How does the DNR determine which lakes they would like to create musky fisheries in?
The reason that has me asking this question is the fact that some lakes I want to hit this year are actually very small lakes. I'm sure size isn't the only factor in determining reproduction but it has to be a factor.
Shouldn't the goal of created musky fisheries be to create populations that will reproduce.
For instance a 150 acre with limited fish habitat and limited accessibility doesn't seem like the kind of lake that Muskies should be stocked in.
With these questions and comments I should add that I'm going to set down tonight and read over the DNR's plan for musky management. I just can't go over 35 pages of info till the kids are in bed.
There are people here with a lot more knowledge on the subject than me but I will try my best. First keep in mind the state is currently stocking northern strain muskie and to prevent genetic mixing are not planting these fish where they could mix with GLS muskies. That means no rivers, no drowned river mouth lakes, and no place where natural GLS muskies already exist. This will change once the GLS program is up and running.
Second a lot goes into deciding which lakes will be stocked. Is the habitat and forage there to support the fish? Many lakes dont have appropriate forage. Are there other popular fisheries in the lake that could be negatively affected by muskies? Do people living on the lake and local anglers want muskies? Bad PR can kill the muskie program for an individual lake. Bad PR stopped the planting on Gun Lake despite success and prevented another lake in NW MI from being planted. Many of the smaller lakes stocked now are holdovers from the tiger muskie days and had a following from muskie fishermen so they were stocked. Some like campau have been reevaluated and taken off the stocking list. Others like Osterhout were surveyed and allowed to continue. With these small lakes they provide a local oppurtunity to fish for muskie with a minimal investment from the DNR, which is important when you consider only a small amount of fish can be reared in any given year. A 150 acre lake can provide good fishing with only a small amount of fish needing to be stocked.
Disclaimer-I'm not all the way through the DNR management plan document.
A few notes off the top of my head.
It seems like they have set a criteria for some waters, at least in the future, that current waters don't match.
We as anglers need to do a better job reporting ALL catches. Me personally I have under-estimated the importance of doing so. I can't be the only one.
While discounted as ineffective, very strict fish regulations to prevent mortality 'IS' worth the effort. I think it was quoted as 2 adult fish per 10 acres population increase.
This doesn't sound high but that is several adult fish per lake…..
Because of the factors detrimental to fish spawning habitat, it would seem that lakes with farther from Urban areas, unpopular "sport" lakes, and lakes with less shoreline development (houses) are the best choices to develop quality fisheries.
That is about all I have so far.
This is just my take, and interpretation. I've missed out lots of info by being out of the game for a few years.
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