Tips for catching and releasing musky
By Nikki Boxler
If you follow me on social media, it will come as no surprise that I love musky! Not only are they my favorite species of fish, they are the ones I primarily target throughout the season. However, if you’re looking for easy, non-stop action or want to fill the cooler with fish that you can take home and grill, then musky fishing might not be for you. If you’re the kind of the person who enjoys putting in the work and grinding it out for potentially only one fish, this might be just the thing for you!
I tend to think musky fishing is a lot like bowhunting; it may potentially be hours upon hours of sitting around for just a brief frenzy of action, but once it does happen, the reward is always worth it. Musky fishing is about the thrill of outwitting one of the most ferocious predators in the freshwater world.
The questions I had about musky fishing when I first started are often the same questions I am asked today. I will cover some of those questions and the basics, so you have an understanding of musky fishing, which will aid you when you finally land your first musky!
Identifying a Musky
When I post photos of musky on social media, I get a lot of “that’s a nice pike” since some anglers have trouble telling these fish apart. After all, musky and northern pike do belong to the same family and share a lot of similarities. However, there are two basic clues to look for when determining the difference between a pike and a pure-strain musky:
1.) Musky can have barred, spotted or have almost no markings at all (depending on which strain they are), while pike almost always have markings on them. For musky, the markings will be darker than the background color of the body. Adult pike always have white or light colored spots against a dark body color.
2.) The fins – looking at the fins is another easy indicator of whether the fish is a pike or a musky. A musky’s pelvic and tail fins have pointed tips, while a pike’s have rounded pelvic and tail fins.
Tiger musky, the hybrid between a pike and a musky, may add a little confusion to the matter, but they can be easily identified as they have characteristics all to their own! Tiger musky display stunning, thick vertical stripes, making it easy to see where they get the “tiger” name from. The easiest way to decipher a tiger musky from a musky is the combination of the thick vertical stripes and rounded pelvic and tail fins.
Release Tools and Why?
In musky fishing, the release tools are considered the most important components you can own, especially when catch and release is the primary goal amongst the devoted anglers. This reminds me of another question I am often asked, “How do they taste?” I’ve never eaten one, and here’s why:
• They are a long-lived apex predator – Musky can live upward of 15 to 25 years in certain systems, which gives them a longer time to accumulate toxic material, such as mercury in their tissues. In comparison, Chinook salmon (a commonly eaten apex predator fish) can reach adult size within three years, thus accumulating far less toxins. Simply put, if you’re after fish you can eat, there is no sense in choosing musky when you have other far more delicious choices like perch, walleye or crappie!
• They occur in low density – In comparison to other species, musky occur in far fewer numbers and are therefore a much more limited recreational resource!
• Ecosystem health – On top of their recreational value, musky play a vital role in maintaining the health and balance of the ecosystems in which they exist and should be respected as such!
For anyone looking to get into musky fishing, please consider investing in a good quality large rubber-coated net, long handled pliers and quality bolt cutters.
Big Net: Find a net specifically designed for holding musky – it should have a large diameter with a deep rubber-coated bag. The deep bag allows the net handle to be laid over the boat gunwale while keeping the fish safely in the water, which is important in order to ensure safe handling and safe release. Bringing the fish into the boat and letting it flop on the carpet will remove the slime coating that protects the fish and could increase the likelihood of post-release mortality; it also increases the odds of getting a large hook in your hand or foot! Brands like Drifter Tackle and Frabill offer great musky net options.
Long-Handled Pliers: If you have ever seen a musky, one of the first things you will notice is their impressive set of sharp teeth serrated on all edges! Therefore, long nose pliers will allow you to safely unhook the fish without your hand getting too close to their teeth.
Hook Cutters: Often times, hook removal can become difficult after a musky throttles your big wooden jerkbait covered with size 7/0 treble hooks – this is when hook-cutting is absolutely necessary for both your safety and the well-being of the fish. Instead of risking increased time out of the water and increased damage to the jaw and tissue, cut the hooks when necessary to get the fish released as soon as possible. Hooks are easily replaced and this is a small price to pay to help ensure that musky can be caught again!
Properly Holding a Musky
If you are lucky enough to land a musky, chances are you will want to get a picture holding it. This is where a large net is not only beneficial for the fish, but it also gives you a moment to organize the boat after the chaos and prepare for a brief photo opportunity! Before lifting the musky out of the net, have the camera ready and the boat clean of all stray hooks and rods.
When lifting the fish, support the belly with your hand, holding it horizontally close to your body. Do NOT hold them vertically as holding a long fish, like a musky, vertically can cause damage to their bones and organs and may result in post-release mortality.
Remember to minimize time out of the water. I try to keep it under 10 seconds: lift the fish, pause for a quick picture or two and then quickly place it back in the water, holding it by the tail until you feel the fish begin to kick. Do not move the fish back and forth as this can actually hurt the gills.
Where Can I Find Musky?
With a simple Google search online, you can easily find musky-holding lakes and rivers in your area. Before heading out to any body of water, do some minor research and throw a game plan together on how you might want to cover water. Musky can often be discouraging, testing even the most seasoned anglers, so do not forget it may take several days before even seeing a musky!
Another great option to shorten the learning curve is to hire a guide, but do not hire a guide with the sole expectations of guaranteed fish. Instead, view it as an opportunity to learn sound fundamentals with the added bonus of connecting with a fish or two if the bite is on! It doesn’t matter if you are a beginner or an advanced fisherman, you will always come back with more knowledge than you started with, which makes it money well-spent!
Knowing the basics will help with being prepared for connecting with that fish of a lifetime. I realize this article may describe musky fishing as more of a chore than fun-filled enjoyment, but once you get hooked on the musky bug, you’ll understand! Good luck on the water this summer and tight lines!
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Nikki Boxler is the cover girl for this issue. Read more about Nikki in her bio on page 6 and at her website,
www.nikkiboxler.com.
