Time for New Muskie Reg on Mille Lacs?

[wormdunker]

Congratulations to the angler that recently caught the 57.25" Muskie, what a fish I for one am happy for him. However the catch brought something to mind regarding Mille lacs. Over the past several years we see increasing numbers and sizes of Muskies coming from the lake. Stories range from 50" fish caught on a spinner rig, 55" fish being caught on 4lb smallies and MOST importantly these Muskies have been known to eat (GASP) a slot walleye or two (PER DAY!!!)

It seems to me this Muskie success story should be setting off alarms with the DNR. Surely they do not want any managerial success stories,they proved that by lowering the boom on Smallie regs this year.

Considering the Mille Lacs Muskie population is rivaling that of the vaunted smallmouth, Is it time to catch and eat Muskies? What a nice meal the Muskie would make for large and small families, boat anglers and Launch anglers alike. I have eaten a muskie or two in my time and they had good flavor. I would say a cross between a bluegill and a walleye. Obviously the meat is much more flaky but has a wonderful taste of a freshly scaled Panfish. You just need to steak them out so they cook evenly and you are good to go.

Is it time to blame other species other than smallmouth?

Something to think about.

[Juan Grande]

Wow, 57.25" is huge!

I've been looking at planning a day trip up there, but I've heard the smallies are just getting pounded. I know there's plenty to go around, but how many tubes, grubs and crankbaits can those shallow rock pile fish see before they become conditioned metro fish?

Kind of strange to go on the Mille Lacs forum and all the threads are about smallies these days. To say the secret is out would be an understatement.

[CaptainMusky]

Considering the Mille Lacs Muskie population is rivaling that of the vaunted smallmouth, Is it time to catch and eat Muskies?

I was following along just fine until this sentence. You obviously have no clue about management practices for muskies when compared to smallies, walleyes, etc.

The musky population in Mille Lacs is just a blip on the radar compared to smallies. There is an estimated adult population in Mille Lacs of around 2000 fish. Not my guess, the DNR provided info.

There are probably in excess of 100 times that number of smallies in Mille Lacs.

[Esox_Magnum]

Capt is right on his post, also as far as prefered muskie diet walleyes make up less than 1% of a muskies diet, there are scientific studies done to prove this fact....57" muskies are not uncommon on the Pond several a year are caught and released...

[Juan Grande]

I think Wormdunker's comments about muskies were tongue-in-cheek. Kind of like "Now that it's open season on smallies, what's next, muskies?"

[wormdunker]

HA! Touchy aren't we? Where was all the love/support for smallies when everyone and their brother was piling on the smallie guys....Handing out Smallmouth recipes etc....Funny stuff.

I love ruffling the feathers of the toothy chasers. Relax I did not send this out on Twitter. Go tie a bucktail and spin a leader....your toothies will be protected.

You were right Juan, Most of what I said was tongue in cheek but muskies do taste good! They go best with a bottle of Chianti and a nice white sauce. My buddy built a special grill just for muskies, he made it 48" long because fish that size taste the best.

[Juan Grande]

Wormdunker is trolling.....for muskie fishermen.

Are you sure a muskie filet wouldn't taste better with some fava beans and nice Chianti?

[CaptainMusky]

Im not worried about a musky wormdunker harvests because I am quite sure he isnt as capable of catching one as I am, BUT on the otherhand, my 4, 7 and 12 year old along with my wife and I can certainly lay a hurt on smallies. Plus, I can keep six of those buggers.

Sure glad they opened it up so I can feed my starving family.

Shoe, meet other foot.

[MuskieFever]

I say we all get rid of our motors and start rowing to reduce pollution.

[RumRiverRat]

Drain Mille Lacs since it has been ruined.

It would make a great OHV recreational area.

[CaptainMusky]

Just think of those mudflats! Good idea!

[wormdunker]

Ahh captain you boil it down to the lowest common denominator. My dad can beat up your dad. If you care to challenge me, FOR ANY Species. I will take the challenge. Kind of funny how easily muskie guys can get ther feathers ruffled in a BASS forum.

