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Posts: 1243
Location: Musky Tackle Online, MN | By now, most of you have heard about the proposal to stock Gull Lake in MN with muskies. There has been more discussion about it lately. But the lack of discussion early on has me concerned that many people won't voice their support. I'd like to get an idea on how people are going to react to this proposal. There's a public input meeting on October 6th with a public comment period going until October 16th.
No matter who you are or where you live, please vote on this poll. No one will know how you voted, so please vote honestly. Just trying to get an idea on where people stand and what to expect. If you don't plan on doing anything and you're willing to say why, please feel free to explain. You can also add options to the poll if I've forgotten anything.
Thanks,
Aaron | |
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Posts: 699
Location: Hugo, MN | For those of you who don't fish MN so you think it doesn't affect you keep in mind more waters elsewhere will affect you at some point maybe not so much the folks out east but certainly you Canucks and Sconnies out there the more top notch fisheries out there the more choices anglers will have perhaps they will decide to hit Gull Lake instead of raiding the Goon or Hayward area? Keep this in mind as it takes little effort to drop Tim an e-mail, [email protected]
The more Muskie waters we have the less pressure there will be overall. | |
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Posts: 1243
Location: Musky Tackle Online, MN | For more information on this proposal, here is the DNR's press release on the subject.
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: 8772
| My letter to the DNR:
Hello, Mr. Brastrup.
I wish to express my excitement and my full support over the Gull Lake stocking program. As you know, the state of Minnesota has gained quite a reputation as the place to go for catching trophy muskies. Most of my friends and fellow club members fish in Minnesota more often than our home waters here in Illinois. The same can be said for my friends in WI, and many other states as well.
It's obvious to many of us that the number of musky anglers fishing the popular lakes has increased dramatically over the last several years, and great care needs to be taken to ensure that Musky fishing in Minnesota continues to be what it has become.
Whether it's stocking additional waters or increased size limits, I am writing to show my full support for continuing to expand and improve what I think is the greatest musky fishery in the world.
Thanks for your time!
Jeff Lietz
Muskies Inc.Member
Fox River Valley Chapter 39
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It's that easy, it took 5 minutes.
I also sent a few e mails to some of the officials from the board of my club.
Hats off to Steve Crook, John Weber, and Rich Gallagher for agreeing to mention this in our monthly newsletter!!
(Hey Steve, can I post the newsletter here or what?)
Edited by esoxaddict 9/5/2006 1:51 PM
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Posts: 1243
Location: Musky Tackle Online, MN | esoxaddict,
Thanks for the email and thanks for the support! It's great that we have friends in Illinois (and all over the country) that will take a minute or two to support such an important issue. I'm glad that those that are not in MN still realize that this effects them as well. Thanks again and keep spreading the word!
Thanks,
Aaron | |
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Posts: 2378
| sent the email this morning and plan to send another during the public comment period in October.
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Posts: 16632
Location: The desert | Will definately send my support. Anything to help out the future of our fisheries.
Mike | |
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Posts: 2068
Location: Appleton,WI | I sent an email to the dnr about this 2 weeks ago,Im in support of it! | |
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| I'll be there in person either in St Paul or Brainard | |
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Posts: 63
Location: Indianapolis, IN | I sent an email last week! Already got a response from Mr Ron Payer with the MNDNR! I really wish I could attend the meeting in person though! I have been coming up to the Great State of Minnesota all my life! I'm willing to write or call anyone who can help increase an already awesome fishery!
Todd | |
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Posts: 2378
| They're reading 'em guys.
Sent the email this morning and already got the response. Very cool of these guys to take the time and respond. | |
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Posts: 336
Location: Lino Lakes, MN | I sent out a letter to the e-mail addy that Cady posted as well as a few others that I found on the web. I have yet to fish in MN but will offer any support that I can to help out another fishery. | |
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Posts: 20212
Location: oswego, il | I sent off an e-mail and gave some examples on ecomomics and resorts that have seen big benefit from muskies being introduced. Hope it helps. | |
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Do you fish for muskies? How will you respond?