Is this a typical way to handle big ones? 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wz66LNKrUPk&mode=related&search=
Not sure but huge fish. Just thought it was weird they would slide this hug ski around on the floor.
Don’t know where to start on this one. First of all, who goes musky fishing without a net!! Then consider that fish was out of the water for almost 3 minutes… I would like to see those idiots hold their breath that long. And of course the sliding of the fish all over the floor, these fish are slimy for a reason!!!
Nice musky though.
that was painful to watch… 
What was shown I think they handled the fish as well as they could.. but they took some time out of the video when they moved it from the floor to the deck.
That fish was dead tired, and it was out of the water a long time. I dont think that fish survived(my opinion). If tey edited out the time elapsed from the floor to the deck, I tink they would have edited the time out to show that fish swim away if it had… they took the extra steps to make that video the best they could.
They used care when handling the fish, they just played around in the boat with it for too long.
It was a big ski!
Not the way I would handle a big fish like that. Seems like they kept it out of the water for a much longer time than needed!! It did look like the boat had vinyl floors which is better than sliding it around on carpet I guess!
Yeah, Nice muskie! but……
That’s a great example of how NOT to handle a muskie.
You don’t necessarily need a net to properly handle a muskie, but it sure helps. Net or no net you should be unhooking fish in the water, supporting their weight along the length of their body when out of the water, and keeping that air time to a minimum (30 seconds is plenty for pics). 
I watched the video. And contrary to the negative thoughts conveyed here, I simply thought it was a NORMAL setting/sequence of action when landing, unhooking and taking a picture or two and releasing of a BIG fish.
I’ve “handled” over 700 muskies over 40 inches long and up to 53.5 inches long(legit measurement lol)
That said, my objective, as is the case with all of you that show concern here, is to NOT hurt the fish any more than needed and keep the fish swimming for others to catch.
But I truly doubt you can get he job done much faster and easier than this video portrays. A muskie in the boat does what and when it wants. NO ONE…not YOU guys, me or anyone can control a muskie in your hands–be it 40 inches or 55 inches. You do ALL you can to unhook, hold up/onto the fish for a photo or two and all the while making sure no one gets hooked or gashed by some teeth.
I saw NOTHING unusual here, both from a time stand-point or handling stand-point and that said, out of 700 plus release attempts, I am confident my mortality rate is average or above average per any studies or whatever on the subject…be it muskies or whatever. Actually, they saved the fish from injury by NOT netting it. A fish wrapped up in a net gets fins/tails broken and gets scaled to no end!
My 2 cents/experience on the video and in general, related subject.
Sorry Steve, but that isnt normal. Normal is having the tools needed at hand. I sure hope you dont ride em like a bull on the floor of your boat. Bad things can and will happen, thats not the point, if people are that worried about hurting fish then DONT FISH. I am not one of those. But if you dont see this as a “what not to do” routine…..
Just so we are clear I was not trying to start conflict. I just realized how many times I have thrown for ski’s and have not been prepared for the landing and quick photo and release of one these monsters. Since I have only “boated” 1 I got to thinking that I have fished too many times unprepared.
This is what struck me. I caught some nice Pike in the winter but that is way different then getting them on a rod and reel. When you fish with 60# ice line and leaders the fight is not that long. Couple 3 runs and it is all over.
This video just got the short minded German wheels spinning in my head…………….
Yeah..what do I know…guess I better take lessons–from you…whoever you are.
I stand behind what I said 100%. That is a horrible example of how to handle a muskie. You should never bring a hooked muskie in the boat!
I hand land a fair number of the fish I catch (not all, I use a net sometimes), and with the right grip you’d be surprised how much control you have over even a 30# ski. With a net, the best thing to do is use it as a boatside pen by letting the bag hang over the side in the water while you unhook the fish in it. After the hooks are out, lift the fish out of the water with a hand in the gill plate (some call it a lip lock … with a fish 40″ or larger you can get one heck of a good grip on the bottom jaw) and another under the belly to support the weight. Take a picture or two and then carefully put it back in the water for release. It’s not difficult at all with some practice.
With all due respect to Steve, that video is a bad, bad example of muskie handling. I’d expect this kind of fish handling from an inexperienced guy but the guy in the video looks like a guide, which it a whole lot worse. I’m surprised and disappointed by Steve’s response.
