2005 Musky Meltdown

Here's a recap of the PMTT Fall Musky meltdown on the Chippewa Flowage.

2005 PMTT Fall Meltdown

MUSKY HUNTER/PMTT FALL MELTDOWN @ "THE CHIP"

LOTS OF BIG FISH - EXCITING PHOTO FINISH - WHAT "HOMEWATER JINX"?

PMTT Q-4 Hayward, WI. Chippewa Flowage August 27th & 28th, 2005


Bob "the Fin-Addict" Osborne

PMTT PR/Media Director

The legendary, spectacularly beautiful waters of Sawyer County Wisconsin's amazing Chippewa Flowage, home waters to Louis Spray's world record and, not surprisingly, many of this country's best known and accomplished Musky Hunters, served appropriate backdrop for the most exciting finish in Professional Musky Tournament history when John Steckel and partner Randy Machtan, both of Marshfield, WI. , triggered Musky of 36-?, 36-? & 44-? inches Saturday, taking three of the 21 fish registered and released on day one to score the highest single day points total of the event to lead a field dominated by local anglers looking to disprove the "home waters jinx" myth ? winning the first ever tie-breaker for a 1st Place Finish in PMTT history, claiming both the 2005 MUSKY HUNTER FALL MELTDOWN TITLE and over $15,000 cash!


"I have almost 17, maybe 18 years overall experience on these waters", shared a visibly excited John, who's Team is fast becoming a force with their second Top 10 PMTT in a row, with 7th and Big Fish at the past Eagle River event! "Scouting the waters, baitfish, shallow water and barometric pressure where all important parts of the pattern. We came up two-and-a-half weeks ago and found deep suspended fish that were very lethargic in near 90-degree water. We felt the fish had moved shallow to follow the bait and utilize water that was now a more comfortable 69 to 70-degrees".

A mildly, yet understandably disappointed Paul Parise and Mike Etzel of nearby Ladysmith, WI. gamely added fish of 38 and 35-? inches to their fat 43-? inch first day effort to finish in a first ever dead-tie? only to lose to the day one leaders on total single day points! "We knew what they had yesterday, but were not sure how the extra points went and stuff ? or if they were catching fish. We knew it would be close and that we had to beat them outright because of their great catch yesterday and did not know whether we had it until the last second", said Parise who also added that tapering points, weeds and a steady diet of jerk baits in perch patterns were what worked in earning them the hefty $3,866 check and an exciting 2nd Place finish.

Rounding out the Top Three, totally busting the old "home waters jinx" myth, well-known area Guide and creator of the Pacemaker top water lure, from Hayward, WI. Ty Sennet and Eau Claire partner JoDon Thompson claimed the 3rd Place Trophy and $2,706 for the 36-? & 39-? inch fish they registered. " I get out on the water every once in awhile", joked Sennet who has been an extremely successful guide on this system for 17 years. "I am glad to see everybody so excited by the size of the 36 fish caught here this weekend, but the truth is that the Big Girls are still about a month away from moving in". When asked by Tournament Director Tim Widlacki if the low water, almost down three feet, had been a factor Ty responded that it had been a pretty typical bite, with few follows; either they bite or you see few. "The trick is backing off a bit and fish weed edges, but you can't give up because you don't see fish, they just do not show themselves as often here ? it's a very typical".

4th Place finishers, Phil Gutmann and Bob Blanke of the Chicagoland area also doubled to claim $1,638 using Mepps bucktails in outside weed edges to narrowly edge Duane Landmeier & Dana Smith of Hinkley and Senneca, IL respectively who threw Suicks and Crane baits into skinny water to locate their quarry and take 5th Place and $1,546. "We are just very glad to have earned a berth in 'the big dance?, the Ranger Boats World Championship? even if it was at the last event. Man, we're going to 'Tonka!!"

Ranger Boats Representative Steve Lindahl was on hand to personally deliver the $1,000 Ranger Cup Check to Ron Haynes & Wally Prociuk who finished as the highest placing registered Ranger owner at 7th Place with a heavy 45-? inch fish. Mr. Lindahl proudly announced that this brought the 2005 Ranger Cup Program pay-out-to-date to a whopping $2.3 million! He also assured all in attendance that the highly anticipated unveiling of the newly designed 2006 Ranger 620 will take place, "on schedule", in about a month. Musky Hunter Magazine Editor, Jim Saric, noted what an amazing increase there has been over the past seven years that they have been sponsoring the Pro Trail in the level and quality of competition. "From top to bottom, every man and women on this Trail can win any given event. No lead is safe. new tactics and techniques develop at almost every event. they always produce some quality fish. What a great group of anglers".

Special thanks go out to the fine folks at Ranger Boats, Mercury Marine, Musky Hunter Magazine, Heckel's Marine, Crash's Landing, Extreme Musky Expo, North Country Adventure Television and all associate and contributing sponsors, as well as Host Site Sponsors; Morehead Tourism Commission, Eagles Nest Resort, Eagle River Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center, the Medina Entertainment Center and of course the Hayward Country Inns & Suites ?without whose continuing support none of this would be possible today.

The final event will be the prestigious Ranger Boats World Championship on Lake Minnetonka, MN. October 15th & 16th. The Top 50 Musky Anglers of 2005 will be invited to compete for both the Top Gun and Championship Title with a prize package that includes a 2006 Ranger 619 Fisherman - RangerTrail Trailer - 150 hp Mercury package ... plus cash ... totaling nearly $40,000*! Watch Fox Sports North Country Adventure Television beginning in January for this and all of the exciting PMTT Qualifying events. Learn from the Pros ... be a part of the action ... help show your support for Musky fishing. Anyone can join the PMTT and everybody is warmly invited to enter this fast-growing and addictively exciting competition. Keep your eyes open for upcoming 2006 schedule announcements and who knows? maybe you have what it takes to be the next World Champion?

To register or obtain more information on joining the 2006 PMTT or any individual Qualifiers, please visit them on the Web @ www.promusky.com or call PMTT Director, Tim Widlacki @ 815-264-3228



FINAL LEADER BOARD

MUSKY HUNTER MAGAZINE / PMTT FALL MELTDOWN @ "THE CHIP"

Hayward, WI. Chippewa Flowage August 27th & 28th, 2005


1st. Place - Randy Machtan & John Steckel 36.25" - 36.25" - 44.50"

2nd. Place - Paul Parise & Mike Etzel 35.50" - 38" - 43.50"

3rd. Place - Ty Sennet & JoDon Thompson 36.50" - 39.75"

4th. Place - Phil Gutman & Bob Blanke 38" - 35.50"

5th. Place - Duane Landmeier & Dana Smith 34" & 37.75"

6th. Place - Jeff Chinnock & Matt Pokela 46.25"

7th. Place - Ron Haynes & Wally Prociuk 45.25"

8th. Place - Chris Kawleski & Todd Radtke 44.75"

9th. Place - David Petschke & Victor Fox 43.50"

10th. Place - Jim Kelly & Judson Stover 43"



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Turning Musky 'Follows' into 'Takers

By Justin Hoffman

Musky fishing can be a funny game. An angler can spend many hours beating the water to a froth, only to have a musky finally appear, lazily trailing the bait then slowly disappearing out of sight. Musky follows are a common occurrence when chasing this majestic beast, however, there are a few tricks that can be utilized to turn those curious fish into solid takers. Try these tips when out on your next hunt and get ready to land your fair share of braggin' size 'skies.

Throw a Change-Up
Tossing a different lure to a following fish is one way of attracting their attention and hopefully convincing them to bite. The one key ingredient to make this technique work is to throw an entirely different lure, both in style and colour. For instance, if you get a follow from a fish while throwing a bucktail, immediately throw a topwater lure back to the direction that the follow originated. If your bucktail happened to be black, try a white or silver topwater for contrast. The key point is to make your lure presentation entirely different. Fish that follow baits to the boat are usually semi-interested in what they perceive as a meal. By changing-up your bait and immediately knocking on their door again, a positive reaction can usually be garnered from that same wandering fish.

Throwing back a different bait is a technique that must be done immediately after a fish is spotted for it to be effective at all. Having at least two rods in the boat, both rigged with opposite lures, will make this task easier for the angler to utilize. Keep the second rod within arms reach and be on the lookout for that next following fish.

Change Your Retrieve
For many anglers, seeing a following fish can be an exciting yet also disappointing sight out on the water. Watching a fish trail your bait from twenty feet away right to the side of the boat can be downright frustrating. For those fish that follow for long distances, there is a certain trick that can put the odds back in your favour.

Adjusting or changing your retrieve is one of the best tricks for long-range follows. These fish are especially curious but lack the aggression due to the monotony of the bait action. Putting a little "zing" into that bait is just the ticket for changing their minds.

Speeding up your retrieve is probably the best adjustment that can be made to provoke a strike. When a following fish is spotted, suddenly accelerate your bait and work it all the way back to the boat in this manner. If you're using a bucktail, burn it in as fast as you can turn the handle. For topwater the same holds true. Jerkbaits are a little different as you are best to use more aggressive pulls and jerks while bringing the bait back to the boat quicker.

