I have to know, Why? Were we closer to ending musky spearing altogether? My guess is this compromise was as much as the D.N.R. was willing to go. In all fairness this is the best choice. I only wish that speared fish had like a buffer if they were too small. What I mean is this. Lets say a dark house guy sticks a 41. He measures it and its too small. It goes back down the hole dead. Now he can still kill another one. This is the only problem I see with speared fish. They can not measure it before killing it. The new law is fine for fish caught on a lure but not one that has been speared. There will be sub legal Muskies speared and put back. Maybe they should have a couple inch buffer so they can call the D.N.R. for confirmation of the undersized fish so they could use the tag and be done. Mike
One other point. As it has been deemed that 42 inches is the best size to assure spawning females reach mature age this could be used in the future to stop spearing of Muskies altogether. They cant judge the size under water. This is their argument for no size limit. That can also be used to ban spearing period. Science proving what size A Female musky needs to achieve really does dictate harvest laws. It is my hopes that further down the road we close Musky season statewide on December 15th and reopen on March 15th. Mike
"Kingfisher" said:
I have to know, Why? Were we closer to ending musky spearing altogether? My guess is this compromise was as much as the D.N.R. was willing to go. In all fairness this is the best choice. I only wish that speared fish had like a buffer if they were too small. What I mean is this. Lets say a dark house guy sticks a 41. He measures it and its too small. It goes back down the hole dead. Now he can still kill another one. This is the only problem I see with speared fish. They can not measure it before killing it. The new law is fine for fish caught on a lure but not one that has been speared. There will be sub legal Muskies speared and put back. Maybe they should have a couple inch buffer so they can call the D.N.R. for confirmation of the undersized fish so they could use the tag and be done. Mike
If he wants to see the spearing ban lifted from the remaining waters he knew that the 1/yr w/ tag had to become law.
You can't build in a buffer because then the next step would be that the buffer needs a buffer. We know from the research and data collected that "legal" is within an inch or two of the stated size.
"Will Schultz" said:
You can't build in a buffer because then the next step would be that the buffer needs a buffer. We know from the research and data collected that "legal" is within an inch or two of the stated size.
So there already is kind of a buffer. So does this mean they will lift the spearing ban on all lakes that now have one? That is the compromise I am guessing. No more spearing bans but you only get one per year.
Dont get me wrong, I am really happy to see this pass. It will end the excessive harvest of a couple of hook and line guys up there on the Chain. It should also stop about 90% of the excessive harvest through the ice as well. My hope is that most guys just stop spearing muskies all together.
"ricky sox wrangler" said:
Question- What will stop them from getting tags for all of their family members and just harvest as many as they want? No one will actually know who was the harvester unless there is an eye witness.
I think that's just an issue that will come up with any tag system. People do it for deer all the time. We just have to trust that most people will do the right thing. The way I look at it it is still a huge step in the right direction.
I'm more worried about them trying to get the spearing ban lifted. The main culprits that destroyed Austin Lake weren't following many/any of the current regulations and won't on any other lake either. If they get a legal right to be on another lake spearing they are just going to destroy those lakes also and violate like they always have.
"Smada962" said:
I'm more worried about them trying to get the spearing ban lifted. The main culprits that destroyed Austin Lake weren't following many/any of the current regulations and won't on any other lake either. If they get a legal right to be on another lake spearing they are just going to destroy those lakes also and violate like they always have.
Exactly. Most of the decimation horror stories that I'm hearing on Hamlin, Margrethe, and from Austin a few years ago don't involve law abiding citizens. If we allow any spearing on a lake like Murray for example you can bet the fishery will suffer big time. Taking these small stocked lakes off the no spear list would be a HUGE mistake in my opinion.
Well, I am sure the law will stipulate that the person whose name is on the tag must be in the dark house when its speared. I am hoping this new regulation actually deters many from even attempting to spear muskies. The tag in itself is a hassle. I can see people when asked if they want a Musky tag just saying no, I don't fish for them. It will be our job now to educate people on the ill effect of eating a 42 inch Musky. Toxin levels like Mercury are high in big predators. The fight will never be over gentlemen. We will do everything we can as a group to end the harvest of Muskies . It may never happen in our lifetimes but this one tag limit per year is ground breaking. No one else has it that I know of. I hope it spreads and stops the harvest of 36 inch fish in Indiana. Facts are what get things done. This was decided because it has been proven that these fish can not take the current level of harvest. 42 inches is already unsafe to eat so lets get that stated in the D.N.R. fish consumption book. If enough people know they are not good for eating many more will stop killing them as well. Mike
"Kingfisher" said:
[quote="Will Schultz"]
You can't build in a buffer because then the next step would be that the buffer needs a buffer. We know from the research and data collected that "legal" is within an inch or two of the stated size.
So there already is kind of a buffer. So does this mean they will lift the spearing ban on all lakes that now have one? That is the compromise I am guessing. No more spearing bans but you only get one per year.
Dont get me wrong, I am really happy to see this pass. It will end the excessive harvest of a couple of hook and line guys up there on the Chain. It should also stop about 90% of the excessive harvest through the ice as well. My hope is that most guys just stop spearing muskies all together.
No, that is not the compromise but it might be in his view. 20 some lakes out of 116 is a good balance between allowing spearing for muskie and protecting some waters from that method of harvest.
The compromise was really that we could have pushed hard for 46" and probably ended up there but it may not have happened this year and we would have been pushed back a couple years. I was not willing to put this off any longer, this process took nearly six years to get to this point and another delay was not acceptable.
"ricky sox wrangler" said:
Question- What will stop them from getting tags for all of their family members and just harvest as many as they want? No one will actually know who was the harvester unless there is an eye witness.
