Women can learn how to catch bass, muskie from a pro

Women who want to take their fishing beyond the basics can learn from pro angler Mandy Uhrich in a class called Learn to Sport Fish, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 11, at Cabela’s in Rogers.

“This class for women, taught by women, is a great way to learn how to catch more than panfish this year,” said Linda Bylander, coordinator of the Becoming an Outdoors Woman (BOW) program at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. “We’ll focus on techniques and gear selection for bass, muskellunge and other gamefish.”

The class is free and registration is requested. Women who attend have the opportunity to register for a guided bass fishing trip in the Brainerd lakes area, or a guided muskie fishing trip in the Twin Cities metro area. Those trips are in mid- to late summer, and women must attend the April 11 class to register for the guided trips.

To register for the April 11 class or for more information, contact Linda Bylander at 218-833-8628, linda.bylander@state.mn.us. For more information on BOW, see www.mndnr.gov/bow.

Northern zone musky season opens May 24

Anglers will find ice off, spawn in progress, more big fish

MINOCQUA - The northern zone musky season opens May 24 with water temperatures warming up quickly and anglers likely to reap the benefit of more than 20 years of improvement in musky sizes and numbers.

"We had a late ice out but it's warming up quickly," says Steve Avelallemant, longtime DNR northern district fisheries supervisor. "I think it will be a pretty normal opening. Spawning will be a little bit behind but not weeks behind."

Avelallemant expects the musky action to be good for anglers, and chances are getting better that anglers will find themselves fighting and boating bigger fish.

"We've looked at a variety of measures and we've definitely seen an increase in the last 20 years in the number of muskies 45 inches and larger," says Tim Simonson, a DNR fish biologist who chairs DNR's musky committee.

Click on image for larger size.

The number of 45-plus inch fish registered by Muskies, Inc., members, and the size of the largest fish caught by participants in the National Championship Musky Open in Eagle River in August and during the Vilas County Musky Marathon, a season-long competition, have all been increasing over the past 20 years, Simonson says.

"Things are definitely getting better," he says. "Most of it is due to the voluntary release of fish by avid musky anglers in combination with more restrictive regulations through time." Background on this trend is detailed in "Long live the kings," a Wisconsin Natural Resources magazine article.

A 40-inch size limit in effect statewide since 2013 is expected to help increase the number of larger fish even more, Simonson says. "We know from our evaluations that it takes at least 10 years to see any population level effects, but based on what we've seen on waters that have had the 40-inch limit, we can expect to see continued improvement in size structure."

The 40-inch limit applies to 94 percent of musky waters in Wisconsin. There are 41 waters that continue to have either lower size limits or higher size limits. Starting this year, waters of Green Bay and Lake Michigan north of Highway 10 carry a 54-inch minimum size limit. The bag limit is 1.

Check the Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations for specific waters or check DNR's online regulation database to find size limits on the inland lake you plan to fish for musky.

Find where to fish for trophy musky or fast action waters, along with information on safely releasing musky, and musky management in Wisconsin, by searching dnr.wi.gov for "musky

Musky forecasts in Wisconsin for 2014

Fish biologists from across the state filed musky forecasts for some of their more popular waters where recent surveys revealed fish size and abundance information. Those forecasts are found in the 2014 Wisconsin Fishing Report musky forecasts.

Musky Fast Facts

• Wisconsin lawmakers named the muskellunge the official state fish in 1955.
• More world records have been landed in Wisconsin than anywhere else. The state and world record is a 69 pound, 11 ounce fish taken from the Chippewa Flowage. Also credited to Wisconsin is the world record hybrid musky, 51 pounds, 3 ounces from Lac Vieux Desert.
• Fishable populations of musky are found in 667 lakes and 100 rivers in 48 counties. The heaviest concentration of lakes with musky is found in the head water regions of the Chippewa, Flambeau, and Wisconsin rivers.
• Musky densities are very low, even in the best waters, because muskies are large top predators that tend to choose vulnerable spawning sites. Good musky waters average one adult fish for 3 surface acres, compared to up to 12 to 15 adults per 3 surface acres in good walleye lakes.
• Musky fishing continues to grow in popularity. The number of participants has more than quadrupled over the last 50 years. An estimated 456,000 anglers pursued muskellunge in Wisconsin in 2001, the latest year for which survey results are available.
• Catch-and-release, protective regulations and DNR's stocking program have helped turn the famed fighter from the "fish of 10,000 casts" into the fish of "3,000 casts" in Wisconsin. It used to take two guys in a boat 25 hours to catch a fish. Now it is closer to 12 hours and 3,000 casts each.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Avelallemant 715-365-8987; Tim Simonson, 608-266-5222 or local fish biologists

Michigan-caught Great Lakes muskellunge part of 'best catches' contest

March 3, 2014

The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) has compiled a list of what it considers to be the "best" record catches of the past year, which includes a world-record Great Lakes muskellunge caught in Michigan.

The Muskie is part of the IGFA's 10 of the Best Catches of 2013 effort, which is now asking anglers to vote for their favorites. The voting contest launched on March 1 at www.igfa.org/contests/AnglersChoice. The catch that receives the most votes will receive the Angler's Choice Award at the IGFA's World Record Achievement Award ceremony in April.

Voting takes place until March 31. Voters are limited to one vote per day throughout the month.

The Great Lakes muskellunge was caught on Oct. 13, 2012, on Lake Bellaire in Antrim County. The state record was caught by Joseph Seeberger of Portage, Mich., and weighed 58 pounds and measured 58 inches. It was listed as a world-record catch by the International Committee of the Modern Day Muskellunge World Record Program in February 2013.

It should be noted the Muskie is the only fish in the contest that was caught in the United States. Catches were selected based on difficulty of the species, size of the fish, tackle used, and the history associated with that particular record.

The IGFA is an organization committed to the conservation of game fish and the promotion of responsible, ethical angling practices through science, education, rule making and record keeping.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state's natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.

The dynamic story of northern Michigan's Black Lake

Mention Black Lake (Cheboygan and Presque Isle counties) to many Michigan anglers and the first thing that pops into their heads is lake sturgeon.

There's a good reason for that, Black Lake has a highly publicized spear fishery through the ice that draws both anglers and observers. But in terms of angling effort, Black Lake is really a walleye/northern pike/muskellunge lake, says Michigan Department of Natural Resources fisheries biologist Tim Cwalinski. And that's been a focal point for management.

