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Posts: 2384
Location: On the X that marks the mucky spot | DNR NEWS - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE AUGUST 15, 2006
Media contacts: Ronald D. Payer, DNR Chief of Fisheries management, (651) 259-5229;
or Tim Goeman, northeast regional fisheries manager, (218) 999-7819.
DNR to seek public input on plan to stock muskies in Gull Lake
A proposal to stock muskellunge in Gull Lake near Brainerd will be the subject of a public input meeting in October. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is considering a proposal to stock 2,800 muskellunge fingerlings per year for four consecutive years starting in 2007. The proposal aims to create a muskellunge fishery in the immediate Brainerd area, a popular angling destination in central Minnesota.
“The Brainerd Area Fisheries Office developed this proposal because muskie angler numbers continue to increase, those in the Brainerd area are seeking additional opportunities, and Gull Lake – due to its large size, forage base and habitat types – qualifies as lake where muskie management is an option,” said Tim Goeman, northeast regional fisheries manager.
The public input meetings will be Oct. 6 from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Central Lakes College cafeteria, 501 West College Drive in Brainerd and from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the DNR’s headquarters, 500 Lafayette Road in St. Paul.
Minnesota has become one of the nation’s premier muskellunge fishing destinations. Originally, the muskellunge existed in 44 lakes and six rivers in Minnesota. Today, 85 lakes and six rivers contain muskellunge as a result of DNR stocking efforts. There has been no significant expansion of muskellunge waters during the last five to 10 years. This is due, in part, to the mystique of the fish, which can grow to more than 50 inches in length and is a top predator in the fisheries food chain.
“The muskie has a reputation that is both deserved and underserved,” said Ron Payer, DNR chief of fishieries management. “It is a great fighter and impressive to behold. Still, it is not the nemesis to game fish that many believe it to be. As an adult, its preference is to eat perch and those species that have soft spines within their fins such as suckers, cisco and redhorse. There is no research evidence that suggests introducing the muskellunge into a lake has caused a corresponding decrease in the walleye fishery.”
Payer noted that many of Minnesota’s best-known large walleye lakes – such as Winnibigoshish, Leech and Lake of the Woods - have always contained both muskellunge and walleye. Both fish can thrive, said Payer, because muskellunge numbers never become as dense as fish species of a smaller size.
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Tim Brastrup, DNR Brainerd area fisheries supervisor, developed the muskellunge stocking plan as a result of input from the local Muskies, Inc. chapter, whose members have reported increased crowding on lakes within 25 to 45 miles of Brainerd such as Mille Lacs, Cedar, Shamineau, Alexander and Woman lakes. “Twenty-five to 45 miles isn’t an unreasonable distance to drive for a muskie fishing opportunity,” said Brastrup. “But the issue has become one of crowding. An increasing number of anglers are converging on the same spots and quality of the angling experience is declining.”
“Our stocking proposal recognizes the fact that northern pike spearing has a long tradition in this area and this proposal does not ban pike spearing in Gull Lake,” Brastrup said.
A 10-day public comment period will follow the open house and end Oct. 16. Comments may be mailed directly to DNR Area Fisheries Headquarters, 1601 Minnesota Drive, Brainerd, MN 56401; DNR Fish and Wildlife Division, Box 12, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155; or e-mailed to [email protected]
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Posts: 382
| We are going to need a ton of support on this one guys! Please plan to attend if possible. The Brainerd Lakes MI chapter is a great one and has done a ton of work to get this on the table. This chain could be a tremendous muskie fishery!
KOMER | |
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Posts: 699
Location: Hugo, MN | IF YOU CAN'T SHOW UP BECAUSE YOU LIVE IN SOUTH DAKOTA OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT PLEASE NOTE YOU CAN SEND LETTERS OF SUPPORT FOR THE STOCKING OF GULL LAKE AND POKEGAMA IN GRAND RAPIDS TO THE DNR VIA EMAIL OR SNAIL MAIL!!!! SO NOT A SINGLE PERSON HERE HAS AN EXCUSE EVERYONE PLEASE AT THE VERY LEAST SEND THIS GUY AN E-MAIL.
Edited by marine_1 8/16/2006 9:27 AM
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Location: Musky Tackle Online, MN | Every musky voice in the state needs to be heard on this one. Even if you don't live in MN, the MN DNR needs to hear from you. For those of you that make the long journey to Mille Lacs from WI, IL, IN and all of the rest of the country, this proposal DOES impact you. Think of the parade of boats that you're seeing out there on Mille Lacs. Creating a musky fishery on Gull Lake WILL take some of the pressure off Mille Lacs as well as some of the surrounding waters. Gull Lake is 9,000+ acres and is over 14,000 acres with the entire chain. This chain is located just 30 miles from Mille Lacs. So with that much water and such close proxmity, you can see where this will help Mille Lacs as well. But most importantly, the Gull chain has the potential to be a world class musky fishery. Fast growing, wide bodied fish are a real possibility.
Clear your calendars now. If you can make the meeting, PLEASE show up. This will have the biggest impact. If you're unable to attend, please make sure your voice is still heard by making a phone call, sending an email or sending a letter during that 10 day period following the meeting. Whether this proposal goes through or not will absolutely have a HUGE effect on the future of our musky fishery in MN.
Aaron | |
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Posts: 2068
Location: Appleton,WI | If you want to email a letter of support as I did here is the address.
[email protected]
Youve got my support! | |
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| What is the format or agenda for this event? Does someone from the DNR make a presentation about the good reasons to support this plan or is it more a b!tch session for the people who oppose? If the DNR is not planning to make a presentation will they permit one or more of the MI chapters to make a presentation? | |
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| Unfortunately I have seen many cries to show up at these meetings fall on deaf ears in the past. This meeting is scheduled on a Friday night. Has anyone thought about organizing something for the weekend that would motivate people to come up for the meeting? Perhaps a small, dare I say, bragging rights only tournament on an area lake for those that will come in from the Cities or other surrounding non-local area? | |
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Posts: 2384
Location: On the X that marks the mucky spot | Guest #1. I'm pretty sure it's going to be an open house format like the one we had @ French Lake. After that event it seemed to be more productive with people talking to each other as sportsmen instead of soap box ranting like lunatics (those who are against muskies  ).
Guest #2. Good idea. I'll be bringing it up in our next board meeting in a couple weeks and I'll also contact some of the other MI chapters and see what we can put together. You want to help?
-Shawn | |
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You want more muskie lakes? Show up here!