Another interesting technique is to change the direction of your lure. This can be easily accomplished by turning your rod in a forty-five or ninety degree angle. Instead of your bait running in a perfectly straight line, this slight adjustment will change the angle that your bait makes back to the boat. The majority of time, a following fish will strike at the exact moment your bait changes course, so hold on and be prepared to set the hook hard.

Figure-Eights
Figure-eighting is a term used to describe a boat side technique for following fish. It is quite simple to do and the rewards can be great. When a fish is spotted following your bait to the boat, thrust you rod tip under the surface while your lure is still in the water. In a controlled and seamless motion, begin working your bait in a "figure-eight" motion in the water. This tactic should be used while your lure is approximately three to four- feet from the rod tip and maintained at two to three-feet below the surface.

Working a big figure eight, or a large circle in the water are both effective but the motion must be fluid and constant for the tactic to be successful. (Refrain from "drawing" tight circles or "eights" in the water, as the fish will not be able to turn quick enough.)

Don't be surprised to see following muskies turning in fast circles while chasing the bait, before finally hitting out of sheer aggression. Boat side figure-eights are a dynamite action for following fish, and are also productive when done after each "follow-less" cast in case the fish is holding deep and out of sight.

Figure-eights are done most easily while using bucktails, as the lure shape and design allows for easy manipulation in this manner. Jerkbaits can also be used in this technique at the end of a cast, as long as you do not allow the bait to rise to the surface. Try to keep the lure down at the depth it was running during the initial follow for added effectiveness.

Following muskies are part and parcel of hunting for the "kings of the freshwater." Although they can be frustrating while working the water, followers can be turned into takers quite successfully when utilizing the above tips and techniques when out on the water.

International Muskie Symposium

Thesea are abstracts from the 2005 International Muskie Symposium Abstracts - 10/25/2005. Courtesy of Muskies First.com

History of muskellunge management in Nebraska
Daryl Bauer

Muskellunge (Esox masquinongy) were first introduced to Nebraska in 1958. By 1969 anglers were catching the first muskies from Nebraska waters. Tiger muskie culture and stocking started in Nebraska in 1983. Harvest regulations for muskie and tiger muskie were first established in 1977 with a daily bag limit of one muskie or tiger muskie of at least 30 inches in length. In 2000 the minimum length limit for muskie and tiger muskie was increased to 40 inches. Tiger muskie have been phased out in Nebraska; no tiger muskie are being produced in Nebraska hatcheries and none have been stocked in Nebraska waters since 2003. Beginning in 1998 muskie fingerlings have been held in Nebraska hatcheries until age-1 before stocking. Yearling muskies are raised on minnows and other small fish in Nebraska hatcheries and stocking success apparently is very good. Fishable populations of muskies can now be found in approximately seven Nebraska waters scattered across the state.


Muskellunge Management and Distribution Analysis in a
South East Wisconsin Urban Lake
Susan M. Beyler and Robert C. Anderson

Pewaukee Lake is a shallow 2,493-acre drainage lake in heavily populated Southeast Wisconsin. Musky management began in 1967 with the introduction of 1,200 musky fingerlings. Through 1981, average annual stocking was 1,625 fingerlings. Average annual stocking from 1982 through 1997 was 3,014 fingerlings. The Pewaukee Lake musky population was evaluated by use of fyke nets and electrofishing in spring 1998. Adult musky density was estimated at 0.52 per acre, both sexes combined. Muskellunge movement and home range size were evaluated based on 40 radio-tagged individuals over a four year period (1998-2002). Both external and internal radio transmitters were attached to muskellunge collected in fyke nets, by electroshocking, and by anglers. Average home range sizes were 43 acres for male and 85 acres for female muskellunge. Home range size and musky movement were greatest during spring and fall. Mean length of the sampled population was 33 inches for males and 37 inches for females. Random, stratified creel surveys were conducted in 1982 and 1998 to assess changes in fishing pressure and angler exploitation. Musky catch rate (per hour) dropped 43 percent and harvest rate dropped 70 percent, while directed angling effort increased 135 percent. Mean length of muskies harvested increased 46 percent, from 29.7 inches in 1982, under a 30-inch minimum length limit, to 43.5 inches in 1998, under a 34-inch size limit.


Muskellunge in MissouriA Ten-Year Strategic Plan
Mark F. Boone

In April 1995, a 10-year strategic plan for muskellunge program management in Missouri was developed by Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) fisheries staff. Our mission was to efficiently produce and manage muskellunge in order to provide high-quality angling opportunities in suitable, well-distributed impoundments throughout the state. This paper discusses some of the primary accomplishments during the past 10 years and will provide information regarding the 2005 revision of the plan.

A primary goal was to increase the number and improve the distribution of muskie fisheries in small impoundments throughout the state. At the time, our three existing muskie fisheries (Pomme de Terre, Pony Express, and Hazel Creek lakes) were in northwest and west central Missouri. From 1995 through 2001, six additional lakes, that met minimum criteria, were stocked with muskies in southeast, northeast, and central Missouri, plus the St. Louis area. Evaluation of the program occurred in 2003. We are currently managing five lakes for muskies.

A second goal was to maintain density and size structure of muskellunge populations commensurate with muskie angler expectations. Our objective was for muskie anglers to catch a muskie > 36 in 20-40 hours of angling. The Show-Me Muskie Project, a voluntary angler diary program, was initiated in 1996 to help evaluate this objective. Currently over 100 muskie anglers voluntarily keep records of their fishing results. Several other changes were made to help achieve this goal. In 1996, the statewide minimum length limit was increased from 30 to 36. Two lakes currently have a 42 minimum length limit. The plan dictated that stocked fingerlings should be at least 10 long and have been fed minnows for at least six weeks prior to stocking. From 1996-2000, fingerlings were 10-12 long. In 2001, we increased the size of stocked fingerlings to 12-14 to increase survival.

A third goal was to inform Missouri anglers about increased opportunities for high-quality muskie fishing. MDCs muskie web page was developed in 2002. Also in 2002, we developed a muskie release poster, which can be used by Muskies, Inc. and its chapters. In 2003, our muskie brochure was updated. During 2004, articles concerning Missouri muskie management and fishing were published in Outdoor Life, Musky Hunter, and Esox Angler magazines. Each year, our Show-Me Muskie Project cooperators receive two letters with a summary of their fishing success and current information on muskie management.


The New River, Virginia, Muskellunge Fishery: Population Dynamics, Harvest Regulation Modeling, and Angler Attitudes
Travis O. Brenden, Eric M. Hallerman, Brian R. Murphy, John R. Copeland, and Joseph A. Williams

Although muskellunge Esox masquinongy fisheries in northern U.S. states and Canada provinces are increasingly being managed with restrictive harvest regulations (e.g., 1,370-mm minimum length limits), southern U.S. muskellunge fisheries continue to be managed with comparatively liberal regulations (e.g., 762-mm minimum length limits). We studied the population dynamics of the New River, Virginia, muskellunge fishery and used predictive modeling to determine whether restrictive harvest regulations also might prove beneficial for a southern latitude fishery. Additionally, an access/roving creel survey on the New River was conducted to learn more about angler attitudes regarding the muskellunge fishery. New River muskellunge grew quickly, with fish reaching current harvestable lengths (762 mm) in 2 to 3 years. Muskellunge fishing pressure, harvest rates, and voluntary release rates were low compared to reports for more northern areas. Most anglers, regardless of how often they fished for muskellunge, defined trophy muskellunge to be approximately 1,050 to 1,100 mm in length. Although angler support for restrictive harvest regulations was low, abundance of memorable-length (d 1,070 mm) muskellunge was predicted to increase under all evaluated length limits. Muskellunge yield would remain fairly stable at 914 and 1,016-mm length limits because of fast growth rates, but yield would decline dramatically with a 1,143-mm size limit because male muskellunge rarely exceeded 1,100 mm. Because of fast growth and low release rates, implementation of higher length limits (e.g., 965 to 1067 mm) may indeed prove beneficial for augmenting trophy muskellunge production on the New River. Detection of size structure changes resulting from restrictive harvest regulations may be difficult because of variable recruitment and potential increases in fishing pressure, and so a long-term monitoring protocol, perhaps partially based on angler sampling, will be needed to assure that new regulations are indeed benefiting the fishery.


Movement and Habitat Use of Muskellunge in Kinkaid Lake
Ron Brooks

Kinkaid Lake is a 1112 ha, mesotrophic reservoir located in southern Illinois - the southern extremity of the muskellunge's range. Surface water temperatures can exceed 30 C during summer months. Although high numbers of quality fish (>1,016mm TL) are angled at Kinkaid, muskellunge of harvestable size (>1,219mm TL) are rare. Monitoring fish movement would provide valuable information concerning their habitat constraints and survival during warm-water periods. Our main goals for this study were to determine water temperatures and dissolved oxygen levels that the muskellunge inhabited throughout the year, monitor seasonal and diel movement, and compare our results with those reported for muskellunge in more northern latitudes. Twelve muskellunge (965mm-1,250mm TL) were surgically implanted with temperature sensitive, ultrasonic transmitters during March, 2004. Tracking by boat occurred every 3 days. Most fish were located each day, but all were located at least weekly. Temperature and dissolved oxygen profiles were taken at fish locations when the lake was stratified to determine available habitat, depth of fish, and thermal refuges. Several individuals were tracked during 24-h periods to determine diel habitat use and movement on three dates during each season. Movements of muskellunge associated with recreational boat traffic and weather conditions were documented. Musky anglers are concerned about effects of water temperature on hooking and handling stress. Attempts to catch musky during summer months failed, however transmitter fish caught by anglers during spring and fall were tracked for 24 h following capture.


