How about some fishing talk?

[Scott McKee]

Are there any musky fishing questions you'd like answered, perhaps by a dashing, eloquent, and capable musky guy?  (Sounds a lot like Tom Page or Len Kozlowski, huh?)  New members?  Anyone?

(I'm just trying to drum up some traffic that's not related to possible changes in the Great Lakes musky season.)

Maybe I should just take a nap...  Does anyone know how to knit?

[John Jarosz]

Scott...now that you mention it, I've got a couple of questions; one related to muskie C&R, the other about the ballot (not necessarily any date changes or positions).

1. Never having been fortunate enough to even boat a musky, but I did get the cr*p scared out of me while in a kayak once, how do I know I'm holding a muskie in the gill plate, like a lot of the pics show, and not touching its gills, or worse, accidentally causing damage & not realizing it?  I'd never hold one vertical, not even a small one.  I mean, aren't they awfully close to each other?  When it's time to take that first pic, I don't intend to be even near the gills, but how much room do I have?  I'm goosey even thinking about getting anywhere near those things & would worry about it if I were to stick my hand in there.

Now, #2.  Looking over the ballot, there are four choices each for Bflo Harbor & the U.N.  Could the scores ever come out to be where the lowest score is determined by fewer than 50% of the voting members? Let's say, for example, July 1st to Nov 30th (an example only) comes out with the lowest score, but only 35% of the votes are for that date.  Could that happen?  If it did, does that mean the club's position is July 1st - Nov 30th, even though less than half the membership agreed to that?  I haven't figured out if that's even possible, but that's just one of the reasons the Feds have the electoral college, so that in case three candidates run, the majority of electorals gets in, not the person with the most votes, and we all know how well the gov't is running these days.  Maybe I should just get back to my Grey Goose martini & vote.  

Thanks much

BTW, Tony..looking at the release report, I noticed there is one category of fishing that isn't listed...and that's fly fishing.  Better get that spreadsheet fired up.  That's my goal for this coming season!!!  I've been tying musky flies this winter & will need to give them a workout this year!!

[Scott McKee]

Really good question about the gills / gill plates.  (I tend to take these sort of things for granted sometimes.)  The gill plate cover the gills and you're right, they are right next to each other.  The gills are the red and very fragile respiratory organs (basically the fish's lungs).  UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES DO YOU WANT TO TOUCH THE FISH'S GILLS!  How do you avoid grabbing the plate and not the gills?  Practice really, but I hope this advice helps: With the fish's head in the water, pretend you're holding a golf club with your thumb sticking up like Fonzie with the hand of your strongest arm.  Slide that hand up the gill plate starting from the rear of the plate.  Since you're pretending to hold a golf club, you won't have your fingers extended, in fact they'll be curled.  This will keep your digits away from the gills.  Slide your hand up until it stops.  Depress your thumb towards your index finger.  There is a convenient bone there that sort of acts as a handle.  Support the fish's belly with your other hand, lift the fish and have your partner snap a picture.

Make sure the camera is ready to go before you attempt this.  Set the fish back in the water still supporting its weight, remove the hand from under the plate gently.  Hopefully the fish swims away as soon as it's back in the drink.  If not, gently, and I mean GENTLY, hold its tail and keep its head into the current or waves.

For a water release picture, gently grab the fish's tail (once again GENTLY), dip the net and slightly lift the fish's head out of the water with your other open hand under its belly about 3/4 of the way up from the tail and click, take its picture.  Have your partner take as many resuscitation pictures as they like, as long as the fish's head is in the water.

Here's a few things to remember:

Hold onto the gill plate tightly.  Muskies don't like being out of the water and they may "freak out" and try to shake free.

Always support the weight of the fish.

Be careful not to remove slime during the process.  Hold the fish away from your clothing unless it's soaking wet.

Limit yourself to one or two out-of-the-water pictures.

If the fish freaks, don't drop it in the boat!  I can't stress that enough.  Dropping a musky is shameful.  Take your picture near the gunnels so that if it does squirm uncontrollably,you can guide it into the water if it feels like it's going to fall.

Make sure the camera is on and the sun is behind the photographer BEFORE you start the whole lifting the fish process.

As far as a the ballots go, each member is rating the choices and not voting for one single starting and closing date combo.  So the tally for each will best reflects the club's wishes as a whole.  Tony would be better off answering this question, and I really have to go to the bathroom.