My point is the Muskie will be next on the list of "Wanted" species by the DNR. They are definitely stupid enough to waste all the time and money they have invested in muskies if it means saving the walleye.

If I recall when the small mouth reg was announced the only people against the reg were small mouth anglers. I think we all know WHY the walleye population is diminishing, the combination of netting and increased angler pressure have dented the population.

Smallmouth are not to blame, muskies are not to blame.

[wormdunker]

Juan My tongue in cheek humor was definitely meant to make a point. I have never eaten a muskie. But if some eyes get opened as a result of thinking about the potential of altering size limits on muskies maybe we Anglers can BAND together and fight for our collective angling rights.

[CaptainMusky]

I believe you are sorely mistaken if you think muskies are on the verge of some radical new catch and keep limits. The mn dnr musky program is a nationwide success story and there have already been talks underway to essentially make it a catch and release fishery by upping the length to 55 or 56 inches. To compare a smallies population and their feeding habits is ridiculous. Smallies will have a role in reducing forage due to excessive numbers and this is possibly one of the major contributors to the bait problem in mille lacs. Have you ever seen a skinny bass out there? Walleyes the majority are.

I don't keep bass and to think that people are leaving the lake with coolers full of bass now just because they can is ludicrous. I talked to one creel survey lady at the landing and asked how the limit affected harvest and she said "haven't seen one yet and I've been here all summer".

Sky isn't falling wormdunker.

[wormdunker]

Ay AY Captain, Hey kids who lives in a pineapple down by the sea? In case you were under a rock the smallmouth regulations made ML a National success story too. Comprende? Never say never. I have never seen a skinny muskie either.

[Hester]

Hey Captain, Wormdunker does not speak for all bass guys out there, please keep that in mind.

[RK]

My buddy built a special grill just for muskies, he made it 48" long because fish that size taste the best.

That's actually pretty dang funny... Long skinny grill that's about 2 briquettes wide...heh.

WD, I do think you make a point, especially re: the smallies in Mille Lacs being the patsy for the walleye problems to a degree. I've heard the biological and management arguments as to why it *may* help the walleyes a little and likely won't hurt the smallie population much from the DNR.

But...it still really looks and feels like part of an overall softshoe around the larger issues on the lake. "Yeah, so the walleyes...well, ermm...hrm... Oh look! Smallmouths!" On a fishery as high profile as Mille Lacs socially and politically, appearances and perception matter almost as much as the biology. The smallmouth regs got a lot of the attention, but the same thing was done with the pike regs on the lake, and in terms of quality the pike fishery on Mille Lacs might be even better than the smallmouth fishery. Low density, incredible average size...just a beautiful population of fish, and they relaxed the harvest regs on those as well.

As an aside - if you want to get up in arms about smallmouth harvest...look a little further north. Leech is developing a smallie population as we speak, and they're getting filleted with some regularity. Got a text this morning from a guide friend up there that said there were two limits' worth of 2-3 pounders in the garbage at the Walker Bay fish cleaning shack.

CaptianM - I've been in and around discussions of fisheries management with the DNR and at the capitol for the last decade or so, and all I can say to the possibility that the muskie fishery may someday be thrown under the bus regardless of the effort and expense in developing it is "never say never." Particularly on the political side of things, it's been proven time an again that there's no hesitation at all to throw the baby out with the bathwater when it comes to management decisions and policies...

Wormdunker's original post is a great example of a 'good troll.' Some facts, a little snark and a challenge that sparks a good discussion. Well done sir

Cheers,

RK

[CaptainMusky]

Ay AY Captain, Hey kids who lives in a pineapple down by the sea? In case you were under a rock the smallmouth regulations made ML a National success story too. Comprende? Never say never. I have never seen a skinny muskie either.

