I'm curious what the political situation will be at the DNR when their funding scheme is finalized. They are out of money and Muskies have never been top of their stocking priority list.

Is Muskie stocking done in Michigan for the near future? Is it realistic to expect it come back any time in the next few years?

"Heavyhound" said:
I'm curious what the political situation will be at the DNR when their funding scheme is finalized. They are out of money and Muskies have never been top of their stocking priority list.

Is Muskie stocking done in Michigan for the near future? Is it realistic to expect it come back any time in the next few years?

Good questions, I don't think anyone has the answer to those. All I can offer is that we (muskie anglers) don't generate much revenue and outside St Clair there aren't many of us. At this time Michigan needs to use funds in areas that will generate revenue, IMO that doesn't include muskie stocking. If the license package doesn't go through I'm not sure the DNR will have enough money to keep the lights on let alone stock fish.

Will, I'm a little confused and out of the loop on the whole stocking thing. Do mean to say in your post that Michigan is going to stop stocking muskies that are wisconsin strain completely? Anything thats not GLS if of different genetic strain and not native to Michigan so thats what I assume. Thats a real shame if its true. Is there any hope that (more so than before) that the GLS project will come to be? If it did do you think they will consider stocking the inland lakes that once recieved sconny fish with spotted fish? This whole situation with budgets and DNR/DEQ and the future stocking of muskies is pretty unsettling right now. Just wondered what your thoughts were.

"Steve Horton" said:
Will, I'm a little confused and out of the loop on the whole stocking thing. Do mean to say in your post that Michigan is going to stop stocking muskies that are wisconsin strain completely?

OK.. now you're confusing me. I'm assuming you're referencing this:

Will Schultz wrote:
Just a reminder for all…

…The Michigan DNR does not want to continue this program because they no longer want to stock this genetically different strain (though by all accounts it appears to be a superior strain). Also, if the GLS program gets off the ground there will be nowhere to put Iowa fish in early July.

That was only referring to the Iowa program that was stopped after the 2006 fish were planted. The Iowa fish stocked this year were NOT part of the MMA/IA-DNR/MI-DNR program that went from 2001-2006.

As far as the GLS program goes it is closer than ever. I wouldn't be surprise if we're seeing GLS strain raised at Wolf Lake and stocked in the next two years. Of course if the hatcheries are all shut down or are privatized then who knows how many years it will be.

"Steve Horton" said:
Ok. Thanks for the response. Its just that I can't understand why the state would want to stop stocking the strain that is more sucessfull, hardier, whatever ……for the same old same old. Did any Iowa fish ever make it to the UP?

Part of the reason is to make space for the GLS. The other reason is there are a limited number of lakes that can take the Iowa fish because of the strain.

I believe Chicagon and Cusino got Iowa fish at one point a number of years ago.

Why isn't South Manistique one of our premier waters? It has great forage and good water quality on paper (I have never been there). There should be some pigs swimming in there right now.
Was there a predation problem?
A weak bunch of fish stocked?
Harvest by anglers?
Or is it a good lake that doesn't get mentioned much?

"Larry Porter" said:
Why isn't South Manistique one of our premier waters? It has great forage and good water quality on paper (I have never been there). There should be some pigs swimming in there right now.
Was there a predation problem?
A weak bunch of fish stocked?
Harvest by anglers?
Or is it a good lake that doesn't get mentioned much?

This is one of those where a picture speaks a thousand words.
"><url url="[Permission to view this media is denied]
"><link_text text="[Permission to view this media is denied] … rs1ir2.jpg">[Permission to view this media is denied]
” alt=”<url url="[Permission to view this media is denied]
"><link_text text="[Permission to view this media is denied] … rs1ir2.jpg">[Permission to view this media is denied]
” />

South Manistique does produce pigs. Most are 'caught' by 'anglers' with spears. This makes for fewer pigs. It really has become a needle in a haystack lake. Maybe the next crop of fish won't be speared as heavily but I doubt it. Curtis (the little town between the Big and South Lakes) is a summer tourist trap and there are many unemployed people there in the off season. Those that are 'fisherman' spend a high percentage of their time in a spearing shack. They don't obey many laws and spear sub-legal fish if presented with one. We do have a local CO that is into muskies that should help the cause a bit though (if he still has his job this winter).