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Projects
Michigan Muskie Alliance (MMA) is not just a fishing club; far from it. MMA has always called itself a conservation organization above all. Through cooperative projects with the Michigan DNR and other organizations, MMA is making muskie fishing better in Michigan for all anglers. One of the very first involvements MMA had with the MI-DNR was getting a 50" size limit put into effect on Thornapple Lake because that is one of Michigan’s two muskie broodstock lakes. Since that time, MMA has worked to promote Preservation, Restoration and Education through the projects below.
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Iowa - Michigan Muskie Transfer
One of the first major projects MMA was responsible for was a partnership with the Iowa and Michigan DNRs. 2002 marked the first year of this program, which continued through 2007. MMA provided money to Iowa for feed costs to raise muskies from egg-take to spring fingerlings in their Spirit Lake Hatchery. In July each year, MMA arranged for transportation of 5-10,000 spring fingerling muskellunge from the Iowa hatchery to the Wolf Lake Hatchery in Michigan. From July through October, the muskies were reared at the hatchery in Michigan, then stocked as fall fingerlings throughout the state. The partnership with Iowa has been responsible for stocking more than 40,000 muskellunge in Michigan. Most importantly, this program was a real boost to stocking numbers as the Michigan DNR worked to improve its own muskie rearing program. |
 Iowa fall fingerlings being stocked at a Michigan lake. |
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Thornapple Lake Tracking Study
Central Michigan University, Michigan DNR, Michigan Muskie Alliance, and Muskies, Inc. sponsored this study that kicked off in 2004 and continued through 2006. A graduate student from Central Michigan University tracked 18 muskies in Thornapple Lake in 2004 and 2005. These fish were fitted with sonar transmitters paid for by MMA, and their movements were tracked throughout the year. This study was important in determining the areas where spawning was attempted, as well as seasonal migrations within the lake or into the Thornapple River. Currently Thornapple Lake carries a 50" size limit due to the low density population that is utilized as broodstock for the MI-DNR muskie-rearing program. |
A Thornapple muskellunge being implanted with an ultrasonic transmitter. |
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Elk Chain Tracking Study
One of a few muskellunge populations in Michigan that are self-sustaining, albeit at a low density, is in the Elk Chain of lakes, comprised of Elk, Skegemog, Torch, Clam and Bellaire lakes. Very little is known about these fish and the effects of habitat loss and angler or spearing harvest on their population. In 2008, MMA contributed 10 ultrasonic transmitters to this study, which will be ongoing through 2010. A graduate student from University of Michigan will be performing the tracking and other data collection for this project. MMA will continue to assist the University of Michigan and the Michigan DNR with this project until completion. |
 An Elk Chain muskellunge recovering after being implanted with an
ultrasonic transmitter. |
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Lake Ovid Floy Tagging
In 2008, MMA worked with the Michigan DNR to tag angler-captured muskellunge in Lake Ovid (Clinton Co.) for the purpose of determining population density and angler exploitation. Selected MMA members volunteered their time over the 2008 season toward this project. In 2008 our MMA anglers captured, tagged, and released 90 muskellunge in Lake Ovid.
If you capture a tagged fish in Lake Ovid, do not remove the tag. Write down the number on the tag which will begin with 47-XXXX. Please report the fish’s tag number and dimensions to: 269-685-6851 or WWW.MICHIGANDNR.COM/TAGGEDFISH |
Floy-tagging a
Lake Ovid muskie. |
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Know the Difference
MMA started working on this project 2002 with limited funding, and initially the project struggled. As a result, only a small number of signs were placed around the state through 2007. However in 2008, MMA obtained a grant from the Hugh C. Becker Foundation that allowed MMA to renew this educational campaign in earnest. During 2008 more than 100 lake access sites in the Upper and Lower Peninsula were provisioned by MMA volunteers with 12×18" aluminum Know the Difference signs. These signs have proven to be a very effective tool to help make anglers aware of the substantial difference in size limit of the Northern Pike (24") and the Muskellunge (42"; the Thornapple Lake size limit is 50").
Here's how you, too, can Know the Difference! |
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Wolf Lake Hatchery Support
Besides the Iowa fish stocking program, MMA has worked directly with Wolf Lake Hatchery on many projects with monetary donations or, when needed, providing manpower to assist with the completion of projects. Here are some highlights since MMA was established:
- donations to offset feed costs
- donation to fund improvements in four lined rearing ponds
- donation to haul fall fingerling muskellunge from Indiana to Michigan
- volunteer manpower for pond liner installation
- volunteer manpower for spring egg take at Thornapple Lake
- volunteer manpower for fall fingerling pond harvest
- donation to fund installation of aerators in the four ponds
- donation to fund installation of solar water heaters in a hatchery building
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Fall fingerling harvest at
Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery. |
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Wolf Lake Hatchery Visitor Center
Fish Fest is put on each year by the Wolf Lake Fish Hatchery Visitor Center.
This event is directed at children to introduce them to and build their passion for fishing and the outdoors. MMA began participating in 2004, and we will continue to participate in and support this event. This has been a great way for MMA to meet the public and spend some time educating children and their parents on the importance of predators in a balanced fishery. |
A young angler at Fish Fest. |
| No Kid Left Inside is held each year at the Wolf Lake visitor center for kids from local schools. Much like Fish Fest, kids are exposed to fishing and the fish of Michigan. MMA has been involved with this event since 2006, and each year MMA provides youth fishing licenses for the 100 children attending. This not only gives each child a great reminder of their day at the hatchery, but the purchase of each license provides Federal funding to Michigan DNR of more than $8 per license. |
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For information on joining MMA,
click here:  |
To go to Muskies, Inc. please click here:
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