"jasonvkop" said:
Would it be a good idea to post the sign-up/liability form on here so people can bring it all filled out and ready to go. I know it's never very busy, but it's usually dark and there aren't too many good flat spots to fill out the form at the ramp.
I will have a folding table and a lantern with me but that's not a bad idea. If anyone wants to print their own out send me a PM with your email and I will mail you a copy
"jasonvkop" said:
So, how did it go?
I think we had around 15-20 guys. Weather was cold but otherwise coulda been a lot worse, it was rather pleasant until it started hailing and blowing hard at 2 pm when people were trying to pull their boats! No muskies were caught…in the lake that is. Some people saw nothing and some had some follows, I had one that came in fairly aggressive and nipping at a teardrop but wouldn't eat. Entry money was donated to MMA.
This lake went from a feel good, lots of follows and activity, essentially a numbers lake. To a shake your head and ask , what am i doing musky fishing this lake, in about 5 years. It would be a little easier to take if it was more of a "trophy" lake. Now I know there is some good muskies in Ovid…….but damn. I've fished that lake 3 times this year and the only muskies I've seen are on the OTHER SIDE of the damn. That's two years in a row not a single musky was boated in our tournament. What a shame. I guess on an upside, the Maple River is getting some good muskies.
Brent
As far as peoples knowledge of the muskies going thru the dam
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More than most people think that aren't MMA members. But those of us that have fished it a lot over the years, or has somehow been involved with muskies in this lake, can easily chronolog the decline.
We stuck it out until 4:30ish. Never saw a musky.
Was there any caught?
How many were seen?
Brent
As well as fish going through the dam, some fish may have died of skin infections a few years ago. Also the 5 year gap in stocking years plays a huge roll as well. Remember 25% annual mortality is expected on adult muskies. Not hard to do the math and see that a loy of them simply died and weren't replaced by new fish cuz of the gap in stocking. The same thing has happened at Murray the last few years.
"Mayhem" said:
As well as fish going through the dam, some fish may have died of skin infections a few years ago. Also the 5 year gap in stocking years plays a huge roll as well. Remember 25% annual mortality is expected on adult muskies. Not hard to do the math and see that a loy of them simply died and weren't replaced by new fish cuz of the gap in stocking. The same thing has happened at Murray the last few years.
________
That's true. I understand the mortality rate and the lapse in stocking will defiantly have its toll. But if we just add up the number of muskies we've (MMA members) seen on the other side of the damn in the last five years. Then we take that number and double it. Which I think is fairly conservative because we can't possibly see them all. It's shocking.
Maybe we should put one of these signs at the portal, near the damn where ,they're going thru……..[smilie=sign-closed.gif] [smilie=nono.gif]
Brent
Lots of factors from harvest to escaping fish have lead to a rapid change. The change wouldn't have been as noticeable if the stocking had been reduced instead of stopped. Now it becomes a question on what to do from here and this one is a tough call. It's a good muskie lake (fun to fish) and in reality would only take 800 fish every couple years to make it a really good fishery. Depending on what day you ask I may give a different answer whether I think Ovid should be maintained or scrapped in favor of something else in the area. Not sure what else in the area but stocking the Grand River starting in Lansing sure seems like a good idea.
However, I would ask that everyone take a minute and share your feelings/experience with Jay Wesley about the lake and how you feel it's changed. ** you do not have permission to see this link **
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