this may sound stupid...but why is there no muskie ice fishing?

[Schuler]

How come there is no ice fishing for muskies? People ice fish for pike but not muskies at all, any reason to this?



Zach Schuler

[guideman]

Hi Zack,
Ice fishing for muskie is leagal in MN.
I however wish they would change the law, to many fish are killed or damaged
getting pulled thru an 8 or 10" hole.

I'm also not a fan of live bait, truth
is, it kills fish....Most of the muskie
that are taken in winter are caught by
anglers looking for pike. If the season were closed they would at least be put back, and have some chance of survival.

Hey, thats just my opinion..:)

[jerryb]

A better? Is why dose the open water season close on Nov.30th instead at ice, in Wisconsin, southern Wisconsin?
Especially in lakes where the lake relies "solely" on stocking or has shown very little or no signs of natural reproduction?

I fish until ice every year, somewhere, and sometimes a little ice hasn't stopped us, (what's a busted tail light or 2?) The way I see it if some jerk want to fish in freezing weather, let em have at it! I just don't see masses of fishermen heading to the lake just because Wisconsin, or below rt.10 rule changes to ice, instead of Nov. 30th. What are we talking,,,, a couple of extra weeks maybe,,, under a rare extremely warm fall? I don't see but a boat or 2 out there now, any thoughts???

[RandyAtPAMM]

In many states there is full esox ice-fishing. The season never closes for muskies or pike in many eastern states. Despite what many folks say, pike and muskies can be very active this time of year. It's very exciting to sit in a dark house and watch the big gals cruise in nice and slow, or like greased lightning. I'm expecting my Frabill Hideout now anyday!

Randy
www.pikeandmuskie.com

[Schuler]

Hmm, so if people do fish for muskie ice fishing, can they be successfully released? And what kind of equipment do you use?




-Zach Schuler

[ToddM]

Zach, you can fish musky under the ice in illinois. You can catch them but from what I have heard they are not as active in the winter as pike. Use a sucker on a quick strike under a tipup that is not far from you and you should not be in too bad of shape.

[happy hooker]

Why ice fish for muskys
you dont get to see the follows, you dont get the fish to jump after he hits,you dont get to work the lures, and no figure 8's these are all of the charmed aspects of musky fishing,, go for walleyes

[tomyv]

Here in PA we don't have a closed muskie season. I for one agree to stick with the walleyes if your fishing through the ice because of the fact that it's got to be hard on the fish. I for one take the opportunity through the winter to do some work on the house, tinker with some lures, and wait for the ice to leave. OF course, I can head out as soon as the ice is gone because there isn't any natural reproduction. If I had to wait until may or whenever, that would drive me crazy too.

[THE FERD]

I thought that there was a closed season for muskies in PA . I belive it's closed from March untill the May opener ? I Know that Ohio has no closed season and since Pymatuning is a border lake it's never closed for muskies . If I'm wrong please corect me becouse I'd love to be out as early as possible .
THE FERD

[Ballistic]

I ice fish lots of the norhtern Wisconsin lakes I fish during soft water times for Pike, and only have caught ONE muskie, in over 30 years. Pretty tough to catch them, but it does happen.

[Kid Derringer]

I to have only caught ONE Muskie while Ice fishing for Pike and I have been doing that for 35 years or so.

I have seen some huge fish in holes of the the side when changing bait or just looking down there?

It is done, but not by me.

Like above, why bother, no follows, no casting, no challange.

Hunting Big Pke is a hobby and a fun, tough thing to do.

Here is to drilling holes real soon.
;)

T.

[muskydude]

the ferd is right if you're fishing for muskies in Pa. from march to may then you're fishing illegally.

[HerbB]

This is a depressing subject for me.

There are people who actually ice fish for Muskies in the winter here in MN. But these are not what anyone on these boards would actually call true Muskie fishermen. These people are a bunch of meat fishermen looking for nothing more than a meal and they do not place any value on any fish - other than for food. And it doesn't matter to them if they kill an undersized fish or not. If its 40 inches or over, they take it home and eat it. The undersized fish are left to lay on the ice for minutes sometimes and then are just shoved back into the hole to die on the bottom. I've seen these "good old boys" out on Lake Minnetonka a number of times and they do catch Muskies occasionally along with Northerns and Bass that will take their suckers and shiners. I saw a picture two years ago of a couple of these not-so-bright types with a pair of 45 inchers that were destined for the "grill".

