Northwest Fishing Reports

Everytime I land a musky or pike I think that there has to be a better way. I don't like netting the fish because they just get all tangled up and it takes too long to get them out, not to mention the holes in the net now from their teeth. Most of the pike I catch I try to just release them in the water. Doesn't work if they got the hooks deep. The pike fight too hard at the side of the boat to try to use the spreaders and put my fingers in their mouth. On the muskie and the larger pike I like to get them in the boat for pics.

On the very large muskie and pike I would like to get a weight. I know I can do the length girth measurement and get a good estimate. If I get a fish that is pushing 30lbs I would like to be sure and know how close to a state record the fish is. I haven't found a scale that I like.

I thought I had found an answer to both questions with the Rapala pro grip scale. I thought it would be great for getting a hold of the fish in the water and getting the hooks out. Then it would be easy to lift the fish in and snap a pic. The weight would be easy to look at when I lift the fish in the boat. Great plan but.... Like I mentioned before the pike like to thrash once you get a hold of them. I grab them with the grips and they thrash. This causes the grips to puncture through their mouth. It leaves a decent hole in their lip.

SO suggestions?

GF

I would say get a bigger/better and deeper net so that the fish could still stay in the water. Then pull him/her out for the photo, (photo-this is the most important part) put it back in the net, then weight the net with fish inside and deduct the weight of the net after the release. but the measurements alone could get you close enough to determine if your even close to the state record(s).

Kenster

So net the fish and keep it in the water? Tricks for getting in their mouth with them in the net? Doesn't sound like it will work when I am flying solo..... There may not be an easy way when fishing alone other than netting and dumping in the boat. Hopefully I won't be fishing alone too often. I notice when I net the fish they end up getting marked up and trash the net.

Oh, and the net I have is fairly large and deep.

The way I have been doing it hasn't killed any fish but I think that it is harder on them than it has to be.

Using a cradle would probably be one of the better ways of landing the bigger fish, but if your flying solo you would have to be superman or come up with a killer invention on using a cradle solo.
I have a pretty big net myself and while landing my 46" Tiger I notice that it still was a little rough on her especially the tail fin. The netting holes in my net are fairly large and with it thrashing in the net while at boat side, I believe the combination of the two probably isn't the ideal situation.
I did weight her while in the net and with the weight of her along with the bigger netting holes, again it was probably not the best feeling she has ever had. After this experience, granted it was my first with a fish of that size, I would have to conclude that maybe a net with smaller netting holes would be a little more ideal especially while weighting fish in the net. Yet I have read and heard that smaller netting holes can be a danger to the fish when it thrashes with a lure still in its mouth, they will get all tangled up in the net. I'm sure as you know, performing all the necessary work (hook removal and length measurement) while the fish is in the net while still in the water is the best way. The fish should only be removed from the water to weight it in while still in the net as well as taking a couple of quick photos (I agree with Kenster, this is the best part). I guess with experience, this method can only be perfected to the point where you feel comfortable that the least amount of harm can and was caused to the fish and believe my I still need a ton of experience before I feel comfortable.

If you are questioning your net I know frabill and beckman make some quality nets. I would strongly suggest tangle free knotless nylon. One in particular that I was thinking about getting myself is the Frabill 28"x50" PowerCatch Kwik Kradle Landing Net (http://www.frabill.com/cgi-bin/frabill/ ... ore=spring) but it sure is expensive, although if you are fishing a lot and catching bigger fish it just might be worth it.

Let us know when you catch another monster pike on the Pend Oreille river or monster tigers at newman or silver.

Lucius

The procedure you describe will not qualify a fish for the state record. It has to be weighed on a certified scale, then inspected by a WDFW biologist. Certified scales are hard to find; your best bet is a meat market or post office. You'll probably have to take it to the nearest WDFW regional office to have a state biologist verify it. There are forms to fill out. And be sure to have the official weighing witnessed. It's very bureaucratic, and as a practical matter you'll have to kill the fish to satisfy all the requirements.

So, should you catch a record-class tiger muskie, there are two ways you can go:

1) Release it, use the length and girth measurements to estimate its weight, and have the satisfaction of knowing you caught a record-breaker;

2) Keep the fish, jump through the official hoops, and have a clear conscience by telling yourself the fish was at the end of its lifespan and would not have been caught again anyway.

