In talking to long=time biologist, Bob Strand regarding this subject a few years ago, he said that stressors endured that decrease a muskie’s chance in survival while fighting a muskie include: water pressure change, water temperature change and injury during release/battle. Keep in mind that dissolved oxygen within the water tends to decrease with temperature.

Many folks in illinois quit fishing the mid-summer there simply due to the fact that they lose too many fish to mortality issues. Temperature is a factor.