"Black Lake's walleye fishery has historically been supported by wild recruitment," Cwalinski said. "It hadn't really been significantly stocked for a hundred years. If you caught a walleye out of there, it was a wild fish.

"With wild fish you get population fluctuations," he continued. "You get good year-classes and you get poor year-classes, but usually good year-classes are strong enough to carry the population through the weaker ones."

But about a decade ago the DNR started hearing from walleye anglers they were concerned about the fishery.

"The general tenor was all the same," he said. "Anglers said they were catching a few larger walleye but weren't catching any sub-legal fish (less than 15 inches). We did a population estimate survey in 2005 and the bottom line was we caught right around 1,000 walleye and only five of them were less than 15 inches.

"So what we saw was identical to what anglers were telling us ? the angler reports were similar to what we saw in the survey. In the 2005 survey the population was one walleye per acre and it was an adult. This is a sign of an unstable population."

Fisheries biologists think the lake's colonization by zebra mussels had something to do with it. Black Lake (so named because the tannic acid stained the water dark) cleared up considerably in recent decades as demonstrated by water clarity and nutrient monitoring overseen by the Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council.

"Walleye don't seem to do as well in clear lakes as they do in darker lakes," Cwalinski said. "When walleye fry hatch, they need a lot of zooplankton (and the right size and types of zooplankton) for early growth and survival. We hypothesized that zebra mussels really impacted that lower food chain. If that plankton's not there, we're going to have bottlenecks with wild walleye recruitment. It wasn't an issue with adults spawning; it was most likely linked to survival of wild fry following the absorption of their yolk sac."

Cwalinski said the DNR devised a plan to stock up to 200,000 spring walleye fingerlings in the lake annually for three out of five years, then sit back and see what happened.

"Spring fingerling walleye are past the plankton-eating stage when they're stocked," Cwalinski said. "These two inch fish are eating other species such as perch and sucker fry that are smaller than they are. We stocked three years in a row. And the lake association was stocking, too, with fall fingerlings. This was a plan we worked on cooperatively with the Black Lake Association and lake anglers, to accomplish these dual stocking efforts. We thought that maybe if we could re-build a large spawning stock based on 3-4 year classes, that eventually these adults could inundate the Black Lake system with eggs and jump start wild recruitment again. Natural food for walleye fry might still be limiting of course, but flooding the system with enough wild fry might ensure survival of enough fish to build future wild year classes."

DNR Fisheries Division conducted subsequent fall juvenile assessments from 2010 to 2012 that showed good survival of the state stocked fingerling walleye. Cwalinski said all the young walleye they examined in two of the three years (five- to seven-inch fish) had been marked with oxytetracycline which showed they were DNR hatchery fish.

"Wild fish recruitment is still failing, but survival of our spring-fingerling walleye is good. And anglers are now saying we're catching encouraging numbers of sublegal fish again."

That doesn't mean, however, that Black Lake will necessarily be dependent on stocked walleye forever.

"Now there's a bunch of 1-, 2- and 3-year-old fish in the lake," Cwalinski said. "As those fish become 4-, 5-, 6-, and 7-years-old, hopefully, there will be enough of them that they'll produce so many fry that it'll increase natural recruitment. If not, we are prepared to supplement Black Lake in the future periodically with stocked fish, as long as statewide production remains good."

"We just didn't have enough adults to produce a good year-class," he continued. "It's not a mystery. But factors such as low zooplankton levels are out of the DNR's control and could be a lingering problem into the future. We just don't know yet."

Cwalinski said anglers are catching big pike and they've got 10-inch walleye in their stomachs. This suggests young walleye are abundant in the lake right now, good news for future walleye anglers.

"Black has always been the best pike lake up here in the Inland Waterway region. There's good vegetation, more than in a lot of other lakes, and there's always a possibility for a 40-inch northern. Legal-size pike in the 24- to 32-inch range are not uncommon."

Smallmouth bass fishing has always been good and Cwalinski thinks it'll only improve with the water clarity. As for perch, the growth rate has been slow for many years. A burgeoning walleye population might thin those out and lead to better perch fishing because of better growth rates.

And Black Lake remains the premier muskellunge fishery in the northeastern Lower Peninsula, Cwalinski said. It supports a popular spear fishery through the ice and rod-and-reel fisheries in the lake and in the lower Black River during the open-water season.

Black Lake remains an important lake to DNR fisheries managers. We have developed a strong cooperative relationship with the lake association and a wide array of anglers on the lake, and hope to foster this relationship further into the future. Angler reports are essential for future management, especially since the DNR won't be able to survey the fish populations annually. The Burt, Mullett and Black lakes corridor are key angling and recreation-driven locations in the northern Lower Peninsula. Each lake has its angling promise and potential. Rebuilding the Black Lake walleye population is one goal in this promise.

Volunteers needed to place muskellunge spawning structures in Iron County's Chicagon Lake this March

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is seeking volunteers to assist in placing wood habitat structures in Chicagon Lake (Iron County) on Sunday, March 2, to provide additional spawning habitat for muskellunge.

Chicagon Lake is a popular and economically important body of water in the Upper Menominee River Watershed. The DNR actively manages this 1,100-acre waterbody for several coolwater species, including muskellunge.

Muskellunge were first stocked into Chicagon Lake in 1965. Subsequent surveys documented evidence of natural reproduction, indicating Chicagon Lake provided some suitable spawning habitat; however, muskellunge natural recruitment has remained inadequate to sustain the population.

Wood structures are proposed based on success with this type of habitat enhancement in Wisconsin waters. Wood is thought to keep muskellunge eggs from sinking into the sediment and being smothered, provides a better habitat for egg development, and is the preferred spawning habitat for this species. In addition, the installation of wood habitat will benefit many other fish by providing seasonal refuge and cover. By encouraging natural reproduction of muskellunge, the DNR will move toward the overall goal of promoting self-sustaining fisheries and, in turn, provide additional opportunities for muskellunge anglers.

This project is possible thanks to $10,000 from the We Energies’ Mitigation and Enhancement Fund. This fund was established as part of the Wilderness Shores Settlement Agreement to enhance aquatic habitat in the area of influence of We Energies’ hydroelectric projects.
Volunteers will assist the DNR and its project partners: Boundary Waters Musky Club, Iron County Watershed Coalition, Michigan United Conservation Clubs, Upper Peninsula Sportsmen’s Alliance, and other local entities. The project is slated for Sunday, March 2, from 8 a.m. to noon, Central time. Volunteers will meet at the Chicagon Lake public access site located off County Road 424.

