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Posts: 1185
Location: Wishin I Was Fishin' | Following is a news release from the WDNR, about a public meeting to discuss the spotted musky program in Long Lake, Waushara County. For those of you who don't know, the DNR planted muskies from the Lake St. Clair system in this lake and has successfully used the eggs from these fish for the spotted musky program. The fish that are raised have created a fishable population in Green Bay and we are on our second year of stocking in the Winnebago Lake system. Although the news release does not state it, I believe it will be addressing the Long Lake Association's strong stance of removing the muskies from the lake. They feel the muskies are the cause of their poor catches of panfish and walleyes. The Wisconsin Musky Clubs Alliance will be proposing a stocking of walleyes to subdue the Lake Association and keep this very valuable program going.
Like I mentioned this is a public meeting and I urge you to attend and give the spotted musky program your support.
WILD ROSE, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources will be hosting a public meeting to discuss the status of the Spotted Musky Program in Long Lake in Waushara County.
The meeting is scheduled for Saturday January 10, 2004, beginning at 10:00 AM, at the Wild Rose Village Hall, which is located at 500 Main St. in Wild Rose, WI.
Staff from the Department of Natural Resources will present information, answer questions, and take comments on the role of Long Lake in Wisconsin’s Spotted Musky program and the overall health of the Long Lake Fishery.
Questions and/or comments regarding this open meeting can be directed to David Bartz, DNR Fish Biologist for the Upper Fox River Basin, at 608-297-7058. Written comments can also be sent to David Bartz, Wisconsin DNR - Montello Work Site, 363 Church St., Hwy. 22N, Montello, WI 53949.
Hook Em' Hard,
Joe Junion
President C & R Musky Club, Wisconsin
Member of the Wisconsin Musky Clubs Alliance
Edited by Jomusky 12/29/2003 10:04 PM
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Posts: 1938
Location: Black Creek, WI | Thanks for the update Joe!
The spotted muskie program is the sole reason that NE Wisconsin will soon have (if not already) a world class trophy musky fishery. The "politics" behind Long Lake is a serious threat to the program and certainly needs our support.
However, I'd be interested to learn how successful the WDNR has been at recapturing mature spotted muskies from the Green Bay system in recent years. If their recapture rate is high enough... perhaps we no longer need the Long Lake brood stock program? I know that the fall shocking surveys have been very productive, so I'd have to assume their Fyke Netting efforts in the spring have also been effective? Sure would be nice to just retire the Long Lake program and move on to bigger and better things if possible since I believe the "closed" season on muskies in Long Lake gives the Lake Association the PERCEPTION that there is a musky population running rampant in their lake since they are protected. Also, if this situation is not feasible YET... any idea how long until it could become a reality? Just a thought. |
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Posts: 1185
Location: Wishin I Was Fishin' | Good points.
When the program was initially started it was supposed to switch to taking spawn from the fish in G.B. I think after 10 years. However, I don't know if they have had any success or even tried it yet. I'm sure it is easier for them to continue taking them from Long Lake, not to mention closer to Wild Rose too. It will be interesting to see how this pans out. |
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Posts: 333
Location: menasha wi 54952 | You would think they could have picked another date for the meeting seeing the Chicago Muskie Show is that weekend. That pretty much sucks!!! Are you sure there are muskies in the bay? 
Check out this article on the Long Lake situation.
http://www.wisinfo.com/dailytribune/wrdtsports/280672443863185.shtm...
MR |
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Posts: 1938
Location: Black Creek, WI | Yes, Long Lake is still the best option (small size for easier recapture and close proximity to hatchery), however, I was simply asking what our other options were (if any) should the Lake Association be successful at abolishing the musky program there. In other words... is there a Plan B for the WDNR?
Also, if a viable fishery is established in the Winnebago System... I would think that the Fox River in Omro could become a prime location for the Wild Rose hatchery to obtain its eggs and milt.
Obviously, I am thinking LONG TERM here. The short term need for Long Lake is blatantly obvious... however there will always be resistance by the Lake Association. Thus, I think a long term goal to abolish the Long Lake program is a good idea. Besides, if that is possible, it means there is some good fishing opportunities closer to... ummm.... my house (heh heh). Perhaps negotiating a long term plan to eliminate the musky program on Long Lake would provide some good leverage to retain the program shorter term????? |
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Posts: 1335
Location: Chicago, Beverly | I think a easy way to appease the lake association would be to at least allow a C&R musky fishery on Long. Where I fish I have always heard Bass and Panfish anglers cry about how numbers they catch are down because of the musky population... However no-one seems to ever mention on those particular lakes Bass tourneys happen almost every weekend and have increased in numbers every year since musky have been stocked, many bass fisherman that don't fish the tourneys harvest many fish for meat, and the panfisherman guys don't stop fishing each day until they have their limit. Musky do not eat trophy bass, maybe the smaller ones but not the trophy's...The panfish...I'll say the musky eat some, sure, but not as much as the fisherman eat. I almost forgot, the coincidence of when this meeting has been scheduled seems odd, with lots of guides and regular fisherman possibly attending the Chicago Musky show...
Edited by kevin 12/30/2003 11:52 AM
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Posts: 1046
| I was under the impression from the people at the hatchery that less then 10% of the total fingerlings were from long brood stock.That the last couple years the actual fingerlings came directly from Michigan,because the long eggs were not very successful and to costly to harvest for the very low turn-outs.So if thats true then the long lake thing will not have any effect on the spotted program that is slated to run for at least 10 more years.Plus we are up against a very storng money-orientated assocation and a local fishing club to boot! So it seems even if long lake would loose those spots that are being poached big time anyways it would not affect the spotted program. |
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Posts: 335
Location: Pulaski, WI | Joe,
I might be intereted in running out there with you if the wife's not working...
John |
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Posts: 3518
Location: north central wisconsin | I've heard the same thing Jeff. The long lake brooders are not producing the eggs needed anymore for some reason from the sources I've talked to. They are hoping that they will soon be able to use fish right from Green Bay for this. I hope so!!!! Let those lake Ass. idiots have their way so we don't have to listen to them whine anymore. |
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| has anybody fished this lake this year???? |
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Posts: 177
Location: Lake Forest, Illinois | I don't understand how the spotted program effects NE Wisconsin? (Do you consider Green Bay as NE Wisconsin?) |
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Posts: 15
| I own a cottage on Big Hills lake just outside of Wild Rose. They killed the weeds in the lake and the bass fishing took a dive. They are stunted because of the huge numbers of fish. THey recently got rid of the size limit to encourage guys to eat fish that are 12-14'.... Plant musky in there? |
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| Good luck if you try this lake. Population is extremely low density now...between my buddy and I we have been out there over 10 times this summer with no musky action. Crystal clear water and a great forage base just adds to the difficulty. |
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Posts: 15
| Long? or Big Hills? |
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| Long Lake.... |
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Posts: 15
| Never fished out there... I was going to say if you're fishing Big Hills for Musky there isnt any. I this the idea of having a lake up there to go to to fish for musky. what have you tried? |
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Posts: 999
| The long lake program is well over, this orignal post is from 2003. My understanding is they netted just about every fish that they could out there and removed them from the lake (Long) im sure there's a handful left but probably a needle in a haystack. They have now successfully obtained eggs and milt from the bay fish and are raising the fry in Kewaunee and the fry will be restocked into the bay either this year or next. |
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Wisconsin DNR Spotted Musky Program meeting