Paul Hartmans proposal to Minn DNR to expand metro purestrains

[brad coin]

I would like to obtain permission from the MN DNR to stock Leech Lake strain muskies into the lakes that have dropped from the DNR’s hybrid stocking list. Many of these were included in the DNR long range pian, but have no further stocking planed. I am offering to fully fund the stocking of these lakes with proceeds from George’s Minnesota Muskie Expo, Metro Muskie Tournament (MMT), local Muskie Inc chapters, retailers and individual anglers donations. Some of these the stockings will be done in honor of George Wahi and I would like to tag each of these fish so that the lakes can be included in your log book program comparing the value of stocked fmgerlings as yearlings.

I was disappointed to witness the shortfalls on quotas for stocking many of the tiger lakes over the past decade. Many of the lakes had gaps in stocking where there was only one- year class fish stocked over a six- to eight-year period. At these rates, muskies become an “incidental” catch but don’t offer an opportunity that anglers will target. The worst effect of dropping all these lakes is that they were THE top recruiter of new muskie anglers into our ranks. Many new participants in the MMT got into fishing due to an accidental andlor first muskie catch that they made while on the tiger lakes.

The DNR’ s recent survey showed that 15% of anglers target muskies with 50% having interest in trying the sport. Unfortunately, many of those potential new muskie anglers don’t have a boat or can’t afford to hire a guide to get them onto the world-class fisheries that you have created by stocking lakes like Vermilion and Mule Lacs. While the dropped tiger lakes don’t meet the criteria for muskie lakes, they do allow urban anglers a chance to catch a trophy game fish close to home. I understand that summer heat and winter kills are a risk on some of these waters but I am willing to take the financial risk knowing that the opportunity created is worth the potential loss.

The 2010 muskie opener in the Metro illustrated the need to preserve every muskie fishing opportunity available- especially in the Twin Cities. On Sunday there were 22 boats muskie fishing on Forest Lake #3 at one time. I personally fished the east half of Minnetonka between 6— 11am and noted that more than 50% of the angling boats observed were targeting muskies. I would like permission to stock all of the dropped tiger lakes with pure strain on a bi-annual rotation. Since private sources have been very unreliable, I would ask the MN DNR to increase their yearly production by around 900 Leech Lake fingerlings to supply these lakes. As stated above, the “sponsors” will take care of reimbursing the MN DNR for the cost of these fish.

One additional request is to continue to stock Lake of the Isles as a tiger lake. The Calhoun Chain has produced the former state record hybrid along with a couple of 50” releases and has also produced pure strain to 55”. Let’s keep this unique multi-species

trophy muskie opportunity viable for both angling groups by keeping one of the 3 lakes in the chain on the tiger stocking rotation.

The DNR muskie stocking program is the greatest sport fish success story of modem time (please see enclosed 50” list to iruly understand the magnitude of your success). I’m puzzled as to why the muskie group in Minnesota is fighting so hard to get five new muskie lakes approved while they just let 14 tiger lakes change back to non-muskie status. I fished many of these dropped lakes with anglers such as Al and James Lindner and Ron Schara, all of who will testify (along with thousands of others) as to our extraordinary results on those lakes.

In closing, I would again ask that you allow me to stock some of the lakes you have eliminated from your tiger program. These lakes can provide trophy-class muskie fishing opportunities for the 2.5 million Twin Cities area residents at no added cost to the MN

DNR.

Respectfully,

Paul Hartman

[brad coin]

my personel opinion,,,,Metro and Minnesota muskie anglers have always put their money where their mouth is,,the DNR thought that white bear lake would not be a good candidate for muskies and like the puppy dog we were told "If you want it YOU have to take care of it",,,and we did! its one of the best muskie fisheries in the metro

alot of the former tiger lakes are small,shallow,darkwater??? which describes to a 'T,,,lake Rebbecca which produces some years 95% of the dnr muskie fry.

hopefully we can get the ball rolling on this!!!

[BEEFEATER]

STOCK MORE TIGERS

[BEEFEATER]

Tiger muskies should be in every water in the state especially Prior Lake

[brad coin]

If you want to hear more about Pauls proposal he will talk indepth about this at the awards ceremony at this saturdays Metro Muskie tournament,,,you dont have to be signed up or have a ticket to come to the awards its open to the public.

[50inchpig]

This would do more to ease the pressure in the metro than the long range plan ever would. The work Hartman, TC chapter, and others do here is astounding to me. I really like the fact that consideration is given to some of the smaller lakes so shore anglers have an opportunity to catch them too. I think I'm going to look back one day while I'm fishing with my kids in 20 years and know that this was the moment our metro fishery went from great to spectacular.

