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Posts: 661
Location: Sussex, NJ | Hello gentleman, I have an interesting question regarding how much some of you fellow fisherman know about muskies and the lakes they're in as a whole. What I mean by that is how many of you have knowledge regarding the management of these fish, the management of the waters they reside in, what impacts there are on the fishery and how to make a sustainable fishery. Do a lot of you pay attention to that or are you here just to catch fish and that's it? The reason I ask is because at the moment I'm pursuing a degree in Natural Resources Management at a very well established and accredited institution and the age of 22 I'd to think I do well (Fishing wise that is) for my age. However a lot of people I talk to about fishing don't
understand the management aspects and the effort it takes to produce not only a successful, but sustainable fishery. I'd just like to see if any of my fellow fisherman look at it the way I do as a system and not just catching a fish. I have a lot of respect for organizations like the DNR and Muskies Inc. who are constantly researching and developing ways to produce great fisheries all around the country. I think as fisherman it's important to know the effort it takes and impacts we have on the ecosystem to help keep the fishery sustainable. So let's hear it, how do you guys see it?
Edited by fishfirst92 3/24/2015 11:03 AM
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Posts: 32786
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Check the biology board. Lots of conversation there on this topic, and some pretty heated stuff over the years. |
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Posts: 4343
Location: Smith Creek | Catching a fish or shooting game automatically makes you a biologist.
Whenever I stop into a tavern the majority of guys bellied up to the bar are biologists or ichthyologists or forestry management specialists.
Just ask em. |
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Posts: 2275
Location: Chisholm, MN | Yeah, personally I think some fisherman have a better understanding of a lake and how it should be managed than the guys who are paid to manage it. The good managers are the ones who also have a passion for fishing and a connection to the water they are working with. There are a few out there that get the job done as best they can. |
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Posts: 661
Location: Sussex, NJ | I agree with you, I think you need someone who has seen both sides to fully understand everything. Those guys are the ones who really make the impacts and innovations. I know personally I have learned a significant amount about management from being on the water as compared to in a classroom. A good combination of both however in my opinion is what's best |
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Posts: 431
| I don't know very much compared to many, but I try to do my best to not have a negative impact. I went to school at LSSU in U.P. which is a very good fisheries and wildlife school as well (although I went for something else). I feel compelled to tell you that all my friends that went for fisheries have mentioned the importance of building relationships with their profs. The reason is that a lot of guys graduate with fisheries degrees and there aren't a whole lot of the more "interesting" opportunities in the research sectors. Most of the profs have relationships with the types of people that can hook those jobs up. I hope this didn't sound obnoxious just something Ive heard over and over from my buddies, that that career is about connections big time. Fisheries/Biology guys are fun to talk to and even more fun to fish with! |
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Posts: 1220
| The guy I'd look up is Tom Betka in Green Bay. First, he's a real doctor, and doctor's think they know everything. Second, (at least in the recent past) he has some sort of official title with Muskies, Inc as "Fisheries Biologist" or something impressive sounding like that. Third, he's been in my boat, he's a nice guy and a musky guy, but he knows so much, that I don't understand a singe word of it. Call Tom, and then see how long it takes to tap on the mat. |
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| The longer I fish....the less I "know." I thought someday I'd have answers, but all I have is more questions! |
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Posts: 8717
| I know that there is so much that goes into managing a fishery that it takes someone a lot smarter than me to figure out the best way to do it.
I know that every lake and every region has it's own unique combination of water chemistry, reproduction, biomass, forage, fertility, and a bunch of other factors I can't pronounce and don't understand.
I know there has to be a proper balance of a bunch of factors for muskies to reach trophy size, and that will never happen in a lot of lakes.
I know you can't catch a musky twice if you eat it the first time.
That's about all I know.
As far as catching them? I know where they should be most of the time. I know what should work, and what colors would be best. I even know what to try next when everything that "should" work isn't.
