Muskie Fishing
Ontario Muskie Fishing
The Next
Bite
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  Catch
& Release Basics for Toothy Critters
by Pete Maina
As esox anglers, we all know the importance of
catch and release to the future of our sport.
Good intentions alone don't make for successful
releases. If the esox doesn't survive the
release, wasted effort and fish flesh is the
result. There is no complete substitute for
experience. No doubt, the more fish you handle,
the more efficient you'll be at it. However,
even beginners that have a plan can be
successful releasers. Sacred as these fish are
to some of us, they're just fish. Realistically,
it's not entirely necessary that the release be
"pretty" as long as it's effective.
Release will usually be effective if you prepare
for and practice the basics. The preparation
part is the most important. Caring enough to
prepare is the first step. Frankly, while out on
the water, I still see an alarming number of
blatantly mishandled releases. And these aren't
incidental catches; these are folks who are
specifically fishing for pike or muskie, and in
many cases appear to be quite adept,
mechanically. For the future of our sport, we
need to be adept at release too.
Let's start with tools. Proper tools are an
absolute necessity. I've handled over 3000
muskies and I'm not certain how many pike, but
many. Take away my tools and I can't even hope
to do it properly. The list of absolute
necessities includes long-nose pliers (the
longer the better) and quality hook cutters.
Don¹t even think about chasing esox without
these items in the boat, at a minimum. Strongly
suggested additional items include a large
hookout tool, large landing device, jaw
spreaders, split-ring pliers and pre-sharpened
replacement hooks. Two of each of the absolutes
is advisable, just in case they are
unintentionally bathed during the course of the
day's angling.
A hookout tool is often real handy for getting
into hard-to-reach spots (hooks that are well
inside the mouth or even to the gullet). It can
be hard to operate a standard pliers in such
situations. The right type of large landing
device would be strongly suggested to all but a
few folks. Beginners definitely need one. There
are a handful of folks like my good friend Doug
Johnson (who has handled thousands of esox), who
prefers to, and is successful in handling all
personal releases at boatside without nets or
cradles. For most though, a landing device is
much safer and much quicker.
We'll get more in depth in future articles on
landing devices, but there are three basic types
that I'm aware of (and I know that trophy pike
anglers in Europe have some too). There are
cradle devices (basically two long rods or
splints, with mesh between), the standard hoop
landing net, and a hybrid of the net and cradle,
Frabill's Kwik Kradle. The most important
consideration for landing devices is size and
depth. They must be big enough to hold large
fish; they must have coated mesh to minimize
tangling, slime removal, and fin damage, and to
prevent hook penetration. The mesh MUST offer
enough depth so that the fish can be left in the
water over the side of the boat. As much as
possible, hook removal and measurements need to
be done with the fish¹s head in the water.
Undersized nets with untreated mesh should never
be used. Jaw spreaders can be very helpful in
getting at hooks well inside a fish's mouth. The
jaw strength of larger esox is incredible. With
their jaws clamped shut, it's often tough to
force them open with anything other than
spreaders. I am aware that many pike enthusiasts
are against spreader-use, because they often
poke additional holes in fish's jaws. But
getting the job done quickly is often more
critical than the potential for punctures that
will eventually heal (input from the readership
is welcomed).
 Popping
hooks with cutters is advisable, in many cases,
to speed up releases and make them safer for
angler and fish. I seem to go this route with
increased regularity, and strongly suggest it.
Quality cutters should easily handle cutting 5/0
hooks. The long-handled Knipex cutters I use are
far superior to any I've found; they're strong
and get into tough-to-reach places best. Cutters
should be used over pliers and hookouts in many
cases. Split-ring pliers and pre-sharpened hooks
in all standard sizes simply speed things up,
and get that hot lure going again. O.K., now
I'll reveal a bombshell. The most important
factor in survival (that many are unaware of or
ignore) is that the head of the fish breathes in
water. With few exceptions, stress is what kills
esox. Stress is caused by several factors
(including head out of water), but ultimately,
minimizing the time between strike and release
is most important, especially when water
temperatures are high.
Even though I often hear stories of hooking
causing death, with the exception of ingested
live bait rigs (delayed expiration), mortality
due to hooking itself is minute. Certainly eyes
can be damaged, and fish will get hooked in the
gills, and often bleed from the gills due to
hooking and/or blows to the gill plate. None of
these situations kill fish though. Quickly cut
the hooks into pieces (make sure all pieces fall
out), get the fish (including head) back in the
water, and the bleeding will stop. As far back
as I can remember, having all the tools
mentioned, I've had only one fish die at the
boat for every 400 muskies released.
On the downside, probably four fish per season
experience eye damage, likely resulting in
blinding in that eye (which won't kill them, but
they'll likely never reach their growth
potential). In many cases though, this is likely
a direct result of excited anglers horsing fish.
A combination of multiple-hook lures and
excessive pressure on fish is often the cause of
eye or gill hooking.
The way the battle with esox is handled can have
a lot to do with the fish¹s survival. Realize
that there is some gray area. But the goal is to
land the fish as quickly as possible, yet avoid
too much pressure, which would cause the fish to
fight to its full potential for violence. An
angler can have more control in battle than most
realize.
Steady, but not excessive, pressure results in
the fish tiring fairly quickly, yet not getting
extremely violent. A violent fight results in
much of the battle being waged out-of-water,
which significantly ups the odds of fish getting
off or snagging themselves in critical areas.
