Hot Water?

[JTH]

Just wondering .... do any of you Shabby muskie hunters shut it down when the water temps are hot like they are now?

Is anyone concerned with the fact that most muskies are going to die if they are caught during these hot water periods?

What is the current water temp up there right now?

[BigMskyForMe]

Hot water does not kill fish. Stupidity does.

This is where gear plays an important factor. If you are fishing with gear that cannot handle a muskie, the fish will die. If you can get the fish in the boat, unhooked and released, then it should be fine.

Warmer water temps fatigue the fish faster. I have fished when the water temp approached 90 degrees and our fish were fine.

Hope everyone has a good labor day. Will be out on the lake on Sunday. Look for two yutzes in a rental who are getting hung up on every log and weed in the lake.

JK

[fishhateme]

Good luck - you ought to have the lake to yourself! ;)

[davep]

Bigmskyforme:
While you are correct that good gear when fishgin for musky in warmer temps does help reduce fatigue and stress on the musky, it is also incorrect to say that warm water temps are not harmfull to a muskie after a fight. It has been proven that high water temps can and do stress a muskie to the point that it will die. While this is not 100%, the higher the water temps, the higher the mortality rate. And yes, they will swiim away but can die later. In some southern lakes before fishermen were educated on this, you could go to a spot where a guy said he had caught a muskie the day before (and it swam off fine) only to find it floating the next day. Just something to think about when making a descision to fish for muskie during the summer. A good rule of thumb is around 80 degree water temps.