The application of DNA-based genetic tools towards the conservation and management of the muskellunge. Esox masquingy.
Michael Butler and Chris Wilson

Persistent taxonomic controversies and poor resolution of stock structure have hindered the effective management and conservation of the muskellunge. In collaboration with anglers and management agencies, we used DNA sequence data from three mitochondrial genes to assess genetic relationships among native stocks across the entire species range. Populations were selected to include multiple representatives of putative species and subspecies and included common hatchery strains. Sequence divergence for all genes was very low (less than 0.1%) and few mutations were shared among populations. All of these data are consistent with the view that the named species Esox masquinongy is monotypic and that extant populations are derived from a population that survived the Wisconsinan glacial events in a single Mississippian refugium.

We are also using microsatellite DNA markers to address practical management questions in Ontario. The resultant data will enable the characterization of stock structure, management units, migration and effective population size of poorly understood wild muskellunge populations. These markers are also being used to assess potential sources for reintroducing muskellunge to Lake Simcoe, and to assess the results of a mixed-source stocking strategy for re-establishing a muskellunge in the Spanish River (Lake Huron).

Angler cooperation and participation have been key elements towards achieving these goals. In providing a few unwashed scales or small fin-clips for genetic analysis, catch-and-release oriented anglers affiliated with Muskies Inc., and Muskies Canada have been invaluable. We foresee the continued importance of muskie clubs in applying genetic tools to the management and conservation of muskellunge.


Genetic profiles of naturally occurring pike-muskellunge hybrids
Michael Butler, Hedrik Wachelka, Chris Wilson

Hybridization is a considered a major threat to a wide range of North American fishes. Within Esox, viable hybrids have been created through artificial crosses among all five species, and in areas of sympatry, presumed F1 hybrids of natural derivation have been widely documented. We utilized a suite of DNA-based molecular markers to assess hybridization between muskellunge and pike under natural conditions. We genetically profiled 60 putative natural hybrids along with representatives of parent species from Canada and the United States. The hybrid identity of each individual was confirmed or refuted by the presence or absence of species-specific microsatellite alleles and rDNA fragments. We detected in confirmed hybrids the presence of (maternally inherited) mitochondrial DNA indicating that the cross between parent species is asymmetrically bidirectional in the wild. We make additional inferences regarding the fertility of F1 hybrids. The results are discussed with reference to the conservation status of historically isolated muskellunge populations.


Best Practices for the Catch and Release of Muskellunge
Michael Butler and Paul Gasbarino

Voluntary catch and release has been widely credited with improvement in the quality of muskie fishing in North America. Among members of Muskies Inc., and Muskies Canada, release rates now exceed 98%. Compared to other high profile game fish, angling-related mortality in muskellunge remains understudied. It is realistic to suppose that under conditions of increasing angling pressure, the achievement of trophy management goals may be limited by seemingly low delayed mortality rates.
Despite the lack of empirical data for muskellunge, we feel that average survival rates may improve significantly by promoting a set of best practices informed by (1) studies of other species and (2) the expertise of fish physiologists and biomechanical engineers. We detail several effective release methods that incorporate innovative landing tools with the objective of minimizing, or eliminating, the exposure of angled fish to air.


Maintaining Muskellunge Populations and Quality Sports Fisheries: A Biological Basis for Setting Size Limits and Determining Minimum Ultimate Length or Trophy Standard - A Tribute to Dr. E.J. Crossman
John M. Casselman and Chris J. Robinson

Organized muskellunge anglers practising and promoting voluntary catch and release have been instrumental in helping to build and maintain quality muskellunge populations and associated fisheries. In addition, they have contributed substantially to the collection of biological samples, particularly cleithra, used for assessing age and growth and setting biologically based size limits associated with reproduction and growth potential (ultimate size). A system was developed for setting size limits based on minimum reproductive size (first maturity +2 yr) and the lower 99% confidence limits of ultimate sizeminimum ultimate size limit (MUSL). MUSL also provides a trophy standard and an index of growth status for comparing within and among populations. Guidelines are provided for determining minimum sample size (12) and minimum age (8.2 yr +/- 2.0 yr) required to produce valid von Bertalanffy growth trajectories. Specific details are given for males and females from 14 Ontario sources that were used to increase size limits in the mid-1980s and late 1990s, based on female growth trajectories in three broad categories (small-, medium-, and large-bodied growth potential). Muskellunge populations and fisheries are improving substantially, a direct outcome of working together and a tribute to Dr. E.J. Crossmans mentoring.


Missouris Muskie Program, Egg to Angler
Dale Cornelius

Abstract: The Missouri Department of Conservation introduced muskellunge into Missouri waters in 1966 when 51,000 small fingerlings (1.5 2.0 inches) and 1,500 large fingerlings (7.0 15.0 inches) were stocked into 7,820-acre Pomme de Terre Reservoir. The original objective of the Missouri Muskie Program was to provide anglers with a trophy fishery utilizing a predator that could prey upon large non-game fishes such as gizzard shad, carp and various sucker species and continues to be an objective today. In 1967 and 1968, 249 large fingerlings were stocked into Lake of the Ozarks. A muskie from this stocking was caught by a bass angler in 1981. This fish measured 49.5 inches, weighed 41 pounds 2 ounces and remains the current Missouri state record. From 1967 through 1975, the average stocking rate at Pomme de Terre Reservoir was one fish per 20 acres. The stocking rate increased to one fish per 5 acres from 1976 through 1982, then to one fish per three acres from 1983 through 1990. Beginning in 1995, Missouris muskie program was expanded to small lakes that met the minimum criteria for stocking muskie. Currently, Lost Valley Hatchery at Warsaw, MO conducts spawning and rearing of muskie for stocking in lakes Pomme de Terre, Hazel Creek, Fellows, Henry Sever, and Busch Conservation Area in Missouri.


Ecology of an introduced predator: muskellunge (Esox masquinongy) in the Saint John River of Maine and New Brunswick
R. Allen Curry, Chad A. Doherty, Tim Jardine, and Steven L. Currie

The muskellunge was introduced in the Saint John River system from stockings in a headwater lake in the 1970s. In the past two decades, muskies have migrated down the system establishing several populations including one at the rivers first dam (Mactaquac at Fredericton). The muskies are of concern because of their potential threat to the severely depleted Atlantic salmon stocks in the river. We radio tracked muskies over a two year period. They had home ranges up to 150 km within the reservoir and including moving upstream into riverine habitat during summer. They were less active in winter and used habitats >5m deep. Two individuals passed through the turbines or spillway at the dam. Downstream of the dam, home ranges were smaller (<20 km), including a tributary stream. Most spent 1+ months at the base of the dam with forays downstream in winter and summer. In May, all muskies downstream of the dam moved to an area of multiple, flooded islands for < 14 days and then dispersed to sites used in the previous summer. Stable isotope analyses of the fish community downstream of the dam indicated that muskies consumed prey similar to striped and smallmouth bass. Their diets appeared to be dominated by white perch and young alosids. Atlantic salmon smolts may have been consumed, but they were an insignificant component of the muskie diet. The muskie behaviour and diets are discussed in terms of their range expansion, establishment patterns, and the consequences for the native fishes of the Saint John River.


Human influences on natural spawning and reproductive success of muskellunge
James S. Diana, Ashley, Rust, and Sarah Zorn

Natural reproduction of muskellunge Esox masquinongy in northern Wisconsin is often insufficient to sustain populations in many lakes where the species is native. Presence of the congeneric northern pike E. lucius, low dissolved oxygen concentrations in spawning sediments, and human development are all suspected as contributing to the decline in natural reproduction of muskellunge. The purpose of this study was to further describe muskellunge spawning habitat and determine physical, chemical, biological, and land use characteristics that can be used to distinguish self-sustaining muskellunge lakes from lakes where stocking is required to maintain populations.

Spawning habitats in good reproductive lakes had softer sediments, with more organic nitrogen content, and occurred in lakes with few shoreline alterations. A multiple regression model for this relationship relating development to organic nitrogen content of spawning sediments included deadfall trees per kilometer and percent shore totally developed (adjusted R2 = 0.60, p < 0.01). The type of human development on the shoreline, was also correlated with fitness of spawning habitats. Direction of water level change during the spawning period, percent of woody debris on the spawning habitat sediment, number of deadfall trees per kilometer of shore, and percent of shore that was totally developed were the most important variables used in classifying the level of muskellunge reproduction a lake could support. The model developed in this study correctly classified 75% of good reproductive and 89% of poor reproductive lakes. If lake managers wish to use muskellunge stocking programs to re-establish self-sustaining populations, they should critically review each candidate lake by considering the Dombeck et al. (1986) model and the model derived in this study.


