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MN DNR IS USING FLAWED INFORMATION
Recently
the Minnesota DNR was asked for studies or reports that show muskies
don't eat walleyes and don't cause problems with walleye populations.
The MN DNR cited some Wisconsin studies however Wisconsin DNR fisheries
biologist Thomas Summerfeldt
addressed those same studies and wrote
this about
those studies:
"A study of the food
habits of muskellunge in Wisconsin (Masters thesis by Tom Burri, 1997)
found that white sucker and yellow perch were the main food items,
representing 47% and 17% by volume, respectively. Walleye comprised 3.4%
and bass were 3.1 %, with both being considered unimportant in the diet.
However, there were 2 major bias' that have been identified in
that work (this author was involved in a large portion (56%) of the data
collected in Burri's study).
The
first being that it was basically a study of the diet of small
muskellunge, with over 95% of the data from fish less than 34 inches in
length (the legal length limit in Wisconsin). Secondly, the majority of
the samples came from waters where the forage base had already been
impacted by years of heavy muskellunge predation."
Please read the
research conducted by,
Thomas Sommerfeldt, Wisconsin DNR Park Falls, Wisconsin,
2002.
Measuring the
Potential Impact of Muskellunge Predation to Sport and Forage Fish
Populations
MINNESOTA DNR STUDY RESULTS
In a
study by the Minnesota DNR, by Jerry A. Younk and Donald L. Periera, the
conclusion was that Minnesota has a "successful [muskie] management
program" as angler success is good. If this is the case, is it worth the
risk to expand stocking into more lakes? The study states "muskellunge
angling is not wide spread."
MN DNR NEWS RELEASE
This is the 2006 Gull
Lake musky stocking news release put out by the DNR.
This News Release:
Ignores studies done in Wisconsin and Michigan that show musky predation
on walleyes has been a problem. To have a look at these studies
click here...
News Releases
DNR
to seek public input on plan to stock muskies in Gull Lake
(2006-08-15)
A proposal to stock muskellunge in Gull Lake near
Brainerd will be the subject of a public input meeting in
October.
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is considering a
proposal to stock 2,800 muskellunge fingerlings per year for
four consecutive years starting in 2007. The proposal aims
to create a muskellunge fishery in the immediate Brainerd
area, a popular angling destination in central Minnesota.
"The Brainerd Area Fisheries Office developed this proposal
because muskie angler numbers continue to increase, those in
the Brainerd area are seeking additional opportunities, and
Gull Lake - due to its large size, forage base and habitat
types - qualifies as lake where muskie management is an
option," said Tim Goeman, northeast regional fisheries
manager.
The public input meetings will be Oct. 6 from 7 to 9 p.m. in
the Central Lakes College cafeteria, 501 West College Drive
in Brainerd and from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the DNR's
headquarters, 500 Lafayette Road in St. Paul.
Minnesota has become one of the nation's premier muskellunge
fishing destinations. Originally, the muskellunge existed in
44 lakes and six rivers in Minnesota. Today, 85 lakes and six rivers contain
muskellunge as a result of DNR stocking efforts. There has been no significant
expansion of muskellunge waters during the last five to 10
years. This is due, in part, to the mystique of the fish,
which can grow to more than 50 inches in length
and is a top predator in the fisheries
food chain.
"The muskie has a reputation that is both deserved and
underserved," said Ron Payer, DNR chief of fishieries
management. "It is a great fighter and impressive to behold. Still, it is not the nemesis to
game fish that many believe it to be. As an
adult, its preference is to eat perch and those species that
have soft spines within their fins such as suckers, cisco
and redhorse. There is no research
evidence that suggests introducing the muskellunge into a
lake has caused a corresponding decrease in the walleye
fishery." (Say What???)
Payer noted that many of Minnesota's best-known large
walleye lakes - such as Winnibigoshish, Leech and Lake of
the Woods -have always contained both muskellunge and
walleye. Both fish can thrive, said Payer, because
muskellunge numbers never become as dense as fish species of
a smaller size.
Tim Brastrup, DNR Brainerd area fisheries supervisor,
developed the muskellunge stocking plan as a result of input
from the local Muskies, Inc. chapter, whose members have
reported increased crowding on lakes within 25 to 45 miles
of Brainerd such as Mille Lacs, Cedar, Shamineau, Alexander
and Woman lakes. "Twenty-five to 45 miles isn't an
unreasonable distance to drive for a muskie fishing
opportunity," said Brastrup. "But
the issue has become one of crowding. An increasing number
of anglers are converging on the same spots and quality of the angling experience is
declining."
(Really???)
"Our stocking proposal recognizes the fact that northern
pike spearing has a long tradition in this area and this
proposal does not ban pike spearing in Gull Lake," Brastrup
said.
A 10-day public comment period will follow the open house
and end Oct. 16. ,
1601 Minnesota Drive, Brainerd, MN 56401; DNR Fish and
Wildlife Division, Box 12, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN
55155; or e-mailed to
tim.brastrup@dnr.state.mn.us.
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