Tips From The Pros
Mr. Outboard’s customer Dr. Tom Betka has had tremendous success musky fishing on the Fox. Tom has offered some valuable advice on the proper method for landing large fish. We thank Tom for his great article and pictures of some 50" + fish.
The Incidental Musky
Catching a musky is catching the fish of a lifetime, for many people. While the sport of musky fishing is gaining in popularity every year, it is still relatively low in popularity when compared with other species. However muskies are caught fairly regularly by “incidental” anglers fishing for walleye, bass, or even panfish. While it is difficult enough to hook and land one of these large fish with the heavy tackle used by dedicated musky anglers, it is even more difficult to land these large fish using the light tackle employed by anglers in search of smaller species. And given the sheer size and power of these magnificent creatures, the real difficulty often begins when the fish is brought alongside the boat. Given that the size limits of muskellunge are increasing in many systems, anglers must realize that release might be mandatory. Therefore all anglers fishing in waters containing significant populations of muskellunge should be familiar with the proper techniques for releasing such a large fish.
For many years, the practice of catch & release has been growing amongst dedicated musky fishermen. In fact it is widely agreed that the future of the sport depends upon it, as there are simply too few of these large apex predators to sustain any degree of overexploitation by musky fishermen—or even by anglers of smaller species. That is why it is so important that all anglers appreciate how difficult it can be to successfully release a large muskellunge. There have been several scientific studies showing that fish experience significant changes in their physiology in response to being caught. This is especially true during the summer months when the water temperatures are higher, and the water contains lower amounts of dissolved oxygen. And while many anglers aren’t necessarily targeting muskies in these warm summer months, the fact that their metabolism is higher during these periods dictates that they will generally be more active compared to the cooler months. Thus there is a very real possibility that anglers in search of the smaller species might find themselves hooked-up with a musky during these times. Therefore the purpose of this article is to give anglers, especially those not specifically targeting muskies, some tips on how to safely handle large fish when they are lucky enough to find one in their net.
While no one can be certain of the exact value, it has been estimated that the risk of delayed mortality is as high as 25-30% for large fish that are caught & released. As there are many factors involved in the process, an extensive discussion about all of them is beyond the scope of this article. But I can summarize some of the ways that anglers can minimize the risk of delayed mortality in fish that they may not intend to keep.
1) Length of fight. Anglers should realize that the longer a large fish is played, the greater the strain on the fish—and the longer the time necessary for its recovery. Like humans, fish may experience abnormalities in their heart rhythm in response to periods of severe exercise. In fact, such abnormalities can (and do) actually kill the fish. While the fish may not seem “sick” and may actually “swim away strong,” this doesn’t necessarily mean that the fish will survive the encounter, as most delayed mortality occurs within the first 3-4 hours following the catch. And while the fish may not actually have a “heart attack” per se, playing a fish for an extended length of time, and then holding it out of water for several minutes while unhooking it, is very detrimental to the heart muscle—which is being asked to supply the animal with an increased amount of blood flow as a normal response to being caught. Therefore, as fish can only breath while underwater, every effort should be made to minimize the time it is out of the water. And whenever possible anglers should make every effort to minimize the time a fish is played, especially when they plan to release that fish. Simply put, less stress on the fish (especially in warm waters) will minimize the risk that the fish will die after the release.
2) Landing net material. For many years, non-rubberized nets made of knotted mesh have been the standard. However it is now known that these net materials can actually disrupt the protective slime layer on the fish. In addition, this mesh has a tendency to damage the fins of the fish, so at the very least this can actually make it difficult for the fish to swim correctly after the release. However another danger is that of the risk of bacterial infection from the disruption of the integumentary system of the fish. Newer-style nets have rubberized and non-knotted mesh; features that are significantly less harmful to the skin layer of the fish, and also are more resistant to holding hooks. Thus anglers should consider using these newer styles of nets if they are planning to release any type of fish, not just muskellunge. But another option that may be even better still, is for the angler to consider not even using a net to release a fish that they don’t intend to keep. Simply releasing the fish at boatside by unhooking it is probably the least stressful thing for the fish, and the angler.
