Fishing-Headquarters Magazine by Fishing-Headquarters Online Magazine

Photograph by Andrew Ragas Fishing-Headquarters.com

September / October / November, 2012

Fishing-Headquarters Magazine Volume 2. Issue 5 Num. 11

September, October and November, 2012 Fall Edition

About the Fishing-Headquarters The Fishing-Headquarters began as a small homepage featuring a collection of photos and YouTube fishing videos. It even featured a small contingency of misfits and rebellious anglers who were tired of the internet elitism and racism expressed by other websites towards specific groups of anglers and species of freshwater gamefish.

• Kayak Fishing: Any Water Any Time . . . . . 17 • The Frontier of Small Watercraft Fishing . . 27 • Teaching Old Muskies New Tricks . . . . . . . . 41 • Musky Suckers For History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

Formally established in January 2007, the FHQ was created for like-minded anglers to share the wealth of information, and enjoy the beauty in diverse fishing. This greatness as we presently know it is multi-species fishing.

• Silver Magic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

Designed and created by posessed and gravely obsessed angler, Andrew Ragas, the website has grown to a large world audience. Our basis as an online media platform is to drop the ego, and catch anything that swims and has fins.

• Losing My Fishing Buddy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99

• Reader Feedback: Catch and Release . . . . 81

All fish are created as equals. Only to be pursued as opposites.

COVER STORY Important Biz Stuff http://www.fishing-headquarters.com info@fishing-headquarters.com telephone - 708. 256. 2201 Questions or Comments, and if interested in contributing or sponsoring, please contact Andrew Ragas at: andrew@fishing-headquarters.com Magazine layout and design by Ragas Media http://www.ragasmedia.com

Pictured on the Issue-11 cover is FishingHeadquarters editor and designer, Andrew Ragas. The head shot of this October muskie captures the essence of what fall trophy hunting is all about: Big fish and big smiles. In this issue, our staff writes about their pursuits of monster fish with small watercraft (alligator gar and muskies), and the late fall muskie opportunities of the northcountry.

Fishing-Headquarters Issue-11 Taking A Break Till March, 2013. Fishing-Headquarters Magazine has decided to take a break until March, 2013. Our next issue (12), to begin our third season, will be released then.

Andrew Ragas

Editor In-Chief, Designer, and Owner.

2013 Issue Releases Upcoming Schedule

• Issue 12: March 1, 2013 • Issue 13: May 1, 2013 • Issue 14: July 1, 2013 • Issue 15: September 1, 2013 • Issue 16: December 1, 2013

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This decision has nothing to do with the long hours and excessive time involvement required to produce each magazine issue.... It’s tiresome but the end product is worth it... Rather, we are in the process of modernizing our website by designing a fresh site with new software and fresh content. In addition, we also have plans to reopen our discussion boards and work out several new deals with advertising partners for 2013 and beyond. Following the release of issue 11, all of these plans of ours will be coming to form, as we hope to have our new website started in November, and launched by the start of 2013. It is my pleasure to bring you an 11th issue of FHQ Magazine. We would like to thank our friends, anglers, and team of writers and website bloggers who have dedicated themselves to provide and contribute their knowledge, experiences, and content into this publication. Without their assistance, nothing like this would be possible.

I S S U E 11 F E A T U R E D W R I

Cory Allen

Adam Glickman

David Graham

Contributed Photographs • David Graham • Travis Graham • Nate Tessler • Jacob Saylor • Frank Weilnhammer Issue 11 Editorial Staff • Paul Ragas Layout and Design By • Ragas Media Designs Sponsors and Advertising Partners • Bearpaw’s Handpoured Baits • CB’s Hawg Sauce • Cortland Line • Dragin Bait Company • Go-Pro Camera • Heartland Outdoors • Quantum Fishing • Ragas Media Designs • Sims Spinners Inc. • Solar Bat Eye Wear • Stankx Bait Company • Time on the Water Outdoors

Todd Wendorf

TERS AND CONTRIBUTORS

Chris Loveless

Andrew Ragas

NEWS AND NOTEWORTHY TOPICS. Solar Bat launches new website for 2012. Solar Bat encourages every person to perform at the top of his game, whatever that game may be. If you fish, hunt, or play outdoor sports where the sun is always an obstruction to your game, a pair of Solar Bats is the answer to the success you strive for! Visit their updated website to order your pair of Solar Bats today! Use Promotional Code ARAGAS http://www.solarbat.com

Quantum EXO 300 Reels For 2013 Season. The new EXO models combine a special, ultra-rigid aluminum, allow in load bearing areas with a lightweight composite that reduces weight in non-critical locations by 50%. This has enabled Quantum engineers to construct the lightest possible frames with zero sacrifice in strength. The EXO 300 ($279) was built with a great line capacity in mind, and a focus on handling big baits and big fish. http://www.quantumfishing.com

New Color Chart and Custom Colors available from Stankx Bait Company. KALAMAZOO, MI - In partnership with RagasMedia Designs, Stankx Bait Co. has updated its color chart to feature more stock images in an all new high resolution dynamic format. Likewise, new custom colors are unveiled daily for all products, and are showcased at the Stankx Nation Facebook fan page. http://www.stankxbaitco.com

Cortland Line Under NEW Ownership. Cortland Line Company, one of the oldest manufacturers of premium braided fishing line and a comprehensive assortment of fishing equipment and apparel, is pleased to announce the sale of its business and various operations to a well-capitalized group of private investors. http://www.cortlandline.com Fishing-Headquarters.com

September / October / November, 2012

Smallmouth Bass on the Fly Wisconsin River, Oneida County

SOLUNAR CALENDAR October 2012

November 2012

This fishing forecast is based on solar and lunar influences that cycle daily. The chart shows each hour of the day. For instance the hours with the higher rating, and days shaded the darkest have a greater combination of solar and lunar influence and thus indicate the best times to fish. This chart is a general recommendation and all data has been compiled by Weather & Wildlife.

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LEADING OFF. Sunset Country, Ontario

In August 2012, we took a trip to Northwest Ontario to experience some Canadian musky fishing on Lake of the Woods. While the fishing was pretty good, the beauty of sunsets was even better. Besides world class fishing for all species, another reason to visit the lake is for its wildlife and scenic beauty. Northwest Ontario is known as â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sunset Country.â&#x20AC;? Photograph by Andrew Ragas Fishing-Headquarters.com

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LEADING OFF. Moose Tracks in Minocqua, Wisconsin

No bull about it! Last October, following the release of last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fall issue, we captured this bull moose while fishing for muskies west of Minocqua, Wisconsin. The animals are protected species and relatively rare in the state. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources estimated the Wisconsin population of moose at 20 to 40 animals in 2003. Photograph by Andrew Ragas Fishing-Headquarters.com

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LEADING OFF.

Issue 11.... Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Get This Show On The Ro

Photograph by Andrew Ragas Fishing-Headquarters.com

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oad.

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PART I SMALL WATERCRAFT

KAYAK INTRODUCTION

Photograph by Chris Loveless Fishing-Headquarters.com

September / October / November, 2012

Photograph by Thad Cook

KAYAK FISHING ANY WATER, ANY TIME

By: Chris Loveless

Fishing-Headquarters Contributor

ike many serious anglers who try turning their passions into a reality, I spent the last couple years dreaming of buying a boat. Planning for such a purchase required lots of strategy as I did not want anything very big. Living in Northern Illinois where lakes are few and restricted by horsepower or electric-only limits, I am limited to owning small watercraft. For this, and to save my bank account, a simple aluminum v-

hull or a jon boat could have suited me perfectly, and then been customized to fit my exact needs. Until this past February, I had every intention of purchasing a boat and trailer to be towed behind my SUV. But then some storytelling got in the way of that plan happening. Fellow Fishing-Headquarters contributor and writer, Bryan Blazek, began talking to me about his successful kayak fishing trips. According to him, a properly rigged kayak Fishing Headquarters | Page 18

KAYAK INTRODUCTION

can do everything a small boat can do, performance-wise. In many cases, a fishing kayak is substantially easier to transport and then fish out of. Thanks to my friend’s good word, I soon changed my mind about customizing an old boat and quickly got into the kayak game. Following thorough research, the kayak I decided to purchase was the Old Town Camden Angler 120. This model kayak comes in at 12 feet, six inches in length. It is fully rigged with two rod holders, one trolling motor mount, a GPS/fishfinder mount, cup holder, anchor trolly, and two dry hatches. Thanks to these accessories, which were a major purchasing factor, I did not have to modify this craft in order to improve its fishability. My Camden Angler surely fits a lot of gear as I can bring multiple rods and reels, and comfortably pack four 3500 series Plano storage boxes and place them within easy reach. Besides having all the features Fishing-Headquarters.com

