Musky Release Photo

[Dave in Walker]

Just curious of what you folks think of the photo on page 10 of the Feb/March issue of Musky Hunter. Its a picture of a huge Georgian Bay Musky, very bloody, which was later released. Now I know I wasn't there so I don't know any of the circumstances and details, water temp and such, I just wish the magazine didn't print that picture, thats ammunition for thhe anti"s. We need all the good publicity we can get, I can just imagine PETA getting all bent out of shape after seeing that photo. Once again I am not ripping the angler or anything because I was not present, just think the photo was in poor taste for publication

[Speedy]

I'm with you Dave.
Not certain what issue but I looked at a MH mag a few weeks ago at Fleet Farm and couldn't help but notice ALL but 1 of the muskies had wickedly mangled and busted up fins *not to confuse with split fins*.

I understand it happens but maybe them folks should be a little more scrupulous when choosing their pics. Anglers too.

Don't knock my post til after you look at the mag.

[Speedy]

I regret writing that one even though Dave's concern is legit. More appropriate to address my criticism in private. I apologize to MH. I'm not concerned about the image we reflect to outsiders as I do the musky fraternity.

What does a photo of a to-be-released musky that has grossly busted up or parched looking fins (or fish), tell you about the angler?

Let's all do our part to be skilled and expedient releasers!

[Metroguy]

Shoot, you think those fish got it bad! I work with a hmong woman and the other day she was telling my boss about how her and her husband fish on Leech Lake and when they catch a musky they club it in the head with a b-ball bat before boating it. "Otherwise they flop around to much", then I asked her if they kept the fish and she said they let'em go!!! she thnks they are just knocked out and will come around after a bit >:( what a moron!!! True story.


p.s. I told her just how I felt!!!,and i'm sure she would have rather been hit on the top of the head herself.


JMG

[Still there]

Dave,
To reassure you that fish was released in great shape! It was great to see a picture in there of a 50 pound that actually looked real.

[Bob Babcock]

I'm at work so I'll have to re-read the piece that went with the picture, but I think it said the blood was from the guy not the fish.

[John Skarie]

Speedy;

I wouldn't assume a photo of a fish with split fins has anything to do with the angler.

I've caught many muskies with cut up fins, old wounds scrapes etc.

Had nothing to do with me, fish can be beat up from previous catches, or just the enviroment they are in. For example when you catch suspended muskies in the fall when they come shallow, they are generally not beat up like the ones that live in the slop and rocks.

JS

[Duke]

The blood was from the fish which inhaled his bucktail. Sure it doesn't make for the most pretty picture, but I don't see anything wrong with them running it. It is not unheard of to have fish bleed, and it does not mean they aren't going to survive. If its gills were badly severed thats one thing, but Booth said the gills were not hooked. The fish took off after release and did not resurface- which they do when they bleed to death.

We as fishermen never claimed that fish don't get injured or killed during capture, nor do we have to. That is the way it is, and the way it always will be, PETA or not. The fish was a monster, something that should be documented blood or not.