the stink of a dead fish

[Skeptical Sam]

Part of the reason I am sure many people get upset over killed fish is the stories put forth with the killing how they tried to release it but it wouldn't make it. I am not a bacteriologist but I am suspicious that the stink of the whole thing is not the dead fish, it's the story that always seems to go with it.

"Big fish hooked on artificials a recipe for disaster?"

It seems like some fisherman are able to release fish after fish in good shape and others seem to have problems and it always seems to be one of the biggest they ever caught. A number of guides release fish after fish of large proportions and many hooked meanly and well. Is it THAT common for large fish to do so badly when hooked, or do just 40+ pounders seem to have that bad kind of luck?

Take a bunch of pictures and throw it in a livewell, that will certainly decrease mortality. Drop it. Temperature stress it. Try and release it over a 1 hour period and it never left the water. Really? I don't think that fish would deteriorate and smell as bad if you would just knock them in the head and say "I wanted to keep it and I knocked it in the head".

Is nobody killing fish anymore? Are the only ones that die those that are unreleasable after a valiant and hopefully admirable effort? Are the fish from areas away from MN less vital? Do fish caught by people making money out of the resource have less revivability? Are Ottawa River fish hardier than other strains?

What's that odor?

[Cast and blast]

I smell PETA! Boy, does that stink! Look out here! Cast-n-blast

[Jim McCullough]

C&B,

I think this is a bonafied Muskie fisherman. I don't think PETA would know anything about the Ottawa River and the release ethic that surrounds it. Unless they are getting even more devious...:P

[RoyC]

I have to admit that Skeptical is saying what I have often thought about myself. How come many people seem to catch more fish that can't be released successfully while others never seem to have that problem? Are some guys just not good at releasing fish? Are they lying about it dying just so that they can keep it and still like CPR'ers? Are the others who seem to have no problems with successful CPR just throwing some fish back to die and not admitting it? Since I have no experience with catching or releasing large muskies, I have no personal experience upon which to judge others. Therefore, I give everyone the benefit of the doubt and trust their word. What else can I do?

Roy

[Cast and blast]

Sure is hard to tell exactly what the intentions of this post are. I'm not going to say any more than that. I guess I got sucked into this one Jim. I should just keep my mouth shut, especially since I posted about getting bogged down in the dogma just recently. Sorry to whoever, I may have jumped the gun here. Cast-n-blast

[Jim McCullough]

Cast & Blast,

No problem. I appreciate that you hang out here and aren't afraid to offer your opinion. How are things in ol' CR? I was born and raised there. I get back to the Cities quite a bit, but it seems the only time I get to CR is when I pass through on Highway 10 or on the 610 bridge. By the way, I am jealous of your Big V fish. Congrats on that one! :) I am heading back up there over Labor Day and hope to hook into one that is similar.

[btpf]

Its all in the individual. There this guy I know and he always tells me if he catches a 46" or bigger he is going to keep it.

I try and try to convince him to just get some quality photos and good measurements and have a replica mount made. He just doesnt get it. Its like Im talking to the wall. :(

[Marc Thorpe]

Big O fish are not hardier,release is a local tradition instilled by local muskie fisherman,a norm,a way of life.
The only conservation resource minded method applied by all.
Those who dont well ,should consider somewhere else.

Although the idioligy may not be popular,respect it and you gain respect.
marc

[Fish_on]

I'm sure you mean well but it appears to me that it is you who doesn't get it. He has a perfect right to mount a 46-incher, and it certainly wouldn't hurt the resource one bit if he did. That's his goal and his personal choice and it's none of your business. You see, reproductions are nice, they're pretty and they last well, and all that, but they aren't a real fish. That's important to some people. Wopuld I mount a 46-incher? No. Heck, I could order a reproduction right now for a 50-incher even though I've never caught one. Will I mount a 50-incher when it finally comes to boat? Highly unlikely, but I wouldn't feel one bit guilty if I did. Leave the guy alone and let him make his own choice. He doesn't need some self-appointed judge looking over his shoulder telling him what he should and shouldn't do. Sounds to me like he "gets it" a lot better than you do.

[Kingfisher]

Hi Guys Im Back, I believe this post is pointing out that some guys seem to be making up stories about how thier fish died to ward off attacks from Catch and release minded fishers. If we all thought they tried very hard to revive the fish it doesnt sound so bad eh? I have seen some awfull things happen to muskies and watched them swim off and be caught again the following year. I have never lost one yet to my knowledge and dont believe Big Fish are any less hardier than small ones. I do believe that water temps over 75 degrees tend to start killing them faster and more care should be taken to return them faster. I tend to agree with the post. I think lots of guys create a big story to cover up the fact that they wanted to kill the fish. Then go on line and tell the tale of how hard they tried to revive this magnificent trophy. The stink is in the freezer waiting for the the guy to come up with the money to get the mount. Many end up in the garden. I dont agree with absolute catch and release but I think some sights should be set a little higher. I wont kill a Muskie unless it is a state or world record. I guess Ill have to settle for a real nice Reproduction. I dont fault a guy for getting ONE fish for the wall. What ticks me off is the guys who kill a 48 after killing a 54. Makes no sense at all. This subject has been beaten to death for the last 5 yrs on this site. My wife just caught a 32.5 pound King Salmon, an awsome battle 25 minuteds to be exact. this fish was 40" long by 25.5 girth we had 8 small kings and steelhead in the boat so we released the big hog. I did not want to keep the thing in my freezer for the next 5 months while I saved the money to get the mount.She gets her mount for Christmas and mr big goes to make more little salmon. Any questions? The saying goes something like this( I cant tolerate intolerance) Lets just get back to fishing. Hi Marc , hello from the Michigan Musky Hunters. Kingfisher

[Marc Thorpe]

Hi Kingfisher,how are things.
Tom emails me regularly with some nice pics.
I need some help from you in MI
You can reach me at ipg99@yahoo.com

Be well
marc