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8:16 pm
It Has been a Very Very HOT few weeks and Ive been getting reports of 85- 87 degree water temps, On almost all of the lakes with rivers peaking at sunset up to 82-85 degrees. With a few reports of people fishing these waters this hot. To Hot to safely release a fish in good health especially for you newer guys with a little less experience handeling fish.
Trying to catch a hot bite might kill three fish and then going back a second time for more is it worth it ?
Check with other members that might be out on the waters that you plan to fish before you go out . ask temps of there last trip , put a post up. Also the USGS has some river temps on its sites you can check out before you go . The Air temps are on the drop by next weekend so it should come down a bit.
Just because a fish releases Ok does not mean it will survive, fishing hot water does nothing good for our fishery.
Matt Lysek
4:48 am
I agree totally with you Matt. I didn't nor did my buddies go for the musky this weekend. Just a couple minute fight in warmer water puts a hurtin' on them. Good advice
4:03 am
July 8, 2015
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keep them in the net the cut off for me is 85 if you have a big fish take the picture quick please don't lay them on the deck it will kill them Its easy to say when you have a few pics of nice fish please be careful
5:36 pm
85 degrees??? Hey Tom do you bring a lemon and fork and eat them at the side of the boat... Or are they too well done in 85 degree water?
I think 80 is the cutoff. We all have fished in warm water, but I try to avoid it if possible. If you do catch a fish in 80+ I suggest never taking out of water, get measurement in water.. Just because the fish swims away doesnt mean it survives. It kind of sad to hear about guy (who know much better) fishing hot water just because there is a hot bite. It is especially sad to hear guys doing it two day in a row... >:(
Seb
8:35 pm
July 8, 2015
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I agree with you seb I was trying not to sound like a blow hard I rarely fish above 80
5:50 am
cold front in... water temps down, I am on the waters at 6am..... good luck guys
1:25 am
Got this from CH 22 site
Monthly News Letter
To the members of Muskies Inc.
July and August is the slow period in our muskie fishing in our southern waters. Unless you go North or fish in the Kaskaskia River below Shelbyville we have to settle for bass, walleye, white bass and catfish. One thing to remember is that if you fish in waters that have muskie in them, you have a very good chance to hook into a muskie. Just because it is hot, the muskie still has to eat.
If you do happen to catch a muskie, the following procedure should be followed. 1) Get the fish to the net and leave the net in the water. 2) Remove the hooks while the fish is in the net and in the water. 3) Measure the fish in the net with a rod through the net. (I made mine from a piece of ½ inch plastic conduit 60 inches long with caps on each end. I found a glue on tape that I put on the conduit. You can also buy one of these measures from Rollie & Helens) 4) I know this will be hard to do but do not take the fish out of the water to take a picture. You do not want to put any more stress on the fish than necessary, 5) Let the fish swim out of the net and just hold the fish in the water until it swims off.
3:28 am
April 29, 2007
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Thanks for the info guys, I joined Muskies Inc. because this organization and members are all for improving musky fisheries and musky fishing. That means catch and release. In hot water, it's pretty obvious the stress of fighting a fish to the net, unhooking, measuring and pictures are amplified several times. In my humble opinion, a quick picture and measurement on a wet bump board after pulling them out of a good treated net (frabil or beckman), support the fish and get them right back in the water in good shape is not unreasonable. Just a year or two ago, I was an idiot about this, but have gotten better. It all depends on the anglers experience releasing fish and the conditions...something I hope to get a lot more practice on. 🙂 I won't comment on the cutoff point...80 degree water temps or right around there??...when is the mortality rate really high, anyone have any results of research studies on this?
Thanks,
Tim
Team MTF
12:17 am
Tim I dont know of very many studies. I know in the genral muskie community that @80 degrees surface temp you should be very careful and if at all possible not take the fish out of the water.
I think any body that fishes waters that are 85 degrees and above dont care about the fishery but thats my opinion.
6:27 am
April 2, 2008
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I went to check the river this morning and got a 89 degree water temp. There were five boats out fishing for Muskies ! River level @ Harrisburg was 3.38 feet. We did see two Muskies in cooler water and one had a Carp and swam off as we floated by. Hard for me not to fish, however at least I know two that will protect the fishery, just wish others would do the same. I have convinced three of the usual Musky hunters to Catch and release, now to work on them to leave em alone when the water temp. is this high. Even with the cooler creek water flow I got 79-81 for water temps.
12:25 am
Thanks Susquehannamusky All we can do is work on Fishermen that dont know, When I first started to fish muskies I didnt know these fish get stressed in hot water etc.. But thats what we are about informing the fishermen and women that dont know and It will make a difference.
We also have to let these people know That 40 incher could be 7-8 years old and they dont grow on trees catch and release is very important we could actually see more 45 , 48 and even 50 inchers with more catch and release
1:21 am
August 28, 2007
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AMEN!!!
ITS NOT THE SIZE OF YOUR BOAT
ITS THE SIZE OF WHATS ON YOUR BUMPBOARD!
M.T.F
3:50 am
April 17, 2011
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I think even 80 may be too hot. If you asked me 2 mos ago I probably woouldn't have given a number as long as the fish wasn't stressed in a material way and could spend some time resting in the net... I was wrong. ..... I saw one fisherman take a fish out for a quick pic and then get the fish back in the water -- he had to spend 15 mins on it and even then he wasn't sure if it made (and this was mid 30's fish so they are supposed to be a bit more hardy then big girls). Agree with the above statements - boat release or go fish for another species.
It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.
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