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| hey people when we were at the spearing meeting monday the head of the Minn DNR was there,,when we talked to him he stated that their last survey just done indicated that 7% of the fishermen in Minn are musky fishermen,,I dont have any opinions or links to anything with that but I just thought I would throw it out for people who might find it intresting |
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Location: Athens, Ohio | I wonder if there are stats about the % number of tourists that come to your fair state for the muskie?
I bet they pay attention to tourist dollars! m |
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Posts: 1243
Location: Musky Tackle Online, MN | I was informed last night that the fisheries budget for the musky program is based on a figure of 2% of all anglers in MN fishing for muskies. This is a 1990 estimate. Even though they know this figure has grown a large amount since then, they still base their budget on the 2% figure. This is something that we as musky anglers need to pursue. This is effecting how quickly (or how slowly, in this case) that new musky fisheries in the state are being created. They'll continue to put money into the musky program based on this 2% number unless we make some noise!
Aaron |
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Location: Athens, Ohio | You might contact Jim Smith at Muskies, Inc., he's their magazine editor. The magazine did a readers' survey last year, lots of responses, I think one of the questions was what state do you fish for muskies and Mn. was one of the top destinations. A few data points like that could help......m |
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| Aaron
we heard it right from the head Ron Payer,,,call those people up and tell them to start listening to their boss and give us 7% of the budget |
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| I would love to hear how the survey study was run. I find it impossible to believe that the number would be 7% of anglers if the survey was done on lakes that contained muskies along with all other game fish. Does anyone really think that only 7% of the people on Mille Lacs, Leech, Cass or LOTW or any of a couple of dozen other lakes are fishing for muskies? That number is way to low!!!!! Sounds like another flawed study done to justify a budget.
I also remember being asked a few years back if I fished for muskies last year when I purchased a license. Only 7% of the people asked said they did. Sorry I am not buying it!
It is a self fulfilling prophecy so to speak. If the number of muskie lakes aren't increased the number of anglers won't increase very much so since the anglers don't increase the DNR won't increase the budget. I love a good bureaucracy! |
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Posts: 1764
Location: Ogden, Ut | I'm surprised the number is actually that high...especially considering the pattern of many states now desparately trying to recruit new license buyers. It's all about providing a catch rate - of anything. And considering the relatively low number of muskie waters in Minnesota compared to the numbers of waters w/o muskies. Out of 10,000 lakes (give or take) there's what? 80 muskie waters? That means that EVERY rig in the parking lots of 99.2% of the lakes in Minnesota is NOT fishing for muskie. Yep 7% sounds pretty high to me.
Just a word of caution about equally splitting the budget based on use patterns - be careful what you wish for with that one. You may end up with a bluegill stocking program with a really really fat budget.
Sorno |
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Posts: 1243
Location: Musky Tackle Online, MN | Despite the fact that the DNR estimates the number of musky fishermen in the state at 7% of all anglers, the budget is based on the 2% estimate from 1990. If musky anglers stay quiet and don't push for anything, they won't adjust the budget for the increase in popularity of our sport. Again, the DNR knows the amount of musky anglers has increased. But they won't do anything about it unless we demand it. We, as musky anglers, need to go about it in a professional way. But if we demand a budget adjustment in order to benefit the needs that our musky fishery in MN definitely needs in the future, there's no reason that they won't listen and act accordingly. But we need to show them that we are out there in large numbers and that we are passionate about our sport. It's up to us to work with them and make it happen. We can't just sit back and wait and hope that they'll do something about it. That's not how it works.
Aaron |
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Posts: 1243
Location: Musky Tackle Online, MN | After receiving a private message from Sorenson (thank you, by the way!) regarding my last post, I feel obligated to make another post. I don't want my message to be taken the wrong way.
