High water temperatures

[Tony Scime]

The Lake Erie/Niagara River water temperature has been hovering around 77 degrees. When water temps are that high the stress experienced by angled muskies increases significantly. This increases the chances for post-release mortality.  Larger muskies are the most vulnerable to this stress.

For these reasons I try to avoid fishing for muskies whenever the water temps are over 75 degrees. If you do catch muskies with these higher water temps it is utmost important that you do not take the fish out of the water for any amount of time. Again, this is especially important for larger fish. 

My experience is that if we don't take the fish out of the water (no bump boarding or out of water photos) the fish will swim away with little problem. It they're taken out of the water, especially larger fish, they're likely candidates for post-release death.