Use tackle that will handle the fish you are
after. Although some consider it sporting to use
light tackle, simply put, that will
significantly lengthen the fight. A battle with
an esox should never last much longer than three
minutes. Truth be known, many battles last less
than a minute. And that's good news for the
fish.
Water Release vs. Landing Device - This is a
touchy subject, and Esox Angler welcomes others'
thoughts... but here's mine. Inexperienced folks
should handle all fish with some type of proper
landing device, mainly because it will
definitely be quicker and safer. One mistake
often made, is attempting to put the fish in the
device too quickly. Don't attempt this when a
fish is still full of spunk, but just happens to
be near boatside. It will be obvious when they
start to tire; at this point lead them in head
first and net or cradle them.
Leave the device and the fish in the water. The
reason this is safer, is that free hooks (those
not in the fish) will usually hang in the mesh.
That's actually good, because the hooks won't be
landing in hands or in other areas of the fish.
Unless offending hooks are easily popped out via
pliers, simply cut all hooks. If they are badly
tangled in the mesh, in or near eyes or gills,
or just buried deeply & cut 'em. If the fish's
head had been held out of the water by the mesh,
at this point get it in the water and make
certain the fish is upright. You are ready for
release or photo and release.
 Water
release can be very effective and safe too...
Debra Johannesson, good friend and great angler,
recommends hand landing. This method has been
very successful for her and some others; and she
has some strong reasons to handle esox in this
fashion. But it's my feeling that, for most, it
should not be an exclusive method (we will
continue dialog on this issue with expert
anglers and fisheries personnel). Whether the
angler is experienced or not, multiple-hook
lures offer strong potential for an unwanted
connection between fish and angler. I've
experienced it several times, and although it
may help to boost the fish's ego a little, it's
definitely an unpleasant experience for both.
Good guidelines for most to follow: Unless the
fish is hooked on a single-hook lure, is
intended to be released without photo, and it
appears the single treble or single hook can
easily be popped-out via pliers, a landing
device may be the quickest and safest way to go.
Remember that in consideration of all factors,
faster is better.
Again, keep in mind that the head section
breathes. Even though this fact may appear
obvious, it seems to me it is largely ignored by
many during release most notably with water
releasers. I've witnessed many examples of folks
who probably figure they are doing the noble
thing, and it turns out much worse for the fish
than a landing device would be.
First of all, the fish is fought significantly
longer than it would take to get it in a landing
device. Nearing the end of the fight, the fish's
head is held out of the water. Upward pressure
continues (head out of water) while the angler
searches for and grabs tools... head remains out
for varying lengths of time for the unhooking.
I've seen this stage last as long as three
minutes. Often the fish is just badly hooked and
the angler is skittish dodging hooks and teeth,
and/or the fish shakes every time an attempt is
made. A landing device immobilizes fish and
usually pins the head to mesh. It's just plain
easier and safer to cut hooks. On the other
hand, many folks using landing devices don't
seem to make certain the business end of the
fish is in the water as much as possible either.
It seems as though people are satisfied with 3/4
of the fish in the water, but if it's the part
that doesn't breathe, it doesn't matter.
 I
also occasionally see folks put fish in a
landing device and then bring the whole mess
into the boat. Never bring any fish you want to
release to the floor of the boat. They will
inevitably make a huge mess flopping around,
beating themselves up and stressing themselves
to the limit. A dead fish is likely to be the
result. Don't do it. The basic keys to success
are: proper equipment to minimize fight time,
land the fish as quickly as possible, get the
hooks out as quickly as possible, get that
fish's head in the water immediately following
hook removal. If photos are to be taken before
release, keep the fish¹s head in the water
until the camera person is ready. Then quickly
lift for photos and release. Fifteen seconds is
a good out-of-water rule for photos; don't go
beyond it. At least a 1/2 a dozen shots can be
taken during that time frame.
Be prepared and it will go well! Have all the
tools mentioned. Have a plan in mind for who
does what once a fish is on. How will it be
landed? Will you cut hooks on all but the easy
ones or cut hooks period? Keep its head in the
water! Are the cameras ready and does everyone
in the boat know how to use them? Do you know
how to hold your esox?
The final one is huge. Too many people get out
there with no idea of how they are to go about
holding one of these fish when they get one.
There are a few different ways, and the options
are increased with small fish, but anglers
fishing for large esox need to know how to get a
jaw hold on a big fish. Certainly, if you've
never caught one it's tough to practice, but
know what you need to do when you get the
opportunity. If at all unsure, have someone show
you. Actually, a mounted fish is a great tool
for this. It's very important to have a plan
from start to finish.
How exactly to pose with a fish is a very
arguable subject too. The basics though, are to
support the weight of the fish, as evenly as
possible, with the other hand -whether it is a
horizontal, vertical or semi-vertical hold. Most
importantly though, obey the 15 second rule and
get it done quick. This is a subject that will
be hammered on in every issue of Esox Angler.
In-depth looks at all aspects of release will be
covered. Expect to hear more specific info on
such topics as fighting fish, landing fish,
holding fish, how/where exactly to release,
live/dead bait use, solo landing and release,
trolling, slime removal and split fins. Any new
important info will be shared. We are all still
learning..
 
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