Statewide 48" minimum

[RuKiddingMe]

Didn't that unfortunate scenario play out 2 years in a row for Tom? Or was it 2 nice fish and one didn't make it.

Either way I'm not questioning him or his ethics.

I know Tom has been an important component to the WI musky program.

RU

[b1gf1sh1]

my thoughts. 48'' limit may or may not be a great idea. i can only judge fairly when it comes to rivers really as thay make up about 90% of my time on the water. i'm lucky to be fishing waters that completely replenish themselves with little or no outside influence other than regulations. (those waters are rivers in general) the croix for example... if i catch a muskie under 40''s i'm amazed, and 48''s i'm not suprised.. basicly i've fished rivers heavy and almost exclusively for 20 years. 30+ total. in those years i've personaly not seen a difference in size average from then till now. alot i believe has to do with the high population of fish in rivers. i've fish one hundred yard stretches and hit four fish in a few hours many many times. i know a pool on the miss. where the pool is no bigger than a backyard swimming pool that i had my best day of 8 hook ups. landed only four but i was alone and with somebody i would have had 8. several 5,6,7, days in same area. my point is more fish means more fish, plain and simple. a 48'' limit can do that. less fish that are harvested can only mean more fish stay there. BUT without natural reproduction the dnr has to stock according to lake size and it's ability to sustain them.

this is where it could get sticky. the bigger fish get the more wary and conditioned they get. if you have nothing but large fish you have fewer fish a body of water can sustain coupled with less fish willing to attack anything that moves. also bigger fish eat bigger food. options for fishermen dwindle. i vote no to 48''s to preserve fishing for all. but i don't personally benefit while fishing my waters.

i vote C&R under 55'' because i want to save any muskies life. but records are meant to be beat. but honestly, and i've been talking this for years, the best way to ensure protection and the future of muskie management without giving up numbers and fish caught where everyones happy is a muskie stamp/tag. i explained my thoughts here months ago but i'll do it again.

muskie/pike stamp/tag on designated lakes. that way lure size can be regulated without confusion. a 7'' bait isn't a bass bait in minnesota. and people can't just claim they're northern fishing. also it funds the sport we love with money we spend on them. the same pride is had by us that trout junkies have enjoyed from the program they have. it protects our funding from our legi-thieves in the capital that take more and more from us every chance they get. no tag, no keep. simple. someone mentioned the last day of deer season and taking what you can shoot. if they bought a stamp/tag that's fine. also please consider that most stamps sold aren't going to be to people looking to keep them so much as protecting the resource. buying a deer tag means one thing. kill a deer. not catch it, release it and go for another. have to maybe figure out a live bait strategy too. because bass, walleye and others take muskie/northern size minnows. but that's the least of the issue.

this is getting long and i appologize. like i said i've been harping on this for years and put some thought into it. the benefits are just too important to be ignored.

no to 48''s. i really believe it would destroy the popularity of the sport in the long run. besides minnesota is ''THE'' destination for muskie. a wise man said once, ''if it aint broke, don't fix it.'' could have added, ''maintain and refine it''

[MUSKYMAN1011]

Have you even read the proposed/passed plan? I would really like to know if you even called, wrote and/or emailed to support this plan? Have u donated even one dollar to MI or any other club that helps stock the fish?

Are you talking about the Long Range Plan for Muskellunge and Large

Northern Pike Management Through 2020 that contains 82 pages in ADOBE format? the one that • Will Increase pure strain muskellunge opportunities by up to eight additional waters for a total of 103 pure strain waters (does not include hybrid muskellunge), by the year 2020. (FROM PAGE 8)

The one that states Esocid Workshops included members of Muskies Inc., Northerns Inc., Minnesota Darkhouse Association, Minnesotans for Responsible Muskie Management, and several non-affiliated anglers.

(FROM PAGE 11)

Thedogger, Is that the one you are talking about?

Yea, by golly I did read it.

I been a Member of MI for 14 years donated Hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars as-well as my Time.

Over the past 20 years, I have written the DNR more times than I can count.

I think the Long Range Plan is Great yes, but I still say a 48 inch Min Statewide is NOT a good idea!

Way To many variables involved.

Brian K

[HuntBigFish]

Yes, you're right RU. He caught a 51 pounder and kept it by his choice, then caught a 48 pounder that died. On the second one, it was 12 degree air temps and a 25 mph wind. Quite committed he is.

Why are you being so sarcastic to thedogger, when he is just voicing his opinion. Just lay off.