Those interested in volunteering should contact Drew YoungeDyke at dyoungedyke@mucc.org or 517-346-6486. Volunteers will get a free T-shirt, a digital subscription to Michigan OutofDoors Magazine, and lunch. This volunteer effort is part of Michigan United Conservation Clubs’ On the Ground initiative, which is supported by grants from the Consumers Energy Foundation, Enbridge Energy Partners and the DNR.

DNR Public Meeting - Green Bay Great Lakes Spotted Musky Management Plan

December 2 – DNR Fisheries Staff will present the Draft Green Bay Great Lakes Spotted Musky Management Plan from 6-8 p.m. in the Auditorium at the Brown County Central Library, 515 Pine St., Green Bay. The purpose of the meeting is to review and get feedback on the draft management plan for the Green Bay muskellunge fishery and re-establishment program. The draft management plan identifies fisheries objectives, strategies and management recommendations to achieve the previously established goals for the fishery. For more information, please call David Rowe (920) 662-5480 or Mike Donofrio (715) 582-5050.

Green Bay Great Lakes Spotted Musky Management Plan Meeting

December 2 – DNR Fisheries Staff will present the Draft Green Bay Great Lakes Spotted Musky Management Plan from 6-8 p.m. in the Auditorium at the Brown County Central Library, 515 Pine St., Green Bay. The purpose of the meeting is to review and get feedback on the draft management plan for the Green Bay muskellunge fishery and re-establishment program. The draft management plan identifies fisheries objectives, strategies and management recommendations to achieve the previously established goals for the fishery. For more information, please call David Rowe (920) 662-5480 or Mike Donofrio (715) 582-5050.

Fish Watching in Wisconsin

During this time of year, many fish are moving about in Wisconsin's waters. They are exciting to watch as they dance, wiggle, and sail through the shallow waters of our rivers and lakes to find their breeding places. Here are some hot spots for watching fish.

Musky seasons open May 29 in northern zone and Lake Michigan including Green Bay

WOODRUFF – Good news for anglers looking forward to the May 29 opening day of the northern zone musky season.

The early spring experienced in northern Wisconsin and most of the state means the muskies are done spawning and ready to concentrate on eating. Even an early May blast of snow in many parts of northern Wisconsin shouldn’t put a damper on the bite, says Steve Gilbert, Department of Natural Resources fisheries biologist for Vilas County.

“We had 2 to 3 inches of snow in early May and the water temperatures did drop 4 or 5 degrees, but the temps are going to rebound fast,” Gilbert says. “The muskies are done with spawning. Things are going to warm up. We still have nearly two weeks before the opener and the weather forecast looks cool but not unusually cool, so the muskies will be in their post-spawn, late-spring pattern.”

Fishable populations of musky are found in 711 lakes and 83 stream segments in 48 Wisconsin counties but the heaviest concentration of lakes with musky is found in the headwater regions of the Chippewa, Flambeau, and Wisconsin rivers. Online lists of lakes and rivers can steer anglers to where musky populations are known to be found.

Season details
The musky season opens May 29 in Wisconsin north of U.S. Highway 10, excluding Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters, and runs through Nov. 30, 2010. The daily bag limit is one and the minimum length limit is 34 inches in most cases, but some lakes have special regulations. Please see the “Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations 2010-11."

Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters opened for musky fishing on May 15. The southern zone musky season opened with the regular game fish opener on May 1.

Lake Michigan waters north of Waldo Boulevard in Manitowoc open for musky fishing May 29. Included in this season are the Bay of Green Bay, the Fox River upstream to the DePere dam, Sturgeon Bay and other bays to Lake Michigan and Green Bay. The daily limit is one, the minimum length limit is 50 inches, and the season closes Nov. 30.

The Lake Michigan season for musky south of Waldo Boulevard in Manitowoc is already open. It runs May 1 through Dec. 31, 2010, and the daily limit is one. There is a minimum length limit of 50 inches.

A few fish managers took a break from their busy season of fish population surveys to file updated forecasts and condition reports. Other notes on season prospect have been pulled from the 2010 Wisconsin Fishing Report; check the report for more information on musky and other species.

Northern Zone season forecasts
Barron and Polk counties - Musky completed spawning by mid-late April in many northwestern Wisconsin waters mainly due to an early ice out and rapidly warming spring water temperatures. Expect fish to be active and on the feed if the weather cooperates come the opener. More specifically, Barron staff finished a two-year musky population estimate on Deer Lake in Polk County this past spring. We found a solid number of 35 to 38-inch fish present in the population as well as respectable number of mid-40 inch present. The fish were in great condition and should continue to provide a fishery with high angler catch rates as well as an above average size structure. – Heath Benike, fisheries biologist, Barron

Chequamegon National Forest in Price, Sawyer, Ashland counties - Saturday May 29 marks the musky opener in the Northern zone and fishing prospects look excellent. Most musky have completed their spring spawning ritual and the fish should be active with the warming temperatures. Abundance is still high on many small waters in the Chequamegon National Forest and anglers just looking for action should try Day Lake Flowage, Spider-Moquah Lakes, and English Lake in Ashland County; and Ghost Lake, Lower Clam Lake, and Black Lake in Sawyer County. On these smaller lakes with a high abundances of musky, the key is to downsize your baits. Large forage is generally scarce in these lakes and the musky are used to chasing smaller baitfish - so anglers should adjust accordingly. Others waters with good abundances of musky include Butternut Lake, the Phillips Chain, Solberg Lake, and the Pike/Round Chain in Price County. With cooler water and early season conditions, small bucktails and jerk baits should provide some good action and look for the fish to be holding on the deep edges of newly forming weed beds. – Skip Sommerfeldt, fisheries biologist, Park Falls

Iron County - The Turtle-Flambeau Flowage musky population also has improved over the past 12 years. Surveys show that musky abundance is similar from 1997 to 2009 but the size structure has dramatically improved. In 1997, 17 percent of the fish sampled were 40 inches and longer while no fish were captured exceeding 45 inches. In the spring of 2009, 31 percent of the fish sampled were 40 inches or longer while eight percent exceeded 45 inches. There was no evidence of natural musky reproduction and the population and fishery remains dependant on stocking. – Jeff Roth, fisheries biologist, retired.

