Great Lakes Muskellunge

General musky fishing discussions and questions.

Moderator: Cyberlunge

User avatar
Will Schultz
Posts: 7662
Joined: Wed Apr 06, 2005 11:06 pm
Location: GR, MI

Great Lakes Muskellunge

Post by Will Schultz » Thu Mar 17, 2011 9:53 am

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 17, 2011
Contacts: Gary Whelan 517-373-6948 or Mary Dettloff 335-3014

DNR to Raise Great Lakes Muskies Rather Than Northern Muskies in 2011

The Department of Natural Resources plans to raise Great Lakes (spotted) muskellunge at its Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery this year, a change of direction from the northern muskies the department has raised in the past.

“This is a key turning point in our muskellunge production program,” said DNR Fish Production Manager Gary Whelan. “This strain of muskellunge is native to most of Michigan; the northern muskellunge is native to only a small portion of the far western Upper Peninsula in the Wisconsin River drainage.

“The spotted muskellunge will be more at home in more waters than northern muskies.”

The DNR has been studying the idea of raising spotted muskies for more than a decade, but did not want to bring the Great Lake strain into the hatchery system while raising northern muskies because of potential disease concerns. DNR Fisheries Division personnel plan to take 1.5 million eggs from spotted muskies in Lake St. Clair and the Detroit River this spring with a goal of producing 40,000 10- to 12-inch fall fingerlings.

In order to minimize the risk of spreading disease, the DNR will not take eggs from northern muskellunge this year, but will evaluate the need to produce northern strain muskies in the future. Ideally, the department will address the disease concerns and be able to raise both strains in the future, Whelan said.

To learn more about fishing in Michigan, go to www.michigan.gov/dnrfishing

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state’s natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.
Self interest is for the past, common interest is for the future.

Bomba
Posts: 615
Joined: Thu Apr 07, 2005 6:19 am
Location: Birch Run

Post by Bomba » Thu Mar 17, 2011 10:11 am

HERE WE GO! [smilie=2thumbsup.gif]
Don Bomba




"PASS IT ON"

User avatar
hemichemi
Posts: 2280
Joined: Fri Dec 28, 2007 11:54 pm

Post by hemichemi » Thu Mar 17, 2011 10:37 am

This is one time I can't wait to see spots before my eyes...
Alcohol and calculus don't mix —
Don't drink and derive.

ccmovi8
Posts: 48
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2010 1:06 pm
Location: Marquette MI

Post by ccmovi8 » Thu Mar 17, 2011 10:47 am

[smilie=applause.gif]

User avatar
Steve S
Posts: 2769
Joined: Sat Apr 23, 2005 11:26 am
Location: Grass Lake

Post by Steve S » Thu Mar 17, 2011 10:56 am

yipeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!! [smilie=2thumbsup.gif]

User avatar
Mayhem
Posts: 753
Joined: Sat Feb 06, 2010 12:56 pm
Location: Muskegon

Post by Mayhem » Thu Mar 17, 2011 10:58 am

Very exciting, any info on where the first batch of GLS fish may end up being stocked this fall?

Bomba
Posts: 615
Joined: Thu Apr 07, 2005 6:19 am
Location: Birch Run

Post by Bomba » Thu Mar 17, 2011 10:59 am

Mayhem wrote:Very exciting, any info on where the first batch of GLS fish may end up being stocked this fall?
Let's not count the chickens before they hatch!
Don Bomba




"PASS IT ON"

User avatar
Will Schultz
Posts: 7662
Joined: Wed Apr 06, 2005 11:06 pm
Location: GR, MI

Post by Will Schultz » Thu Mar 17, 2011 11:15 am

Mayhem wrote:Very exciting, any info on where the first batch of GLS fish may end up being stocked this fall?
Thornapple and Big Bear Lake are the #1 and #2 priorities, anything beyond that has not been decided.
Self interest is for the past, common interest is for the future.

User avatar
Mayhem
Posts: 753
Joined: Sat Feb 06, 2010 12:56 pm
Location: Muskegon

Post by Mayhem » Thu Mar 17, 2011 11:16 am

Bomba wrote:Let's not count the chickens before they hatch!
Yeah I definantly hear that, just wondered if there is a priority list of lakes set up or not.

User avatar
Jim tenHaaf
Posts: 3126
Joined: Wed Mar 19, 2008 12:48 pm
Location: Kentwood
Contact:

Post by Jim tenHaaf » Thu Mar 17, 2011 12:41 pm

This is awesome news.
Is there any muskies in Big Bear Lake already? Also, are they going to put special limits on it once it gets stocked? ie 50" size limit, closed for winter?

chipdon
Posts: 12
Joined: Fri Mar 11, 2011 10:25 am
Location: marion mi

Post by chipdon » Thu Mar 17, 2011 3:01 pm

do we know the reason for the change? availability? choice?
a bad day fishing is better than a good day ______

User avatar
hemichemi
Posts: 2280
Joined: Fri Dec 28, 2007 11:54 pm

Post by hemichemi » Thu Mar 17, 2011 3:11 pm

chipdon wrote:do we know the reason for the change? availability? choice?
We've been discussing some of the reasons in another thread:

http://www.michiganmuskiealliance.org/f ... php?t=6409
Alcohol and calculus don't mix —
Don't drink and derive.

User avatar
Kingfisher
Posts: 2473
Joined: Sat Apr 23, 2005 10:45 am
Location: Muskegon, MI
Contact:

Post by Kingfisher » Thu Mar 17, 2011 4:18 pm

Interesting change but we knew it was coming . I hope we see some fish put in the Chain. Nothing would make me happier then seeing about 10,000 fish put in the chain this year. Where is big bear? pm me.Mike
""WILL FISH FOR FOOD""

http://www.fishall-lures.com

User avatar
Will Schultz
Posts: 7662
Joined: Wed Apr 06, 2005 11:06 pm
Location: GR, MI

Post by Will Schultz » Thu Mar 17, 2011 4:19 pm

chipdon wrote:do we know the reason for the change? availability? choice?
Historically the only strain outside some places in the UP are the Great Lakes strain.

Biologically this is the right direction. This eliminates the concern for stocking in waters with an outflow and opens up potential waters throughout the state including some large rivers. What we don't know is if these fish will be successful spawning in lakes that have been previously stocked with the N. strain. Even minimal success would be better than the zero success that has been documented with the N. strain.
Self interest is for the past, common interest is for the future.

User avatar
Will Schultz
Posts: 7662
Joined: Wed Apr 06, 2005 11:06 pm
Location: GR, MI

Post by Will Schultz » Thu Mar 17, 2011 4:26 pm

Kingfisher wrote:Interesting change but we knew it was coming . I hope we see some fish put in the Chain. Nothing would make me happier then seeing about 10,000 fish put in the chain this year. Where is big bear? pm me.Mike
http://www.michiganmuskiealliance.org/f ... =bear+lake
Self interest is for the past, common interest is for the future.

Post Reply