|
|
Posts: 20248
Location: oswego, il | When the state stocks fry and fingerlings, these are overflow fish they cannot use. Survival is near 0% unfortunately. They have nust been releasing them in places near the hatchery but i asked them to consider putting them in places like hennepin hopper which weed chokes or an illinois backwater like lake Saskatchewan which will have limited predators.
Edited by ToddM 3/1/2017 1:42 PM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 427
| RyanJoz - 3/1/2017 2:38 PM
hoosierhunter - 3/1/2017 7:11 AM
They are trying like heck to make shelbyville great again, just not having much luck.
Sure could fool me. I live 20 minutes from the lake. I have had multiple conversations with DNR, biologist, and anyone who will listen. Shelbyville has had SOMETHING happen since the major kill in 2006 and has never recovered. I can remember days seeing 20 muskies floating in the lake in 2006/7. These were multiple days and DNR has done nothing about it. When you ask, offer to help, the response you get is "We don't have money to fix it, even if we know the problem." I don't know who is trying like hell, but it isn't the state/DNR. I'm not familiar with the musky alliance, but Shelbyville has been a poor fishery for the last 10 years that used to be the pinnacle of the state.
I can remember having 9 days with catches of 12+ fish per day and the fish were HEALTHY. The fish you do catch on the lake now are fat, but they are so few and far between, it isn't even funny. I grew up on this lake and I am very familiar with the lake and fish habitats. It is pitiful now and is in desperate need of help.
Look at the stocking numbers that have been put into Shelbyville over the past several years. It is unreal the amount of fish they have stocked in there. I have also been told by a reliable source that they have tried to find out what is wrong and have not had any luck. The same person told me that they went as far as consulting out of state people for help and have not figured out the problem. It does not make sense that the same water below the spillway supports a healthy population but the lake that once did won't. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1767
Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | scot - 2/28/2017 2:02 PM
Just put more fish into the Fox chain.. Would also be helping put more fish in the Fox river. The chain/ river system is easily the #1 muskie fisherie in Illinois. I hate to see the DNR stock 100 acre ponds......
Kinkaid is better and it's not even close, imo |
|
| |
|
Posts: 162
Location: Chicago, IL | Chicago River!!! Deep, ample and varied forage, and it is a headwater to the Des Plaines and the IL River. This is your future IL trophy muskie fishery, my friends. Sure, it isn't the prettiest, but there's no pleasure boaters, it has soft water most of the year, and just think about how great of a story it would be for the state and Chicago from an environmental recovery perspective. We need to get behind this. Chicago muskie fisherman need a local fishery of scale and the Chicago River can support it. Urban fishing is happening now- I've caught 5lb smallies from the Chicago River. Look at the muskie Fisheries in the Lower Fox River, Detroit River and St. Louis River. If we want to encourage the state to experiment on a new waterbody- the Chicago River needs to be on the top of the list. Sure- it may be more challenging to coordinate constituencies, but we shouldn't let that stop us.
Or- I'd recommend the state open up the length of the season on Heidecke and continue Stocking larger fingerlings. Although I've been told it's now on an every other year rotation.
The dream is for the state to start getting some Great Lakes Strain fish and begin stocking the Chicago and Northern IL Lake Michigan Harbors. Michigan is stocking the east shore. WI has Green Bay and the tributaries. It is time we do our part. These fish are native to the system, there's an incredible amount of shad in SW Lake Michigan and the harbors DO have the habitat to support a population. People will point to the alewive pop being crashed. Same rhetoric we've heard for years. Nothing is eating the large shad or sheepshead. Let the muskies reign. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 735
Location: Apparently where the Muskie aren't | Slobasaurus - 3/1/2017 7:53 PM
Or- I'd recommend the state open up the length of the season on Heidecke and continue Stocking larger fingerlings. Although I've been told it's now on an every other year rotation.
Once again I love the idea of putting more fish in Heidecke. No doubt Heidecke would produce some monsters. And I would like to see it open all season, but they allow waterfowl hunting which I don't mind since I'm a waterfowl hunter. But I think they should make rules so that all hunters must be off the water by 1:00pm or so and then fisherman can go out. And on another note unrelated to muskie, I would like to see Heidecke opened up for ice fishing. I'd think it's got to happen sometime since there is no longer a power plant.
