Thorn 5-6-11: Solo mission photos don't do this girl much justice of how big she was…but fun still the same and I got her back in the water quickly for a quick release. I will have to look into the tripod set-up for the future I normally have a camera in the boat, but not on this occasion. I at least remembered the net. Unfortunately my shoe is about the only way to give a good idea of how thick she was. Although the pictures suck, I was just happy to end up landing her successfully, as she hit boatside with little line out; I thumbed my spool and started the firedrill to grab the net with my other arm and get her in the bag.
I talked to three guys that were struggling to get their boat on the trailer while I was waiting to pull out. They were asking me about muskies etc.; the one thing that struck me was that they could not believe that that fish was not legal. They stated that "how would they know that they could not keep that fish if they caught it". I gave them the speal on catch and release and also that when in doubt you should release any fish you are unsure of the limit on. It just surprises me how many people that are "fishing" for dinner, don't have any clue what to do when they run into a non-target species. I think a lot of people just see a really big dinner when a pike or muskie gets caught…probably the same for out of season bass, etc. I think the MMA signs regarding knowing the species are great…it would be great if the size limits for species could also be posted at some point. Obviously, this would require more funding…and realistically the fishing guide already has the regulations, but maybe a more in your face approach would be helpful. Food for thought.
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Nice fish, Tory. I want a Thorn fatty!
You know, even if you don't go the tripod idea, you could always just set the camera somewhere and set the self timer. I used to always set up the back seat pedestal when fishing alone. I would just set the camera on the seat, and set the self timer. Just make sure you don't zoom in too far, and then you've always got the cropping option later.
Nice job out there!
"Tory" said:
I think the MMA signs regarding knowing the species are great…it would be great if the size limits for species could also be posted at some point.
The signs contain size limits for pike and muskie. Unfortunately, I think we as muskie and pike fisherman pay more attention to them than those fishing for other species.
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ya like i said earlier, you don't have to rush to get the fish out of the net if you have a camera on a timer, just get a relatively new camera with a memory card and just have it record video…
Then set it anywhere that you can hold ur fish in front of it. I use my just encase box on my casting deck and it works great.
Clean looking fish. Were you trolling or casting
-Dan, I guess when I wrote it, I actually did not remember our sign having the limit on it, but great that it does; although there are the Lake specific regulations such as Thorn's that stray from the normal 42" limit. Although I primarily fish muskies now; I still consider my self an all-species guy and fish for just about every species depending on hot bites during the season…so I was also thinking about a general ignorance of size, quantity, and season. I am just surprised how many people fish that have no idea of what the regulations are.
-I was casting a crank to answer the trolling/casting question.
Good luck out there…
Tory, don't worry about the pictures, you'll always know. I had a fat 48" last year and all I has was a picture in the net and bumpboard form a dispoable camera. I did notice in the one picture a tape measure, I bought one of Jim T's bumpboards and it was one of the best investment I ever made. Again congrats, [smilie=2thumbsup.gif]
Not to start some poo but why is she laying on your floor?
Yeah Tory, I was thinking the same thing. Always good to freshen up on our release technique…
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Also, as far as the signs go I know that's what got me to this forum and its also what saved the first fish that we ever caught on Skegemog which would be on my wall if it weren't for the MMA sign. So I know it has an affect on some people at least. 😀
I understand the floor thing guys but we all start somewhere and progress from there. I am sure it was not intentional but rather happened in the heat of a very awesome moment. I had the biggest fish I ever caught jump out of my vertical hold and land on the floor – hard. Didn't want it to happen but it did. We all want the fish to do well and prosper sometimes they end up on the floor Im sure he did the best he could for being alone.
Kevin [smilie=2c.gif]
I would prefer to keep them out of the boat as well but she ended up getting the net and bait tangled within her mouth and I was wasting more time trying to get her undone with the boat drifting at a pretty fast speed due to the wind. The big ones rarely go as bananas as the little guys and she stayed pretty placid being in the net after I cut the hooks; then she went for a swim. Easy to second guess anyone when you are not there, but I have caught a lot fish over the years and their health is always a key consideration. You have to use common sense given the situation at hand.
"Tory" said:
I would prefer to keep them out of the boat as well but she ended up getting the net and bait tangled within her mouth and I was wasting more time trying to get her undone with the boat drifting at a pretty fast speed due to the wind.
I've been there…12ish years ago, second year of musky-ing, 30+ lber wrapped horribly in one of those blasted thin netbags like the one you have pictured. I hate those things more than I hate soft rock! That prompted me for one of the best investments I've made – the heavily coated, knotless, fin-saving musky netbag. I have since put the Big Kahuna treated bag on my Beckman and it is just flat out awesome on big fish. They are pricy, but soooo worth it on a thrashing, gator-rolling beast…and then no fish sees the bottom of the boat (unless you almost biff it and half drop a 52"er on the potato chip bag in Corey's rig…not that a veteran like myself would ever do that!)
Great fish! And thanks for explaining why she saw the inside your boat…I'm sure you appreciate the cringe many had when they saw that pic, not knowing that it is something that you would typically avoid at all costs.
Ok before i piss off some folks on here..Look at the photo like the darkside kids would if you see any doubt dont post it…i love seeing big fish but if its giving us a bad name, i would not post on a forum!
Tory its a great fish for sure and iam sure you did her no harm just look at it from the other side is all iam saying…..
and i have caught a fish or 2 so i do understand….
Last Fall
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This Spring
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Pretty sure one of the fish we have caught this spring is the same fish I caught last fall; plus 2" exactly. Seems like a pretty good growth rate considering Winter is in that thime frame. If you look at the top rear fin there is a dip in both photos. Anyway, maybe, maybe not, but cool if it is. Also, my buddy got his thumb immobilized taking this fish out of the net….severed tendon….10-12 weeks to recover after surgery last week. We fished two more days after he caught that fish..
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