Photograph by Chris Loveless

I’d ever need to outfit the kayak for a full day of fishing, the Camden Angler is a “sit-in” model. This means I am entirely inside of the kayak when fishing. Most kayak fishermen claim that a “sit-on” kayak, where you are essentially on top of the kayak, is a better option due to stability. But in my opinion, a “sit-in” suits my needs better because it keeps me protected from the elements. I get

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sprayed less while paddling through wind and waves, and I don’t absorb as much of a daily pounding either. I could not have been more happier with my decision of purchasing a fishing kayak. It has led to a great season of fishing where a boat simply would not have worked. My Inaugural Kayak Season

Old Town Camden Angler 120

Photograph by Chris Loveless

My 2012 kayak fishing season began on the smaller lakes for bass. The Old Town was taken everywhere, including the small channels and puddles used by shallow water spawning bass. We had a dry, mild winter here in the Midwest, and water levels everywhere were dangerously shallow for the first couple months this spring. I recall a number of times where nonexistent boat landings were present, I had to ford the shallow waters of my access

area in order to actually launch! I encountered tons of these situations and if I had the small boat I made plans to get instead of a fishing kayak, fishing some of these places could have been impossible for me. Throughout the summer months, my strategy was to locate virgin water (to me at least), and explore its underfished territories. Several new bodies of water were fished this year and so many new things were learned that could not

have been discovered otherwise. The biggest benefit of fishing from a kayak is the stealth factor. Since kayaks are powered entirely by manually paddling, and occasionally by electric trolling motor, it was so stealthy that I could fish the extreme shallows of any lake, and hover over schools of minnows and panfish without spooking them. I was able to fish and navigate through much shallower water than any boat ever could. Following these shallow schools of baitfish and pounding the skinny-water shallows resulted in some great days on the water. Any Water, Any Time By the time the dog days of summer came, the water levels of my lakes and ponds became lower and lower. When I purchased the kayak, I did not expect to encounter record low levels water levels. But in the end, these adverse conditions ended in my favor. When a Fishing-Headquarters | Page 20

KAYAK INTRODUCTION

Fellow kayak fishing pal and Fishing-Headquarters.com contributor, Bryan Blazek, with a big largemouth bass caught during a nighttime summer outing. Fishing-Headquarters.com

September / October / November, 2012

Photograph by Chris Loveless

boat could not be launched due to drought or shallow water levels, as some lakes were down by 6 feet, my kayak had to be walked out into from shore, and then pushed out into the water. These adverse conditions of summer 2012 allowed me to fish anywhere I wanted to. If it weren’t for extreme heat and oppressive water temperatures, I had intentions to musky fish with the kayak. But with the triple-digit temperatures we had most of July and August, I could not fish for them due to fear of stress, lactic acid buildup, and delayed mortality following release. Thankfully, bass and panfish were still plentiful as an alternative plan. I caught more and bigger panfish this summer than I ever had in the past. I was able to read my Lowrance Elite 4x and find suspended fish. Coupled with a new ultra light rod and reel I purchased, I had a blast fishing for species I have never targeted on purpose before.

Now that summer has closed and fall is making its way, I only see the upcoming weeks getting more productive, and the kayak seeing more water. After a rainy last few weeks, water levels have finally returned to normal, and water temperatures have cooled down from the high 80’s that peaked throughout much of summer. In the coming weeks, my kayak will see more water and hopefully many big fish. In order to make that happen, the plan would be to add navigation lights so I can safely fish the harbors of Lake Michigan for the salmon run. If this happens, I will further prove how versatile the kayak is for multi-species fishing. Forget about a small boat, I’ll take my kayak any day. It can take almost any body of water and costs next to nothing in order to maintain. Next time you’re out on a lake in the Midwest, look for kayak anglers. Chances are, they’re sitting directly

above some fish while you’re busy looking.

<< Chris Loveless is an avid Bass and muskie fisherman from Chicago, IL. A frequent contributor to Fishing-Headquarters.com, you can find Chris fishing a lake or pond with kayak near you.

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KAYAK INTRODUCTION

Any Water, Any Time. Chrisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2012 kayak fishing season began on the smaller lakes for bass. The Old Town was taken everywhere, including the small channels and puddles used by shallow water spawning bass. We had a dry, mild winter here in the Midwest, and water levels everywhere were dangerously shallow for the first couple months this spring. He recalls a number of times where nonexistent boat landings were present, and had to ford the shallow waters of my access area in order to actually launch! He encountered tons of these situations and if he had the small boat he made plans to get instead of a fishing kayak, fishing some of these places would have been impossible for him.

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Photograph by Chris Loveless Fishing-Headquarters | Page 24

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By David Graham

The Frontier of Small

Monster fish angler, David Graham, has learned that competing with other anglers is not simply a matter of owning the fastest boat or other state-of-the-art equipment. What he has, unlike most, is the willingness to venture into the hardest-to-reach stretches of remote water where the truly largest fish live in relative obscurity. To access big fish and their difficult waters, he has utilized small watercraft such as the NuCanoe Frontier. Photograph by Travis Graham Fishing-Headquarters.com

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l Watercraft Fishing

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THE SMALL WATERCRAFT FRONTIER

By: Andrew Ragas Editor In-Chief

andrew@fishing-headquarters.com

The NuCanoe Frontier is more of a kayak in style and appearance. The Frontier 12 has incredible stability, so much that it seems to defy physics as the angler can stand on virtually any point of this craft with no fear of ever tipping over.

By: David Graham

Fishing-Headquarters Contributor

ast Texas and Oklahoma are home to some of the largest fish in North America. During the last six months I divided my time beFishing-Headquarters.com

tween a new job opportunity and pursuing some of these outstanding, rugged fish. Prior to my relocation to Texas I had begun pondering the possibility of encountering one particular fish – the primitive, spectacular alligator gar. This gar is North America’s largest, exclusively freshwater fish. However, I also had plans to catch the buffalo species that up to this point I had been unable to pursue in South Carolina. Fishing in the hot, dry areas of East Texas and Oklahoma present a trifecta of challenges which includes arid climate, very little water, but plenty of competitive outdoorsmen as intent as I am to land a trophy representative of these elusive fish. Through experience I’ve learned

September / October / November, 2012

Photograph by David Graham

that competing with other anglers is not simply a matter of owning the fastest boat, the best global positioning systems, or any other stateof-the-art fishing technology. I don’t have those things, and the option to “flex my muscle” on the water just wasn’t viable. What I did have was a willingness to venture into the hardest-to-reach stretches of remote water where the truly large fish lived in relative obscurity, even if it meant expanding nearly as much time getting there as time spent actually fishing. Getting There is the Adventure ‘Google Earth’ is arguably an underutilized tool for anglers

searching for those hard to reach locations. Although one could spend hours scoping out ideal looking bends, river junctions, coves, and feeder creeks, what is needed is a lean, rugged means of transportation to those prized spots. My goal was reaching ‘impenetrable’, secluded fishing habitats that are preferred by the massive Alligator Gar, and it has been my experience with these fish that the truly massive specimens simply don’t hang around areas that are frequented by people. I researched watercrafts with excellent durability and one that could be launched virtually anywhere with ease… Essentially a one-man watercraft with great stability. NuCanoe Frontier I came across the NuCanoe Frontier 12 online. Despite the name, the vessel is more of a kayak in style and appearance. The Frontier 12 has incredible stability, so much that it seems to defy physics as the angler can stand on virtually any point of this craft with no fear of ever tipping over. The Frontier 12 has a gear vault, internal rod chamber, universal mounting docks for customization, and a motor mount. It seemed perfect for the type of fishing and navigation necessary to help me reach the places I had mapped out on Google Earth. I tested the Frontier in an inaccessible bayou deep in South Texas about an hour’s drive from where I lived. Schwings Bayou is a small, virtually inaccessible bayou just outside of Tivoli, Texas which runs parallel to the Guadalupe River. The river is only accessible to boats via private roads; even then, the river itself is choked out on each accessible end by hyacinth which had overgrown and blocked off any way

