spearing on beers and west battle

[island guy]

This is not a post against spearing. I've enjoyed the sport in the past and would do it again if I had the equipment.

That out of the way, I noticed after decades of Beers and West Battle being closed to spearing, (I assume to protect musky), the DNR has reopened it starting next week. You can spear northern under 24" and not over 36". You may spear one over 36". My question is having never speared in a lake with both species how difficult is it to tell the difference between the two? Also, it would seem hard to accurately eyeball the protected slot? At least it would be for me. Just curious as to what others think.

[Yooperguy]

Well depends on what day you ask. If it's a lake that was closed to spearing you will be told it is easy to tell them apart. If its a lake that you are trying to get stocked with muskies then apparently it is difficult. I wonder why they even opened up these two lakes as there is a slot and that's a problem for some too.

[slammer]

Good question. Wonder if a camera could be used while spearing without getting in the way? Used to spear years back and could see where it would be tricky to tell the difference especially if the waters not to clear.

[Gissert]

The muskies tail fins are more pointed than a pike. If it is a hybrid muskie then the tail fins are more like a pike.

The only way to tell for sure is look for the light spots on a dark background of the pike. If those are not there, don't throw the spear.

[mrklean]

Ignore yooper hes just a cry baby who trolls the spearing forum trying to start arguments. Like it was said above you need to look for the difference in colors or tail fins. The best way to sum up an answer for both your questions is know before you throw, that is every persons responsibility who spears a muskie or slot lake. I plan to spear a muskie lake this year as long as its clear and will take pics hopefully of both pike and muskie in the hole so you can have a better idea what it looks like looking down on them.

[Jameson]

In my experience Musky are more gray and almost glow.

.

Pike normally appear nearly black to me.

[Jameson]

...You can spear northern under 24" and not over 36". You may spear one over 36". ...Also, it would seem hard to accurately eyeball the protected slot?

What?? Is the slot info accurate? So, basically spear the hammerhandles and a trophy. If you have no experience spearing I would suggest staying far away from spearing on a slot lake, but once you have experience you probably will be able to judge a fish in the water within a few inches. Give yourself a couple inches for error. If the protected slot is 24-36" than personally I will try to not spear anything 22-42" or something like that...

[Yooperguy]

Ignore yooper hes just a cry baby who trolls the spearing forum trying to start arguments. Like it was said above you need to look for the difference in colors or tail fins. The best way to sum up an answer for both your questions is know before you throw, that is every persons responsibility who spears a muskie or slot lake. I plan to spear a muskie lake this year as long as its clear and will take pics hopefully of both pike and muskie in the hole so you can have a better idea what it looks like looking down on them.

trolling? Really? Did I say something incorrect or not truthful?

[PGF]

Yeah, gonna have to quote Tommy Boy here, sort of. If you cant tell the difference between a muskie and a northern, raise you're hand and Tommy will come over and... I think the pictures provided should help anyone in question.

[Gordie]

When a musky comes threw the hole it typically just passes straight threw and it almost puts a reddish glow in the hole. those red fins stick out at me. Pike tend to slide in slow and stop not all the time ,but most all the time.

When in doubt please don't throw the spear, its not worth it.

[Dorkfish]

Yes as gordie suggested if unsure don't throw because if you are caught with one you can get into a lot of trouble which is unneeded and also if people see it most lakes would start putting the no spear fishing signs back up

[Jameson]

...trolling? Really? Did I say something incorrect or not truthful?

You really didn't say anything, particularly anything helpful to the original post. What little you did say was more trolling for a different discussion. It was not helpful to the person asking the question. Am I incorrect or not truthful?

[MJ1657]

Its kind of like the guys that shoot a swan thinking its a snow goose. You have to be a complete moron to pull the trigger on the wrong species.

Spearing is no different.

Welcome back Yooperguy. Its been awhile since you've been in here trying to stir up trouble. This is my one and only post of the year acknowledging your problem causing. I would suggest all of the other regulars on here do the same.