Lincoln County - A comprehensive survey on Lake Mohawksin, a 1,910-acre impoundment on the Wisconsin River in Tomahawk, found strong, self-sustaining populations of walleye, musky, northern pike, smallmouth bass and panfish. There is a strong musky population with many fish up to 45 inches long. - Dave Seibel, fisheries biologist, Antigo

Oneida County – A comprehensive survey of Gilmore lake found abundant musky. About 71 musky were handled during the survey, which sizes from 30 to 47 inches. A survey on the Minocqua chain of lakes found that most musky ranged from 36 to 45 inches with the largest 50.5 inches. - John Kubisiak, fisheries biologist, Rhinelander

Price County - Fall 2008 and spring 2009 surveys of Butternut Lake allowed sportfish population comparisons to goals outlined in the 2005 Butternut Lake Fishery Management Plan. Capture rates for musky ranked in the 81st percentile among spring netting surveys on similar “fast-action” musky waters, suggesting that musky density remains above the goal of 0.2 – 0.3 adults per acre. Anglers are encouraged to selectively harvest a musky 34 to 40 inches long once in a while to help attain goals for musky, perch and walleye. – Jeff Scheirer, fisheries biologist, Park Falls

Taylor County - Anglers of all skill levels can pick from a variety of fishing opportunities that Spirit and North Lakes offer. Novice and avid musky anglers should enjoy fast-action with a decent chance to land one of memorable size. Netting in spring 2009 yielded 31 musky ranging 29.5 to 42.5 inches. Musky abundance and size structure were better in North Spirit Lake where 42 percent were 38 inches or longer. – Jeff Scheirer, fisheries biologist, Park Falls

Marinette and Oconto counties - In Marinette County, Caldron Falls has been stocked by the DNR for more than 20 years and it supports a very good fishery. Those fish have expanded into the next flowage known as High Falls. Both impoundments produce several legal-size musky each year. White Potato is also a stocked fishery but it is located in central Oconto County. White Potato is a large shallow water lake that also supports a good musky fishery. DNR recently assessed Brule Flowage in Florence County and that information confirms a decent musky fishery exists in that flowage located just north of Florence. – Mike Donofrio, fisheries supervisor, Peshtigo

Marathon and Portage counties - The musky stocking program for the flowages on the Wisconsin River between Stevens Point and Wausau has been very successful and the local fishing has benefited. The stocking program continues to get better with the assistance of local musky clubs, and the DNR is taking a more active role in management by marking every stocked musky with an elastomer jaw tag, used for evaluating natural reproduction. These tags are invisible to anglers, however a large number of adult muskies are now marked with orange internal anchor tags, placed between their pectoral and pelvic fins (belly). Anglers should report these tag numbers along with length and waterbody by calling the telephone number listed on the tag, as this is valuable recapture information for biologists. – Tom Meronek, fisheries biologist, Wausau

Price County - Fall 2008 and spring 2009 surveys of Butternut Lake allowed sportfish population comparisons to goals outlined in the 2005 Butternut Lake Fishery Management Plan. Capture rates for musky ranked in the 81st percentile among spring netting surveys on similar “fast-action” musky waters, suggesting that musky density remains above the goal of 0.2 – 0.3 adults per acre. Anglers are encouraged to selectively harvest a musky 34 to 40 inches long once in a while to help attain goals for musky, perch and walleye. – Jeff Scheirer, fisheries biologist, Park Falls

Taylor County - Spirit and North Spirit lakes – Anglers of all skill levels can pick from a variety of fishing opportunities the Spirit Lakes offer. Novice and avid musky anglers should enjoy fast-action with a decent chance to land one of memorable size. Netting in spring 2009 yielded 31 musky ranging 29.5 to 42.5 inches. Musky abundance and size structure were better in North Spirit Lake where 42 percent were 38 inches or longer. - Jeff Scheirer, fisheries biologist, Park Falls

Shawano County – Musky have continued to provide a great fishery on Shawano Lake, with several 45- to 50-inch musky captured/observed during our fall assessments. This past year the DNR stocked 2,500 musky fingerlings. In 2010, department staff are planning to conduct fyke netting surveys on Shawano Lake to obtain more comprehensive information on the entire fish community. – Al Niebur, fisheries biologist, Shawano

Vilas County - This year we had one of the earliest ice outs on record and conditions remained warm and dry all spring. This means musky spawning will be over on all county lakes several weeks before the opener. Fish should be on the move looking for a meal to replace reserves used during spawning. If the weather holds up we should have good fishing for the opener. Anglers should note that Long and Big Sand lakes in the Town of Phelps have 50-inch minimum length limits. - Steve Gilbert, fisheries biologist, Woodruff

Green Bay forecast
Green Bay – Green Bay musky fishing should be fantastic. While fall 2009 wasn’t particularly great in terms of catch rate, huge schools of forage fish comprised of gizzard shad and emerald and spotfin shiners were present. This healthy forage base resulted in some massive fish and there were plenty of 50-plus inch fish caught and released that would have weighed in at over 45 pounds. This spring DNR crews collected eggs from the Lower Fox River for the hatchery system and in one night 82 muskies were netted and averaged 44 inches. These fish are now finished spawning and will be starting to move back out into the bay. Fishing transition points may produce good results, before the fish disappear to their summer deep-water haunts. In the northern part of Green Bay, muskies may still be spawning when the season opens because of the colder water. DNR crews have implanted radio transmitters in some female fish to study the spawning behavior. If anglers happen to catch a fish with an antenna sticking out of it they should leave it in the fish and release the fish. Fish larger than 54 inches have been sampled this spring. Fish seem to relate more to structure in the northern bay and casting in early June is really an effective pattern, even in this big water. Anglers pursuing musky on Green Bay need to be prepared with an adequate-sized landing net and a good pair of pliers and side cutters for removing hooks. Oh, and make sure to have your camera ready. - David Rowe, fisheries biologist, Green Bay

May 1 opener earliest date possible

Warm spring bodes well for anglers

MADISON – The 2010 regular inland season is opening on the first date possible – May 1 -- but the fish and the anglers are already waiting and eager.

“The fishing opener is a great opportunity to take kids fishing and start to build their appreciation of Wisconsin’s great outdoors,” said Department of Natural Resources Secretary Matt Frank. “We are working hard with our partners to deliver great angling opportunities for all, from first-timers to pros.”

With most of the state experiencing an early spring, fisheries biologists say water temperatures are warmer than in the past few years.

“The ice is out statewide, and the fish will be at a later stage of spawning than normal,” says Mike Staggs, director of DNR fisheries management. “Anglers may need to change their tactics to match the warmer conditions, but the fish should be feeding and we expect a good fishing opener and a great season.”

The anglers are ready.

