If you could, where would you stock muskies?

[stayman79]

Since there's a 8 page discussion in the Brainerd forum about the proposal to stock Gull Lake with musky, I started thinking about what other lakes might be good to stock with muskie to give the growing musky-fisherman population more and less-crowded options. I know very little about what they need, but have a general idea on forage, etc.

I'll go first: the Whitefish Chain! (I think I just heard a walleye fisherman cry) We spend a lot of time up there in the summer so it's a little bit of a selfish wish, but I think it would have the forage necessary to support them. And with all of the lakes in the chain, think of all the places to fish!

Who's next?

[big musk411]

First thing I was thinking when I saw that was Whitefish Chain! It would be just like Tonka, but faster growth due to better forage.

Also, I think they should stock some more rivers, upper St. Louis, maybe the Red River.

[RuKiddingMe]

I would love to see more Muskie lakes in the Alexandria area, Lake Mary to be exact, I mean why not, killer forage decent structure and more then enough acreage to suit I would bet there would be some MONSTERS in there over time.

RU

[MJBo]

Metro pools of the mississippi. Only place you can fish on a weekend and river fish have a tendency to be less sensitive to environmental changes increasing the odds of finding hungry fish during the dogdays.

[mtreno]

there already in there.......

[deerhuntr8]

Ottertail lake. Tons of space, tons of forage, and tons of

structure. Also nice clear water.

[MJBo]

In the upper but they don't stock the metro pools.

[RuKiddingMe]

I know they have stocked them a few differnet times around Pigs Eye lake and the Gray Cloud area. Another sweet place to see them stocked and would likely do well is Lake Pepin down in the Lake City area.

RU

[mtreno]

ya stocking would help get the numbers up but they are there - pulled a 36 incher walleye fishing this spring

i would be interested to see what they would do in one of those super deep/clear mine pits up on the range - feeding on all those trout and ciscos......

[RuKiddingMe]

Problem with those deep clear lake is they become an even tougher fish to catch. Pretty much have to resort to trolling at that point. I think, I have never fished muskies in the kind of water but from what I have read that is the way it would seem. I bet there would be some brutes though.

RU

[Random guy]

My bathtub, I would stock them in my bathtub. Now how cool would that be!?

I would like to see some lakes in the southern part of the state stocked. Give our musky guys living In Rochester, Mankato etc a place to go fishing. Granted the lakes to choose from would be very limited but I think it could be a great boost for the economy and fisheries in the southern region. French Lake can only take so much.

[MuskieMojoTackle]

the private lake in my backyard. That would be even cooler than the bathtub, JP.

Better get going on that private lake in my backyard.

[mtreno]

ya it would be a tough fish and not a numbers lake but i think you would need a crain to get them in the boat...... we have done ok on round in WI after dark and on real nasty days - that lake is about as clear as they come

i agree more southern lakes would be nice - would be nice early in the season as well.

i think the spring/prior lakes would be fun

[RuKiddingMe]

JP, though muskies stocked in the tub would be way cool, I have to think that taking a bath would be kind of scary, I don't know about you but there are certain things I don't want a muskies teeth anywhere near.

RU

[cjac]

They are the friendliest fish around, they would never bite!

[RuKiddingMe]

That pic cracks me up... Is that Jonesi talking with the fishy?

[cjac]

It makes me laugh every time I see it! Found it off a link from MuskieMojo to another site......

I'd love to see them in Koronis out by Paynesville. 3000+ acres, depth, structure, forage base, ......the family cabin is cabin next door it!

[cupper]

JP talked about stocking them in the southern part of the state and I am all for it. I grew up about 20 min. from the Mississippi by La Crosse, WI. I would love to see them stocked down there. Places for them to hide would be countless... supply of baitfish would be endless... hours of fun chasing them around would be priceless. Seriously, that part of the river is spectacular for pike fishing and I would imagine muskies would do very well also... maybe similar to the Chippewa Flowage in WI?

[drizzle]

I agree with ottertail.

[setterguy]

I've always wondered why Clearwater lake doesn't have muskies stocked. The lake has plenty of forage, cover, deep water and structure to handle the fish and the size to handle the pressure. Is it possible that the criteria would have something to do with streams in and out and the possible introduction to lakes or bodies of water that couldn't handle it?

[cjac]

Hey Luke,

I went close to your "backyard" this morning, somewhere you could hit on your lunch hour and popped a 42 on a Stinky Pickle! I had to laugh thinking, "I'm in Luke's backyard"! Had a real nice one ready to go on it, just ran out of room at the boat....

Name of the lake is in the lure, there's one to figure out!!

Chris

[caseymcq]

Burntside! It would be just like going to Canada. Gin-clear water, there are a truck-load of rainbow smelt for them to eat and when you weren't fishing for muskies you could fish for lake trout!

[MuskieMojoTackle]

Quote:

---

Hey Luke,

I went close to your "backyard" this morning, somewhere you could hit on your lunch hour and popped a 42 on a Stinky Pickle! I had to laugh thinking, "I'm in Luke's backyard"! Had a real nice one ready to go on it, just ran out of room at the boat....

Name of the lake is in the lure, there's one to figure out!!

Chris

---

You're right I could hit that on the lunch break!

Nice work.

[MuskyBrian]

Burtnside.....Snowbank....Shagawa.....RAINY

[RK]

Hiya -

Heh...they're already in Ottertail. Not a fishable population probably, but they're there. Know some bass guys that have seen some in there - and they fish muskies too so they know what they're seeing. They show up in all kinds of strange places. I saw one porpoise on the lake my cabin's on this weekend, and it's not a muskie lake.

TO the original question - the lake my cabin's on would be on my list... But beyond that, what I'd like to see is chains stocked, not just individual lakes on a chain. Fish do move into other lakes (my cabin's a prime example - a few in there, but has taken 20 years) and I suppose eventually they'll get populations to some degree, but I think it'd be cool if they could establish whole systems as muskie fisheries - like Alexander AND Fishtrap, as an example.

Cheers,

Rob Kimm