To Many Dead Muskies

[Kenster]

Hey racfish

I have yet to catch and release a legal Tiger Musky (>50") and know of no one who has. So I guess all of us here are just fishing by the rules.... just like those Native Steelhead you've been harrassing incidentally. You should go pick on the crappie guys who throw back the 4-5inchers! What's that about? Wearing down a defenseless little fish!! OMG!!! Using live worms or maggots! OMG!!!

Kenster

[Drewp]

It should be noted, that while there is a mortality rate associated with released fish, if done properly, this rate is close to that of the mortality rate of fish that break off someone's line. Probably even lower.

I thought the point of fishing was the chase. The hunt. The ability to fool it into thinking that piece of metal/rubber/thread/bait on the end of your line is something that it should be eating. It's an endless challenge that keeps anglers doing what they do. Sounds like you're in it to put food on your table, and i can't say there's anything wrong with that, but if you think a fish that's released goes home and crys after being caught and released, then goes on to years of therapy to get over the tramatic experience, then you are wrong. All fish do is eat and poop. And if they are lucky, they spawn - unless they are caught by someone who wants to eat them before they get the chance to do so.

Many studies have also shown that fish can learn. Therefore, if you catch and release a fish, it is possible that it will learn not to eat that same thing again. So if you are truly worried about the saftey and feelings of the fish, maybe you should be catching and releasing them so that the C&R guys have a harder time catching them.

And what about the streams/rivers/lakes that are C&R only, that produce trophy fish? You should get on the horn with the WDFW and try and put a stop to this barbaric fishery.

I'm almost inclined to believe that maybe you are completely joking, as i have never heard of a single fisherman who would advocate the abolishment of C&R fishing.

Maybe you are just joking and wanted to stir the pot to see it boil over - if so, you caught me. Fish on!

[nwbass]

Sounds like either someone needs to do some research or quit fishing. C&R bad? Come on, man. drewp seems to have summed it up nicely. I target specific species and I release em all

[Don Wittenberger]

Racfish is entitled to his opinion, and I respect that.

The way I see it, the tiger muskies swimming around in our lakes were created by us in our hatcheries for the purposes of (1) improving fishing for other species by reducing undesirable fish populations, and (2) providing sport for anglers who wish to fish for them. I'm sure we all recognize they are sentient creatures and none of us intends to treat any living creature with gratuitous cruelty. Those of us who C&R tiger muskies pay considerable attention to proper handling of the fish to minimize deaths and injuries to the fish from being caught and handled. If some people feel strongly enough about what being hooked and caught does to fish that they refuse to go fishing, I have no problem with that. No one will force them to go fishing. But as long as fishing is a legal activity, whether I go fishing is for me -- not them -- to decide.

I won't use this space to discuss my own philosophical thoughts about fishing, which probably are of no interest to anyone but myself. I would, however, like to explain why we muskie anglers support C&R of our favorite species. It's simple. These fish exist in low numbers and if people kill them we won't have a sport. Catch-and-keep doesn't work with this species because a given lake is able to support only a few of them.

We all pay for these fish through our license fees. They are public property and the state decides what we can and can't do with them. This is done through a democratic process: We elect a Governor who appoints the Fish and Wildlife Commission which adopts the rules we all have to comply with. Our chapter lobbied the F & G Commission for the 50" rule. There was opportunity for public comment, and some people did submit opposing comments. The Commission adopted the rule and our chapter is glad they did. That's democracy in action. This issue has been argued and decided, and it's now time to move on.

[2000subaru]

Who has the popcorn?

[SPARKY101]

Hey racfish

I have yet to catch and release a legal Tiger Musky (>50") and know of no one who has. So I guess all of us here are just fishing by the rules.... just like those Native Steelhead you've been harrassing incidentally. You should go pick on the crappie guys who throw back the 4-5inchers! What's that about? Wearing down a defenseless little fish!! OMG!!! Using live worms or maggots! OMG!!!

Kenster

Well thanks for saying crappie and not"bass guys"

[joshswrench]

I'll play devils advocate here... I myself was raised not to catch and release. Being a poor family in montana, fish was food, the bigger the better. BUT thanks to a lot of research, a good paying job and the hope that one day my son can catch the same fish, I try and only keep what I'm going to eat! As far as poachers go, can't stand them. As a hunter, poaching doesn't stand in my book. It shouldn't be an exception for fish!