ML a success story for smallies, true, but MN musky waters as a whole and trophy opportunities in this state are as good as they come, even in Canada. Not just ONE body of water. Apparently you no comprende, i wasnt talking just Mille Lacs for muskies. So maybe the smallies ARE to blame for the poor walleye population in ML since its so world renowned for the bass fishing?

You've never seen a skinny musky? That 57.25" musky you referenced that started your first post was SKINNY! I have caught countless ML muskies over the years and the only time they are fat is in the Fall. You catch a smallie ANY time of the year and they look like a dang football.

Whats difficult for the obtuse to understand is that changing the smallie regs on ML will have LITTLE impact on the smallie fishery. People dont keep them. Period. The attempt by the DNR to "single them out" or have an fish-for-food angling opportunity besides walleyes (since the slot is small) is a failed one at best. Its not going to work if its either of those intended purposes.

[thatoneguy]

Quote:

Whats difficult for the obtuse to understand is that changing the smallie regs on ML will have LITTLE impact on the smallie fishery. People dont keep them. Period.

Not even close to true. An unfortunate number of tourists from the state to the south of MN (and other places, I'm sure) love to keep both brown and green bass for supper.

[Juan Grande]

Do you guys think the resort launches keep many smallmouth?

[CaptainMusky]

Not even close to true. An unfortunate number of tourists from the state to the south of MN (and other places, I'm sure) love to keep both brown and green bass for supper.

Not calling you a liar, but I would love to see some info to back this up. Like I mentioned the creel survey at the Cove Bay access hadnt seen ONE all summer when I had talked to her. Not saying it isnt happening, but the fact she hadnt seen one, should speak to the frequency it is done.

[CaptainMusky]

Do you guys think the resort launches keep many smallmouth?

Thats a good question. I know one of the regular's here works the launches every once in a while. I think a relative runs one or something. Be interesting to get his take on it.

[wormdunker]

RK thank you for recognizing my attempt to call attention to the ongoing issues with ML. If I had to summarize what I am getting around to (in around about way with some humor included) is that WE anglers need to come together to fight for our rights.

The OBTUSE angler often defends ONLY their preferred species when it comes to regulations. The age old walleye vs Bass feud is stupid to say the least. Fueled and maintained only by the ignorant.

IF Muskie ( I always mention them first because they get uppity if you don't), Bass(I always slip them in when i think about it because they typically don't care what you think of them), Walleye (I always like to mention them third because they get enough attention), panfish, catfish, carp etc..... (I mention these guys last because they typically aren't on these types of forums, at least not in the good forums like This one! hahaha) anglers do not come together to fight the fights we will never get what we want.

[wormdunker]

Oh and last week a co-worker went out on a launch. Apparently he was greeted by a very"entertaining" group of co-anglers". At any rate catching smallies was not only discussed by the captain but keeping them was promoted and they did so. Did they slaughter them? no but decent numbers of smallies were kept including some that he though seemed to be outside the regulation.

[CaptainMusky]

The OBTUSE angler often defends ONLY their preferred species when it comes to regulations. The age old walleye vs Bass feud is stupid to say the least. Fueled and maintained only by the ignorant.

Nice that you made an assumption that musky is MY preferred species. I fish for them yes, but fish for walleyes and panfish far more often than muskies. Am I to deduce that your preferred method of fishing is to "dunk worms"?

Im merely stating facts about your flawed comments comparing populations that "rival" each other. They dont. Comparing management practices and goals of each species is also ridiculous. Bass and Muskies are "sport" fish for the vast majority of people. Walleyes/Panfish are more along the lines of tablefare. You cannot compare management goals for all of these and in order to meet a desired result for one species you will likely impact something else.

I am not a staunch supporter of the changes in smallie regs, but at the same time I do not necessarily oppose them either. I believe there is a middle ground where some population reduction in smallmouth could maintain a world class fishery AND benefit the forage population which is necessary for healthy "other" species.

The change to smallie regs on its own WILL NOT fix the walleye issue. There are far other factors that need to change, but it certainly wont make the situation worse by harvesting some smallies.