I went out casting jigs this afternoon from my canoe and wrapped up the day paddle - trolling a deep-diving crankbait. I caught quite a few crappie, and was heading back toward the ramp, sun going down, when something grabbed the lure and peeled off about 20 yards of my 4-lb test. I thought it was a big walleye . . . had a 6-pounder Saturday. I got the fish turned, then it came up and jumped-- muskie!

I got the fish to the boat, grabbed my pliers, and did my best to stay clear of hooks and teeth. The fish seemed played-out, manageable. I've never caught a muskie till today . . . but plenty of walleye. I see now that dealing with a muskie is a lot different. I steadied the fish, got the pliers firmly onto one of the hooks, and started to turn it out when the fish went totally berserk, came halfway out of the water, and a treble hook went deep into my thumb. Wonderful.

That was what you could call a 'tense moment'; one hook in me, the other in the fish. What a nightmare . . . there was no way to force the point through, and the pliers weren't meaty enough to cut either the hook in me or the one in the fish loose. Yikes! I used my pliers to rip the hook out of my thumb . . . and it's still numb, but it doesn't need stitches or anything, just glad I've had my tetanus shot. I steered the fish alongside a tape measure . . . it was between 32 and 35 inches . . . I gave it some slack, not wanting to tangle anymore with the thing, and fortunately the fish shook its head and let itself go. I guess now I need to start bringing a BIG net, a set of compound bolt cutters, and a steel glove for the next time this happens. I don't ever want to be in the position I was in tonight again! I thought it might be good to let other members know this kind of thing can happen even when you're crappie fishing. Be prepared-- I wasn't. It certainly could have been a lot worse . . . that muskie was a little one.

The sad part is, I think I may have a case of muskie mania now with respect for the, uh, injury potential, I think I am going to have to add some muskie hunting to my usual crappie trips.
Thanks
gregory

[walleye4]

That is some good info dude but the guy is crappie fishing, not having a heart attack!

Sounds like you had a good day on the water. Those muskie sure can get your heart throbbing when you catch them without trying for them!

Good Job!

[shortbus]

Man I saw a muskie on tv the other night that damn near jumped in the boat. It looked like it was literally trying to attack the guy. Jumping towards him and shaking his open mouth at him.