View Full Version : Hand landing Walleyes
As I was just reading anothr post about catching some fish, there was mention of nets - kinds lenths of handles etc.
I am wondering - if there are many folks out there who simply don't use a net at all. a. if the fish is relatively small - up to two lbs or so - simply swing it over the side of the boat; or
b. Bring the fish close, and then reach over the side of the boat, and hand land the fish - as would be the case for bass fisherman. Obviously - it is wise to keep your hands out of the Walleyes mouth - since they do have a lot of very Sharp teeth.
This came up, because on a couple of occasions last summer, I neglected to put my net in the boat. Then for all the fish that we caught - I simply hand landed the fish. I didn't loose any of the fish, and I received no cuts.
As a matter of fact, in the last several years, I have adopted the policy of never netting a northern. There is simply too much hassle in getting the fish back out of the net, with its twisting and turning. I have found that if I bring it along side the boat, I can generally unhook the fish, without even taking the fish out of the water - or get it behind the gills - so that I don't have to net it.
My boat has a high floor - so is very easy to get over the side to hand land the fish. I realize on a boat with a high free board - that this would be out of the question, with out running the risk of taking a very cold dip - especially in the spring and fall - or if the waves are running big.
Can you tell - that this cold march is getting to me??
Take care
REW
pictureswork
03-03-2002, 08:46 PM
REW, you should pull out some old pictures and a pitcher. then sit back, relax and dream of spring.
Rapaleye
03-03-2002, 08:58 PM
REW,
You raise a good question. I do hand land a lot of fish, however I usually only do it when it is going in the live well. I find that to hand land a fish you need to tire it to the point that it may not survive. I did learn to hand land fish that still have fight left but that was in a canoe. In a canoe I can easily bring the fish up along side the boat and grab it just beind the gill plate. That is a little harder to do in a boat due to the freeboard on the side.
Good luck if you give it a try this summer.
Jim
I have to agree with you on that point. If you don't tire the fish out pretty good - you run the risk of getting cut on a gill plate - been there and had that happen before.
As I said earlier - I have done it when the net wasn't in the boat, or inconvenient. If it is a big fish - or one that I don't want to lose - I will go for the net every time.
--
Of course, that could bring up stories - that I am sure that all of us can tell about either the fish that we knocked off our line by a net, or had knocked off our line by a netter -- that doesn't make us very happy either.
Take care and - yes - think spring.
REW
Mattman
03-04-2002, 05:00 AM
After getting a Beckman coated net I don't worry about twisting Northerns or tons of treble hooks. That net has really changed the way I fish. I net MUCH more frequently now. Northerns, Walleyes, Bass, Crappies. I too worry about tiring fish out too much when hand landing, although I do at times. But usually they are not very big fish. Or its when I'm catching so many fish I don't care if I loose a few due to my ineptetude at grabbing a fighting fish. I usually grab right behing the gill plates or belly lift the fish. Its weird how when you get that perfect position under them and they just go limp.
Better to have and not need than to need and not have!
Matt Davis
stevefellegy
03-04-2002, 05:42 AM
Savvy fishermen will do this when fishing within sight of other boats and curious eyes. Nets draw "parasites".
However, I would not recommend doing this, because the potential of hooks in the hand/finger/face, can be high. Especially with crankbaits or worm harnesses that expose 'free' hooks during this process.
I have spent more than one day on the water with hooks protruding from my body, trying to fend off parasites.
Kevin
03-04-2002, 06:41 AM
I brought this up last fall and thought it would be a good idea to bring it up agian. While fishing with a great guide on the Gunflint Trail, he gave me a valueable tip. He said you should hold the fish in the water the length of the time it took you to get him in the boat. If after that time the fish doesn't respond by taking off on his/her own, it may be in shock similar to what humans go through. At that point, simply slap your hand on the water in front of the fish. I was soaked numerous times by the fish taking off like a bat out of #####. Don't know if the fish really goes in shock or not, but the slap really gets em in the mood to move. Hope this helps some of you folks if you experience a fish in "shock". Good fishing to all.
Drewman
03-04-2002, 07:37 AM
The only time I use a net on fish is if I am salmon fishing. I really don't see a need, especially on walleye. My partner and I fish primarily for big pike and muskie and safely landing those without a net and it is not that difficult. Walleye, in comparison, are far tamer when brought boatside. At least the hundreds we catch in the far north are.
If they are small we grab them around the back, with thumb and forefinger just inside the top of the gil flap (not touching the gills of course). This seems to paralyze them. If they have some size to them, we gill flap 'em just like a big pike. We also tend to leave as much of the fish in the water as possible when working the hooks out. Then a quick lift, pic, and back in if they are of photogenic size.
No need for nets unless you are in a big boat with a long reach to the water. (charters always seem to use nets...don't want to risk letting that first fish get off...might have to give the trip away!)
RANGER
03-04-2002, 08:56 AM
I'm with Mattman on this - since I bought a rubber coated net I use it almost exclusively. NOT a rubber strech net, those things are a trampolin for fish.
I have to temper this - I use the net A LOT but if there is no reason to bring a fish in the boat I try to release them while they are still in the water by using very long-handled needle nose SS pliers bought at Bass Pro. They are around a foot long and I have alot of freeboard on my boat, they work very well.
