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Posts: 574
Location: Elk Grove Village, IL & Phillips, WI | I saw on the MHM board that there is a Go Fund Me set up by the Chicagoland Muskie Hunters, Muskies Inc chapter to raise funds for stocking Leech Lake strain muskies in Lake Geneva. I think the lake is more suited for this strain than the Wisconsin strain. What are your thoughts?
https://www.gofundme.com/lake-geneva-muskie-stocking-2018
Edited by KenK 8/28/2018 12:49 PM
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Posts: 7039
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | My thought is why is a Chicago based muskie club stocking fish into:
-a lake in WI???!!!
-a lake that is too crowded to be on except super early in the season and late in the season.
-a lake in one of the most crowded areas in the state.
-and what MI members pay in dues and with the fundraising they do throughout the year, a Gofundme? Really?
But leech lake versus WI... a fish is a fish. Dependent on habitat, water quality, available food sources. |
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Posts: 574
Location: Elk Grove Village, IL & Phillips, WI | Your whys are legit! But as far as a fish is a fish, Leech Lake fish spawn in deeper habitat than Wisconsin muskies. I think Lake Geneva has the right stuff for them, but yes, the lake is a bigger zoo than the Fox Chain. |
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Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | KenK - 8/28/2018 1:08 PM
Your whys are legit! But as far as a fish is a fish, Leech Lake fish spawn in deeper habitat than Wisconsin muskies. I think Lake Geneva has the right stuff for them, but yes, the lake is a bigger zoo than the Fox Chain.
Ok, I get that spawning habitat argument but....what lakes in S.WI or N.IL see much successful spawning anyways?
*truth be told, I couldnt care if they're Leech or WI fish but this exact same issue (throwing IL MI member's money into stocking WI lakes) is the reason I quit my club years ago. |
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Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | I doubt NR would occur to any sustainable degree there. It seems it hasn't on Vermilion and that lake should be textbook. Love to see spots anywhere I can fish them, but not there, way to urban for me.
Has the local fisheries manager signed off on it? |
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Location: Ashland WI | Slamr - 8/28/2018 1:13 PM
KenK - 8/28/2018 1:08 PM
Your whys are legit! But as far as a fish is a fish, Leech Lake fish spawn in deeper habitat than Wisconsin muskies. I think Lake Geneva has the right stuff for them, but yes, the lake is a bigger zoo than the Fox Chain.
Ok, I get that spawning habitat argument but....what lakes in S.WI or N.IL see much successful spawning anyways?
*truth be told, I couldnt care if they're Leech or WI fish but this exact same issue (throwing IL MI member's money into stocking WI lakes ) is the reason I quit my club years ago.
Maybe there should just be a "country" membership instead of individual state?
Seriously though, if the lakes being proposed to be stocked are border area lakes (lakes that you may potentially fish), why wouldn't you be for it? |
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Location: Contrarian Island | what other lake within a short distance of IL/Chicago has the size, forage, depth of Geneva for IL anglers to have the shot at big fish? More waters with a good population of muskies is a good thing for other waters like Madison which see our share of IL boats.. spread the pressure out, and it will grow huge fish. WI fish will get big, but Leechers will get bigger. but yah, I'm no biologist but it would seem we have enough real world proof for that to be the case... wish they had stocked it 15 yrs ago! |
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Location: The desert | Slamr - 8/28/2018 1:03 PM
My thought is why is a Chicago based muskie club stocking fish into:
-a lake in WI???!!!
-a lake that is too crowded to be on except super early in the season and late in the season.
-a lake in one of the most crowded areas in the state.
-and what MI members pay in dues and with the fundraising they do throughout the year, a Gofundme? Really?
But leech lake versus WI... a fish is a fish. Dependent on habitat, water quality, available food sources.
Where does half of Chicago head every summer weekend?
Wisconsin.
That's why.
Ok, a gofundme is kind of stupid as you are giving away a percentage of the dollars. Take that percentage and turn it into a raffle prize and you'll make the same amount of money, faster. |
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| Slamr - 8/28/2018 1:03 PM
My thought is why is a Chicago based muskie club stocking fish into:
-a lake in WI???!!!
