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| Hi all,
Just wanted to get your feelings on this. On my first Muskie trip to LOTW, I got there on the opener, the 3rd Saturday in June. The lodge had a muskie log posted, and there were already muskies recorded on it. Some from several weeks previous. I've also noticed that when I visit websites for lodges in Ontario, that they also record muskies caught before the opener.
So, here's my question(s). Should any fish caught before the season opens be recorded? Would you count these fish in your yearly total? How about Muskies, Inc. members contest? Would they be accepted?
I'll hold my .02 for a while, then respond with my thoughts.
Tight Lines,
Shep[;)] | |
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| Hey Shep,
I will give my two cents. It is a difficult decision to make wether or not they should be counted, but I am very annoyed by the guys who go up there before the season starts and blatantly fish for muskies. They claim to be fishing for pike, and try to catch muskies. They make closed seasons for a reason. So I guess my answer to the question is that they should not count. If a person is a member of Muskies Inc, then what are they doing up there fishing for them before the season starts anyway???
Chad Cain | |
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| To say you caught and released it is one thing, but it is CLOSED season. These fish should not be registered or counted in club contests. The bottom line is the fish was caught out of season and there for it would be illegal if kept.
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| I agree, leave the spawning fish alone, don't fish for them out of season, they need a break. I don't think muskies inc. will accept a fish caught out of season for the contest. A guy caught a sixty inch plus on a flyrod last year on St. Clare before season and din't ask for recognition, class act!
Thats why there is a season.
MuskyDan | |
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| No way, those fish were caught in a closed season therefore ilegaly. Now I can see a mention of " A " monster accidently caught by a walleye fisherman but anything else is just very bad from the lodge owners. If I see a lodge owner that is that desparate to boost his numbers I would be thinking of going elsewhere. [:(] | |
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| What difference does it make? Who cares . I go by how good the fishing is and how much fun I had. I don't go to a place because of what is posted on a board. [:bigsmile:] If someone catches a Musky when he is fishing for Eyes I could care less if its on a board but if he's out fishing for Muskies that against the law . That not OK [:blackeye:] | |
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| This past year brought something interesting to my home lake. We had open water in December (season closes Nov 30th). I know some folks that when out fishing for "PIKE" and caught some muskies. They used small suckers and golden shinners on quicksets. The wardens were out in force but only pinched one guy that I know of. Many others got warnings.
Happens during the ice season too, many muskies are caught, dragged on the ice and handled poorly (photos on shore too), then released. The anglers are using small suckers on the tip ups.....
Where is the fine line here....?
I did not even think of trying, my 1990 Tuffy has muskie written all over it, so I went south to other states in December to chase muskies in legal seasons.
Pewaukee is a stocked lake, like the Madison lakes too. Maybe the DNR should open the lakes up with rules that its illeagal to catch muskie thru the ice only. That way we can fish Muskies in March, April and December. Or have it Catch and Release only from Nov 30th thru the first Saturday in May. You see we sometimes get three months of open water and its illeagal to fish until the 1st Saturday of May.
The DNR has seen no reproduction and according to there records 99% release on Pewaukee. So why not open up...a catch and release season. That would bring lots of revenue into the state.
Oh..should resorts or release contests count muskies out of season...No
Ok done badgering this issue....I am going back to my Sunday morning bacon and eggs. | |
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| Finally! Someone with a common sense approach.
Where is the fine line here....? The line has no purpose,,, it needs to go!
I can't understand why in lakes that show no natural reproduction they close before ice. Let the ice close the season. JS You have some good ideas.
If the season is closed it should not count. | |
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| Jason great idea actually. The purpose of closed seasons is to prtotect the spawning fish. If there is no successfull spawn, then what is the harm? I also think a total catch and release during those times would be great.
Chad also nailed it about any person who goes up to Canada before the season and uses 10 inch jakes to catch pike and MAGICALLY catches musky? I know of it happening. It all comes down to ethics in that regard. Bit of a joke if you ask me. They should not count. | |
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| Mabye Wisconson is just to lazy to change the seasons for specific lakes, but maybe they are still protecting the fish by not opening it up. Even if the fish do not efectively reproduce they still go through the spawning process don't they? Maybe the DNR feels that fishing for them in early spring would still cause undue stress, hurting the population of muskies. What happens to mortality rate of a fish that is caught while attempting, (although maybe not sucessfully) to spawn?
Not saying it is wrong or right to have a year long season in non reproduction lakes, but just offering a different look at things. | |
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| Muskies that are taken out of the
muskie season, should be released
immediately. Hauling them in the boat for a measurement or a photo is illegal in MN.
The sad thing is, there are to many anglers that figure it's ok, as long as they don't get caught. | |
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| Thanks for all the replys. Here's my thoughts.
The lodge I went to claimed nearly 600 muskies caught in a year. This is on both their website and in print ads. When I got there, I noticed nearly 50 muskies, from 20" to 49", already on the log, caught prior to open season. Now, I know some of these fish were caught while pike and walleye fishing. But I believe the majority were targeted.
Either way, these fish were taken out of season, and should NOT be counted towards the lodge's annual total. In a way, this is a little like false avertising to me. I do not mention the name of the lodge, it's not important, and I have noticed this is not the only lodge that uses this practice.
While this might be nit-picking, it still bugs me. #1, because there are people that are targeting muskies out of season. #2, lodges inflating their numbers with fish that shouldn't count.
Jason, I agree. Sure would have been nice to fish a couple more weeks on Pewaukee, Okauchee, and Oconomowoc. As far as the regs here in good ole SE WI, I think the DNR is in cahoots with IL and KY to help the tourism down there![;)] Not, really. I just think it's easier for them to keep things the way they are. Look at how long it takes for them to raise the legal size limit on lakes that probably need it. I think our muskie fisheries management is stagnant, and they should take a look at what is happening in MN, and take some of what works there, and try to bring it here.
Tight Lines all,
Shep
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Count it? Or Not?