Photograph by David Graham Fishing-Headquarters | Page 30

THE SMALL WATERCRAFT FRONTIER

for boaters to get to the deeper pools of water. I had passed this stretch of bayou several times on my way to another fishing location, and had observed, from the bridge, large gar as they surfaced. I was able to take the Frontier through mosquitoinfested brush and mud, and access the stretch of bayou where the fish were unlikely to have ever encountered boats or anglers. This was a great way for me to test a new product and method of reaching unspoiled fish. Thanks to these efforts I did enjoy some of the first alligator gar action as a resident of Texas in Schwings Bayou via kayak. It was a remote stretch of the Red River, bordering Oklahoma and Texas, that I really wanted to utilize the Frontier 12 however. My brother and I knew about an area along the Red River on a sharp bend adjacent to a steep rocky bluff where large alligator gar congregate in great numbers over a deep hole in the river. Fishing-Headquarters.com

The Red River is very shallow, and often subject to dramatic changes in depth due to drought. During most of the hot summer months, the Red River goes completely dry in some areas. As water levels begin to drop, large fish seek refuge in the scarce, isolated holes of deep water typically found by junctions or sharp river bends. One particular bend, more than 10 miles from the nearest launch point, lay between fallen timber and dried riverbed. I knew it would be nearly impossible to reach with a boat utilizing any sort of conventional motor. However, there was access by old dirt ranch roads some two miles upriver from the location we had mapped. My brother Travis and I managed to reach a location along the Red River which was teeming with populations of unspoiled alligator gar, longnose gar, blue catfish, common carp and buffalo. It was simply a matter of packing neces-

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sary gear into the two kayaks and making a 2-mile paddle, or in my case, leisurely zipping down river with a mounted trolling motor. Travis and I made several successful trips into the remote areas via kayak and canoe for some of the largest alligator gar and long nose gar I have ever seen. I owe these successful voyages almost entirely to the versatility of small watercraft which gave us the leverage to access the remote stretches of river inhabited by trophy-sized fish. Fishing seems to have become an ‘arms race’ to some extent, wherein anglers ‘arm’ themselves with the latest, flashiest ‘gadgets’ available in the hope that this will provide an advantage against other anglers. There may be some truth in this, but to those of us less financially equipped, there remains the more fulfilling option of working a little harder and smarter to reach areas that others can’t or won’t.

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THE SMALL WATERCRAFT FRONTIER

It was a remote stretch of the Red River, bordering Oklahoma and Texas, that I really wanted to utilize the Frontier 12 however. My brother and I knew about an area along the Red River on a sharp bend adjacent to a steep rocky bluff where large alligator gar congregate in great numbers over a deep hole in the river. Photograph by Travis Graham Fishing-Headquarters.com

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A simple canoe or kayak is ill-equipped to traverse water at 70 mph, but modern kayak models are becoming more geared towards rugged anglers. Nevertheless, most of these lightweight kayaks and canoes can be launched from a muddy embankment, dragged across a dried riverbed, through the thickest cypress swamp to isolated pools, or

off of sheer rock face by one person alone. To the hardy angler, the experience of capturing the fish of a lifetime extends beyond the moment the rod bends. The experience should fully define the word ‘adventure’, to include the preparation, timing and the travel to and from “the spot”. The perfect catch begins with the vi-

sion, and ends with the final release of the most magnificent freshwater fish in North America, not excluding the means by which an angler reached that destination.

Photograph by Travis David Graham Graham Fishing-Headquarters | Page 34

THE SMALL WATERCRAFT FRONTIER To the hardy angler, the experience of capturing the fish of a lifetime extends beyond the moment the rod bends. The experience should fully define the word ‘adventure’, to include the preparation, timing and the travel to and from “the spot”. The perfect catch begins with one’s vision, and ends with the final release of the most magnificent freshwater fish in North America, not excluding the means by which an angler reached that destination.

Photographs by Andrew Ragas Photograph by Travis Graham Fishing-Headquarters.com

September / October / November, 2012

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THE SMALL WATERCRAFT FRONTIER

Boundless Pursuit A non-species specific approach to angling by David Graham.

David Graham is an extreme multi-species angler and featured columnist for Fishing-Headquarters Magazine. Follow his monster fish adventures by visiting his blog:

http://www.fishing-headquarters.com/boundlesspursuit/ Fishing-Headquarters.com

September / October / November, 2012

Photograph by David Graham Fishing-Headquarters | Page 38

Teaching Photograph by Cory Allen

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How to Train Your Dragon:

g Old Muskies New Tricks

By Cory Allen Born and raised in the Ozark foothills of Southern Illinois, being immersed in nature was a part of growing up for Cory Allen. An area rich in natural treasures, he became fascinated at a very young age with the natural world, especially muskies. As founder and lead guide of Stoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Throw Adventures, Allen has found that in his freshwater river pursuit of trophy muskellunge, fishing kayaks such as the Jackson Coosa are a perfect fit for his needs in getting into the remote, shallow, and rapid-ridden haunts of trophy muskellunge in the waters of Tennessee. Photograph by Michael Sliger Fishing-Headquarters | Page 42

KAYAK MUSKIES

By: Cory Allen

Jackson Coosa Angling Kayak

Fishing-Headquarters Contributor

Participating in a sport that is inherently conducted mostly on a battlefield of perception, interpretation, and imagination fathoms below our fiberglass footing. Few are the occasions when the gap between angler and adversary is bridged to the level where they can not only go toe-to-toe, but meet eye-to-eye before locking horns. In musky fishing especially, the opportunity to visually connect with the quarry before engaging in combat is something that is usually relegated to the vernacular figure-8 stage of the tooth-jawed tango, or in the event of some rare seasonal or thermal conditions that dictate an abnormal location for the fish to be setting up in.

hen there are those waters, like those I regularly prowl along the southern range of muskies down here in Tennessee, where the ebb and flow of spring rains, accompanying the coming-and-going of the urge-to-merge for X and Y muskies, leads to populations of lakeborne water wyrms being pigeon-holed into circumstances that are not particularly their first choice in real estate... Extremely shallow, relatively cover vacant alleys of remote river, with little current or other prevailFishing-Headquarters.com

ing factors to offset their inability to escape to deep water haunts in the daily grind to react and adapt to the conditions that present themselves minute to minute. Muskies, as most fish, are hardwired to seek deep water sanctuaries when the weather and water conditions go south, in most instances, as it is one static concept that the deeper they go, the further they get away from environment-altering light. Then again, what happens when this is out of the option...when fish are stuck in 1-5 feet when their biochemistry is screaming at them

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to get into their 35 foot panic room? While, yes, we have considerable success with these fish taking our kayaks out at night and chucking topwaters into the abyss, running a gauntlet of maw and ever ready to soil our depends as a musky decides to finally ambush its prey against the side of our 80 lb plastic bananas, it constantly begged the question, and taunted our egos...what do we do with the remaining 12 hours of the day? Observations and Behaviors

Photographs by Michael Ernst Fishing-Headquarters | Page 44

KAYAK MUSKIES

Sure, we could pull some fish in the critical minutes and sometimes seconds of the low light transition periods [Matthew McConnaughhey calls it the “Magic hour” in “Reign of Fire”, a B-class sci-fi movie about, what else, slaying dragons], after those amorous few moments, we were often easily torn from the one-story musky water to pursue other more fruitful opportunities like Xbox 360. While these distractions provide momentary relief, I eventually found myself being tormented by their very existence. Even though the lake trolling bite was hopping and the trophy potential is far greater, the allure of the known was too great to ignore. So that’s when I set out to study these quarantined muskellunge and learn what made them tick. Fishing-Headquarters.com

The same things that made these particular fish difficult to approach and catch - extreme water clarity, shallow depth, pressure, lack of cover - also made them much more willing candidates for study, and that much easier to manipulate and train to jump through my hoops. Over the course of a couple weeks, during a period of extremely low water, I entrenched myself in a single mile stretch of river containing two 5 foot potholes, bridged by an isthmus of shallow 8”-24” limestone flat. Using the “Jane Goodall” method, I spent hours engrossed in doing nothing more than watching, observing, creating adverse stimulus, and studying the response. It was obvious these fish, as goes for all fish, were not creative consumers, but simply reactive organisms.

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In other words, fish don’t get smarter; they get more conditioned by stimulus. The difference between the two? Cognitive awareness... cognitive awareness, God forbid fish should ever develop it, will add the wild card of creative evation to the process of angling. Thankfully though, even in this instance where the muskies were easily aware of my presence long before theirs, they could be manipulated. After all, Pavlov’s dog wasn’t aware he was drooling at the sound of the bell, and neither would these muskies after I learned how to ring theirs. Finesse Kayak Techniques One thing is a given... the old school musky methods of hack-andslash don’t work well down south.

