Landing/Handling esox

[brad]

I heard some guys don't net now because of eye damage to the fish, and also that no one uses a cradle anymore. What's the best if you want to get a pic?

I was able to jawbone my pb pike 40" this year but I got cut a bit by the roof patch. I don't think I will try that again.

[NETim]

Originally Posted by brad

I heard some guys don't net now because of eye damage to the fish, and also that no one uses a cradle anymore. What's the best if you want to get a pic?

I was able to jawbone my pb pike 40" this year but I got cut a bit by the roof patch. I don't think I will try that again.

I dunno. I use a great big coated Frabill net. Doesn't seem to hurt their eyes that I can tell.

Fighting them 'til they're tired and go belly up so they can be handled safely isn't good for them either.

Slipping the hand under the gill plate is ticklish business as Ma Nature has given Mr Esox an impressive array of cutting edges in there. I try to get my fingers as close to the tip of the jaw as possible to stay away from those gill rakers.

Bottom line, don't put anymore of your fingers in there than you an afford to lose.

[Brian]

Use a coated net with a deep basket and a wide hoop...most musky nets are about as big as a 30 gallon trash can. To lift a 30"+ fish from the water for pics, the "gill hold" is the safest method for both you and the fish.

Just remember to keep your fingers staight while sliding your hand inside and up to the jawbone....those gill rakers'll do a real number on the knuckles!


- B

[LincolnLunger]

Wehn I first started muskie fishing I had a small net and then when I realized how big these creatures can get I upsized my net. I usually slip on a glove before holding toothy critters in the gills, just to make sure I dont get sliced up.

[Fish4Fun]

I would say just a few things. Trying to pick up a fish without a net is very dangerous as a unexpected thrash could put a few treble hooks in your hand.

Secondly cradles aren't always the best. We bought one from cabelas and the mest part has several weights that are supposed to get it to sink down. Well they don't work well at all and it becomes very difficult to get the fish in there. Maybe you can find and expensive one that functions better.

Thirdly I would say to make it easy I would reccoment a large net that doesn't have a real meshy easy for the hooks to snag in type of material. We have had to cut some of the mesh on the net when the treble hook becomes imbeded.

[Hooligan]

I'm not concerned about laying hooks into a netbag, as many hooks as I inevitably end up cutting every year, I'll just as soon cut hooks from a net than the net itself.
I used to use a cradle, in some situations, I still would. For the most, though, you can get a fish in a large net, and hold them there, get hooks cut/out and do the necessary things easier than any other method.
I use a Frabill, but that's just my preference.

[fearnofish]

Originally Posted by Hooligan

I'm not concerned about laying hooks into a netbag, as many hooks as I inevitably end up cutting every year, I'll just as soon cut hooks from a net than the net itself.
I used to use a cradle, in some situations, I still would. For the most, though, you can get a fish in a large net, and hold them there, get hooks cut/out and do the necessary things easier than any other method.
I use a Frabill, but that's just my preference.

I agree with mr hooligan