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Posts: 243
| It's interesting how different attitudes seem to be from one state to another. While trout and walleye continue to be king here in Michigan, muskies continue to be viewed by many as the "bad guy" in the lake. Our area club was started a few years back and we've done our part to educate, but there seems to be a lot of work left to be done. Aside from contending with the musky spearers (non-natives), there are just a whole lot of people out there who don't like them.
Case in point.....check the article in the link from our local NBC news station about a sucker population issue in a U.P. lake. The comment thread quickly turned to an anti-musky fest. I actually used to work as a news reporter at the station and talked to some of my former colleagues today about doing something specific in support of muskies after I posted a response (BWood). I expect that to happen soon, but probably not soon enough.
http://www.uppermichiganssource.com/news/story.aspx?id=622462 |
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Posts: 292
Location: SW MI | No different in the Yoop than in the lower. People who live on stocked lakes down here are alway telling guys in my club to "take all the muskies outta here". These people actually believe muskies are the reason for small panfish, could it be that they keep every keeper panfish they catch and now there's nothing but smaller one left? Hopefully there will be some changes coming regarding spearing. |
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Posts: 1530
| the big ticket is to put this in the forefront.
MUSKIES BRING MONEY. if you can show resturants, marinas and lodge owners folks are willing to spend their dollars in those regions. it will pan out.. plus most folks re-cycle their fish. thats a win win. |
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| It doesn't surprise me. I've heard there are some that want to kill every muskie they happen to catch. Of course, I recently saw where two crappie fishermen got upset with others releasing small crappie rather than killing them. Unfortunately, many of these people do not have much common sense to even consider learning more about how conversation departments control the fishery. Good luck on education those who don't want to listen. |
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Posts: 797
Location: North Central IL USA | Fools! |
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Posts: 292
Location: SW MI | There's too many here in Michigan that think it is their right to kill and eat anything they want. Panfishermen rape lakes of crappies and gills to eat and then blame muskies for there not being any more big gills in "their" lake. Michigan is definitely missing out on the economic gain they could be making by promoting themself as a muskie fishing destination. How many non-Michigan guys here know any other lake in Michigan other than LSC? I'm willing to bet almost none. There's over 100 lakes here either stocked or with naturally reproducing populations. It's sickening sometimes to be from Michigan and how reactive the decision makers are instead of being proactive. It's like we're stuck in another decade. |
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Posts: 292
Location: SW MI | I was really hoping this would get some more attention than it has. |
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Posts: 717
Location: Grand Rapids, MI | Esoxonthefly421 - 5/30/2011 1:07 PM
I was really hoping this would get some more attention than it has.
So was I. Michigan just doesn't seem to be on too many people's radars. Why? I don't really understand it. Because WI has MORE muskie lakes? Because MN has more BIGGER lakes? Because IL and IN don't have closed season? Just and FYI - according to the Muskies Inc. records, MI contained the #1 water to put out the most 50+"ers in 2010. By state/province, it was #3. MN = 195 reported 50+"ers, Ontario = 108 50+"ers, MI = 36 50+"ers, WI = 22 50+"ers.
Now, I know that not ALL fish caught everywhere are reported to Muskies Inc. And maybe it's not the BEST stats to follow. But they are the only stats. Even the WI DNR uses them for making educated decisions.
So, if MI has the stupidest mentality issues than any other state (spearing being the #1 issue), one just has to wonder where MI would lie if we were to have spearing bans and 54" limits in place? Don't get me wrong - our club has done wonders up until now. With things like getting a 42" statewide and a 50" minimum in some special lakes. Also, now that we have just begun raising the GLS fish.... Well! I for one cannot wait until 10yrs from now to see what becomes of all this! |
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| The regulations are pretty stupid. you can spear muskies in lakes where they occur naturally, but not in stocked lakes??? As far as the people are concerned, it's difficult for me to say if they're really better or worse than people anywhere else. After all, Minnesota just barely dodged a bullet that would have blasted them back into the 1800s.
