There’s nothing quite like watching a giant muskie materialize beside the boat. After hours—or sometimes days—of casting, the fish you’ve been dreaming about finally eats. It’s exciting, chaotic, and unforgettable.
But the moment that fish hits the net, your priorities change.
Catching a muskie is only half the job. The other half is making sure that incredible fish swims away healthy so someone else can experience that same thrill years down the road. Muskies are one of the lowest-density gamefish we pursue. They grow slowly, live a long time, and every trophy fish is incredibly valuable to the fishery. That’s why preparation is everything.
Success Starts Before the Fish Bites
The biggest mistake anglers make isn’t during the fight—it’s being unprepared once the fish is in the boat.
Before your first cast, make sure every release tool is within arm’s reach. When a muskie is thrashing in the net, that’s not the time to start digging through storage compartments looking for pliers or cutters.
Every muskie angler should have:
- A large, conservation-style landing net
- Long-reach hook removers
- Heavy-duty long-nose pliers
- Quality hook cutters capable of cutting large treble hooks
- A bump board ready if you plan to measure the fish
- Camera or phone ready before lifting the fish
Having everything organized allows you to work quickly, calmly, and efficiently.
Keep the Fish in the Water
One of the best things you can do for a muskie is simply leave it in the net while it remains in the water.
The fish can recover from the fight while you prepare your tools. Often you’ll find that hooks come out surprisingly easily when the fish is calm instead of flopping around on the boat floor.
Removing hooks while the fish is still submerged reduces stress and minimizes the amount of time it spends out of the water.
The goal isn’t just getting the hooks out.
The goal is getting the fish back into the lake in the best possible condition.
Cut Hooks if You Have To
Sometimes hooks become buried in awkward places.
Don’t waste valuable time wrestling with them.
Quality hook cutters can save both the fish and your fingers. Treble hooks are inexpensive compared to a trophy muskie. If cutting a hook gets the fish back into the water faster, it’s always the right decision.
Keep Air Exposure to an Absolute Minimum
Once the hooks are removed, everything should happen quickly.
If you want a photo, have your partner ready before lifting the fish.
Lift the muskie.
Take a couple quick pictures.
Support its body properly.
Return it immediately to the water.
The same goes if you want a measurement. Have the bump board ready before the fish ever leaves the net. Measure efficiently and return the fish without unnecessary delays.
Every second counts.
Support the Fish Properly
Never hold a large muskie vertically by the jaw for extended periods.
Instead:
- Support the jaw firmly with one hand.
- Use your other hand under the belly to support the fish’s weight.
- Hold the fish horizontally.
- Avoid dropping the fish onto the carpet or deck.
These simple steps greatly reduce stress and help prevent injury.
Revive Before You Release
Sometimes a muskie needs a little time before swimming away.
Hold the fish upright in the water and let it regain its strength naturally. When it begins kicking strongly and wants to swim away on its own, let it go.
Watching a giant muskie disappear back into the depths is every bit as rewarding as watching it eat your bait.
One of the things I talk about all the time during muskie shows is that preparation isn’t just about making our day easier—it’s about protecting these incredible fisheries. Every trophy muskie represents years of growth and survival.
By keeping fish wet, removing hooks quickly, minimizing air exposure, and using the right tools, we dramatically increase the odds that fish will live to be caught again.
That’s good for the next angler.
It’s good for the fishery.
And it’s simply the right thing to do.
The next time you’re headed out chasing muskies, don’t just prepare your rods and tackle. Prepare your release tools with the same attention to detail.
When that fish of a lifetime finally finds your bait, you’ll be ready—not only to land it, but to release it safely.
Because in muskie fishing, the greatest trophy isn’t just the one you catch — it’s the one that swims away healthy.