[Silver Scale]

Wouldn't this have to go through the proper DNR procedure since it would be a new stocking? If so it could take a couple of years to get the go ahead. Look at how many years it took to get Pokegema stocked. I think if the lakes are suitable and the DNR thinks so too I would hope this goes through but it's far from being a done deal....

[50inchpig]

it's not new lakes, just waters where tiger stocking is being discontinued, it's an effort to keep muskies in lakes that are exclusively stocked with tigers right now

[foulpole18]

This is a great idea. And it wont cost the taxpayers anything. I hope it gets done.

[goblueM]

i thought they were planning on rotating Calhoun to pure strain sometime soon? or am i mistaken

[Shawn Kellett]

This fall for Calhoun. There's a lot more to the plan then what's in Paul's letter that is so preliminary that it doesn't even warrant all this attention.

[goblueM]

so are they keeping isles/cedar as tiger lakes, stocking pure strain in them, or discontinuing?

[50inchpig]

there are already pure strains in the calhoun chain

[Shawn Kellett]

That whole chain is turning to spots. We'll be putting some 2 year olds in this fall, I've already got it planned.

[JRedig]

There's a lot more to the plan then what's in Paul's letter that is so preliminary that it doesn't even warrant all this attention.

I kind of thought that, why is this getting published on every known and unknown musky site?

[Muskiefool]

These lakes will be stocked with Tigers by the DNR for quite some time, the budget is not an issue and neither are the fish, I was told there may be some discussion in the future. Maybe 6 months maybe 2 years; this is not an issue the DNR is interested in even putting on the burner any time soon. The official word as of today.

[brad coin]

Been away a couple days looks like we need a little more talk here

Personally I hope we NEVER get to the point where a Minnesota muskie resident cant approach the Minnesota DNR a public agency with a plan and proposal.

Paul Hartman has a plan/Idea/Proposal

Im pretty active in the Minnesota Muskie world and Im really trying to think who could have a resume like Paul Hartmans

Paul Hartman is one of the owners and Promoter of Georges Muskie expo which attracts a crowd of 2500-3200 each year

He has served has president of the Twin Cities Chapter of Muskies Inc

He has also been president of one of the Walleye clubs in the state

owner and promoter of the Walleye,Bass show that used to exist

Head of The Minnesota Muskie guides assoc

Owner/Promoter of the very popular former Minnesota Muskie Tournament trail

Current Owner of the Metro Muskie Tournament

When The New York Times sunday Magazine wanted to do a piece on Muskie fishing it was Paul who they contacted and it was who the reporter went fishing with for his story.

Paul Hartman has a pretty good pulse on muskie fishing in Minnesota

Bottom Line Paul Hartman has a Resume that few can match and he is has qualified has anybody to approach the Minnesota DNR a public agency with his proposal.

On another HSOforum it was mentioned that this should be run through the proper channels?,,,,the only proper channel is the DNR.

Its great that we have some very active muskie groups in the state that get ALOT repeat ALOT!!! done,,,However these are activist groups NOT agencys that people have to run everything by and seek their review or rubberstamp.

lets remember that it was a private party in the Longville area that just a couple years ago sought and was approved permission to make their own private stocking in an area lake and pay for it out of their own project so things can get accomplished by others too.

Understand that Paul is taking this to the DNR he isnt recruiting Politicians to push this through hes seeking DNR approval.

It was also mentioned why is this being put on the internet?

before this was put on the internet Paul shared his plan with members of the Twin Cities chapter meeting on Tuesday June 8th copies of Pauls Letter were also passed out to the crowd.He also planned to detail his plan to all who attended the awards ceremony at the metro muskie tournament which he did to a crowd of a couple hundred.\

Paul has a project and he wants to share the idea with the muskie community,,personally Im trying to figure out "why not" the possible repercussions are???????????? The DNR a public agency might get phone calls and emails? has a public agency isnt that their job to take input?

I dont understand why EVERYTHING in the Minnesota Muskie world now has to be a big secret that a few people should know.

Do we not have confidence in the Average Minnesota muskie anglers judgemnet

Do we now have to live in "TERROR" because the spearers might find out we are doing things?

fyi,,,200 or so metro muskie people stood in the pouring rain listening to Paul detail his plan at the metro muskie tournament saturday and nmost seemed very intrested Im sure there are some people on this board who were there.

I hope that there are more Individuals out their with Muskie projects who approach the DNR and show that the Muskie program needs alot more attention from sources other then a couple.