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Muskie Facts
Posted on Friday, November 09 @ 22:13:37 CST by Admin |
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The MN DNR has been
working feverishly to find out some hard facts on Muskie diet, stocking effects
and the overall impact on lakes before and after the introduction of this Top
of the line predator, here is some of their observations and research, I hope
you will take a moment to read and open your mind to these new and ground
breaking findings, and the good news is they are going to be spending more time
and effort to gain more knowledge and get the FACTS out to all
concerned interests
MN DNR Biologist Jerry Younk notes that Trophy Pike outnumber Trophy Muskie in the
same lakes 3 to 1, this fact alone shows us the direct correlation between
big fish and the coexistence of these top of the line predators, unfortunately
many treat Pike as a “Garbage fish” and show them little respect or
value, many have never seen a true trophy Pike of 40+ inches due to the fact
most suc*****b to harvest before their true potential is realized also helping to
create the issue of “Hammer Handle Lakes”, when all the big pike are
gone and the small fish take over it may take as much as 10+ years to find out
if special regulations are working due to the slow growth of Pike.
Muskie’s
grow as large in Southern MN (French Lake) as they do in any other region or
Lake in the State; this is due to
ample food supplies of Rough fish, we have a virtual Valhalla of Muskie
potential that is yet to be fully realized, many of our lakes in Southern MN
have suffered with low water clarity issues and in some lakes massive
overpopulation's of Carp and Rough fish, French Lake was one of those
lakes, consideration of southern MN is long overdue for Muskie stocking,
especially considering many fish are raised to fingerling's in and around the
Waterville hatchery and the results of the last 2 French Lake surveys.
Muskie’s
diets were found to contain very few species of fish that may be of concern to
Anglers, Bozek 1999 investigated
34 Northern Wisconsin lakes through the spring summer and fall, White Sucker and
Yellow Perch where found to be the primary prey, additionally research done of
stomach contents by MN DNR Biologists over many years on Taxidermy fish 40
inches or larger showed crayfish are a bigger
part of the diet than Walleye, the Bozek study shows Muskie’s actually eat
more small Muskie’s than Walleye in both volume and relative importance, revealing
that invertebrates and non-fish species hold twice as much relative importance than
Walleye despite being abundant on many of the lakes studied.
Muskie’s once thought to have extreme negative effects
on Pike and Walleyes, were studied by Fayram in 2005, evaluating evidence of
predation and competition between several species of fish including Walleye,
Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass and Muskie, the findings came
to a shock to some but were confirmed beliefs of many that fish lakes like
Mille Lacs and Vermillion, in
the study lakes the only fish that had a negative effect were Largemouth Bass, They
found that “Largemouth Bass negatively effected the abundance of adult Walleye”
during electrofishing studies, the Muskie electrofishing effort showed
that “Muskie’s have a positive effect on the numbers of adult Walleye”, because Muskellunge abundances were positively
correlated to Walleye abundances, direct competition or predation is unlikely
to be occurring between these two species. As a result, “Muskellunge were not
considered further”. Neither Northern Pike nor Smallmouth Bass catch values
were significantly correlated to Walleye abundances, so Smallmouth Bass and Northern
Pike were not considered further.
”
Muskie’s are now being actively stocked in 41 MN lakes
by the MN DNR there findings were focused on 7 species and lake classes these
are the results of the preliminary draft given to us at the last Esocide
workshop in June.
Northern Pike
numbers declined in 3 individual lakes and increased on 2 with the weight of
fish being no different across the state,
the distribution of fish per netting or trap was similar to years before the
Muskie was introduced.
Walleye Numbers Increased on 9 individual lakes
and declined on 2, with a lack of year class stocking being sited in 1 of these
lakes, the average weight was not any
different statewide.
Yellow Perch
numbers increased on 3 lakes,
with no significant decreases and no difference statewide, with distributions
of fish similar to before stocking.
Bluegill numbers increased on 2 lakes and
showed no significant decline or statewide trends.
White Sucker numbers declined on 4 lakes
and increased on 1, with no significant
statewide or lake class trends.
Black Crappie numbers increased on 2 lakes in gill
nets and showed no difference in trap nets, post stocking
numbers were within or above in comparison with lake classes.
Tullibee showed no differences at any
level before or after stocking.
T
herefore the lack of any constant trends across any
of these species lakes or lake classes combined with the fact that most of these lakes were considered
above the average for their lake class and within the range expected suggests
that Muskie coexist and have coexisted very well in these types of lakes and at
the densities that the MN DNR Manages its Muskellunge program.
Although Muskie’s need to be managed in stocked lakes,
they should be looked at more as a supplement or enhancement to not only
anglers but to the entire ecological underwater environment.
We here in MN enjoy some of the best fishing on the
planet and it’s all due to the hard work and dedication of a few individuals,
Muskies Inc, MMA(Minnesota Muskie Alliance), a few dedicated publications and
the MN DNR, when we can work together
to manage the resource for
the sake of the resource we hit a home run every time, as is evident in
the Walleye and Sturgeon program on Rainy River, also the extensive regulatory
needs that have been imposed on the “Walleye Factory” Mille Lacs, for Northern
Pike, Smallmouth Bass, Muskie including other regulations to lower mortality of all apex predators, it’s still hard
for some to understand especially if these regulations temporarily or
permanently effect their recreation, our hope is that we can all understand
that regulations are imposed for the betterment and welfare of the ecosystem
and not being used as a punishment for individuals or groups, we require these
restrictions and regulations in order for all of us to continue to have great
fishing and outdoor opportunities.
Muskie’s Inc, concerned citizens and the MMA have been
talking to Politicians at Local, State and Federal levels, also communicating
to the general public the need to release BIG FISH of all
species, they are the future of our lakes, rivers and streams; we do this to
make the overall fishing experience better for all anglers and outdoor
enthusiasts.
Trophy fishing opportunities should be available for all
species, because we love the outdoors and feel we need to protect the
future for the next generation and all the outdoor pastimes that are
represented in the state, this we not come easy but it is attainable with
communication hard work and understanding.
Thank You
John Underhill
Conservation Director
MMA Representative
Muskies Inc Southern Crossroads Chapter 54
References
Bozek,M.A. T.M. Burri, and R.V. Frie. 1999. Diets of
Muskellunge in Northern Wisconsin lakes. North
American Journal of Fisheries Management 19:258-270
Fayram A.H., M.J. Hansen, and T.J. Ehlinger. 2005.
Interactions between Walleyes and Four Fish Species with Implications to
Walleye Stocking. North American Journal of Fisheries
Management25:1321-1330
MN DNR Preliminary Stocking Data 66-0038-00.
2007.
Fish Community Response to Muskie Introduction in Minnesota Lakes, MN
DNR M.Knapp., S.Mero, and D. Bohlander. 2007.
Esocide workshops, MN DNR, 2006-2007
Pokegama stocking Proposal, MN DNR, 2007
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