|
|
| Just want to say "Great job" by Rob Kimm on his article in this weeks current Outdoor News May 11th issue
Robs article deals with the selfish and dispicable act of "Knowingly" targeting and fishing for Minnesota muskies before the season starts.
Its about time somebody had the guts to publicly write about this selfish practice by some who feel they have the right to be self appointed biologists and enact their "own" laws,
If you get a chance read it this is VERY well done
ce again "Great Job" Rob |
|
| |
|
| Perfect timming for this |
|
| |
|
| It's almost as selfish as accusing everyone who throws a rapala or a spinnerbait into a lake with muskies of muskie fishing. I've seen muskis inc. members question a father and son at the Lake Harriet landing about muskie fishing even though based on their equipment it was obvious they weren't. If you want people to stop being self-appointed biologists try and stop being self-appointed DNR wardens. I mean sworall was on a lake with muskies using a spinnerbait. Accuse him of muskie fishing and see how far you get with that. |
|
| |
|
| Guest
rappalas are one thing,,,,8 inch baits and figure eighting are another on a lake that has few and declining pike population,,,,Talking to pepole first seems a better option then calling a game warden and seeing them get ticketed |
|
| |
|
Location: Lake Tomahawk, WI | This subject is a slippery one at best. Some of our best baits for trophy spring walleyes are larger Rapalas and Baby Depthraiders(considered muskie baits by many), yet I've probably caught more spring muskies on a jig and redtail(classic walleye bait).
Don't know if this has been covered in another post already, but I recently heard a rumor that in Northern Wisconsin the muskie season will be opened with the general gamefish opener the first Saturday in May for C&R only until Memorial Day weekend. I'm torn on that one. On one hand it would allow fisherman to carry the proper landing net for safe release of muskies that would probably be caught anyway, plus tourism would get a boost. On the other hand I'd hate to see spawning females targeted and possibly injured.
Any way this is looked at, it is indeed a talking point.
JS |
|
| |
|
|
Without having read Rob's aritcle yet, I'm assuming it was aimed directly at folks who are targeting muskies.
People who read that article know if they fit that category, and deserve to be "scolded" at the very least.
Hopefully having someone talk about the subject will change a few minds and get them not to target muskies before opener.
I think writing about it and discussing this issue openely is a lot better way to handle it than confronting people on the water or calling them in.
JS
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 291
Location: Minneapolis | I had one guy at the Calhoun landing on Saturday flat-out tell me they were fishing for muskies. I told him the season didn't open until June. He seemed surprised, but then he said they were using small, northern-sized lures, but those small lures work really well for muskies.
What are you going to do? Calhoun does have decent northerns in it, but that guy was obviously not really after them. |
|
| |
|
| I am glad here in NJ you are allowed to fish for fish regardless of the season, if it is closed...It is just catch are release during the closed time. These for walleye, bass, muskie...all of them....just gives us one less thing to argue amongst ourselves about...Ben |
|
| |
|
Posts: 382
| The one question I have, especially with the stocked lakes is, if there is no natural reproduction, why close the season? At our MI meeting last week some guys were helping the DNR with the test netting on Cedar Lake. The fish were done spawing around May 9th of last week and season still doesn't open for nearly 3 more weeks? This is central MN, so the metro you know the spawn has been finished up for awhile. I know the spawn may vary a little (days) from year to year, but not months year to year. I think the MDNR could do away with the whole issue by having the openers the same for all the gamefish species. You always hear of people fishing out of season, but you never, ever hear of someone getting nailed for it?? |
|
| |
|
Posts: 2384
Location: On the X that marks the mucky spot | Komer, the DNR has been kicking around making the muskie opener the same as the bass opener for a little while. The problem is that the fish up on Vermillion spawn at a different time then they do in the metro. I asked them about having 2 openers and they weren't for it. Too many regs to keep straight was their response.
Back when the muskie opener date was picked we were seeing cooler springs then we have in the past couple years. In a typical year I don't see water temps on tonka in the 60's until June. We had 61 on tonka last Wed. If things keep going like they are we may want to see about opening the muskie season sooner. |
|
| |
|
| Can someone post a link to the Outdoor News article? |
|
| |
|
|
I remember being out in the middle of May lifting nets on Elk lake in the early 90's.
On Leech they spawn even later, so there definately can be muskies still spawning during walleye opener on most muskie lakes in any given year.
Many of our stocked lakes do have natural reproduction. Vermillion being one that has been quite successful.
I don't see anything wrong with telling people not to target muskies out of season.
