|
|
Posts: 355
Location: Wausau, Wisconsin | Nobody is arguing the fact that the state could be better. It's mostly it is how it is said. There isn't a person on this board that doesn't desire to catch more and bigger fish where ever they are. There is a way to cure it! One by one somebody needs to take the bull by the horns and do what people like Ty on the Chip, the MRoberts, NWild and SWorral on Pelican and Jason Schillinger on the Petenwell did and put in the leg work to get the support of the public to raise size limits where needed, stock or quit stocking where needed.
Imagine waking up in the morning, logging onto your computer and instead of reading "I hate Louis Spray, Hayward Sucks, Minnesota is better, Wisconsin Strain Sucks, Indians Spear, Single Hooks Kill, PointerPride arrested for streaking naked on campus" we read "Pelican goes to 50", Winnebago gets stocked with 100,000 more, M1ster educates Walleyes For Tomorrow on benefits of muskies on walleye size structure, etc, DNR dedicated to improving Hayward......................70#er Caught on the Little Arbor Vitae (OK, so I went a bit too far)
The things above are things that are possible. They are possible by the hard work of driven individuals who care. This website has a lot of people capable of that and I ask you to help. You don't have to be the man at the front of an army but enlist. Pelican Lake needs help from you and I will need your help in the future. I have begun my campaign to expand Jason Schillinger's work in Portage County on the Wisconsin River with a 45" size limit by extending it north from the Lake DuBay dam north to the town of Brokaw. North of that is a 40" size limit. It is a high population fishery with good size structure because of the size limit. Will a 45" help there? I don't know that situation but I do know a 45" size limit would help tremendously on Lake Wausau and the river stretches. I believe that having a 45" size limit on DuBay will identify it as the trophy musky fishery that it is and hopefully gain interest from the DNR and musky clubs to stock this low population density fishery with ample forage, structure and water size. I have started this by asking from advice from Jason Schillinger and Steve Worral. In upcoming months I assure I will have 100% backing by the Central Wisconsin Visitors Bureau who I have worked with in the past. My next big challenge will be to get support from the 700+ members of Bill's Musky Club in Wausau and help them by making their home waters hold bigger fish and cut down in their stocking costs or help them choose new areas to improve through stocking like DuBay, Eau Pleine, Mosinee, Browkaw to Wausau or the Eau Claire Flowage. That will be a tough task I believe. If I can compile their support along with the local DNR and then ask for participation from you and everyone in the northcentral Wisconsin area to attend the meetings, then I truely believe it will happen. It's a start! And if it doesn't work...then we'll go after 50".
Edited by 8inchcrank 2/20/2006 11:04 AM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 1245
Location: Madtown, WI | Good Luck Justin!!!
One thing I would recommend is to let people know what they can do to help. Some folks are interested in helping get changes made, but, like you said, don't want to lead. They need folks like you and Roberts and Schillinger to help guide them along. So be vocal when you need certain tasks done.
I am taking a vacation day on Thurs so I can travel to Point to participate in the DNR's Muskellunge Committee meeting. Little effort goes a long way in helping the state move forward. Like Justin said....get involved in making a difference.
Cory Painter
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 16632
Location: The desert | "PointerPride arrested for streaking naked on campus" you're killing me Justin!!!!
Great post though. I hope we can pass the 50" on Pelican and I will be getting more involved in some stuff going on in Shawano Lake. We can all work together to benifit each state!
