Posts: 149
| I encourage everyone to read the most recent update of Wisconsin's Musky Management Plan, which was just released by the WDNR last month (Feb '08). There are 3 recommendations I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE EVERYONE reading this to take advantage of:
#1) All those who have waterfront property or know those who do should print off APPENDIX 4 and distribute it to as many waterfront property owners as possible. Let's get this document out through clubs, lake associations, etc. It provides a very good outline of what waterfront property owners can do to improve musky spawning habitat in front of their specific property and in their lakes as a whole.
#2) All musky anglers who frequent Wisconsin musky waters during the spawning season (mid April - mid May) should get involved and participate in the 'Volunteer Musky Spawning Survey' outlined in APPENDIX 5. It entails slowly cruising the shallows of your favorite musky lakes at night armed with a GPS, a lake map, a data sheet and a couple large spotlights (call local warden to give them a heads up you will be doing this) to locate and document locations of spawning muskies. In addition to helping biologists learn spawning habitat and locations for muskies, it will help you learn the lakes you frequent much better. It's estimated that these 'spotlight' surveys can document 80 - 90% of the estimated musky population in a given lake!!!
#3) All anglers who fish Wisconsin waters for muskies even just once per year should consider participating in the 'Cooperative Muskellunge Creel Survey' outlined in APPENDIX 6. You simply enroll and then fill out a small amount of information each time you fish for muskies and turn in the sheet(s) at the end of the season. This will provide biologists with even more valuable information on catch rates, musky populations, etc. that they wouldn't have acess to without the help of anglers. You can opt at the time of sign up to receive the statewide end of season summary data set if you wish.
These are all very easy golden opportunities for all of us to play a small part in helping to improve Wisconsin musky fishing. It's also a great chance for those who continually whine about Wisconsin musky fishing on these and other forums to put their money where their mouth is and do their part to help. Please become involved in the process!!
http://dnr.wi.gov/fish/pubs/muskyupdatefeb2008.pdf
Edited by esoxcpr 3/2/2008 9:12 AM
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