“I am really looking forward to the opener this year. I don't know if it is too any e-mails, too long a winter, or what, but I am ready,” says Scot Stewart, who can be found fishing when he’s not on duty as fish supervisor in the DNR South Central Region.

“Panfish in the Madison lakes should be outstanding. Muskie management has paid off in a number of waters around the region. Bass, walleye, pike are all there. Trout fishing in southern Wisconsin is the best it has ever been. Explore a new river. Get out there and enjoy it and take someone with you to enjoy it with you.”

Other fish managers had equally encouraging predictions for anglers based on the results of the spring surveys they are just conducting and last year’s results. Check out the 2010 Wisconsin Fishing Report for the forecast for dozens of the most popular waters in Wisconsin, and find the up-to-date conditions report filed by fish managers in the last few days.

Northern Wisconsin

The ice went out on lakes in the Woodruff area a full two weeks earlier than usual. Initially we thought the fish would not be ready to spawn and would thus avoid our netting gear for spring surveys. The eggs need time to develop and photo period/day length has some say in that process. We figured the fish would "dribble" in, but were surprised with typical catches each day. But we set nets immediately after ice-out and found the fish were spawning as they would have had it been two weeks later. Currently, walleye are well past the peak of spawning except for the large, deep lakes like Trout (Vilas County) or Tomahawk (Oneida County). I would expect spawning to go on in those for another several days to a week yet, but well before the opening of fishing in a few weeks. In a "normal" year, we still see some active males and post-spawn females hanging shallow and up on the rocky shorelines during the fishing opener. This year I don't know if that will be the case - anglers may have to adjust their tactics to more of a mid-May presentation. Fish might take jigs and minnows yet, but trying leeches would not be out of the question by then either. Our weather has been mild and the long range forecasts are calling for continued above-average temps. – Mike Vogelsang, fisheries supervisor, Woodruff

Northeastern Wisconsin

Spring arrived early this year and the fish should be much more active by opening weekend. Spawning was earlier for northern pike and walleye, so along with warmer water temperatures these species will have moved into their active feeding patterns. – George Boronow, fisheries supervisor, Northeastern Wisconsin

South Central Wisconsin

Panfish in the Madison lakes should be outstanding. Muskie management has paid off in a number of waters around the region. It will be a good year. Bass, walleye, pike are all there. Trout fishing in southern Wisconsin is the best it has ever been. Explore a new river. Get out there and enjoy it and take someone with you to enjoy it with you. – Scot Stewart, fisheries supervisor, South Central Wisconsin

Southeastern Wisconsin

Walleye and northern pike are done spawning and out actively feeding. Musky are just starting their spawn. Pre-spawn, largemouth bass are schooling-up, congregating in shallow bays actively feeding on panfish attracted to warming waters found there. Smallmouth bass are in rocky shallows, searching for emerging crayfish. Having left their egg-skeins draped on submerged shoreline brush, yellow perch are done spawning. Come opening day, musky should be done spawning, and all game fish should be actively feeding as they put-back weight lost over winter or through spawning. Fish shallow along drop-offs early and late for walleyes and northern pike; and in shallow bays mid-day for bass. Smallmouth bass will be near rock, pier pilings and boat-lift tracks; largemouth will be over dark bottom hiding in ambush near emerging aquatic plants. - Randy Schumacher, fisheries supervisor, Southeast Wisconsin

Western Wisconsin

Eau Claire area: Walleyes have completed their spring spawning ritual and anglers should find them on the feed up and down the Chippewa River and it’s impoundments. Shallow flats adjacent to spawning areas are your best bets for larger fish. Panfish have been moving into the warm shallow water on area lakes. Small jigs or worms under a bobber will bring action. Largemouth bass have also been seen moving into the shallows. Small lures and light line will provide the best action. Local trout anglers should find conditions tough with water clarity being the issue. Lighter rains causing some runoff will “dirty” the water making the trout less spooky and easier to catch. – Bob Hujik, fisheries supervisor, Lower Chippewa and Central Wisconsin basins.

La Crosse area: Anglers fishing for trout in the La Crosse Area will find streams in the best shape they have been in my 30 years here. Anglers fishing the early catch and release season have found good numbers brown trout in the 14-18 inch range and occasinal brook trout over 12 inches. Many anglers have personally told me they have had days where they caught and released more that 20 trout. One angler released a brown that was 26+ inches (but I forgot where he said he caught it). Water levels in the streams are good and should remain that way well into the summer. This is a good time to explore some new water that you haven't fished before. (Fact: There are more than 220 classified trout streams (1,000 miles0 in the four-county area. Creel surveys have shown that average angler fishes for about 2.5 hours before quitting or moving to another stream. With our season being about 210 days long, an angler could fish a different stream every single day and he/she would still not be able to fish all the water available). Just be sure to ask permission when wanting to access private land. - Dave Vetrano, fisheries supervisor, La Crosse

Wausau area: Fishing in central Wisconsin is expected to be good even with the early spring. The walleye in the Wisconsin River should be feeding very well by now; they have been done spawning for two weeks, well ahead of schedule. With the very warm weather, I expect the panfish to be biting better than on a normal opener, since the water has been above 60 in many of the bays and backwaters of the Wisconsin River for a week or more. Also, musky anglers in Central Wisconsin can now start fishing the Stevens Point Flowage South of the new Hwy 10 bridge on the opener, instead of when the Northern Season opens. – Tom Meronek, fisheries biologist, Wausau

Season dates and regulations
The hook-and-line game fish season opens May 1 on inland waters for walleye, sauger, and northern pike statewide.

The largemouth and smallmouth bass southern zone opens May 1, while the northern bass zone opens for catch and release only from May 1 through June 18. Anglers are reminded that artificial lures and barbless hooks must be used if fishing for bass during the catch-and-release bass fishing season in the northern zone and any other water body that has bass catch-and-release regulations. From June 19 to March 6, 2011, there’s a minimum length limit of 14 inches with a daily bag limit of five fish in total.

Musky season opens May 1 in the southern zone and May 29 in the northern zone.

The northern zone is the area north of highways 77, 64 and 29, with Highway 10 as the dividing line.

The seasons for rock, yellow and white bass, panfish, bullheads and rough fish, catfish, cisco and whitefish are open all year. Check the “2010-2011 Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations" for special regulations listed by county, for regulations on the Great Lakes and boundary waters, and for tributary streams to Green Bay and Lake Michigan. The complete guide is also available at DNR offices and license agents.

Fishing licenses
It’s easy to buy a fishing license. You can purchase online; at DNR license vendors; or by calling toll-free 1-877-WI LICENSE (1-877-945-4236).

