The muskies AREN'T eating all MY walleyes!

[Shawn Kellett]

Never let the truth get in the way of a good lie. It seems the walleye fishing is pretty good on Miltona even with muskies...

Quote:

Getting along swimmingly: Muskies, walleyes thriving in Lake Miltona, say surveys

Studies show that the walleyes and muskies in Lake Miltona are getting along just fine.

By: By Jordan Peterson, Student Intern, Alexandria Echo Press

Studies show that the walleyes and muskies in Lake Miltona are getting along just fine.

The size and number of walleyes are increasing and the muskie population has a healthy distribution of adult fish ranging from 25 to 53 inches.

That’s according to trap-netting surveys conducted in 1996, 2000, 2004 and 2008 by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The Glenwood Area Fisheries included the survey results in its latest newsletter.

The netting results should soothe a controversy that’s been brewing for years.

Back in the late 1970s to early 1980s, when fishing for muskies started to become popular, walleye fishermen began to complain to the DNR Glenwood Management Area about the muskellunge population.

Stories were told of muskies killing walleyes in Lake Miltona, depleting their population.

Glenwood DNR officials assured anglers that the problem couldn’t be solely attributed to muskies eating walleyes.

Growth, distribution and reproduction rates had mainly been key factors in the low population of walleyes around this time in Lake Miltona, according to Dean Beck, supervisor of the DNR’s Glenwood Management Area.

Some walleye fishermen, however, did not buy these claims. To argue the issue, they started a group, “No More Muskies,” and carried the fight all the way to the state Legislature.

Eventually, both sides came to an agreement. The Glenwood Management Area would only stock 800 muskies every other year.

For the past few years, the controversy simmered down.

The trapnetting surveys will help the DNR in determining future muskie stocking. Because of a dramatic increase in the demand for muskie fishing in the past few years, the Glenwood Management Area is working to increase the population of muskies stocked in area lakes, especially Lake Miltona.

“We need to base these decisions on biological results so we do not sacrifice great opportunities,” said Beck. “Biological tests have proven that growth, distribution and reproduction of walleyes have increased, especially when occupying the same fishery area as the muskellunge population.”

Beck said the DNR Section of Fisheries has developed a statewide muskie fishing expansion plan that would add 10 new lakes across Minnesota by 2012.

Survey results

Multiple trapnetting surveys have shown that in the past 12 years, the average individual size of walleyes has increased in Lake Miltona.

On average, based on the past 10 years of netting data, 50 percent of the walleye population in Miltona measures between 15 and 20 inches in length and the percentage of fish between 20 and 25 inches has tripled.

“People need to realize that walleye are not in danger,” Beck said. “With each side increasing, the relation to each other is neutral.”

The survey is good news for walleye anglers searching for a meal of keepers or for that large, memorable catch on Lake Miltona, Beck said.

Muskie anglers, too, can expect more fish approaching trophy size in the coming years, provided that forage species such as tullibee and white sucker remain healthy, Beck said.

Remember, that the minimum length for muskies in Miltona is 48 inches, which means if you catch a muskie, it has to be 48 inches or larger to legally keep.

[goblueM]

i thought according to the long range plan, they're adding "up to 8 lakes" by

not 10 by 2012. i'd love to see that happen but i feel that it might be a misprint?

anyways great news for both walleye and musky fishermen

[Sackett]

Absolutely not news to anyone that knows anything about a lake's ecosystem, but glad you posted it Shawn. Lake Bemidji has been a great walleye producer along with muskies, as is Cass, and Plantagenet, etc, etc. Tournament fishing has a far greater impact on walleyes than anything else. People do in general. Not muskies.

[50inchpig]

You won't see that on the SRMM HSOforum either........