John_Nesse (651) 253-4818 or [email protected]
Upon re-reading what I wrote above I realize I sound pretty negative. Steve, I’m sure you do care about the fish and all. But it’s a bad idea to bring a 30# fish in the boat with hooks in its snout. Bad for the fish and potentially bad for the fishermen. I haven’t handled 700 muskies, but I’d guess that I’ve handled in the neighborhood of 200 of them, maybe more, and fish with some guys that have caught more than most anyone. Bringing hooked fish in the boat or putting them on the floor at any point just ain’t something that happens, ever. 
Addition/Edit: Even where measuring is concerned, I use a floating stick and do it in the water. I know some guys use a bump board, but that’s a fast process on (hopefully) a wet board with the fish under control.
Sorry if I sound like a jerk above. I do have strong feelings about it, I guess.
If that is “NORMAL”, I must be a freak 
They do have the right to kill and keep that fish if they like, and maybe they did?? But if all released fish were handled like that there would be less big fish to catch! Period!
I would say that fish most likely died….it was played to the point of not even needing a net, then alligator wrestled on the boat floor, then groped like a free hooker 
for another 3-5 minutes(on/off camera) minimum….then put in the water where it didnt even twitch – before turning the camera off.
That is not NORMAL and should not be encouraged!!!!!!!!
If you liked the first video, you’ll probably like this one too. Do the guys look familiar? I’d say they had a pretty good day.
WOW!
Why not just step on it’s head and yank out the hook?
Total rookie style
I have to agree with john on this I didnt think they handled this the best way they could have if they were fishing for muskies or pike. I only use the net as a “pen” to keep the fish in the water as much as possible. That being said, Steve, Mr. Fellegy, I appreciate all of your fishing input and take it to heart every time I fish mille lacs. I am sure you have caught many more muskies than I. Just my two cents.
Seth Carlson
[email protected]
I know nothing about handling a musky so I am not going to comment on the logistics of it, but I will comment on the argument that appears to be taken place. I think there has been a misconception of the term “normal” and many have taken Steve’s use of “normal” as if he was saying that it was the “ideal” way, or a “good” way, etc. There is a big difference between “normal” and “ideal.” I think we all just need
Well it is too bad that fish got handled that way…Mighta been less painful to watch if they woulda hit it with a 2×4 right from the get go…
steve, with all due respect, because if you have handled that many big muskies you must be a he!! of an angler, BUT if you think that is normal, you are wrong, wrong wrong… There is no way that is normal. No way should it take that long. No way they should let it flop all around the boat and lose all its slime…
Not netting the fish? Have you heard of fin saver nets? Nets are made to be easy on the fish today. They are basically a livewell. THe fish is in the water for the hook to get out, for the angler to grab it and lift it into the boat for a picture. Snap. Snap. Back into the water. Should be in under 30 seconds. As you watch the video, hold your breath when the fish comes out of the water. See how you are doing when they put it back in. Better yet, run up and down your driveway a few times and then watch it. Then hold your breath. See how well you do.
If that is the way every fish in handled in your boat, I’ve got news for you…Your release mortality rate is a HE!! of a lot higher than mine or anyone I fish with.
I’m only post this one last time on this.
I ask you naysayers just ONE question….about the video itself and your actual basis for having an opinion.
Please look in the mirror when you ask and answer yourself.
“How many times have you handled 55″ muskies? How do you know HOW it is to handle one that big…consistently…to have a basis to critic these people?”
Do you believe or like what the guy in the mirror is saying?
I haven’t handled that many Muskies but do know that they are hard to handle sometimes even if prepared.I like to keep the fish in the water in my big Beckman for the unhooking and try to hoist out of the water for a fast picture ,but have had them fly out of my hands back into the water and even the floor of the boat during the picture process.That is just what I do,the small ones under 45 get a water picture of the release only.KD
I’d really like to see someone’s else’s “normal” catch, release, photo, video of 55″ fish 
I’ve seen the guys on Keyes Outdoors do a good job with some beasts, but I think they are the exception rather than the rule.
I guess if I fished muskies seriously I have the biggest net I could buy, land the fish in the net, get the hooks out (in the net) meanwhile getting camera, tape measure etc prepared.
Could they have done better….yes. Could they have done worse….oh yeah.
I agree with you Dtro.
I know I have seen you handle a couple 50 inch sturgeons. Those guys have a lot of power and a handfull in the boat.
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