Just like the guy that has his wife buy an extra deer tag… eventually they get caught.
"Kingfisher" said:
Is there any list of lakes that are going to lose protection or is this not yet decided?
Whoa!!!! Let's not start rumors here. No lakes are loosing protection. I never said that would happen!! I said I'm certain the thinking of the MDAA and why they didn't fight too hard against 1/year was because they're hoping it will help them get the ban lifted.
NO LAKES ARE COMING OFF THE SPEARING BAN LIST due to this reg change. In fact the order those are on probably won't be revisited for a minimum of two years and possibly more.
"Will Schultz" said:
[quote="Kingfisher"]Is there any list of lakes that are going to lose protection or is this not yet decided?
Whoa!!!! Let's not start rumors here. No lakes are loosing protection. I never said that would happen!! I said I'm certain the thinking of the MDAA and why they didn't fight too hard against 1/year was because they're hoping it will help them get the ban lifted.
NO LAKES ARE COMING OFF THE SPEARING BAN LIST due to this reg change. In fact the order those are on probably won't be revisited for a minimum of two years and possibly more.
Awesome, [smilie=applause.gif] Not starting rumors just getting the facts. So the listed lakes on the 2012 regulations are the current Protected lakes. With that not changing this is a huge HUGE victory.
this is good news.. if no lakes are coming off spearing protection then im fine with it. People are still gonna break the law no matter what it is, but this should help curb a lot of it at least..
If we were getting this law changed, then allowing spearing on most of the lakes then i would be pissed off, but glad that isn't happening.
If it does in the future im moving to wisc permanetly
"Will Schultz" said:
[quote="ricky sox wrangler"]Question- What will stop them from getting tags for all of their family members and just harvest as many as they want? No one will actually know who was the harvester unless there is an eye witness.
Just like the guy that has his wife buy an extra deer tag… eventually they get caught.
You guy's are right. Those who break the law are going to do so regardless…I suppose it is wrong of me to stereotype all spear chuckers as rule breakers just because I don't like their methods. Although we don't like what they do, the regs say they have the right to do it. [smilie=2thumbsup.gif] [smilie=2thumbsup.gif] Big thumbs up Will! Thank you for the dedication that you give to these fish!!!!
"swanezy" said:
If we were getting this law changed, then allowing spearing on most of the lakes then i would be pissed off, but glad that isn't happening.If it does in the future im moving to wisc permanetly
Really? As of 4/1/2013 we will have the most restrictive regulations for muskellunge of any state or province we could probably allow harvest of muskies by any means on all waters and this regulation would still reduce harvest.
"Will Schultz" said:
Really? As of 4/1/2013 we will have the most restrictive regulations for muskellunge of any state or province we could probably allow harvest of muskies by any means on all waters and this regulation would still reduce harvest.
Amen to that, I am extremely excited about this, and also very excited about the ability to protect some fisheries that need it, and that the DNR recognize this.
I'm Happy 😀 , Now what is next? what new challenges are we as a group going to take on? My vote goes for some type of further education for anglers regarding why Muskies are so important in our waters. Also as I stated before the toxin issues in big fish. Maybe we could fund a study on weather or not Muskies should eaten at all. I think most evidence shows the need for these predators in our lakes and this no doubt had some bearing on the one tag limit. I cant wait to see the spotted muskies stocked in our Drowned river mouths like White Lake, Mona Lake, Lake Mac, Pentwater etc. Once the spotted muskies are re established and if more lakes are stocked the spearing crowd will be spread out over a much larger number of lakes and further reduce their impact. I have three main things I would like to see.
#1 increased number of stocked lakes
#2 education on toxins in big fish
#3 education on the importance of having alpha predator fish in our lakes
Maybe also we can use the threat of Asian carp as a weapon to get more waters connected to the great lakes stocked.
Will, Joe and all involved. You guys have done a fantastic job. I am proud to be in the same group. Count on Michelle and my continuing support. Mike
"Kingfisher" said:
I'm Happy 😀 , No what is next? what new challenges are we as a group going to take on? My vote goes for some type of further education for anglers regarding why Muskies are so important in our waters. Also as I stated before the toxin issues in big fish. Maybe we could fund a study on weather or not Muskies should eaten at all. I think most evidence shows the need for these predators in our lakes and this no doubt had some bearing on the one tag limit. I cant wait to see the spotted muskies stocked in our Drowned river mouths like White Lake, Mona Lake, Lake Mac, Pentwater etc. Once the spotted muskies are re established and if more lakes are stocked the spearing crowd will be spread out over a much larger number of lakes and further reduce their impact. I have three main things I would like to see.#1 increased number of stocked lakes
#2 education on toxins in big fish
#3 education on the importance of having alpha predator fish in our lakesMaybe also we can use the threat of Asian carp as a weapon to get more waters connected to the great lakes stocked.
Will, Joe and all involved. You guys have done a fantastic job. I am proud to be in the same group. Count on Michelle and my continuing support. Mike
What's next? I've been wondering the same thing and having some mixed feelings. If you just caught the world record muskie would you keep fishing for muskie or retire from muskie fishing?
#1 – Already on the way with the change to the GLMUS. Gotta get the brood lakes and other waters that need maintenance done first though.
#2 – The data is already available concerning fish consumption, see this guide: <url url="[Permission to view this media is denied]
"><link_text text="[Permission to view this media is denied] … 7354_7.pdf">[Permission to view this media is denied]
Muskellunge are no more dangerous to eat than a walleye or pike.
#3 – Overall education is important about the muskellunge. This is probably best accomplished through sportshows, events like fish fest, etc. However, staffing these events has historically been nearly impossible and it isn't fair to make the same few people staff a show four four days straight.
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