Look out below cause here we go

[MSRiverdog]

Years ago I stopped in a bait and tackle store in Chippewa Falls, I bought what was then the "New" Wisconsin Muskie Lakes" map book. I asked at the same time if they had one for Minnesota, the 2 guys there laughed and said "they got Muskies in Minnesota?"

My question is this, are we now equal to, better than or not as good as Wisconsin in the Muskie department? I read somewhere that the state of Minnesota has their act together finally, stocking and managing Muskie and Wisconsin don't. Thoughts?

[GatorBait]

I honestly have no comment on the Minn vs Wis rivalry. I honestly don't care cause both states have great fisheries available to everyone. I do know, that Wisconsin is spreading their stocking capabilities with muskies to places that haven't seen them yet and boosting numbers in other lakes. It has been the norm for a long time that if you want muskies, you go up north to fish. But times are changing and Muskies are becoming more popular now throughout the entire state today, rather than in the north 20 counties. So does this make us better, same or worse than Minn's practices with Muskies. I have no idea. As long as both state's manage them correctly, it'll be a great fishery no matter what for both of us.

I hate to look at who is the best in this category though,as, I'd rather be thankful for the chance to open my atlas and pick a spot within a 500mi radius to go catch the great muskie, than fishing the same spots year after year.

Tightlines,

Gatorbait

[SledNeck]

This might sum it up and make Wisconsin feel REALLY inferior.

Quote:

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Restrictive regulations also help produce big muskies. This is one area where Wisconsin has lagged behind Minnesota and Ontario, where larger size limits are producing larger fish in greater numbers than are caught here. According to Department of Natural Resources fisheries supervisor Mike Vogelsang of Woodruff, a lot of anglers looking for big muskies are bypassing Wisconsin and going instead to Minnesota and Canada.

"Fifty years ago, Wisconsin was the destination for big muskies," says Vogelsang. "But Wisconsin lakes no longer have the numbers of 40- and 50-pound fish they had back then. We'd like to turn that trend around. Minnesota and Canada are seeing those fish because they've bumped up the size limits on selected waters."

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This may hurt.

There's muskies in Minnesota?? LMAO!

[Scoot]

Lots of guys from MN used to go to WI to catch muskies. Now, tons of WI guys come here and not so many MN guys go there. The reason... listed in the post above.

[MSRiverdog]

I used to be one of them go to WS. guys. Somebody wanted a Muskie I'ld take em to Bone, almost a sure thing, never broke 40 though, this was maybe 15 years ago. I got 5 myself one day there between 30 and 40. Looking for big, I'ld go to Leech. The bait store thing happened maybe 20 years ago maybe a little longer, at that time your odds were better there, looks like things have changed. Today it seems in order to get 50 I wouldn't have to go 50 miles, or cross a border. Cool.

[Nick Kuhn]

Bone is a completely different animal because it was overstocked. The population was nearly 3x as dense as the lake could support, so they've toned down the number they throw back in there, and they've seen a lot more 40"+ fish in the few years since they did so. They are good fish though, as they've become pretty well established throughout the Apple River system. Most fish I've seen in that system are in the low 40's (and I have seen 1 that would have gone 50) so they aren't runts by any means.

Both states are working hard to improve their muskie fisheries, so either way the angler should see more great opportunities in the future. I just wish the Wi DNR would switch to a muskie (or even pike) program on our lake, as the current feed the bass program (walleye stocking) isn't working at all.

[50inchpig]

How many 50 pound fish from Wisconsin last year? 1

How many 50 pound fish from Minnesota last weekend? 3, at least

Not the only indicator of a healthy fishery but it's a good start.

Let's just be happy Wisconsin is closer to Chicago than Minnesota is.

[MuskyBrian]

I'm not really sure what Chicago has to do with musky fishing, the guys I know around here are top notch when it comes to C&R but..every dead Musky I have seen posted this year was caught by a WI or MN angler but, think what you want...anyways...

Minnesota is without a doubt superior when it comes to big fish..However, the good work that has been done cannot stop now. The sport is growing in popularity, with every big fish caught and put in the paper someone else is going to try it. I believe MN has something like 80 Musky lakes? I'm guessing there are 80 Musky lakes in Vilas Co. alone...if the pressure increases, and the amount of lakes in MN does not, things do have the potential to change, for the worse...Here is hoping the DNR keeps stocking new waters

[JRedig]

Quote:

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How many 50 pound fish from Wisconsin last year? 1

How many 50 pound fish from Minnesota last weekend? 3, at least

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I can't tell you how throughly entertained I am that you think you know of every fish caught in wisconsin.....they both have big fish. I mean obviously EVERY muskie angler is on the message boards and posts pics/size/details of EVERY fish they catch. I can never wait to get home and brag up on the net every fish I catch, usually I will leave the lake immediately to ensure a timely posting for everyone out here......Of course this is because I just caught the only one in the lake?

<puke>

Check out the guys at badfishoutdoors for some 'sconnie pigs.

[Muskiefool]

No Comment

[AWH]

Quote:

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I believe MN has something like 80 Musky lakes? I'm guessing there are 80 Musky lakes in Vilas Co. alone...if the pressure increases, and the amount of lakes in MN does not, things do have the potential to change, for the worse...Here is hoping the DNR keeps stocking new waters

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If my count is correct from the Wisconsin DNR HSOforum, Vilas County alone has 210 musky lakes with 18 of these over 1,000 acres and another 31 between 500 and 1,000 acres.

Aaron

[Nick Kuhn]

Only about 1/3 of those are currently on a stocking program though, meaning the majority of the lakes in that area are completely self-sustaining.

I don't know if budget cuts killed the program but they are doing a comparison in which fish from both Leech Lake and Bone Lake are stocked in equal numbers in the same waters:

Quote:

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Lake County SA (acres) Class Year Stocked

Shell Washburn 2580 A1 07, 09

Deer Polk 807 A2 06, 08

Matthews Washburn 263 B 07, 09

Sand Barron 322 B 06, 08

Twenty-Six Burnett 263 B 07, 09

Benoit Burnett 279 C 07, 09

Des Moines Burnett 229 C 06, 08

Schedule

2005-lake selection, securing sources of LL fish, test tagging procedures (retention, mortality).

2006-09-production and stocking

2011-adult sampling begins.

2012-initiate annual review of results by muskellunge management committee for purpose of applying

results to propagation and stocking policy.

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Source: http://dnr.wi.gov/fish/musky/Muskystrain_stcroix.pdf

Just have to wait another 5 years if the program continues.

[MuskyBrian]

Even more then I thought. Definetely my opinion that at some point here 80 is just not going to be enough, a good portion of those are in the Southern Half of the state anyways.I think MN has a lot of untapped potential...the NE part of the state needs something other then Vermilion...I know of a few of those cities could use a little tourism boost as well

[cjac]

It's actually in the 120s unofficially. There are 20+ in the metro managed for hybrids alone.

As for expansion, add Many Point Lake in the NW to the list, being developed as a muskie fisherie. More are in proposal, the west central area has a few up for debate as well. If you want more, voice your opinion with local politicans, lake assns, etc.

Chris