Having a problem quoting, top is what I'm quoting and bottom is what I had to say
Edited by Musky_Mo16 3/1/2017 8:03 PM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 20248
Location: oswego, il | I would be against widening the season on heidecke. Increased stocking sure but rarely does anyone go there and target musky. Widening the season only increases the gamefish harvest on the lake and with the strjper program getting ehacked therr will be less gamefish in there as it is.
If you want a musky fishery close to chicago, what about wolf lake and getting that better managed for them? I just dont see a path to getting muskies into lake michigan. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1749
Location: Mt. Zion, IL | hoosierhunter - 3/1/2017 2:44 PM
Look at the stocking numbers that have been put into Shelbyville over the past several years. It is unreal the amount of fish they have stocked in there. I have also been told by a reliable source that they have tried to find out what is wrong and have not had any luck. The same person told me that they went as far as consulting out of state people for help and have not figured out the problem. It does not make sense that the same water below the spillway supports a healthy population but the lake that once did won't.
I would like to know who this reliable source is. I talked to the Shelbyville Musky Club, DNR at the Chicago show, and I have talked with Mike Mounce (biologist) several times. Even the company I worked for stocked muskies in the lake last year (ADM). I know they are stocking fish at the north end of the lake now, but even the crappie fishermen that used to see muskies regularly haven't reported that in YEARS. There was talk about implanting milfoil for habitat and several other items, but none have happened or worked.
Lakes like Shelbyville that have had successful populations before would be where I would invest, because the 11,000 acres can support the fish more than a 200 acre lake that now holds IMTT State Championships. We as anglers need to relieve stress on these smaller lakes so they aren't fished to death, not hold 75 boat tournaments on them... |
|
| |
|
Posts: 162
Location: Chicago, IL | ToddM- I'd absolutely be open to seeing Wolf Lake get stocked by IL and/or better managed in general. It would be great if you could come around to thinking BIG about Lake Michigan though... I DO see a path to getting muskies in Lake Michigan but it is going to take your help as well as the voices of other well known anglers in our area. As it relates to Heidecke, I see your point on other species being over harvested potentially. They should open up a "Trophy Muskie Season" then- maybe designate a few weekends in Nov or Dec for muskie fishing only?... |
|
| |
|
Posts: 427
| RyanJoz - 3/2/2017 9:13 AM
hoosierhunter - 3/1/2017 2:44 PM
Look at the stocking numbers that have been put into Shelbyville over the past several years. It is unreal the amount of fish they have stocked in there. I have also been told by a reliable source that they have tried to find out what is wrong and have not had any luck. The same person told me that they went as far as consulting out of state people for help and have not figured out the problem. It does not make sense that the same water below the spillway supports a healthy population but the lake that once did won't.
I would like to know who this reliable source is. I talked to the Shelbyville Musky Club, DNR at the Chicago show, and I have talked with Mike Mounce (biologist ) several times. Even the company I worked for stocked muskies in the lake last year (ADM ). I know they are stocking fish at the north end of the lake now, but even the crappie fishermen that used to see muskies regularly haven't reported that in YEARS. There was talk about implanting milfoil for habitat and several other items, but none have happened or worked.
Lakes like Shelbyville that have had successful populations before would be where I would invest, because the 11,000 acres can support the fish more than a 200 acre lake that now holds IMTT State Championships. We as anglers need to relieve stress on these smaller lakes so they aren't fished to death, not hold 75 boat tournaments on them...
The person I got my info from is part of the IMA. This IMTT state championship is on a three year rotation, Kinkaid, Prairie, and The Fox Chain so one out of every 3 years it is on a small lake and it has never drawn close to 75 boats. The permit for the tourney limit the number of boats based on lake size and parking and most of the tourneys on the smaller lakes are limited to around 30 boats or so.
Edited by hoosierhunter 3/2/2017 9:05 AM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 1749
Location: Mt. Zion, IL | hoosierhunter - 3/2/2017 8:57 AM
The person I got my info from is part of the IMA. This IMTT state championship is on a three year rotation, Kinkaid, Prairie, and The Fox Chain so one out of every 3 years it is on a small lake and it has never drawn close to 75 boats. The permit for the tourney limit the number of boats based on lake size and parking and most of the tourneys on the smaller lakes are limited to around 30 boats or so.