Mike |
|
| |
|
Posts: 355
Location: Wausau, Wisconsin | I just got off the phone with Al Hauber, a retired Marathon Co. biologist with the DNR who spent a great deal of time with the areas muskies. He's the local legend that shocked 8 30# plus muskies in the ares in 45 mins. (no big fish my @$$). From a biological standpoint he is in full support of the idea and offered to help me throughout the process to see my vision become a reality. The biggest thing the average person with no time can do is attend hearings in support of the change and throughout the process spread the word on the importance of passing this by encouraging allies throughout local muskies clubs, resorts, hotels, lodges and let them know about the positive impact of higher size limits and express how truely important it is to get to the hearings to pass this into law. If there would have been enough support, we'd have 50" size limits all over the place. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 3518
Location: north central wisconsin | Justin,
I will help you write the resolution if you wish. I will send a copy of ours from a couple years back to you right away. I just wish I would have known this then, and would have written that stretch into our proposal. One thing is for certain. Since the limit went into place here 2 serasons ago, there has not been one complaint from a business or an angler. It is a low density fishery, and tough to see a difference there just yet, but i know that I am not seeing the numbers of 34-42" fish going home like I did then. The walleye guys are happy with their fishing for the most part, anmd the smallmouth fishery is doing well too. You can surely use the area to the south as an example of how it did improve business, and the fishery improvement is also following suit. One more note is that you actually have a better argument than we did here. There is a fair amount of known natural reproduction up there, and allowing those females to reach maturity will really boost that fishery. You could also make a note that the area to the north of the current 45" limit has actually been known to produce larger fish than the area to the south. That, coupled with the fact that Musky anglers accross the stater are complaining of a lack of trophy opportunity, will help boost your chances. Talking to and gaining support from locals before the hearingsa is the most important step then. People in the know are more apt to vote yes, than make a quick decision to change at the hearing. Keep up the good work Justin!!
Jason D. Schillinger |
|
| |
|
Posts: 578
Location: Sheboygan Falls, WI | .
Edited by C_Nelson 6/7/2008 8:09 AM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 2091
Location: Stevens Point, WI | You definately have my support for increasing size limits on the WI River and especially Du Bay. They've bitten before at the spring hearings to increase size limits, if there is a big push I think it could be done again.
Edited by MuskieMedic 2/20/2006 8:56 PM
|
|
| |
|
| Good luck Justin, do what you can one lake at a time. 
Steve |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1996
Location: Pelican Lake/Three Lakes Chain | Two thumbs up to you Justin.
As you could have probably guessed, you have my total support! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1
Location: Stevens Point | I think this is great and fully support it. I only wish the public was more educated about topics like these. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 69
Location: Nekoosa, WI | Cory, I'd like to know more about the DNR musky meeting in Point. What is on the agenda? Can anybody attend? Thanks. Tim. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 199
| Justin,
We have talked about this subject for a few years now and you know that you can count on my support on anything . It will be a tough battle to gain the support from Bill's as they have had a stance (in the past) against drastically raising the size limits. Shane |
|
| |
|
Posts: 355
Location: Wausau, Wisconsin | Thanks, thanks and thanks thus far for the support. Shane, you are right about that. I have spoken to Zippy and have his support even though he supported a 40"size limit more (email me on that, more info). We would not speak on behalf of the club until it was proposed at the March 11th meeting and then if agreed upon will be supported at the banquet. The easiest support I received was from the new Walleyes For Tomorrow Chapter from Wausau. They will be an true help I believe. In addition I have begun getting business support, biological support and angler support. What I need now is to use the information given to me by Jason Schillinger to put together my proposal, get it to the conservation congress to make it to the questionare and get enough musky minded support at the hearings. I will keep everyone posted on my progress. This will be a milestone for the fishery as it does have successful natural reproduction, trophy potential and average to low population density. I am trying to figure out whether it is best to go after it now or campaign for a year. Any emails with help would be appreciated. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 355
Location: Wausau, Wisconsin | More progress today. I spoke with the local biologist who is new to the area. He was very open about his not wanting to jump into something without having the facts (God bless him for that). I am going to spend time with him in hopes he will submit the request this June rather than getting shot down this spring. If I can get him to get the question onto the ballot next year I hope to have the support needed from local concerned anglers to out number the old way thinkers. Thanks for your help! This could make the Wisconsin River the largest trophy managed inland water in Wisconsin. Improving the resource and how we experience it, that's what these sites are all about right?
Edited by 8inchcrank 2/22/2006 6:07 PM
|
|
| |