Have you ever tried fly-guying it for musky?  I did... once... in the Harbor... for about an hour... don't forget the Aspirin.  Although I bet drifting in the River with a weighted line and Deceiver or double bunny would look pretty sexy!

[Capt. Larry D. Jones]

It is a safer release if you place the fish back in the net holding pen to revive the muskie.If you loose your grip from the fishes slimey tail hold,the muskie is going no where in the net,just regrab and continue revival.Outside of the net if you loose your gip the muskie could end up belly up and as you try to get back to the fish the boat pushes it away,you could end up with the fish dieing.Once the muskie is ready to go dip the net and let her swim home!

[Scott McKee]

I think in rough water your point is excellent Larry, but I believe placing the fish back in the net may result in more slime loss and fin damage.  I think it should be remembered Larry and I are are writing about releases when a picture is to be taken with the fish out of the water.  Other release options, all of which are better for the fish, include:

• Netting the musky: Remove the hooks without touching the the fish, dip the net (if the fish is in good shape) and let it swim away.  Fish that aren't handled at all generally swim right away.
• Not netting the fish: I use this method most of the time when the hook(s) are easily removed.  Cut or pull the hook(s) (if they'll come out easily) and let the fish take off.  I control the fish during this process by holding the leader.
• Net as a release tool: For fish caught with lures with trebles when only one hook is embedded, snag the lure with the net and allow the fish to shake itself off.  Tony loves this technique, although I don't have a great deal of experience using it, it does work well.
• Slack release: When the fish is boat side and not hooked badly, let slack in your line.  Quite often the fish will throw the lure and take off like a dart.  This technique works best with shads, tubes and other single hook lures.

Just remember that once you have a fish boat side, it is imperative to keep its head in the water during the release as much as possible.  If a picture is to be taken with the fish out of the water, it is imperative that the process only takes a few seconds.  Have the camera ready. Make sure the sun is at the photographer's back.  Support the weight of the fish from the water to the picture hold and back to the water again.  One or two pictures max, please!

John, I've never caught a musky on the fly, but I have caught lots of pike with the long rods, make sure you have a very good pair of jaw spreaders.

[Capt. Larry D. Jones]

 Before lifting a muskie from the water from the net holding pen make sure the fish is not over stressed.If the muskie can't stay upright in the water on its own,it needs to be revived to where it can stay upright before lifting the fish out with supporting hold for your quick picture.Look at the muskies eyes,if you see a glossy look forming,do not take the fish out of the water,the fish is to stressed take the picture with the fish in the water.I would rather have a fish loose a little slime from being released inside the net,then look at an upside down belly up muskie that you can't reach,that got out of your hand in the wind and waves!

[Scott McKee]

Keep the questions coming...

[Cory Krawczyk]

Headed down to cave run next thursday! Yippee!! An tips or techiques to give a try while im down there? Water temps. looking like it will be in the mid-40's, upper 40's if were lucky.
Thanks in advance

[Capt. Larry D. Jones]

Cory, Rapala 13s floater,black & silver color, change hooks to some with a little more beef.Go to Zippo Flats Beach at high noon and twitch the water between the beach sand and weedline.

[Scott McKee]

Cory, before you put too much faith into my advice, keep in mind I've only fished the Cave for three days in the PMTT about twenty million years ago.  My partner and I only caught one really dinky musky, but I saw a lot of them bagged.  I'm sure things have changed a little since I was there, but Larry's right about the Zilpo Flats.  (Hopefully it won't be the "Zippo" Flats for you.) A lot of fish were caught there.

I think the fish may be moving to the creek mouths by now.  Do yourself a favor and check out Caney Creek.  Ask Marc Arena about Caney if you get a chance.  He willed a really nice fish to hit in the tournament there on a Baby D-Raider.  Don't forget your lipless crankbaits and don't be afraid to open water troll if you can't get them shallow.

Take a lot of pictures (it's a really nice place) and how about a report for our next newsletter?  I'll save the cover for your southern belle.  Best of luck.

[Capt. Larry D. Jones]

Its Zippo Flats because I caught zippo fish over 45" there, but have caught over 20 muskies from 25" to 42" there! I caught my biggest muskie down by the stove pipe near the dam trolling a Wiley Headshaker Jdt in black & silver color, was 49", but that was in early Dec of 2005.