Wisconsin residents and nonresidents 16 years old or older need a fishing license to fish in any waters of the state. Residents born before Jan. 1, 1927, do not need a license, nor do people who exhibit proof they are in active service with the U.S. armed forces and are a resident on furlough or leave.

About 1.4 million licenses are sold each year to adult anglers in the state and Wisconsin trails only to Florida in the number of days nonresident anglers spend fishing here. Anglers have 15,000 inland lakes, 42,000 miles of streams and rivers plus the Great Lakes shoreline and 260 miles of the Mississippi River to fish. Sportfishing generates $2.75 billion in economic benefits, supports 30,164 jobs, and generates $200 million in state and local tax revenues.

Governor’s Fishing Opener in Polk County
The 45th Governor’s Fishing Opener, officially kicking off Wisconsin’s big game fishing season, takes place at Lake Arbutus in Jackson County on Saturday, May 1. Joining Gov. Jim Doyle at the event this year will be DNR Secretary Matt Frank, DNR Fisheries Director Mike Staggs, local legislators and officials, and media from in and outside of the state.

Former Governor Warren Knowles started the tradition in 1965 to officially open the state's fishing season. The angling event is held at various locations in western and northern Wisconsin each year and is sponsored by the Wisconsin Indianhead Country Tourism group. This event is also by invitation only to key people in the media and state and local government officials.

Anglers are reminded of rules to help stop the spread of VHS
Anglers are reminded to follow rules that help prevent the spread of the deadly fish disease viral hemorrhagic septicemia, or VHS. Earlier this year, evidence of viral hemorrhagic septicemia was detected in fish from Lake Superior by Cornell University scientists using sensitive new molecular methods. And just last week, the DNR learned from Michigan that the virus had been detected in lake herring from Wisconsin waters of the Apostle Island. In both cases, the testing was done on fish that had not died of VHS nor showed any symptoms of the actual disease.

For more information on VHS and steps that all water users can take, visit VHS Prevention.

Eat smaller, younger fish
With walleye spawning done in much of the state, many anglers will be hoping to reel in their limit of this tasty fish. It’s a good, low cost source of nutrition and a brain booster to boot, but make sure that those who eat the fish are following Wisconsin’s fish consumption advisory. A 2009 video (avaialble on the linked page) shows how you can eat your catch and reduce your levels of environmental contaminants such as PCBs and mercury. Inland waters are covered by the same general advice with the exception of about 100 waters where more stringent advice applies.

Fishing in Wisconsin by the numbers
Fifty-three percent of the adults responding to an October 2009 statewide UW-Madison Badger poll say they fish.

The latest statewide mail survey shows that anglers in Wisconsin catch an estimated 88 million fish and keep about 33 million of them, or a little more than one-third. While walleye is the top target, panfish are the most frequently caught and consumed. Learn more online about fishing in Wisconsin.

Connect with fish
Be the first to hear where fish are biting and more by subscribing to fisheries email updates or following [fishwisconsin] on Twitter [Exit DNR].

Correction on two popular Vilas County waters
The 2010-2011 Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations incorrectly lists a slot size limit on walleye for North and South Twin lakes, which are connected. There is no slot size limit; the lakes are under the statewide 15-inch minimum size regulation.

Also, Kentuck Lake has a minimum length limit on musky of 40 inches. The size limit was incorrectly listed in the pamphlet.

DNR considering five new muskie waters

(MINNESOTA) In response to growing interest in muskellunge fishing, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is considering the stocking of muskie in five new waters starting in the fall of 2011.

Proposed for muskie management are Roosevelt Lake in Cass and Crow Wing counties; Upper South Long Lake and Lower South Long Lake in Crow Wing County; Tetonka Lake in Le Sueur County; and the Sauk River Chain in Stearns County.

“All of these waters meet or exceed the biological and physical criteria for muskie management,” said Dirk Peterson, DNR acting fisheries chief. He said there are eight key biological considerations including:

• Proposed muskie waters must be greater than 500 acres.
• Waters must contain adequate numbers and species of prey fish.
• Water clarity must be moderate to clear.
• Gillnet catches for northern pike must be three or less.
• Waters must have the potential to produce a trophy fish.

“All five proposals are consistent with our management approach,” said Peterson. “Also they have been selected in part because of their geographic location. These lakes represent a strategic approach to provide muskie fishing where opportunity is limited.”

The muskie is one of Minnesota’s largest fish, growing to more than 50 pounds and more than 50 inches in length. Anglers have become increasingly interested in the so-called “fish of 10,000 casts” now that 50-plus inch fish can be caught in Lake Mille Lacs, Lake Vermillion and other waters that have been stocked since the 1980s.

“As muskie grew in size and abundance, so did interest catching them,” said Peterson, noting that muskie anglers are the fastest-growing segment of Minnesota’s fishing population. He said the DNR is addressing the trend of increasing interest in muskie through a long-range northern pike and muskie plan that was developed with stakeholder input. That plan calls for adding up to eight new muskie waters by 2020.

Today’s announcement of the five waters under consideration marks the beginning of a lengthy process to determine if the lakes will eventually become muskie waters. The DNR will post information on the proposed stocking at boat landings at the five lakes this spring, conduct public input meetings this summer and fall, and accept public comments until early next winter. If the DNR decides to move forward with the proposals, stocking would start in 2011. It would be 12 to 15 years after that before the fish reach 48-inches, the minimum size at which a muskie can be kept.

“Our process will be very transparent,” said Peterson, who noted the agency recognizes the muskie’s mystique appeals to a certain segment of anglers and generates the opposite reaction in others. The proposal will be discussed at the upcoming DNR stakeholder roundtable and later by a citizen advisory committee that is focusing on northern pike and muskie management.

Currently, muskies are found in 116 Minnesota water bodies. Of these, 64 are waters that have been stocked by the DNR.

National Musky Open Expects Crowds of Competitors

Eagle River, Wisconsin - "More than 500 anglers are pre-registered and another 500 anglers are expected to register by tournament time for the annual National Championship Musky Open in Eagle River, Wisconsin, August 21-23, (2009)," according to Kim Emerson, Events Coordinator for the Eagle River Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center.

"Over 1,000 anglers participated in this event in 2008 and we are looking forward to that many again this year," Emerson says.

"In 2008, entrants included 63 youth anglers and 65 husband & wife teams. Last year's anglers registered a record number of 193 legal muskies, with 49.5 inches being the largest fish caught and released," she adds.