WDFW wants someone to break the record. That's because the existing record is, well, fishy. A cloud of suspicion hangs over the manner in which it was caught. My thinking is let's have a legitimate angler come up with a legitimate record that is above suspicion, and from then on, we all should release 'em all. Let's get that 31.25 lb. fish off the books. In the meantime, as far as I'm concerned, I consider Mike Nielsen's 31.15-pounder from Merwin Lake to be the de facto record, because he wasn't fishing with dead bait and he didn't snag it, it was taken an artificial lure (a Windel's Musky Tandem Spinnerbait in black and chartreuse, to be exact), I saw it caught, and I saw it weighed at the Speelyai Hatchery, and I saw him release it and I saw it swim away. Mike's a heck of a nice guy, too, and no one deserves to be the record holder more than him. But his fish isn't the official record, so I would like to see one of you go out and break the record.

You all have great ideas..I've got a Frabill Big Game net.What I did was dipped my net in the water and got a wet weight of the net. I use a digital Rapala scale. Weighs 7.o lbs wet. So with the fish in the net hook my little digital scale to one of holes of the net, lift it just above the surface of the water and wala..presto magic. You got a weight. Then subtract the weight of the net.Just do it quik get your photo and let er' go. The length x girthxgirth /800 doesnt work for Esox.....Lucious, just a little advice stay away from the cradle..unless you have 2 preople in the boat even then, use the net. Congrats on the 46" bro!!

That's pretty much what I do with big fish, weigh it in the net, subtract the weight of the net, and verify the scale weight with the length x girth formula. I figure that's close enough for a fish of around 27 to 29 lbs.

Don Wittenberger wrote: WDFW wants someone to break the record. That's because the existing record is, well, fishy. A cloud of suspicion hangs over the manner in which it was caught. .

What is this about ??? So as not to completely kill the thread would some one pm me what was fishy:bounce:

Um, well, talking about that is a little touchy due to lack of sufficient proof to revoke the record. As far as I'm concerned, the official record is the official record, I don't wish to repeat hearsay or unverified opinion on a subject of this nature, and I only use the word "snag" to refer to a piece of wood in the water that might have a tiger muskie hanging out around it. That's all anyone is going to get out of me.

bigbasstaz wrote:

Don Wittenberger wrote: WDFW wants someone to break the record. That's because the existing record is, well, fishy. A cloud of suspicion hangs over the manner in which it was caught. .

What is this about ??? So as not to completely kill the thread would some one pm me what was fishy:bounce:

Don don't just PM BigBassTaz, shout it out and tell all!

Kenster

muskyhunter wrote:You all have great ideas..I've got a Frabill Big Game net.What I did was dipped my net in the water and got a wet weight of the net. I use a digital Rapala scale. Weighs 7.o lbs wet. So with the fish in the net hook my little digital scale to one of holes of the net, lift it just above the surface of the water and wala..presto magic. You got a weight. Then subtract the weight of the net.Just do it quik get your photo and let er' go. The length x girthxgirth /800 doesnt work for Esox.....Lucious, just a little advice stay away from the cradle..unless you have 2 preople in the boat even then, use the net. Congrats on the 46" bro!!

Now Todd has one of those bigger, better and deeper nets! If I remember correctly, I believe I broke that net in, didn't I? We were able to hang the net over the side and the fish still stayed in the water, NICE!

Kenster

I love our cradle but it's not good for weighing or taking good pictures. It sure doesn't hurt the fish though so who cares!

Ah, Gone Fishin, net preference is in the eye of the ... holder. We bought a brand new fancy smancy cradle last year. Bad Esox got a big, strong beauty up to the boat at Mayfield. The Net man (me) failed to get the fish all the way into the cradle before the lure snagged, BAD, on the fine mesh and she was 1/2 in and 1/2 out. Rather than hurt the fish, he pulled the lure & cut her loose.
No one told me how BUOYANT the cradles are and it realy takes 2 people to keep it down. Then you've still got the problem of having your arms on top of a thrashing fish and some mighty sharp hooks.
Not for me, maybe for some one else. We now use the big Net Pen, Fin Saver described below. There is only ONE problem with it.
It isn't full often enough! Plan on changing that in 2 days, hooya.

