Muskies.... UGH

[Sako]

Seems never when I am fishing for them do they corporate... Went out this evening to the dock to try and catch a couple of skipjacks for fun... throwing a popping cork with a white jig under it... Low and behold had a muskie blow up on the popping cork about 2 feet from the dock... about scare me to death... Ain't no way I am landing a muskie on 4-pound test.....

 

[Safari Hunt]

Would be hard. Hard enough with a stainless steel leader and heavy line. What lake, if I may ask? Got my curiosity up.
Caught one that had been stocked in a new lake in eastern Ohio. About a foot long, ugly and full of teeth even at that age. It's called the Fish Of A Ten Thousand Casts. I didn't make near that many that day.

 

[RUGER]

Lol bet that was a surprise!

 

[Safari Hunt]

Lol bet that was a surprise!

Yes it was. Didn't know they had been stocked there. I have read over the years of a muskie following a lure right up to the boat. The lure is moved in a figure 8 pattern to get a strike. A muskie strike at about 3-4 feet would be a real thrill. FWIW, a real challenge is to catch one on a fly rod.

 

[Sako]

Would be hard. Hard enough with a stainless steel leader and heavy line. What lake, if I may ask? Got my curiosity up.
Caught one that had been stocked in a new lake in eastern Ohio. About a foot long, ugly and full of teeth even at that age. It's called the Fish Of A Ten Thousand Casts. I didn't make near that many that day.

Melton Hill

 

[ratsnakeboogy]

Melton Hill

The dang things hang out by docks, I've had them smash Skipjacks while trying to get them in.

I went out this evening to try to catch a few skips on Melton Hill, never got one hit.

 

[Safari Hunt]

Melton Hill

Got it on the list for this summer along with a bunch of others. Looking at the regulations, several lakes in Region III have muskies.

 

[bwgarrett3]

I've never fished for muskie before but have caught 4 while bass fishing. Two good size and two smaller ones. I also lost a huge one. If I tried to catch them it probably wouldn't happen. These were all in the same cove on the upper end of Watts Bar lake.

 

[WTM]

Got it on the list for this summer along with a bunch of others. Looking at the regulations, several lakes in Region III have muskies.

keep in mind, although legal, fighting a musky in summer water will most likely kill it.

 

[Pilchard]

keep in mind, although legal, fighting a musky in summer water will most likely kill it.

Why is this? Are people not using tackle that is adequately paired to their target? Mishandling the fish once landed? Or is there some other environmental factor like lack of dissolved O2 that time of year?

 

[WTM]

Why is this? Are people not using tackle that is adequately paired to their target? Mishandling the fish once landed? Or is there some other environmental factor like lack of dissolved O2 that time of year?

as long as the water temps arent high. there was a research study done a few years ago that followed high musky mortality rates and water temps.

Muskies Fishing and The Dog Days of Summer

The Dog Days of Summer have arrived, ushering in a sweltering summer that has water temps running in the red. With many lakes in Wisconsin already reporting surface temps in the high 70’s prior to July 1st, the trajectory towards higher water temps looks all but guaranteed. Most years this would...

www.tennesseemuskyfishing.com

 

[Safari Hunt]

Spring or before surface temperatures rise. Good point and thanks for the info.

 

[Pilchard]

Thanks for the link.

In all fishing there is a percentage of mortality when fish are released. Unfortunately the article didn't reveal sample size or other critical data for me to form an opinion.

I will say that I think angler education on proper handling of all species which are intended for release would benefit the fish greatly. I personally have changed my thinking and practices over the years. I will also say though that people need to be willing to realize that the way "Paw" did it doesn't mean it's what's best for the fish.

 

[WTM]

Muskie_Biology

An official website of the State of Maryland.

dnr.maryland.gov

there have been a couple of studies, this DNR actually had fish tagged and recorded mortality. seems like they prefer cool water in summer even if it has poor DO.

"During 2017 and 2018 Potomac River anglers reported catching and releasing a total of 21 tagged muskie while river temperatures exceeded 80°F. Ten of these fish, with an average length of 41", perished for a mortality rate of 48%. This incredibly high mortality rate is stress from angling exertion and handling combined with thermal stress."

 

[FLTENNHUNTER1]

Muskie_Biology

An official website of the State of Maryland.

dnr.maryland.gov

there have been a couple of studies, this DNR actually had fish tagged and recorded mortality. seems like they prefer cool water in summer even if it has poor DO.

"During 2017 and 2018 Potomac River anglers reported catching and releasing a total of 21 tagged muskie while river temperatures exceeded 80°F. Ten of these fish, with an average length of 41", perished for a mortality rate of 48%. This incredibly high mortality rate is stress from angling exertion and handling combined with thermal stress."

Holy smokes I had no idea. I have never caught a muskie but will keep this in mind if I ever do. With a 48% mortality rate you might as well eat them.

 

[Sako]

Got it on the list for this summer along with a bunch of others. Looking at the regulations, several lakes in Region III have muskies.

Honestly now through march is probably the best time to catch them

 

[Safari Hunt]

Holy smokes I had no idea. I have never caught a muskie but will keep this in mind if I ever do. With a 48% mortality rate you might as well eat them.

Can't keep them is they are undersize. The muscle from a muskie's cheek is a delicacy like moose nose or beaver tail.

 

[WTM]

Can't keep them is they are undersize. The muscle from a muskie's cheek is a delicacy like moose nose or beaver tail.

yeah i dont know if i could keep one seeing as how low of a population density for keeper adult fish. im sure they taste good but in east tn i bet the mercury or pcb levels are fairly high in them, if you watch out for that kind of thing.

ive been researching them. i want to tangle with one on a fly rod but probably have to hire a guide to find them.

 

[Safari Hunt]

The Tennessee regulations book will have warnings. There are several places that imply don't eat any fish. Don't see muskies mentioned specifically in any place. Usually SMB, LMB, catfish as the most common fish mentioned.

 

[WTM]

The Tennessee regulations book will have warnings. There are several places that imply don't eat any fish. Don't see muskies mentioned specifically in any place. Usually SMB, LMB, catfish as the most common fish mentioned.

TDEC does the fish sampling and release warnings more than in the reg booklet. musky may not have been tested yet but catfish in melton hill is listed as do not eat. lol, but then again how often does one catch a musky let alone eat any.

anyway here is the link to current fish advisories for those interested. mostly pregnant women and children but there are some do not eat waters listed.

https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/environment/water/planning-and-standards/wr_wq_fish-advisories.pdf