Good job, Tory. I got out there today and got a decent one and lost a really nice one. It was good meeting Smada as I waited out a storm, and good saying hello to Chris Allen later.
Heard more about the winter harpooning here from another guy, sad to learn of what sounded like quite a few nice ones killed last winter and it seems they can't wait to hit it again it for as long as the fish last.
"pikerule2" said:
Heard more about the winter harpooning here from another guy, sad to learn of what sounded like quite a few nice ones killed last winter and it seems they can't wait to hit it again it for as long as the fish last.
That's a good message to send along to Jay Wesley. The state spent a good amount of money to get those fish into that water for a reason and I'm pretty certain spearing wasn't the reason.
Good job Tory, I am still finding areas that hold fish. I hear the harpooning stories about the slaughter that went on there last winter. One guy had a DH that took 9 fish alone. Most of these guys act surprised when I tell them muskies in Austin are planted and are not reproducing. The numbers are def. down this year.
Good to meet you also Joe, congrats on landing one. It was really disheartening to hear some of the things that guy said about the spearing and about all the guys he said he knew that where itching to hit it hard this winter. Right before you walked over, he claimed he had a "buddy" who had speared 10 last winter, and 9 where undersized. Weirdest part was he sat there and bashed on the spearers, then told us how he speared 2 out of there himself last winter. Made me sick.
I've already made a bunch of noise about this to Jay. I will continue to and I urge everybody else to. He said the only way to stop the slaughter would be to reevaluate the lake, and maybe get it back on board with stocking. This is what I am pushing for. This lake should keep getting fish. In my opinion it should get fish before Oster, Campau, and Ovid, but that is just MY opinion. Time to write Jay again. 🙂
Scott
"Scott Williams" said:
This lake should keep getting fish. In my opinion it should get fish before Oster, Campau, and Ovid, but that is just MY opinion. Time to write Jay again. 🙂Scott
Two of those I would agree with but not Ovid. There's so much casting water on Ovid in comparison to any other 400 acre lake. I would even say there is more good casting water on Ovid than there is in Austin.
We are about to go door to door for signatures to petition the DNR to stock Austin again. I have been to austin 32 times this year so far with over 120 hours on the lake, and the fish I am catching or almost catching are fat, healthy fish. The fish obviously did better than the DNR predicted and have proven themselves by growing to 50" + in 10 years or less. I stated earlier that the numbers are down, I need to clarify that the number of LARGE fish are down, but I am seeing fish every trip out. And I am chasing a very small Muskie that I hope to catch this summer as well, bringing up the controversial "are they reproducing" discussion point.
I cant see any reason why they would not put the fish in the lake, every resident I talk to brags about the Muskie in the lake, and the large perch, and the large bass etc. etc. About a dozen or so parents from Little League live on the lake, I guess I start there.
Seriously, anyone who can give a couple of minutes to call or write Jay-I would really appreciate it.
Bill
Easy there Bill… They might look healthy but doesn't mean they aren't going to all die from a disease this year. It's happened there before. As far as fat… well… look at Thornapple and Sanford then we'll talk.
If stocked, the lake should be stocked with .5 fish per acre every other year if it is going to be stocked. The numbers originally stocked were way too high for the carrying capacity which is likely why the slow growth has been seen in the age samples taken. What about the bigger fish? You can't take the first stocking growth as proof of long term growth. Initial plantings generally have off the chart growth because they have no competition, during their life there is always an abundance of appropriate size forage.
What I'm getting at here is that e-mails and calls to Jay need to stay on a reasonable level. The lake can provide a good angling experience and is the largest lake in SW Michigan. Jay isn't stupid, he knows a thing or two about fisheries management and he'll see right through the BS. Don't blame the DNR or say the fish did better than than predicted, it's not fair and not reasonable. The decision was a sound decision based on the history of the lake and the opportunity to alleviate some burden from the hatchery. This also allowed greater numbers of fingerlings to be stocked where they have a chance to reproduce, not in a put and take fishery.
