Big Water Release
Musky Hunter|August/September 2019

IG WATERS GROW HUGE MUSKIES, BUT THE ABILITY TO RELEASE THEM SUCCESSFULLY CAN BE COMPLICATED

Spencer Berman
Big Water Release

Over the last two decades we have seen the focus of musky fishing move toward big water fisheries. State agencies around the Great Lakes are stocking and promoting their Great Lakes fisheries while also stocking larger waters in many inland areas. Thus, big water is the trend.

These waters provide a lot of new challenges such as boat control, bigger waves, and more water to cover to succeed. However, one such challenge that is rarely talked about is the added difficulty we have releasing fish back into big water lakes, particularly on rough days. In order to make sure we have as close to a 100 percent release rate as possible, there are several things to keep in mind while handling muskies on large waters.

Big Wind & Waves

The greatest difference when fishing big water is the presence of wind and waves that will always be moving your boat and the water around you. Unlike smaller lakes which are typically calm, big water is rarely calm and almost always seems to have a chop, which means your boat and the water are always moving. This movement poses several major problems when handling fish.

Muskies are like most fish in the way their gills work, meaning they pull water through the front of their mouths over the gills to breathe. This process works best with the water moving from front to back.

Be Prepared

This concept of only allowing water to travel through a musky’s mouth from front to back is rather easy in calm water. If the fish is simply sitting in the water when the water is not moving the fish will use its gills to do that all by itself. Therefore, when you are fishing a normal-sized inland lake and you net a fish, typically you set the net yoke on the gunnel of your boat and allow the large bag of the net to be like a cage in the water, which allows the fish to stay in the water and breathe while you get pliers, gloves, camera, etc., ready to unhook and release the fish.

この記事は Musky Hunter の August/September 2019 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

この記事は Musky Hunter の August/September 2019 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

MUSKY HUNTERのその他の記事すべて表示
What can Current Do For You?
Musky Hunter

What can Current Do For You?

WATER FLOW IN LAKES IS SUBTLE AND OFTEN OVERLOOKED. BUT MUSKIES USE IT, SO WHY SHOULDN’T YOU?

time-read
3 分  |
February/March 2021
Mountain State Muskies In Spring
Musky Hunter

Mountain State Muskies In Spring

CATCH MUSKIES DURING TIMES WHEN NOTHING IS PREDICTABLE

time-read
4 分  |
February/March 2021
Winter Presentations For Southern Rivers
Musky Hunter

Winter Presentations For Southern Rivers

Winter has arrived, yet in the South it’s still mild enough to keep fishing with the exception of maybe a week or two of an Arctic front.

time-read
3 分  |
February/March 2021
Tune Up For The Season Ahead
Musky Hunter

Tune Up For The Season Ahead

Have you started making your plans for the upcoming fishing year?

time-read
3 分  |
February/March 2021
Rob Manthei
Musky Hunter

Rob Manthei

Guide Rob Manthei’s love for the Vilas/Oneida County region of northern Wisconsin is deeply rooted. His father and grandfather started taking him there on fishing trips when he was just two years old, and he began guiding full-time at the age of 25.

time-read
6 分  |
February/March 2021
Find The Right Structure In Deep, Clear Water
Musky Hunter

Find The Right Structure In Deep, Clear Water

With breathtaking scenery, vast amounts of water, and complex and diverse structure, clear water Canadian Shield lakes offer some of the most sought-after musky fishing in the world. A bucket-list destination for the passionate and determined angler, there’s something truly special about being in the sanctuary of the great Canadian Shield lakes.

time-read
4 分  |
February/March 2021
Multi-Species Or Bay Boat ... You Make The Choice
Musky Hunter

Multi-Species Or Bay Boat ... You Make The Choice

Is there really such a thing as a perfect musky boat? There are so many variables to choose from in the market today. Do I want a casting or trolling boat? Aluminum or fiberglass? Welded or riveted? Do I want a tiller, side console, dual console, or full windshield?

time-read
4 分  |
February/March 2021
Region To Region
Musky Hunter

Region To Region

Region To Region

time-read
10+ 分  |
February/March 2021
Genetic Study Yields Answers
Musky Hunter

Genetic Study Yields Answers

STUDY SUGGESTS LEECH STRAIN IS NOT THE ‘SILVER BULLET’ FOR WISCONSIN MUSKY WATERS

time-read
6 分  |
February/March 2021
Crawling Crankbaits To Catch Cold Water Muskies
Musky Hunter

Crawling Crankbaits To Catch Cold Water Muskies

Crankbaits catch plenty of muskies during spring, summer and fall, but the key to catching ’skies in the very early cold water season on these lures involves some special tricks.

time-read
3 分  |
February/March 2021