Tagged Muskies in the Metro

[Shawn Kellett]

Here's the press release.

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/areas/fisheries/westmetro/mue_study.html

Minnetonka Muskie Stocking Study

Consistent Lake Minnetonka muskellunge (muskie) management began in 1974. Stocking plans since 1998 have been requests for 2,925 Leech Lake Brood-strain fingerlings (about 12" long) in odd-numbered years. Actual stocking has varied because of inconsistent fingerling availability. Make-up with larger, older fish and stocking in unplanned years has, however, provided regular additions of muskies.

Substitutions of year-old ("yearling") muskies for fingerlings, when necessary, have been based on a ratio of 1 yearling for 3 fingerlings, since yearlings are a year older and up to 10 inches larger than fingerlings. This recommended "replacement ratio" has not been confirmed by studies or field evidence.

To test the validity of the 3:1 fingerling-to-yearling ratio, MN DNR and Twin Cities Chapter of Muskies, Inc. started a project to track survival and performance of fingerling and yearling muskie stocked into three Twin Cities-area lakes-- Minnetonka, White Bear, and Bald Eagle. Lake Minnetonka had 1,214 fingerlings and 372 yearlings stocked in fall 2009 and will receive a second stocking in fall 2011. The two northeastern metro lakes were stocked in 2008 and 2010.

Starting in 2013, once larger and targeted by anglers, tagged muskies will be tracked by volunteers who catch them during normal fishing trips. MN DNR Fisheries will also track fish during its survey work and log public reports of tagged-muskie catches. Results from both methods will help determine which number-size combinations of stocked muskies yield the best returns.

Muskies stocked for the study have been marked with both internal PIT tags (readable with a specialized scanner) and external numbered tags. The outer "Floy" tags are yellow, about an inch long, and are located near the dorsal fin. If you catch a tagged muskie, please leave the tag in the fish but record the 6-digit tag number and data related to lake, date, and fish size via the internet tag-report form (preferred), or relay the information to the West Metro Area Fisheries Office.

[50inchpig]

I think I can probably make it to one of those lakes a couple times this year. Do you know if we'll receive any info back from the dnr about our fish like they do for other tagging programs?