I’m sorry if this rubs you the wrong way, but how come you still haven’t learned how to hold these fish properly?
I mean, it’s talked about on most websites…

Funny you should mention that Bill, because I was just thinking we haven’t produce any content on holding techniques yet here on Fishing Fury

I’ll get to work on that soon…

Again, I’m not trying to stir the pot, but everytime I see Mr. William’s pics, I always wonder the same thing. I’ve just always bitten my tongue, hoping they’d get better, but since they’re not, I figured I’d say something. I’ll try to be more subtle in the future. Sorry man…

First of all, it’s very obvious I know how to hold these fish, I’ve always taken a picture of me holding the fish at my side to give people an accurate look at the size of the fish that i caught.It is a very short process that takes no longer than when you start to lift the fish from the water, to a holding position after you free it from being hooked. I always take great care when handelling musky, and I always try to send a picture or two with me holding them in both positions. I guess I should have sent more photos with me holding the fish in both positions. It bothered me a little that you might think that I am harming these fish in anyway, or being careless and having a lack of knowledge when handling these majestic beast’s. Over the years there has been a steady increase of people holding fish far in front of them, to make their fish seem much larger. I am sure people have learned these tecniques from infisherman magazines, and bob izumi to name a few.I try to stay away from this behavior, so as to give the people an accurate estimation of the fish I’m holding. As you probably already know, scugog musky are very lean and muscular, unlike most musky that that live in lakes. Some of these lake musky look like they swallowed a whole watermellon, and if you would try to lift or hold them by their gill plates their heads would come clean off. there is know doubt that the bigger ones need to be handled with extra care, to ensure the future of this predator.

Well, hey, if you don’t believe me, & you think you’re doing the fish NO harm, then why not post these pics of fish hanging at your side on a website like OFN?
I think I know why you won’t do that, because you’ll get ripped a new one. Another thing I just noticed from your post….just who exactly are you trying to impress with your fish? When I tell someone how big a fish was, they believe me. Maybe you need new ‘people’ to impress….All my fish are horizontally held, not your ‘hanging at your side’ pics.
Why in God’s name do you need BOTH holds??
C’mon man, time to ‘man-up’ & change some of your flawed philosophies…

Oh, & don’t think I didn’t notice you waited until your pics were almost buried before you replied…shameful.
And another thing, why not just do up a report like normal people & submit it to the forum? Why just send Jon or Clive pics??
Are you that hard up for an ego boost?

Oooops, not done just yet. You say “you handle the bigger ones with extra care, to ensure the future of this predator”, well where do you think the bigger ones come from, the Big Musky Fairy? They ALL start off as babies, & they ALL should be treated with the utmost respect from ALL anglers. Treat the little ones right, they live long to fight…
And hey, stop taking pics of sub-legals, it’s doesn’t send the right message….

If your trying to draw me into a immature argument over the way I hold fish musky bob. I have no time for it, and it sounds like someone is jealous.
You would think that with a nickname like you have, you would own half of the pictures
on this website.

This is always a debated subject, but I agree that the best way to hold a fish is horizontally. Logically it makes the most sense since fish naturally are horizontal.

Did the fish in these pictures suffer irreversible damage? I doubt it, but it is possible. I’m doing more research on the issue to try and find some solid evidence to support the horizontal theory.

The best hold for a large fish is neither a vertical nor horizontal… but on a 45 degree angle(like on the last image) In this hold you can support part of the fish weight with another hand around the tail.

Ahem, here’s the simple facts that we can all see right here in full resolution, OR we can all agree on.
1. Whenever we take a picture of a fish & post it on the ‘net, we’re bragging, looking for the precious ego boost, etc…I mean, who doesn’t like that? I admit I do.
2. Paul claims quote “and I always try to send a picture or two with me holding them in both positions.” I only asked why on Earth anyone would do that? What purpose does that serve?
3. I think we can agree that we ALL at one time held fish incorrectly, vertically, I have pics of me doing it, from 2003. It only took a few measly hours of reading to figure out that horizontal was the way to go. The only folks I see still doing vert holds on Muskies are admittedly beginners. While these people usually get ripped for it, I don’t agree they deserve it. They’re ignorant is all, & should be educated, not punished.
Fishing is educational & those of us with the ability to learn have changed the way we do certain things. Not 10 years ago would I ever dream of cutting hooks out of a Bass, but I do today, if it’ll help it out.
4. I don’t take a picture of EVERY fish I catch, that’s insane. This is FishingFury.com, not Billsfishpics.com so why would I own half the pictures on this website? Does that even make any sense?
5. Ok, let me get this straight. I’m immature, but you can’t even get my name right?
Funny stuff right there.
Look Paul, it’s obvious it’s not clear enough for you, & you’ve provided me with enough entertainment for 24 hours. It’s more of a waste of my time now. I think my point should be perfectly clear now.
Scugog’s not THAT big, I’ll see you on the water some time, you can give me some tips, because after all, you’re the MasterBai…awww, never mind, you wouldn’t get it anyway.

Lets put it this way, if someone picked you up in the air by your jaw with 1 hand or supported you with 2 hands in a laying down position, i’m thinking you would prefer the 2nd option best!…Not difficult really.

this is childish bill, I’m going to squash this, so carry on without me.

Finally, something we can all agree on! :)

I thought we could hook up this july and combine our skills to make a huge impact on with our suberb skills, let’s make a date.

Paul Williams

Well, I finally landed a trophy… 49″ 20.5 Gerth and I cant tell you the weight. Lake Scugog 17:15 July 7th, Cross Creek Marina area.

Unreal, that a huge muskie for Scugog…

I was not prepared for a catch like that, I’m an amateur but Avid angler. I would have posted a pic…… but from what I read above, I did everything wrong….. and I know I’m in deep (Muskie Etiquette) do-do. If I didnt catch such a fish, I would not have been on this fourm, so I guess I can say I know know.. what not to do.

I now have a camera on my boat, and know the proper Etiquette! I would like to add, I have never “kept” a Muskie in the past.

I would like to add something to this *ahem* debate even though the thread is getting old.

In one case, I caught a Muskie and while lifting the fish up for a photo, there was a brief moment when the fish’s weight was mostly supported by the gill-plate. I felt (and almost heard) the fish’s muscles/spinal column stretch (similar to how liver stretches). This disturbed me so much, that I now religiously support the belly before lifting the fish out of water.

Like Bill said, we all start somewhere and we’ve all had terrible accidents, but best practices should always be followed to limit the impact to the fish.

I’m no authority on best practices either, but from that experience, it was clear to me that the gill plate should be for stability only and the weight should be supported by your other hand. In cases of really big fish, your whole forearm should support the weight.

I think more education is needed also because I’ve seen pro-shows where big muskie are lifted entirely by the gill plate. Not mentioning any names though… *ahem* D.C.

i just love all of these musky experts making comments with no experience catching and holding musky from any water system , especially not lake scugog. the only guy who has merit in this debate is bill, because he actually catches musky on scugog and has proof. people think muskyare just like big aquatic bunny rabbits and will die if you hold them. river musky are tough, and durable from head to tail they are one giant muscle so for all of you computer wannabe musky anglers go put all your good ideas and tips to practice and let us see the fruits of your labour, ahem!!!!!!