SPARKLING LAKE- WISCONSIN LAKE STUDY

   In a 1984 study on Sparkling Lake in Wisconsin, the author John Lyons concluded "coupled with the lack of any other obvious causes of the observed population declines, it seems plausible that muskellunge predations had a major impact on the density of adult walleyes in Sparkling Lake during the early 1980's walleye predation." Walleye Predation, Yellow Perch Abundance and the Population Dynamics of an Assemblage of Littoral-Zone Fishes in Sparkling Lake, Wisconsin, John Lyons, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1984.

WISCONSIN BIOLOGIST SPEAKS OUT

   In an August 24, 2006 discussion with Wisconsin DNR Fisheries Biologist Thomas Sommerfeldt,

Mr. Sommerfeldt expressed concerns about the stocking of muskies. It's "frustrating as heck" referring to those who fail to acknowledge that "increased densities [of muskies] are going to impact our fish populations." We now have "new unprecedented muskie densities." The muskies have "eaten themselves out of house and home" to the point on some lakes in Wisconsin we only have stunted muskies in the lake and there is actually a proposal to remove half of the adult muskies. Mr. Sommerfeldt was told the Minnesota DNR says lakes that have large white sucker populations are good candidates for muskie stocking. His reply was "once they run out of white suckers" to eat "you have problems."

Mr. Sommerfeldt is the author of a 2002 Draft Abstract Study titled: Measuring the Potential Impact of Muskellunge Predation to Sport and Forage Fish Populations. Interview conducted by Kirk Schnitker.

STUDY BY FISHERIES BIOLOGIST  -  THOMAS (SKIP) SOMMERFELDT

SHOWS MUSKIES CONSUME LARGE NUMBERS OF WALLEYES

   In a 2002 study by Thomas (Skip) Sommerfeldt from the Wisconsin DNR (Draft from - April 2002) the DNR is warned that "the recent trend toward higher muskellunge abundances indicates a greater need to determine and measure impacts to resident fish populations. Mr. Sommerfeldt states, "I conclude that muskellunge predation can have a severe effect on resident fish populations." The study further states:

  If optimum-size walleye comprised just 5% of the muskellunge diet, a total of 1,990 walleye (> 7 inches) would be consumed by the adult muskellunge population in Butternut Lake in 1998. Comparably, the estimated harvest by sport anglers was 1,180 walleye during the 1998-99 fishing season and 125 were taken by tribal anglers. Thus, muskellunge predation would rank as the number one cause of walleye mortality in Butternut Lake in 1998. In addition, an estimated 1,159 of the walleye eaten would be greater than 10 inches in length (1.15/acre) and 791 would be greater than 12 inches. The latter figure would represent 24% of the estimated total population of walleye greater than 12 inches in 1998.

  The study had similar findings for another musky stocked lake: Lower Clam Lake had an adult walleye density of 3.3/acre in 1991, with a large mode at the 11 to 12-inch length. By 2001, the adult density had declined to 0.8/acre, despite fingerling stocking in 1995, 1998 and 1999, as well as modest levels of natural reproduction. During the same 1991 to 2001 time period, the adult muskellunge density increased from 0.6/acre to 1.4/acre (without any supplemental stocking). The muskellunge population was considered high density in 2001.

The findings show the staggering impacts muskellunge can have on walleye populations.

Wisconsin Butternut Lake study

Fishery Management Plan Butternut Lake, Price County, Wisconsin, July 2005

Wisconsin Burri - Bozek study

1999 Bozek and Burri study from the Wisconsin DNR