I'm not going to turn anyone in, or get into an arugument on the water, but I don't have any problem speaking out about it, and nobody else should either.
JS
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 52
| Agree completely B420. It becomes even more obvious when you have a lake with only tigers in it! Why should I be sitting here tearing my hair out when a bunch of sterile tigers are swimming around. BRAVO B420. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 2384
Location: On the X that marks the mucky spot | ETL, we talked to the DNR about opening the tiger lakes on walleye/pike opener and it's not out of the question. The DNR is a little concerned with enforcement. It's something that we'll be looking at when we have the round table meeting this summer when we go through the long-term muskie program.
Edited by Muskie Treats 5/15/2007 8:32 AM
|
|
| |
|
| The Tiger lakes SHOULD be open to early season fishing,,,its a way to get our stocking money worth out of them because hardly anybody uses them when the regular season starts,,let alone the fact that the DNR confirms on average they live around 7 yrs,,thiswas meant to be an 'action' species |
|
| |
|
Posts: 136
| Yea but then you would be fishing in NJ. No offense but it's no mystery why MN is the best muskie fishery in the US. Thank the DNR and those who practice good ethics |
|
| |
|
| Nope, it just has 11,000 lakes and lots of big lakes...I have fished MN, NJ, IL , MI,NY KY, IA, Ont. Quebec....I have a decent background and think my point in valid and MN is not in the TOP 3 listed above in my humble but well traveled opinion....Ben |
|
| |
|
| I agree this is a very important topic and one I struggle with every year. I do not intentionally target muskies before the opener but my favorite lakes to fish are White Bear and Forest and for the last 10- years my absolute best producer for early season pike is a 6" jake. The baby DR is a close second. I also "downsize" to rouges and xraps and they catch pike too, but not as well as the jake or baby DR. Over the last 10 years I have NEVER caught a pre-opener musky on a Jake, but I have caught a couple (NOT intentionally) on a rouge.
So, one could legitmately taget pike using Jakes and be accused of targeting ski's (but never catch one) and conversely one could intentionally target (and catch) ski's with rouges but no one would ever think they were targeting ski's.
Furthermore, every years lots of walleye and bass guys who never fished for muskies in thier lives catch ski's before the musky opener throwing crankbaits for 'eyes or spinnerbaits for bass. I think the real reason why some guys are "lured" into intentionally taregt ski's before the opener is because they know ski's will be caught anyway so why shouldn't it be them? Do we musky fishermen really think we are that much better that we'd catch lots more ski's than would be caught anyway?
Last point. If we accept that some muskies will be caught before the musky opener anyway, who would you want to catch them? A walleye banger using light tackle that exhausts the fish and then has no net (aka dead fish), or someone targeting ski's with the right equipment and successfully releases them? I persoanlly struggle with the decision of whether I should have my big net with me, just in case.
There's got to be a better way to protect the naturally producing fish up north than this silly system of multiple openers we have today.
Otherwise, the only conclusion I can reach is that musky fishermen should just stay off any waters that have muskies until the musky opener.
|
|
| |
|
|
What this comes down to is ethics, and credibility of muskie anglers as being conservation minded anglers.
If you are on the water just because you know you might get lucky and catch a muskie, or actually trying to before season, than you are in one case skirting the edge of being an ethcical fishermen, and in the other outright breaking the law.
Everybody has thier own code of ethics. You can decide what you want to do, and why you're doing it.
Does this meant you shouldn't be on a muskie lake fishing for other species? Not to me, but as a seasoned muskie angler (not someone who just caught their first one by accident) I would never take an accidental out of the water to measure or take a picture. Unhook and let go immediately.
Having multiple opener dates isn't silly if you want to protect spawning species, and allow anglers maximum fishing time during the season for all species.
John
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 910
Location: Hastings, mn, 55033 | "Having multiple opener dates isn't silly if you want to protect spawning species, and allow anglers maximum fishing time during the season for all species."
I agree 100%, especially when taking the size of MN into account. There is a good deal of variation from say French lake to LOTW as far as ice out times, spawn times etc.
MN also uses lake specific regs on many waters for many reasons, really don't see how this would be any different. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 110
Location: Albertville, Minnesota | I guess my only opinion on this is I don't want to see pictures of muskies before the season starts, don't care if it was accidently caught or not. You "accidently" catch one, it better be off the hook ASAP.
