What effect do Muskies have on walleye populations…
How many lakes have the MDNR stocked with muskies that already had an established walleye population.
My other question I'd like to turn into a discussion is what kind of effects will fishing pressure for other species as well as relatively heavy boating traffic have on newly intruduced musky populations.
There is a large lake here in Cass county. Has been stocked with walleye for a long time, and from what I've 'heard' has a well established population of walleye.
This is a large lake, relatively clear with clarity down to about 8 ft. This was today which was heavily wind blown so maybe clarity is better at times.
Lots of deep water, and large shallow flats. Lots of hard/soft bottom transitions. Lots of midlake structure, rocks, short channels, and a large island with a large rocky flat on one side, and short sandy flat on the other adjacent to a long point that goes into deep water.
Basically while practicing boat control today, I'm wondering the whole time why the heck isn't this lake being stocked with ski's.
Boy does it feel weird on a casting deck without a rod in the hand.
Here's some info that will shed some light on the subject. From a quick look it appears that between the walleye, bass and pike present it would not be a good candidate for muskies.
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I need to figure out how to catch walleye. Having never fished for them before I've got no clue where to start. Since the ramp to this lake is about 3-4 minutes away, I figure I may as well put some walleye on the table.
I guess the biggest problem I see is #1, the northern pike would be competing with any intruduced Musky populations. At the very least that would put a nix on any natural reproduction for the musky. Which I don't understand sticking with a stocking program in a lake that just doesn't support natural reproduction (but I guess that's another discussion)
#2 It sounds like they are VERY committed to the walleye program on this lake.
The Fox River is much like our Muskegon River, AOC, eating advisory, big walleye, shad, and big GLS muskie. OK, we haven't got the GLS quite yet, but we do have the coexistence of everything else.
Lower Fox yields big walleyes
DE PERE — The ice has just cleared, but some hardy anglers are chasing heavy, trophy-sized walleye from Lake Michigan — wild-born predators that grow large feeding in Green Bay before migrating up the lower Fox River to spawn.
The bay and the lower river are thick with forage fish. The predators, which include catfish and muskie, are showing exceptional growth rates. They are heavier, by length, than most other fish of their species.
But the 35-year-old federal Clean Water Act, not the shad, accounts for the great fishing, Kapuscinski said. Before regulations and controls were put on industrial and municipal discharges, there were no walleyes or muskies in these waters.
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The answer to this is simple and can be observed easily by listening to local fishermen…
If you are a walleye angler and you get bit off by a muskie… then there are too many muskies in the sytem. If you are a perch angler and you get bit off by a muskie… then the muskies need to be thinned out. If you are fishing for any species other than the muskies and can't get a bite… then the muskies have eaten everything out of the lake completely (even the snails and crayfish) and you need to contact your local biologist and get a petition started to eliminate this nuisance species.
It's all common sense really.
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