|
|
Posts: 32785
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | This is great information relevant to the old argument that the muskies ate all the walleyes. They did not.
Click HERE To Watch The Video!
Attachments
----------------
 Untitled.jpg (69KB - 202 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 480
Location: NW WI | People just need something to be mad at- Muskys,Gar,Bowin,AR-15's, Subaru's with Yakima racks in late February. I'm fairly new to the dedicated Musky world and I've even read similar data points in the past. I think the best response to the whole "Musky decimating Walleye" statement is: "If that were to be true, than why are some of the best Walleye fisheries also some of the best Musky fisheries?".
One of the rivers I fish has a cold spring creek flowing into it, it almost always has either a pike or a musky lurking somewhere in or around it. After I recast it at night I always throw the headlamp on and cruise around it, multiple times I've seen +20" Walleye and Pike chilling within a few feet of eachother along with tons of 4" Walleye fry.
Pretty sure if the muskies were intentionally targeting the Walleye, I wouldn't be seeing such a site regularly and that outlet would regularly sound like a warzone. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 8717
| "We used to be able to limit out in a few hours fir our Friday night fish fry. Now it takes us all day long! It's the #*^@ muskies eating all the walleye!"
ME: "A muskie eats one fish about every couple of days. There's probably 100 muskies in the whole lake. Even if they ate nothing BUT walleyes they got nothing on you and your fish fry!" |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1200
Location: E. Tenn | Last year, on my spring trip up north, listened to an old timer lament about how he would catch 500 walleye in June, and now "there aren't any"..
Down south, I heard another old timer bending a game wardens ear, about "those #&%$ muskies are eating all the crappies.. I used to come down here and catch a limit in the morning, and another one in the evening.".. After the warden clued him in on what he was admitting to, said old time shut up, and left.
I've heard the same laments about stripers eating all the (fill in the blank).. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 45
| What you guys said. Muskies are a natural part of the ecosystem (though few in number) and may occasionally eat a walleye. Walleye fisherman are by and large cave-in-heads who plunder fisheries, and then wonder why the fishing is slow. |
|
| |
|
| Unfortunately, that kind of thinking is probably going to get more prevalent. Some studies indicate that as waters slowly get warmer, bass are more successful and walleyes less successful in reproducing. Look at the Minocqua chain in northern WI. No walleyes could be kept for 5 years. Heavy stocking. But when after five years the lake was surveyed by the DNR, very little natural reproduction among walleye.
Since the same kind of folks that believe climate change is a hoax probably believe muskies are the only reason walleyes are declining, you have a problem. On Minocqua, the thinking had been that because it was very popular, over fishing was the issue but even with no harvest allowed for five years, the fish are not successfully reproducing. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 20178
Location: oswego, il | The easiest argument is if Muskies ate all the fish they would become extinct. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 2275
Location: Chisholm, MN | Really great study. I'm wondering if this is from this year? I know he was still sampling muskies just this month. I like that they collected 3 walleyes from walleye bellies and 3 from muskies.  |
|
| |
|
Posts: 20178
Location: oswego, il | Kirby Budrow - 11/23/2021 10:43 AM
Really great study. I'm wondering if this is from this year? I know he was still sampling muskies just this month. I like that they collected 3 walleyes from walleye bellies and 3 from muskies. :)
Walleye are notorious cannibals. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 591
Location: Duluth | The answer is and will always be walleye!
Awesome study, not that those that need convinving will ever be convinced
Edited by CincySkeez 11/23/2021 1:56 PM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 2275
Location: Chisholm, MN | CincySkeez - 11/23/2021 12:23 PM
The is and will always be walleye!
Awesome study, not that those that need convinving will ever be convinced
Unfortunately you're right. But it can be used as a tool when convincing legislators that legitimately don't know so they vote the right way. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1260
Location: Stevens Point, Wi. | Kirby Budrow - 11/23/2021 12:38 PM
CincySkeez - 11/23/2021 12:23 PM
The is and will always be walleye!
Awesome study, not that those that need convinving will ever be convinced
Unfortunately you're right. But it can be used as a tool when convincing legislators that legitimately don't know so they vote the right way.
The only way you're going to convince a legislator is with a large bucket of cash. |
|
| |
|
| ghoti - 11/23/2021 8:52 PM
Kirby Budrow - 11/23/2021 12:38 PM
CincySkeez - 11/23/2021 12:23 PM
The is and will always be walleye!
