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| A recent thread on another board got me thinking about setting up a large aquarium with some muskies, smallmouth and walleye. Does anyone know the regulations regarding this in Illinois or where I can find this info out? I've checked the illinois dnr site and didn't find anything about this. I also check the IL fishing regs. digest and there was nothing that I could find in there.
I've e-mailed the DNR with no response yet. I've also unsuccessfully searched the net for the information.
tia |
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Posts: 7119
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | You can find them in pet shops....but if you're planning on taking a sub-legal home (through fishing for it) for the tank, then you're breaking the law.
Also: bass dont get along with other fishes. NOT AT ALL. Have one smallie, or have the other species, but smallies and anything else doesnt mix. |
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| Thanks Slamr. So no special permit is needed?
I was planning on purchasing some from MN Muskie Farm. They say that the smallies get along with others fine but the large mouths don't.
I'm searching for a 100 gal+ tank now. Ebay has 'em but they are local pick up only and I'm not local to NY, CA, or FL. |
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Posts: 2378
| better check your fishing regs book in regards to this.
I have a 125 galloon with a pike, walleye, and LM bass. All seem to get along fine. also have a 25 gallon with 2 crappies, perch and bullhead (they are small enough to be supper in the other tank right now.)
Awesome to watch during feeding time... |
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Posts: 380
Location: Il | I know the farm and fleet in Aurora sells fish in the spring time. You order them earlier and pick them up in May. I remember seeing smallies, largemouth, bluegills, crappie, catfish, koi, minnows and some others. There prices were pretty good too less than a buck to a couple bucks a fish depending on species. They also sell ducks, chickens and turkeys around Easter time. |
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| fishwater,
I have seen bass/muskies/walleye etc for sale at a pet shop near me so it is legal. BUT, like Slambo said, its a different story trying to bring one home from a lake. |
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Posts: 1335
Location: Chicago, Beverly | SCOTT'S PET SHOP ON 31ST AND WOLF ROAD IN WESTCHESTERRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!! They only seem to get smalley's, pike, perch and Tiger Musky, at least when I went there. The MN Musky farm is also cheaper. |
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Posts: 469
Location: Downers Grove, IL | Kevin, I've bought a ton of fish from Scotts. That place rocks. I grew 4 tigers to about 18 inches in a 150 gallon and now I have a smallie thats about 12 in. They absolutely destroyed a couple dozen fatheads and I had to put books on the lids to keep them from busting out.
thedude |
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Posts: 140
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It is NOT legal for pet shops to sell game fish in Illinois. They do it because they rarely get caught. There was a shop where I live that was selling muskies they bought through a dealer in Chicago.
Conservation Police went in there, took all the game fish and fined them $4,000.
However, you can buy muskies through the MN Muskie Farm for your aquarium. Keep your paperwork from them so that you can prove your fish were not bought in Illinois or taken from Illinois waters.
I have a 75 gallon aquarium with muskies and I have to tell you that are amazing to watch.
Word of caution for you. Set up a 5 gallon aquarium for your feeder minnows. Don't put the feeders straight into your tank. You would be running the risk of introducing some type of funk into your tank and that will kill your muskies. I leaned that the hard way. |
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Posts: 561
Location: Monee, Illinois | I am sorry but I think you are mis-informed. I could be wrong but... The DNR will sell off there overages to pet shops threw the fish market near O'hare airport. This is a fish wholesalers warehouse. It is like 2 minutes away from O'hare. My buddy owns a pet shop (Animal Island in Midlothian) and my other buddy is the fish Bio for Cook County Forest Preserve (Scott Bullard). I had the privillage to go with both of them to this warehouse last summer since I have 8 tanks in my house and was looking for a certain type of game fish for my tanks. It is not legal to sell game fish that have been Caught in Illinois Waters or Traded in from someones tank. Once my Spotted musky's and Tiger musky get to large I have only two options, Kill them or get a bigger tank. I can not release them or Trade them in. I guess I could give them to someone else who has a larger tank or someone with a private pond. Well at least that is what I know. Then again the way I look at it, its not legal to sell drug eather!
pga
Edited by pgaschulz 2/10/2005 7:48 AM
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Posts: 140
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Pgaschulz,
Tell Pet Supply in Normal, Illinois that those Conservation Police had no right to take their fish and fine them $4,000.
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| I heard back from the fisheries person. She stated that I could keep them as long as they were caught legally and complied with the creel and size restrictions in place on the body of water. She went on to say that if I was to release them at a later point, I could do so as long as it was in the same BOW where they were obtained.
I followed up by asking about purchase & keeping of fingerlings as well as about the legality of pet stores selling game fish. I'll let you know what her response is. |
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Posts: 9
| i can't figure out how to email you directly so i will tell you this. my fater in law services aquariums(own his own business),what ever you want done he will do it. it is out of Ft. Wayne IN. to travel to chicago might cost you a pretty penny but i think he is worth talking to about you endeavor. if you want to talk to him i will send you his phone #
you can contact me at [email protected] |
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Posts: 20281
Location: oswego, il | I have not seen a pet shop selling bluegills and bass for over 35 years. I would bet that thad is right on this one. I did see a musky at a pet shop about 5 years ago but it was not for sale, a person went on vacation and had the pet shop take care of it.
Be careful with panfish. Green sunfish, for example are extremely competive and if there is not enough room, will pretty much kill whatever is in the tank, including their own. An 8" bass does not stand a chance against a 6" bluegill either. If you have a small tank, I would not put more than one fish in it, unless it is a bottom dweller. |
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Gamefish as Pets in Illinois?