Pool 11 Northerns

Was out on Pool 11 Wednesday, fished wingdams for walleyes and catfish with little success. Tried stinkbait for cats and cranks for walleyes but could not get a good bite. Switched to northerns and started fishing creek mouths with spinnerbaits and crankbaits. We ended up with about 10 ranging in size from about 28″ to 36″.

After keeping one (my sons biggest northern to date) we proceeded to catch and release. Two of the bigger northerns inhaled crankbaits so far that the trebles hooked up in their gills causing them to bleed. We reluctantly kept them. Could we have released these fish if we “carefully” removed the trebles from the gills? I’ve always been told that if their bleeding they have no chance of survival. Yet, I here from some musky fisherman that they would have survived.

I would guess they would surivive if care is taken. I use a jaw spreader, that seems to subdue the fish while freeing the hooks. If the hooks are too deep, I will use a sidecutter to cut the hooks. Just have some extras along to replace. What part of pool 11 were you on?

I’ve often wondered if all species are the same in this regard. I know that pike can be one of the heartiest fish around for surviving less than ideal conditions. Trout on the other hand (just for sake of example), seem to be more fragile. Depending on the extent of damage, they may have survived. I just hate returning injured fish, questioning their survival. An injured fish has typically become the “eater” or the mount in some known cases. I only feel good about releasing healthy fish. But there are stories of those fish that did survive injuries so it still comes down to what you want to do, because either way, in many cases, we’re never going to know one way or the other.

there is not concrete answer on something like that…. each fish is an individual and their toughness varies…. Ive been told that dont bleed as bad when in the water because their body fluid pressure is balanced by the water pressure… that makes sense… but stilll I would have to say gill damage is not a good thing…. they need them to breath… just like we need lungs… if it significantly impacts their ability to obtain O2 then they will die….. anyway its a [censored] shoot… some people say its 50/50… either they will live or they will die… one thing for sure.. if you invite them to dinner they die…. but at least they dont go to waste that way… and if your not exceeding the catch limit then our state has determined that the fishery is not being hurt!… still most of us get a better feeling releasing fish then keeping them…..

jonb, I was fishing the upper part above Cassville. We were orginally targeting walleyes that day but switched to northerns. I usually fish northerns in Pool 10. I know more of the cold water springs and creek outlets in that Pool.

I think I’ll take your advice about the jaw spreaders. We had a difficult time releasing the deeply hooked fish, I think the spreaders would have helped. We actually left the bite in progress (over the protests of my son) because I didn’t think we could catch and release properly the way they were inhaling our baits. With a jaw spreader I imagine I could inspect their gills for signs of damage to determine to release them or not.

In your regards to pike fishing in pool 10. I fish this pool every weekend near Prairie Du Chien and the only pike I can ever catch are small ones that I catch bass fishing. If u could give me some advice, I would appreciate it.
Thanks

bass boy, the spots I target are where a small stream enters the Mississippi. The cooler water at the mouth seems to attract big northerns. Many times they will hold in only a couple of feet of water just out from the opening. I usually fish the Bagley and Wyalusing areas. One way to find the small streams entering is to observe the bluffs of the Mississippi. Where you see a valley there is usually a stream entering nearby. If you know of underwater springs in backwaters (easily found while ice-fishing) make sure you check them out too. If you don’t have any luck e-mail me and I’ll give you a more specific answer. Best of Luck

Brian

Northers are one of the least hearty fish….catch and release with northens in warm water must be very quick….if they were gill hooked this time of year I would of kept them for sure and I don’t keep very many northerns……only injured ones