-a lake that is too crowded to be on except super early in the season and late in the season.
-a lake in one of the most crowded areas in the state.
[...]
They way I understood it was if we put 200 fish in the Fox Chain, the DNR was cutting their stocking by 200 fish. So in the end the same number of fish were going in there no matter what. That aside, where else are they going to stock them? We have the Fox Chain. What other option is there? Evergreen? We have 7 Muskies Inc Chapters in Northern IL that are all closer to the S/WI lakes than they are to Evergreen.
I don't know for sure, but I'd be surprised if the IL muskie crowd fishes in IL even half as much as they do in WI. May as well put the fish where everyone fishes.
I'm not a huge fan of Geneva for the reasons you mentioned, but what have we got to work with here in IL, except an unusually high concentration of muskie anglers who for the most part have unusual amounts of wealth to throw at their hobby?
Edited by esoxaddict 8/28/2018 1:50 PM
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Location: Already Gone | I'm all for it.
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Location: oswego, il | FRV stocks muskies in the chain every year and they are extra fish. It's not a gigantic number by comparison to what the state stocks. Fish used to comeout of the total as EA said. I do believe the effort FRV as well as the other illinois musky clubs have put forth through the illinois musky alliance has relaxed that rule.
FRV has been helping wisconsin with pit tags and supporting the effort since inception. I support what CMH is doing as well. This gives the area the biggest fish potential around. Just wait until a 50 or even a 55 is caught from this lake, a 50 is coming soon. |
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Location: Watertown, MN | Like steve said have the fisheries management signed off?
With only small numbers of fish, how many will have to be killed for study of VHS and crossing state lines to stock muskies?
Other then that could be a good thing if they sustain the stocky can always look for grants that are out there to support these kind of efforts. There is a group that is supporting these efforts.
Troyz
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Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | It’s going to be tough sledding to fish that lake for the vast majority of people, and most catches will continue to be incidental (as they are now) imo. |
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| Missing the forest for the trees, here.
Who really cares if a lake is in Illinois, S. Wisconsin or XYZ state? With the way this sport's popularity is growing, the more big water areas with potential for big muskies in them, especially in or around heavily populated areas--the better. Just look at the most popular threads of late on this very site: 1. About how much tougher LOTW is getting 2. How Vermilion is well past it's prime. Both threads also talk non-stop about the significant increase in fishing pressure--and those lakes are in more remote areas... Now, think for a second... What if LSC and Green Bay weren't going off right now? Where would even a small percentage of those extra anglers be on top of the already pressured areas??? Clair has been a musky haven for a while now, but Green Bay is obviously much more recent in terms of the boom in big fish.
Also, I recall reading a lot of posts on here in regards to people from Illinois complaining about the fisheries available around the area. A little less pressure on Lake X, Lake Y or Lake Z wouldn't hurt anything IMO. Like someone else said, I'm sure Madisonites (not sure that's even a term) and G-Bay'onites (pretty sure that is a term) feel the same.
I, too, have heard Geneva is a tough nut to crack from a fish density and boat traffic standpoint--and when mapping it out, yeah, it doesn't look as simple as mapping out your typical 800 acre puddle w/ a maximum depth of 35 ft; but, no doubt, it could, and likely will churn out some big heavies in the late fall w/ much less traffic to combat than in the go-go summer months.
Again, as someone else posted, just wait until fully matured fish are showing up in pictures from Geneva. Have also heard they're not far off. Bring em on. It's all for the best.
Edited by BretRobert1 8/29/2018 12:47 AM
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| Do they still have a genos east pizza on the Geneva shore
Edited by happy hooker 8/29/2018 6:37 AM
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Location: MN | Muskie inc dues go to the National group club so the local club sees none of it. When I see folks complaining or taking issue with stocking fish outside their state it seems short sighted. Especially when folks from that state are habitual state line steppers, when it comes to fishing and hunting. I’m glade my MN club support the WI DNR to improve fishing. In the end it’s fine if one doesn’t agree with the process but don’t take a leak on someone’s campfire.
