There used to be many lakes that were stocked with Tiger musky. Long Osterhout, Dumont, Round, Three Legged, and I'm sure others here in SW MI.
When the DNR abondoned the hybrid stocking program where the muskie fisheries on these waters left to fizzle?
I sure hope the answer is that these waters received/are receiving natural musky stocks.
That's good info.
I have to say I'm very surprised that the DNR has taken a pro-active approach. I really thought some of those lakes I used to fish wouldn't be "musky lakes" once the current population dwindled.
Looks like MI DNR is making a real effort to produce a serious "musky state".
Just make me want to get out tere even more.
In fact when I get the new boat I'll take it out right away if ice is still off and start mapping structure on the lakes I'll be fishing. Man I can't wait!!
There were tigers in several lakes here in SE Michigan..Whitmore being one of course ..but several others also ..including some impoundments on Huron River..at least catches were reported in newspapers years back (Barton pond was one I recall). I was mostly SM fishing back then so didnt notice much..Now of course would be nice if some of those could be planted with naturals..but maybe too
many pike now to be successful..(??) As far as I know outside of Hudson/Diana (??) only Bellevile has been planted in SE,,,and I think plantings at Belleville have been stopped (??) . Several nice , rustic lakes w/clear-water lakesmany ith nice cabbage weeds in Waterloo and Pickney State Rec areas woudl seem to be candidates for plantings..if food stock sufficent…and lake associations willing..thats usually the issue I guess.(Tho not case for lakes like Kent Lake..) . So there doesnt appear to be a shortage of lakes/impoundments in SE..unless biology/food not suited..Perhaps DNR just expects most in SE to fish LSC if they want to musky fish…or head West .I hope thats not the case and we can get some SE Mich lakes planted in future.ie some of old tiger lakes/impoundments….(especially now with gas prices headed back at 3$/gallon..)….
Bass Lake (Mason Co) didn't do well with tigers. Mona Lake and Big Blue Lake (Muskegon Co) did marginally well. That is what the locals told the DNR. The locals did their best to keep lakes secret in those days, which then backfired for future projects. The DNR assumed there wasn't interest in muskies.
Hamlin Lake (Mason CO) had tiger muskies and they did very well. Several years ago a friend of mine speared a 51" 31lb-12oz tiger in Hamlin Lake. I went up to take the measurements and I skinned it out for the taxidermist. I then used that mount in mid 1990s to try and generate interest the GLS muskies for our local waters. Remember that during those years I did not have any other fish to use. That fish is now back up at Ludington with the owner.
The forage base and habitats of many lakes have changed since the old tiger days. This is most noticeable in the drowned-river mouth lakes. Therefore the DNR must do complete reevaluations on lake-by-lake basis before reconsidering the old tiger lakes for restocking today.
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