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| This past Saturday IDNR held the first annual Muskie Summit. All the public was invited to voice their opinions on the present state of our muskie fishery. About 30 people attended. A state representative also was present, I hope that was a good thing. Just wondering if we could get anyone who attended to voice an opinion on how they felt this summit went. |
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Posts: 72
| I am just curious R Swain what were the topics and over all discussions of this summit ? |
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Posts: 538
Location: northern indiana | If I would've known about it, I would've made it there. I'm interested in what was said as well. I hope raising the size limit was discussed. |
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Posts: 51
| Couldn't agree more wallydiven, size limit defiantly needs discussed |
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Posts: 1887
Location: syracuse indiana | well not to burst bubbles. but they wont budge on the size limits. it was informative on what they do from the egg taking to the reering and stocking . that's about it really. some of the main points discussed were all of those thing like size limits on lakes and the stocking size which needs to be bigger 90 day reered fish instead of the 30 day reered . and sometime we will have a real summit in January in Indianapolis. the 2 clubs are gonna get this all going..
garrett it was posted all over the clubs website forum and facebook , and Indiana fish forums too I should have put it on here too I guess. sorry about that. there was a good turnout , but I feel we didn't get anymore leeway than what we had before.. one of my biggest things was brought up and they kinda blew it off. was about a lot of fish are getting out of the system. a lot of them and there is proof that they are now being caught down south in the tippie river on both sides of the #*^@ at lake Shaffer , so they are getting out of these lakes including bruce lake too. even skinner is dumping fish into the elkart and st joe....bill |
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Posts: 1887
Location: syracuse indiana | also I think dave cates is gonna send out the final things about the meeting and we can put them on here when we get them |
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Posts: 462
Location: Syracuse, Indiana | The Indiana DNR generously provided a forum and personnel to discuss the status of the fishery with a bunch of Muskie nuts! I have been promised a copy of the notes and presentations from the meeting, and will share them appropriately. IMHO the discussion was positive, and many topics were addressed. It is my hope - and was my intention in spearheading the meeting - that the conversations can continue in an annual format. The more communication between the DNR and the Musky world, the better. A tentative "summit" has been scheduled for January. Expect details from the Hoosier Muskie Hunters and the Webster Lake Musky Club. |
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| There was a handraising for those of us who would like to see the size limit go up. The result was overwhelming in favor of raising it. I felt at that moment that many of the DNR officials got what we were coming from and did agree that indeed we have a problem. However, State Fisheries Chief Bill James seemed unmoved and unwilling to come to our side at all and that includes even admitting there truly is even a problem at all. In the end I feel at least three of the DNR employees present agreed to our problem. Hats off to Dave Cates for a job well done. |
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| Also to answer J Fallon's post. Us fishermen also brought the facts of encountering far less small fish,floods in recent years allowing more fish to travel and returning to the practice of 90 day forage feeding in the rearing ponds instead of the current 30 day. |
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Posts: 20248
Location: oswego, il | I would have like to have attended too. Any discussion of putting discontinued lakes back on the stocking list? |
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Posts: 72
| R Swain I totally agree . the number of small fish have gone way down and we know that isn't a good thing. The fishery has changed a lot in the past 10 years . Some good and some bad . I am not to hell bent on size limit ,(even though it should be raised) but like bill said the size of the stocked fish in my opinion is the main thing . Does the DNR claim it is to expensive for 90 day forage feeding ? And if so what could we the fisherman do ? |
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Posts: 538
Location: northern indiana | Maybe everybody needs to start fishin for minnows  |
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Posts: 55
| What is the size limit in Indiana? |
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Posts: 538
Location: northern indiana | Steve S - 8/27/2013 8:19 PM
What is the size limit in Indiana?
