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Message Subject: Future Arizona Muskie fishery...

Reelwise

Posted 9/22/2015 1:25 AM (#785470)
Subject: Future Arizona Muskie fishery...

Posts: 1636

Arizona chief of fisheries has informed us that the Arizona Game and Fish will be holding a meeting sometime in early 2016 and Tiger Muskies will be a topic of discussion. I wish I had more information for you at this time. I will update this post if I receive anymore information.

A lot has to go right for this to happen, so we are asking for the public's support. So far we have over 100 signatures from people interested in stocking Muskie in Arizona. Below is a link to the petition webpage. Please sign and comment if you would like! Thank you.

Petition to stock Muskies in Arizona: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/arizona-muskie-fishing

In 1973, thirty thousand six hundred Muskellunge sac-fry were planted in Mormon Lake southeast of Flagstaff by the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Fisheries Assistant Jack Boland said Threadfin Shad were also stocked in the lake to provide a ready source of food. Largemouth Bass were introduced in Arizona in 1897. Walleye were introduced in 1957. Northern Pike were introduced in 1965.

Muskie prefer water temperatures around 75 degrees. Muskie can tolerate water temperatures in the 89-93 degree range (Scott and Crossman 1973; Hassan and Spotila 1976; Reynolds and Casterlin 1979, Jobling 1981). Northern Pike prefer water temperatures around 68 degrees. Northern Pike can tolerate water temperatures over 86 degrees (Ridenhour 1957). Striped Bass prefer water temperatures in the 45-68 degree range. Striped Bass will be under stress when water temperatures exceed 77 degrees (Moyle 2002). Water temperatures exceeding 86 degrees can be lethal for Striped Bass. Walleye prefer water temperatures in the 68-75 degree range (Dendy 1948; Ferguson 1958; Kelso 1972; Huh et al. 1976). Water temperatures in the 86-95 degree range can be lethal for Walleye (Koenst and Smith 1976; Momot et al. 1977). Northern Pike, Striped Bass, and Walleye do well in several lakes in Arizona.

Edited by Reelwise 9/26/2015 2:08 PM

MuskyMidget

Posted 9/23/2015 4:03 PM (#785726 - in reply to #785470)
Subject: Re: Future Arizona Tiger Muskie fishery...

Posts: 925

Done. It's too bad Lake Pleasant and/or Bartlett are too warm to support a musky population. Much closer to Phoenix.

ToddM

Posted 9/23/2015 4:35 PM (#785733 - in reply to #785470)
Subject: Re: Future Arizona Tiger Muskie fishery...

Posts: 20248

Location: oswego, il

I hope you get them Brandon!

Reelwise

Posted 9/23/2015 8:26 PM (#785762 - in reply to #785726)
Subject: Re: Future Arizona Tiger Muskie fishery...

Posts: 1636

MuskyMidget - 9/23/2015 5:03 PM

Done. It's too bad Lake Pleasant and/or Bartlett are too warm to support a musky population. Much closer to Phoenix.

Thanks!

Lake Pleasant has a healthy population of Shad and Striped Bass. If the Striped Bass do well, there really is no reason why Muskies wouldn't either. Striped Bass need more food and cooler water than Muskie to survive. I believe 85 degree water to a Striped Bass is fatal. Pleasant is a massive lake with deep, cool water where fish can take refuge from the summer heat. The main issue is, if the Muskies go through the dam, they could potentially end up in the Colorado River. That could create some problems. It is also EXTREMELY difficult to convince some that the Tiger Muskies won't eat all the Bass in the lake... I prefer to stay out of that debate :P

Bartlett on the other hand, would probably be too warm.

I was told that they are looking at lakes where the Tiger Muskies would not effect native populations of fish. This most likely means any lakes with inflow or outflow connecting to any rivers or canals are out of the question

We will hopefully have some more information shortly. I apologize for making a post without more... Just wanted to spread the word quickly. I will post here and on the Facebook group page here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/arizonamuskiefishing/

Wouldn't that be cool Todd? Maybe you can visit! Have not seen you in a long time. Not cool!

Anything can happen... I do know that Muskies were stocked in Arizona in the 1970's. The problem was, they stocked them in a lake that dried up and the fish didn't stand a chance. The interest was there though.

Edited by Reelwise 9/25/2015 3:01 AM

PSAGuy

Posted 9/26/2015 9:04 AM (#786091 - in reply to #785470)
Subject: RE: Future Arizona Muskie fishery...

Posts: 194

Location: Lake Elmo, MN

If Arizona gets Muskies (and Smallies), Minnesota would never see my face again !!

Year-round golf AND fishing....Heaven !!

Pointerpride102

Posted 9/26/2015 9:15 AM (#786092 - in reply to #786091)
Subject: RE: Future Arizona Muskie fishery...

Posts: 16632

Location: The desert

PSAGuy - 9/26/2015 9:04 AM

If Arizona gets Muskies (and Smallies), Minnesota would never see my face again !!

Year-round golf AND fishing....Heaven !!

Not to mention 130 degree heat!

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