"Demands" may have been too strong of a word. The reason I'm feeling a little strong about those opinions as of late is due to the meeting we had with the DNR on Wednesday regarding the proposed stocking of the Mississippi River. The DNR representatives were encouraging us to make some noise to support stocking new waters. It was made pretty clear that if we don't ask for more money to be put into our musky fishery, that things will remain the same as far as the portion of the budget that is designated towards muskies. At the very least, there will be nothing that changes in the near future. The squeaky wheel is what gets the attention! But they also cautioned us to go about it the right way. And I will say that the Brainerd Lakes Chapter of Muskies, Inc. (which I am a member of) has an excellent relationship with the DNR and is probably one of the most respected chapters in the entire organization. I am far from one of the most vocal members of our chapter. So I'm not tooting my own horn. But the core group of our chapter, I have been very impressed with by the professionalism in which they approach things. And I guess I have no doubt that if this chapter leads the charge (or helps lead the charge) in regards to this issue, that it will be done in the right way.
The only way to ultimately get what we want with our musky fisheries is to make our voice heard and to have a good relationship with not only the DNR, but other organizations in the fishing world as well.
Aaron |
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| Why not move the big Muskie inc. tourny to Lake Minnetonka. You WILL receive press coverage of that event. If the tourny was still during the decent weather of early Sept. the big buck boys on the lake would surely start to sqeel about a Muskie tourny on their lake.
Publicity is what you need. Make the DNR stand up and take notice of you. Come to where the DNR lives and start an information campaigne they can't ignore.
Tonka is a big enough lake and the numbers of fish are good enough also. |
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Posts: 2384
Location: On the X that marks the mucky spot | Guest, tonka can't handle 750 anglers.
We also get press from the event. If you've got better ideas for getting press for the event, feel free to PM me.
Shawn Kellett
President
TC Chapter 01
Muskies Inc
[email protected] |
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| AWH
just out of curiousity what was the size of the turnout for the meeting,,, |
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Posts: 1243
Location: Musky Tackle Online, MN | HH,
There wasn't a huge showing. I believe there were 14 in attendance (not including the DNR representatives). But there was absolutely no opposition there. One person was there mostly just for informational purposes. But everyone was in support of their proposal. It would be nice if we could get a showing of 100+ people in support of something like that. But it was a fairly small room that the meeting was held in. So they must have expected a small turn out. And actually, that's all the more reason it would be nice to get a big showing. Surprise them with the numbers of people that we can get out to support our cause!
Tim Brastrup of the DNR did say it was one of the best public meetings he's ever been too.
Aaron |
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We can e-mail and send letters of support to the DNR about any public meeting, so we can show good support if people will take a little time to do that.
The DNR will be needing money to start and continue the potential new stockings of the Mississippi, Many Point and one other lake I forget the name of, for next year.
If they don't get help, than it will effect the stockings of current lakes, as they only have enough money to do so much.
FM chapter has pledged $5000 for the next three years, and will review our financial postion then, and keep giving what we can.
The MI chapters have plenty of money to fund stocking in MN, so we can't use that as an excuse for stockings not getting done.
Hey Aaron, when is the muskie video going to get done? I can't wait to see it, will be very nice to show Lake Assciations when approaching them for new waters.
JS |
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Shoud clarify, that's $5000 per year for three years.
JS |
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Posts: 185
Location: Mendota Heights, MN | Shawn,
Can MI get a letter put up on the website that people could go to, electronically sign, and then click to have it sent to pre-determined DNR contacts? I have seen this type of petition run with some success else where in the non-angling community.
Steve |
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Posts: 1243
Location: Musky Tackle Online, MN | John,
Good call on the DNR needing our support on funding as well. The Brainerd chapter has asked the DNR for a list of things they will need in regards to this Mississippi stocking, such as equipment for future assessments, etc. The more that organizations like MI help out the DNR with funding, the more likely we are to get more lakes added. The other lake (in addition to Many Point) is Madison Lake near Mankato.
As far as I know on the video…I believe we’re still on track for a September release date. I’m not sure when in September. But it should be out shortly.
Aaron |
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7% Musky Anglers in Minn