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Posts: 3165
| I would like to obtain permission from the MN DNR to stock Leech Lake strain muskies into the lakes that have dropped from the DNR’s hybrid stocking list. Many of these were included in the DNR long range pian, but have no further stocking planed. I am offering to fully fund the stocking of these lakes with proceeds from George’s Minnesota Muskie Expo, Metro Muskie Tournament (MMT), local Muskie Inc chapters, retailers and individual anglers donations. Some of these the stockings will be done in honor of George Wahi and I would like to tag each of these fish so that the lakes can be included in your log book program comparing the value of stocked fmgerlings as yearlings.
I was disappointed to witness the shortfalls on quotas for stocking many of the tiger lakes over the past decade. Many of the lakes had gaps in stocking where there was only one- year class fish stocked over a six- to eight-year period. At these rates, muskies become an “incidental” catch but don’t offer an opportunity that anglers will target. The worst effect of dropping all these lakes is that they were THE top recruiter of new muskie anglers into our ranks. Many new participants in the MMT got into fishing due to an accidental andlor first muskie catch that they made while on the tiger lakes.
The DNR’ s recent survey showed that 15% of anglers target muskies with 50% having interest in trying the sport. Unfortunately, many of those potential new muskie anglers don’t have a boat or can’t afford to hire a guide to get them onto the world-class fisheries that you have created by stocking lakes like Vermilion and Mule Lacs. While the dropped tiger lakes don’t meet the criteria for muskie lakes, they do allow urban anglers a chance to catch a trophy game fish close to home. I understand that summer heat and winter kills are a risk on some of these waters but I am willing to take the financial risk knowing that the opportunity created is worth the potential loss.
The 2010 muskie opener in the Metro illustrated the need to preserve every muskie fishing opportunity available- especially in the Twin Cities. On Sunday there were 22 boats muskie fishing on Forest Lake #3 at one time. I personally fished the east half of Minnetonka between 6— 11am and noted that more than 50% of the angling boats observed were targeting muskies. I would like permission to stock all of the dropped tiger lakes with pure strain on a bi-annual rotation. Since private sources have been very unreliable, I would ask the MN DNR to increase their yearly production by around 900 Leech Lake fingerlings to supply these lakes. As stated above, the “sponsors” will take care of reimbursing the MN DNR for the cost of these fish.
One additional request is to continue to stock Lake of the Isles as a tiger lake. The Calhoun Chain has produced the former state record hybrid along with a couple of 50” releases and has also produced pure strain to 55”. Let’s keep this unique multi-species
trophy muskie opportunity viable for both angling groups by keeping one of the 3 lakes in the chain on the tiger stocking rotation.
The DNR muskie stocking program is the greatest sport fish success story of modem time (please see enclosed 50” list to iruly understand the magnitude of your success). I’m puzzled as to why the muskie group in Minnesota is fighting so hard to get five new muskie lakes approved while they just let 14 tiger lakes change back to non-muskie status. I fished many of these dropped lakes with anglers such as Al and James Lindner and Ron Schara, all of who will testify (along with thousands of others) as to our extraordinary results on those lakes.
In closing, I would again ask that you allow me to stock some of the lakes you have eliminated from your tiger program. These lakes can provide trophy-class muskie fishing opportunities for the 2.5 million Twin Cities area residents at no added cost to the MN
DNR.