[The Dogger]

Ok Muskyman that is great to hear - ur origonal response didnt really represent one who is that involved and caring about the fish. Good things! I'm glad you contributed alot in the past and present. So since u are obviously a few steps above the begineer why do u care about the 48" rule - please tell me u or anyone u fish with will not be keeping one under that size as you should truely be an advicate of C&R with all ur experience.

No need to defend me, I know I stand on the side with the vast majority. I dont post alot but on a forum like this, where I believe a lot of newbies read from, but I just want to make sure they get the point of why keeping the first decent fish they get is not worth killing and why this new rule is great to now enforce it. There are more and bigger ones out there just keep at it. And plus, why kill it when a repo is the real deal for a mount anyway.

[Go2fish]

Originally Posted By: Go2fish

I do agree though a 40" fish is not really that big, have seen several 40-44" mounts and they are not really that impressive except for a waste of $500 and an almost really big fish.

Just because a 40-44" fish isnt a trophy to you doesnt mean that its not a trophy to anyone else. I know alot of fisherman that have never caught even a 30" musky let alone a 40". Im not trying to start anything here all im saying is that the definition of a trophy just depends on who you are and how often you fish.

I agree with you as well, to each their own. I go fishing with my niece and nephew all the time and there are totaly different keeper slots when they are in the boat then when it is just me and my buddies who fish all the time....To me a 40 inch fish when it could grow to 55" in certain waters is not that big in relation to how big it could get. No question here in MN a 40 inch anything is a giant. Am a bit of a numbers geek by day soo if Muskies get to say 55 inches then a 40 incher is at about 63% of how big it could get. Also more of a Walleye guy so to me that same equation gets me bringing 19inch Walleye to the taxidermist.

These are just my opinions and I am in no way trying to steer anyone to have the same views as me or say that if someones opinions on this are difft from mine they are wrong...Just want to catch really, really big fish!!!!

[Rmac]

One thing I have always thought could be promoted a little more is the proper way to release a musky. We and the Dnr spend a lot of dough to put these toothy critters in the lakes and rivers in MN, why not have a page in the regulations book or a video clip on their HSOforum or something. Not saying every crappie fishermen needs a pair of knipex and a big kahuna, but it would be nice to know that these fish that get caught by other anglers aren't bouncing off of every thing in the boat and drying out before the hooks come out. People also should know you have to work with a fish a while before they swim away. -Just a side comment to this subject.

[mainbutter]

I'm in favor of whatever keeps the fishing waters healthy and manageable.

Without that, the fishing will stink, whether or not you're able to keep your catch.

If a statewide 48'' minimum for musky provides a healthier ecosystem for musky lakes, or even if catch and release only provides a healthier ecosystem, heck I'm 100% for it. I'll never keep a musky in my life, because I only keep the fish I intend to eat, and memories of fishing are 100x more important to me than a wall mount.

I just hope that my trust in the researchers and the system that regulates fishing isn't misplaced, cuz who knows, more restrictions on keeping muskies might be bad for some lakes.

[Muskiefool]

Education on C&R will only carry the fish so far as has been proven time and again all over the Muskie range, regulation to protect the fish either from harvest such was the case on Elk and the Miss or a Minimum is the best way to regulate harvest and manage fish for a Trophy situation.

A state wide 48 with some additional waters protected even further due to either their potential as world class fisheries or their inherent/intrinsic value for the future will be needed as this pressure grows.

How much value does a 55 on Leech or Winnie hold?? what makes that fish valuable?, how do we protect that fish?, why would we need to protect her?, why is she more or less valuable than a Minnetonka 55?, we need to ask ourselves these questions and others and ask is "A" better for me "B" is it better for the fishery "C" will this eventually benefit me only if we execute or reduce "B" or "A"

Would we be anywhere near the place to fish if it was still a 30 Min ??, Washington just went from 36 to 50 for tigers, it will be interesting to see how those fish respond to the reduction in mortality.

Many of us are convinced that Muskies are released 99.9% of the time just because thats a fact for MI members, the reality is many fish are harvested all across the state at probably less of a percntage than ever before but the additional amount of anglers is the concern for the additional protection.

I ask the MN DNR about the main points they observed from the 550+ responses in the public input, the first thing they said was the majority want a quality Muskie fishery and the opportunity to catch Large Pike.

I hope these overwhelming requests put a 48 on the fast track, If you get time just read the Long Range Plan it answer's and addresses so many issues and angles on this subject I guarantee you'll learn something about the fish how they effect the lakes and what is needed to maintain the fishing we enjoy.

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/fisheries/muskiepike_2020.html