Trolls go away when they don't get attention.

[10,000 Casts]

With West Battle's clear water, someone should have no problem telling a Northern from a Muskie.

But there are some variables like low light condition, setting up too deep etc. I'm personally almost color blind and everything can blend in so it's tougher to tell and I have to look closer to see the light spots on the dark body and then look for the pointy fins.

[Yooperguy]

I understand I come off as a trouble maker. I really do respect your sport and do hope it stays. My problem stems from your leadership and the lack of public comments on these rule changes. I don't see a lot of good coming from opening up these lakes with the fact some can't tell the difference. Also now that nonresidents are aloud to spear, some which may have never seen a muskie. With that being said, I commend the guys on this board for showing people the difference. I also hope that the MDAA is doing the same, to protect our resource and your heritage.

[jerkin'm]

As has been stated, west battle is ultra clear, especially in the winter-I see the slot as the issue more so than Muskie ID- will be interesting to see if many people target it with a spear as it would be a strange proposition to only want borderline hammer handles or trophy sized pike-I haven't been on beers so can't comment on that body of water-

[jasonmichalski]

Its kind of like the guys that shoot a swan thinking its a snow goose. You have to be a complete moron to pull the trigger on the wrong species.

Spearing is no different.

Welcome back Yooperguy. Its been awhile since you've been in here trying to stir up trouble. This is my one and only post of the year acknowledging your problem causing. I would suggest all of the other regulars on here do the same.

Trolls go away when they don't get attention.

agree on all comments, lol!!!

[Spike76]

Are these experimental slot lakes or is there a reason for slots on these lakes. Just to get bigger pike is not a valid reason. All game and fish laws should be science based for healthy and sustainable populations. I spear northerns to eat them, why would anyone want to spear a musky. The D.N.R. has a duty to everone, not just people who want big fish.

[Yooperguy]

The slots are stuck the way they are and capped at 100 because the scientific process was circumvented by one group. I won't mention that group as I don't want to be a troller. But this is what happens when we let legislators make our fish and game laws instead of biologists.

[MJ1657]

Are these experimental slot lakes or is there a reason for slots on these lakes. Just to get bigger pike is not a valid reason. All game and fish laws should be science based for healthy and sustainable populations. I spear northerns to eat them, why would anyone want to spear a musky. The D.N.R. has a duty to everone, not just people who want big fish.

Do you realize you do nothing but make spear fisherman look like a bunch of whiney cry baby's? I was really hoping you weren't going to be on here playing the whoa is me sympathy card this year. Please direct your whining to the DNR and stop making the rest of us look like fools.

[Yooperguy]

Why are you getting on Spike? Completely agree with him and he is in the majority.

[KenM1987]

I'm surprised more people aren't crying about spearing on Sugar this year. thats where one of my houses is going. I for one am happy the DNR are starting to listen to us guys that spear. If it was up to Musky guys every lake would be stocked and no one would be allowed to spear.

[Yooperguy]

Um I think you got us "muskie guy's " all wrong. Why would we complain about Sugar. It's a hammer handle factory, hope you guys spear the heck out of 20 to 24 inch fish!

[Musky Buck]

Muskies are beginning to be more common on Ottertail Lake and many of those are getting speared because many aren't really aware they're in there, my relatives are and last year saw 7 muskies of varying sizes in Ottertail. They travel west battle to east to blanche to the blanche creek that runs through the bal morale golf course and into OT they go I believe, I've seen a pair of them spawning in the blanche creek before. Beers spearing cmon really, I've fished it since 1982 and haven't caught a pike bigger than 5 pounds ever nor have any friends of mine etc. It's what 271 acres hardly a large pike paradise, that makes 0 sense really when some ya hoo gets tired of seeing no pike or runts will he throw it into a nice muskie, idk. I hope not.

[tca12]

I've always wondered why the 271 acre lake was managed for muskies for the same reasons there wouldn't really be big pike. Leech, Lake of the Woods, Cass, etc. make sense given their size.