Respectfully,
Paul Hartman
Edited by happy hooker 6/9/2010 5:19 PM
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Posts: 3165
| my own thoughts on this is metro and Minnesota muskie anglers have always put their money where their mouth is..the DNR had doudts about white bear lake becoming a viable muskie fisherie and like the puppy dog we were told 'if you want it YOU have to take care of it" well we did its one of the best muskie fisheries in the metro
alot of the former Tiger lakes are shallow,dark,small???? which exactly describes to a 'T',,,lake Rebbeca,,,which alot of years produces 95% of the dnr fry
hopefully we can gat the ball rolling on this
Edited by happy hooker 6/9/2010 5:31 PM
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Posts: 32958
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Paul is a stand up guy, and will do what he says he'll do. I hope they let him do this. |
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Posts: 719
| Nice...more and better options and I agree with Hooker....money where the mouth is all around. |
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Posts: 129
Location: North Metro - Twin Cities | Paul,
I applaud your efforts. The metro lakes have provided many of us outstanding muskie fishing opportunities for over 20-years. Stocking additional lakes with leech Lake stain muskies should over time help alleviate some of the drastically increased pressure we have witnessed in the past few years. While hybrid's are fun, their ability to consistently grow to trophy size is in question while the Leech Lake strain typically have excellent growth rates in the metro. I know many anglers who simply are not interested in targeting hybrids as fish over 40-inches can be tough to contact. Additional Leech Lake stain metro lakes is a fantastic idea and I wish you the best of luck moving forward your proposal.
Chris Munchow |
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Posts: 2384
Location: On the X that marks the mucky spot | This topic is to be discussed in the next Esocid Workshop this summer and wasn't supposed to be thrown on the internet for everyone to get all in a huff over just yet. Please don't start bombarding the DNR about this just yet and let us take this through the proper channels to get a resolution first.
Thanks,
Shawn |
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Posts: 444
| Escoid Workshop? Where and when? |
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Posts: 3165
| Paul has sent this letter to the DNR
if you want to find out more about Pauls proposal he will talk indepth about it at the awards presentation at this saturdays metro muskie tournament,,you dont have to be signed up for the tourney to come to the awards its open to the public.
Pauls gung ho about getting approval has soon has possible he would like to get an order in with the commercial fish producers and be on the waiting list has soon has possible,,also at least 2 retailers would love to sell 'adopt a muskie' tickets for funds for this all they need is the go ahead
Edited by happy hooker 6/10/2010 9:54 AM
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| So who's in a huff about it?
Thanks for the information, HH. |
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Location: MN | "'adopt a muskie' tickets "
I like it! A big thanks to Mr. Hartman for his proactive work in making MN fisheries even better, and another big thanks to everyone else involved in the process... I know Treats is one of them. |
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Posts: 198
| Wouldn't this have to go through the proper DNR procedure since it would be a new stocking? If so it could take a couple of years to get the go ahead. Look at how many years it took to get Pokegema stocked. I think if the lakes are suitable and the DNR thinks so too I would hope this goes through but it's far from being a done deal....
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Posts: 3165
| SS
Is it a NEW introduction??? these lakes are already listed has muskie lakes on the long range plan yes their switched from tigers but still listed has muskie lakes,,,at least thats the angle that has been discussed |
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| I love the idea but I am concerned about a "lightbulb" going on at the DNR when they realize the muskie diehards will pay for everything and anything. Suddenly, there isn't enough money to continue stocking Mille Lacs, Vermillion, and on and on and then we are left to foot the bill for all of it! |
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Posts: 221
Location: Detroint Lakes, MN |
The "lightbulb" wouldn't be in the DNR but in the legislature. DNR doesn't approve it's own budget, it spends what they are given.
We already pay for lots of stocking, and I'm sure we'll pay for more in the future.
Our wants will always be greater than what the DNR will be capable of doing on it's own.
JS |
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Posts: 829
Location: Maple Grove, MN | I think Paul is doing a great job of standing up for and helping the Muskie fishery. To me, this looks like an outstanding effort to help improve fishing for all of us.
I am going to fish the Metro tourney for the first time tomorrow and the main reason is to support Paul's efforts. The proceeds go to support Muskie stocking so its a win-win for me. It seems we win whether we catch anything or not. Only question is if we win once or twice. 
Thanks Paul for all your efforts. Also, thanks to the two Metro Muskies, Inc clubs and the DNR for developing such an incredible Metro fishery. And thanks to Happy Hooker for his efforts and letting us know what is going on.
Good luck all. |
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| These lakes will be stocked with Tigers by the DNR for quite some time, the budget is not an issue and neither are the fish, I was told there may be some discussion in the future. Maybe 6 months maybe 2 years; this is not an issue the DNR is interested in even putting on the burner any time soon. The official word as of today. |
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