Muskie management in Minnesota is under attack. Without your support our muskie fisheries are in jeopardy. 

This threat began with a small group of muskie haters on Pelican Lake (one of MN's premier muskie waters). By promoting false information through their lakeshore owners association, they were able to convince the Ottertail County COLA (Coalition Of Lake Associations) to take action against muskie stocking in Ottertail County. They've gone to great lengths to manipulate local residents into believing muskies are destroying their lakes, and they've gained enough traction to pull the statewide MN Coalition of Lake Associations into the fray as well.
Their claims are nothing new. It's the same old story.... "Muskies are eating all the walleyes." Then, when the science proves that completely false, it's "Muskies are eating all the panfish." And when that is also proven false they turn to "Muskies are a threat to public safety and will attack our children." Obviously that doesn't hold water either.
In fact, this is nothing more than a re-hashed version of previous efforts by the group "No More Muskies", but they've found a new face and a new voice. There are decades worth of science supporting muskie stocking and proving it has had no negative effects anywhere in Minnesota, but actual facts are not something these people concern themselves with. They use scare tactics and emotional pleas to further their cause.

Make no mistake, this threat is serious.
In fact, they have allies in the Minnesota Legislature. Senator Bill Ingebrigtsen has long been opposed to muskies, and in the past has made several attempts to hamper positive muskie management. Senator Ingebrigtsen has aligned himself with this current group and is working to help them stop muskie stocking in Ottertail County. Representative Bud Nornes has joined in as well. Many Legislators see this as a "social" issue and not a biological one, meaning they don't care about the science. If there is enough public outcry against muskie stocking, they can and will write legislation to stop it regardless of the actual facts.
The groups' current goal is to stop muskie stocking on West Battle, Pelican, and Big Detroit Lakes. These are three of Minnesota's premier trophy muskie waters, in addition to being thriving fisheries for walleyes and panfish. They also intend to stop any possibility of stocking any additional waters in Ottertail County in the future. 
What must be understood is that this is just the start. This threat goes far beyond Ottertail County. Any traction they gain will be used to promote this same type of action across the state. If this isn't stopped dead in it's tracks it will have serious implications for every muskie water in Minnesota.

The only way to stop this is with your support. This is not the time to be complacent. We need EVERYONE who cares about muskies anywhere in Minnesota to take action.
There is a meeting being held on Thursday, October 29th in Fergus Falls at the Otter Tail Power Community Room.
215 South Cascade Street. The meeting is from 6:00-8:00 pm. It is extremely important that we have a very strong presence of muskie supporters at this meeting. The Pelican Lakes association is aggressively promoting attendance by anyone opposed to muskies. We need to show them, the DNR, and the Legislators that we support muskies. Please pass this information on, and ask everyone who can to attend the meeting.

Lastly, please call and/or email the two involved Legislators, as well as the DNR Commissioner, letting them know you support muskie stocking, and proactive muskie management statewide.
As always, be polite and courteous. We win these battles because we take the high road and stick to science, facts, and common sense.

Tom Landwehr (DNR Commissioner)
651-259-5555
E-mail
[email protected]

Senator Bill Ingebrigtsen
651-297-8063
E-mail
[email protected]

Representative Bud Nornes
651-296-4946
E-mail
[email protected]

Please make those phone calls, send the e-mails, and try to attend the meeting!
Thank you.
Sincerely,
MN Muskie and Pike Alliance co-chairs Aaron Meyer and John Underhill