Muskies thriving on Green Bay

Topics concerning muskellunge and fisheries research, diseases, stocking and management.
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Hamilton Reef
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Muskies thriving on Green Bay

Post by Hamilton Reef » Mon Nov 01, 2010 1:01 pm

Muskies thriving on Green Bay

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/outdoors/106381143.html
10/30/10 psmith@journalsentinel.com

Green Bay — Dennis Radloff of Oconomowoc is working his stage, the stern of his 19-foot fishing boat, on his favorite theater, the waters of Green Bay.

As he launches into an imitative comedy routine that would make Rich Little proud, the wind whistles through the rigging and a steady stream of 2-foot waves clap against the hull.

Tyler Schwochert of Kiel, Dennis' brother, and I sit back and enjoy the midmorning sunshine and onboard entertainment.

Radloff deftly adjusts the boat's course and speed as he speaks. The red flags of four planer boards dip and rise in the waves behind the boat.

Above the ambient noise and laughter, Radloff detects a quick "click, click" from one of the reels.

"Fish!" he says, pointing to the rear starboard trolling rod.

The opening act is over - the main attraction is at hand.

Schwochert grabs the rod, reels in a couple feet of line and gives a hearty hook-set. The rod bends deeply; the planer board disappears beneath the waves.

"There are certain sounds in the world my ears are keyed on," Radloff says. "The line clicker is definitely one."

After a minute of tussling out of sight, a large, green-backed fish thrashes to the surface behind the boat - a musky.

Green Bay's famous football franchise has long staked its claim as "Titletown." In the opinion of many, the waters of the bay can make a similar statement as Wisconsin's top musky fishing destination.

Though the bay and Lake Michigan had a native population of musky, the species was effectively eliminated in local waters through the middle 1900s by a variety of factors, including habitat degradation and water pollution.

In the 1980s, the Department of Natural Resources launched a reintroduction program for the native strain of musky, called the Great Lakes spotted muskellunge.

The first fish were stocked in 1989, said Dave Rowe, DNR fisheries biologist in Green Bay. Stocking levels rose from about 4,000 fish per year in the early 1990s to about 30,000 fish per year in the early 2000s.

The discovery of the fish disease viral hemorrhagic septicemia in Lake Michigan put a crimp in the project from 2007-'09, when stocking was suspended. Stocking resumed with 2,800 muskies this year; the fish were raised in an isolated pond near Kewaunee, Rowe said.

Anglers like Radloff, who runs Sterling Guide Service, started to catch muskies while fishing for walleyes on the bay in the mid-1990s.

"After a couple years, we started learning where and when we could reliably target muskies," said Radloff, 43. "It has turned into a premier fishery in the state."

Growth rates and survival of muskies on the bay has been exceptional. A 53-inch, 53-pound musky caught in 2001 was aged at 12.5 years old. In most areas of Wisconsin, it takes from 18 to 20 years for a musky to reach 50 inches.

Rowe said the muskies eat "anything they can get their mouth on," including yellow perch, gizzard shad and lake whitefish.

In spring DNR fisheries surveys, 1 of 5 muskies captured is over 46 inches; 1 of 20 is over 50 inches. The size structure is "fantastic," Rowe said.

The restoration program also aims to improve genetic diversity of the local musky population, Rowe said. To that end, the DNR has brought in muskies from Georgian Bay, Ontario.

Although the recovery was based on stocking, some natural reproduction has been observed in recent years. DNR biologists found the first evidence in the Menominee River near Marinette in 2008; subsequently, naturally reproduced muskies also have been found in Sawyer Harbor and Sturgeon Bay.

The success of the restoration has been bolstered by a 50-inch minimum length limit on muskies and a strong catch-and-release ethic among anglers.

The DNR is planning to publish an updated draft management plan for Green Bay muskies in December.

"It's an amazing fishery, not just because of the chance to catch very large fish, but also because it's bringing back a native," Rowe said.

The fabled "fish of 10,000 casts" is still challenging to catch, even for experienced anglers working a top musky fishery.

In the Best of the Best Muskies Inc. International Muskie Fishing Tournament held Oct. 16 and 17 on Green Bay, just 11 of the 60 teams landed a musky on the first day.

But the action here has earned a deservedly lofty status.

