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Posts: 1169
Location: New Hope MN | Probably old news to some. Roosevelt lake would be a sweet ski lake!
News Releases
DNR considering five new muskie waters
(Released January 7, 2010)
In response to growing interest in muskellunge fishing, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is considering the stocking of muskie in five new waters starting in the fall of 2011.
Proposed for muskie management are Roosevelt Lake in Cass and Crow Wing counties; Upper South Long Lake and Lower South Long Lake in Crow Wing County; Tetonka Lake in Le Sueur County; and the Sauk River Chain in Stearns County.
“All of these waters meet or exceed the biological and physical criteria for muskie management,” said Dirk Peterson, DNR acting fisheries chief. He said there are eight key biological considerations including:
Proposed muskie waters must be greater than 500 acres.
Waters must contain adequate numbers and species of prey fish.
Water clarity must be moderate to clear.
Gillnet catches for northern pike must be three or less.
Waters must have the potential to produce a trophy fish.
“All five proposals are consistent with our management approach,” said Peterson. “Also they have been selected in part because of their geographic location. These lakes represent a strategic approach to provide muskie fishing where opportunity is limited.”
The muskie is one of Minnesota’s largest fish, growing to more than 50 pounds and more than 50 inches in length. Anglers have become increasingly interested in the so-called “fish of 10,000 casts” now that 50-plus inch fish can be caught in Lake Mille Lacs, Lake Vermillion and other waters that have been stocked since the 1980s.
“As muskie grew in size and abundance, so did interest catching them,” said Peterson, noting that muskie anglers are the fastest-growing segment of Minnesota’s fishing population. He said the DNR is addressing the trend of increasing interest in muskie through a long-range northern pike and muskie plan that was developed with stakeholder input. That plan calls for adding up to eight new muskie waters by 2020.
Today’s announcement of the five waters under consideration marks the beginning of a lengthy process to determine if the lakes will eventually become muskie waters. The DNR will post information on the proposed stocking at boat landings at the five lakes this spring, conduct public input meetings this summer and fall, and accept public comments until early next winter. If the DNR decides to move forward with the proposals, stocking would start in 2011. It would be 12 to 15 years after that before the fish reach 48-inches, the minimum size at which a muskie can be kept.
“Our process will be very transparent,” said Peterson, who noted the agency recognizes the muskie’s mystique appeals to a certain segment of anglers and generates the opposite reaction in others. The proposal will be discussed at the upcoming DNR stakeholder roundtable and later by a citizen advisory committee that is focusing on northern pike and muskie management.
Currently, muskies are found in 116 Minnesota water bodies. Of these, 64 are waters that have been stocked by the DNR.
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Posts: 315
| sounds very cool!! I under the influence that tetonka already contains muskie in low numbers. Another lake I wish they would add to that list is clearwater lake near sugar lake! |
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Posts: 2361
| Maybe they should stock one specifically with a spearing season in mind. And announce before hand that it will be a lake open to spearing of the species. It might kind of take the jingle stick out of the spearers hands if they are getting a special designation in a lake. At the least, it would certainly throw them off balance. |
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| "Maybe they should stock one specifically with a spearing season in mind. And announce before hand that it will be a lake open to spearing of the species. It might kind of take the jingle stick out of the spearers hands if they are getting a special designation in a lake. At the least, it would certainly throw them off balance."
Giving the spearers the legal opportunity to spear muskies would be a step backwards and definately would not throw them off balance. They would just use this to gain the spearing of muskies on other waters. No way something like this would even be considered by the roundtable.
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Posts: 17
| I have a cabin on Roosevelt and have always thought what a great lake it would be for potential trophy Muskies. Deep with tons of forage and very little fishing pressure what so ever. The economy up there could use a boost as well. I hope others on the lake feel as I do and will do my best to voice support and education to those on the lake and in the area. I'm surprised that I was so in the dark that Roosevelt was even being considered. I'd better get my head out of the weeds!!!!
Dean |
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Posts: 4080
Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | Tetonka is a good choice, since it's somewhat south west of the metro area, and didn't the state record Largemouth Bass come out of that lake ?
It would be nice to see another 10 lakes on that list.
Jerome |
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Posts: 540
| I always thought that ten mile lake in Hackensack, Mn would be a goord lake for them too, they are not in there but according to theory they should already be there! |
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Posts: 540
| I am all for more muskie lakes but I am curious why roosevelt considering it's not far from all the other muskie lakes in that area! |
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Posts: 646
Location: In a shack in the woods | leech lake strain - 1/8/2010 6:27 PM
I am all for more muskie lakes but I am curious why roosevelt considering it's not far from all the other muskie lakes in that area!
My guess would be to relieve some of the pressure off the others in the area. |
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| All these lakes seem relatively small, aren't there any other large lakes in the state to stock? |
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Posts: 3156
| when this came up on fishingminnesota.com a couple weeks ago,,the area residents and spearers vowed,,that the meeting better be held at the local highschool theres going to be so many people showing up to oppose Tetonka,,,when the time comes for public input meeting,,,Minnesota muskie guys better show up if we want Tetonka |
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Posts: 4266
| As a resident of Wisconsin, I am always impressed with the foresight and the actions of the MDNR. It seems that they have a plan, they know what they are looking for as criteria, and they put the plan into action and manage the waters very well. Granted they have 10,000 lakes to work with, but I have always enjoyed fishing in MN. Good job guys. |
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Posts: 221
Location: Detroint Lakes, MN |
Are these lakes going to have spearing bans put in place?? A lot of the lakes on the last round of new muskie stockings that started in the late 80's didn't have the ban and turned out just fine. It's going to be a long messy process of they try to put new spearing bans on new waters.
JS |
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| No new spearing bans the way I understand it. |
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Posts: 540
| we need we need all the muskie water we can get if you ask me! |
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| There will be no new spearing bans. Happy Hooker is right on the money with Tetonka and as far as the MDAA in waterville they have been spending allot of time down there trying to fear people into opposeing this. It's going to be up to all of us as muskie fishermen to voice our oppinions when the public imput meetings come up. Also as I understand it non-residents that bought a MN fishing license can have input and I would strongly encourage you to do so.
Dan Crooms 54 |
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| What is the best way for non-residents to help? It may be impossible to attend some of these meetings, but still want to help in any way I can! |
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| http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/fish/muskellunge/muskiefaq.html
I will try to get who to e-mail it to tomorrow.
Dan Crooms 54 |
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Posts: 734
Location: Watertown, MN |
Chad
What will happen is that these lake will get notices posted at their boat landings that these lakes are in consideration for stocking muskies this year, this allows the citizens to be informed. They will then hold a fall meeting to discuss this, this is where we need to show our support. MN has the MMA and Muskie Inc chapter member very involved with the DNR at their Esox rountable meetings on the long range, these are closed door meeting. As we get further into this we will get the info out about meeting, Representative that need to be called and so forth.
Troyz |
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| How can I provide input into the DNR"s muskie stocking decision?
Effective today, you are welcome to share your thoughts with your local fisheries supervisor or fisheries staff in St. Paul via letters, e-mails or phone calls. Public input meetings will be held during the summer and fall of 2010. The DNR will continue to accept written comments through 2010.
I got this off of the link I posted, so from what I understand you can start imput now.
Dan Crooms 54 |
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Location: Northern Wisconsin | the more muskies the better!! |
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| http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/contact/index.html
Here's some contact info for St. Paul. Can't beleive this fell down this far. What no excitement?
Dan Crooms 54 |
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