Should the lake be stocked? Yes, but only if the number of fish needed (500) doesn't impact other waters which should have priority.
"Will Schultz" said:
Easy there Bill… They might look healthy but doesn't mean they aren't going to all die from a disease this year. It's happened there before. As far as fat… well… look at Thornapple and Sanford then we'll talk.If stocked, the lake should be stocked with .5 fish per acre every other year if it is going to be stocked. The numbers originally stocked were way too high for the carrying capacity which is likely why the slow growth has been seen in the age samples taken. What about the bigger fish? You can't take the first stocking growth as proof of long term growth. Initial plantings generally have off the chart growth because they have no competition, during their life there is always an abundance of appropriate size forage.
What I'm getting at here is that e-mails and calls to Jay need to stay on a reasonable level. The lake can provide a good angling experience and is the largest lake in SW Michigan. Jay isn't stupid, he knows a thing or two about fisheries management and he'll see right through the BS. Don't blame the DNR or say the fish did better than than predicted, it's not fair and not reasonable. The decision was a sound decision based on the history of the lake and the opportunity to alleviate some burden from the hatchery. This also allowed greater numbers of fingerlings to be stocked where they have a chance to reproduce, not in a put and take fishery.
Should the lake be stocked? Yes, but only if the number of fish needed (500) doesn't impact other waters which should have priority.
I apologize if anything I wrote above was perceived as BS, it wont happen again.
"mskyprey" said:
I apologize if anything I wrote above was perceived as BS, it wont happen again.
I didn't say what you said was BS, I said Jay would see through any BS. Jay knows how we (MMA) feel about the situation at Austin. He knows the fish are outwardly healthy, they have been doing well despite winter harvest, etc.
He needs to know that those who fish the lake are interested in seeing the fishery continue. That we support a reduced number of fish per acre for this water as the initial stockings were too dense.
This is up for each person to decide but personally I wouldn't support more fish being stocked unless the spearing ban was in place. The lake is the perfect spearing lake, shallow and clear.
"Will Schultz" said:
[quote="mskyprey"]
I apologize if anything I wrote above was perceived as BS, it wont happen again.
I didn't say what you said was BS, I said Jay would see through any BS. Jay knows how we (MMA) feel about the situation at Austin. He knows the fish are outwardly healthy, they have been doing well despite winter harvest, etc.
He needs to know that those who fish the lake are interested in seeing the fishery continue. That we support a reduced number of fish per acre for this water as the initial stockings were too dense.
This is up for each person to decide but personally I wouldn't support more fish being stocked unless the spearing ban was in place. The lake is the perfect spearing lake, shallow and clear.
Gotcha.
I agree with the spearing ban idea, without that stocking wont provide meaningful angling opportunities.
"Will Schultz" said:
[quote="mskyprey"]
I apologize if anything I wrote above was perceived as BS, it wont happen again.
I didn't say what you said was BS, I said Jay would see through any BS. Jay knows how we (MMA) feel about the situation at Austin. He knows the fish are outwardly healthy, they have been doing well despite winter harvest, etc.
He needs to know that those who fish the lake are interested in seeing the fishery continue. That we support a reduced number of fish per acre for this water as the initial stockings were too dense.
This is up for each person to decide but personally I wouldn't support more fish being stocked unless the spearing ban was in place. The lake is the perfect spearing lake, shallow and clear.
I agree completely. I asked him in my email to do what he could to get a spearing ban on Austin and also added that Michelle and I support a one kill tag per season and a separate tag for spearing with no size limit. I voiced my concern over the fact that there are guys on Austin who are bragging that they have killed sub legal Muskies with the spear. The D.N.R. will find that Michelle and I are even more worried about undersized fish being killed then legal ones. If the rumors are true as many as 20 sub legal fish were speared last season. This has to stop and asap. I am sure our D.N.R. can fix the problem and they might think about an undercover officer out there trying to find those resposible and bringing them to justice. Mike and Michelle
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