I had an obnoxiously long conversation that was a little on the rude side last night about this. I was accused of not caring because of refusal to play word police with people I don't know. I would surely concede that anything but constructive, and scientifically based or backed comments are completely useless and do not help our situation at all. Hopefully any future decisions on musky management will be made for the benefit of the fish, and health of the overall fishery, regardless of people making stupid comments while hiding behind their keyboards, and also people killing fish for the sake of killing fish, and standing on the laurels of legality ("rights") over morality. I too have not seen anything derogatory, but said rumor-miller must have nothing better to do than police facebook and m-s.com…
"Duke" said:
Hearing rumors of derogatory and threatening comments posted to the Darkhouse facebook page about harvested fish. Has anybody seen it and if so what did you think about it?
I'm not condoning any derogatory or threatening comments but for god sake, it's facebook, it's open to the world. If they don't like the comments/opinions then don't have the page… or get a spine. For someone that's probably the biggest bully I've ever met Mike is also the biggest baby I've ever met. I would also point out that for every negative comment I've seen there are just as many comments from the spearing side spreading false information concerning populations, growth, need to harvest, etc.
I have also had some interactions with people that might actually "get it" to a point and agree that some waters should have an increased MSL. However, the next sentence is usually "that's why St Clair should be open". I'm running out of patience to keep pointing out that the only fisheries in the state that meet management goals are those waters closed to spearing.
Solution? We need to know what the harvest really is on all waters and that means we'll need to make reporting on the tag mandatory. Mike and crew think most guys don't spear many fish and now with the tag it reduces harvest… one shack on Hamlin last winter harvested 6 fish, one shack on Skegemog harvested 4 fish, one shack on Margrethe harvested 4 fish.
I'm ready to make concessions but they're not going to like it… we can expand opportunity and limit harvest at the same time. Muskellunge spearing open statewide on all waters except broodstock lakes January 1 to January 10.
Will, that was basically my response to the minion I was talking to. I am not willing to reduce anyones ability to speak freely, and I am really not about to try to play high-and-mighty "elitist" musky fisherman. I am a conservationist that is looking out for the health of the overall fishery, including muskies ability to effect that. I also offered to assume that the Ontario musky clubber, and the people that join the things like Gun Lake musky wars, and Minnesota lake association groups picketing musky fisherman are all associated with MDAA. I kindly pointed out the recent commentary in the Star Tribune that has been plastered about the interwebs, and also SteveS's encounter with being badgered while fishing, and the time this summer I called the rap line on a guy badgering me, and anchoring in front of me everywhere I went on Murray. It truly goes both ways!
The one thing I concluded with them is that we all need to be making productive statements, backed by logic and science, on posts like he is complaining about. All of our members are hopefully using this site and others to educate themselves on what, why, and how things need to happen to make the states own management plan happen!
I (as a person not attached to MMA) am all for opening spearing seasons for a limited season, given that the msl is increased to 46" statewide, natural northern strain lakes in UP could stay at 42, with our few natural LP waters increased to 50" or closed to spearing all together. Brood stock would remain closed to spearing. I also would like to see the northern LP open season from June 15- December 30 or January 15… Anyhow, the response I get is "good luck with THAT".
The justification for increase of MSL is basically to correlate with the hatcheries ability to keep up with harvest and maintain a fishery. The rest should be obvious.
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