Awesome study, not that those that need convinving will ever be convinced
Unfortunately you're right. But it can be used as a tool when convincing legislators that legitimately don't know so they vote the right way.
The only way you're going to convince a legislator is with a large bucket of cash.
Or single issue voters. That has been the real power of the NRA, well beyond their membership numbers. Don't know if there are enough musky fishermen to have the necessary clout. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1260
Location: Stevens Point, Wi. | North of 8 - 11/23/2021 9:04 PM
ghoti - 11/23/2021 8:52 PM
Kirby Budrow - 11/23/2021 12:38 PM
CincySkeez - 11/23/2021 12:23 PM
The is and will always be walleye!
Awesome study, not that those that need convinving will ever be convinced
Unfortunately you're right. But it can be used as a tool when convincing legislators that legitimately don't know so they vote the right way.
The only way you're going to convince a legislator is with a large bucket of cash.
Or single issue voters. That has been the real power of the NRA, well beyond their membership numbers. Don't know if there are enough musky fishermen to have the necessary clout.
It's still about $$$. How much money do you think the NRA dumps in lobbying? |
|
| |
|
Posts: 2275
Location: Chisholm, MN | ghoti - 11/23/2021 8:52 PM
Kirby Budrow - 11/23/2021 12:38 PM
CincySkeez - 11/23/2021 12:23 PM
The is and will always be walleye!
Awesome study, not that those that need convinving will ever be convinced
Unfortunately you're right. But it can be used as a tool when convincing legislators that legitimately don't know so they vote the right way.
The only way you're going to convince a legislator is with a large bucket of cash.
There are a lot of legislators in Minnesota that are willing to listen to science. Obviously not all but many can be convinced. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 3136
| But guys,,,,,if you ask musky innovations the number one selling color is?????????
Walleye!
Be honest,,we don't exactly practice what we preach |
|
| |
|
Posts: 2275
Location: Chisholm, MN | happy hooker - 11/25/2021 1:47 AM
But guys,,,,,if you ask musky innovations the number one selling color is?????????
Walleye!
Be honest,,we don't exactly practice what we preach :)
That’s because color doesn’t matter! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 480
Location: NW WI | Plus walleye pattern regular dawg is the only dawg sold in Walmarts. At least around me anyways. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 371
Location: Northern Illinois | So, I would wonder from this study why wouldn't the walleye numbers be higher? Not that they would specifically target them, but just more of an even distribution compared to the other prey consumed.
From previous info I've read, muskies really like the perch/minnow-long-slender profile prey. Young walleyes have that same profile. I wonder if it is really more of an indication of where the opportunity for dinner was in the lakes at the time the study was conducted. Were the walleyes deep on the bottom muskies feeding up, on different spots that time of year, walleye numbers on those lakes compared to other prey, some other factor?
Edited by mm3 11/25/2021 11:29 AM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 32785
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | mm3 - 11/25/2021 11:27 AM
So, I would wonder from this study why wouldn't the walleye numbers be higher? Not that they would specifically target them, but just more of an even distribution compared to the other prey consumed.
From previous info I've read, muskies really like the perch/minnow-long-slender profile prey. Young walleyes have that same profile. I wonder if it is really more of an indication of where the opportunity for dinner was in the lakes at the time the study was conducted. Were the walleyes deep on the bottom muskies feeding up, on different spots that time of year, walleye numbers on those lakes compared to other prey, some other factor?
Watch the video, that will help answer any questions. The surprise is what bass, walleye, and pike eat.
Attachments
----------------
Untitled.png (48KB - 179 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 32785
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | EsoxWanderer - 11/23/2021 7:00 AM
What you guys said. Muskies are a natural part of the ecosystem (though few in number) and may occasionally eat a walleye. Walleye fisherman are by and large cave-in-heads who plunder fisheries, and then wonder why the fishing is slow.
Walleye fisherman are by and large cave-in-heads who plunder fisheries, and then wonder why the fishing is slow
That's not even close to true. There is a significant push for CPR in the walleye world and I know many walleye fishermen who are conservative in their harvest. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1184
| The two things that the predator is going to focus on(evolutionarily, not consciously), are nutritional value (calories in), versus effort to obtain (calories out). The preference is fatty, high calorie prey (suckers, ciscos, whitefish, bullheads, etc.)that is easy to catch. While not as high calorie or fatty, small perch, minnows, and panfish, are usually in large schools related to structure, making them very easy to ambush and catch, therefore, worthwhile. Walleyes are different. They have much better eyesight, and are much more aware of their surroundings. Also, very quick. More work to catch, and a leaner, less caloric value. Not as worth the effort as other prey. That being said, anything that becomes easy to catch, regardless of caloric value, will become prey, such as an injured or struggling walleye. Like a walleye on the end of a fishing line. Probably some of the easiest walleyes a muskie will eat, are on the end of a fishing line, making is seem like muskies are always eating walleyes. They just eat the walleyes that are easy to catch. They will spend more energy going after a more rewarding prey. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1179
| Muskies and Walleye have lived together since the dawn of time!
