Michigan Muskie Alliance

Release of big muskie draws praise
Act helps species to repopulate

The Gananoque chapter of Muskie Canada is heralding the catch and release of a 65-pound muskellunge for its importance in aiding to preserve the population of Canada's king of the freshwater fish.

Jim Hutchings, president of the local Muskies Canada, said when Dale Mac-Nair returned his monster muskie to the water of the St. Lawrence last November, it was a good advancement for the species, which has been ravaged in recent years by a deadly virus.

"A lot of anglers would not have done what Dale did," Hutchings said. "He understands the muskie population in the St. Lawrence has had a fair amount of turmoil lately.

"We need to keep putting these fish back to keep the breeders and to have a population in the future.

More importantly, MacNair's muskie, measuring 57 inches in length and with a girth of 33 inches, was a female with several good years of spawning ahead.

Rotolo was ecstatic to see MacNair's muskie go back in the river.

"She still will be producing fish for more years. That's the beauty of it," he said.

"We are really promoting catch and release because it gives another angler a chance to catch the fish, which every year it is in the water is getting bigger and bigger."

http://www.thewhig.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1399014

I saw the rerplica of the fish in Chicago. It was freakin huge. A true monster.

Kingfisher wrote:I saw the rerplica of the fish in Chicago. It was freakin huge. A true monster.

It was a real beast and Dale was there and he was actually signing autographs. Joe Bucher and a bunch of the presenters all praised his release of this fish and he seemed like a real nice guy.

Kingfisher wrote:I saw the rerplica of the fish in Chicago. It was freakin huge. A true monster.

So THAT'S what got your juices flowin' to catch a big one this year, eh?

Yea it did I just needed to be be reminded that they exist. You had to stand next to it and see how big it really was to get an Idea of what it must have been like landing it. That fish was somewhere between 65 and 70 pounds. So yes it got me geeked. You know we have caught 4 over 50 inches and about 8 fish in the 30 pound range . But when you see a true fish over 40 pounds It makes you realize that there more levels to reach. I have reached the 30 pound mark and the 50 inch mark . I think those fish were tremendous but pale in comparison to Dales monster. I know that 40 and even 50 pounders exist here in Michigan but they are rare and not in places where I have been fishing enough. So this year the gloves come off and we get nasty. Nasty weather, nasty water and big nasty fish. It is always an adventure when we put down big lures and start looking for miss piggy. You cant catch them if you dont fish for them. Mike

Mike, I know exactly what you mean. I got the opportunity to see first hand the replica of Ryan Dempsey's fish from Green Bay. Absolutely astonishing. I've seen big fish before but a real 60 lb. plus fish is truly a spectacle to behold. I thought seeing a 40 plus go under the boat and turn away from a figure eight messed me up. If I ever saw a fish like that follow and not come back, I'd burn up all my vacation leave all at once.

I don't remember agreeing to this "adventure" . Do you have a new fishing partner that I don't know about??????????? I would like to catch more than 1 muskie this year!!!!! Queenfisher

Heheheheh.

What did Will say about targeting big ones at the Spoonpluggers meeting? "You have to be willing to walk away?"

Queenfisher needs not worry about Mike's fishing partner. There are several potential MMA rascals willing to fish with the better fishing half and let her catch more than one fish.

Mr. Hamilton, nobody "lets" Queenfisher catch a muskie!!!! ha ha ha ha ha!!!!!!

You got that right girl. A work ethic second to none!!

...she's quicker to the rod than Mikie....(too many years dancing on stages with Douglas is catchin up)

It's a good thing the dog has good ears, otherwise we'd never hear the reels go off........ and we're both getting slower!!!!

She may complaign but she will be there when miss piggy tears into the lure. Fingers frozen. sleet, rain, wind, ??? She loves it . IM A LUCKY GUY

Mikey is bragging again! Hope the muskiefolk have a great time in 2009.