You will all get this in an email soon but just to stress how important this is I want to remind you with this post. Please take the time to write a short email to the Natural Resource Managers

To all MMA members,

The Michigan DNR fisheries division is currently reviewing the proposal MMA presented and coming up with a regulation proposal of their own. This proposal will be reviewed in November by the Natural Resource Managers (NRM’s) and then reviewed in December by the Coolwater Regulation Steering Committee.

I know you are all busy but I’m asking that you please take a few minutes to do a little work on behalf of MMA. MMA members need to persuade the NRM’s that an increase in the minimum size limit to a minimum of 46” and a reduction in the daily possession limit from 1/day to 1 fish per season.

Please write an email to all of the NRM’s and not just the manager in your area (email is easiest for this). All of these managers have stated that they don’t believe we should change from the current 42” minimum size limit. We need to convince them that there is a need to protect and preserve what we have here in Michigan.

There are talking points below that can be included in your email. Please feel free to put them in your own words and include anything else you would like to make your point. I have also included the name and contact information for each Natural Resource Manager.

Thank you in advance for your willingness to support MMA and all muskie anglers in Michigan.

Will Schultz, President
Michigan Muskie Alliance

[size=150]Talking points for Natural Resource Managers[/size]

Factors that need to be addressed with the new Muskellunge Management plan:
– We have a very limited number of Muskellunge waters, less than 1% of Michigan’s waters contain Muskellunge
– 77 have natural reproduction, Only 21 are native waters
– To sustain natural fisheries the management plan recommends that adult Muskellunge are allowed to spawn 4-5 years before they reach the Minimum size limit. With the dramatic size difference between the sexes at maturity, the fishery really needs to be managed to allow females to reach a size that allows them 4-5 years to spawn.
– Average age of maturity is 6-7 years
– Average length of 10 year old female muskellunge on many waters range from 45-52”
– Michigan Muskie Alliance has proposed a 46” minimum size limit

Factors that need to be addressed concerning stocked waters:
– We have a limited number of stocked waters with approximately 34 waters that are regularly stocked
– The statewide MSL for these waters should be set at a size that allows these fish to be recycled for many years through catch and release
– MMA has proposed a 46” minimum size limit
– A recent study in Canada showed that caught and released muskellunge had NO catch and release mortality and not the high percentage that was presumed from a previous study where holding conditions contributed dramatically to mortality
– Muskellunge are a desirable gamefish and create a relatively popular sportfishery in virtually every water where present in fishable numbers (economic impact = tourism is increased in these areas)
– The cost of culturing Muskellunge is significantly higher than other species that are better suited to “put-and-take”

Natural Resource Managers contact information:
Jim Baker – ** you do not have permission to see this link **
Dave Borgeson – ** you do not have permission to see this link **
Liz Hay-Chmielewski – ** you do not have permission to see this link **
Todd Kalish – ** you do not have permission to see this link **
Jessica Mistak – ** you do not have permission to see this link **
Nick Popoff – ** you do not have permission to see this link **
Steve Scott – ** you do not have permission to see this link **
Jay Wesley – ** you do not have permission to see this link **