The fact that the IMTT has tournaments on a 200 acre lake in the first place is MIND BOGGLING. You guys are going to ruin a good thing. We have already seen catch rates decrease substantially. I have been on the lake (by mistake) during a tournament weekend. The lake is like a parking lot. It is quite ridiculous. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 735
Location: Apparently where the Muskie aren't | I'm all for wolf lake, it's closer to me anyway. It would be a fairly easy lake to fish as well. Plenty of habitat for them. You might not get monsters out of there but it would defiantly be a good numbers lake. It's also small enough to be closely managed. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 8828
| I think we need to build a lake. Not sure where, but all us IL musky folks would have to do is chip in collectively to buy the land, lease the mining rights to one of the stone companies, let them turn it into a quarry, leaving areas of structure as determined by us, and then when it's mined out, let it fill up with water. Use the money from the lease to buy a bunch of fish, stock it, and have it be a private lake for the original investors or anyone who wants to pop for the membership. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 427
| RyanJoz - 3/2/2017 10:21 AM
hoosierhunter - 3/2/2017 8:57 AM
The person I got my info from is part of the IMA. This IMTT state championship is on a three year rotation, Kinkaid, Prairie, and The Fox Chain so one out of every 3 years it is on a small lake and it has never drawn close to 75 boats. The permit for the tourney limit the number of boats based on lake size and parking and most of the tourneys on the smaller lakes are limited to around 30 boats or so.
The fact that the IMTT has tournaments on a 200 acre lake in the first place is MIND BOGGLING. You guys are going to ruin a good thing. We have already seen catch rates decrease substantially. I have been on the lake (by mistake ) during a tournament weekend. The lake is like a parking lot. It is quite ridiculous.
That is your opinion and you are entitled it. I will admit that at times on some of the smaller lakes it gets a little crowded, a couple of day of complete catch and release fishing a year is in no way going to make a difference in your catch rate for the year, a day or two after maybe. The IMTT is a completely run by volunteers who invest their own time and money to see that the trail is a success. They also invest quite a bit of money every year directly to the Jake Wolf hachery as well as other fishing related projects around the state. Please take the time to look into what they are doing a little more and I feel that maybe you will realize that they are in fact and important part of the muskie fishery in the state of Illinois. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 20248
Location: oswego, il | I can attest to the IMTT and they're involvement to promote and invest money in the illinois musky fishery. Any one weekend inconvenience they may bring to a smaller lake for a tournament is far outweighed by the money and time they put into the illinois musky allinace and youth. These are the good guys and we are running off topic. Lets keep the discussion on illinois lakes and what new fisheries we would like to see.
Slobasaurus, besides a few people and no one from the dnr is in favor of it, how do we get to a place where muskies end up in lake michigan?
Edited by ToddM 3/2/2017 11:30 AM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 5193
| heidecke great idea.dump a ton in there todd.Wolf I am very close to, but dont know about that. one.Chicago river I like it. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 427
| I was under the impression that they had tried to stock Heidecke and the fish just did not do well there? Is this incorrect? |
|
| |
|
Posts: 735
Location: Apparently where the Muskie aren't | hoosierhunter - 3/2/2017 2:08 PM
I was under the impression that they had tried to stock Heidecke and the fish just did not do well there? Is this incorrect?
The Muskie in heidecke are actually doing very well. I think it was two years ago that they netted 2 48" fish. And considering nobody fishes for them there, there is actually quite a few caught every year by guys looking for other species. They just don't make a big deal out of it because that's not what they are looking for. I was fishing out there last June and I talked to a few guys on other boats while I was out there and 2 of them saw Muskie and one guy caught a 38" |
|
| |
|
Posts: 20248
Location: oswego, il | The problem with heidecke is the lack of a casting area and success. You can cast the rip rap but game fish are more readily caught over open water drop offs and trolling. Its not a typical musky lake. They have a ton to eat, the lake has a shad bloom in the summer. Its just hard to target them there. I fish there often and catch them on spinning gear fishing for everything. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 162
Location: Chicago, IL | ToddM- individuals could simply purchase and place fish into Lake Michigan. A few grow up, get big and become the new state record. Then the DNR will wake up and realize Lake Michigan can be a trophy fishery and they'll get behind it. People are already planting a few fish... |
|
| |
|
Posts: 441
| The Illinois DNR doesn't have the money.
