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Posts: 305
Location: Illinois | I read the numbers in the MI magazine that just came out. I have 2 questions for anyone in the know. According to the mag the Chain was stocked with about 1400 fish. With a body of water the size of the Chain 1400 fish seems moderate to low in terms of numbers for a fairly large system. Was there a shortage of stockable muskies? Was it decided that the current density was high enough that a heavier stocking might be a detriment? Finally, the numbers indicated that "Deep Lake" had been stocked with 25 muskies. Is this the Deep Lake in Antioch? No County was given and I assume there is more than 1 Deep Lake. Thanks for any insight. BTW, this queery is not to be critical as I have fished the Chain for many years and I am more than satisfied with the fishery. |
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Posts: 20254
Location: oswego, il | Yes, that is the deep lake in antioch. Now here is the frustrating part. The biologist in charge of the chain feels 1400 is enough. FRV, SOB and I am sure Chicagoland would like to put more fish in it and we would. Problem is if we put 200 fish in, the state will only stock 1200. Our club, FRV, in total frustration over trying to get fish sticked in northern illinois has taken it's money and effort and putting it into southern wisconsin lakes.  |
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Location: Des Moines IA | With a lower density fishery doesn't that give us a chance at a larger fish anyway? I do have to wonder how many fish leave the chain each year through the river though? 1400 fish doesn't seem like very many. Multiple lakes and losing fish to the river , they do probably need to stock more fish in there. I wish we could find a lake to stock as a action lake around here, but I don't think the Fox chain would be our best bet for that.
Edited by MuskieMike 4/19/2006 4:25 AM
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Posts: 2024
| Action lake? Go drive about 3 hours SW. If you know how to hit it, you can have all the fun you want... |
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Location: Minneapolis, MN | The biologist for the chain feels the state guideline of 1 fish per 2 acres is appropriate for the forage in the chain. The chain does not have shad like many of the other lakes in the IL program. Without shad it may not be able to sustain more than 1 per 2 acres. We may have witnessed evidence of this over the last few years. Several years ago before SOB chapter was allowed to stock Leech strain, the system only received the IL mutt muskie. Many complained of very skinny fish at that time. Some theorize that the leecher's don't survive in the chain which would mean durring the last several years stocking numbers were artificially lower than the state's guideline of 1 per 2 acres. Can't say for sure that it is directly related or the only contributor but most will tell you the size and weight of the chain fish has gone up significantlly in recently years. Another thing to consider is that while fish are doing well and getting caught in the southern lakes the reality is the sothern lakes have very little structure that muskie like. So when you consider 1 fish per 2 acres for the entire system it would mean the northern lakes would get far more than 1 per 2 acres which could be very disruptive to the balance in those lakes, or that more fish would leave the system for the river. One last thing to consider is that the chain has a dam and lock that the fish can escape from into the Fox River system. Many think because of this that all fish will eventually be flushed out of the chain. Surveys show that many fish move around and not just straight south. Recently a couple fish that were trapped in Fox were recaptured in Bluff. When the DNR considers changing the muskie program for the chain they are very focused on the downstream effect it may have on the Fox River. The river if you are not aware is a big success story for the DNR as they have taken it from a poluted sewer to a very nice fishery including an outstanding smallmouth bass fishery. If balance is not maintained in the chain fish may leave in greater numbers which could really put the hurt on a great river fishery. |
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| Well said Joe, the Fox Chain is a system that everyone wants to get better. Tuffdaddy's recent personal best shows the Chain has the potential to grow big fish. It will never be Lake Webster |
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Posts: 1296
Location: Hayward, Wisconsin | I just got this from the IDNR's "main man" this morning:
"one of the fat girls from trap netting on Fox Chain last week was 49.5
36+ pounds. only 2 lbs short of state record!! They found muskies all
over the chain, in all lakes. PMTT hopefuylly will have a good tourney
this fall there."
Guess things are doing ok there!
Muskie regards,
Larry Ramsell
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Illinois Stocking Question