MN Tiger muskie season

[fishermusk]

I think it is time to expand tiger fishing opportunity in MN. They are only stocked in a few lakes. They are sustained by stocking so fishing for them during a spawn shouldn't reduce numbers. This statement is supported by various DNR's in southern states. Survivability of tiger muskie handled during cold water is good. They are protected till they reach 40 inches. I would rather fish in my home state and save my money as opposed to running out-state just to fish. I am not sure how the pike population is in the waters they are stocked, I am guessing in most of these lakes the pike is not doing great, (this is true for most pike water in MN )so lets fish for tigers year round. OH MY. Is he serious?

In a couple more weeks when the walleye pike opener starts there will be a couple posts right here on this forum complaining about someone muskie fishing during the closed season. Happens every year. Why not have a place for these people to go to fish for tiger muskie? I believe most people would rather fallow the rules than break them. As far as catching a couple pike out of season, big deal, there only 20 inches anyway and certainly will survive. I know I have caught an occasional walleye or bass while fishing for muskie before too. That is why we have seasons and bag limits.

[bobbymalone]

They are sustained by stocking so fishing for them during a spawn shouldn't reduce numbers.

[fishermusk]

You might have missed the statement about stocking to sustain the population.

I was talking about opening fishing for them only on the lakes that are stocked with them, that should help with identification.

[fishermusk]

I would go to a tiger lake to get some early season fishing.

Sometimes I just want to throw a few casts with the new lures I bought during the winter.

[50inchpig]

Sorry to tell ya but Tigers are being phased out in some metro lakes in favor of purestrain muskies so I doubt there will be increased opportunities or an early tiger musky season anytime soon, I think that was part of the long range plan.

Early opening for tigers would probably have pretty strong support though if the Tiger program was going to be continuing.

I think the DNR figured they get more bang for their buck with the purestrains and they grow bigger. The Tigers just aren't fished by too many people now that the fishing everywhere else is so good.

[fishermusk]

I did not know that 50inch, that is too bad. I am only a few miles of a tiger lake.

[50inchpig]

Lots of musky guys are concerned about the future of their local waters but outside the stream of information, there's a good chance the TC/North Metro chapters of Muskies Inc had a hand in stocking your lake somewhere along the line, so there is a good potential you're not the only one in your area who wants to see your lake prosper, even if the early season opening never becomes a reality.

Although MI as an organization isn't that political itself, it does bring all the people together who suggest, lobby, and help shape future policy and stocking, so I'd strongly suggest getting involved and meeting the other guys in your area who like fishing Tigers. At worst, it'll help you stay on top of issues that affect our future so we can all fight the good fight.

Privately funded stocking, hatchery surplus and other factors might allow you to still keep your local lake stocked to some degree, even if the statewide DNR doesn't focus on the Tigers very much in the next 10 years. You'd be surprised what can be accomplished if a few people get together and work on it.

[brad coin]

Absoulutly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was a rep in the MMA for about the first 4-5 years and tried to push this even talked to the DNR commish about an early tiger opener on 'DESIGNATED" tiger lakes

no reason this cant happen the dam things on average only live 7 years anyways (based on dnr figures} so lets get our moneys worth out of them. if you look at the recent stockings in some lakes and the average life span of a tiger your at one givin time fishing for one year class of catchable fish,,the tiger lakes need to be utilized more or lets just switch them to pure strains, the fact that these lakes are small shallow and dont fit pure strain criteria??? 'well' the dnrs number one broodstock lake Rebbecca fits that to a tee has far has description and purestrains to pretty well there.

we need to push an early tiger opener!!!!!!!!!

[fishermusk]

I am curious Brad, did you find much support for an early opener.

[brad coin]

fisher

the then commish said "thats an Idea Ive never heard before i'LL run that by fisheries it sounds like a good option"

dnr god bless them they do a great job,,but their just not going to make work for themselfs, printing new regs,more enforcement issues.possible public hearings.

if you want something like this you just have to push it

[fishermusk]

I guess I will have to start sending emails to my legislators. I think this is a good idea.

There was a stupid rule saying you couldn't hunt crows in WMA's a few years back, I emailed my legislator for years and finally the rule was changed.

Jim do you have an opinion about this subject.

[fishermusk]

No one else has an opinion on this subject?