[YellowBear]

Just because a couple of guys had Bows, does not mean that they killed the fish.
Were the fish inspected for holes or were they just seen in the area?

I went up to catch some Northerns last week and I noticed that these fish are very easy to kill with a hook.
The size of there mouth and the depth of the throat causes them to inhale baits deep.
Many of the fish that we caught were not going to survive as they had conciderable damage to there gills from the hook.
Personally I will not use Treble hooks again for fish I intend to release.
I was always taught, if it bleeds it die's.

As the "socalled" popularity of the Tiger increase's, you Musky guys need to get used to the idea, that some are going to die.
As it is unlawful to to harvest a Musky under 50 inches you can expect a few to show up on the banks.

[kevinb]

Just because a couple of guys had Bows, does not mean that they killed the fish.
Were the fish inspected for holes or were they just seen in the area?

I went up to catch some Northerns last week and I noticed that these fish are very easy to kill with a hook.
The size of there mouth and the depth of the throat causes them to inhale baits deep.
Many of the fish that we caught were not going to survive as they had conciderable damage to there gills from the hook.
Personally I will not use Treble hooks again for fish I intend to release.
I was always taught, if it bleeds it die's.

As the "socalled" popularity of the Tiger increase's, you Musky guys need to get used to the idea, that some are going to die.
As it is unlawful to to harvest a Musky under 50 inches you can expect a few to show up on the banks.

Your either using to small of lures or setting your hooks to late or both.

[Don Wittenberger]

Other things being equal, using treble hooks should reduce mortality, as it's harder for the fish to swallow the hooks.

[racfish]

Sorry gents.Its not that I condemn anyone who C&R. I really dont care what people do.I (repeat) I dont like C&R on species that are not thriving.When I can go back to my Green River and catch a brat anyday like it used to be then maybe I will C&R.I fish for food.I dont have trophys on my walls not animal or fish.I fish when I want fresh fish to eat.I dont fish just to release it back.I release it to my ice chest.If I fish the Yakima FlyFishing or Rocky Ford area I'll release knowing that is what the law says.Sorry ifin I poed you guys but Its my opinion on the C&R thing.Have a good and safe weekend.

[kevinb]

Sorry gents.Its not that I condemn anyone who C&R. I really dont care what people do.I (repeat) I dont like C&R on species that are not thriving.When I can go back to my Green River and catch a brat anyday like it used to be then maybe I will C&R.I fish for food.I dont have trophys on my walls not animal or fish.I fish when I want fresh fish to eat.I dont fish just to release it back.I release it to my ice chest.If I fish the Yakima FlyFishing or Rocky Ford area I'll release knowing that is what the law says.Sorry ifin I poed you guys but Its my opinion on the C&R thing.Have a good and safe weekend.

I apologize to you as well. I've always appreciated your inputs. Take care and stuff your freezer with some more fish.

[Anonymous]

Just as a side note.There is no fish in my freezer other then bait.Thats another thing I dislike.Its when people go fishing to stuff their freezers.They dont eat that much but they love to catch.The beauty of living in the N.W. is having the ability to eat fresh.If I want frozen I'll go to QFC.KB Drop your attitude allready.Its an opinion that you dont agree with.Fill my freezer.hahahahahaha you too funny.

[crappie007]

Hey racfish

I have yet to catch and release a legal Tiger Musky (>50") and know of no one who has. So I guess all of us here are just fishing by the rules.... just like those Native Steelhead you've been harrassing incidentally. You should go pick on the crappie guys who throw back the 4-5inchers! What's that about? Wearing down a defenseless little fish!! OMG!!! Using live worms or maggots! OMG!!!

Kenster

Well thanks for saying crappie and not"bass guys"

Alright Crappie rule and Bass drool. Crappie deserve just as much attention as bass.
But they wont get it due to the popularity of bass fishing these days. I can and I'am living with that fact.
I've fished for bass since I was 10 (now 39) and
to this day I've never ate one. Just as a musky angler will defend the exsistence and
the rights of a musky, I will do the same for Crappie. Throwing back 4-5 inch crappies was stated as a example not as a stepping stone for bass anglers.