A Conceptual Model of Muskellunge Spawning Habitat in Georgian Bay, Ontario, Canada
B. Farmer, P. Chow-Fraser, and T. Seilheimer

Georgian Bay in Lake Huron, Canada, has a potential to produce a trophy-status muskellunge fishery; however, some evidence suggests that the population is in decline, especially in areas impacted by recreational development. To assist research and management, we developed a conceptual model to predict spawning habitat of muskellunge, using meta-analysis of available peer-reviewed and technical literature. The model incorporates three primary variables: water temperature (7.5-15oC), dissolved oxygen (> 5 mg/L) at the sediment-water interface, and adequate separation of individual eggs after deposition. The model also assumes that muskellunge spawning occurs in wetlands because of their known association with aquatic vegetation. Secondary variables influencing primary conditions include (1) depth, current and substrate colour (assumed to have an effect on temperature); (2) current, sediment oxygen demand, sediment compactness and plant density (assumed to have an effect on dissolved oxygen concentrations); and (3) particle size and plant density (assumed to have an effect on egg separation). Field data will be used to validate the model and to help clarify the relative importance of each variable, and thus allow for refinement of the model.


Development, Implementation, and Evaluation of an International Muskellunge Management Strategy for the Upper St. Lawrence River
John M. Farrell Rodger M. Klindt, Steven R. LaPan, Albert Schiavone and John M. Casselman

The muskellunge (Esox masquinongy) fishery in the St. Lawrence River declined significantly from historical levels and reached critically low levels during the mid 1970s through the 1980s. Over exploitation caused by liberal angling regulations, and loss and alteration of critical spawning and nursery habitat likely contributed to this decline. In 1980, a St. Lawrence River Muskellunge Management Work Group, composed of resource managers and advisors including E. J. Crossman, to whom this symposium is dedicated, was created to address research and management needs. A trophy muskellunge management strategy was implemented including more restrictive harvest regulations, public education promoting catch and release, and protection of spawning and nursery habitats. Age and growth information obtained from cleithra analysis indicated the need for increased size limits to adequately protect spawning stocks. Research efforts have developed a biological information base and monitoring tools to guide management decisions and evaluate responses to these actions. Nearly 100 spawning and nursery locations have been identified in US and Canadian waters leading to improved protection of critical habitats. An angler diary program shows a decline in the number of fish being harvested and a local muskellunge release award program has logged over 500 releases of fish at least 44 since 1987. Adult muskellunge monitoring in twelve spawning areas indicates an increase in mean total length of nearly three inches following regulation changes. Monitoring of age-0 muskellunge catch-per-effort with seining surveys (1983-84, 1987-2004) indicates improved reproductive success with several apparent strong year-classes. Progressive management actions, a united community response, and possible links with recent declines in northern pike are attributed to the improvements in the muskellunge population and fishery.


The Green Bay Great Lakes Strain Muskellunge Reintroduction Program
Kevin L. Kapuscinski

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources started a three phase program in 1989 to reintroduce Great Lakes strain muskellunge to Green Bay, Lake Michigan, and its tributaries. Phase one of the program, to locate an egg source, obtain gametes, and successfully hatch, rear, and release muskellunge, has been completed. The Indian River Spreads, Michigan, was recognized as a potential source of gametes, and eyed-eggs were imported to the Wild Rose State Fish Hatchery during 1989-1993. More than 13,000 muskellunge fingerlings and yearlings were released into the lower Fox and Menominee rivers and Green Bay during 1989-1994. Phase two of the program, to develop a captive broodstock in Wisconsin that allows continued propagation, has also been completed. A captive broodstock was established at Long Lake, Waushara county, and gametes were taken from this broodstock population during 1995-2004. More than 73,000 fingerlings and yearlings were released into Fox, Peshtigo, and Menominee rivers, Sturgeon, Little Sturgeon, and Green bays, and the Winnebago system during 1995-2003. Phase three of the program, to establish a self-sustaining population in Green Bay, is still underway. More than 50 adult muskellunge in spawning condition were netted in the Fox River during 2004, and viable gametes were collected for propagation. Congregations of mature fish with viable reproductive products during the spring suggests that hatchery-reared muskellunge are spawning in the wild. However, we have not documented successful natural reproduction. Future program directions include: obtaining gametes from additional broodstock sources, continuing to release hatchery-reared muskellunge to increase population density, evaluating release locations and selecting locations that have the greatest potential to support natural reproduction, attempting to document spawning, evaluating spawning success and attempting to document recruitment of wild-born muskellunge to the adult population, and monitoring recruitment until self-sustainable levels are achieved.


Characteristics of Ontario Muskellunge Fisheries Based on Volunteer Angler Diary Information
Steven J. Kerr

This paper consolidates and summarizes information on Ontario muskellunge sport fisheries derived from angler diary programs sponsored by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR) and Muskies Canada Inc. (MCI) over the past fifty years. Interest in muskellunge as a sport fish has increased substantially over the past 15-20 years. Muskellunge catches were found to be highly correlated with angling effort. Catch rates, expressed in terms of catch-per-unit-of-effort (CUE), have improved over the past decade to the point where, in 2003, the provincial CUE was 0.092. This improvement in angling quality is attributed to new minimum size limit regulations and increased catch-and-release angling practices. Over the period from 1979-2003, release rates by muskellunge anglers averaged 98%. Based on a sample size of 8,448 fish, the mean size of angled muskellunge over the past 25 years was 36.9 inches (93.7 cm). Numerous fish exceeding 50 inches (127 cm) are angled from Ontario waters each year. The incidence of lymphosarcoma, a highly contagious, malignant blood cancer, has averaged 2% since 1979. Based on an analysis of this information, Ontarios muskellunge fisheries appear to be stable and sustainable. Volunteer angler diary programs provide an accurate and cost-effective means to monitor the status of muskellunge fisheries in Ontario.


Spawning and Post-Spawning Movements of the St. Lawrence River
Muskellunge (Esox masquinongy)
Steven R. LaPan, Albert Schiavone, Rodger Klindt Robert G. Werner and John M. Farrell

Radiotelemetry tracking and long-term tagging studies revealed strong reproductive homing of muskellunge (Esox masquinongy) in the Thousand Islands region of the St. Lawrence River. Radiolocation also was useful in the identification of critical spawning and nursery habitats. From 1984 to 1989, 47 adult muskellunge were radio-tagged during the spawning season at 22 sites. Radio-tagged fish were located at least once daily during the spawning period. Capture sites of adult muskellunge and areas frequented by tagged muskellunge during the spawning period were subsequently seined to document the presence or absence of young-of-the-year (YOY) muskellunge. YOY muskellunge were collected at 13 of the 22 adult capture sites and also at an additional 14 sites frequented by radio-tagged adults. Post-spawning muskellunge generally migrated upstream to Lake Ontario, remained in the vicinity of their respective spawning site, or moved into deep water where they could not be located. Radio transmitters that functioned into the following spawning season revealed a high degree of reproductive homing. Strong muskellunge spawning site fidelity was also observed in tagging and recaptures during spring trapnetting surveys. Of 184 muskellunge tagged from 1990 to 2003 at twelve sites separated by over 35 km, 33/34(97%) were recaptured at the original tagging location. The one exception was a male muskellunge caught in an adjacent bay five years after the original tagging. Reproductive homing has important implications for management of muskellunge and their habitats.


Biological characteristics of record class muskellunge populations in
Georgian Bay and the North Channel, Lake Huron
A.P. Liskauskas

The nearshore waters of eastern Georgian Bay and the North Channel of Lake Huron comprise a vast area of diverse aquatic habitat supporting numerous muskellunge populations. Since 1996 muskellunge spawning surveys using live-capture trapnets have been conducted at eight locations distributed throughout the area. Captured fish were biologically sampled and tagged to assist in establishing home ranges and recapture rates in the recreational fishery. More than 500 adult muskellunge were captured during these surveys and several dozen potential spawning locations were identified. Ripe females were captured over a wide range of temperatures (8-22C) and over a prolonged time frame (4-6 weeks). The average size of muskellunge did not vary significantly between sites with females averaging 1174 mm (46.2 in) and males averaging 998 mm (39.3 in) in total length. The relative abundance of muskellunge varied across sampling sites, ranging from 0.11 to 1.53 fish per trapnet night. The recovery of tagged fish in subsequent years provided evidence for homing to specific spawning areas and of pair bonding. The results from these surveys have already proved beneficial in providing justification for the implementation of a record class designation for these waters (minimum size limit of 137 cm (54 inches)). In addition, the identification of sensitive spawning areas and acquisition of genetic material for establishment of population diversity, should contribute to the sustainable management of this important aquatic resource.


Diseases in Muskellunge
Susan Marcquenski

A review of diseases affecting muskellunge will be presented, including lymphosarcoma, piscirickettsiosis, handling trauma, and escocid herpesvirus 1 (blue spot). A CD of the presentation will be made available upon request, after the symposium.


