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Posts: 337
Location: Central WI | I caught a musky today that inhaled a bulldawg. It basically just had the tail of the bulldawg hanging out of his mouth as I netted it. The front hook and the body of the bulldawg were buried in his mouth. I got the fish into the net and it started thrashing around and got the rear hook of the dawg hooked on the net so his head was up out of the water. Before I could do anything, the fish started thrashing again with one treble in his throat and the other treble stuck in the net. I was able to easily get the hook that was buried in his throat out. As I was getting the lure out of the net I noticed blood in the water coming out of the gills. I got the fish up for the Gopro and there was blood coming down his belly from the gills. Got a quick measurement and released the fish. She took off strong, but I'm wondering what the chances of the fish surviving are? With the water being cold will it help stop the bleeding? I thought about going back to the spot where I caught it and seeing if she was floating. Kind of depressing...it was a new personal best, but might be a dead fish now.
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Posts: 310
Location: Lake St.Clair | Best thing you could have done was grab the knipex and do some hook cutting. I'm assuming she got the other treble gilled pretty bad?
Hopefully someone chimes in on cold water and bleeding... that's the worst feeling as a true musky angler hope she's stayed strong and the damage wasnt life threating, wishful thinking but what are you gonna do besides have all the proper tools for surgery.
If it happens to me where I visually see a fish belly up, wich hasn't and hope to god doesn't ill get a mount of the fish.
I couldn't leave one floating and I've seen guys do it trolling....
Edited by ToothTamer 11/1/2013 5:00 PM
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Location: Eastern Ontario | There is a good chance the fish will survive. You did everything you could and if the fish dies turtles have to eat too. In the past I was involved in a tagging study where all fish had to be tagged even if we thought they wouldn't survive and most did and were recaptured sometimes several times. Muskies that are bleeding profusely in air seem to stop bleeding in water. (I believe I read somewhere that a fish's blood will not congeal in air but will in water)
Again you did what you could.
Edited by horsehunter 11/1/2013 5:11 PM
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Posts: 337
Location: Central WI | That makes me feel a little better. The treble that was in the throat didn't look bad as I was removing it. One hook on the treble..popped it out and the lure was out in a couple seconds. I fished a good 40 minutes in that area after I released the fish, so hopefully she's still swimming... |
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Posts: 20281
Location: oswego, il | Caught a musky last weekend with a fresh gill taker hanging out of its plate. Wasn't from me and there was no blood. Caught quite a few pike on vermillion with light pink been severed for awhile gill takers. As long as you did not hit a vital the fish is ok. |
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Posts: 82
| I caught one a few years back and could see something grey out of its gills. Once in the net I noticed it was two busted gills from a previous capture. This fish fought great and swam away. So as long as they swim away they have a chance. |
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Posts: 99
Location: West Virginia | I recently watched a bass fishing episode on WFN where the guy recommended using Mt. Dew as a way to stop bleeding on a Gilled damaged fish. Anyon else ever hear this or try it. |
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Posts: 2893
Location: Yahara River Chain | I say you almost did all that you could done. If it were me, I would not have picked it up out of the water to measure or a pic if I saw it was bleeding so bad. Just release it by flipping the net over. But that's me. |
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Posts: 20281
Location: oswego, il | I have released plenty of muskies that were hooked badly or had so much fire in them they just flat refused to be handled at all straight from the net. A personal best though, I would want that measurement, just be quick as you would normally. |
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Posts: 247
Location: Grand Marais, MN | And even if it did die, don't beat yourself up about it, anyone who has been in the game long enough statistically has killed one or two, I'm sure you know how to handle a fish, sometimes there's nothing you can do.