Some days they follow the rules perfectly and I am brilliant. Other days they don't, and I am stupid. |
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| Ben Olsen - 3/24/2015 3:42 PM The longer I fish....the less I "know." I thought someday I'd have answers, but all I have is more questions! How true. As my grad advisor once wisely observed, "The more you know, the less you know, you know?" |
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Posts: 20179
Location: oswego, il | I try to stay in tune. I am a delegate for FRV in the Illinois Muskie Alliance which is a liason to the IDNR and their needs. We are in frequent contact with DNR heads to the biologists, their needs, status, strategies and forecasts. We have some great give and take with them. I am pretty sure through some of my feedback, through one biologists inquisition played a big role in one lake's yearly stocking vs every other. |
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Posts: 815
Location: Waukee, IA | I'm an actual biologist, according to my college diploma. Muskies are my hobby not my job, though. Anybody hiring? |
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Posts: 16632
Location: The desert | fishfirst92 - 3/24/2015 11:02 AM
Hello gentleman, I have an interesting question regarding how much some of you fellow fisherman know about muskies and the lakes they're in as a whole. What I mean by that is how many of you have knowledge regarding the management of these fish, the management of the waters they reside in, what impacts there are on the fishery and how to make a sustainable fishery. Do a lot of you pay attention to that or are you here just to catch fish and that's it? The reason I ask is because at the moment I'm pursuing a degree in Natural Resources Management at a very well established and accredited institution and the age of 22 I'd to think I do well (Fishing wise that is) for my age. However a lot of people I talk to about fishing don't
understand the management aspects and the effort it takes to produce not only a successful, but sustainable fishery. I'd just like to see if any of my fellow fisherman look at it the way I do as a system and not just catching a fish. I have a lot of respect for organizations like the DNR and Muskies Inc. who are constantly researching and developing ways to produce great fisheries all around the country. I think as fisherman it's important to know the effort it takes and impacts we have on the ecosystem to help keep the fishery sustainable. So let's hear it, how do you guys see it?
If/When you complete your degree and get and job working in fisheries you will find the answer to this question. Likely in your first few days.
Nowadays I'm not sure if fisheries managers should have a degree in biology or politics. I tend to lean more toward politics?
What school? PM me if you'd like any advice. |
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Posts: 1759
Location: new richmond, wi. & isle, mn | Pointerpride102 - 3/24/2015 6:58 PM
fishfirst92 - 3/24/2015 11:02 AM
Hello gentleman, I have an interesting question regarding how much some of you fellow fisherman know about muskies and the lakes they're in as a whole. What I mean by that is how many of you have knowledge regarding the management of these fish, the management of the waters they reside in, what impacts there are on the fishery and how to make a sustainable fishery. Do a lot of you pay attention to that or are you here just to catch fish and that's it? The reason I ask is because at the moment I'm pursuing a degree in Natural Resources Management at a very well established and accredited institution and the age of 22 I'd to think I do well (Fishing wise that is) for my age. However a lot of people I talk to about fishing don't
understand the management aspects and the effort it takes to produce not only a successful, but sustainable fishery. I'd just like to see if any of my fellow fisherman look at it the way I do as a system and not just catching a fish. I have a lot of respect for organizations like the DNR and Muskies Inc. who are constantly researching and developing ways to produce great fisheries all around the country. I think as fisherman it's important to know the effort it takes and impacts we have on the ecosystem to help keep the fishery sustainable. So let's hear it, how do you guys see it?
If/When you complete your degree and get and job working in fisheries you will find the answer to this question. Likely in your first few days.
Nowadays I'm not sure if fisheries managers should have a degree in biology or politics. I tend to lean more toward politics?
What school? PM me if you'd like any advice. |
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Posts: 358
| I know one thing about Muskies...sooner or later they have to eat. tkuntz, PFBC and PGC. are hiring biologists. |
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Location: Sussex, NJ | Interesting to see the replies thanks gentleman. Mike I attend SUNY-ESF (College of environmental science and forestry) in Syracuse |
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Posts: 2275
Location: Chisholm, MN | fishfirst92 - 3/24/2015 10:08 PM
Interesting to see the replies thanks gentleman. Mike I attend SUNY-ESF (College of environmental science and forestry) in Syracuse
I was going to go fisheries for my degree, but everyone told me it would be too hard to find a job. I went into forestry instead. In hindsight, I regret not doing fisheries, but I did end up getting a great job. |
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| Pointer's response reminded of a class I took at UW-Stevens Point, called "The Politics of the Environment". It was taught in the Political Science Dept. but most of the students were from the school of Natural Resources. As a Pol. Science/Public Administration student, I just took it because it interested me. This was right after the national clean water laws were passed back in the mid 1970s. I was shocked at how naïve the natural resources guys were about the political/legislative process. I knew the professor and talked to him about that after class one night. He just shook his head and said that was why the school decided to offer the class. Don't get me wrong, the natural resources guys were great people and most of my friends at Point were in natural resources but you would think they would have taken a civics class in high school. From the ones I stayed in touch with over the years after graduation, they became a lot more savvy about politics/govt. once on the job. |
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