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Posts: 663
| The recent threads about slot limits and management goals has me scratching my head a bit. We all seem to be pretty good at expressing opinions and sharing our passion for the sport of musky fishing online but when it comes to acting as a unified voice we fall apart. There are plenty of musky clubs and individuals who may or may not be members of organizations who have good things to say about this stuff but my observation over the last couple years is that we lack a unified voice when it comes to these matters. I'm not a member so I don't know if an organization like the Wisconsin Musky Alliance has addressed these issues. I hear a lot of talk at musky shows from individuals on important musky matters but not much in the way of an organized forum for us as a community to identify issues we feel are important and develop a strategy to pursue those interests. I hope I'm wrong about this and maybe just out of the loop but can any of you guys tell me differently? If there is something going on I'd like to know about it. Please don't take this as a slam, it's just an observation and I'd much rather find out that I'm wrong but I suspect not. Your thoughts please. |
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Posts: 32958
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Pete,
You are absolutely correct. As with any emotionally and politically charged subject, there are activists on both polar opposite ends, those who react one way or another to those folks, and the general public who respond only if directly asked.
I haven't seen a cohesive approach anywhere that would jel the United States' muskie angling community's agenda. In fact, I haven't seen a cohesive agenda. The Muskie clubs have taken the front line position on CPR education, and are doing very well with the forwarding of that concept. Yet even within Muskies Inc there is division and argument over where muskie angling in the US is headed, what is needed, and what can be done by the members and the Umbrella groups. Clubs argue with the International, Club members argue with their clubs, etc.
Classic democracy in action.
What can be done about that? I'm not sure. |
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Posts: 1438
| Much like what Steve said, from what I've seen, everyone you ask thinks that they can build a better mousetrap. Everyone thinks their own idea is the cureall and everyone who has an idea that is different "sucks" or is a "dumbass".
What needs to be done is look at it from a problem solving basis.
Identify the problem or goal first and work from there. Some people will have to make concessions and realize that the microcosm of the Muskie world that they want addressed may be well down the list in the big picture. Problem is that everyone wants to be first on the list.
Until each person can dismiss his own selfish agenda, and we work together as a team, we're going to be treading a lot of water.
Scott
I am talking in generalities here.
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Posts: 358
| Hey Pete,
Hope things are going well for you, and I agree with you. Before I had joined my local chapter of a national club, my thoughts were that this organization was really going to make a difference in the musky world. I have come to realize that reality and what I thought was reality are two very different things. Theedz raises an excellent point (to which I agree 110%) there will have to be some concessions made by some folks before this issue ever sees the light of day. Steve also brought to light a very good point, all the red tape and hoopla surrounding the politics of it all. It is a fact that musky anglers are the smallest population of any species specific group. I believe, that there in lies the majority of the problem. When you are low man on the totem pole, its hard to get the guy at the top to notice you.
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Posts: 1769
Location: Algonquin, ILL | ALL Good points but one thing that has been overlooked is $$$$$$$$$ it's sad but true money talks, one group of the most opposed to size limit increases are Resort Owners some have claimed that if the size limit is increased Joe Vacationer and Little Billy would not catch a legal fish and therefore not return resulting in a loss of Income for the resort, Town, County & State
when you get enough of these resort owners saying the same thing descision makers who's salaries are derived from parts of this income they listen
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Posts: 663
| Great points guys. I think the thing that is bothering me the most is that there is no single forum if you will for an attempt at sorting this stuff out. We have a lot of individuals or small groups who try to promote their specific plans but no central organization to stand up to the plate and say "okay let's throw this all into the pot and figure out what we can do to improve the fishery". I would think that it would have to include representatives of the musky clubs, DNR people, business organizations, and chambers of commerce. John is right when he says it's going to take money but let's say rich old Daddy Warbucks leaves ten million in his will to "improve musky fishing" where does the lawyer send the dough: the DNR? Muskies Inc? Until we as a community get our act together and set some goals and priorities we will always be considered a small group of zealots with little or no direction. It's no wonder we are not taken seriously. |
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| Musky fisherman, we are passionate about the sport we love, but face it, our numbers are VERY small compared to other fishing groups, outdoor groups, and the general population. We all need to work together to push forward more progressive musky management strategies, and to promote catch and release within our group and the general fishing population.
Better education and better musky regulations  |
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