Mr. J,
I just posted a thread on how to properly handle and release muskie/pike. It's really hard to describe how to handle the fish by the gill plate in words. I'm going to try to find a picture somewhere, or next time I catch one, I will take close up shots of the hold so you get a good idea.
Fishhawk,
I've had many memorable muskie experiences. I'd have to say the most memorable ones are the ones that got away though. Those monster fish that get within 2 ft. of the boat only to spit your bait out at you are what keep me coming back for more.
My first muskie was caught on the Ottawa river on my fourth outing for muskies. I had just gone out and purchased a pile of gear, and had read a ton of literature on the web. My first outing was frusterating. 6 hours on the water, and not a fish to be seen. Not to mention the swelling of my forearms from using all this heavy tackle.
Second and third outings were the same.
On my fourth outing, I was out on the Ottawa river at about 8pm on one of those nights where it looks like you could step out of your boat, and skate across the water. Dead calm. I was throwing an oversized spinnerbait over some coontails, when WHAM! I thought at first I'd hooked into a big pike, but when the fish surfaced boatside, I knew this wasn't a pike. Turned out to be a nice 37" muskie. When you see your first muskie, they definitely look bigger than that though.
I don't have the picture of this fish with me right now, but will post later. Here is my second muskie, a 42", that I caught the next day though.
HW
!!!!!LOL..Sweet fish aint it....ONE DAY!!