Project Noble Beast... Part Deux

So as to not allow this Blog to go static, I will continue to update it with more advancements in my studies. This Blog is meant to showcase the research, but is also a snapshot into my trials and tribulations as a candidate for a Masters in Biology.

We will soon be transitioning into the second chapter of my thesis which will be looking at the viability of alternatives to J-hook live-bait swallow rigs. The study will be conducted with help from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. It will likely include four different treatments/rigs examined: quick-strike, circle hook, J-hook with 1-minute time-to-hookset, and J-hook with 5-minute time-to-hookset. [Note: All this is subject to change and may be ever-evolving if we are finding disproportionate mortality with one treatment. Remember, our goal is NOT to kill muskies, but to find ways to fish for them WITHOUT killing them.]

Many of you will recall the study conducted by Terry Margenau of the Wisconsin DNR (published in 2007) that showed single-hook rigs kill muskies, often rather brutally. So some of you may be wondering why we are even using J-hooks? First, Margenau and colleagues allowed the muskies to swallow the bait for sometimes upwards of 30+ minutes, so our use of them with shortened times-to-hookset will be an interesting comparison . Second, J-hook rigs are simply too common to not test. Lastly, the goal of the study is not necessarily to ban J-hooks (this will be very tough to accomplish), but to begin a massive education program (if the results indicate such is necessary) on alternatives to J-hooking or at least how to use a J-hook and cause little injury and mortality.

We will continue to work on the C&R project while we do the live-bait study, but soon we will be concentrating on "soaking suckers"! Tight lines, folks.