I have been in the process of getting the boat ready for Lunge season to start. While doing this, I thought I would make some suggestion for safety, not only for us as the fishermen, but also for the safety and well being of the fish. Having these things in the boat is a must prior to ever hitting the water. Being prepared will make for a much more enjoyable day on the water.
Having a good pair of long handle Needle Nose is going to save you and the fish. The long handle is nice because it keeps you away from the hooks on removal. It also gives you more leverage and force to remove the hooks from the fish. When the fish is in the net, in the water, the longer handle give you more space to work on the fish from a safe distance. Hooks in the hand or arm ends a good day of fishing very fast.
A Hook Out is also a good tool to have along as well. It gives you the ability to get at hooks that are deep, and keep all your fingers in the process. I like the Needle Nose for removing hooks, but when they are in a bad location on the fish, the hook out keeps you a safe distace from teeth and thrashing hooks when the fish decides to not cooperate.
A Jaw Spreader in conjunction with either tool mentioned about is also a very helpful tool for removal of hooks that are deep.
Hook Cutters are a must have on each and every trip. There are times when you can’t get a hook to pop, or the fish eats the bait deep. Hooks are cheap, cut them and get the fish back. Having a number of hooks hanging from a big toothy while in the net can be the kiss of death to any angler. For safty reasons, sometimes it is much easier to just start cutting hooks to free the fish. Safe for you, and much better for the fish as well. Getting them back in as fast as possible is the goal, and cutting hooks sometimes is the best way to go.
Having a big net is what I like best. I have used cradles in the past, and I really am not a big fan of them, mainly because it is very difficult to land a fish solo with a cradle. A big net is easy to use alone or with a partner. You have the ability with a big net to only remove the fish from the water, for taking pictures and a quick measurement, and back they go. Limiting the time out of the water with any species of fish, helps ensure that they go back just as healthy as they came to the boat, only leaving them with a sore jaw.
Sending a fish back in good shape is also a very important part of hunting lunge. Fighting a fish, netting it, removing hooks, then taking a photo, all put a lot of stress on the fish. Making sure that you stay with the fish until it returns to the depths, is a must. The fish will tell you when it is ready to go, don’t force it. Keeping the fish upright in the water is the best way to go. Do not turn the fish from side to side, this will take a much longer time for the fish to get his balance back. The inner ear on a muskie is how they keep themselves in balance, and if you are turning the fish from side to side, it takes them that much long to bounce back. Pumping the fish front to back is good to get water running back through their gills, but too much of that will kill them. Holding the fish upright, and waiting for them to tell you they are ready to go is what happens in my boat. When you let go of the fish, if they stay on the surface, you MUST stay with them until they head down. A muskie on the surface, is going to get smoked on just about any metro lake. With the abundance of pleasure boat traffic and other fisherman around, it is very important to stay with those fish until they return safley to the depths.
Let me go, its the most rewarding thing to come back and catch them again. It gives all of us a much better chance of having a great day on the water.
To all you Lunge Hunters, Good luck this weekend 
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Be safe, and may the Muskie Gods shine down on us all.
Stick a pig