When I do land fish, I use the net and have had VERY LITTLE trouble with hooks getting caught in the net. Additionally, I have a carpeted floor so I have a rubber backed "welcome" type mat/rug that is apporximately 4' x 5' in size covering the carpet in the back. When the fish comes over the side it goes on the rug! Saves a bunch of clean-up at days end. I simple take the rug out and hose it off, let it dry in the splash well for the next time. Also keeps sand and dirt out of the boat as well.
sdive
03-04-2002, 01:43 PM
Personally I thought Beckman was the only company to make a dip net.. as for northerns we use a lip lock device such as the old fish on unit never even take the slime bags out of the water to unhook them.. seems use of a net is like shooting up a flare saying come help me catch the school of walleye I just found..as for hand landing a walleye...the day you bury a trebble hook in your hand with a 2.5lb walleye still floppin on the other treble hook will most likely be the last time you think of that.... or better yet have a northern bite you on the hand...back in the 60's the old indian guides in northern Canada always told us don't wear your rings or watches when you put hand in water...there was a reason..they can lay a hand open just as good as a small shark can..
Drewman
03-04-2002, 02:10 PM
Not trying to bash anyone, but netting a walleye, to me anyway, is like having to net a perch. No need.
Well, let me put a condition on that. If it is a 30+ inch walleye and you really do not want to risk losing it, then maybe I can see the need. But as I have stated, walleye don't trip half as much as pike do boatside...I would go so far as to even say they are calm. Why risk damaging the fish at all if you don't have to.
Here is a hand landing method for walleyes that you have to see to believe. You just put the flat of your hand under their belly and lift them up. They won't even wiggle. If you grab them then they will try to get loose. I think that they would sit there until they died without moving if you kept them in this position long enough.
We used this method one spring in Canada the day after ice out and they were spawning in a creek pool about 50 feet upstream from the lake. There was a log over the stream and you could reach down and if you were slow and didn't grab at them, you could lift walleyes out of the water until your hand got so cold you couldn't feel it. We didn't keep any because you could get 9 walleyes on 10 casts all day long at the mouth of the creek in the lake.
What is best for the fish?
The new rubber coated nets are not too hard on fish. A dry hand on a fish can remove the protective slime and the fish will die later. Flipping a fish and letting it bang on the floor isn't good either as they role around rubbing their slime off. best to use a net of put a glove on. Releasing without boating seems best to me.
As s.f. says-No parasites either.
BobFest
03-04-2002, 04:02 PM
Biggest walleye (25") I every got was while smallmouth fishing on Rainy Lake. Didn't have have a net in the boat and was fishing 4# test line with no leader. I had "cigars" before but when I saw the size of this one, I freaked out and wanted to get her in the boat for a picture. Without thinking I just lipped her. I remember that it didn't really hurt until after the picture when I saw all the blood.
stevefellegy
03-04-2002, 05:06 PM
A little trick involving netting walleyes and the parasite syndrome.
I have deployed this plan on several occasions.
If there are rough fish in the area, like sheephead, keep some of them in a bucket in the boat, instead of throwing them back. Then as boats go by and you have to land a walleye, as they break their necks staring and pondering becoming a parasite, just reach in the bucket and throw back the sheephead. Works everytime. I kept Parson's off me one whole day at Winnebago doin' just that.lol
Steve....you've been a hoot all winter, got great stories, but that i s the best. I 'gonna try the "bucket of sheephead trick", I love it. Keep 'em coming.
stevefellegy
03-04-2002, 06:05 PM
Yeah, if only I can survive another forty years of huntin' walleyes.
The "rest of the story" will be in book form some day soon. The final chapter has yet to happen. THAT will be good reading. "How I 'survived' the walleye game". Hard to believe....lol
Roger Mayer
03-04-2002, 07:01 PM
Hi Rew,
I never use a net anymore. Been without one for over 10 years. Hand land all my fish using a green cotton glove. It's wet before I use it. I think it's made of cotton but not sure. All I know is that I can grab a northern anywhere on it's back without losing my grip. Therefore the fish doesn't have to be tired right out. Our M.N.R. uses these gloves. I haven't seen them for sale anywhere.
If I find out the name of them I will post it.
Roger Mayer.
Roger,
That is really a good idea.
I have seen quite a few folks use a towel, to take fish out of the net, to keep from pulling slime off the fish, and their protective coating.
The idea of the cotton glove - that is -of course wet - when you touch the fish = is a very good idea. Even, if you do happen to catch a gill plate, or a tooth, I expect that the cotton gloves would protect you fine.
I have to agree that these are probably better than using neoprene gloves, simply because of the ability to be a bit more gentle with the fish.
Thanks for the heads up.
REW
Larry
03-05-2002, 03:45 AM
Many years ago, when we started fishing LBDN and you only had a handful of trailers in the parking lot on the weekend, my partner started "lipping" the eyes. We used a heavy glove and lipped them like a bass. It worked for two pounders as well as those over ten. Later, when talking with the DNR, we were told they use the same method when handling fish in their studies. For northerns, I use those Kevlar gloves with the rubber spots on them for grip. Just dip your gloved hand in the water to wet it before grabbing the fish. This method works quite well on salmon/trout when you forget the net...just grab them at the base of the tail.