Fizzing Fish

[senecabow]

Was jig fishing Muskies in the deep (27ft.)water last week. Had a little guy(36"fish) take a 2 oz. jig with a 7 inch sucker.
Had a heck of a time on the release. Took about twenty minutes to get him swimming again, ended up Fizzing him. More than likely he's turtle food and that's not good, the little fellow put up a hell of a fight and deserved to be set free.

The link is a study done by the good folks from the other side of the lake. Just about all anyone would want to know about Fizzing a fish. It's a 16 page pdf.

www.mnr.gov.on.ca/MNR/pubs/Fizzing.pdf

BTW -- Also caught a 44 " fish in 7 ft. of water, good clean release.

[deerslayer11]

Thats the first Ive heard of that.

[senecabow]

Slayer --- That was the first time I have had to Fizz a Musky. That little guy came straight up from the bottom of the lake as fast as he could swim.
I think it was an older male fish, pulled a few scales. I'll get the scales under the microscope and find out for sure.

It was a male musky === 6 -7 years old about 15 lbs

[hunt4fun1]

The guides we use in the Gulf sometimes poke the bladder when it comes out of their mouth with a hook.
I always wonder if that was real healthy for the release.

[senecabow]

hunt4 ---- I always wondered about that also. It can't be good for the fish, but maybe the only chance for the fish to live.