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Location: oswego, il | happy hooker - 8/29/2018 6:36 AM
Do they still have a genos east pizza on the Geneva shore
They have the Next Door Pub. Amazing pizza. I wish Lake Geneva Raceway was still operating, was a great place to see some racing. |
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Location: Already Gone | happy hooker - 8/29/2018 6:36 AM
Do they still have a genos east pizza on the Geneva shore
Yes. Like Todd mentioned, Lot's of good places around.
It's been a pretty good fishing spot for awhile now.... 
Perhaps I should ask for my money back from Northwoods Muskies Inc., since I'm a FIB.?
Let's build a wall.
Edited by Mark Hoerich 8/29/2018 8:04 AM
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Posts: 556
| I am all for it also-- I will Donate... I fish that lake from time to time and its a great fishery for Many species---including Musky which have been in there in low numbers for many years... OBVIOUSLY it is not the typical setting we would all like... But it is BIG, DEEP and has forage...….. Before Memorial Day and again starting in about Mid SEPT---it is very fishable.... |
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Location: 31 | A more fishable population of LLS in Lake Geneva would be awesome. I live in Illinois and can't remember the last time I had an Illinois fishing license. |
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Location: oswego, il | Mark Hoerich - 8/29/2018 7:11 AM
happy hooker - 8/29/2018 6:36 AM
Do they still have a genos east pizza on the Geneva shore
Yes. Like Todd mentioned, Lot's of good places around.
It's been a pretty good fishing spot for awhile now....
Perhaps I should ask for my money back from Northwoods Muskies Inc., since I'm a FIB.?
Let's build a wall.
I would say wisconsin wants us to pay for it but Sled already has the funding! |
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Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | Since I work here (for free MIND YOU!) I read all the responses and I guess my mind has been changed (to a degree). While I'd rather see that same money put towards other causes (research, habitat restoration), I get it that many of our goal is more muskies in more accessible places.
So let's get that funding going!!! Lots of "I'd help out" but when I first responded to this thread yesterday the total raised was $70 and as it stands now, still at $70 raised. Only $5,970 to go boys and girls. |
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Location: minocqua, wi. | ToddM - 8/29/2018 11:15 AM
Mark Hoerich - 8/29/2018 7:11 AM
happy hooker - 8/29/2018 6:36 AM
Do they still have a genos east pizza on the Geneva shore
Yes. Like Todd mentioned, Lot's of good places around.
It's been a pretty good fishing spot for awhile now....
Perhaps I should ask for my money back from Northwoods Muskies Inc., since I'm a FIB.?
Let's build a wall.
I would say wisconsin wants us to pay for it but Sled already has the funding!
we are ready for them to go home ... on the cusp of the good time of year!!!
and Slamr ... you should be pleased to see $70.00. i would have guessed it would be half that! |
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| I'd love to see more lakes stocked in IL, but for the cost of the fish and the quality of the lakes, it seems like a lost cause to me. Pretty sure the bucket brigades would eat them all in a few years.
There is the possibility for some NR, but for some reason it never seems to work on stocked fisheries. |
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Location: Already Gone | According to the attachment shown above, The Chicagoland Muskie Hunters have already raised over $5100 donated to this cause.
Edited by Mark Hoerich 8/29/2018 2:38 PM
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Posts: 3147
| Muskie fishery,Close to two states,,pizza, the old race track is available
Let's have a muskie expo here for a fundraiser!!
We could call it the Geneva convention
"Sorry had to do it" |
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Location: Contrarian Island | EA might have a better shot at a 50 on Lake Geneva than Eagle! |
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| That would be my luck to whack a 50 an hour from home after 10 trips to Eagle! |
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Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | esoxaddict - 8/29/2018 7:16 PM
That would be my luck to whack a 50 an hour from home after 10 trips to Eagle!
The tough part about that would be that you'd actually have to take your boat out and get it wet with something other than the garden hose. |
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Posts: 93
| But leech lake versus WI... a fish is a fish. Dependent on habitat, water quality, available food sources.