Photograph by Cory Allen

If they did, there would be no fish in this section of river without a hair-lip, as it had been pounded by many-a musky junky for days since the water and current had subsided into algae bloom soup. Of course, going down the list of controls at our disposal to get these fish to strike, by the Buck Perry methods of angling, our depth was a non-issue. There technically was no depth, and almost every fish could be seen with a stand up kayak, a quiet paddle, and a pair of Oakley sunglasses. So, our next two controls to consider would be speed and size. I personally chose to address size; it quickly became apparent that my “Minnesota Fats” edition Pool-cue musky rod wouldn’t do the job. I finally chose a bit more graceful gear setup, a 7 ft heavy action St. Croix spinning rod, a quality Pflueger spinning reel, 30 lb Invisibraid, and

some 60 lb AFW Surfstrand wire leader. This rig allowed me to throw the smaller sticks I wanted a 50” musky to fetch. Of course, if you want to get your muskies to play with you, the toys you pick are crucial for getting them to cooperate. What is interesting in this instance is that it became apparent that size DOES matter...but often in the OTHER direction. These neutral/negative mood sun-beaten muskies were definitely not up to the usual sucker de jour. Their current condition, and inability to alleviate it by escaping to deeper water or heavier cover, left them with a bit of a hangover; the fish equivalent of a frat boy passed out on a stranger’s couch until 1 pm. Most fish I encounter are sitting completely still, sometimes in inches of water, only showing any signs of life as my kayak would

approach their immediate vicinity, which were usually first evidenced as an agitated twitching of fins and flaring gills, leading to the flick of the tail and a 50 foot lead on my stance. As I stumbled upon more and more of these specimens, and studied how they reacted to my presence, it was slowly adding more pieces to the puzzle of how to present an offering. It was obvious these fish were edgy...you would be too if the ceiling of your house was 15” above your face...and it greatly affected how they reacted to the human presence in their world. To offset this, I decided that the best toys to throw for them to fetch would be the lightest, most subtle I could find: Soft plastics. Sight Fishing Soft Plastics Fishing-Headquarters | Page 46

KAYAK MUSKIES

Photograph by Cory Allen

Soft plastics are a relative newcomer to the average musky hunter’s vocabulary list. When most say “plastic”, images of 16 ounce soft rubber abominations with treble hooks piercing them like a Goth chick at an off-campus coffee shop come to mind. But that’s not what we’re talking about now. Most of the morsels I am throwing at these fish rarely are weighted more than a half ounce, and more often a quarter ounce to weightless rigs [a weightless superfluke is actually my “secret” trophy bait for skinny water sight fishing... ...ooops...]. These baits not only have a cleaner entry than an anorexic Olympic diver, but they both respond to very subtle movements of the rod tip, resulting in pulsing and quivering without Fishing-Headquarters.com

necessarily lifting or lateral movement. This, as it turns out, is crucial for getting your pet musky to pick up the stick in the first place. Stand-Up Fishing Kayaks Let me reiterate here that while it is not necessary to fish a situation like this from a kayak, it is a very important tool in the pursuit of these acutely aware muskellunge. Not only does a good stand-up kayak allow for extreme maneuverability and vantage points, but it has less draft and drag through the water, thus creating much less lateral line stimulus to interfere with the subtleties of your presentation. Utilizing a stand-up kayak allows you to paddle with a silencer,

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by making your strokes entirely beneath the surface, completely minimizing audible wake off the paddle, and cloaking your movements to one more attuned musky sense. I’ve accidentally stumbled into the den of, and subsequently spooked muskies with the kayak. But by maintaining clear visual contact standing up, I have successfully pursued them at a distance for up to 100 yards before they settle down again. Give them a few moments to catch their breath, and place a “morsel” right in front of their face, only to see them gently pick it off the bottom and start to swim off casually. To me, this is the only TRUE musky hunting there is: Picking a quarry, stalking an individual fish, setting up on the best position for the “shot”, and alluring

the fish to pick up your offering and jar its jaw. If I haven’t made this clear yet, these muskies are not taking baits in mid-flight. In fact, they rarely take them as they are moving at all. Any motion is simply implemented to make your bait appear from the surrounding canvas; after the attention is drawn, the instincts of the muskellunge will usually do the rest. Meaning, if they’re just staring at the thing on the bottom, don’t lose heart.... she’s usually only moments away from sealing the deal. While trying to target these relatively frustrating conditions, pursuing one of the world’s most notoriously frustrating fish can add a little salt-and-pepper to your widow’s peak. The fruits of accomplishment, and the ability to tame muskellunge that ignore other anglers, is definitely a reward all its own. While most of the statistics on big fish caught will always belong to the massive trophy factories, and baits that imitate Shih-tzu’s falling from suspension bridge as they hit the water, there are most assuredly pockets of untapped muskie fisheries ignored around the country. By utilizing the right craft, tackle, and knowledge, not only are you given the upper hand in the game, but you are also provided with one of the most unique, challenging, and rewarding experiences to be had in freshwater fishing. Oh, FYI….. for all your flyflingers and fluff-chuckers out there....if you hadn’t put the puzzle pieces together, your methods blend marvelously with this tactic. But alas, it’s another story for another time. Until then, enjoy watching many big muskies bring your rubber toys back to the boat, with tails wagging gleefully.

Cory Allen is a professional guide who specializes in the kayak approach to Muskie. Lacey Crabtree is enjoying the pleasures of fishing from the best seat in the house. Jackson Kayaks new Big Tuna allows for silent, stable, precise presentation, and over-theshoulder POV advice and service from a pro really ramps up your fishing prowess in a hurry.

Photograph by Alfred Crabtree Fishing-Headquarters | Page 48

KAYAK MUSKIES

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Cory Allen, 27, of Cookeville, Tennessee is the founder and lead guide of Stone’s Throw Adventures. As a member of the Jackson Kayak Fishing Team, Cory’s specialty is muskellunge by both kayak and boat. Allen’s team of guides fish the waters throughout Tennessee and Kentucky, guiding on a year-round basis, and offer their clients a wide variety of boat and wading trips for all species of gamefish.

http://www.stonesthrowadventures.com/

Photograph by Cory Allen Fishing-Headquarters | Page 50

PART II SEA MONSTER SEASON

SUCKER FO

The use of suckers for musky b Fishing-Headquarters.com

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OR HISTORY By Adam M. Glickman

bait is as old as the sport itself. Photograph by Andrew Ragas Fishing-Headquarters | Page 58

SUCKER FOR HISTORY

For many years the use of live baits such as very large suckers has been an accepted method for fall muskies. The catch and release concept has made a real improvement in our musky fisheries over the past few decades, and the regulations for quickstrike rigging live-bait is totally compatible with this line of thinking. Photograph by Nate Tessler Fishing-Headquarters.com

September / October / November, 2012

By: Adam M. Glickman

Fishing-Headquarters Contributor

ears of live bait fishing for muskies has led me to one of the few truths in all of musky fishing: Muskies are genetically predetermined to love white suckers. The response of muskies towards white suckers is uncanny. That includes muskies that are extremely pressured or perhaps have seen very few if any white suckers. Of course, the use of live suckers is not a cure all nor does it work all the time. However, those who have seen a sucker bite come “on”, know exactly what I refer to. All it takes is a multiple big fish day when nothing else will take a sniff or one of those days when you cant keep a sucker alive in the water and a half dozen are spent up in 45 minutes. The use of suckers for muskies has a rich heritage and a bright future, but new regulations in Wisconsin and Minnesota mean that special rigging considerations are a must for legal usage. History of Sucker Fishing Once upon a time at the dawn of modern angling; rods, reels, and artificial lures were still rare luxuries beyond the means of most fishermen. Long bamboo poles coupled with crude line, hooks, and weights