They had to layoff several Officers.
The corrupt politicians are taking money out of the Conservation funds, for welfare and other things.
If it doesn't help them get elected, they don't care!
Don't blame it on the DNR, it's the crooks dipping their fingers in the till.
Illinois is bankrupt, because of them. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 20248
Location: oswego, il | bucknuts - 3/2/2017 8:07 PM
The Illinois DNR doesn't have the money.
They had to layoff several Officers.
The corrupt politicians are taking money out of the Conservation funds, for welfare and other things.
If it doesn't help them get elected, they don't care!
Don't blame it on the DNR, it's the crooks dipping their fingers in the till.
Illinois is bankrupt, because of them.
Do gou have a link for this? The dnr lost alot of money to the road lobby and a license fees goto the general fund.
Slobasaurus, what your suggesting is illegal and not enough could be purchased to make a fishable population. We have a pretty good relationsbip with the dnr. Through the ima musky clubs donate more to the dnr and projects than any other organazation. We should not jeopardize that relationship by circumventing their management strategy. We have had candid talks with the heads of the dnr, they come to a couple meetings every year, great people and very appreciative of our efforts. We have talked about lake michigan, the answer is no. We have made other inroads, just one example, i was able to show a biologist what the fish look like in a lake he introduced shad, i told him about the shad schools, pics of fat muskies, he increased stocking levels.
Edited by ToddM 3/2/2017 8:25 PM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 441
| Everybody I worked with in the DNR, the officers and the biologists, work hard.
There just isn't enough of them!
I helped them with a spring muskie survey at Heidecke Lake, for a couple of days, a few years ago.
There are some nice fish in there!
I did quite a few hunting details, both during the day, and at night, with them.
They do a hell of a job. It's hard for one or two officers to cover a whole county.
Their hands are tied, when they are on a limited budget!
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 519
Location: Bloomington, IL | I completely agree with the tournaments on small lakes deal. It isn't so much the weekend of the tournament, it's all the pressure that now occurs the rest of the season resulting from how tournaments promote the small lake. I've seen the negative impact first hand and how catch rates have significantly decreased. It's a shame that a typical weekend has quite often become bumper boats.
I would like to see more muskies stocked in Mill Creek as others have mentioned as well, and certainly in new lakes, Lake Michigan, etc. Hope this happens. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 5193
| Todd do you have any idea what kind of population heidecke has for musky? |
|
| |
|
Posts: 20248
Location: oswego, il | I don't know what the population is in heidecke. I did not catch one last year but 4 years ago quite a few were caught. Mostly smaller ones. I have seen a few floaters and near dead by the launch that were nicer fish. We have caught a handful in the 30-37" range. I think the biggest challenge is where to target them in the lake.
Bucknuts, i have never heard of the state pulling dnr money and putting it towards welfare. Do you have a link for that? The dnr has never mentioned this to us.
I agree on mill creek and otter for that matter, they can put more fish in there.
Edited by ToddM 3/3/2017 7:03 AM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 20248
Location: oswego, il | An update. The state plans on converting pike stocked lakes with muskies. South spring will get muskies. The state will offer to convert other lakes not managed by them but stocked with pike with permission from that county. In particular, cook county could see several places stocked with musky that previously recieved pike.
Edited by ToddM 3/16/2017 3:48 PM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 5193
| musky at tampier it could be interesting. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 470
| 0723 - 3/16/2017 1:38 PM
musky at tampier it could be interesting.
So would Sag Quarries... |
|
| |
|
Posts: 494
Location: midwest | Stock them at Blackwell in Dupage so they can get fat on stocker trout! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 63
Location: Indiana | when's the last time there was a musky caught at wolf? i remember about 10 years ago a 48" from the Indiana side but what does it matter? Some kind of cooperation between IN and IL to make something work?
heres the pic of the 48:
http://www.prairiestateoutdoors.com/pso/article/big_fish_fridays_mu... |
|
| |
