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Muskie Fishing
Ontario Muskie Fishing
The Next
Bite
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  Head
in the Water!
by Pete Maina
When we talk of practicing effective release for
muskie and northern pike, we commonly hear of
the importance of having the right tools – and
this is absolutely essential. If you don’t have
the long-nose pliers, quality hook cutters,
spreaders, split-ring pliers and spare hooks –
you shouldn’t go. Additionally though, while the
initial response may be giggles from some –
there is never enough stress on the simple fact
that the head of the fish is the part that
breathes.
 Sounds
silly, but if many who would react with giggles
initially – would consider their own practices
during the fight and throughout the release
process, it’s likely that honest reflection
offers that they could do much better. Some
water releases occur – with rod held high and
pressure on the fish – while searching for tools
(fish’s head out) and then head held out for
removing or cutting hooks. Often anglers are
cautious (rightfully so) of the teeth and
swinging hooks – and the unhooking or cutting
actually takes longer than it would have - had
the fish been netted (head is out of the water
the whole time) … from there fish are lifted for
photos.
Quality nets with the proper treated mesh like
Frabill’s Big Kahuna and Kwik Kradle act like a
large release pen over the side of the boat,
that subdue the fish somewhat – to make the
release safer and quicker … yet, many anglers
cease hurrying through the process once the fish
is in the net. Often, they celebrate a bit and
look for tools at a lackadaisical pace, feeling
that since the fish is still in the water, there
is no rush. Essentially, that’s true, IF the
fish’s head is in the water too, but even then
it’s best to get the lure out asap – so the fish
can breath more normally. Often too though, the
fish’s head is pinned out of the water by the
hooks on the lure stuck in the mesh on the side
of the net … while 85 % of the fish is in the
water, the business end isn’t. The head
breathes—from mouth through gills. If the fish’s
head is out of the water, there should be a rush
until the lure is free, hooks are all out and
the fish is horizontal with head in the water.
After that, the pace can slow a bit (with the
exception of large crashing waves that will
continue to stress the fish). Remember that the
fish has fought hard and stressed itself.
Holding its head out of water would be similar
to your head being held under water following a
500 yard sprint.
 
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