Photograph by Andrew Ragas

were much more the norm for all species, muskies included. During this transitional period, non native anglers first began to explore North American waters only to discover that some of them had a mysterious fish never seen before to people of European descent…. The muskellunge. Of course, the plain hooks of these anglers needed something. The answer to that was as simple as it had been for millennia, live bait. I have seen 2000 year old artifacts recovered from the buried city of Pompeii. Such artifacts include items that are unmistakably fishing hooks fashioned from stone or bone, and I would bet my life that such hooks were baited with some type of natural and/or live bait. Early North American anglers baited their hooks with live creatures from the environments surrounding and within the waters they fished. Worms, insects, amphibians, crustaceans, and fish were the standards. They learned that different organisms worked better for different species at different times. They also

learned that muskies preferred baits much larger than other fish did. The answer soon became clear. Suckers, and more often than not white suckers worked best for muskies most of the time. Suckers were trolled, drifted, and presented still in live form, but were also sewn and tied to hook rigs so that they wouldn’t fall off as easily when trolled at faster speeds. Muskies are notoriously difficult to hook on modern tackle, and getting hooks into one with whatever was available and on hand back in the day was even more of a task. Therefore, muskies were allowed to swallow the sucker, as getting a hook into their soft stomach was much easier than their hard mouth. Without reels to play out line as the musky ran while swallowing the bait, the large floating bamboo poles were simply thrown into the water and followed until it was determined the bait was swallowed. At that point the pole was retrieved, the hook set, and the fish played and hopefully landed. Most of the time Fishing-Headquarters | Page 60

SUCKER FOR HISTORY

this worked, but I imagine the pole was sometimes never retrieved if the musky headed for deep water or heavy cover. Over the years, the tackle improved and so did anglers attitudes about catch and release, or at least selective harvest. Cheaper more available reels allowed anglers to let a musky run without throwing the rod in the water, although the archaic tactic was still common with Fishing-Headquarters.com

traditionalists well into the 1980’s and possibly beyond. In the 1980’s, the first quick strike rigs were developed and tested, allowing the hooks to be set while the bait was still in the musky’s mouth. Many of these rigs left much to be desired, but they did allow for a good chance at a successful live release, and as such are parents of modern live bait musky fishing. Musky quick strike rigs for use

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with large suckers have developed into well thought out and heavily tested fishing systems, that when used properly have very high percentages of effectively hooking and safely releasing muskies. There are many good styles, and successful well seasoned individuals often add their own effective modifications. Photograph by Kenny Lookingbill

Photograph by Nate Tessler

New Regulations in Minnesota Minnesota was the first state to regulate the use of large live suckers for bait, both in how the fish may be obtained and what type of rigs they may be used on. Suckers over 12” in length may only be legally obtained by anglers from a licensed aquaculture facility (bait shop), and the angler must keep the receipt on his person to verify the legitimate purchase. Even those who commercially harvest white suckers to sell as bait, may not take those over 12” from the wild. Smaller suckers are raised in private ponds until they reach a desirable size (14-20”) and are reharvested and brought to market. These restrictions are designed to protect wild breeding populations of white suckers and ensure new healthy year classes every spring. To prevent the spread of invasive species and diseases, anglers may only transport suckers over 12” to and from fishing waters in a container not within their boat that is filled with treated tap water or well water.

In 2012, Minnesota imposed regulations that strictly defined the tackle configurations that can be legally used when fishing for muskies with live suckers. I thought the regulation needed to be defined better. I also knew that many anglers were unaware of the regulation, and that fewer were aware of what it actually meant. For these reasons, I contacted the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and eventually had email correspondence with Capt. James Dunn, the NW Region ENF Manager with the MN-DNR Enforcement Division regarding these new regulations. I asked Capt. Dunn several questions, to which he provided answers. The following is said correspondence:

not as it lies in use on the baitfish.” Answer: Here is the precise rule language: 6262.0100 Subp. 6. Angling tackle.

A. An angler may have up to three single or multiple hooks on a line used as a single tackle configuration attached to the end of a fishing line. The total configuration from the first hook to the last hook must be nine inches or less. Live, artificial, preserved, or dead bait is allowed. This configuration is not considered an artificial bait or fly. B. An angler may have one additional single or multiple hook on a line as part of an artificial bait as long as it is within three inches of the artificial bait. Question: C. Except for a single artificial bait “Could you please confirm that a le- or three artificial flies, an angling gal quick strike rig for use in live rig with more than one hook is not bait fishing for muskies shall mea- allowed on designated trout streams sure no more than 9” from front to and lakes. rear hook, a length which is meaTo be considered a single tacksured as the rig is spread to its maxiFishing-Headquarters | Page 62 mum distance on a flat surface and

SUCKER FOR HISTORY

Twins, Bruce and Brian Shriver hold their late fall trophy musky. Fishing-Headquarters.com

September / October / November, 2012

Photograph by Adam Glickman

le configuration the hooks are on a line attached to the end of a fishing line. If the hooks are not arranged so as to be on the same line the terminal tackle would not meet the definition of a single tackle configuration. Hooks on separate “droppers” would not meet the definition of a single tackle configuration. Question: “Are the use of “droppers” on a quick strike rig illegal?” Answer: In evaluation of what is legal terminal tackle it is important to utilize the description as provided in rule for legal angling tackle. To be considered a single tackle configuration the hooks are on a line attached to the end of a fishing line. If the hooks are not arranged so as to be on a line the terminal tackle would not meet the definition of a single tackle configuration. Hooks on separate “droppers” would not meet the definition of a single tackle configuration. Question: “Could those using “droppers” be fined for such a violation?” Answer: The use of unlawful angling tackle could result in a summons, which could result in a fine and court costs. That concludes the section containing information obtained from Capt. Dunn. I combined that information with what is available in the regulation booklet to conclude that in Minnesota legal quick strike rigs have to be contained on a single leader with all hooks attached in line, and that the rig may not exceed 3 hooks that may be spaced no

Photograph by Adam Glickman

more than 9” apart. Unfortunately, most rigs available to consumers in Minnesota do not meet these criteria. Even more unfortunate is that the rigs that are the safest to use for muskies (the ones that use “droppers”) do not meet these criteria either. I have no idea yet why the Minnesota DNR has made the use of the best (safest) rigs illegal, but I am in the process of finding out. I am unsure if quick strike rigs were ever legal in Minnesota prior to this new regulation. Preliminary investigation indicates they may not have been. For years, in an attempt to create legal (and safe) rigs, anglers doctored quick strike rigs with blades and/or beads making them a “lure tipped with a sucker.” Though I am now learning that this was probably not legitimate either. Previously, it was required that live bait be only fished on a single hook, which would most likely mean that until this year musky suckers could only be fished legally on a single hook, a practice that is very dangerous for the survival of released muskies, and therefore has been frowned upon for years by those who know how to safely use live bait for muskies.

New Regulations in Wisconsin The new regulations in Wisconsin for 2012 state that a quick strike rig or non-offset circle hook is required if using a minnow 8” or longer for bait. Also, when using a quick-strike rig and a minnow 8” or longer for bait, you must immediately attempt to set the hook upon indication of a bite. There are no restrictions on what constitutes a quick strike rig. Safe quick strike rigs have always been legal in Wisconsin and in fact were mostly developed by anglers on its statewide waters. Conclusion The use of live suckers is an amazingly effective tactic for catching numbers of muskies and huge muskies as well. It always has been and always will be. Legal usage issues only mean that special considerations must be adhered to. I will be conforming to them and continuing to use live bait to increase my productivity this fall and for many future fall seasons to come. Fishing-Headquarters | Page 64

SUCKER FOR HISTORY Father and Son: Joel and Adam Glickman pose with their catch from fall, 2011.

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Photograph by Adam Glickman Fishing-Headquarters | Page 66

SUCKER FOR HISTORY Adam Glickman, with what he believes is the biggest musky presently living in the small Central Minnesota lake it was caught from.

