Congratulations on the tiger but get a knotless net. Frabill is a good one. It is less likely to split fins and cause bleeding. Anyhow,not giving you grief,but its important,as these fish are sterile

Nice fish! I'm gonna have to agree with Kevin on the net thing though. The fish looks pretty ripped up. Maybe try and find a knotless net and keep the fish in the water while in the net. Congrats to your buddy on his first Merwin tiger! Good luck the rest of the summer. Quick question for anyone in 57 who knows. Are knotless nets still a requirement for your tournaments?

Looks like a good fish. I gotta jump on with Kevin and Mark. You gotta get a better net for sure. You can get a good one for $100 or less. Its a great investment for you and since its "all about the fish"..it'll save the fish's fins and tail. Lets handle them a little better ok..not busting your chops just trying to help you guys out is all.. Looks like theres some blood there on the left side of its gill plate? I know you probably were excited as heck. Just take a couple of good deep breaths and keep the fish in the water. Hopefully she kicked off after the release? Good job on catching that musky! And all musky tournies have knotless net requirements. Great point Mark.
A little education goes a long way guys. See ya, Todd

NICE FISH !

thank you so much for pointing out the net . not like we could have gone out and gotten a new one.I didnt know you guys put all these rules on us rookies but dont worry i will try harder next time (if there ever will be)now i remember why i stopped posting .Better go sell my gear so i can get back on the river with the other combay fishermen.(guess thats better than the first reply to your posts)sure am glad i didnt joing that other club.

Congrats on a nice Tiger. Don't let them get to you, enjoy your fishing.

Looks like a beauty.
Happy Fishing

As musky anglers we need to promote and preserve the fishery. Nothing wrong with pointing out proper fish handling,no need to act like a victim.

Nobody told you to sell your gear. Nobody told you to quit fishing. There are no "rules". I'm pretty sure people told you it was a good looking fish,and gave the "rookie" some advice on a net is all. Being new you would never know those nets are hard on the fish. It was just some advice. Any club meeting, or tourney the use of knotless nets would come up to protect the fish. It's not any one club that does it. Muskies Inc will not even allow a picture of a bloody muskie in their magazine. Their rules. Nobody that responded to your post even has a club affiliation... Take it any way you would like. I just see some compliments and some helpful tips on how to take better care of the fish. Again, good luck out there.

Rosann, nobody is trying to get to him. I think it's great he's new to tiger muskie fishing. And even better he's trying to get his buddy over fish. And he's obviously doing a good job at it or there wouldn't be a picture in the first place. The only thing is the net. This isn't the first time that that 39 inch fish has been caught. If the person who caught it before them mis handled the fish and it died as a result they would have never caught it. See where I'm going with this? It is a sensitive fishery as these are sterile fish blah blah blah.. we've heard that all before and this is one of the reasons people say it. I'm curious Rosann what your thoughts are on knotless nets and proper fish handling being you and your husband are founding chapter 57 members I believe? I would hope they are the same as the others have stated here. And how would Tacfisher know any of this without a little advice from someone that's been doing it, club or no club? That's all. It's time for me to go fishing

No reason to get bent out of shape here. A little friendly advice goes a long way towards improving our local fisheries. If nobody shared their experience with how they properly handle a fish, there would be a heck of alot more dead fish. We all need to do our part to make sure the next person who fishes the area has an enjoyable experience.

Advice is something that is asked for, i did not see Tacfisher1 ask for any! Opinions are not advice! In my opinion you should all buy him a good net for tigermusky, if you truly care and its about the fish right! So buy the net make me a believer that you truly ment to help someone who has less knowledge than you claim to have. Get it

Looks as if everyone is saying the same thing, just using different words.

Knowing Tom as I do, I can ensure you this fish was in good hands. Hell he didn't want pose for a picture, he'd rather get her back in the water. I agree that a better net would be nice to see but there are many, many anglers out there that have no idea how to care for a Tiger and don't even care to learn. If we can all focus on trying to educate those anglers we will all be better off.

Lets encourage our own with friendly "suggestions" and try not to push personnel options; no one can ever please everyone.

Congrats Tom on your First merwin Tiger and thanks TacFisher for sharing.

Good learning tool for all of us

Norm Dillon

Exactly Dex. I see in his last report he was even reminding everyone to CPR. I'm sure he has all the best intentions. I didn't know when I started a few years back, and did see first hand the damage those nets will do on Pike with my own salmon net. Especially when they roll up in them.

Buc, How would someone even know to ask? If I'm a beginner I'm thinkin ya, this big ass salmon net is perfect. They'll fit in there! I'd love to buy everyone a new Muskie net, but that's just not an option. So whats the next best option? Dex got it "suggestions", or advice.... He has a little more knowledge on something today, that he may have never given a second thought 2 days ago. He can do what he will with it, as I've done all I can do. And never did I claim I have more knowledge than anybody. Trust me, there's a whole hell of a lot more for me to learn. Also, I think a new boat would be better on the fish than the one I currently have. You want to buy me a new boat? It's all about the fish. Really. [sarcasm]

Exactly its about the fish! REEL-E! LOL

Ok this is my last post .I have been advised to stay off here so I would like to tell you it isnt my boat or my net so it does no good to tell me about it.I have a knotless and a knotted net so if youd like to help someone get the other gentalman a net.Thank for the possitive remarks and I will see those of you that fish the rivers im going back to combat fishing.For you who think your educating someone try and look at yourself first.I wont listing to someone I havent asked for help from.GOOD BYE