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Posts: 3508
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | Hi everyone...
After a trip to canada a few days ago, I had a few opportunities to handle some fish. I tried something new when pulling a fish out of a net and found the fish were much more docile. Over the years I have found that many fish will try and thrash a bit when I try to grab them under the gill. So... after trying a couple of times that way, I changed my tactic. What I did was instead of trying to get a gill-hold, pull it out and support the fish with my other hand, I grabbed the fish just in front of the tail, pulled it up a bit, then slid my hand under the belly. Not a single fish tried to thrash or flip out of my hands. I know that this could be a just a coincidence for the fish I was fortunate enough to catch, but I was somewhat surprised about it, and though I would see if others would be willing to try this method (some of you already do this at all?) and see if you find the same thing. I would like to see if this method is something that might be a better way to handle these fish, and I definitely think if it works consistently (or more consistently than the 'conventional' way of holding fish horizontally) that we can go about educating others about it which could ultimately eliminate vertical holds, or holds that force the head back and up off the normal spine angle-head attatchment. I am not sure how this would look for pictures being taken...I was by myself when I did this.
If you are headed out for fish in the near future, please give this method a try and report back. I am VERY curious to find out what your results are on trying this method.
Thanks a BUNCH!!
Steve |
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Posts: 2361
| I'm not going to try it. You other guys try it and let us all know.  |
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Posts: 221
Location: ohio | I TRIED THAT,WELL ACTUALLY I BEEN DOING THIS FOR YEARS,
NEVER HAD A PROBLEM YET,,,THAT IS IF I AM READING YOUR POST RIGHT AND DOING WHAT YOU SAID YOU DID..... |
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| I have landed musky up to 48 inches using this method. Seems to work great.
There may be something to turning a musky upside down also to make it more docile, just like a shark.
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Posts: 156
Location: Oconomowoc, WI | I have successfully handled fish this way for a quick move from the net to the water. My fear is that without a firm grip, your chances increase in losing control of the fish if it begins to thrash around. I'd hate to drop a fish in the boat because I didn't have a good grip. |
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