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| Is there any updates on the stocking efforts from 2010? |
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Posts: 26
| I know nothing about the actual program but i would guess this lake could really produce some buties. |
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Posts: 688
Location: Northern IL | Just curious why you think Geneva is a lake that could produce big Muskie when I can't recall any consistent history of big pike coming from there.
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Posts: 171
| jerryb, lake geneva produces big fish of all species. even the elusive bluegill reaches extreme lengths in that lake. |
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Posts: 180
Location: Elgin, IL | Big Eyes, Big Smallies, Trout, Gills, Crappie and Big Pike are there to be had. |
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Posts: 688
Location: Northern IL | I can't say one way or the other regarding the pan fish size being extraordinary, I guess you'd have to catch a few to know and I have no experience, I take your word. The sm are nice but not giants in comparison to other top sm waters and thats ok. The walleyes again are decent but really, show me the pike , the pike is the one I look too to give the best indicator what the future muskies might be.
Big pike, let's see your 2012 catches. |
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Posts: 171
| jerrb, if you spend a lot of time fishing open water before the water reaches 65 degrees, you will catch a large number of big smallies. smallies that rival any other body of water in the state of wisconsin. they definitely require a more non traditional approach than some lakes to be caught with consistency in that lake. pike are a different animal. i had my fair share of extremely large fish hooked only to not have the line broken, but bit off cleanly. hopefully it turns into an outstanding muskie fishery. for the most part though, you are right. not a lot of big pike talked about from the lake, but the guys who target them do very well, especially with live bait and in deep water during the summer months. |
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Posts: 32935
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Too many variables.
If what you consider 'big pike' are not present, that is not necessarily an indication that muskies would not do well and grow large.
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Location: SE Wisconsin | Not to contradict you, JerryB, but big pike are caught in numbers out of Geneva annually by those who specificall target them.. Take a look at Eric Haataja's photo album and you'll see big pike, big smallies and big walleyes out of Geneva for a more "public" example. The cisco density and overall size and depth of the lake is largely responsible for the growth rates of those Lakers, walleyes, and pike up to 30 lbs. The musky will thrive here and already are... |
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Posts: 365
| what size and how many muskies did the DNR stock in 2010 --- thanks ---- |
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Posts: 1901
Location: MN | JT gets into the big pike pretty regularly. Big fish of all species really. I saw his photo album a few years ago, pretty impressive. http://www.wildlifevisions.net/pdf/northern_exposure.pdf
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Location: SE Wisconsin | 3,492 large fingerlings were stocked in 2010 and another 4,990 in 2012. These are Upper Wisconsin River strain muskies, and mid-teen stockers from 2012 and low 30" fish from 2010 are caught fairly often based on the reports/pictures I've seen on Lake-Link. |
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Posts: 365
| Thanks Sam !! ---- jimjimjim |
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Posts: 688
Location: Northern IL | I'm all for the stocking of new lakes with muskies don't get the wrong idea. However I've lived in the area for more than 35 years, fished the lake and have buddies, good accomplished fisherman who fish Geneva more than I, in fact they caught muskies from LG last season but in all the years the pike on average do not run big.
I know Eric, great guy and takes a good picture, ha ha. Btw, What is the size limit on Muskies on LG? Have a good season!
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| do you know anyone who goes to lake geneva and throws bulldawgs or suicks to specifically target pike? didnt think so. if you go out there and throw 4-5 inch jerkbaits for smallmouth in early spring you will most likely catch a few pike over 36 inches. that is a pretty big pike that far south. since you believe muskie and pike are so much the same then you would have to believe the big pike try and avoid all the fishing pressure. they dont get big by being stupid. |
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Posts: 688
Location: Northern IL | As I stated above there are plenty of knowledgable fishermen who fish the lake, what I didn't say is they catch what's there. Their years of experience is trust worthy, If big pike came within reach, (depth) there would be a line a mile long to get to them. You obviously have no pictures?......
Carry on my friend..... Your way out of your league. Come out from hiding and man up! |
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| Much as it might pain me to actually agree with JerryB, I grew up in the area and Lake G has never been a big pike mecca historically. This may relate to the strain of pike that are in the lake itself, perhaps moreso than growing conditions, but for whatever reason, I would never choose it as, even a WI destination, for big pike.
However, I don't think the pike fishery predicts the musky fishery, and I would expect it to take about 15 years to establish what that might be, since the pioneer musky population, in there right now, is probably going to give a false impression of the long term productivity and growability. I would consider this basically a land locked fishery, and a good spot for the DNR to potentially put Mississippi, or Great Lakes strains of fish, do they again become available in numbers. Escapes would not endanger any genetic strains. I would expect the Lake G fishery to be of equal or better quality to the fisheries already existant in SE WI, and there aren't enough of those. Good deal for the area musky fishermen I think.  |
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Posts: 32935
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | 'Your way out of your league.'
Really? What 'league' is that? |
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Posts: 1040
| That lake grows some giant fish. Muskies are gonna love it in there.
Sam is right on, they are already being caught, so they are doing well. It is just a matter of time before they get nice and big.
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Posts: 688
Location: Northern IL | Fsf,
If it makes you feel any better your not agreeing with me necessarily but with as you said your own experiences and basic common sense of what others have done throughout modern history,, you'll be okay.... Especially with all that, land lock and strain talk,,, impressive!
As we know the infamous 800 lb gorilla in the lake does not exist in catchable numbers because as usual a lot of wishful talk but NO proof...to back it up. However, "theres always that chance"......... things may be different with the pikes cousin. How long you gonna fish a lake till it proves your fishing where they ain't? Btdt, ha ha.
Our last time on LG we didn't find em till we reached 67 fow. It's not worth it, imo. for small skinny fish. Gin clear water equals deep inactive fish most of the time, know it! But hey they may live a bit longer and one, or many can dream... 15 yrs... On the up side it will have a late spawn, that will be your best shot at one.
fsf,
Keep one eye looking over your shoulder cause there's a new kid in your town, (your southern lakes) and I'm betting on him kicking your butt ha ha. Say hi, he's a good kid!
Edited by jerryb 5/8/2013 8:37 PM
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| Jerry, what you are saying is the people you know do not know how to catch BIG Pike. There are very LONG and HEAVY Pike in Lake Geneva. There are great numbers of MONSTROUS Pike in Lake Geneva also. These MASSIVE Pike are caught by the people who know how to catch them. It is a decent size lake with a lot of water for GIGANTIC Pike to roam. Just as some people go there and struggle to catch bass (there are tons of 5 pounders in Lake Geneva), people also struggle to catch ENORMOUS Pike (less Pike than Bass, but there are 50 inchers in Lake Geneva). Unfortunately you and your friends are not great LARGE Pike hunters. The GIANT Pike hunters were in your league too once....... but not they are now in a league of there own and catch numbers of incredibly IMMENSE Pike on a regular basis. If you are lucky, you may hook into one of Lake Geneva's Mammoth Pike someday. Good luck on your MONDO Pike journey, sir. |
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