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Catch & Release
"Once I was working on a batch of replica mounts," begins taxidermist Rick Lax, "I was painting them and while looking at the photos I noticed three of them were the exact same fish! She was a spotted musky, 51 inches long with a 24 inch girth, and was missing the top part of her tail. Three separate fishermen had caught and released her up on Eagle Lake that summer and were now getting replicas made. Unbelievable! Had one of these anglers decided to keep her, the other two would have never caught their 'fish-of-a-lifetime'."
***Anyone who has been in my boat will testify that I am a strong "catch & release" advocate. I feel it is extremely important to our fishery to let these fish go....and I'm not just talking muskies! We also release our share of nice walleye, pike and bass each year. Why is this so important?
***WHY RELEASE? (taken from Muskies Inc. #12 literature)
CONSERVATION…
*Fish grow slowly. Here in the Northwoods a 25” walleye is around 11 years old, an 18” bass is 10 yrs. old, and a 50” musky is over 20 years old! Releasing these incredible specimens promotes and ensures a quality fishery.
*DNR studies show a 40 lb. musky may have as many as 225,000 eggs. Releasing female fish of all species replenishes our fragile fishery. As one local guide stated, “It’s all about genetics. A 6’2” man and a 6’ woman produce some mighty big kids. Well, a nice 27” walleye will do the same thing in your lake. Put her back in so she can produce lots of healthy offspring.”
PERSONAL SATISFACTION AND PASSING ON A LEGACY…
*By releasing a big fish you have provided the chance for your child, grandchild, or best friend to also experience the thrill that you had. Once you experience the positive emotional feelings associated with releasing a fish you’ll be hooked!
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS…
*A recent study conducted by the Sport Fishing Institute determined that “Fishing creates more than 69 billion dollars in economic output in the U.S. each year. This is the equivalent of 1.3 million jobs.”
*Kevin Ruetten, Executive Director of the Hayward Area Chamber of Commerce notes, “Catch -n- release practices, fish handling education and higher size limits on area lakes have developed a positive outlook for our fishing and tourism businesses in the Hayward Area. The additional protection of this beautiful natural resource will provide our youth and future visitors with memorable moments for generations." In other words, big fish possibilities generates tourism business!
*Monetary value of a released musky: It takes 500 stocked muskies (10” size) to replace one 50” musky that is caught and kept. With the cost of a 10” stocked musky at $5.90, replacing a 50” musky totals $2,950.00.
OTHER ALTERNATIVES AVAILABLE…
*With proper CPR (Catch, Photo & Release) quality photographs (even life-sized), graphite replicas or wood carvings can be produced that are capable of capturing your catch’s exact image. Replicas are much less susceptible to fading or discoloration than skin mounts. Many taxidermists offer a lifetime guarantee on replicas and charge the same amount for either a skin mount or a replica.
**Rick Lax, of Lax Reproductions in Conover, Wisconsin, (www.laxreproductions.com) specializes in creating exact replicas of your catch. His father, Ron, was one of the pioneers in this arena. They create many musky, salmon, trout, bass, walleye, pike and even panfish replicas. Rick is personally created a replica of my "fish-of-a-lifetime," a 54.5" x 30" HUGE musky caught and released August '05. Stop by my booth at a tradeshow (see events schedule). The best thing? I know where she lives...and I'll be back chasing her again this summer, and this time she'll be even bigger!
For in-depth articles on Graphite Replicas, please contact:
Musky Hunter: www.muskyhunter.com in their Dec 04/Jan 05 issue I wrote an article detailing replicas.
Badger Sportsman: info@badgersportsman.com in their Oct 05 issue I wrote about the graphite replica process in depth in my "Women on the Water" column.
Preparing for a Replica: Proper CPR (Catch, Photo and Release) techniques must be followed to ensure the return of a healthy fish back to its waters.
This means: 
1. Limiting time fish is out of water (keep her in the net, in the water for most of the time. I find deep, coated Frabill nets the best in the industry. A fish can only "hold its breath" out of the water about as long as you can hold your breath) Take lures out while she is in the water, keep her head in the water and her backside up (not sideways or belly up) and try to measure her in the water if possible.
2. Quickly measure and snap photographs. If you are considering a replica, take a length and a girth measurement; if not, spare the fish the stress and just take a quick length measurement. Hold the fish horizontally, supporting it's weight. Vertical holds can do irreparable damage to a fish's internal organs.
Try to hold her a little away from your body as to not take off her protective slime layer, but hold onto her firmly! If you drop her and she hits her head...she's dead. Maybe not immediately, but she will die from that injury.
**Fishing by yourself? Check out a back copy (June/July 2003) of Musky Hunter where I detail how to take quality photos when fishing by yourself. I discuss a mount and wireless remote control camera system that I installed in my boat. This is also a great way to get both anglers in the photo!
3. Re-acclimate her to the water. Gently place her back into the water. Be sure her backside is up (the natural swimming pose). There is no need to pull her back and forth. Just hold onto her until she is ready to swim away. Then,
savor the moment...
Deb Walters releasing her largest musky to date, a nice 42" caught on LOTW.
**Viewers, send me your release shots (any species) and I'll be happy to share them! Send to: info@ablondandherboat.com
I personally applaud conservation clubs that promote this strong catch and release ethic...I belong to Muskies, Inc. and encourage all avid musky anglers to join this wonderful organization. Visit their main website, www.muskiesinc.org to find out what this club is all about. There are now over 50 chapters spread across the United States, so you will be able to find one close-by. I belong to Ch #12, Headwaters, based out of Eagle River. This is a fine network of conscientious fisherfolk and I'm proud to be a part of it.
**Viewers, if you belong to another fishing organization that supports Catch & Release, please share the info with me and I'll pass it on...
So...what if you are met with resistance to this "catch & release" idea? Once again, I wrote about this in Muskies magazine (a publication of Muskies, Inc.), the August 2004 issue...here's some ammunition for the most prevalent question I receive:
BUT DON’T BIG MUSKIES EAT ALL THE SMALLER FISH?
*A University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point study examined the stomach contents of over 1,000 muskies taken from Wisconsin lakes. It determined that the preferred forage base was a mixture of soft-rayed species (suckers, chubs, shiners, darters, ciscoe, and yellow perch). Walleyes constituted less than 1% of the stomach contents, bass about 3%.
*Perhaps the reason a particular angler isn't catching walleyes is because they are not fishing efficiently! Suggest they hire a guide to find out some tricks of the trade.
Catch, Photo and Release...it'll grow on you...
For more information or to make reservations contact:
A Blond And Her Boat Fishing Trips
Patricia Strutz
Email: info@ablondandherboat.com
(715)891.1173
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