[Musky Buck]

Don't tell everyone Miltona is my favorite walleye lake, just kidding, but we do very well in the spring/fall and winter on walleyes in Tona with every year class seems present. I hate to mention Battle Lake as it is by far my walleye favorite. Then there's Pelican, great walleye lake. Let's not forget how many walleye go home from first ice to now and the lake I fish has quadrupled the number of ice huts on it plus the GPS has them precisely on the spot on the spot, no more lining up the silo and radio tower. Angling pressure is intense. If I were still just a walleye diehard I'd be happy there's a quarter million anglers targeting muskies here, otherwise guess what we'd be targeting, you bet the walleye. I live to close to Miltona, lets drop this thread jk.

[HorseshoeChain]

Glad you posted that, Shawn. For years, the muskie haters have been highlighting lake surveys from Miltona that showed a reduction in walleyes for just a couple years. The DNR stated that small reduction was due to a couple poor year classes of walleyes, and had nothing to do with muskies.

Now your post shows what those of us who fish that lake a lot already knew. The walleyes in Miltona are thriving! Go out there and ask a walleye guy- they're pounding 'em!

Lakes Shamineau and Alexander have a similar story. The haters claim walleyes are down yet lake surveys show thriving walleye populations of both "keeper" and trophy sized fish. And the guys are spankin 'em out there too!

[hhguide]

On my side of things Myself and Brad and other guides like jason, luke and greg often fish the exact same spots some of my best walleye spots are great muskie spots too. Here is my play on the whole thing is that my fish just went down the drain. This year alone the DNR has had 5 people that have had 15 or more walleyes in there livewell (for one person) I'm worried that they are going to fish out the walleyes and then the muskies will be next because they wont have any food to forage on. Who knows jsut my opinion its good for the muskie versus walleye controversy. We all know they eat some walleyes but not enough to affect the population thats the fisherman

[DHanson]

Drake, I'd be more worried about the guys fishing 40' or deeper. Those are all dead fish no matter if they are released. A guy could easily kill a 100 fish out there in a day with all those little ones getting thrown back by uneducated anglers, or guys that just don't care. I miss the Miltona of 5+ years ago. Nobody used to fish out there, haha.

[brad coin]

this isnt going to shut up the antis/SRRM

argument no 1,,,They may not be eating walleyes but the muskies dominate the points,reefs and push the walleyes off into scattered locations making walleye fishing hard.

argument no 2,,,Now that muskies are 48 inch minimum few will be harvested compared to walleyes which are harvested meaning the population balance of the lake will shift.

argument no 3 Now that Muskies are 48 inch minimum and less harvest fewer muskies should be stocked because they will live longer now.

lets face it guys its an ongoing battle,,its great that the DNR is comming up with such fantastic data but it also makes the antis more desperate and their way out is to now bring politicians in at Midnight,,its great we have people on guard in the muskie community

[goblueM]

i propose if people are so scared of decreasing walleye numbers that we have statewide catch and release for one year

how's that sound? ;0)

[HorseshoeChain]

Arguments

1.Muskies DON'T push walleyes off. 5 of the lakes I fished this year are popular walleye lakes. The walleye guys often moved right in behind me, catching lots of walleyes the same places I was catching muskies. Most of the ones I met even lost the "muskies eat walleyes" mentality because they were so successful. Go check the rock reefs on Mille Lacs.-BIG muskies sitting there with schools of walleyes swimming and feeding all around them.

2.48" minimum won't change anything with walleyes or the balance of the lake. Sure, people harvest more walleyes than muskies, but that's always been the case, and enough walleyes are stocked to replace those harvested. -NOTHING to do with muskies.

3.If the 48" minimum proves to significantly reduce muskie harvest, and the muskie populations start to rise- then YES, they WILL be able to reduce the number of muskies being stocked. This will maintain a quality fishery, save money, and still HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH WALLEYES!

[brad coin]

horeseshoe,,,just so you know Im in total agreement but they will push these points,weve already heard them on Mile Lacs in fact they even have the smallmouth lumped in too,,,stating that because Muskies and smallmouth are a release sport they will eventually take over Mile Lacs

[HorseshoeChain]

I'm with ya Brad. Since you put 'em out there, I just wanted to start addressing them.