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Photograph by Adam Glickman Fishing-Headquarters | Page 68

SILVER

The late fall cisco spawn is Anglers willing to run the cou

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MAGIC By Adam M. Glickman

s a harsh but magical time. urse can produce huge results. Photograph by Adam Glickman Fishing-Headquarters | Page 72

SILVER MAGIC

Cisco Coregonus Artedi

By: Adam M. Glickman

Fishing-Headquarters Contributor

or most anglers, late November in Wisconsin and Minnesota looks like a bleak time. Summer is long since gone and winter is right around the corner. To the untrained eye, it looks like both the land and water is locking down and closing up shop. However, nothing could be further from the truth. Many large predatory animals are making a huge caloric push to help survive the harsh winter. Below the waterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fishing-Headquarters.com

surface, cold water tolerant species such as musky, pike, and walleye feed voraciously as the urgency of winter looms ever closer. They target whatever forage concentrations are available. The larger the concentrations of forage, the larger the concentration of these apex predators. The easier it is to predict such forage concentrations, the easier it is for anglers to cash in on some of the best big fish action of the entire season. In mid to late November, the cisco spawn is certainly the largest and most predictable forage concentration, and as such is easily the best trophy game in town. Ciscoes inhabit natural lakes and reservoirs of moderate to low fertility. Historically, they only inhabited larger lakes, but naturally reproducing populations have been successfully introduced and established in lakes as small as 200 acres. The governmental introduction of ciscoes is often successfully used to bolster food sources for gamefish. High water clarity is not necessary

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for ciscoes to thrive, but high water quality is. The systemâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s water must be clean and healthy. Cisco Characteristics Ciscoes take on different appearances depending on region and what type of system they live in. At one time, many different subspecies of ciscoes where recognized, but genetic testing revealed they are all the same in terms of DNA. Fish referred to as tulibee in Minnesota and herring in the great lakes are all in fact ciscoes. Some Wisconsin waters have ciscoes that grow no longer than 5-7 inches. In Minnesota, ciscoes are deeper bodied and easily reach 20 inches, weighing 2-3 pounds. It is easy to understand why it was once thought these were different subspecies. Whatever body shapes ciscoes take, they are heavily preferred as food by gamefish because they are soft finned, long in body, and high in both fat and protein. Most Minnesota and Wiscon-

Silver Magic Search Lures

Rapala Magnum

Cisco Kid sin waters that contain ciscoes are in the north country, but some waters much further to the south have them as well. The best way to find lakes with ciscoes is to check DNR surveys that are published on their websites and in fishing publications containing lake information. Spawning Habitat Ciscoes spawn in late fall on main lake points, shorelines, and reefs on a bottom of clean sand and fine gravel. Silt, sediment, dead leaves, vegetation, and/or filamentous algae are unacceptable and ciscoes will usually not enter these areas for reproductive purposes. Many of these areas donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t attract gamefish much of the year anyhow. Ciscoes begin to stage very close to or in these areas as the water drops into the low 40â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s F. They spawn at water temperatures of 38-40 F, just before or during freeze up. If a full moon coincides close enough to

all but the worst graphs. Oftentimes, cisco surface activity can be seen, especially in the evening. Muskies of all sizes target Locating Schools these schools heavily, but often the Dragging a metal lipped deep largest muskies in the lake are folrunning crankbait such as a Cisco lowing these ciscoes all season. The Kid or Magnum Rapala directly on advantage to this is that these musksuch structure will serve two pur- ies were most often roaming vast poses. First, if the bottom is not open water expanses seeing very clean, the lure will come up with few lures. Combine the relatively debris and muck indicating the area light angling pressure with a forage is no good for cisco spawning. Sec- frenzy and an urgency to feed, and ond, if the bottom is clean, the metal these huge intelligent muskies belip will distinctively telegraph when come as catchable as they ever will the lure is running through the de- be. This does not make them easy, sired sand and fine gravel. With but certainly easier. The largest pike a little practice, it is easy to learn and walleyes in the lake also often what to feel for. Prime areas may join the mix and some tremendous be few and far between. I like to bonus catches can be had by the waypoint very specific areas on my musky angler. The beauty of it is the GPS prior to the spawn to make the same presentations are best for all search easier and faster on cold, three species. Never underestimate short, late fall days. If ciscoes are just how large a presentation a huge using a prime area at the appropri- cisco feeding walleye will hit. They ate time, it will be obvious as they Fishing-Headquarters | Page 74 will be easily seen on the screen of ideal temperatures, it will often spur huge spawning movements.

SILVER MAGIC

Photograph by Adam Glickman

are all targeting the same forage, and more than capable of completing the task. During the cisco spawn, muskies (and others) respond by working By: Ragas very Andrew close to the forage concentraEditor In-Chief tions. They work along the edges, andrew@fishing-headquarters.com waiting for good striking opportunities. Most of the season, they must slash through the schools or push them towards the surface or bottom in open water. Usually the bottom is below the thermocline, so the air becomes the only viable physical boundary. However, during the spawn, the ciscoes draw into breaklines and become much more vulnerable as the muskies herd them against the side of the lake for very effective predation. Keeping presentations in close proximity to these Fishing-Headquarters.com

“kill zones” makes them prime for attack and will increase strikes. Trolling or Casting Trolling lures will work, but I prefer casting, vertical jigging, and precisely slow trolling live suckers through such areas. Depending on lake make up and cisco location the bite can take place in anywhere from 1-40 feet of water, but usually takes place in 5-20 feet. Electronics and/or surface activity will indicate cisco location and therefore presentational necessity. It is obviously best to get presentations as close to the ciscoes as possible. Being prepared to fish extremely shallow, very deep, and everything in between will greatly increase the odds

September / October / November, 2012

of success on any given day. Presentations that can be fished slowly and with lots of action often shine the most. I like gliding jerkbaits such as Manta Hang 10’s by River Run Tackle. Diving jerkbaits such as Bobbie Baits weighted to slow rise, neutral, slow sinking, and fast sinking cover any depth and are hard to beat. Red October Tubes are great for getting deep and have great profile and triggering action. Sinking metal lipped crankbaits such as Sharks from River Run Tackle are great as well and as mentioned earlier are perfect for discovering prime cisco spawning sites. Vertical jigging lures such as Bondy Baits and Fuzzy Duzzits keep a lure in the strike zone at all times and cause less tackle freeze up at frigid air

temperatures when repeated casting becomes impossible. Trolling lures and suckers are good for preventing freeze up as well. Even though these muskies are heavily targeting ciscoes, they will readily take a sucker fished within the mix. Natural lure colors such as white, silver, gold, black, and blue are often best, but donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be afraid to experiment with the gaudy stuff as well. Often, something that stands out can produce the best. Hitting the cisco spawn properly is a matter of timing and putting all the pieces together properly. The correct location, water temperature, and presentation are all a must for things to work out. Once these things are put together in proper fashion, it usually doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t take too long for good things to happen. This is some of the best fishing of the year, but proper precautions need to be taken on frigid desolate lakes. The water will be cold and dangerous and help will most likely be nowhere nearby. Be prepared and stay safe.

Cisco Snacks

Bucher Tackle Depth Raider

Manta Hang 10

Bobbie Bait

Shumway Tackle Fuzzy Duzzit

Bondy Baits Fishing-Headquarters | Page 76

SILVER MAGIC

Adamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Honest Musky Adam Glickman, 31, has musky fished since 12. Born and raised in Northern WI, but currently residing west of Minneapolis MN, he fishes heavily throughout the musky range and travels the country in search of quality fisheries whenever he can. Adam is a field editor with MUSKIE Magazine, and has put hundreds of muskies in the bottom of the net. Visit Adamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website dedicated to musky fishing information, education, and multimedia at:

http://www.honestmusky.com

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CATCH & RELEASE

MUS By Andrew Ragas

Every once in a while, Fishing-Headquarters receives reader feedback pertaining to previously written stories. One in particular, which was received on September 1st, is the topic concerning the catch and release aspect of musky fishing. The procedure of a quick catchphoto-release and the necessary care given to the release of your delicate catch is a subject that I personally have never written about in any of my blogs or articles. Fishing-Headquarters.com

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KIES Photograph by Paul Ragas Fishing-Headquarters | Page 82

CATCH AND RELEASE

By: Andrew Ragas Editor In-Chief

andrew@fishing-headquarters.com

Proper Muskie Netting, Handling, and Release Process

“

I’ve been fishing muskies for years in WI before moving to MA. A few weeks ago, returned to Iron County Wisconsin and caught a few muskies on my Shimano 4000 FJ spinning reel loaded with 50# Cortland Masterbraid… Yep, I’ve been reading your articles on line. Anyway, like I was taught, I netted my muskies, hauled them into the boat where they bashed all over the place, until I could get ‘em settled to remove the lure, take a snap, and release them. One of them took about ten minutes of nursing in the water till he stayed upright on his own and finned back into the depths. It left me thinking, there has to be a better way to protect them after netting them. I looked at your galleries, and noticed how you keep the FraFishing-Headquarters.com

bill net over the boat’s gunnel and control the fish with your left hand wearing a mesh glove and using pliers with your right hand to remove the lure while the fish is in the net still draped into the lake water. Undoubtedly, this has to be easier on the fish. It would be really useful to

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shoot a video on your netting-lure removal-fish lift for pix, and release process. It would really promote protecting muskies from being mishandled and injured before release. Just an idea to consider.” - Bill M. Massachusetts