36". I feel maybe the reason they don't increase it is because we have such a high percentage of fish per acre. |
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| I do think that cost for fathead minnows is the reason for dropping back to 30 day forage feeding. This was talked about in the meeting. One dnr employee brought up the fact that in 2007, the last year for 90 day forage fead fish, they only had enough to feed some of them for 70 days and the fish in that pond had equal size to the 90day fish. Other topics included how our could chip in and either raise minnows or buy them to forage feed them longer. |
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| Garrett, we used to have alot of fish per acre but in my opinion not any more. |
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Posts: 72
| R Swain that sounds like a great idea . I am sure if they would allow that we could get a few of the local clubs including Illinois clubs to participate. I live just over the border in Munster In and I know plenty of Illinois guys who would be interested in helping including my self. Even though I live 100 miles away these are my regular fishing waters for 20 years now and I just want to see this fishery continue to be great |
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Posts: 2427
Location: Ft. Wayne Indiana | Let me start off by saying, this is MY OPINION, which I base off of my years of fishing these waters and my thousand days on these lakes.... These lakes STILL have the same number of fish in them as ever before. Spring netting will show you this on a decent spring with no cold fronts, huge winds, etc...when the nets are out. Every lake goes through cycles. People remember the great years and instantly want to fix the problem by pointing fingers and making accusations. The constant pressure these lakes received for many years has set it. 25+ musky boats, with 2-3 guys casting for muskies every day for years and years on a 600 acre lake can not take and handle that kind of pressure. The lack of oxygen in these lakes after the weed kills also prevents a lot of action from the muskies. With little parts per million of oxygen, these fish are stressed 95% of the day...and only move and eat when they need to. The weed kills also have a negative affect on the fishing as well. Despite what the DNR says or the people who do the chemical weed treatments, I am here to tell you, that I have seen it for YEARS that it has a big affect on the fishing. Also, the use of constant live bait on these fish have also taken it's toll. People use bluegills, suckers, crappie, perch, bass, bullheads, etc...to catch muskies...I haven't put out live bait in over 5 years as I don't find it sporting...but the fact that every fish has been caught using some sort of artificial and on various methods of live bait has also taken it's toll on how good fishing "used to be". Another part of the bad fishing aspect is the cold springs we have had. Last year, I had one of the best springs EVER....very close to 2004-2006 fishing numbers...the fish got to spawn quickly, dropped their eggs, healed up and were on the chow. The years when we get huge cold fronts right in the middle of spawning season has a huge negative affect on how well the fishing will be in the spring. A lot of fish will leave the shallows, never drop their eggs and absorb them back into their body mass. They don't have to eat nearly as often and they are not as active. I have caught fish in late May that are spitting eggs...a few years ago, I caught a few fish in Sept. that were spitting dead, black eggs....when the conditions are not right and the fish leave the spawning areas well before they are spawned out that will also impact fishing success. There are several other aspects to fishing success or lack there of, but those are some of the more important ones in my opinion. These lakes can't handle the pressure they received for years...they are to small. These lakes can't handle having chemical treatments in the large amounts that they receive. These lakes and fish can't handle being caught using every method possible year after year and anglers expect the same results. etc... On the flip side...this spring, I enjoyed guiding in Indiana....I had some very very good days and caught some very large fish with my clients. Pressure was about 95% than years past. There would be weeks when I would see 2-4 boats PER WEEK...when just a few years ago, these lakes had 20+ musky boats on them daily. ALso, don't forget it's musky fishing...it's not bass fishing...its gonna be tough. You can't expect to do the same thing year in and year out and have the same results...you gotta adapt and figure out how to catch them. There are a lot of factors that have hurt Indiana musky fishing...but I am here to tell you...the fish are there...in huge numbers. It's not 1999-2006 any more...glory days are over...but there are still PLENTY of great years of fishing ahead of us...as long as we take care of the lakes, the lakes will take care of us. Good luck out there. |
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Posts: 415
| Mike, I don't always agree with some of your opinions but I believe this one to be spot on. I fish these lakes often as well, and I have been saying many of the exact same things for the last couple years. |
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| I've seen Hulbert fish suckers in the fall |
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| So what is your point "Mr Guest"? I have fished with Mike several times in the fall and we did not use suckers. I still think his information is accurate, especially about the weed kill issue. |
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| Weed kill was only on Webster. |
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Posts: 538
Location: northern indiana | They treat the weeds on Barbee every year. |
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Posts: 2427
Location: Ft. Wayne Indiana | I didn't say I have NEVER used suckers...I said I don't use them ANY MORE and haven't for years. But nice work guest... I'm off to pick up my clients for some night fishing. Sorry I tired to help and voice my opinion....always gotta be one guy that has something smart to say that has NO point at all. Keep up the good work guest. |
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| Weed kill is also a problem on small bass lakes in laporte and porter counties and bruce. It is like Indiana home owner associations are becoming weed kill happy. It scares me every time I see weed kill boats on the highways around Westville. |
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Posts: 427
| i think they should lower the stocking rates in the smaller lakes and increase the numbers they are putting in larger lakes like brookeville that are able to handle the fishing preasure better. |
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Posts: 504
Location: Ludington, MI | I'd just like to say thanks to Indiana for its hatchery success because it has helped stock some new Michigan lakes over the last several years. Now that we've switched to GLS, I'm not sure we'll be getting any more bumper crop fish from you, but thanks. |
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Indiana muskie summit