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| While reading the post about the 50" size limits I noticed that in one county there was a resolution talking about changing the Northern WI musky opener.
The musky season would open along with the walleye season, but would be catch and release only up to Memorial Day weekend.
I attended a meeting several weeks with about 40 guides from Vilas and Oneida Co. and this was talked about and was very well received. My feelings on it is that it would be a good thing.
If you spend any amount of time on the water from walleye opener to musky opener you see all kinds of people doing it anyway. They say, "well I'm casting for northerens" The guides view on it was that it would help out an already struggling Northern WI fishing economy.
What are your thoughts?? God bless.
John Stellflue
Oneida Esox Guide Service
www.oneidaesox.com |
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Posts: 1996
Location: Pelican Lake/Three Lakes Chain | I have very mixed views on this subject and really don't know what side of the fence I will fall on. The guy sitting and looking out the window right now wondering how he's going to make it another month without muskie fishing, would really like to start on May 3rd.
The more conservation minded guy that I have tucked away somewhere this time in the spring, realizes it is not a good idea to target fish while they are spawning. I don't know how much catching and releasing a fish while they are in the spawning acts affects there spawning success, but I don't think that it can help. With every other attempt to improve the muskie fishing in our area getting voted down, I would be hesitant to vote for anything that could be a detriment to the fishery.
With that being said I want to point out that I am a bit two faced because last year when the season opened on May 15th for the WI MI boundary waters I was one of the first up there targeting prespawn fish. Told you I didn't know where I stood on this one.  |
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Posts: 32950
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | I have trouble with this issue as well, mostly because I also have no idea if catching a prespawn female causes any problems with her spawning. There are a BUNCH caught anyway by walleye anglers and guys who are just out fishing. Maybe we could bother a fisheries biologist about this, and get an answer. |
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Posts: 78
Location: Pardeeville, WI | Maybe its struggling because people dont want to catch 30 inchers.
I am still planning my trip to Vilas this year but next year could seriously be a trip to Minny. I figure 6 guys could spend close to 3,000 dollars in a week. If they want that kind of money they need to increase the limits or pull their head out of you know where.
All is not lost yet however, the way catch and release is spreading Wisconsin will get it right sooner or later. I just wish it was sooner. 
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Posts: 578
Location: Sheboygan Falls, WI | On Monday night in Rhinelander someone asked the biologist how an early opener to musky season would affect the musky spawning process. If I remember correctly, his response was that musky are "broadcast" spawners. This is unlike crappie, bluegill, bass etc that actually make a bed. So, you would not actually be pulling a musky off of a bed. It sounded to me like there would not be a negative impact to the musky if there was a catch and release season from opener until Memorial weekend.
I agree with John that having the musky season open with the fishing opener would not hurt at all, in fact like he said, it would help the economy.
Chuck
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Posts: 20269
Location: oswego, il | I have concerns about it too. I think the size limit is more important than that. Even moreso important is saving the mom and pop resort. The more that fold up, sell out and become private, the less tourism dollars you have. Raising the size limits may save the day for them.
Cananda raised their limits, did it hurt them at all? |
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Posts: 1046
| The response I got from a fishery manager was that in fact the targeting of pre-spawn fish can cause them to DUMP their eggs in an undesireable manner which would be extremely bad on all lakes that are only using naturally occurring spawning.Lakes that have supplemental stockings would not be as affected do to the fact that fingerlings are introduced every other year but capture so near the spawning cycle would be hard on espically females.Changing the date would be another poor option for tourism money,I would rather see it left where it is then take a chance on messing up the females before they can do their thing! One other thing that kinda erks me lately is the over abundance of people stating that they will be spending their money else where, Wisconsin`s management sucks,I`m going to MN.instead,Wisconsin`s in the dark ages, etc,etc,etc!Well you know what, I hope all those people do go to other places because musky fishing sucks in Wisconsin! Handy |
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Posts: 714
Location: Rhinelander, WI | I don’t know about this one. Some biologist say it would hurt some say it wouldn’t make much of a difference. I would say it can’t be any worse on musky than it is for bass. However my mood right now after the defeat of the 50” proposal is why go backwards when the majority of people don’t want to go forward. I guarantee a proposal on this would pass with flying colors no doubt in my mind.
I just don’t know, but if this is going to happen I would say make it exactly like the Bass regs. It should be catch and release till mid June. Not memorial weekend. Last year the musky where still spawning on a number of lakes the first weekend in June. At least that wouldn’t be a complete step backwards.
Nail a Pig!
Mike
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Posts: 929
Location: Rhinelander. | I think the opener should be left just where it is. Let those spawning fish alone. People are upset that a larger size limit did not pass would go out and fish spawning fish? The less those fish are bothered the better. In fact I would love to see no wake areas created in the ares where we know they spawn. We need to improve all conditions for spawning fish. If you really need to fish muskies there are many waters that are open the first sat in may in the lower 2/3rds of the state.
Don Pfeiffer |
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Changing Northern WI musky opener