Photograph by Paul Ragas

could make a video, but usually when I land a musky, my boat is in pure mayhem as we try to stay organized and work quickly with the fish in order to get it back swimming. Instead, all I can do about it is write a response. Catching and releasing large

fish isn’t rocket science. ALL species of fish require different levels and methods of care to ensure successful release. This includes small ones, large ones, and even world records. Because this subject has been written about so extensively by world renowned musky experts and anglers of all skill levels, each individual angler’s methods and procedures may differ. The steps and

answers you may have read about proper catch and release might have been based upon the angler’s personal experiences and opinion. My procedures of catch and release aren’t much different as they only differ in tactics and style that cater to myself and the survival of the muskies I catch. Fishing-Headquarters | Page 84

CATCH AND RELEASE In my opinion, there is no right or wrong way to release a fish. The common objective of every catch and release musky angler is to make sure the fish survives being caught, and survives following release. To me, the only methods that matter in the successful release of the catch is minimal handling. This includes avoiding fin damage due to the net and mishaps, never lifting the fish out of water and into the boat for anything but bump board measurement and photograph, and overexcessive photography. During the catch and release procedure, both the angler and fish are on a time limit. Minimal handling and fast, efficient release ultimately prevents delayed mortality (including lactic acid buildup), the silent musky killer, from taking place. Without making myself look like the musky police, and to give readers a better understanding of how I quickly and carefully get my fish back into the water without harm, I would like to share the most common steps I do to ensure the adequate release of these freshwater sea monsters.

Be prepared. Have a plan.

Fishing-Headquarters.com

Photograph by Paul Ragas

1 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Minimize fight. Net head-first. Muskies are frequently lost at boatside due to improper netting. Likewise, muskies can also be harmed when poorly netted as, depending upon net type and material, fish are prone to tangle themselves thus making hook removal increasingly difficult. This is frequently common in cheap aluminum and mesh nets that offer fish and their fins ZERO protection as they thrash themselves around in the bag. Mesh nets are awful. Burn them or dispose at your convenience. A good net job is the first step to ensure a good release, and both steps work together hand in hand. A good net job is as good as a successful release. Be in control of the fight and the way you will handle the fish. Always net the fish head first as it minimizes hook and fish tangles, and prevents fin and bodily damage. Until the fish is completely unhooked and ready for quick photograph, always keep it in the water. For anglers who wade rivers to muskies, leave the nets in your boat, for they are unnecessary. A Boca Grip or any comparable fish gripping tool is efficient and essential for a good landing job as the fish can still be kept in the water at all times.

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51 inch musky netted with Frabill Pro-Formance Net â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Teardrop Tangle Free Weighted Nylon.

Photograph by Jacob Saylor Fishing-Headquarters | Page 86

CATCH AND RELEASE

Photograph by Jacob Saylor

2 – Have ALL release tools available, and conveniently located. Majority of my musky fishing takes place in boat. Sometimes it also takes place while wading rivers and shallow lakes. I always keep my release tools conveniently located within arms reach of my casting deck, or in a small carry on bag while I wade. Such tools to consider for musky fishing are long-nose pliers, needle nose pliers, bolt/hook cutters, jaw spreaders, and handling gloves. With the exception of handling gloves, all of these tools should be requirements to have. The worst mistake any catch and release musky angler can make is not having these tools available for hook removal. Being unprepared is every angler’s worst nightmare. Without pliers, the fish’s jaws may become damaged during hook extraction…… Without a good pair of bolt cutters such as Knipex ($45+), that fish might as well die from hooks penetrating through its gills….. Without jaw spreaders, good luck accessing past the fish’s sharp jaws in order to reach into its mouth. All of these tools are kept in my boat at all times. I even bring them with when wading too. You will notice that I frequently sport a handling glove on either my right or left hand as I remove hooks and then pose for a photo. Although they aren’t bullet-proof towards sharp hooks and preventing hook injuries from taking place, they are important to me as they preserve my hands and prevent me for receiving cuts against sharp teeth and gill rakers. If these gloves come with palm and finger grips, they may aid you in holding and gripping the fish. However, usually the slimy nature of muskies will deny you of that. For those of you interested in handling gloves, I recommend the Bass Pro Shops “Offshore Angler” brand which is available in different sized pairs for $10. Fishing-Headquarters.com

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Photograph by Paul Ragas Fishing-Headquarters | Page 88

CATCH AND RELEASE

Photograph by Jacob Saylor

3 – Keep fish in water at ALL TIMES during hook removal. NEVER bring into boat. ALWAYS keep the fish in the net and in the water during hook removal. Who knows how long it can take to remove hooks….. It can happen either instantly in seconds, or in minutes. The worst thing anglers can do is to bring the entire fish into the boat and drop it to the floor and let it thrash and beat itself up while struggling to extract hooks. By doing so, injuries will happen to not only the fish but yourselves. By keeping the fish in water during hook removal, stress to the fish is minimal and almost nonexistent in comparison to if it was flopping on the boat’s floor. With all hook removal aside, two of the biggest stressors to muskies are warm water temperatures (75 and up), and big waves. Warm water greatly contributes to delayed mortality, and this is lethal to fish that have been stressed from a prolonged fight and difficult hook removal. Fish handling should always be minimized, but when surface temperatures exceed 75 degrees, it can be lethal to muskies as lactic acid has a propensity to build up within the fish, thus resulting in death. In addition to warm temperatures, waves pose a problem as well. Large waves stress muskies because it’s difficult for muskies to maintain their surface equilibrium during revival and release in these conditions. A quick boatside hook removal leads to a faster revival and safe release. Outside of some photographs and bump board measurements, there is absolutely no reason why any muskie should leave the water for the interior of your boat. Fishing-Headquarters.com

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Photograph by Jacob Saylor Fishing-Headquarters | Page 90

CATCH AND RELEASE

Photograph by Paul Ragas

4 – Quick photo. Have a photographer ready with a camera before you are ready for a photograph with the fish. If fishing by yourself, have a self-timer camera tripod system conveniently set-up in your boat. Keep the delicate fish out of the water for not more than 10 to 20 seconds…. Or in certain adverse conditions such as warm surface temperatures, don’t bring them out of water at all….. Have your photographer snap away by taking several candid shots along with the one money shot. When ready with the fish, pose for the classic shot before proceeding onto the revival and release. Unless you really wanted to be blasted by the musky police and then be frowned upon by the community (yes they exist and it does happen lots), NEVER hold fish vertically by jaws or gill plate, hanging from a stringer, gaffe or gripper tool. Hold muskies horizontally or at the very most a 60 to 75 degree angle, always supporting the fishes weight with your free non-gripper hand. Fishing-Headquarters.com

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Photograph by Paul Ragas Fishing-Headquarters | Page 92

CATCH AND RELEASE

Photograph by Frank Weilnhammer

5 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Patiently revive fish. Flow oxygenated water through its gills until it swims away. This is the last step for a successful release. Remember to hold the fish steadyPhotograph and straight byRagas the tail by Paul with one hand and using the other to gently balance under its belly. Be patient. Regardless of water temperatures and conditions, always revive it before letting it go. Sometimes muskies will swim away instantaneously while other times the revival can take up to 10 minutes or more. Slowly move the fish back and forth to ensure its gill plates are moving and absorbing oxygen. When the fish retains its strength and maintains its upright position, it becomes ready to let go. Let the fish tell you when itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ready to swim away before reaching any assumptions that it is. When the pectoral fins and tail begin powering again, you are free to let it go so it can grow. In our freshwater lakes and rivers, muskies are at the top of the food chain and one of the meanest and most elusive predators swimming around. This is why many anglers cherish catching them. But when in the presence of anglers, and captive in nets, they become fragile, delicate fish. My goal with this response is to get readers and musky anglers of all skill levels familiar with an adequate and successful catch and release procedure for muskies. With angler awareness and education, the quality of fisheries improve, and the health of caught and released muskies are maintained. Fishing-Headquarters.com

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Photograph by Andrew Ragas Fishing-Headquarters | Page 94

CATCH AND RELEASE

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Photograph by Jacob Saylor Fishing-Headquarters | Page 96