[kevinb]

Just as a side note.There is no fish in my freezer other then bait.Thats another thing I dislike.Its when people go fishing to stuff their freezers.They dont eat that much but they love to catch.The beauty of living in the N.W. is having the ability to eat fresh.If I want frozen I'll go to QFC.KB Drop your attitude allready.Its an opinion that you dont agree with.Fill my freezer.hahahahahaha you too funny.

Theirs no attitude.,calm down...I was apologizing for offending you

[racfish]

First off this is my last post on this subject.Kenster wrote about maggots and worms OMG.Are they endangered? I think not.that was a stupid comparison.I keep crappie and bass and I eat them if the size is right.Ive been fishing since I was 5 yo and I'm 54 now Junior!!!!I caught my first steelie at 7 yo and have the old Brownie print of it.Good for you never keeping or trying to eat one.Thats your choice.I love the taste of fresh grilled,poached or fried bass perch,or crappie.I love and I eat fish 3-4 days a week.Thats a beauty part of living 50 yards off a lake.The ability to eat and catch fresh dinner.If I had to eat what I caught only I wouldnt be a Weight Watchers now.Id weigh 90 lbs.I fished Muskie and Pike in northern East Coast Canada some years ago.Tough luck boys but I ate them.Wed fish the frozen rivers and lakes in northern Ontario and Quebec.
We all have different styles of fishing.We all have our own ideas and thoughts on what we do in life.That is the beauty of living in America.Its called CHOICE.Thank g-d we have the right to make choices.Peace out to all.Have a wonderful weekend.

[crappie007]

"Junior"--lol---
They call me the old man at work.
I never ate the bass during those younger days because there was no-one to cook them.
But by age 15 I started cooking, by then I was only catching stripper and catfish. "YUM"
By the time I started catching bass again I didn't need them because I already had a prefernce on other fish. Thanks for the "junior" comment! I cant stop smiling, you made my day.

[Rollin with Rolland]

Bowfishers....dead muskies.....and poaching.


i've never bow fished, but i thought one would use a field tip type arrow. Slits are being found on one (or more ) of these fish. Slits would come from a broadhead, right?? Does anyone bowfish, if so, do you use broadheads??? just curious, because i'm really not sure....

[YellowBear]

Thanks for the input Kevinb I will keep that in mind.
I was using a Mepps Musky Killer witch I think was made to catch Musky.
I would think that If my hooksets were late, I would have hooked more in the jaw or missed them all together.

We intended to keep what we caught so I was not too concerned, it was just something that I noticed.
I had never eaten a Pike before and other than them darn "Y" bones, they make pretty good table fare.

Rolland,
Most bow fishing is done with fiberglass arrows with large barbs.
A reel is mounted to the bow and the line is attached to the arrow
Other arrows are a bit lite and will not go through the water very well.
The slits you mentioned could be from another Musky.

[KUP]

Interesting thread. It started out about poaching and killing game fish. And ended here with C & R.
I agree with Don; everyone is entitled to their opinion. And I know Mike Carey's views on getting hot about C & R.
I try to respect each view; agree to disagree if necessary.
Besides, the regs have changed on the tigers, so it is a non-issue for fish under 50.

Y'all know how passionate I am about this fish. I am.
I also believe strongly in Muskies Inc. philosophy on this subject. It is read at every Chapter meeting to remind all of us how important respect is. I goes like this:

"While it is Muskies’s Inc. policy to encourage the careful release of healthy Muskies,
that are not personal trophies to the angler,
it is not our policy to intimidate or pressure any angler or group of anglers into releasing Muskies.
We lead by example. "

Easy to do? Nope. But Gil Hamm did it over 40 years ago when M.I. was the very first group to encourage C & R as a means to make a better fishery. Can you imagine the flak he and his small band of anglers took in 1960 when it was considered so very foreign?

I make this deal to all my angler friends: I won't judge you for keeping legal fish, if you don't judge me for turnin' 'em loose.
Live and let live.