The other night while at Newton we caught several Muskies and landed them with the net. Well they rolled several times in the net only tangling themselves even more and making it very difficult to remove the lure and them from the net. It seemed like an eternety before i was able to get the fish back into the water. There has got to be other methods of landing big fish besides the net that i am not aware of. If anyone has any links i can go to or any suggestions it will be much appreciated.
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I have never landed a muskie, so take this for what it's worth, but what about a landing cradle.
[url "http://www.muskyshop.com/modules/cart/products.php/nav_id/19/page/1/id/402/name/FrabillMuskyCradle"]http://www.muskyshop.com/modules/cart/products.php/nav_id/19/page/1/id/402/name/FrabillMuskyCradle[/url]
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best to use a cradle or a rubber net. leave the fish in the water in the net and try and remove the hook out and then lift up for quick pics and then back in the water.. Never lift the fish out of the water in the net for the very reason you stated above, they will roll and make it worse.. I paid $46 bucks for the biggest rubber net at Sportsmans warehouse.
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You definitely need a cradle or a rubber net. It's best not to "land" them with a net though. Subdue them with the net or cradle, remove the lure from the mouth with them still in the water, pull them out of the water for a quick pic, and back into the drink with them.
All this is easier said than done with a big toothy beast like a tiger musky though.
also:
This link has a bunch of good articles on how to safely catch and release a big musky. It also has some good musky hunting tips.
http://www.petemaina.com/pages/articles.php
The guy really preaches having all your releasing tools handy and within reach, and to always keep the fishes head in the water until it's picture time and then to minimize the time that the head is out of the water.
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Thanks for everyones input. I will definately do some research on it.
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