These people are also the same group of folks who will greedily fish out a lake for sunfish and crappies at the end of the ice season. I witnessed some of these people taking five gallon pailfuls of sunfish off one small metro lake a few years ago. I called the DNR and the lake was monitored after that, but the lake was still quickly fished out. These guys just changed their tactics and made several trips each day taking a limit of 30 each time.:(

One thing is for sure, the late fall is going to help the Muskies out on Tonka since these people generally don't go out until the ice is safe to drive on. So, there are some benefits to a short ice fishing season.

Good fishing all.

[THE_MARV2]

THE FERD,
You are correct that there IS a closed season for musky here in Pa. But the Pymatuning as you stated correctly has NO closed season for musky.
Stan Durst

[Matt Collins]

I enjoy fishing tip-ups for pike, but they really can down a chub or large roach quickly. I imagine a musky would down one pretty fast as well. It can take a while to get to your tip-ups, so I plan on trying a circle hook instead of a quick-strike or treble behind the dorsal fin. It should make it easier to release a musky that grabbed a bait through the ice.

[MN troller]

I use to think I was a Muskie Fishierman, but since reading Herb B post I found out that I'am not a TRUE MUSKIE FISHERMAN since I lower myself to fish Muskies through the ice. I thought that Muskie fishing was all about the persuit and challenge. I didn't know that it depended on if the water was soft or hard. Tell my friend who's son sit's out on the ice(8 hours a day) without a house,waiting to land that big Muskie and release it, he's not a TRUE MUSKIE FISHERMAN!!! We fish when it's only warm out and our main concern is the health of the fish. Thought I would give my two cents worth !!! Brian Grote F/M Chapter MI 2nd V.P. MI International

[HerbB]

MN Troller,

The people I'm referring to are meat fishermen who are trying to catch Muskies to eat and are out there for no other reason. They put no value on the fish except as food. Thats why I said they are not "true Muskie fishermen". I know there are a few people who are trying to catch them through the ice and are releasing them, but most of the guys I've seen just want one for the grill. And many of those guys take them home if they are legal or not, probably because they don't even know the difference anyway.

Sorry if I offended you. I shouldn't have generalized all ice fishermen the way I did.

I must admit that I have an overall low opinion of some ice fishermen. It seems to draw a different group of people that seem to have little value for the resources.

One question. Do you use circle hooks for ice fishing? I'm thinking of getting some for pike fishing. Seems it would help the release process quite a bit.

Herb

[john skarie]

Saying that ice fishing is harder on the fish is not a fair statement.
I can guarantee you that proper technique makes releasing big fish, be thay northern, lake trout or muskies caught on tip ups is not any harder on them than open water fishing.

A quick-strike works just as well with a tip up as a rod and reel.
An ethical fishnermen is not far away from his rigs if he is planning
on releasing.

Pulling a big fish up with your fingers is a rush!

Don't knock it till you try it.

John Skarie

[HerbB]

John,

OK. You and Brian have me convinced Muskie fishing through the ice is legit. I've just seen novices doing it and shouldn't judge the sport by that. Can you give some insight as to how to handle Muskies properly on the ice. My best guess would be the following:

1. Use either a quick-strike or circle hook rig to decrease injury to the fish.
2. Drill a big 10 inch hole and funnel it out at the bottom with an ice-chisel.
3. Set the hook quickly if using a quick-strike to decrease chance of the fish swallowing the bait.
4. Have the necessary hook removal tools, measuring, and camera equipment close at hand to minimize the fishes time out of the water.
5. Don't drop the fish on the ice as this can cause injury and it may be best not to even lay the fish on the ice.
6. Be very careful when using a gaf so as not to injure the fishes gills.
7. Hold the fish in the water until it is ready to go just like during the summer.

Did I miss anything or is this pretty much how to go about handling them? Would you take the hook out while fish is still in the water or do you have to take the fish out of the water first? Seems a circle-hook that locks into the edge of the jaw might be the quickest hook removal.

Also, have you ever jigged for Muskies? Not sure what rod one would use, but it would have to be a stout one.

Herb