoned knows it's a god awful hot this summer. There's going to be mortality this year, but again, why put this up here?
It's just a fish..... |
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Posts: 432
Location: Eagan, MN | I don't see anything wrong w/ Dan's post. He's not making it out to be a tragedy... I don't know why you guys are reading that much into it??? The guy is just talkin' fishing. Relax. |
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Posts: 636
Location: Bloomington, MN | These things do happen, and I've had it happen to me. 30 seconds max. out of the water, picture time!, and back in. The good thing about my incident is that a kid caught the 46.5", and it is on his wall. A vast majority of us need to book our fishing time months in advance due to labor camp restrictions. Who would know it would be nuclear hot so early in the season! Fish when you can fish!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFvujknrBuE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3b3vg9k8Abc
Edited by Clark A 7/24/2012 10:05 PM
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Posts: 100
Location: Bemidji/Cass Lake | Well, that's warm water for ya. Excellent example here of what can happen. Some will care, some wont. Like everything. |
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Location: 31 | cast10K - 7/24/2012 9:45 PM I don't see anything wrong w/ Dan's post. He's not making it out to be a tragedy... I don't know why you guys are reading that much into it??? The guy is just talkin' fishing. Relax. Yeah, I don't see a muskie memorial... just a healthy exchange of information for others to consider and apply to their own fishing. I personally think we need more posts like this, he even took some responsibility for breaking his 80° water release routine. I think that took a little courage to admit... When you guys bust someone's chops like this, others will be less inclined to post how they lost a fish, or whatever and we will lose that knowledge. A good angler/person should always try to learn and possibly reevaluate from as much available information as possible. Let's not limit ourselves here just because somebody feel something more deeply than we do. Thanks for posting Dan. |
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| Ok. Maybe the OP wasnt talking about depression from deceased fish.. But, over the last 2 weeks I have heard some very disturbing things about dead muskies, and fisherman who dont do things the exact same way as the self professed "professionals".
"If your not like me, then your not a real muskie fisherman." "How dare you fish when its hot." "Oh my god, a dead fish, I cant believe how stupid people are"
These are just a sampling of the things Ive heard. And this thread, and the saddness of a dead fifty just kinda put me over the top with my disgust, for some of the people in this sport. The OP is not one of them. I am sorry that that fish couldnt get revived, that sucks, but, oh well, thats fishing. It does seem like topics like these are started to rub stuff in peoples faces.
Good Luck! |
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| The point: the water is hot and it's hard on the fish. Do your very best to minimize fight time, fish handling and the fish's time out of the water. This may mean water release. Be aware of the issue, consider changing your standard practices, and do your best to make a good release if that's your intent -- that is the point. |
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Posts: 829
Location: Maple Grove, MN | Dan, Hey, you did your best. Life happens. Sometimes fish die. Worse, sometimes people die.
Good luck on your next fish.
Edited by Herb_b 7/24/2012 10:49 PM
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| I think the title of the thread is the part that is kind of funny. BR |
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Posts: 415
| If you guys don't like the subject or the original post then don't respond. Plain and simple. Why waste the time to come on here and brow beat the guy. You realize "WOW" that you are adding nothing to this site with your responses here and are no better than the people you complain about. |
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Posts: 174
Location: Ontario | Good post. Catching is great releasing them feels even better. I make my kids release everything other than some walleye or trout occasionally for dinner. Respect of all species is to be admired,the fact it was a musky more so important to this group.Conservation is a state of mind,and is probably the biggest reason sites like this even exist.If not,me thinks dynamite would be the lure of choice. |
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| Ja Rule - 7/25/2012 5:40 AM
If you guys don't like the subject or the original post then don't respond. Plain and simple. Why waste the time to come on here and brow beat the guy. You realize "WOW" that you are adding nothing to this site with your responses here and are no better than the people you complain about.
Education, similar to helping a new angler who is not used to releasing fish or does not have the proper education. Simply helping a fellow angler out. BR |
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| what do you add Ben besides sarcasm and your twisted does of reality? do tell.
I agree with Sackett. There are always going to be a certain % in this sport that WILL care and not fish when it's not good for the fish, and there is always going to be a certain % that will never care, take the "it's just a fish attitude" and go out and not bat an eye if they kill fish. I don't see that changing much in the next 100 years. Some are selfish and some like to fish for other species like bluegils when it's not safe or when they know the chance to kill one is much higher.
The guys I know and respect are the ones not fishing.
Take care.
BN, login if you are going to attack someone. Last request. |
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Posts: 1220
| There is a riddle that asks what you call a man who tells the truth almost all the time, and the aswer is, "A Liar." If you turned that onto the angler who almost always makes a proper choice about when to fish, how to release, when to skip the photo, and almost never, ever kills a fish and ask what he is.....the same test would rule that he is a "Fish Killer!" You could also make an intelligent argument about why the guy who kills and eats his musky being less damaging to a resource than those who just sort of interupt a musk's life to torture and disfigure it for a while...just for some kind of sick pleasure they get from it. The answer is that we are not perfect and guilt is a perfect emotion to feel when it makes us strive to be better at what we do. Personally, I feel that those who fish for musky are likely to be the finest, most dedicated, and truly conservation minded folks I know (including those of us who like to fish the tournaments.) We are just not perfect. And, I can skip fishing a SE Wisconsin lake this weekend and drive up North a whole heckuva lot easier than some poor guy who waits all year for his Canada trip, really can't change it at the last minute, and ends up fishing water warmer than he would have chosen. My take is that most of the time we decide that we were put here to make judgements on the faults of others....somebody needs to buy us a bigger mirror! |
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| Guest - 7/25/2012 7:23 AM
what do you add Ben besides sarcasm and your twisted does of reality? do tell.
I agree with Sackett. There are always going to be a certain % in this sport that WILL care and not fish when it's not good for the fish, and there is always going to be a certain % that will never care, take the "it's just a fish attitude" and go out and not bat an eye if they kill fish. I don't see that changing much in the next 100 years. Some are selfish and some like to fish for other species like bluegils when it's not safe or when they know the chance to kill one is much higher.
The guys I know and respect are the ones not fishing.
Take care.
DougJ had touched on the warm season in the Angle, I trust his opinion. However I do add sarcasm, but it is much more pleasant than self-righteousness. Implying someone does not care for the health of the fishery because they fish is silly. It is more about patting yourself on the back. My guess is plenty of people are fishing LOW right now and have been. I am also guessing most fish released just fine. No need for drama, unless you really need to prop yourself up that much.BR |
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