Here in Colorado we have lakes stocked with Walleyes in metro Denver and on the right day we catch 90-100 Walleye, but there's a 18" size limit maybe 4 or 5 will be 18" and over lots of 16",17" and alot of shorter year class fish, so people are keeping the eaters. And most years somebody gets a 14# 16# 17# giant fish and they are ALL RELESED!
Had a friend two years ago get five Walleyes between 28"-31" 1/2 all released. All in one day right in the middle of the day. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 371
Location: Northern Illinois | TCESOX - 11/25/2021 8:50 PM
The two things that the predator is going to focus on(evolutionarily, not consciously), are nutritional value (calories in), versus effort to obtain (calories out). The preference is fatty, high calorie prey (suckers, ciscos, whitefish, bullheads, etc.)that is easy to catch. While not as high calorie or fatty, small perch, minnows, and panfish, are usually in large schools related to structure, making them very easy to ambush and catch, therefore, worthwhile. Walleyes are different. They have much better eyesight, and are much more aware of their surroundings. Also, very quick. More work to catch, and a leaner, less caloric value. Not as worth the effort as other prey. That being said, anything that becomes easy to catch, regardless of caloric value, will become prey, such as an injured or struggling walleye. Like a walleye on the end of a fishing line. Probably some of the easiest walleyes a muskie will eat, are on the end of a fishing line, making is seem like muskies are always eating walleyes. They just eat the walleyes that are easy to catch. They will spend more energy going after a more rewarding prey.
Well thought out answer! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 3136
| In regards to the calories expended vs taken in feeding behavior. I too can relate to that with kind of a Wayne Campbell mindset philosophy comparison in that, I'm much more likely to be in a mood for a pizza "delivered " to me vs going to pick one up |
|
| |
|
Posts: 8717
| happy hooker - 11/25/2021 1:47 AM
But guys,,,,,if you ask musky innovations the number one selling color is?????????
Walleye!
Be honest,,we don't exactly practice what we preach :)
What fish doesn't look like a walleye? I get your point, but all fish are generally brownish on top and white underneath. If it moves, it's food. That pretty much describes the behavior of ALL fish. They will all eat anything they can catch, and whatever fits in their pie hole. Do you want to know what eats what? Try creating a "native habitat" freshwater aquarium.
I did that as a kid. I thought it would be really cool to put stuff from the lake in my fish tank with my goldfish. Well... My goldfish ate the baby crayfish, My adult crayfish ate the minnows, my baby turtles ate the tails off the goldfish, and the crayfish finished them off. The perch ate whatever they could, and the (baby) large mouth bass were the last ones standing, which eventually ate each other when nothing else was left in the tank.
Edited by esoxaddict 11/26/2021 10:53 PM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 1184
| Most of our baits look and move like and injured, struggling, something or other. That is why the predators attack them. They appear to be some sort of easy pickins. They can be painted to look like an actual fish, or some sort of clown. Doesn't really matter that much. More about what attracts our eye.
Edited by TCESOX 11/26/2021 11:33 PM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 2275
Location: Chisholm, MN | I would say that most baits we throw don’t resemble anything natural at all. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 731
| Not to throw the topic off slightly, but imo, the "non-native" fish that causes the most damage to walleyes and other gamefish species is carp. Where is the anger towards these egg eating and spawning area destroying fish? These folks are truely misguided because an argument can be made that more predator fish in lakes can actually improve the fishery. Kdawg |
|
| |
|
Posts: 3136
| We've declared war on the "show colors" appeal |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1759
Location: new richmond, wi. & isle, mn | happy hooker - 11/27/2021 11:42 AM
We've declared war on the "show colors" appeal
This is the answer!
Brad at Musky Innovations quit market producing two of my staple favorites. All black Dawgs and black and silver shallow invaders. The reason being they did not sell. |
|
| |