I know plenty of people from Michigan would love to see tighter regulations, and don't get off on dead muskies or piles of dead smallmouths. Then again, I know some people on the opposite end. The greedy, selfish, and myopic are certainly the ones you notice when they start running off at the mouth. |
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Posts: 292
Location: SW MI | I agree completely Jim. People just don't realize the quality opportunities Michigan has to offer. We have big lakes, small lakes, high density, low density, shield lakes, and LSC. We have a long way to go as far as changing mentalities but out of staters definitely should not count this state out. |
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| the only reason MI put out so many 50's is because of LSC, that pretty much is the only thing they got going for them is LSC and what is this bullet that MN just dodged that would throw them back into the 1800's ?????? |
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Posts: 32958
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | LLS,
Michigan has some pretty impressive opportunities other than LSC, just not many folks know about it. I'd guess the comment about the 'bullet MN dodged' was the bill vetoed by the Governor. |
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Posts: 56
| There are a ton of Northern Michigan lakes that could have muskies established in them. Obviously we don't have the dough that the other states have to get these lakes established. But just imagine the benefits of having muskies planted in the lakes from Hubbard west to Manistee and north. Most every one of the lakes up there 1000 acres or bigger have multiple resorts on them that are virtually dormant shy of July 4th, Memorial day and Labor Day. In reality, our money goes to Canada and it shouldn't have to. Slot limits, season dates, kill rates and a host of other things factor in to our many problems, but I still love Michigan and the other folks can stay in their own state  |
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| I was born a Yooper and started my muskie fishing in the U.P. they have some out standing fishing there. I'm not going to name any waters but in the U.P. they are very underfished. I remember comeing off the landing and people would ask are you musky fishing? My dad and I would answer yes, than they'd ask to see the fish. We'd tell them we let them go and boy would we get an ear full. Those #*^@ fish eat all our perch, we were told as they had 50 to 75 in the boat.  The spearing thing sucks too, it's hard to want to spend your C&R dollars in Mich when you are releasing fish then go into a bait store and see a 40+ lber speared on the wall.
Dan Crooms 54 |
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Posts: 717
Location: Grand Rapids, MI | bchrtchr - 5/31/2011 7:10 PM
...and the other folks can stay in their own state :)
I know...! Kind of a catch 22, though. The outside money would be nice to help out the DNR and to get some more funding and get more lakes going. But, with more publicity comes bigger crowds. I don't even know what I want. If we were to get a spearing ban, we would have lakes that put out consistant giants. But with the giants, comes the crowds. And I hate fishing crowds. But, then again, with the crowds, comes more muskie lakes. (Hopefully). If the circle would stop after the "more muskie lakes" part, that would be swell. |
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Posts: 292
Location: SW MI | Thanks for your input "guest". If using your logic, the only reason MN has some many 50's is because of Mille Lacs, Vermilion and LOTW. Have you ever fished here? Doubt it. You should try it sometime, it is worth the trip. |
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Posts: 243
| There are a lot of great inland opportunities in MI. It's just unfortunate because it could be even better than it is. Unlike MN and WI, muskies are really not promoted as part of the tourism draw and that hurts the perspective on them by the general public (in my humble opinion). |
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Posts: 3926
| Mentality issues indeed. You guys who are good guying should consider that...
Where is the min 42" and someplaces 50"? Where can you troll pretty much wherever you want? Besides Michigan.
And all this talk of the locals wanting to kill muskies is simply not true. Some do, but many are educated and appreciate muskies. I meet them all the time on the water.
Get the facts then please provide an informed opinion. |
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| First of all, Steve Worrall, being the intelligent gentleman that he is, is correct in that I was indeed talking about the bill that Governor Dayton vetoed. Secondly, Ranger is correct in that there are MANY outstanding, conservation-oriented anglers in Michigan who understand the benefits of musky fishing. Thirdly, I'm not a resident of Michigan, but enjoy the tremendous fishery there, and spend a lot of money to fish for muskies and smallmouth bass, and support sound musky management wherever I fish. Therefore, I would hope that my dollars and concern for the fishery is appreciated by the locals. |
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Posts: 1185
Location: Wishin I Was Fishin' | Michigan musky men don't give up. Just keep working at it. It will take time but every foot hold you gain is one you didn't have before. Do things to get more members in your clubs and more people involved in keeping your work in the right direction. Politics and peoples ideas take many years to change. Just keep at it and don't give up.
I loudly applaud your efforts and can't wait to fish more of your waters.
