OOD x Muskies Canada

Enjoy these muskie-fishing tips by Muskies Canada Public Educational Director Andzej Jakobczak.

Handle with care

Here’s how to ensure a safe, successful catch-and-release of your muskie this fall.

• Prepare your gear: Have a large, soft-mesh net, needle-nose pliers, a wet bump board, and hook cutters.
  
• Guide the fish into your net, taking care not to touch or handle it more than necessary.
  
• Remove hooks with pliers; if it’s difficult, cut them with hook cutters. It’s horrible to lose a fish. It’s easy to replace the hook.
  
• Wet the bump board before removing the fish from the net for measurement. You don’t want to cook its skin on a hot board.
  
• Take a breath. Remove the fish from the net, take your measurement, get a photo, and put the fish back in the water and release it all in a single breath. Minimize the time the fish is out of the water and be happy you’re helping sustain muskie for generations to come.

Learn more at: muskiescanada.ca

Originally published in the Nov.-Dec. 2025 issue of Ontario Out of Doors

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