Pen Nets
Beckman Pen Series nets feature all the pluses of rubber nets, but without the negatives! They’re lighter and move through the water easier. And there’s no trampoline effect, so fewer fish “jump” or spring out of the net. The knotless Beckman-coated, anti-tangle net bag is truly a fish-friendly holding pen. Our Pens allow fish to rest flat, not bent, for less thrashing and easier handling. The hook-proof coating reduces tangling for more productive fishing time.

Pen Fin Saver Nets
Pen Fin Savers are stout “bigger fish” nets with all the Pen Series anti-tangle attributes and a practical array of hoop/bag/handle options. But they’re especially release-friendly, with smaller knotless treated mesh for a more caring and gentler contact with the fish. With a Fin Saver there’s less mesh-snarling of teeth, fins, and gill plates. Today’s trophy angler requires a rugged right-sized net for landing large fish — as well as a fish-friendly net bag for the most lively releases!

http://www.beckmannet.com/acatalog/Pen_ ... _Nets.html

And now... from the Frabill man, himself..... :

GF,
Here's the net I use and swear by, not at.
http://www.frabill.com/cgi-bin/frabill/ ... ore=spring
Life time waranty and the heavy knotless, coated bag almost never gets tangled. I've never had a fish split a fin or tail in the three years I've been using this net. Bonus: My lures almost never get tangled also. That's a good thing. It's stiff enough that it holds it's shape well and acts like a safe, secure pen for the fish. After I've netted a musky, I lay the net down and hook the net bag over a cleat. Now I know the fish is safe and secure and I can get my rod, etc out of the way to get a pic and measurement. Check out Frabill's website. There are three major musky net manufacturers out there. Frabill, Beckman and Stowaway but Frabill's Knotless, Coated Big Game Bag is tops hands down. It's what most guys are using.

I use the Frabill Big kahuna with the knotless coated net bag. It's a huge net with lots of room. i personally never weigh any fish, unless the fish is pushing 50 inches it isn't going to break the state record and your going to have to kill the fish to get it registered as a record. if your close but not sure you could end up with a dead Muskie that didn't quite weigh enough. i take a length measurement and a picture in the net (if I'm alone) or a quick picture out of the water if I have a partner.

And my list of wants keeps growing..... New rod and reel (x2)... More days off to fish.... New net... Free gas... None of which are coming anytime soon. Those nets are nice and I REALLY do need to get a new net. Problem is that if I keep having to put more than $150 a week into my gas tank, a net purchase is definately out of the question. I guess for now a new glove is the way I will have to go. Replace my gloves that are falling apart and then I can do most of the work boatside by just holding onto the fish under the jaw. I also need to replace my good spreaders (the last musky got mad at me and threw them in the lake). Now I am left with a little pair that work on fish to about 30 inches, and I don't know about you but I fish for monsters! elephant size fish to be exact... well almost... Thanks guys for the suggestions, helpful to say the least

Muskie fishing is an expensive sport. The best way to acquire gear is a little at a time, over a long period of time. That's how most of us do it.

Often, there are ingenious alternatives to expensive store-bought gear. For example, instead of spending $100 on a top-of-the-line tackle box, a lot of guys use a 5-gal. bucket or cheap styrofoam cooler. I think quite a few of the Washington anglers transitioning from bass fishing to tiger muskies are using their bass gear and simply spooling on stronger line. A bass flipping rod makes a serviceable muskie rod until you can afford a proper bucktail rod. You probably could also use a salmon or steelhead rod, if you already have that gear. Look around your house for items you already own that you can adapt to your muskie fishing needs.

Motel rooms and RVs are nice, but I save money on accomodations by sleeping in the back of my pickup, and I save money on restaurant meals by precooking and freezing meals at home, and eating canned food. One way of dealing with high gas prices is by making fewer, longer trips. Instead of taking two 1-week trips to the lake, you can take one 2-week trip, and get the same amount of fishing time with half the travel miles.