Effects of a Single-hook Live Bait Angling Technique on Muskellunge Survival
Terry L. Margenau

Use of live bait is a popular method to fish muskellunge during fall months. However, muskellunge anglers have expressed concern that certain live bait techniques may cause muskellunge mortality to be unacceptably high. This study monitored the survival of adult muskellunge (31.5 to 42.3 in) for a period up to one year after being angled using a single-hook live bait rig where muskellunge were allowed to swallow the bait prior to hook set. Over a two-year period a total of 40 muskellunge (20 fish/year) were field transferred into a 1-acre lined hatchery pond in early September. After allowing muskellunge several weeks to acclimate to the hatchery pond, angling was initiated using live suckers (approximately 12 in) with a 10/0 single hook attached to the suckers snout and suspended from a bobber. A total of 22 muskellunge were hooked with the single-hook rig. Hooked fish were landed as quickly as possible, inspected for hooking location and injury, and released after cutting the leader. Average time from a strike until hook set averaged 17 minutes. Play-time (hook set to landing) averaged less than one minute, and handling time averaged approximately 5 minutes. Immediate mortality (first 24 h after hooking) of muskellunge was zero. Short-term delayed mortality (24 h until ice formation; approximately 45 d) was 22%. Cumulative mortality (hooking until one year) was 83%. Results from this study have several implications for management agencies and anglers. First, all fish hooked appeared healthy after being caught and released, thus leading an angler to believe that the release was successful. Second, delayed and long-term mortality appeared related to the extent of internal damage suffered from the hook. Finally, while mortality to one year is unacceptable for fisheries that rely upon successful release, not all fish perished. Those fish surviving to one year maintained good relative weight values and appeared externally healthy.


Biological Characteristics of a Riverine Muskellunge Population
Scott Morrison, Christopher O'Bara, and Joel Harrison

Abstract-- Muskellunge Esox masquinongy ohioensis examined to determine movement patterns and habitat preferences in Middle Island Creek, a stream in West Central West Virginia. Since 2002, over 120 muskellunge were collected with pDC- boatmounted electrofishing equipment. Individual fish were measured and inserted with PIT tags prior to release. Release locations were noted with GPS and later included into a GIS based system. Approximately 40 fish have been recaptured during subsequent electrofishing-based surveys and via anglers. Recaptured locations were noted with GPS, included in a GIS based system, and compared with initial capture locations. Movement distances varied both between sexed and size of fish. Growth patterns were also dependent on sex and to some degrees location and year of capture.


The use of angler diary surveys to evaluate long-term changes in muskie populations on Lake of the Woods, Ontario
Tom Mosindy and Mark Duffy

Reported improvements in the muskie angling fishery on Lake of the Woods, Ontario over the last two decades have paralleled a decline in commercial fishing activity, an increase in the practice of catch and release angling, and an increase in minimum size regulations for this species. The overall status of muskie populations in this large, complex lake has proven difficult to monitor using standard assessment methods. A muskie angler diary program, established in 1988, has provided a cost effective method of gathering a large amount of information with which to track this fishery and associated populations. Besides traditional parametres such as catch per unit effort, angler diary data have been used to calculate catch equality indices which are sensitive to changes in population abundance. Increases in the minimum length regulation during 1987 - 2001 have yet to produce more quality sized fish in angler catches, although diary survey data would indicate that recruitment has increased. Muskie angler diaries have also proven useful in identifying changes in northern pike populations which have responded to many of the same factors as muskie on Lake of the Woods.


Quantification of native muskellunge nursery habitat in the upper St. Lawrence River: influences of fish community and habitat structure on occurrence, abundance, and production
Brent A. Murry and John M. Farrell

We quantified the physical habitat and fish communities associated with muskellunge nursery habitats to determine the factors that contribute to young of the year success. Twelve historic muskellunge spawning embayments were sampled each July and August over a three year period (2002-2004) using standard seining techniques. Habitat variables including water depth and temperature, vegetation diversity, density, and structure, substrate type, and physical attributes of each bay including exposure, distance to the river channel, and percent area less than and greater than 1.5m were measured in each study site. Additionally, all fish captured in seine hauls were identified, enumerated, and a subsample of each species was measured for total length. Data from fish collections were synthesized into relative community densities in terms of species abundance and overall size structure. All habitat and fish community parameters were used in step-wise multiple regression and discriminant analysis models to determine the factors that contribute to young of the year muskellunge presence/absence, abundance, and production (P/B). During the three year study we completed over 550 seine hauls and captured 467 young of the year muskellunge. Muskellunge nursery habitat was dominated by cyprinids, yellow perch, and sunfish. Preliminary models indicate that muskellunge presence/absence is best predicted by physical attributes, such as depth and coverage of submerged macrophytes, while abundance shows stronger relationships to fish community parameters.


Considerations in muskellunge (Esox masquinongy) introductions:, A management dilemma?
John E. Nelson, Timothy D. Simonson, and Terry L. Margenau

The increasing popularity of muskellunge fishing has led to a desire by anglers and fisheries managers to expand the range of muskellunge. Often the expansions are proposed close to population centers well outside the original range of the species. Several biological and social considerations are appropriate in deciding if and where the introductions are to take place. In Wisconsin, an Environmental Assessment (EA) must be prepared for initial introductions. The EA then receives public review, with approval dependent on the results of that review. Factors considered in the review include the impact of the introduction on the existing fish community, the availability of forage, the cost of long term management (stocking), the likelihood of successful development of a fishable population of muskellunge, the social acceptance of a muskellunge fishery and the ethical consideration of range expansion. A review of the original and current range of muskellunge will be presented.


Expulsion of Miniature Radio Transmitters along with Eggs of Northern Pike and Muskellunge A New Method for Locating Critical Spawning Habitat
Rodney B. Pierce, Jerry A. Younk, and Cynthia M. Tomcko

Natural shorelines and their associated watersheds are under increasing pressure from human development that has caused degradation of fish habitat. Identification and protection of critical spawning habitat for northern pike Esox lucius and muskellunge Esox masquinongy is important for conserving the reproductive potential of both species. In this study, we implanted miniature radio transmitters through the oviduct into the egg masses of female northern pike and muskellunge just prior to spawning. This non-surgical procedure is a novel approach for identifying spawning sites if transmitters are expelled with the eggs during egg deposition. Spawning sites can then be located by finding the shed transmitters.

Preliminary studies in three lakes showed that northern pike and muskellunge deposited transmitters in likely spawning habitat. A relatively high proportion (70%) of large northern pike expelled transmitters in a previously known spawning area in Willow Lake, Minnesota. Shoreline in that area consists primarily of sedges, and water off that shoreline is shallow with substrate consisting of large mats of water bulrush. A lower proportion (50%) of muskellunge expelled transmitters in Elk Lake, Minnesota. The 15-25 day period between implanting and transmitter deposition in Elk Lake may be due to prolonged fractional spawning by muskellunge. In Moose Lake, Minnesota, 90% of northern pike and 60% of muskellunge expelled transmitters. Both species deposited transmitters on deep-water bars in addition to near-shore habitat, and Chara beds were an important substrate where transmitters were expelled in Moose Lake. Size of the transmitters in relation to fish size was an important factor influencing expulsion of transmitters.


Factors Affecting Historical Year-Class Strengths of Trophy Muskellunge (Esox masquinongy) Populations
Chris J. Robinson and John M. Casselman

The longevity, relative rarity, and consequent perceived value of muskellunge (Esox masquinongy) have made the assessment of population characteristics through traditional fisheries methods difficult for this species. Using a subset of 1351 angler-contributed samples (mean age 10.6 years) collected by the Cleithrum Project since 1978, we are now able to quantitatively examine historical year-class strengths for 15 muskellunge populations, with emphasis on four populations in Ontario. Cleithra were interpreted for age, and proportional year-class strengths calculated for each population to account for multiple, sporadic, years of capture. Temperature, water level, size-limit changes, and the presence of northern pike were examined for correlations with year-class strength. Year-class strength histories had varying correlations with summer (Lake St. Clair: p=0.009, r2=0.36; all Ontario populations: p=0.044, r2=0.13) or spring (Kawartha lakes populations: p=0.044, r2=0.15) temperatures in the first year of life, but no significant relationships were observed with the other factors. In one instance, populations from water bodies of similar characteristics had strongly similar year-class histories (Eagle Lake and Lake of the Woods, Ontario; p=0.0016, r2=0.546). The 11 Wisconsin muskellunge populations, which only had summer air temperature examined, had p-values ranging from 0.014 (Buckatabon Lake) to 0.814 (Lac Vieux Desert). We discuss the implications of these results for future muskellunge management.


Historical Trends in Body Growth of Five Ontario Muskellunge (Esox masquinongy) Populations
Chris J. Robinson and John M. Casselman

Muskellunge (Esox masquinongy) management in Ontario has primarily focused on harvest control through minimum size limits, requiring information on the growth potential, responses, and variability of populations. We examined historical muskellunge body growth trends, as recorded in the cleithrum bone, from five muskellunge populations, including two populations with extended data sets (overall n=456). Two measures were digitally collected - an index of annual growth and cleithrum size at age eight - and linearly regressed against log-transformed mean daily summer temperatures. There were no significant correlations between temperature and annual growth (p=0.120 to 0.762). However, cleithrum size at age eight increased significantly over time (Lake St. Clair p=0.026; St. Lawrence River p<0.0001); mean temperature and growth over eight-year periods had a significant but weak relationship in the St. Lawrence River population (p=0.020; r2=0.055). Analysis of a significant difference (p=0.004) in growth amongst five-year year-class groupings of the St. Lawrence River population showed muskellunge produced from 1975 to 1989 were 9.3% larger than those produced from 1940 to 1959. Temperature has had a significant but relatively minor direct effect on growth of muskellunge, and factors such as prey composition, behavioral thermoregulation, and handling may have overridden or compensated for temperature effects.


