Warm Water Musky Releases (Sean Landsman)

The Science Behind Better Muskie Releases

Nobody wants to watch a big girl kick away… only to wonder if she actually made it.

Fortunately, fisheries biologist and Musky Insider PRO instructor Dr. Sean Landsman has spent years researching exactly that.

Landsman recently discussed the science of catch-and-release with lure builder Mike Spratt for an excellent article published in the Muskies Canada Release Journal. While there are plenty of little things anglers debate, the research points to three big priorities every musky angler should keep in mind.

✅ Minimize Air Exposure

One of the biggest misconceptions in musky fishing is that the stressful part ends when the fish hits the net.

In reality, while you’re getting hooks out, measuring the fish, and snapping photos, that musky is still dealing with depleted energy reserves, disrupted oxygen exchange, and other physiological stresses.

One fascinating finding from research conducted through Carleton University’s Cooke Lab is that stress-related potassium buildup may even contribute to cardiac arrest in fish.

The takeaway? Every extra second out of the water matters.

⭐️ Bonus Tip

Musky Insider PRO instructor Josh Borovsky shared one additional tip that has sped up countless releases over the years.

“Obviously, the ideal scenario is to never remove the fish from the water at all, especially in warm water or anytime you’ve already seen red flags during the fight or hook removal.

But let’s be realistic. Many anglers are still going to take a quick photo and lay the fish on a bump board.

If you’re going to do that, here’s one simple change that can save valuable time:

Take your photos first. Measure the fish second.”

Here’s why:

1. Your photographer is already locked in and can start firing photos the instant the fish comes out of the water.

2. Once the photos are finished, the photographer is free to help stabilize the fish on the bump board if it starts to flop.

3. Fish also tend to be noticeably calmer on the bump board after photos than they are if you measure them first.

You might be surprised if you time yourself. This simple adjustment can shave valuable seconds off the release process.

✅ Avoid Dry Surfaces

A muskie’s slime coat isn’t just slime… it’s one of its first lines of defense against infection.

Laying a fish on dry carpet, the boat floor, or even a dry bump board can damage that protective coating.

Whenever possible, keep the fish in the water while removing hooks. If you’re using a bump board, dunk it first. Better yet, many floating bump boards can be used right alongside the boat without ever bringing the fish fully out of the water.

✅ Adapt to the Fish

This may be the biggest takeaway of all.

Not every musky should be handled the same way.

A fish that came in quickly and was hooked cleanly isn’t dealing with the same level of stress as one that battled for several minutes, inhaled a bait, got wrapped in the net, was caught in warm water, or required an extended hook removal.

Those fish have already burned through more energy and experienced more stress, so they deserve an even quicker, lower-impact release.

Think of every release as a game-time decision. The more stress the fish has already experienced, the more important it becomes to shorten photos, skip unnecessary handling, and get her back in the water.

At the end of the day, every musky we catch is a privilege. None of us can eliminate post-release mortality completely, but we can stack the odds in the fish’s favor by focusing on what matters most.

The next time you get one in the bag, remember these three takeaways:

✅ Minimize air exposure.
✅ Avoid dry surface contact.
✅ Adapt your handling to what that particular fish has been through.

Those few extra seconds of planning could help ensure someone else gets to experience that same heart-stopping eat years down the road.