Great lakes Vs Leach Lake
MuskyWI
Posted 8/24/2006 5:31 PM (#206467)
Subject: Great lakes Vs Leach Lake


Can someone explain to me the differences/qualities/growthrates, between the LL and Great Lakes strain. I know they are both spotteds but am not sure much beyond that.
thanks, cool board
sworrall
Posted 8/24/2006 6:07 PM (#206476 - in reply to #206467)
Subject: RE: Great lakes Vs Leach Lake





Posts: 32885


Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin
There are several variants of spotted Muskies. So much depends on environment it's not really possible to say one grows faster or larger than another, I don't think. The fish in Green Bay are from Lake St Claire, I think, as are the Winnebago fish. Wabigoon has great spots, yet they do not grow any faster really than any other strain I've seen, and seem to survive to very old age. Same with Eagle, if I remember reading the data correctly. They get big in there too.

Any of the fisheries folks out there want to tackle this one?
Reef Hawg
Posted 9/10/2006 1:58 PM (#208547 - in reply to #206467)
Subject: RE: Great lakes Vs Leach Lake




Posts: 3518


Location: north central wisconsin
Intersting to note the number of truly spotted fish we are seeing on LOTW and the Winnipeg river these days. I am just wondering if they've always been there, or if they've just taken off in the past few years. The ones I have been catching appear to be very similar to the ones caught on Wabigoon and Eagle in color and spot design. We didn't start catching these fish on the Winnie till a few years ago, and get more of them each year. I think it is pretty cool myself. Do you think these are Wabigoon river fish? Are there any brownies in Wabigoon as there are in Eagle? This very topic is very intruiging to me, and we stare at our photo albums all the time, looking at the differences, knowing there are reasons. Love it!

That said, I think the spotties from Green Bay are Indian River strain but not totally sure(just what I have been told). The Leechers are Mississippi strain and both possess very different colorations. The spotties in green Bay almost look like a very barred fish at times(tough to identify them as spotted muskies albeit the clipped fins and tags indicatin so at times), wheras the leechers seem to always have some sort of spots. Both riverine fish by nature though, and as Steve said, not sure if there is any discernable growth rate differences. Interesting to note that it seems the ones in Green Bay are getting a bit fatter that their counterparts over in St. Claire. Seems density and forage(and maybe temps) play a big role in that..?...

Edited by Reef Hawg 9/10/2006 1:59 PM