Post by William Bennett on Nov 3, 2011 17:53:00 GMT -5
hello everone , i have had a member(Walleydiven..Garrett)(good idea too) ask me about this and felt that he was right and we should have something posted here on the proper procedures for Catch & Release.
Tips on Releasing
Muskies
C – P – R
Catch-Photo-Release
1 Preparation: It is
important to have all
the proper tools available
in your boat before heading
out on the water. Tool suggestions
would include
long-nosed pliers, small
bolt cutters, hook-out, jaw
spreaders, large landing net
and/or cradle, floating ruler,
and a camera. this i will go into later
2 Landing a muskie: Maintain constant tension
reeling the fish in, keeping the rod tip down to
prevent the fish from jumping and potentially throwing
the bait. Play the fish to the point of submission,
not to a state of exhaustion. A “green” muskie or
fish that has not been played out can be extremely
dangerous if landed too soon.
Lead your fish into the net or a cradle head first.
Leave the fish in the water where her body is
supported.
Next remove the hooks while the fish is still in the
net. Use the small bolt cutters to cut any imbedded
hooks that cannot be easily removed. (Rule) This
hook removal process should be completed within
15 seconds.
Once the lure and hooks are free and have been
placed out of the way, the fish can now be lifted from
the landing device for a quick photo. It is preferable
to take photos of the fish held horizontal. (Note: If
you are interested in photos for a magazine cover take
a quick “vertical” photo-fish remains held horizontal).
Lifting the fish from the water should never be done
by placing the fingers/thumb in the fish’s eye sockets
or squeezing the gills. The proper method would be
the use of a tool such as a Boga Grip or placing the
fingers BETWEEN the gill plate and the gills-sliding
your index and
middle fingers
forward to where
the gill plate and
gills attach to the
cartilage. Press the
thumb against the
lower jaw and lift
gently and firmly.
Watch carefully as
the fish may begin
to shake vigorously.
Be careful so as not to drop the fish. It is important
to support the fish with your other hand under the
belly, in order to balance the weight.
Measuring can easily be accomplished with a floating
ruler back in the water. Another thought would be
to apply a vinyl tape measurer to the side of your boat
near the water line. Don’t forget to obtain a girth
measurement before
releasing your fish.
The combination of
length and girth will
give you an estimate
of the fish’s weight.
(Formula: Girth x
Girth x Length ÷ 800
= Approximate
weight).
If necessary, a livewell is a good option for holding
your fish, in order to orient your boat to take
advantage of sun angles, clean up your boat, put
your gear away, or get out your camera, etc. Be sure
the livewell is full of water and pumping fresh water.
3 Releasing your fish A water release is the most
appropriate method of releasing your fish. In
a water release the fish is never removed from the
net or cradle. All hook removal, measuring, etc. is
done in the water, in the net. This method offers
the least amount of stress to any fish. It is also the
most difficult release for an inexperienced angler.
Practice this release on smaller fish, before
attempting on a larger fish.
Once your fish has been removed from the net,
hold the fish at the narrow area just above the tail
with one hand, supporting the fish with the other
hand. Keep the fish in an upright position and
gently move the fish from side to side. Sooner or later the
fish will be able to maintain it’s own upright
position and then swim off under it’s own power.
Consider the location of where you first caught
your fish and compare that location to where your
boat may have drifted at the time of release. Never
release a muskie over deep water. An exhausted
and stressed fish is sometimes
4 Other considerations when releasing muskies:
These suggestions are directed primarily at
catching and releasing the larger freshwater species
such as muskie and northern pike.
➢ If you are fishing with live bait, always use a
“quick-strike” rig. This generally prevents the
fish from ingesting the bait too deep, thus allowing
the fish to be released uninjured.
➢ Large predators can be extremely dangerous,
especially when handled by inexperienced
anglers. Therefore, it is always better to fish with
a partner who can a**ist you.
➢ Obtain accurate measurements and photos
before releasing your fish. Then consider having
a graphite reproduction of your trophy, if you
wish to have a mount/memory of your experience.
➢ Use heavier line and appropriate tackle when
fishing for these large fish. It is your responsibility
to land this fish quickly and with the least
amount of stress.
➢ Minimize the time out of the water at each stage.
If you can hold your breath for 90 seconds this
is the maximum time your fish should be out of
the water.
➢ Avoid any contact with the eyes and gills. Keep
the eyes and gills from drying out. Keeping the
fish in the water reduces the possibility of
removing the protective mucous from the fish’s
body.
➢ Do not be too concerned if there is some slight
bleeding from the gills-this is not fatal. Just return
the fish to the water as quickly as possible.
➢ The more you know about catch & release, and
practice it, the more you will be doing to benefit
our fisheries.