Development of Muskellunge Fisheries in Lakes Monona and Wingra, Wisconsin.
R. Scot Stewart, Kurt Welke, and Mike Vogelsang

When dreaming of muskellunge and the lakes they inhabit, most anglers do not picture urban settings. However, in densely populated Madison, WI, Lakes Monona and Wingra have progressed to regionally renowned fisheries characterized by excellent densities of robust fish. These populations developed due to a unique combination of aggressive stocking involving the state and the public, restrictive size limits, and a rotation of sampling to periodically quantify the populations. Annual stocking of both hybrid and true muskellunge began as early as the mid-70s, with a shift to predominantly true muskie in the early 90s. A stocking rate of 2 fish per acre annually led to a population of approximately 4 fish per acre by 1997, in Lake Wingra. The stocking rate was reduced in subsequent years and an updated population estimate for muskie in the lake will be complete in the spring of 2005. In Lake Monona, an average stocking rate of 0.6 fish per acre annually resulted in a population of 0.49 fish per acre. The Capital City Chapter of Muskie Inc. and the Oregon Muskie Busters have made substantial financial contributions to supplement state stocking. In 2004, the minimum size limit on both lakes was raised from the statewide 34 limit to a 45 limit. We plan to use our future sampling rotation to evaluate not only muskie density and size structure, but also to continue to fine tune stocking rates and watch for possible impacts on other fish populations.


Analysis of 40 Years of Lake St. Clair Muskie Fishing Records
Michael V. Thomas and Robert Haas

The Michigan-Ontario Muskie Club (MOMC) has been the major organization representing muskie anglers in the Lake St. Clair area since the 1950s. Among other activities, the club sponsored derbies or tournaments each year. Through the years, catch records were diligently maintained by club officers. These records present a historical documentation of trends in the muskie population and muskie fishery of Lake St. Clair over more than 4 decades. In this paper, we analyze MOMC catch records for trends in the context of changes in the ecology of the lake and fishing regulations. With permission from the club, we conducted a time series analysis of: 1. the single heaviest fish entered in all club events within each year 2. the ten heaviest fish entered in all club events within each year and 3. the top 250 heaviest fish entered in all club events across the time series. Our analysis revealed a consistent pattern of heavier fish in the catch since 1990. This coincides with significant ecological and regulatory changes during the 1980s. Additionally, voluntary catch and release of muskie became widely practiced by Lake St. Clair muskie anglers during the 1980s. We submit that the MOMC catch records provide valuable insight into the response of the Lake St. Clair muskie population to ecological and regulatory changes. We encourage other fishing clubs and organizations to carefully record their catches. Similarly, we suggest that resource management agencies can glean useful data from well-maintained catch records of fishing groups when they are available.


Evaluation of Differences in Growth, Survival, and Thermal Selection among Genetic Stocks of Muskellunge
Curtis P. Wagner and David H. Wahl

Genetic differences among muskellunge Esox masquinongy populations are related to major river drainage origins, suggesting the existence of divergent stocks. Previous research has compared the bioenergetics of young-of-year (YOY) muskellunge among populations and stocks in the laboratory. We examined differences in growth, survival, and thermal selection among populations and stocks of muskellunge in reservoir and pond experiments spanning a latitudinal gradient representing the variation in thermal regimes found throughout Illinois. Muskellunge from the Ohio River drainage stock (New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Kentucky populations) and Upper Mississippi River drainage stock (Minnesota and Wisconsin populations), in addition to the current Illinois broodstock population, were used for comparisons. Growth of YOY and juvenile muskellunge in three Illinois reservoirs were similar among stocks, with muskellunge from the Ohio River drainage stock having slightly higher survival rates. Experiments in ponds found that muskellunge from the Ohio River drainage exhibited faster growth rates than muskellunge from the Upper Mississippi River drainage. Radio telemetry conducted in a southern Illinois reservoir revealed that age-2 muskellunge from the Upper Mississippi River drainage stock consistently choose cooler water temperatures than fish from the Ohio River drainage stock. Our experiments support the hypothesis that physiological differences exist among populations and stocks of muskellunge and these differences have management implications for introductions of muskellunge into lower Midwestern reservoirs.


Muskellunge movement in the Manitowish Chain, Vilas County, Wisconsin
Jordan G. Weeks, Michael J. Hansen and Patrick J. Schmalz

We quantified movement and spawning site fidelity of muskellunge in the Manitowish Chain of 10 interconnected lakes in Vilas County Wisconsin. We marked 314 muskellunge (16-60 fish per lake) with T-bar anchor tags and tabulated tag returns from catches in electrofishing, trap-netting, angler returns and creel surveys. During the first summer after spawning in spring 2004, 3.47% of tagged muskellunge were recovered (0.0-10.5% per lake). Over all lakes, 51.7% of muskellunge (0.0-1.0% per lake) were recovered in the same lake in which they were tagged. We will quantify spawning site fidelity through spring of 2005 and seasonal movement and home range through summer of 2005. Our findings will be used to determine if spearing and angling fisheries should be managed for individual lakes or for the entire set of interconnected lakes within the chain.


An Examination of Minnesotas Muskellunge Waters
Jerry A. Younk and Donald L. Pereira

We examined Minnesotas muskellunge Esox masquinongy waters using various data sets including spring trap net assessments, angler diary surveys, and stocking records. We confronted a potentially problematic data set that had a large number of zero catches by applying the delta distribution, and fitted logistic models to the presence/absence data set and gaussian linear models to the subset of the data that included catches with one fish or more. Currently, 107 lakes have been identified as muskellunge waters, of which 63 lakes have been created and maintained by stocking. Anglers averaged more muskellunge specific angling trips in 1996-98 than in 1986-89. Minimum size regulations have progressively increased over the past 10 years, while stocking numbers have been decreasing. It appears from trap net analysis that the abundance of 40 inch and larger muskellunge has been increasing over time. The proportion of successful anglers has increased over time, but catch rates remained the same. Both trap net and angler data provide some indications that size of muskellunge caught has also increased over time. Angler-caught muskellunge averaged 11 years of age and 45.1 inches total length. All evidence, although limited by inconsistent data sampling sets, appears to indicate a successful management program.

Lake of the Woods Muskies

Lake of the Woods is by far the top muskie lake in North America. There are more 50-inch plus muskies taken and the reason for this are obvious. First of all, big water means big fish. There should be plenty of deep water and plenty of habitat for muskies. Secondly, there should be a large forage base. Anybody who has run a graph or depthfinder across any portion of Lake of Woods knows that the baitfish will stagger the imagination. The third and probably the most important for me is that the lake receives limited fishing pressure. Oh sure, Lake of the Woods has walleye fisherman, and bass fisherman, and occasionally one will be caught by these anglers. But the vastness of the lake and the shallow humps with saddles next to deep water and weed cover makes some muskies grow old without ever seeing a lure. The last reason is why I come to Lake of the Woods each year and stay at Witch Bay Camp. It is secluded, quiet, and not many people are on vacation in the month of September.

The key to finding big, trophy muskies on the large, deep, clear lake is locating the big suspended schools of baitfish, especially cisco. The muskies won't be far away! Watch your graph carefully. Working the area between two schools of baitfish is super!

Cisco will move in to spawn on gravel and rock shorelines around the full moon in September or the full moon in October. The water temperature will be around 42 degrees. Lake trout also move in and spawn in the fall. Watch the moon, watch the graph, and watch the water temperature. This is big fish time!

In Canadian waters, there are many presentations that muskie have not seen. Like all waters, even the most well know Canadian waters have a few techniques that many anglers are using and they always produce. Likewise there are probably many more techniques equally effective that have not been tried.

Different conditions will dictate what they can use and how they use it. Everyone has a go to bait because they catch fish with it and it's also a confidence thing. Color and size or shape will vary according to water clarity and forage. My success over the years has been on tandem spinnerbaits. I can fish the heavy weed cover where most people can't because the single hooks point up and ride over the weeds where a treble hook will foul with weeds. It's a matter of keeping an open mind while faced with different conditions. That’s why I carry 10 rods and 300 baits with me when I go fishing.

Technique comes from knowledge and time on the water, it's as simple as that. Two different techniques I use with a tandem spinnerbait that have been highly successful; (1) bounce a spinnerbait down a point and when it's directly under the boat rip it off the bottom and crank it up. It's a heart attack waiting to happen. That sudden change of direction will trigger a following fish to eat but you better be ready because when it happens she will come flying out of the water. I have heard of rods being lost because they didn't expect it. (2) Instead of retrieving over the weed bed like everyone else try dropping your rod tip under water and bringing the spinnerbait out down low. If a fish is lying on the outside edge waiting for an easy meal and something comes out it's a natural reaction for her to strike.

