I was just thinking……
A.Does fishing lakes that get stocked every other year etc…make you feel more confident..ie..size ranges.etc..??Maybe a stupid ??
B.I guess if a lake was like say…….murray…and it has had plants of 98,2000,2003,2005(those might not be all correct)……and it would never recieve another plant…….I would think…….and would support the idea in my head….that…….murray will have muskies in it forever….well not forever…..maybe the 20 years……maybe not…but I still feel there would be SOME muskies in it…..because I like the lake……I would keep going back.
C.A lake like campau….I have some good memories there…mostly tiger memories.and really have never had a phenominal day there like Will..5 or 6 fish…..he knew when to hit it…..and he knew the "Cat wasn`t fully out of the bag yet",the fish were 30-36"and he had it almost all to himself.I hate campau….but……..If campau never got a fish…….it had 97,2000,2002,2005 stockings(may not be correct),it has been catch and released into the grease alot i think,others non musky guys probably have mounted a bunch of 38-42"fish……….I would still go back……why…..it`s small,been raped,probably only 1200 fish or so stocked,mortality rate high…….would i still go back in the fall of 2010 lookin for a sucker fish of 50"in november while I`m sippin grandpas and eatin a gyro…..yes……can crampau grow a 50?Maybe not…..but in my mine I believe it could someday..
D.That`s what probably keeps the cyberlunge and musky pimps poundin there beloved drowned river mouth lakes,T.C natural reproducing lakes….they believe……..and they like the waters there on…
E.If austin,crooked etc…would never get another fish…….would you see me there after 10 years of no stocking,catch n keep.winterkills.on a spring day in 2015……hell yes…..
Anybody else feel this way???
Sorry to be long winded…….BOY do we love these critters….
Dave 
A.Does fishing lakes that get stocked every other year etc…make you feel more confident..ie..size ranges.etc..??Maybe a stupid ??
There is nothing stupid about the question. I have full confidence in biannual stocking programs. If I may use walleye stocking as example, note that on many lakes the DNR has gone from annual stocking to biannual stocking. Locally for me Muskegon Lake and White Lake are on alternating year walleye stocking. Research and surveys has shown that the YOY and Age 1 stockings were often still residing within the same habitat and Age 1 was competing against and preying on the YOY. By separating the year classes by just a year the majority of the fish were found in different habitats; simple example of YOY in shallow and Age 2 moved deeper. Less competition for same food and less predation between year classes equals higher survival for all.
The DNR took flack from locals that wanted to continue large stocking annually, however, this summer those same locals admit that their fishing success never suffered and they could more easily distinguish year classes up to 24" or so. The DNR was pleased because for production goals and economics they could cover more lake stockings with same limited number of culture ponds.
It is nice once in awhile to fish a stocked lake for confidence or when taking out a newbie.
I know that Hamlin in ten years will make me a hypocrite, but as for now I am content to spend the majority of my time fishing waters that may not hold a lot of muskies trading for the chance at a trophy on any cast.
Which makes me wonder will the DNR start stocking some really big lakes in the future if Hamlin goes well? Or maybe a kind of booster shot to preexisting populations( Torch Chain, Burt/Mullet, Black)
I can't speak for all the mentioned stocked lakes but I'll take a big, clear lake over a glorified mud puddle any day.
I guess the fact I can travel a short distance and spend 10 hours fishing a lake for a shot at a trophy rather than spend 6 hours driving to fish for numbers plays into that as well.
Even though you can really start to doubt yourself and wisdom when you spend hours upon hours upon hours without as much as a follow but just seeing a 40# fish in the crystal clear water ten feet behind you lure keeps you coming back.
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