5 FINALLY: Go out and Have a Good Time!
Remember
Catch-Photo-Release
and a list of tools
a coated net . this will keep from removing slime and splitting the fin's and harming the fish, and a bag that will be deep so you can keep the fish in the water to recoop after unhooking it and for it to catch it's breath.
a good pair of hook cutters. I prefer nipex,belive me if you get pinned to a fish you want to be able to cut the hook when you need to!
and some long-nosed pliers and some jawspreaders and a baker hookout tool, sometimes the smaller baits or even a bulldawg can get sucked in deep in the mouth.
and a pair of gloves is also a must for protecting the hand from the fish's gillrakers and posibly a bite from them..
and if you want a measurement of the fish u can use a bumpboard or a floating stick. ( note ..... if you use the board, please wet it down first so you will not remove slime from the fish)
Tips on Releasing
Muskies
C – P – R
Catch-Photo-Release
1 Preparation: It is
important to have all
the proper tools available
in your boat before heading
out on the water. Tool suggestions
would include
long-nosed pliers, small
bolt cutters, hook-out, jaw
spreaders, large landing net
and/or cradle, floating ruler,
and a camera. this i will go into later
2 Landing a muskie: Maintain constant tension
reeling the fish in, keeping the rod tip down to
prevent the fish from jumping and potentially throwing
the bait. Play the fish to the point of submission,
not to a state of exhaustion. A “green” muskie or
fish that has not been played out can be extremely
dangerous if landed too soon.
Lead your fish into the net or a cradle head first.
Leave the fish in the water where her body is
supported.
Next remove the hooks while the fish is still in the
net. Use the small bolt cutters to cut any imbedded
hooks that cannot be easily removed. (Rule) This
hook removal process should be completed within
15 seconds.
Once the lure and hooks are free and have been
placed out of the way, the fish can now be lifted from
the landing device for a quick photo. It is preferable
to take photos of the fish held horizontal. (Note: If
you are interested in photos for a magazine cover take
a quick “vertical” photo-fish remains held horizontal).
Lifting the fish from the water should never be done
by placing the fingers/thumb in the fish’s eye sockets
or squeezing the gills. The proper method would be
the use of a tool such as a Boga Grip or placing the
fingers BETWEEN the gill plate and the gills-sliding
your index and
middle fingers
forward to where
the gill plate and
gills attach to the
cartilage. Press the
thumb against the
lower jaw and lift
gently and firmly.
Watch carefully as
the fish may begin
to shake vigorously.
Be careful so as not to drop the fish. It is important
to support the fish with your other hand under the
belly, in order to balance the weight.
Measuring can easily be accomplished with a floating
ruler back in the water. Another thought would be
to apply a vinyl tape measurer to the side of your boat
near the water line. Don’t forget to obtain a girth
measurement before
releasing your fish.
The combination of
length and girth will
give you an estimate
of the fish’s weight.
(Formula: Girth x
Girth x Length ÷ 800
= Approximate
weight).
If necessary, a livewell is a good option for holding
your fish, in order to orient your boat to take
advantage of sun angles, clean up your boat, put
your gear away, or get out your camera, etc. Be sure
the livewell is full of water and pumping fresh water.
3 Releasing your fish A water release is the most
appropriate method of releasing your fish. In
a water release the fish is never removed from the
net or cradle. All hook removal, measuring, etc. is
done in the water, in the net. This method offers
the least amount of stress to any fish. It is also the
most difficult release for an inexperienced angler.
Practice this release on smaller fish, before
attempting on a larger fish.
Once your fish has been removed from the net,
hold the fish at the narrow area just above the tail
with one hand, supporting the fish with the other
hand. Keep the fish in an upright position and
gently move the fish from side to side. Sooner or later the
fish will be able to maintain it’s own upright
position and then swim off under it’s own power.
Consider the location of where you first caught
your fish and compare that location to where your
boat may have drifted at the time of release. Never
release a muskie over deep water. An exhausted
and stressed fish is sometimes
4 Other considerations when releasing muskies:
These suggestions are directed primarily at
catching and releasing the larger freshwater species
such as muskie and northern pike.
➢ If you are fishing with live bait, always use a
“quick-strike” rig. This generally prevents the
fish from ingesting the bait too deep, thus allowing
the fish to be released uninjured.
➢ Large predators can be extremely dangerous,
especially when handled by inexperienced
anglers. Therefore, it is always better to fish with
a partner who can a**ist you.
➢ Obtain accurate measurements and photos
before releasing your fish. Then consider having
a graphite reproduction of your trophy, if you
wish to have a mount/memory of your experience.
➢ Use heavier line and appropriate tackle when
fishing for these large fish. It is your responsibility
to land this fish quickly and with the least
amount of stress.
➢ Minimize the time out of the water at each stage.
If you can hold your breath for 90 seconds this
is the maximum time your fish should be out of
the water.
➢ Avoid any contact with the eyes and gills. Keep
the eyes and gills from drying out. Keeping the
fish in the water reduces the possibility of
removing the protective mucous from the fish’s
body.
➢ Do not be too concerned if there is some slight
bleeding from the gills-this is not fatal. Just return
the fish to the water as quickly as possible.
➢ The more you know about catch & release, and
practice it, the more you will be doing to benefit
our fisheries.
5 FINALLY: Go out and Have a Good Time!
Remember
Catch-Photo-Release
and a list of tools
a coated net . this will keep from removing slime and splitting the fin's and harming the fish, and a bag that will be deep so you can keep the fish in the water to recoop after unhooking it and for it to catch it's breath.
a good pair of hook cutters. I prefer nipex,belive me if you get pinned to a fish you want to be able to cut the hook when you need to!
and some long-nosed pliers and some jawspreaders and a baker hookout tool, sometimes the smaller baits or even a bulldawg can get sucked in deep in the mouth.
and a pair of gloves is also a must for protecting the hand from the fish's gillrakers and posibly a bite from them..
and if you want a measurement of the fish u can use a bumpboard or a floating stick. ( note ..... if you use the board, please wet it down first so you will not remove slime from the fish)