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2008 Totally Stupid Presidential Election Poll
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The Fisher
JustNorth Veteran
Posts:44
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| 11/27/2005 1:19 AM |
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I know this is walking on thin ice as emotions on the topic can be extremely high--and understandably so--BUT NONE THE LESS--a question keeps hanging out in the back of my head. (Please, no smart remarks at this point) : ) But the last decade or so has seen a tremendous move of guys seeking a real giant muskie moving away from fishing Wisconsin waters to fishing Minnesota waters. The largest reason I have been aware of was the large number of giant spawning female muskies being speared in the spring by legal spear fishermen or in ice houses. The dna/genetic deterioration of Wisconsin hatchery spawned muskies that are being used as fingerling stocks has also been blamed--but that has always been suspect in the research. For whatever reason, this year saw a much better muskie crop in terms of size fish caught for Wisconsin than has happened in recent times. A one time fluke? I guess we will see. As we are all aware the spearing issue has good folks and less than honorable folks on all sides of the table. While trying to remove the volatility of the issue I would still like to have an opinion from those who spend a good amount of time on the water, and in particular if they are pursuing muskies, what have been your personal observations of muskie populations in terms of fish seen, hooked, boated, etc. on speared and non speared lakes--any differences in the Wisconsin or Minnesota waters? Has the spearing issue made a difference in your choice of waters fished? Again, not wanting to stir a pot but I am really interested in having quality muskie fisheries and appreciate input from those who are on the water and see what happens on a daily, weekly, yearly basis. Do you see differences from 10 years ago if you have any waters you have fished that long?
Good Fishing,
Jason "The Fisher" Pence
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Jason "The Fisher" Pence
JustNorth Outdoors Columnist
JustNorth Outdoors Pro Staff
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The Fisher
JustNorth Veteran
Posts:44
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| 1/05/2006 4:27 PM |
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Well no one has chimed in soooo, let me add a few more thoughts to the mix that currently has Minnesota waters trouncing Wisconsin waters on the issue of turning out real monster muskies.
1. Legal length limits. Wisconsin DNR states , "the minimum length limit is 34 inches with a daily bag of one, though regulations vary on many bodies of water". There appears to be little reason to have such a LOW LENGTH LIMIT--especially in areas where the waters have shown the ability to consistently produce 45-50 inch class fish if given a chance. Letting folks keep these smaller fish may bring in a few more tourism dollars in the short run--but by depleting a once great trophy potential you pay a price in terms of quality of fish available and total dollars spent in Minnesota as opposed to Wisconsin as the triophy potential is clearly tipped to Minnesota after years of the lower length limits. Conversely, the larger length limits that pervade Minnesota must be seen as a key in the excelling of the states muskie fishery.
2. Smaller bodies of water. Wisconsin has many smaller bodies of water (say 150-2000 acres) that hold muskies that are of above average size. My records indicate that I have boated 10 Wisconsin skis that went past the 20 pound mark that came from lakes under 300 acres. Those type of waters can not sustain the type pressure a larger lake/river can. My largest and most numerous catches of 20 pound plus skis still have come from larger bodies of water(Chippewa Flowage, Lake Wissota, Lake Holcombe, Mississippi River, Chippewa River, Lac Courte Oreilles, Eau Claire Chain,and Namekagan have been the most productive for me for Big fish)--but the over abundance of small waters in Wisconsin and their susceptibity to overfishing could certainly be a factor in the deterioration of the muskie fishery.
Well there are a few more observations in the muskie fishery debate of Minnesota/Wisconsin waters. Anyone else have some ideas of what may be a cause/effect on the fisheries of these 2 states? And if so, how has that played out in you choice of waters fished and where you spend your money on pursuit of esox?
Good Fishing,
Jason "The Fisher" Pence |
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Jason "The Fisher" Pence
JustNorth Outdoors Columnist
JustNorth Outdoors Pro Staff
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HOGEYE
JustNorth Pro
Posts:424
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| 1/05/2006 6:44 PM |
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Posted By The Fisher on 11/27/2005 1:19 AM
While trying to remove the volatility of the issue I would still like to have an opinion from those who spend a good amount of time on the water, and in particular if they are pursuing muskies, what have been your personal observations of muskie populations in terms of fish seen, hooked, boated, etc. on speared and non speared lakes--any differences in the Wisconsin or Minnesota waters?
I was not aware that spearing muskies in Minnesota waters was legal.
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Nathan "HogEye" Kestner
JustNorth Outdoors Columnist
JustNorth Outdoors Pro Staff
Team JustNorth Core Team |
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The Fisher
JustNorth Veteran
Posts:44
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| 1/05/2006 8:43 PM |
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Hogeye,
You are correct -It is NOT legal to spear muskies on Minnesota waters. It IS legal to spear muskies on ceded lands in Wisconsin. That was my question--does the fact that Wisconsin ceded waters are speared for muskie rate as a key factor in the states declining trophy muskie population. Minnesota does not allow spearing and has larger legal length limits. Are those keys in the superior condition of the Minnesota muskie fishery at this point. SO I am also looking to get comparisons from folks who fish both speared and non speared lakes. That is an especially good comparison if a person has fished a watershed for both pre and post spearing eras. Lot's of guys are abandoning their Wisconsin waters to fish Minnesota waters---I was wondering how big a factor the spearing issue was in that choice, or if other reasons are there for the switch in waters fished. If there are other reasons then what those reasons might be. I have listed several more possibilities in both posts, but if more are there it woud be very insightful to hear them. Hope that clears up what I was trying to ask. I probably was a little unclear. So anyone else have an insight to throw into this discussion?
Good Fishing,
The Fisher |
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Jason "The Fisher" Pence
JustNorth Outdoors Columnist
JustNorth Outdoors Pro Staff
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CPRpro
JustNorth Veteran
Posts:63
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| 1/06/2006 9:19 AM |
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My uncle fishes for musky in the Wisconsin waters and often is upset that spearing is allowed. All I can tell you is what he has reported to me.
He says that the number of musky speared each year is not large but that the fish that are - never get returned to the water. ( well - there is no such that as spear and release! :-) so the ones that are will be lost forever. The musky taken by rods are almost always returned to the water to enjoy anouther day.
He has seen numbers go down - but has not moved to Minnesota waters at this time.
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