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Posts: 4080
Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion |
Hi, I'm out here working for the next three weeks(I'm a contractor) I went into Billings yesterday to pick up some eq., tools and stopped in the local sporting goods store, on their bragging board I saw three pics. of a 43.5", 44", and a fat 46" tiger from the local newspaper.
They were caught on a small res. west of Billings (Deadmans Basin?) After working out here on and off for the past 3 yrs. I know of only one other lake with muskies in it.
Here's my questions, why isn't there more muskie lakes out this way
Is there any muskie clubs-muskie inc. people out here, and do you think I'm wrong for thinking that the fish menioned above should still be swimming instead of hanging on someones wall.... I know that the larger tigers are nearing the end of their life span but I would have to let them live.
Any thoughts?
Jerome
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Posts: 20255
Location: oswego, il | Closest club out that way is in the denver area. Out west tiger muskies are seen as a control fish, at least they are introduced as such. Would be nice to see more M.I. clubs out that way. |
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Posts: 32934
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | And, the fish live a shorter period of time when compared to our fish here. Not all areas of the country have the same C&R ethic we do here. |
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Posts: 384
Location: Eagle River, Alaska | Jerome....I used to live in Montana until 2002 but still consider it my second home. I have talked to fish and game about this very fact.....they had just started stocking Deadman Basin back then. There are only a few tiger lakes because there is great resistance to stocking any kind of nonnative fish not already there. The northern pike have caused a great deal of damage to many trout fisheries after being illegally introduced. Montana was one of the first states to limit stocking of any kind and is making a substantial effort to restore native trout fisheries which have been decimated by introduced trout and other fish. Even though tigers are primarily sterile state managers see little need, or want from people, for establishing another invasive species. I personally love to musky fish but have become a pretty staunch supporter of western states efforts to restore fisheries to their original native stocks where possible. That is nearly impossible to accomplish in the upper midwest and east as so many native stocks have been lost forever and the entire ecosystems changed. Let's not get so short sighted that musky are the only fish we see.
brian |
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Posts: 4080
Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | DocEsox,
I value you'r opinion on this matter but I really don't think that stocking a steril tiger muskie is NOT going to wipe out an entire ecosystem,or have a profound effect on a land locked water system.
I just think that Montana,Idaho,Washington,Utah, and other western states would be great for having muskies in some lakes, it's beautiful out here for sure.
I hope I'm not "short sighted" when it comes to anything purtaining to life or nature.... I just happen to love hunting muskies.....I wouldn't want to plant muskies in a body of water if I knew it would cause harm or havic to the system.
I also think that the people out west are missing out on one of the most enjoyable experiences life has to offer, and that is catching,fighting, and releasing a huge p1ssed off, fresh water shark with an attude, called the Musky.........
Good fishing, and don't eat all the Trout like they do in most places,
Jerome
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Posts: 20255
Location: oswego, il | Doc, I know the people out there are worried about the pike since they do reporduce on their own but have they actually impacted the fisheries they inhabit? I know the pike out west can get incredibly huge, i would suspect their populations are not huge like some wi and mn lakes where the pike are so numerous they don't grow big. Am I wrong on this? Also with the non-native torut which also get big enough to eat endagered minnow species too, I would be willing to bet their impact is even greater. Lets also not forget most lakes, not all out that way are man made and not natural too. |
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