Cold water should help keep the fish hearty and the bleeding down, theres a good chance its still swimming if she took off well. |
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Posts: 365
| when you get a badly hooked fish ,,, cut the hooks, cut the hooks, cut the hooks ,,, leave it in the water as much as possible ,,, forget the measurements and photos ,,, hold the fish by the tail in an upright position and gently cradle its belly with your other hand until the fish wants to go ---- hopefully the fish will be ok ---- jim
PS --- I always hang around the release area for 15 minutes just in case the fish floats back up to the surface and requires more help ----- |
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Posts: 42
Location: Ontario | Mace - 11/1/2013 11:36 PM
I recently watched a bass fishing episode on WFN where the guy recommended using Mt. Dew as a way to stop bleeding on a Gilled damaged fish. Anyon else ever hear this or try it.
If we want to kill our minnows we pour any type of soda into the water and they are dead within a minute or two, so I'm sure its very bad to pure Mt. Dew on the gills |
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Posts: 247
Location: Grand Marais, MN | Mace - 11/1/2013 10:36 PM
I recently watched a bass fishing episode on WFN where the guy recommended using Mt. Dew as a way to stop bleeding on a Gilled damaged fish. Anyon else ever hear this or try it.
leave it to bass fishermen to figure that one  I wouldn't even recommend pouring mt dew in human mouths |
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Posts: 63
Location: Minnesota | I'd say the fish survived, as mentioned above the best way to go is to cut the hooks.
As for the Mtn. Dew thing, I have no idea why or how it would work but its a funny idea!  Never gonna try it of course. |
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Posts: 4342
Location: Smith Creek | Depending on how much it was bleeding I might have stuck it in my livewell for a little while, that way if it does expire I'll know and can react accordingly. No reason to stick around and accidentally kill more if it goes belly up. And it's a huge relief if the bleeding stops right away in the livewell, too. |
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Posts: 337
Location: Central WI | I think the fish survived, unless it sank to the bottom and died. It swam off strong. I fished that same area for a good 40 minutes after the release and never saw her come up. I guess I was mainly curious as to whether or not fish stop bleeding easier with the colder water temps. I was fishing on the WI River, so I checked the shoreline down river the next two days and didn't see any floating fish. |
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| dead fish don't always float |
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| I usually cradle the fish with my hand and turn the trolling motor on slow.
One 40 I caught was severely beat up, split fins and deformed jaw. Got its spunk back after running the trolling motor for a bit.
Who knows if it would have made it with the lure stuck in it's mouth.
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Posts: 242
| Mace - 11/1/2013 10:36 PM
I recently watched a bass fishing episode on WFN where the guy recommended using Mt. Dew as a way to stop bleeding on a Gilled damaged fish. Anyon else ever hear this or try it.
I heard the same thing, but it was with Sprite. According to the guy, the citrus acid causes the capillaries to rapidly shrink, thus stopping the bleeding. It did stop the gill bleeding of the bass immediately, but as motioned before, I don't know how good that would be for any long term survival.
Edited by Lucky Craft Man 11/9/2013 7:45 PM
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Posts: 131
Location: Lake St. Clair | Caught one in November that was hooked about the same way. Pounder head first down her throat and only the tip of the tail sticking out. Got the back hook out as it was stuck in her jaw and cut the front out from the backside through the gills. She was bleeding pretty good but it seemed to stop when I out her in the water to release her. Took a while but she held herself up and swam away slowly and then disappeared as she swam back to her home. I was nervous as it took way longer than usual for her to come back to her wits. If they swim away, I'd say you did your part. That being said, if you catch enough of them, odds are you will probably kill one at some point. |
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Posts: 216
| I've heard this case too many times now always with rubber too. These fish are eating it hitting you on slack line and getting it down there throat before you get a chance to set the hook. And for this reason rubber sucks, never had this happen to me on blades or cranks. Been wanting to use rubber a little more often but this kinda steers you away I don't wanna kill any fish, especially if I can nail em on something else. If it ain't broke don't fix it right? |
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Posts: 2754
Location: Mauston, Wisconsin | Don't lose sleep over this, if its that bad hang up the rod's. If you don't want to hurt the fish, try hookless or scuba diving.......... Just saying - some of them will die, including some that don't bleed. Like other's have said, I've caught fish with gill arches hanging out, even prop wounds and other lacerations. They can be and are pretty tough fish. However, if over played or severely stressed by being out of water to long they can very well die post release.