[Jmeyers]

For some reason I feel like have a "designated" lake stocked only with tiger musky would take the fun out of gunting them for me. One of the things I lov emost about musky fishing is trying to understadn them and their habits (where they are in the water and why). Don't get me wrong I think it would be a blast to setup a bobber rig and slay some nice tiger's, I'm just saying I love the hunt...

[Shawn Kellett]

Hey Fisher,

Here's the skinny on the tiger program:

A few years ago we pushed the DNR pretty hard to try to open the tiger season on the designated lakes to the same date as opener for all the reasons you mentioned. We had Ron Payer interested in it and according to him the CO's didn't like it because it made enforcement harder. We haven't pushed for it since then as we've had enough other battles to fight but it's a good idea to bring back to the surface since we have a new head of fisheries.

As far as the tiger program being phased out, that's not really the case. The DNR is evaluating the program now. There are several factors going into the evaluation: 1. people seem to want to fish for pure strain over tigers, 2. tigers cost more over their lifespan then pure strain (cheaper to produce but live shorter), 3. evaluate which lakes don't seem to be producing fish.

A few years ago the DNR reduced stocking rates on the tiger lakes to 1x every 3 years. We brought this up to the DNR a few years ago saying that it was a regulation the wrong way since tigers only average an 8 year lifespan. Basically to have good fishing you needed to track the stocking reports to see where the good year classes were.

What they're going to do now is to discontinue stocking the lakes where the fish didn't do well and put those fish into the lakes that are. By doing this they will increase the stocking rate to every other year and create a more stable population. On some waters they are going to switch to pure strain to better manage the demand of current muskie anglers. The Calhoun Chain got it's first pure strain stocking a year or two ago. There is talk about possibly doing others but I don't think there has been any concrete decisions yet.

I warn against starting to send letters to the legislature about things like this. Just look at all the bad press that is happening with all the MDAA stuff in the news right now. There is a process currently in place, and while it doesn't happen as fast as we'd like but it's the "right" way IMOP.

[goblueM]

what shawn said about the letters ... there's a process in place, and it should be left alone, instead of having legislators micromanage something politically that should be left to the DNR

it'd be great to fish tigers early, but it is what it is and there's a forum for anglers to make their voice heard to the DNR

[porterhouse]

I love catching Tigers. Every June I fish Tigers hard in the metro. So much fun!

Brian

[hunterjoe]

it'd be great to fish tigers early, but it is what it is and there's a forum for anglers to make their voice heard to the DNR

GoblueM, what do you care about fishing for tigers early? You get to fish pures all year long!!!

[goblueM]

well, IF i was still in minnesota

and a lot of good the year-round season is doing me, the river has been insanely high so far this year, and I've been muskie fishing once (for 2 hours) since September

[hunterjoe]

Way to take advantage of your resources down there.

The rivers are high everywhere. They are finally starting to come down here, but the MN is still almost over the banks at 35W.

[fishermusk]

Shawn,

Thank you for your tireless efforts for muskies and muskie fishing. I keep track of a couple different forums and have noticed you and your efforts.

Its good to know that I am not the first person to think about this issue. I think this is long overdue, we would probably have a few more tiger muskie lakes if the season would open early or be open year round.

I understand that legislators are not always the best way to get things done, if the subject is a biological or something that the DNR should have more knowledge of then I think its best for them to recommend to the legislators certain changes.

I also don't like the idea of a CO's saying it is going to be hard to enforce. They have job to just like the rest of us and saying it will be hard to enforce is baloney. Make your case and show up in court if you have to. There was a letter to the editor in last weeks Outdoor News using the same argument against the two line bill. I still have not decided if I am in favor for it or not, and have given it much thought. They're several laws on the books for hunting and fishing because of this, and it is a poor excuse if you ask me.

If in the future this issue would possibly come up, you will have my support.

Thanks again.

[Shawn Kellett]

Thanks for the complement Dave.

Regarding the enforcement issues I think now that there is a 48" statewide min it would probably be a moot point since it's the rare tiger that gets above that mark (probably 5 all year). When we first brought this up we still had the state wide 40". I'm going to bring it up in the next Esox Workshop this summer and see where we can go with it.

[Gekhang]

im for early opener as i live right by the calhoun chain and mostly fish cedar. caught my first tiger on cedar last fall and hope to go out again opener.

[hunterjoe]

I doubt those lakes would be open for an early "Tiger" season as they have pure strain fish in there as well. They would have to be Tiger only lakes I would bet.