In Lake Monona the stocking ratio of WI to LL strain fish is usually 3:1, some years more like 4:1, and yet this year the fish caught over 50" are 1:4. Early indications across year classes in Monona are that the LL strain only slightly outperform WI fish for annual growth, but do appear to continue growing on the upper end when the WI fish stop. Doesn't seem like a "fish is a fish" in terms of ultimate size. I'm all for keeping LL fish out of native WI waters, but in entirely created fisheries? Stock some that grow bigger and faster. Year class survival for both species is an important issue, and the fingerlings stocked at larger initial sizes survive better. Larger fingerlings like the ones headed to Lake Geneva cost more to buy.
Another Muskies Inc chapter working together with the WI-DNR on another lake in the high pressure Madison-Milwaukee-Chicago area with a side-by-side stocking study is a no-brainer. CCMI spends ~$8000 every year buying LL fish for Monona, multiplied by 12 years and the payoff is finally showing itself with those big muskies. If you live or fish in the area and want more opportunities to catch big muskies, please help out and donate to the CMH effort.
https://www.gofundme.com/lake-geneva-muskie-stocking-2018
Edited by undersized 8/30/2018 8:29 AM
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Posts: 162
Location: Chicago, IL | Hi Everyone,
Kevin Butts here from the Chicagoland Muskie Hunters. I am our club's Fisheries Chair and Chapter Rep. Thanks for all of the strong support expressed so far. I have a few updates that I'd like to share with you all. Please feel free to comment here or PM me with any questions.
1. We've raised nearly $10,000 to date and are now going to be stocking 550+ Leech Lake Strain muskies into Lake Geneva. The significant contributions have come from the Chicagoland Muskies Hunters ($6,500+), a Muskies Inc. affiliated family foundation ($2,000), the Blackhawk Musky Club (which is a WI-based organization - $1,000) and broad support from our public Go Fund Me page ($70). The GoFundMe page is active and seeking to expand the universe of those wishing to contribute, but for those who would like to do so via check or paypal, please PM me and I can provide you with the appropriate contact information.
2. The Chicagoland Muskie Hunters and our aforementioned partners are extremely excited to be leading the stocking effort of Leech Lake Strain muskies into this water body for the same reasons many have mentioned. Deep, clear, cisco and multi-forage based lake, etc. Also, we are of the view that the WI state DNR are doing an exceptional job of stocking the lake with WI strain fish which will present great action as well as size in the future. However, we are hopeful that the Leech Lake strain fish exhibit strong upper size class potential (50"+).
3. This will be a 5 year stocking program with both the state of WI DNR stocking WI (WI and Chippewa River strain fish) and the Chicagoland Muskie Hunters and its partners (such as the Blackhawk Musky Club) stocking Leech Lake strain fish. A comprehensive genetic study will be conducted in 2023. We are donating annually to the WI state DNR so that this genetic study may be conducted 5 years from now.
4. The Chicagoland Muskie Hunters are not bound by any geographic constraints. We are not an "Illinois only" muskie club. We have contributed and will continue to contribute significant funds to the IL state DNR in support of the IL musky ecosystem. Many of us spend a significant amount of time in WI each year and/or own property there. We were very thoughtful and deliberate in our decision to pursue a stocking program. We surveyed all of our members to solicit their desires (size vs. numbers, geographic proximity, existing muskie lake/new muskie lake, etc.). The overwhelming feedback from our membership was that we were indifferent to whether or not the lake we chose was based in IL or WI, it just had to be within a reasonable distance. Our membership also voiced that they wished to "create" a muskie fishery that could offer serious upper size class potential. We researched a number of different alternatives and consulted with biologists from both states before deciding upon and now bringing to reality, a 5-yr stocking program focused on Leech Lake strain muskies into Lake Geneva.
Thanks for reading this long response! We're really excited as you can tell and would welcome you to any of our upcoming Chapter meetings so you may get more involved in this effort. We meet the second Tue of every month at 7:30pm in Glenview IL (North Branch Pizza & Burger). Tue, 9/11 will feature Luke Roffler (Lake Geneva Fisheries Biologist) and on Tue, 10/9 we'll have a local Lake Geneva and SE WI guide Andy Schiera.
