CATCH & RELEASE

Catch & Release Checklists

Release Tools,

1.     A giant net - a Beckman, Frabill, or Stowmaster are acceptable (NMA recommends Beckman Fin Saver)

2.        Knipex Hook Cutters (accept no substitute)

3.        Long needle nose pliers

4.        Extra Hooks and Split Ring pliers

5.        Jaw spreaders – small and large

Terminal Tackle,

1.                Make sure the line on all of your reels is free of nicks and frays. Constantly check your line as you let lures out.   If you detect any frays or abrasions stop fishing, remove the bad line and re-tie.  Super lines in 50,65, or 80 pound test are needed for muskies and to stand the abuse of musky fishing.

2.                Learn to make your own leaders, factory made leaders are always of lesser quality.  Leaders can be steel, titanium, or stranded wire coated or uncoated.  Strengths of 100 pounds or more to stand the shock of the strike are needed. Change your leaders when they become old or damaged.  If you don’t know how to make leaders, learn how from an experienced hand.  There are several acceptable ways to go, learn one and become comfortable with it. Swivels of 200 to 300 (Spro or Sampo recommended)pound strength and Stringease Stay-Lok snaps are required .

3.                Check your line guides and all your equipment at the beginning of a trip and after every snag or fish. Replace anything suspect with new items

What to Know

1.                Know where everything is stored.

2.                Know how to use all pieces of equipment.

3.                Know how to use each other’s cameras.  Take the time to learn the cameras before the fish is suffering.

4.                Have a plan of what to do when a fish is on, one side at least should have all rods cleared and set aside, if there is time clear both sides.

5.                Know how to control the boat, your fish’s life and your own may depend upon your knowledge.

What to do

If you bring a musky to boat-side and need to net it, try to stay calm.  This can be very difficult.  A good method is to reel up to the leader, walk backwards while the netman steps in front of the angler and sweeps the net under the fish. Now is not the time to celebrate (do that after the fish swims away) or lose your head

1.                The first rule of musky catch & release is LEAVE THE FISH IN THE NET IN THE WATER!!! 

2.                 The reason behind the giant net is that it becomes your livewell as you cut and remove hooks from the fish’s mouth.  LEAVE THE FISH IN THE GIANT NET WITH ITS HEAD UNDER WATER SO IT CAN BREATHE!

3.                The next step is to cut the hooks. Cut those in the fish’s mouth and any caught in the net that makes the fish fast to the net. Remove the pieces of hook from the fish’s mouth with your needle nose pliers.  Get the lure out of the net and away from you and the fish as quickly as possible. This is a time of danger as the fish can throw the lure into you and often will release itself. Once the lure is free of the fish and net get those hooks away from you.

4.                At this point your partner must have the measuring device and camera ready.  Only measure fish that are meaningful to you, with experience you can accurately estimate the length of ordinary muskies.  Measure the fish and then take one or two pictures of the fish while it is being held horizontally.  The time the fish is out of the water should not exceed the time you can hold your breath.

5.                Here’s how to lift a fish out of your giant net.  With one hand control the fish by holding it by the gill plate, NOT THE GILLS!!!  With the other hand underneath its belly or grabbing the tail, support the weight of the fish as best you can (photo of Jon MacSwan, NMA president, on the picture page is an example of how to correctly hold a big fish).  Measure the fish horizontally.  During your brief photo session, support the fish’s weight by cradling its belly with your forearm.

6.                After making your fish famous, gently set it back into the water with its head facing into the current or waves.  Gently hold onto the fish’s tail with one hand and keep the fish horizontal in the water with the other.  If you think she is ready to go, gently turn her upside down, if she allows that, she is not ready. Often the act of turning her will make your twitch her tail and scoot off. Don’t be shy about holding her for a while. When the fish is ready go, release your hold on its tail and say goodbye. 

Tips for proper catch & release:

1.             Keep all of your release tools together.  Make sure    your partner knows where they are kept and what each tool is called when you ask for it.

2.    Talk to each other during the fight, the netting, and the release.  Communication is critical

3.    When your partner gets a fish on, clear the other lines, get the net ready, and net the fish.  That sounds easier than it is.

4.    Once a fish is netted, the angler not releasing the fish has nine things to do while the hooks are being cut and removed and while the fish is being measured and photographed:

a.    Distribute release tools as they are asked for

b.    Get the camera ready

c.     Get the measuring device ready

                                                            1.      Wet the board or towel the fish will be measured on

d.    Determine where the picture will be taken.  Try to keep the sun at the back of the photographer.

e.    Bring the net back into the boat while your partner is lifting the fish out of it.

f.      Help your partner control the fish on the measuring device.

g.    Confirm the measurement.

h.    Snap one or two pictures of the fish.

i.       Control the boat keeping the fish’s head into the current or waves while your partner is releasing the fish.

5.    If a caught fish isn’t going to be photographed, measure the fish in the water or just estimate the length for a faster release.

6.    The faster you can get the lure out of the net and away from the fish and you the better.

7.    Once your fish is netted put your reel into free spool or cut the line above the leader.

8.    Tie a lanyard on your Knipex.  Dropping $40 hook cutters overboard is expensive.

9.    Check your net for holes periodically.

10.     Use jaw spreaders when necessary.  Have your partner hand them to you open.

11.        If a fish’s eyes are rolling back into her head or the fins are engorged with blood, or the lure removal has been lengthy and difficult, the fish is really stressed.  Don’t measure the fish on board and just take a water release picture.

12.          Play and net the fish as quickly as you can.  Lactic acid will build up in a fish’s muscles during the fight. A long fight results in a slimmer chance for a healthy release.

13.     Try to keep your boat free of clutter.

14.      Don’t fish in water that is too rough for you to release a fish quickly in.

15.       When holding a fish in the water for release, an indication of the fish’s strength can be had by her reaction when turned upside down.  If the fish struggles it is in good shape.  If it doesn’t, you will have to baby sit a while.

16.          If a fish swims out of your hand and stays on the surface, maneuver the boat to it and tap it on the head.  Nine times out of ten the fish will dive immediately.

17.         After releasing a fish, hang out a few minutes to make sure the fish stays down.

18.           Always check the fish’s dorsal fin for tags.  If you catch a tagged fish, note its length, record the number, and contact Tom Page at (716) 694-2288 or the NYSDEC with the information.

Good luck to everyone and, in the infinitely wise words of Marc Arena,… “Be nice to the ladies!”