"The National Championship Musky Open is a total catch and release tournament that provides great family fun for all ages and skill levels," she adds.

The annual event in Eagle River is put on by the Eagle River Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center, along with Musky Clubs Alliance of Wisconsin Inc.

"Any angler wishing to still enter this tournament can register on line at http://www.muskyopen.com, or by calling the Eagle River Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center at 800-359-6315 until August 1, 2009.

After August 1, 2009, registrations will be taken at the Vilas County Fairgrounds (Tournament Headquarters) starting Thursday evening, August 20, 2009. The cost is $50 if pre-registered by August 1, 2009 or $55 if registering at the tournament.

Registration includes a tournament hat and t-shirt and a chance to win a brand new 2009 Ranger Boat. Everyone who enters gets a chance to win a $20,000+ Mercury-Powered Ranger Boat with a RangerTrail Trailer and a trolling motor, whether you catch a musky or not!

For more information, contact the Eagle River Area Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center at (800) 359-6315 or visit www.eagleriver.org .

Source: The Fishing Wire

Wally Banfi on Walleyes & Muskies

Contact:	Glenn Furst (email: glenn1st @ centurytel.net)
Website:	http://www.ofcfish.com/
Details:	Wally Banfi targets Walleyes and Muskies on the Madison Chain at The Okauchee Fishing Club Date: 9/15/09 Event Type: Fishing Club Event Location: Knights of Columbus Hall, 1800 S. 92nd St, West Allis, WI Details: Guide Wally Banfi will share his experience and knowledge on targeting fall Walleyes and Muskies at The Okauchee Fishing Club (ofcfish.com) September 15th. The meeting starts promptly at 7PM at the easy to get to Knights of Columbus Hall, 1800 S 92nd St, west Allis, Wi (2 blocks south of Greenfield). Guests always welcome for only $4. Share current fishing reports

New law restores longtime bass and musky season structures

MADISON - Wisconsin’s longstanding season structures for bass and musky have been officially restored and the early-season barbless hook requirements eliminated for some catch-and-release seasons under a bill Gov. Jim Doyle signed into law earlier this month.

As a result of the changes made by 2009 Wis. Act 6 (Assembly Bill 4):

• The normal musky season opening dates will remain in effect. This means the northern zone musky season opens May 23 this year and no person may actively fish for musky before that date in waters north of Highway 10. Southern zone musky season opens May 2.
• The largemouth/ smallmouth bass season opens May 2 on most state waters. In the northern zone, anglers may fish for bass but as in the past, must release all bass they catch until June 20. Anglers are NOT restricted to barbless hooks and artificial lures during this catch and release portion of the season in the northern zone or on other waters which have a catch and release bass season.

This bill was initiated and adopted in response to a statutory change – not a Department of Natural Resources rule change -- in the 2007 budget bill that would have required the DNR to create an early musky catch-and-release season and required anglers to use barbless hooks during that season and any bass catch-and-release season.

“Both of these statutory requirements caused considerable consternation among the angling public, and we are grateful that those laws have been repealed before the May 2 fishing opener,” says Joe Hennessy, the DNR fish biologist who coordinates fisheries regulations.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Joe Hennessy (608) 267-9427

Spring offers unique fish watching opportunities in Wisconsin

Crowds gather to watch annual lake sturgeon spawning run

MADISON – People looking for a free, family-friendly event this spring can visit some Wisconsin waterways where fish put on quite a show as they travel to their spawning grounds.

One of the most well-known fish watching events, bringing out thousands of visitors each year, is the upstream movement of the ancient lake sturgeon along the Wolf and Embarrass rivers during mid-April to early May.

A short video clip of sturgeon spawning and the people who come out to watch them, “Come face to face with prehistory” is available on the sturgeon spawning page of the DNR Web site.

“You really can’t see anything like this anywhere else, not on this scale,” says Ron Bruch, Department of Natural Resources senior sturgeon biologist. “During their spawning runs, you are able to be within a foot or less of these prehistoric fish, some weighing in excess of 150 to 200 pounds, spawning right at your feet.”

The world’s largest naturally reproducing lake sturgeon population resides in the Lake Winnebago System thanks to Wisconsin’s century-old sturgeon management program, the dedicated work of DNR fisheries staff, and the commitment of citizens.

“This is such a unique resource,” says Bruch. “If you can just imagine, more than 150 million years ago, there were dinosaurs watching these fish do the same thing and the sturgeon then looked pretty much exactly like they do now.”

Depending on where the fish are, the public might also have a chance to watch DNR fisheries crews as they net the large fish, bring them ashore, measure and tag them, and then release them back into the river.

Spawning time is dependent on water temperature and flow but typically happens during mid-April to early May. An average spawning run lasts on average for seven days and there is typically no more than two days of peak spawning at every given site, so visitors are encouraged to call the Sturgeon Hotline (920) 303-5444 for the most up-to-date information.

“This is just a great opportunity in the spring to see a wonder of nature,” says Bruch. “We have these fish here because we’ve been doing it right with sturgeon for 100 years, and we’re reaping the benefits.”

Lake Sturgeon Spawning and Viewing Locations

• Wolf River Sturgeon Trail (near New London) - About two miles west of New London on County Highway X. Parking available on the south side of the river about one-half mile from the spawning site.
• Bamboo Bend at Shiocton - on County Hwy 54. Parking available on the north side of County Hwy. 54.
• Shawano Dam in Shawano - Parking available on the east side of the river at the end of Richmond Street.

* Maps are available on the sturgeon spawning Web site.

Sturgeon guard volunteers still needed
While the sturgeon are spawning, they are fairly oblivious to human activity and are vulnerable to illegal harvest. “Sturgeon Guard” volunteers are needed who can commit to 12-hour shifts of watching the fish while they are spawning.

If you would like to sign up, send the downloadable form (pdf) to the DNR sturgeon guard coordinator at the DNR Oshkosh Service Center at DNRSturgeonGuard@wisconsin.gov or call (920) 303-5444. For more information visit the Sturgeon Guard web site.

Other spring fish watching opportunities
Sturgeon aren’t the only ones making waves as they travel to their breeding grounds.

The spring steelhead run has begun on Lake Michigan tributaries, and a number of facilities offer fish viewing during the run, including the Root River Steelhead Facility in Racine County, where people can watch fish move up fish ladders, and the C.D. Besadny Anadromous Fish Facility on the Kewaunee River in Kewaunee County that has a unique viewing window allowing visitors to see fall and spring runs of fish as they enter the facility.