3) Good release tools are crucial. While small fish are generally easy to handle and unhook, larger fish can present more of a problem. The sheer size of a large musky may be overwhelming for an angler out fishing for walleye, and without a large net. Therefore it should seem obvious that there will be more risk to both the fish and angler when and if the fish is brought into the boat. In this case it may indeed be better to simply unhook the fish while it is still in the water, and release it at boatside. But as far as release tools go, anglers should have a good set of long-nosed pliers, hook-outs and a jaw spreader at the very least. And whenever they are fishing waters where there may be a number of large fish, they may want to also consider having a bolt cutter, as this tool can shorten release time tremendously. While many anglers are starting to use barbless hooks for all species, many have not yet embraced these for fear that their catch rates will suffer. Indeed this can be the case in some instances, although most anglers using barbless hooks claim that this concern is overblown. In any event, anglers should 1) be prepared and equipped to cut any hook that prevents a quick release; especially if they are planning to remove the fish from the water to take photos of the occasion. One should never remove a large fish from the water with the lure still in its mouth. The risks are simply too high, both to the fish, and to the angler. In fact, many an angler has been accidentally hooked by a floundering fish with a lure in its mouth. And as the eyes of large fish are often very close to one or more of the trebles on a lure, they can be easily injured, thus rendering the fish handicapped by the experience. Thus it should be obvious that common sense dictates that a large fish be freed of any hooks before being removed from the water or handled for pictures.
4) Ask for help if available. How many anglers can truly say they feel entirely comfortable when handling a 45-50” musky? How about a 55” musky? The reality is that the management efforts of the dedicated fisheries biologists in our great state have been so successful, that fish of such proportions are present in ever-increasing numbers in our lakes and rivers. In fact, in some waters (such as Green Bay and the Fox River), they are quite common! So the possibility of hooking up with one while fishing is getting better & better all of the time. And with the quality of today’s rods & reels, and the advent of the recent “superlines” now employed by many anglers, the odds of getting one of these big brutes to the boat is getting better & better as well. So for most anglers it isn’t a matter of “if” but rather “when” they will catch such a large fish. But if the angler hasn’t handled many large fish, they may be totally overwhelmed with the daunting task of trying to release it. Fortunately however, given the popularity that the sport of musky fishing has gained in recent years, there are bound to be anglers in the vicinity specifically targeting muskies. With that in mind, anglers should not be hesitant to seek assistance from another angler should they find themselves in a situation they may not be prepared to handle safely. As a group, musky anglers are usually very willing to assist another angler in the safe release of a fish. And unless the water temperature is very warm, there really isn’t much need to hurry to release the fish. Thus if you find yourself in a situation where you do not feel comfortable, I would recommend you simply leave the fish in the net and take a minute of two to survey the surrounding water for other boats, and then not hesitate to ask another angler for assistance if needed. You can safely reposition your boat with a musky in the net, if the fish remains in the water while in the process. I would recommend that the fish be facing into the water current while the boat is moving however, simply to facilitate the flow of water over its gills. This will allow the fish to breath, and I think you will find that they will be relatively calm during the process.
In conclusion, while the release of a large fish can be a daunting and intimidating process for most anglers, it can even be more so when being attempted by an incidental musky angler. While there are many different situations that one may find themselves in during the varying water conditions associated with different times of the year, I hope that the few basic tips I’ve mentioned above will help anglers in general; but especially the incidental musky angler. For those interested in more information about the incidental catch of muskellunge, please review the book “The Accidental Musky,” by Richard A. Minich. You can read more about this book here: http://tinyurl.com/2j87f2
Tom Betka, MD, BS (Aquatic Biology) Research Director Titletown Chapter, Muskies Inc.