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Posts: 1906
Location: Oconto Falls, WI | From what I have seen while talking to some “locals” in the U.P. is they actually dislike bass (both species) more than muskies. That’s a shame as well as there are some great bass fisheries in the U.P. I don't see the mentality in MI much different than any other state. You are always going to run into people that dislike musky no matter where you go. Keep in mind musky fisherman are the minority, and not everyone that fishes visits this site or other musky sites to get informed.
Nope no good musky lakes in the U.P., or the mainland. I would stay away from MI all together.
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Posts: 717
Location: Grand Rapids, MI | Ranger - 6/1/2011 11:16 PM
And all this talk of the locals wanting to kill muskies is simply not true. Some do, but many are educated and appreciate muskies. I meet them all the time on the water.
Get the facts then please provide an informed opinion.
Oh, those locals are out there. There are many residents on the little puddle by my house that get absolutely furious if they see me CPR. "I don't care if it's undersized, get them #*^@ things outta here! They are eating all my bass!". But, there have also been lake associations who have gladly welcomed the Michigan Muskie Alliance into a meeting to teach them the benefits of having muskies in their lake. But then again, let's not forget about the Gun Lake association who, somehow, had enough power to not only PHYSICALLY remove the DNR from their meetings, but also shut down any stocking efforts there. Keep in mind, that Gun lake had a native population of muskies in it. And it's still open to spearing. |
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Posts: 32958
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Caught during the Anglers Insight Marketing Pro Walleye event yesterday in Brimley by Scott Duncan....good muskie fishing up here.
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| sworrall - 6/3/2011 8:20 AM Caught during the Anglers Insight Marketing Pro Walleye event yesterday in Brimley by Scott Duncan....good muskie fishing up here. pretty fish...was that from the Huron side or the Superior side? |
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Posts: 32958
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Lake George area, I believe. |
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Posts: 2384
Location: On the X that marks the mucky spot | If you don't like it you have to get political on the spearing side. Sorry, but that's the truth.
If you want to change attitudes it takes time and positive press. To get positive press you need to be out there getting people excited about muskies and start showing the positives of having them in the lake (fun experiences, fishing trends toward muskies, economics, etc) It's a rough job and it take literally decades to accomplish, but it works.
Edited by Muskie Treats 6/3/2011 11:28 AM
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Posts: 3926
| I don't know many folks on the site anymore but I do know Treats and his opinion is always informed. And JimH, you have a point, too, and you represent our fine state.
But here's my experience on a local lake known for muskies..... Most of the regular lakefront owners are familiar with me (and my dog) and me with them. I have never met a person on that lake who thinks muskies are "bad". Locals ask me how I'm doing and share stories about seeing big muskies in the water. It is exceptionally strange when a stranger from shore yells, "Hey Ranger!"
Anyway, in the end, there are almost no muskies worth chasing in the state, anywhere. If yer up north head to LOTW and if yer south how about Webster? Plus, gas in Michigan is like $7.00 a gallon. No fish here.
There is a spearing ban on that lake, no muskies get the fork no matter what. |
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Posts: 243
| Mentality issues indeed. You guys who are good guying should consider that...
Where is the min 42" and someplaces 50"? Where can you troll pretty much wherever you want? Besides Michigan.
And all this talk of the locals wanting to kill muskies is simply not true. Some do, but many are educated and appreciate muskies. I meet them all the time on the water.
Get the facts then please provide an informed opinion.
Rick, I'm not sure who you were targeting with your comment, but the intent of this thread wasn't to make anyone out as a hero or say that everyone hates muskies. My point initially was that there is a lot of misinformation out there about muskies playing the role of "monster" in a lake here in Upper Michigan and people seem to actually believe it.
I agree there are many people who do respect muskies as a game fish in Michigan and your point about conservative size limits and trolling is worth mention. However, I do think people who responded to this do have the facts and are providing an informed opinion---their opinion based on personal experience.
On several occasions, I've had someone ask me what I'm fishing for and when I tell them I hear, "Good. Get them all out of here"---or something along those lines. I think many members of our local musky club could share stories about what we've heard from the public (not EVERYONE, but fairly frequently) regarding anti-musky mentality when we've had a booth at an outdoor show. Some we've been able to "reason with" and others will probably never change their mind.
---Benji
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