Walleye, northern pike, and musky will also be on the move beginning in late-March. The DNR Fish Watching web site has more information on when and where these fish are in action.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: lake sturgeon - Ron Bruch (920) 424-3059; C.D. Besadny Anadromous Fish Facility- (920) 388-1025; Root River Steelhead Facility - (262) 884-2300; DNR fisheries management - (608) 27-7498

 

EIGHTH ANNUAL MUSKIE SCHOOL MARCH 21

8th Annual Muskie School brought to you by the Capital City Chapter of Muskies Inc.
Date: March 21, 2009
Time: 7:30 am - 3:30 pm
Place: Waunakee High School
100 School Drive
Waunakee, WI
Admission: Adults - $29 ($39 if you register after March 15, 2009)
Kids (18 and under) - $5

Join us for this fun annual event and learn everything you need to know about Muskies. The school is designed to provide in-depth knowledge on key topics such as:

• The latest technology and techniques
• Fishing basics for youth and beginners
• Lures, rods, and reels
• Muskie fishing in Wisconsin and Minnesota

Enjoy lure demonstrations, hands-on workshops, "How to" classes, panel discussions, and much, much, more. You won't be disappointed!

For more info go to www.capitalcitymuskiesinc.org, email crandall@msbnrg.com, or call 608-831-6020 (evenings)

Source: The Fishing Wire

Lake Erie Management Unit Newsletter

(Michigan) Hello anglers! This is our annual newsletter covering major field activities of the Lake Erie Management Unit (LEMU). This unit covers all waters that lie within the watersheds which drain into the St. Clair River, Lake St. Clair, Detroit River, and Lake Erie. Fisheries Management personnel in this unit include two biologists and a unit supervisor located at the Southfield Operations Service Center and two technicians and a technician supervisor located at the Waterford Fisheries Station. This newsletter highlights some of the field activities conducted by our field staff during 2008.

Click Here!

Fly fisherman’s Chippewa River catch confirmed as world record

HAYWARD – An avid fly fisherman and fishing guide is the latest Wisconsin world record holder for the monster musky he landed on the Chippewa River with a fly rod.

The National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame and Museum notified Brad Bohen of Hayward last week that the 51.25-inch musky he caught Oct. 16, 2008, was indeed a world fly rod record for a released fish on a 36-pound tippet, according to Emmett Brown, the Hall’s executive director.

Get a look at Bohen’s catch and read his story of how he landed this fantastic fish in Record Musky on the Fly.

“I’ve never been a record chaser by nature, but I must admit that I am tickled to be in this position,” Bohen says. “I give all the credit to Tom Greenup for his wonderful guiding and oarsmanship that day as well as good fishing buddy Derek Kuehl, who had invited me along on the trip after having a fellow angler cancel out.”

Bohen, who would say only that he caught his musky below the Winter dam but above Lake Holcombe, says that the real story of that day was that not only did he catch a magnificent fish, but within moments, “Derek also hung into a record class beast of his own (fish measured 45 inches) and we proceeded to execute an almost unheard of musky double on a fly!”

Bohen, who guides and currently caretakes at the Winneboujou Club on the Brule River, joins a sizeable and storied group of Wisconsin anglers who have hauled in record fish. Four world records were set in the Hayward area in the late 1940s, including the 69-pound 11-ounce monster Louis Spray pulled from the Chippewa Flowage in 1949.

In more recent years, Wisconsin fly fishermen have also added to the record haul, including three new fly fishing catch and release musky records set in 2008 in addition to Bohen’s. Bill Flader set a new record for 14-pound tippet with the 40-inch musky he pulled from the Chippewa River in Sawyer County; Tom Peterson set two new records, for the 43-inch musky he pulled from North Twin Lake in Vilas County on 50-pound tippet and the 41-inch musky he landed on Kentuck Lake in Forest/Vilas counties to set a record in the “unlimited tippet” category.

Wisconsin also owns a corner of a fifth fly fishing musky record set in 2008: Tom Peterson pulled a 46-inch musky from Smokey Lake, which is mostly in Michigan’s Iron County but also touches Vilas County.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Brad Bohen, aftonangler@bradbohen.com; Emmett Brown, Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame, http://www.freshwater-fishing.org/

Chippewa system giving up world class fish

HAYWARD – The Chippewa River and its namesake flowage are regaining their reputation for record-setting musky.

Two fish pulled from the storied system in 2008 set new fly fishing catch and release musky world records: the 51.25-inch musky Brad Bohen caught and released on a 36-pound tippet on Oct. 16, 2008; the 40-inch musky Bill Flader caught on 14-pound tippet from the river, according to Emmett Brown, executive director of the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame and Museum in Hayward.

Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Supervisor Dave Neuswanger reported that a genetics study done in 2006 netted 52 fish greater than 40 inches in length, including very hefty females over 50 inches long. “Those fish have only grown larger in the intervening years,” Neuswanger says. “Musky fishing is improving steadily throughout the Upper Chippewa Basin as our native strain is allowed to reach its inherent potential.”

More than half a century ago, Louis Spray’s capture of a 69-pound, 11-ounce musky from the Chippewa Flowage, followed by three other world record fish from the Hayward area, set off a fishing frenzy that led to the near collapse of the area fishery by the 1970s.

Since then, higher minimum length limits and a strong catch-and-release ethic, particularly among the most skilled musky anglers, have brought the big ones back. An article on these efforts can be found in the December 2002 Wisconsin Natural Resources magazine.

Neuswanger says that the DNR has no way of knowing the origin of Bohen's fish. It could have grown up in the Chippewa Flowage before migrating through the Winter Dam and into the Chippewa River downstream.

“Some muskellunge live their entire lives in the rivers, while others become large in forage-rich flowages before escaping into the rivers,” he says. “River fishing is often overlooked by musky anglers, and so that's where many of the biggest fish live. It is quite a thrill (and even a little scary) to see a 50-inch muskellunge following your lure in clear water only a foot deep!”

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Dave Neuswanger (715) 634-9658

Weekly News Article Published: January 20, 2009 by the Central Office

Discovery of natural reproduction may change bay musky stocking

GREEN BAY -- Indications the Great Lakes strain of spotted muskies have successfully spawned in Green Bay have been detected by the Department of Natural Resources, a discovery that could impact future musky stocking locations, said David Rowe, DNR fisheries biologist.

Biologists and musky anglers have been looking for signs of natural reproduction ever since the DNR began marking and stocking spotted muskies in the lower Fox River and the bay in 1989. [Full Story]

Source: Wausau Daily Herald