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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum Fishing Forum First musky |
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09/03/2022 02:26PM
Awesome fish! Congrats to your son! I fish for musky from my canoe and also live in Wisconsin. Your son and I have now caught the same number of musky but his was a bigger fish than mine so I don't qualify to give any advice yet. :)
09/03/2022 03:07PM
Nice Musky. I fish Musky from my fishing kayak, and from my fishing boat. I’m going to hit 2 different lakes in the metro area this Fall in my kayak for Tiger Musky. Planning another trip next year back to Vermilion for musky.
As far as advice you asked, I have no idea how much you know so some of this might already know about, sorry.
I would not recommend using a fish grip for musky. Fish grips or Boda grips really damage a fish that size. I’ve seen split jaws and tore up lips on fish. Instead get a big landing net, a musky net and keep them in the water until you have the hooks out. It will act as a live well. You can use a jaw spreader if needed and a long nose pliers. Bring a hook cutter if the hooks are too deep in the mouth. Cutting deep hooks are much better that yanking out treble hooks and killing the fish. Lift them out of the net with one hand in the gill rakers, one hand mid point. Quick picture and back in the water. Way less stress on the fish this way.
I have 3 rods/reels set up in my kayak for musky. Low speed and high speed reels, 7’6” to 9’3” rods extra heavy rods. I use 80# braid with 100# fluorocarbon leaders. Then there is Bucktails, rubber baits, glide baits, crankbaits, spinner baits. I keep my lures when kayak fishing in waterproof Plano boxes inside a YakAttack BlackPac.
As far as advice you asked, I have no idea how much you know so some of this might already know about, sorry.
I would not recommend using a fish grip for musky. Fish grips or Boda grips really damage a fish that size. I’ve seen split jaws and tore up lips on fish. Instead get a big landing net, a musky net and keep them in the water until you have the hooks out. It will act as a live well. You can use a jaw spreader if needed and a long nose pliers. Bring a hook cutter if the hooks are too deep in the mouth. Cutting deep hooks are much better that yanking out treble hooks and killing the fish. Lift them out of the net with one hand in the gill rakers, one hand mid point. Quick picture and back in the water. Way less stress on the fish this way.
I have 3 rods/reels set up in my kayak for musky. Low speed and high speed reels, 7’6” to 9’3” rods extra heavy rods. I use 80# braid with 100# fluorocarbon leaders. Then there is Bucktails, rubber baits, glide baits, crankbaits, spinner baits. I keep my lures when kayak fishing in waterproof Plano boxes inside a YakAttack BlackPac.
"So many lakes, so little time." WWJD
09/03/2022 07:23PM
Savage Voyager - thanks for the advice.
My son and I knew next to nothing going into this. We definitely want to put these fish back alive so we will not be using any device to hold the fish by its jaw going forward. As far as fish conservation , I purchased three items today;
1) left handed Kevlar glove to handle the fish safely
2) biggest net that would fit my canoe: Frabill Conservation Series 26x30, rubber coated netting, 30 inches deep
3) Knipex brand, spring loaded hook cutters
I have a jaw spreader if needed. I plan to keep the fish release tools in a utensil roll-up so that they stay organized and ready when needed.
I know the net I bought is smaller than recommended for Musky, but I couldn’t fit a recommended size net in my canoe.
My hat is off to you for fishing these monsters Solo from a kayak. Good luck this fall.
My son and I knew next to nothing going into this. We definitely want to put these fish back alive so we will not be using any device to hold the fish by its jaw going forward. As far as fish conservation , I purchased three items today;
1) left handed Kevlar glove to handle the fish safely
2) biggest net that would fit my canoe: Frabill Conservation Series 26x30, rubber coated netting, 30 inches deep
3) Knipex brand, spring loaded hook cutters
I have a jaw spreader if needed. I plan to keep the fish release tools in a utensil roll-up so that they stay organized and ready when needed.
I know the net I bought is smaller than recommended for Musky, but I couldn’t fit a recommended size net in my canoe.
My hat is off to you for fishing these monsters Solo from a kayak. Good luck this fall.
09/03/2022 08:03PM
Hey RunningFox, good on you for buying some gear. I also use the cut proof gloves, a net a bit bigger than your size, and the Knipex cutters. Those cutters are the best in class. As a new musky angler I want you both to watch this video I’m sending you in the link. I’ve been following these two guys for a while now on YouTube. They both are from Wisconsin and are musky guides. They both have caught hundreds of Muskies and are well known. The knowledge they have to give away for free is priceless. I don’t know these guys, but someday I hope to meet them at a show or event. I should inform you that once you have been bitten by musky fishing you are hooked. Today’s Angler Let me know if you have any more questions.
Fish On…
Fish On…
"So many lakes, so little time." WWJD
09/05/2022 01:12AM
NICE ! 1st musky is always special (YOUR ON THE BOARD) Congrats ! my son just caught his 1st. as he had a chance last year for a #35+ at the boat,, word on the street is very bad net guy :( JS .
keep your line wet, good things will happen
09/05/2022 04:02AM
I used to fish exclusively for muskies and always from a canoe. I have nearly no pics, as I, for their safety and mine, left them in the water and unhooked them there. There are few moments in fishing as exciting as having a musky tow you in a solo canoe. I will second what SV said about baby bolt cutters and if you do bring them into the canoe and take pics, keep the fish horizontal.
Congrats on the first fish!
Congrats on the first fish!
I will paddle eternal, Kevlar and carbon.
09/05/2022 02:04PM
My only advice has been given by others- have a proper net, handle carefully, or not at all if possible. My most recent musky (last summer) was in an 8’ plastic (non-fishing) kayak as an incidental catch while bass fishing. 35” estimate, but no great way to measure. Best pic I could get with no place to put a rod, paddle, or net containing a 8-10 lb fish and still hold a camera. Just glad the water was mostly calm. This fish took me for an quite the ride!
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