How do you lift a muskie?
Carefully! The best and most secure way to do so is to position one hand on the underside of the fish where the gills are so you can actually get your fingers beneath the gill coverlets. This way you can secure the head so it can't slash you with its teeth and you'll be keeping your hand away from its mouth. Your other hand will grip toward the base of the tail. This is the best way to hold and lift a muskie without hurting yourself or the fish. Have a firm grip in case the fish starts to thrash. This way you can safely take pictures and then quickly and easily release the fish back into the water.