Netting Muskies

Featured Musky Hunter Magazine - Feb/Mar Issue 2005
By Crash Mullins, Field Editor

While I was at some of the musky sport shows last winter I listened to
seminars from various pros, then walked around looking at what was new
and talking with the many different manufacturers of equipment and
terminal tackle.

I really started thinking about how much has changed in the last 20
years. Many things ran through my mind. Bigger boats and motors, larger
live wells, advanced fish finders, GPS, longer rods, stronger lines ...
the list went on and on. I asked myself: "What is one of the greatest
improvements in the musky world?"
It just so happened I was right in front of the Frabill Net Co. booth
when it hit me. One of the greatest improvements has to be the landing
net.

With a net bag dipped in a form of rubber compound that will not allow
the hooks to penetrate through to the barbs of the hooks, deep bags and
large rims, these nets have more or less become a livewell that’s
extremely easy on fish we plan to release.I’ve been using these
improved nets for many years as a guide, and the first time I used one
on a fish I thought it was the greatest thing since sliced bread.
Besides Frabill, other companies such as Beckman and Stowmaster make
big nets with coated bags, and for good reason — they benefit the fish.
I am one of many guides who believe in netting muskies, especially a
fish that a client hooks because netting muskies can be the easiest way
to ensure a good release. From a guide's point of view, every client
deserves a photo of his or her fish. I personally will not ask a client
to release his fish (within means) without a photo.
There has always been a lot of controversy over netting muskies and I
guess there always will be. I base my theory on the past two decades of
musky fishing as a fisherman and as a guide. Going back to late ’80s
when catch and release was just really getting started, I noticed a lot
of fish on my home water of Cave Run that were dying after they were
released. Part of this was most anglers were just learning how to
handle fish that were to be released, and second, many of these muskies
were almost dead before they were out of the net due to the fish, lures
and hooks being tangled in the nets. At that point and time I quit
netting muskies and started to hand-land them. Believe me, this took
some time and was very dangerous and occasionally a fish got away.
Which brings me to my point — if a client lost a fish before I could
hand-land it, or we exhausted the fish too much, would it survive after
being released? Not to mention losing the fish never led to a happy
ending at the end of the day!

Netting Basics

You need a net hoop of at least 30 inches across and a very deep bag. I
use a Frabill’s Big Kahuna model, which is 40 inches across the rim and
60 inches deep. This leads to another
topic of discussion — what is the proper way to net a musky? I base it
on the size of the fish you are going to net because the bigger the
musky, the more crucial netting procedure is. A good rule of thumb for
me is with muskies 40 inches or larger, I try to net them head-first.
If the fish is less than 40 inches it doesn't make a lot of difference
to me. One thing I have noticed with fish 45 inches or bigger, it is
very important to try to net it head-first. This is one reason a deep
net is a must. I always leave the fish in the water over the side of
the boat. Have your hook removing tools ready. I do not put the fish
and net on the floor of the boat for unhooking; instead, I rest the
hoop of the net on the gunnel of the boat with the net bag and fish
still in the water. Completely remove the lure from the fish and net
before you lift the fish out of the net. Don’t be afraid to cut the
hooks as this will save you a lot of time as well as help the fish.
Then, relax and regain your composure. Get your camera ready before you
bring the fish out of the net. Get a quick picture and put the musky
back in the water.

Is netting a big part of musky fishing? Most certainly it is. Musky
fishing is a team sport. It’s the fishermen in the boat against the
fish. Once, back in my early days before I started guiding, a buddy and
I were fishing. I told him I knew where there was good fish of at least
25 pounds, and we started fishing where I had raised this fish the
previous day. The musky followed my lure and made a swipe in the
figure-8. Suddenly, my buddy yells "I’ve got him" and a furious battle
ensued. I could see the lure just barely in the musky’s lip as it
splashed down beside the boat. I thought that if I didn’t net this fish
immediately it would be gone. I made a wild stab with the net and got
the fish in the net head-first. As soon I scooped the net up the lure
fell from the musky’s mouth.

That evening, my buddy said told an acquaintance, "I got a big one
today" and I said, "No, I thought I got a big one." After all, the lure
came out of the fish’s mouth. We both laughed. My point is, yes, the
musky hit his lure and yes, he reeled it to the boat, but the "net man"
played a big part. Remember, it truly is "we got a fish." Musky fishing
really is a team sport, as without good netting skills many musky
battles would end with bad memories. I believe when given the choice, a
big net is the way to go.

The beauty of a big net is it will allow you to improvise when you need
to. You can land fish faster, put less stress on the fish, and ensure a
quality release. That’s one sure way I’ve learned to preserve the
future of musky fishing. As much as musky fishing has grown and changed
in the past 20 years, the new nets available today are perhaps the most
important change because they help guarantee the future.

Guide and tournament pro Crash Mullins owns the Crash’s Landing tackle
shop near Cave Run Lake. He can be reached at (606) 780-4260,
www.crashslanding.com <http://www.crashslanding.com>.

Netting Miscues

It’s really hard to believe how many muskies that I see or know of that
are lost due to mistakes in netting. Many fishermen, including a few
big names, think there is no skill involved in netting, but guiding has
taught me otherwise. Here are three of the most common mistakes that I
have seen.

1.) Keeping the net handle retracted instead of extended and ready to
be used. The first thing I do when I am ready to go fishing is to make sure the
net’s handle is extended and ready.

2.) Placing the bottom (bag) of the net in the water before you are
ready to net the fish. You should hold the bag with your opposite hand or hold it alongside
the hoop until you are ready to net, and be aware of lures and boat
cleats that might become entangled in the bag.

3.) Trying to net "green" muskies, fish that aren’t ready for netting.
Don’t make wild stabs. These are last resorts. Make a smooth, swift
motion with the net and follow through until the entire fish is in the
net.

— Crash Mullins, Field Editor 2005