Tight lines,
Slobasaurus (Kevin Butts - Chicagoland Muskie Hunters) |
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Posts: 298
| Awesome!!! I’ll talk to my club about helping out.
Great job!
Larry Downes
Secretary Midwest Musky Club, Alsip IL |
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Posts: 457
| Will the initial Leach Lakers be stocked this Fall? |
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Posts: 162
Location: Chicago, IL | Yes- the initial Leech Lake strain fish will be stocked this fall (October 2018). Thanks. |
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Location: Contrarian Island | thanks Slobo. Just sent a donation. I wish the leechers had been put in 10 yrs ago... 10 yrs there will be some hawg bellies for sure. |
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| Where are you guys getting the leech Lakers from??? Minnesota muskie farm
Also did you try for a grant from Hugh Becker fund this is the thing they love to give money for. |
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Posts: 162
Location: Chicago, IL | Yes, we are stocking Leech Lake strain muskies. 10-14" long. They are being sourced from a private fish farm in MN.
No, we have not yet applied for a grant from the Hugh Becker fund, but we will be doing so in November when the 2019 grant application period opens up. This is a 5-yr program. We are hopeful that all of our hard work and initiative in year-1 will show well in our application for funds. We believe it will and, therefore, we're optimistically planning on evenly distributing the grant monies received (prospectively) over each of the next four years to ensure consistent capital dedicated to this cause in addition to the Chicagoland Muskie Hunters' 5-yr commitment. I have already spoken to members of the grant committee and they're really excited about our project. Fingers crossed! |
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| How did the stocking go, Kevin?
Thank you for the updates and all of your guys' time and efforts put into this project. |
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Posts: 556
| Just seen a Pic of a Tanker Caught out of Geneva.. Now While I wasn't there---the guy who caught it does fish out there all the time-- I have fished with him out there and he really Knows that Lake.. Anyway--- 49" -- super / super thick----- Not 100% sure if he will share here or not because of the Musky Police guys who always question everything..... BUT will try to get him to post--- No doubt on the Thickness Issue by the Pic. ANYWAY--- They are there and Growing LARGE---- 40 Pounder in my opinion. |
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Location: oswego, il | I seen the pic, it was a nice fish, it's nothing we didn't expect just waiting for it to get there. |
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Location: N.FIB | wasn`t the monster lee tauchen caught on mill lacs a wis strain fish,also the 2 50 pounders caught by tom gelb,I think the wis strain does get big but it takes time |
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| Slamr - 8/29/2018 12:12 PM
Since I work here (for free MIND YOU!) I read all the responses and I guess my mind has been changed (to a degree). While I'd rather see that same money put towards other causes (research, habitat restoration), I get it that many of our goal is more muskies in more accessible places.
So let's get that funding going!!! Lots of "I'd help out" but when I first responded to this thread yesterday the total raised was $70 and as it stands now, still at $70 raised. Only $5,970 to go boys and girls.
I agree with you.  |
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Location: north central wisconsin | Did the stocking occur in 2018? Are WI fish getting stocked into Geneva also? If you could send along updates on the plan and whether Hugh Becker app was submitted for this year, our club can discuss funding assistance at our next banquet.
thank you,
Jason Schillinger
Consolidated Musky Club Inc. |
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Posts: 162
Location: Chicago, IL | Hi Reef Hog/Jason- yes the stocking occurred in 2018. Yes, we received funding from the Hugh Becker Foundation Grant this year for our stocking this coming October. We will be stocking 800+ LLS fish this year. The WI DNR is planting about 2,500 Chippewa River and WI River (WI strain) fish each of the next four years. They have been stocking the lake with WI strain fish in various quantities since about 2010. We’d greatly appreciate your support for our 2020 fundraising and stocking. Please PM me if you’d like to speak directly.
Sincerely,
Kevin Butts
Chicagoland Muskie Hunters |
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Lake Geneva Leech Lake Strain Stocking