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Posts: 20219
Location: oswego, il | Forty two dedicated fishermen that love the lake called Shabbona took forth in a muskie rescue below the spillway in Indian Creek on May 3. The weather and the water was cold as they all knew. When a date is set to do a rescue it has to be completed.The creek can be very much of a challenge to move about in between the sticks and unforeseen rocks that are in your path while holding a large muskie net.Many of the volunteers fell down and it did not matter if you had waders or not you got wet and very cold. Thank you to all of the people who helped and to all of those that came and watched because of their interest in the resource that we were protecting.One of the volunteers (Ed Haagenson) was a boy scout master and he brought his troop to watch. A couple of them even got in the water and helped.What a great experience for youngsters to witness.
The rescue was a success we caught and released back into Shabbona Lake 51 muskies measuring 24"-40" and 24 Walleyes ranging 14"- 30.50".
About a month ago a barrier fence was constructed(at a cost of 15,000 dollars funded by Illinois Muskie clubs) in Indian Creek about 250 yards downstream from the spillway of Shabbona Lake. This fence was constructed to keep the fish that go over the spillway during high water periods from either going downstream never to be seen again or die in low water periods in the creek. The fence did its job it was incredible to see how well that it has worked. The fence was made possible through the Hugh Becker Grant Fund which is a conservation minded grant fund and that is available to muskie related conservation projects. It was also made possible by several Muskies Incorporated Clubs and Muskie Clubs that are members of the Illinois Muskie Alliance in Illinois and also Illinois Muskie Tournament Trail. Shabbona Lakeside Baitshop adn Shabbona Sportsmans Club also contributed funds to the fence.
Thank you to all of the people that helped out at the muskie rescue it was one of the worst weather days that we ever had. It amazes me at the dedication that these people have it makes me proud to have been a part of it. I have done this for years and there are several young men there that were kids a few years ago. This year they were right there in the water next to their dads. They have turned into fine young men. All of these people that made time in their lives to make the lake better for others should be given a nice pat on the back and a thank you.
The barrier fence will be a great addition to protect our fishery if it is maintained and stays intact.Muskies are approximately 12-15 dollars a fish to purchase and stock.Just imagine how much a loss of money 51 muskies of larger size are worth when they are lost. Now this will be prevented. Shabbona will become an even more plentiful fishery in the next few years.
If I receive any photos I will pass them along.
Thank You,
Duane Landmeier President
Quad County Hawg Hunters Chapter of Muskies Incorporated Plano, IL.
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Location: Green Bay, WI | This is excellent news... Congratulations to everyone involved for making this effort a success!
TB |
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Posts: 462
Location: Syracuse, Indiana | Simply Awesome! |
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Location: Antioch, IL | Nice work guys. Thanks for posting, ToddM |
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Posts: 457
| Just think how many muskies and giant walleyes have been lost in the past. One month and 51 muskies, Nice Job guys.
Tim Pinks |
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| This is not to critisize. Impressive efforts. But how do you know the fish will die if they go downstream. Won't they instinctively look for a place that is suitable to them? Where does the creek go? |
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Location: Northern Wisconsin | If they are trapping the muskies and walleye in a 250 yard stretch of the creek do they plan on doing a rescue every month or so? Also, are there rules against fishing below the spillway? It would be like shooting fish in a barrel; 50 muskies in a 250 yard stretch of a tiny creek.
I'm pretty sure the creek dumps into the Fox River below the Yorkville dam somewhere, and the muskies do quite well in the river. I have caught them up to 46" and have seen multiple 48" fish in the fox. |
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Location: Hugo, MN | It's really nice to see money from the Hugh Becker Fund being put to use for projects like this. We all know how much work and funding go into stocking these lakes. If every flood season they lose 51 muskies, not to mention the walleyes, imagine the long-term effects on the cost of the stocking program. Volunteer efforts like these are what Muskies, Inc. is all about. Great job guys! |
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Location: 15 miles east of Lake Kinkaid | Nice work guys! I was 350 miles away and was therefore not able to participate. I am glad the project to build the barrier below the spillway kept the fish in the small pool below the spillway. I feel proud, as should hundreds of other muskie fisherman, that the money we donated to this cause was put to good use! |
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Location: oswego, il | The creek is now posted for no fishing to the barrier. I do fear there will be poaching as shabbona is the most fished lake in the state. The fish can get to the fox river but it is a cruise for them to get there and I am sure many die in the creek during summer and winter. Putting these fish back in the lake is the right thing to do. It is where the sate put them. Letting them escape to the river for a significantly fewer amount of people is not a good use of state money. Considering this barrier has only been in place for a few weeks shows the significance of this project and the bright future for shabbona lake.
Edited by ToddM 5/4/2011 11:28 AM
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Posts: 129
| We did get some muskies that had gashes in their sides from people trying to snag them. |
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Location: Illinois | Big thumbs up to Duane, and everyone who participated. You(Duane) are so NOT a FIB, you're all class buddy!! (I)Would have loved to have participated. I hope to join you and others in future rescues. Glad to hear the barrier is doing what it was intended to do, and hope a roadway is planned for the near future to assist the DNR and volunteers transport the muskies. Great job fundraising for this effort and thank you to all donors to this project. The musky world is a little bit better for all of our efforts. Keep up the good work!
Mike
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Posts: 409
Location: Almond, WI | To further clarify along a point Todd brought up-- fish do die in the creek during summer. While building the barrier we found a skull from last year. I know someone that lives further down the creek and he has observed muskies trapped in pools when water levels drop in the heat of summer. I bet a fair number don't make it to the Fox and end up succumbing to lack of food or heat, etc. The state and private clubs pay to stock the lake, not the Fox River, and as far as I've been informed the DNR doesn't intend to establish a fishable population in the Fox; it's just turned out that way from escaped fish from the Fox Chain, Shabonna, etc. The plan is that after every flood there will be a rescue. The bait shop and DNR check it regularly to see if fish are accumulating (and check for poachers) and call the club when a rescue needs to happen. There is a barrier net above the dam as well and generally fish don't escape much except when flooding allows them to bypass the net. |
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Location: Almond, WI | Oh and good job guys! Schedule the next one on a Thurs. or Fri and I'll make it next time. |
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Location: Sycamore, IL | Here are some pics of the rescue...Thanks again to everyone who coordinated this effort!
Matt
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Posts: 682
Location: Sycamore, IL | and some more...
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