A muskie that’s in a positive mood often hits away from the boat, but those that follow show aggression by nipping at the lure or periodically rushing the lure with gills flaring. If you spot this type of follow before your lure reaches boatside, increase your retrieve speed slightly and that alone will often trigger a strike.

A muskie that follows a lure usually seems to be in a trance. Its eyes are fixed on the moving lure as it swims behind it at about the same speed as the lure.

As soon as you spot a follow, lower your rod tip to the surface of the water. Maintain a smooth and steady retrieve speed as you reel the lure to within a foot of the rod tip. Now make a right angle directional change right or left as you smoothly push the rod tip down into the water and begin a figure eight.

If I am fishing in the fall, I like the big baits. These baits, because of their size, usually run deeper, but that is fine. The cabbage weeds will die off more quickly in the fall on the dark water lakes. This will either move the muskies to deeper water or to structure such as logs, brush, rocks or piers and boathouses.

Time of day can also play a role. If you are not having action early in the day, stick with it, because they might become active in the afternoon or evening. I usually fish from around 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the late fall. If it's very cold, I may shorten the day from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. This is the most productive time period at this of the year. Also a change in the weather can turn the muskies on. There are many baits and techniques and success comes with hard work. Some days we are humble but there will come a time when you will shake with a feeling that you cannot describe and stories will be told. That will be one technique you will not forget.

For more information on Witch Bay Camp, call Gail at (807) 468-5262 winter (807) 543-4024 summer, or visit the web sit at http://witchbay.com

Jigging for Late Season Lunge

JIGGING FOR LATE SEASON LUNGEBy Loren Waalkens

If watching a bobber the size of a baseball bob around from the weight of a large sucker minnow is not your way of ending the musky season, than jigging rubber may be for you. Believe me, jigging is an extremely effective alternative to bait fishing. Before I get into the how to of jigging, let me tell you a story that happened to me and a friend of mine several years ago. We had been fishing one of our favorite musky waters every week from early to late fall, and had been having success on normal jerkbait presentations. About two weeks before the water got hard the fishing got harder. We spent the better part of two days pounding the daylights out of water that previous weeks held many fish. I fished weighted Suicks, Reef Hogs, Wades Wobblers, and every other jerkbait under the sun, and not even a follow to show for our efforts. By the second afternoon we both agreed it must be sucker time. WRONG!

In my musky box I had thrown a couple 3/8 ounce bass jigs and an assortment of rubber (lizards, reapers, shad, etc...) and out of frustration I thought that I would give one of them a try. I rigged up a reaper on a jig and gave it a toss. On my first cast I was rewarded with a nice fat 42-incher. Immediately my partner George rigged a similar set up and on his second cast he caught a 40-inch plus fish, thus removing all doubt that my first fish may have been a fluke. In the next 2 ½ hours we boated 7 muskies, 5 of which were over 40 inches, with the largest being a heavy 45 inch fish. We basically fished the same water that we had pounded the previous two days. We spent the next few years refining our equipment and methods and we discovered many things.

I will begin with equipment. Any quality baitcasting reel that works for bass will be suitable for jigging musky, with the new super lines that are on the market now, line capacity is no longer a concern. For me the ideal jigging reel is an abu Garcia 5500c with the 6500 working equally as well.

As far as line goes it is hard to beat many of the new super lines in the 20 to 30 lb range. The smaller diameter lets your jig sink faster and it also cuts thru weeds better, they can make a musky rod seem as sensitive as your best walleye rod. It will enable you to detect the slightest bit of weeds on your line or jig, and with a good sharp snap of your rod tip you can usually pull away clean. It also allows for bone jarring hook sets. On the end of my line I attach an 8 inch stranded leader that is twisted not crimped.

For rods I prefer a 7 ft or 7 ft 6 in medium heavy bucktail rod, if you go with a lighter bass rod you will have a tough time getting good hook sets, even with super lines. Hook sets are more important than castability.

Now comes the important part - tackle. I have tried just about everything rubber that there is and I always come back to a 6 inch black lizard on a 3/8 ounce bullet head bass jig. I have tried the bigger 9-inch lizards but it seems like I miss a lot more fish with them. The jigs I use have a bristle weed guard and I will remove about 70 % of the bristles. I think that it ups my odds of good hookups.

To fish this combination I simply cast it out, let it sink to the bottom, then I will give it 3 or 4 pumps back towards the boat and then let it sink to the bottom again. There will be no doubt in your mind when a fish hits. It will be a walleye hit times ten. Unlike other musky baits the fish will be in no hurry to spit this out, allowing you time to reel up any slack line, and then set the hook as hard as you can. Hang on tight when you set the hook as I have had clients drop the rod in the water on the hook set. This set up from jig to reel has very little give.

As any real estate agent will tell you the three most important things are location, location, location, this is just as important when jigging for musky, thank heavens its easy to figure out. Once the weeds begin to die off the fish will relate to the nearest vertical structure. So concentrate your efforts on the sharp drops closest to the areas that you found fish on the previous weeks. If you locate any standing green vegetation close to these drops you have found a potential hot spot. You can have a lot of fish in a relatively small area this time of year, so if you locate a fish feel confident that there are several more in the immediate area. Once you have located several of these areas just keep hitting them throughout the day and eventually good things will happen.

Remember that everything stated here is tried and true for me. That is not to say that different combinations of rubber, jigs or equipment may work better for you. Half the fun of fishing is refining methods and equipment to fit your abilities and the water that you fish. So the next time that you are out after late season lunge, give jigging rubber a try, you will be pleasantly surprised. Just remember to let em go to let em grow.

Loren's Guide Service

The Figure Eight

The Finer Points of the Figure Eightby Jason Smith

The defining moment as far as musky fishing comes is when the mighty muskie comes following your bucktail, the same bucktail you have been pitching endlessly all day. You seem to be in somewhat of a hypnotic trance, then your heart jumps out of your chest and you yell "there’s a fish" and the muskie that you have worked so hard for slowly says good bye. We as musky anglers have all been in this same situation, yet the question is do we continue to let it happen or do we work hard to prevent this hypnotic failure. I’ve put this article together to give a real insight to how the figure eight should be done correctly to increase your catch ratio better than fifty percent in your boat.

Lets start with the muskie I was talking about in the beginning. The first thing I always do to start is expect to have a follow on every cast, so if I expected this follow and was looking behind and not at my bucktail I would not be surprised to see what I expected to be there. Say this muskie was now in hot pursuit of my bucktail with his eyes focused and gills flared. Then without a sound I lower my rod and drive the bucktail deeper as the leader comes within six inches of the rod tip. I would also go into free spool with my thumb on the spool of the reel for the drag. The muskie will follow the bucktail down along the side of the boat and into the first turn. I use long 7’6" Lamiglas rods in order to get as long a sweep as I can. The length of the first sweep is more important than the depth of the rod in the water, because you want to make the muskie pick up speed. When the first sweep is nearing the end and into the first turn, you lift your rod up and into a figure eight, so you make your bucktail go from four feet down to only six inches down in the first corner. I’ll catch ninety percent of my boatside muskies on this first corner because they almost always kick in their tail and eat the bucktail that they think is getting away. But if this first corner is too sharp they will fly right past it, like a Cadillac going ninety on a fifteen mile an hour corner. So this means you have to keep it wide, five-foot is a good golden rule unless the fish is better than four foot, then you’ll have to make adjusts to that rule. If the muskie makes it around the first corner then you can take him down the "straight away", the length of the slowly descending rod down to the second corner of the figure eight. When a racecar goes around the track they go fast the straight away and somewhat slower but higher in the turns. The figure eight is a lot like driving a race car you need to get everything out of your bucktail yet still keeping the muskie on the road. The straightaway is done a lot faster then the first sweep; again we are trying to make the muskie speed up thus making him more likely to eat the bait. On the second corner with the muskie going mach III the muskie opens his mouth and eats the bucktail as the bucktail is bought up high into the second corner. The number one mistake I see is to set straight up, most anglers seem to do this and I still don’t know why. They work so hard to get the muskie to hit, only to drive the hooks in to the hard roof of their mouth and have the muskie spit it out. You already have the muskie going around the second corner mach III, the rod in you hand is at right angle to the muskies head. So with the muskies speed and your angle, you simply pull the rod handle back up under your armpit. It's a simple concept that causes the bucktail to be placed in the corner of the mouth. If you had placed your reel in free spool with your thumb on the line before the first turn, then you are also ready to fight the muskie you have been waiting all day for.

Some people say bucktails are easy to figure eight, but a topwater bait is another story. A figure eight with a topwater is very similar to a bucktail but with a unique twist. I never let the bait go sub surface and instead I make the bait move faster along the side of the boat. I believe muskies stay more tuned into a topwater bait if the bait makes very few turns. My Tuffy Esox Magnum has a deck all the way around the boat so I can walk the musky around the bow and down the other side of the boat. If you don't keep your boat clean and you can't continue to move your topwater bait down the side of your boat make your turn extremely wide. I have caught muskies on my third trip around my boat, you just have to keep them focused and make them chase the bait until they have to eat it.