Wizzie (Tom Wisnoski - Wizzie Tails) told me a good analogy that he uses with clients and others he encounters at one of the early 90's bait swaps at Smokie's while chatting about releases techniques. "Take a normal breath when you take the fish out of the water and hold it, when you have to take another breath, so does the fish! Humans can't breath under water, fish can't breath out of the water." It works, my grandchildren and other kids I talk to about catch & release get it immediately.... thanks Wizzie!
Have fun!
Al |
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Posts: 639
Location: S.W. WI | I've fished hard for 10+ yrs. Caught A lot of fish on Dawgs and the only fish I've ever had swallow or hooked deeply was on bucktails and spinnerbaits, sm cranks. Over 300 fish caught and only 2 I know of died- (bucktail & spinnerbait) and only a few others ever hooked deep enough to have any extra concern.
Had a "guide" once tell me "Mag Dawgs kill fish" then procede to cast a 5" tiny Curley Sue all day.
What a JOKE!!
In MY opinion and as MY results show... Small baits are far more likely to get swallowed and kill fish.
-Jon
Edited by Rudedog 12/17/2013 10:10 AM
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Posts: 1202
Location: Money, PA | Its the nature of the sport! We do ALL we can to ensure the safe return of muskies. That's enough....I have caught and safely released a lot of muskies over the years and THATS what I keep my focus on when I catch one that's deeply hooked or question survival after release. To those who lose sleep over it or obsess over it; I always suggest bird watching as a sport instead.
IMO, in this cold water, that fish will be fine. |
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Posts: 216
| True I have seen a few with ripped and hanging or missing gills healed over.Even caught one with a huge piece of it's outer cheek missing.There's one in the big fish lax pics that someone caught that looks similar.They were trying to eat like that i guess and I don't believe I've ever caught a Muskie that didn't have big scars on its back and sides, makes you wonder what they get into and how tough they can be sometimes |
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Posts: 1283
| I really do wonder how some fish get these huge scars all over. Stuff that looks like they should have died from injuries but there they are eating and swimming just fine.
Do you think this comes from spawning, being caught before, hit by boats or just plain out fighting with other fish for territory?? |
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Posts: 216
| I once had a pair of 40"ish fish follow a 12" squirreltail jake in,then at the figure 8 the one fish turns and tee bones the other and shook like he was tryin to rip a peice out of him like a shark. Then the both took off in seperate directions. My friend and i could see the scales drifting in the current he definatly scared him up.The attacker followed a buck tail in the next 3 or 4 consecutive casts but wouldn't eat.crazy day on the water I proceeded to hook 11 fish that day and boated 5 of them.all mid 40" in shallow clear water,in stretches where i usually dont see fish,bluebird sky and same sq. jake.I have seen them rubbing rocks and jumping spillways & dam structures while spawning which wd Probly leave a sometimes mark |
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Posts: 1082
Location: Aurora | This "phenomenon" isn't exclusive to fishing rubber.
Suicks, Double 10's, Mag Hawg Wobblers, etc..
When they're hungry, they eat and if they're big enough, they get it down their throat. Happens a lot and some of the best advice I ever got was to avoid netting them when you see they've inhaled the bait.
Get um boatside & turn the fish upside down in the water. Calms um right down so you can assess the situation, get the proper tools out & get ready for surgery. If you get it out clean, there's no harm in a quick picture then.
Viola' |
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| it's never a good news when you see blood flow out of the gills,even if some are big they don't contains a lot of blood maybe one table spoon at max. |
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Posts: 1283
| Brozz88 - 12/17/2013 11:01 AM
I once had a pair of 40"ish fish follow a 12" squirreltail jake in,then at the figure 8 the one fish turns and tee bones the other and shook like he was tryin to rip a peice out of him like a shark.
That would be a sight too see. |
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