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Posts: 714
Location: Rhinelander, WI | I was recently looking through the ’03-’04 Wisconsin Fishing Regs and thought of a good point to bring up at the spring hearings. But I need your help.
According to the Regs of the 800+ musky lakes in the State of Wisconsin 7 lakes have a trophy limit (45” or bigger), 113 lakes have a 40” limit and the rest of the state has a 34 inch minimum.
That means 0.9% of the lakes have trophy limits and 15% are managed with a 40” or bigger limit.
What I would like to be able to bring up at the spring hearing is the same percentages for our neighboring states.
My questions to those of you who may know or may be able to get the info:
What is the State wide musky size limit in your state? If there isn’t a State wide limit, what is the most common limit.
What percentage of lakes have a 40” or higher limit.
What percentage of lakes are managed for trophy fish with limits greater than 45”?
That States I am specifically interested in are Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, and Iowa. But I would also be interested in the same data from other states and Ontario.
If anybody can help me, thank you very much.
I apologize for posting this on multiple boards, but I would like to generate as many responses as possible.
Nail a Pig!
Mike |
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Posts: 131
Location: Kalamazoo, MI | Michigan is 42" statewide. I know of a few that have a 50" limit (Thornapple Lake for sure, and I think Lake St Clair). Im sure there are others that have a 50"+ limit also. Sorry, I dont have the numbers off hand.
I know that Indiana is 36" minimum statewide, with some waters having higher limits.
Hope that helps a little!
Edited by spieg 3/31/2003 10:20 PM
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Posts: 20281
Location: oswego, il | For a comparison to tightening up regs compared to little johnny and losing business, look at what cananda has done. The regs are no where near like they used to be, heck you could keep just about any fish when I was a kid. They sure have not lost any business over it and the fishing is alot better from resort owners I have talked to, who can compare the 70's to now. Too bad the resort owners in wi can't be stewards of the recource like they are in canada. Sure would ecucate little johnny and make him understand in a hurry. |
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Posts: 714
Location: Rhinelander, WI | OK, this is what I have so far.
Michigan 42” statewide. Some 50” limits.
Indiana 36” statewide. Some bigger.
Iowa 40” statewide.
Minnesota 40” statewide. Around 12 lakes with 48” limit.
I still need Illinois, can anybody help?
Also, how many musky lakes are there in Minn.
Does Iowa have a lake or two with big limits? I thought that the lake that 50 pounder came out of a couple years ago had a 48 or bigger limit.
Thank
Nail a Pig!
Mike
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Posts: 1939
Location: Black Creek, WI | Mike,
How about this approach? It is often suggested that 10% of Wisconsin's Fishermen are Musky Fishermen. Then why not recommend we increase the percentage of lakes with "trophy" size limits to reflect the percentage of anglers specifically pursueing that resource? That would immediately provide 10 times the number of lakes (1% up to 10%) in WI that are managed with the "Musky Fisherman" population in mind... assuming most dedicated musky fisherman are trophy oriented. If that is successful... than future petitions could recommend going state-wide with larger size limits like many of our neighbors. A more conservative step.... but you often need to take a few baby steps before you can start running.
Just sharing a brainstorming thought after quickly reading your message....
jlong |
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Posts: 440
| Just checked Iowa and it is 40" statewide. No special lakes. |
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50” Size Limits – Asking for Help From Our Neighboring States