Radloff's fishing log helps tell the story: He boated 137 muskies on Green Bay in September 2009. On one day alone, he landed 14 muskies and lost five others. He's also had a six-day streak during which he landed 10 or more muskies a day.

Two Milwaukee-area anglers, Mike Altschaefl and Mike Pepke, had a recent outing with Radloff that also speaks to the extraordinary opportunities on the bay.

The anglers landed two muskies apiece: a 46, two 49s and a 51-incher.

"I've beat more waters with more lures than I care to remember going after muskies," Pepke said. "And then, for one day, we were 'that guy.' "

Radloff will cast, soak suckers or troll, depending on conditions. But most of the fish have come while trolling large crank baits behind planer boards.

Just like the musky rolling on the surface behind Radloff's boat on this mid-October morning.

Schwochert gains line and Radloff unclips the planer board. The fish dives several more times, but after another minute, Radloff is able to slide an enormous landing net under the musky.

The fish rests at boat-side as Radloff readies a tape measure. The fish has dark spots against silver sides, characteristic of the strain.

The fish is 38 inches long and thick across the back. The brothers hoist the fish for a quick photo and Radloff returns it to the waters of the bay.

The stage is cleared for the next act; the captain's ear is piqued and hopeful for the next interruption.

"There was a time when we'd catch a musky and go 'woo-hoo' and be ready to call it a day," Radloff says, watching the graph for baitfish. "Here in Green Bay, the first fish might be just the start."

Hamilton Reef
Posts: 1156
Joined: Thu Apr 28, 2005 9:43 am
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Post by Hamilton Reef » Mon Nov 01, 2010 1:06 pm

Snippets I like to read:

Growth rates and survival of muskies on the bay has been exceptional. A 53-inch, 53-pound musky caught in 2001 was aged at 12.5 years old. In most areas of Wisconsin, it takes from 18 to 20 years for a musky to reach 50 inches.

In spring DNR fisheries surveys, 1 of 5 muskies captured is over 46 inches; 1 of 20 is over 50 inches. The size structure is "fantastic," Rowe said.

The restoration program also aims to improve genetic diversity of the local musky population, Rowe said. To that end, the DNR has brought in muskies from Georgian Bay, Ontario.

Although the recovery was based on stocking, some natural reproduction has been observed in recent years. DNR biologists found the first evidence in the Menominee River near Marinette in 2008; subsequently, naturally reproduced muskies also have been found in Sawyer Harbor and Sturgeon Bay.

The success of the restoration has been bolstered by a 50-inch minimum length limit on muskies and a strong catch-and-release ethic among anglers.

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hemichemi
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Post by hemichemi » Mon Nov 01, 2010 2:04 pm

<sigh> I wish this was happening in Saginaw Bay, instead of Green Bay...
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Hamilton Reef
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Location: Montague, MI on White River

Post by Hamilton Reef » Thu May 03, 2012 10:50 pm

Good article and be sure to check out the photo gallery.
Wisconsin's musky reintroduction program has spawned success
http://www.jsonline.com/sports/outdoors ... 35805.html

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MattG_braith
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Post by MattG_braith » Fri May 04, 2012 8:19 am

hemichemi wrote:<sigh> I wish this was happening in Saginaw Bay, instead of Green Bay...
I wish this was happening in the Grand Traverse Bay, instead of Green Bay...
Matt

Hamilton Reef
Posts: 1156
Joined: Thu Apr 28, 2005 9:43 am
Location: Montague, MI on White River

Post by Hamilton Reef » Sat Jun 09, 2012 10:36 am

I remember well looking at our first net with the 48" female GLS the morning we were taking gametes at Indian River to help start up the Green Bay program. The VP of the WI Muskie Alliance flew his private plane to Pelston airport to help us get the eggs back to the Wild Rose hatchery. 1991 to 2012 is a long time to wait, but the future GLS for our MI programs is now well on its way, finally!

david30
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fish

Post by david30 » Mon Oct 20, 2014 7:34 am

I remember well looking at our first net with the 48" female GLS the morning we were taking gametes at Indian River to help start up the Green Bay program. The VP of the WI Muskie Alliance flew his private plane to Pelston airport to help us get the eggs back to the Wild Rose hatchery. 1991 to 2012 is a long time to wait, but the future GLS for our MI programs is now well on its way, finally!
[smilie=bangtard.gif] [smilie=applause.gif]
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