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| Jump to page : 1 Now viewing page 1 [30 messages per page] Muskie Fishing -> General Discussion -> Conservation Hearings APRIL 10th |
| Message Subject: Conservation Hearings APRIL 10th | |||
lambeau |
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| APRIL 10th: don't forget to mark your calendar, please show up and vote! many counties pass on local regulations that are not in their local area. please ask for a vote on these issues, and consider speaking up and sharing your opinion with the voters. this can be very persuasive to someone who doesn't have an opinion (lots of hunters and other non-muskie fishermen there). full info with local meeting sites can be found here: http://dnr.wi.gov/org/nrboard/congress/springhearings/ of particular interest this year are questions 31, 32, and 40: Question 31: Fox River muskellunge season and regulation changes Great Lakes spotted muskellunge (hereafter muskellunge) have been stocked into Green Bay since 1989 in an attempt to reintroduce the once native species. Muskellunge have also been stocked in the Winnebago System since 2001 and Little Lake Butte des Morts since 2003 to expand reintroduction efforts and create possible brood sources for future hatchery production. Muskellunge reintroduced into Green Bay are protected with a 50 inch minimum size limit, allowing them to spawn multiple times before potentially being harvested. Muskellunge stocked elsewhere fall under a 34 inch minimum size limit. Data collected during surveys on Green Bay indicate that these muskellunge grow quickly, and spawning fish of known age captured during 2005 were 37-43.75 inches total length at age-5+ or age-6+. Some muskellunge stocked into Little Lake Butte des Morts as yearlings in 2003 will likely attain harvestable size during 2005 at age-3+. These fish will also be vulnerable to harvest during 2006 and part of 2007 before they spawn for the first time during April or May of 2007. Some of the muskellunge stocked into Little Lake Butte des Morts will likely move downstream, requiring a 50 inch minimum throughout the lower Fox River. A sound reintroduction strategy would not allow harvest of a species before it spawns for the first time. Muskellunge in Little Lake Butte des Morts and the lower Fox River should be protected with a 50 inch minimum size limit to allow each fish to spawn multiple times before reaching harvestable size. # Question 31: Do you favor increasing the minimum length limit for muskellunge in the Fox River between Lake Winnebago and the DePere dam, including Little Lake Butte des Morts, from 34" to 50", and changing the season opening date from the first Saturday in May to the Saturday closest to Memorial Day? Question 32: Lake Winnebago muskellunge regulation changes Great Lakes spotted muskellunge (hereafter muskellunge) have been stocked into Lake Winnebago since 2001 in an attempt to reintroduce the once native species. The Upriver Lakes (Winneconne, Poygan, and Butte des Morts) have been stocked since 2002. The primary long-term objective of the program is to restore a self-sustaining muskellunge population in the Winnebago system. A secondary long-term objective is to produce a fishable, high quality to trophy muskellunge fishery on the Winnebago system. Muskellunge reintroduced into Green Bay are protected with a 50 inch minimum size limit, allowing them to spawn multiple times before possibly being harvested. Data collected during surveys on Green Bay indicate that these muskellunge grow quickly, and spawning fish of known age captured during 2005 were 37-43.75 inches total length at age-5+ or age-6+. # Question 32: Do you favor increasing the minimum length limit for muskellunge in the Lake Winnebago system (including the Upriver Lakes) from 34" to 50"? Question 40 : Pelican Lake muskellunge regulation - Increase the minimum length limit to 50 inches on Pelican Lake, Oneida County. Pelican Lake has a naturally-reproducing muskellunge population (no stocking since 1998) of low to moderate density with a track record of producing a few exceptional fish. However, under the current 34-inch minimum length limit, Pelican Lake is not reaching its full potential to produce quality-size muskellunge. The last creel survey (1990) found that angler effort on Pelican Lake of 62.3 hours per acre is nearly double the Oneida County average (33.7 hours per acre), with 18% of total effort directed at muskellunge. The survey estimated that 146 muskellunge were harvested. Muskellunge reproduction may be insufficient to sustain this level of harvest. A local proposal by interested muskellunge anglers and guides received a favorable reception at the July 9, 2005 annual meeting of the Pelican Lake Property Owners Association, where 78% of the 89 attendees supported a higher minimum length limit, while 18% were against and 3% indifferent. Furthermore, a 50-inch minimum length limit (57% of positive votes) was more popular with Association members than either a 45-inch minimum (24%) or 40 to 50-inch protected slot (19%). # Question 40: Do you favor increasing the minimum length limit to 50 inches for muskellunge on Pelican Lake, Oneida County? | |||
| muskie! nut |
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Posts: 2894 Location: Yahara River Chain | I'm pretty sure that all counties are required to have scan ballots now. Meaning that you show up, show them your ID, get handed a ballot, vote, & leave like you would voting for a president or congress. It will only take a small amount of time out of your monday night. It would be a BIG help to the muskie fishery if you did do this. This is the only state that allows the sportsman to advise the DNR on how you would like to manage the fisheries. See you at the meeting. Edited by muskie! nut 3/23/2006 11:11 AM | ||
| Pointerpride102 |
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Posts: 16632 Location: The desert | I will be at the Portage County one voting. Mike | ||
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