Chris |
|
| |
|
Posts: 93
Location: Minneapolis, MN | It seems odd to me that Michigan -- specifically the U.P. -- opens 10 days BEFORE the northern Wisconsin opener. Wouldn't those U.P. fish still be spawning? Or is the WIDNR being overly cautious by opening later?
Edited by stinger 5/16/2007 12:26 PM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 3149
| No feedback from you guys on the article yet????? I thought it was excelent,,,, |
|
| |
|
Posts: 136
| They should do away with tiger lakes in my opinion. Not enough bang for the buck. |
|
| |
|
| Some people here seem to be justifying that it is OK to target muskies before the season if they are tigers and/or you think the fish are finished spawning. The problem with this, is that you are robbing all the other anglers of the excitement of opening day.
I used to love opening day. The idea of showing the fish a muskie bait for the first time that season. All of the people who are out prefishing ruin that experience for me and the others who wait for the season to open whether it is tigers or not. I am not against changing the seasons, I would love to get an ealier start. I am just begging all the prefisherman to stop.
It's pretty frustrating to be up bright an early on opening day and raise a number of large fish that already have fresh hook marks on their faces. So whoever it was that posted about whether it really matters it does.
There are plenty of great pike lakes that don't have muskies in them. I stay off the designated muskie lakes all together until muskie opens. |
|
| |
|
| Exactly!!!
People who "Intentionally" target muskies before the season "Rob" the guy who gets up at 2am on opening day and hustles down to the boat launch so he can be the first one to show the muskies musky size baits, His willingness to obey the laws and ambition on the opener are slighted by people who just say 'me first regardless"
Theres a reason why Canadian fly in lakes are multiple catch- because of less pressure, Theres an abadoned DNR rearing pond here in Minn where its possible to catch 8 fish a day because it dosent recive pressure,,,Let everbody have the "same" chance on the oppener |
|
| |
|
| Finally a bit of truth...not really concerned with the fish...just don't want to be "robbed" of your chance shall we say virgin waters...Sometimes it takes a while but the high horse will reach the ground....BenR |
|
| |
|
| I think Hooker and MuskieFreak bring up the key issue - muskie guys somehow feel that fish caught before the opener have "robbed" them of the opportunity. While I agree and I feel similarly, I'm not at all convinced that guys "intentionally targeting" ski's before the opener add much to this. Every year I talk to many guys that have caught ski's before the opener and had no idea ski's were even in the lake. The number of muskie guys on most lakes (especially in the metro) is far lower than the non-muskie guys. If you've got lots of true pike, bass and walleye guys throwing spinnerbaits, rattletraps, husky jerks, xraps, etc. they will for sure catch some skis. If a guy truly targeting bass (ie never fishes for ski's and not familair with the regs) raises a nice ski they almost for sure will throw back to it a few times trying to catch it. An "uneducated" spring ski is somewhat more likely to eat the right presentation and there you go - a "missed" opportunity for the dedicated, law-abiding musky angler. That guy for sure will take pictue etc, and if they run into a pattern where there are raising multiple skis they will likely keep working the pattern. I don't see any way this can ever be prevented and thus my use of the word silly for the different opener dates. I'm NOT trying to condone targeting ski's before the opener, but I think we as muskie anglers are kidding ourselves if we think the different opener is really doing much to protect the fishery (at least not here in the metro). |
|
| |
|
Posts: 3149
| BenR you obvioulsly DONT live here in Minn anymore,,,I spent 46 hrs at the MPLS sports show selling raffle tickets and will be spending 24 more at the Cabelas sidewalk sale 'on a weekend durring muskie season" for stocking White bear lake,,,Ive fished White Bear twice in 5 yrs,,,"sound self motivated"
Last year when muskiefreak spoke at our Muskies inc chapter he donated his speaking fee to our stocking fund despite having a newborn on the way,,, "sound self motivated"?????
Both of us have fished every muskie lake in the TC area except one-Lake Rebbeca because it also serves has a brood stock lake,,,"sound self motivated"
Thanks for your input from what??? 800-1000 miles away Its obvious youve maintained a acurate pipeline of info on people here
Edited by happy hooker 5/18/2007 5:54 AM
|
|
| |
|
| Ben R;
I completely agree with Hookers sentiment of being robbed by anglers who are intentionally fishing on opener.
Are you saying that because you have one concern, that you can't have another?
It makes me just as mad that a musky angler would potentially, intentionally have a negative impact on the fishery, put a smudge on muskie anglers everywhere by not following the DNR's rules and "rob" the guys who actually wait until opener for their fair shot at a first cast at a muskie.
John |
|
| |