LOSING A FIS

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SHING BUDDY

In memory of Nika, my four legged furry friend . . . . By Andrew Ragas

Photograph by Andrew Ragas Fishing-Headquarters | Page 100

LOSING A FISHING BUDDY

Photograph by Frank Weilnhammer Fishing-Headquarters.com

September / October / November, 2012

By: Andrew Ragas Editor In-Chief

andrew@fishing-headquarters.com

ogs are more than pets. By establishing a special bond with them, they eventually become the best fishing buddies an angler can ask for. During the latter part of her eight and a half years with the family, my precious Nika, a flat coated retriever and black lab mix, was exactly that. She was my fishing buddy…… one whom my family and I wish was still here with us if it wasn’t for her tragic August 25th passing. Fishing buddies come and go. In recent years, I’ve learned that some are better than others. What separated Nika from a human was that she never left my side like most have done at some point during the friendship. As a clumsy but cute five week old pup to an eight and a half year old wise adult, she was always there to love and accompany me in return. Nika and I formed a special bond that began on the first day we got her. On Christmas morning 2003, as I was a junior in high school without many friends, my dad and I drove to Northwest Indiana where we brought home our newest family member. I remember the car ride home as if it was yesterday. I sat in the back seat with

Contributed Photograph

my new pup who was sitting on my stomach. She observantly looked through the window at the landscape, and deeply into my eyes. The connection had been made. This $50 purchase immediately became my special friend. When Nika joined our family, I wasn’t as serious with fishing as I am today. I barely traveled up north or anywhere to go fishing. As everyone can relate, fate works in interesting ways. This is life’s greatest unknown mystery. Eight years ago, I never imagined myself being deeply involved with fishing, nor writing articles in blogs and magazines. Likewise, I never imagined that Nika would fish with me with the frequency as we did during these last few years. Who knew that any of this would happen? I sure didn’t. In the last few years, Nika took an interest in fishing with me and accompanying me while traveling. Like me, her favorite place in the world was our remote and quiet family property nestled in the outlying woods of Minocqua, Wisconsin. Nika wasn’t much for the domes-

ticated house, nor for the suburbia of Chicago. Strangely, she wasn’t meant for the woods as a hunting dog either, but she lived for the north. Rather than being a typical uninteresting house dog, her ideal day was to avoid the leash, roam our yard, wander the woods, lay in our gravel driveway, or go on road trips to the lakes and join me in the boat. Every time my family or I left Chicago for our piece of heaven, she never wanted to be left behind. She was anxious to go, always making sure she was the first one in the car at all times. She truly exhibited more appreciation and thankfulness than most of my other fishing friends will ever give me in return. As a fishing companion, Nika was a loyal, willing participant of the wild adventures I frequently pursued. Unlike most folks whom I’ve fished with over the years, she never annoyed me with complaints or questions, or grew tired from the fatigue of a long 16 hour day. BeFishing-Headquarters | Page 102

LOSING A FISHING BUDDY

Photograph by Frank Weilnhammer

sides loud thunderstorms, she was never affected by inclement weather or adverse conditions. She was the ideal fishing partner who made me understand that the intense serious competitive style of fishing I prefer is better suited as an individual sport. This made me love the aspect of fishing with nobody else in my boat but my dog as I was allowed to fish for myself only. Although Nika wasn’t much for swimming, she loved the water. She especially loved the fast boat rides across the lake. Likewise, she enjoyed sniffing out the boat landings and barking at other anglers and their rigs. I will never understand her lack of excitement when fish were brought into the boat, but I will always remember her happiness and curiosity when I’d grow aniFishing-Headquarters.com

mated over the sight of a big musky torpedoing the boatside. During our time together, those events were more memorable than some of the big fish we’ve caught. The connections I made with Nika will undoubtedly never be rivaled by any other angler whom I know, or the next pup our family decides on getting. From growing up as a teenager to now as an adult, as well as all the fishing trips we embarked on, I enjoyed my canine companion in every aspect. Our experiences, feelings, and souls were shared together. These connections were so deep that when the tragic evening of Saturday, August 25th 2012 came, a profound, surreal sense of loss was experienced. I had truly lost something so special to me that was irreplaceable.

September / October / November, 2012

During the entire month of August, I was up north where I enjoyed the grand slam fishing vacation of Northern Wisconsin, Northern Minnesota, and Northwest Ontario. Nika was to join me for the majority of the month in Wisconsin but due to illness, she wasn’t well enough to be in my boat during the month’s final week. At some point during the week, she stopped eating, barely drank, lacked energy, and looked sad with fear in the eyes. Something had gone terribly wrong with her health, which resulted in my parents returning early to Chicago and admitting her to an emergency veterinary clinic. Later that evening, following their return home, I was on the lake for one last time before it was my turn to return home. While cast-

Photograph by Frank Weilnhammer Fishing-Headquarters | Page 104

LOSING A FISHING BUDDY ing for muskies in a semi-secluded bay of the lake, my dad called me in obvious tears, crying, “Andrew, we have a serious problem. It’s an emergency. Nika is in the emergency room undergoing tests. We might need to put her to sleep.” After I receiving the most feared phone call, I felt helpless. Here I was, out on a big lake, in my boat, doing what I love while my best fishing buddy was suffering in pain at home without me with a twisted stomach that was made worse by undetected cancer in the spleen, which had rapidly infected portions of her damaged stomach. A condition originally perceived to be operable and salvageable had suddenly become inoperable. Tragedy struck. Moments before my dad’s phone call, a dog that looked almost identical to Nika ran out to her owner’s pier, sat, and stared at me in silence for several minutes as I fished nearby. Was this visitor trying to communicate with me? Was this a sign of Nika’s impending passing? Could this have been her messenger, or her way of telling me goodbye? As I continue searching for the connections to make sense of everything, and try coming to terms and acceptance of her sudden passing, I can only think that all of these events I witnessed while fishing alone were her ways of telling me that everything was okay. These cryptic signs along with the most breathtaking sunset of the year I fished beneath had to be my sign that she successfully passed through the gates of Rainbow Bridge. Fishing-Headquarters.com

Photograph by Andrew Ragas

After receiving news of my pup’s official passing, I was the last boat remaining on the lake. I sat atop my boat’s casting deck and cried for the first time ever while fishing, let alone in any boat. On the evening of August 25th, I lost more than a pet and family member. I had lost my fishing buddy. Nika was the best fishing buddy I could have ever asked for. If you have a dog, and have similarly experienced having a

September / October / November, 2012

friend that totally loves you and asks for nothing but the same in return, cherish the opportunities you have with it. Looking back at my experiences with Nika, I can’t help but say how privileged I was to have her as a member of the family, and as my fishing buddy.

The boat and I will miss you, my friend.

Contributed Photograph Fishing-Headquarters | Page 106

LOSING A FISHING BUDDY

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Photograph by Frank Weilnhammer Fishing-Headquarters | Page 108

LOSING A FISHING BUDDY

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Photograph by Andrew Ragas Fishing-Headquarters | Page 110

LOSING A FISHING BUDDY

11-8-2003 - 8-25-2012

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Photograph by Frank Weilnhammer Fishing-Headquarters | Page 112

Photograph by Kenny Lookingbill

Photo courtesy, Jim Gronaw.

THE FINAL WORD.

SEEYA AGAIN IN MARCH, 2013! Fishing-Headquarters Magazine has decided to take a break until March, 2013. Our next issue, to begin our third season, will be released then. This decision has nothing to do with the long hours and excessive time involvement required to produce each magazine issue. Rather, we are in the process of modernizing our website by designing an advanced, supercharged site with new software and fresh content. In addition, we also have plans to reopen our discussion boards and work out several new deals with advertising partners for 2013 and beyond. Following the release of Issue 11, these plans of ours will be coming to form. Assuming that the fishing this fall is as bad as 2012 has been, which will allow us ample time, we hope to have our new website started in November and launched by the beginning of 2013.

Thanks for reading. We hope you enjoy everything thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s set to come at www.fishing-headquarters.com

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September / October / November, 2012

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FISHING-HEADQUARTERS DISCUSSION BOARDS

GRAND RE-OPENING, FALL 2012

We’ve downsized, cleaned up the mess, deleted the trouble makers, and restored its glory. Our intention is to bring back the discussion boards of old.... An informational and educational website that is full of knowledge, stories, and tales of the fish that got away. We had to temporarily close shop in June, 2012. We wanted to keep fishing rather than fight and argue with members who have since been deleted. Although we don’t expect the same crowd members to return ever again, we do welcome everyone back who was in good standing....Especially our website visitors and readers of this online magazine. We don’t expect the discussion boards to be popular as they were from 2008-2011. But we hope they’re used as an informational communication platform amongst visitors and readers who will be using our new website.

http://www.fishing-headquarters.com/forums/index.php

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March / April, 2013

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Expected Release Date: March 1st, 2013.

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