Crankbaits again are very similar to bucktail figure eights but with a different twist. The Depth Raider on the retrieve is say ten feet down, in order to get the bait to come up and work into a figure eight without coming from under the boat you have to "stair step" your crankbait. The golden rule for this is to point your rod at the bait as you retrieve it and when the angle of the line is the same as the rod, without the stoppage of your reel, you lift your rod, causing the bait to still be retrieved by the reel but to be stair stepped up from ten feet to two feet by your rod. When this major move is then committed then and only then should your start your figure eight.
One thing I should mention more is using the free spool. Placing your thumb hard on the wet spool with the reel in free spool will give you more control on that crazy muskie after you just put a Depth Raider into the corner of its mouth, then a drag ever will. This should be something of a force of habit on every cast to put your thumb on a free spool. One more thing my clients often ask me is how much line should I have between my rod and bait. I recommend using a nine inch leader and stopping the line six inches from the leader, this will give you more control in the corners, if you don't believe me try doing a figure eight with five feet of line compared to six inches of line. Making the transition with the rod from hand to hand and putting the reel in free spool should be done without causing the bait to stop, drop or quit working all together. If you have to restart you bucktail because your blade stopped, you might have lost most of the interest that muskie was ever going to give you.

Catching muskies on the figure eight is only as hard as you make it. If you stay focused and believe that every cast is going to have a follow and when there is one not to get excited and yell "there’s a fish," wait tell after you buried the iron into the corner of that forty five incher's mouth that is now tail walking in front of your partner before you yell "THERE’S A FISH!!!". .

Trophy Muskies - Do not cut Corners!

Never Cut Corners for Trophy Muskies
by Tom Dietz

Joe Bucher once told me "You learn the hardest lessons from the biggest muskies". That is exactly the truth! This article will help you avoid utter disappointment when a monster strikes by paying attention to detail.

It was my second season chasing muskies, and I was up near Eagle River, WI on a lake known to have nice fish present. I remember the day vividly. It was late June, and a severe cold front had blown in the night before, and it was really windy with a slight overcast. The north wind made it feel like late September instead of summer. Well, based on what I had read and heard, I figured I was in for a tough day. My partner and I headed to the west end of the lake where I knew fish were present along a deep weed edge. I tied on a custom Buchertail 700 with a 800 Series blade that was nickel with a red/white tail. I made about 10 casts when I felt a strike. It was not a jolting strike by any means, and at first I thought I hooked an undersized musky or a decent pike. I did not even call for the net as the fish was charging the boat fast.

The upper forty inch fish suddenly appeared at boatside, and it was not real pleased to be hooked. I could also see she was hooked very well in the corner of her jaw. The big girl started rolling furiously, and I hollered for the net! My partner had just grabbed the Frabill, when suddenly the line went slack, and she was gone. I was shocked, and at first I didn't realize what had happened. Upon further inspection, I noticed my 30 lb. test mono had parted. Why? Because it was only 30 pound test and worse yet, it was at least a year old. My laziness cost me a real nice musky.

I learned an important lesson on this fish, and I have never repeated that mistake to this day. I always use fresh line each year. I sometimes will change my lines during the year, especially if I am fishing areas with rocks or other abrasive cover. The other lesson was learned again from Joe Bucher. When I told him what happened, he asked me why I was using only 30 lb. test. I told him I thought that was plenty strong for muskies. He told me that in his 24 years of full time guiding, he had witnessed incidents like mine fairly often with clients using their own rods and lighter line, such as 20 to 30 pound test. I took his advice and have not had line problems since going with 50 pound test or more. Why should one take chances with a real big fish with light line? After all, with all of the hours we put in for a fish of a lifetime we should prepare ourselves properly for that moment of truth.These lessons and a few others have made me a better musky angler over the past twelve years.

I want to give you some tips to help you win your battle with a monster musky. I have discussed line above, and I use 50 pound Stren Magna-Thin or 50 or 80 pound Cortland Spectron on all of my rods. I have the utmost in confidence in these lines, and use them with either a palomar or power knot for added security. Check your line often for nicks or abrasions and retie as needed. I use this line with quality rods (St.Croix) and reels (Mitchell SCP-900's). The added investment made on good rods and reels will also usually prevent equipment failure. Joe Bucher also taught me to use heavy duty split rings instead of snaps. He lost his biggest fish ever when a snap opened up in the musky's mouth. I use a straight wire leader and run a Super Split Ring through the loop. This is another safeguard that gives you the extra edge.It seems there are a number of anglers who believe that hooks are plenty sharp out of the package. Not true!! This is a major reason many muskies are lost each year. Purchase a quality flat sided file and learn the proper sharpening techniques. Sharpen all of your hooks and touch them up after every fish, snag, or sign of rust build-up. Figure-8's are another important piece of the puzzle. Do them after every cast, until it becomes routine. Reel your lure close to the boat, hit free spool and place your thumb on the spool for control. Then make a figure-8 shape or large oval, and if a fish strikes, hammer the hooks home and let the fish swim away from the boat, all the while keeping tension on the spool. You never know when a thirty pounder will gulp down your lure at boatside! This simple, yet effective manuever will put more fish in your boat every year.Do your homework and find a couple of lakes known for harboring big muskies. Fish these lakes hard and develop a milk run of spots. Your dedication to continually fishing big fish water will pay off big time. There is nothing wrong with fishing "numbers" lakes occasionally.

If you are in pursuit of a true trophy, I recommend that you limit your outings on these lakes and concentrate on the big fish lakes. Be sure to hit your milk run of spots at prime times, such as a major weather change, sunset or sunrise, or moon rise or set. While never a guarantee, these lunar or weather factors will put the odds in your favor time and time again. You will especially notice this if you keep a detailed log of your fish catches. I strongly recommend keeping detailed records of your outings and catches. You will notice trends that will enable you to make quick decisions under various conditions. Learn as much as you can from experienced anglers. Attend seminars, read magazine articles and as many musky books you can find. Watch educational videos. The quest for more knowledge never ends. Pay attention to detail and you will be rewarded. Learn from your mistakes and ask yourself why they happened. Pick several lakes and learn them inside and out. Spend time on the water whenever possible. If you start out practicing the tips mentioned above, your odds of losing that fish of a lifetime will drop dramatically!

Tom Dietz - Conover,WI.General ManagerJoe Bucher Tackle Co.PO Box 1105Eagle River, WI 54521tomdietz@newnorth.net 715-479-8797

The Magic Lure?by John Nesse

Every Angler looks for that special lure that will increase their odds of catching fish. Something different. A magic lure!

There is a magic lure for the king of freshwater, but it isn't something new, different or hard to find. In fact, you probably have several, if not dozens of these baits in your possession. What is this bait? Well, it might surprise you, but I talking about the bucktail.

More muskies are caught each year on bucktails than any other bait. It is true that the catch is proportional to use, numbers don't lie. The bucktail is an extremely effective muskie lure! Unfortunately, the bucktail is often looked at as the bait to use when fish are in shallow weeds, and not much else. Most anglers, including many of the best, simply cast out a bucktail and reel them back in without giving much thought as to where the bucktail is running, their rate of retrieve or the subtleties of the bait. How boring!

Today there are bucktails available for a wide range of fishing scenarios. Each 'tail has a specific niche in which it will outperform all others. The secret to making a bucktail work its magic is finding that niche. Finding that niche is what this article is all about.

Blades
Blade size and shape is the deciding factor in where the bucktail will run in the water column. Most bucktails run shallow, within 4 feet of the surface. There are a few bucktails, however, designed specifically to run at different depths, many of which can be much more effective than a standard bait in certain situations. If fish are feeding aggressively on a deep cabbage edge, will a simply slowing a normal bucktail down get you down to the fish, or more importantly, get them to bite? It can depend on more than speed and depth. The blade is the heart of the bucktail.

Bucktail blades come in many shapes and even more sizes. Each is designed to perform a different duty. Smaller blades run deeper than larger ones, and heavy blades (.040" thickness) run much deeper and spin slower than their thin counterparts. In fact, my experience has shown that a heavy blade will run more than fifty percent deeper than a standard blade at the same rate of retrieve. A heavy blade may also imitate a larger prey, as it gives off lower vibrations than do standard blades. Different blades have different applications. I often use several bucktails in the course of a day, choosing each bucktail carefully to perform in the area I am fishing.

There are five main types of bucktail blades: willow, french, indiana, colorado and in-line. Each blade runs at a different depth and gives off different vibrations in the water. We will consider the features of each separately.

Willow blades, for example, are generally thought to imitate a baitfish (long, slender shape) and run deeper than any other blade. They also tend to spin quite close to the shaft. Willow blades run deep because the blade, which is long and narrow, creates little water resistance. Low water resistance decreases the lift of the lure in the water column.

A french blade also spins close to the shaft, making for a deep running bucktail. French blades have little water resistance but give off a rounder flash than the willow blades. The low water resistance and round shape of a small french blade makes them popular for "burning", that is, cranking it as fast as possible.

Indiana blades run shallower than french blades and also give off a large, round flash. The fluted indiana blade, in particular, seems to be the most popular blade choice. This probably has a lot to do with the fact that it runs well over shallow weed flats and spins very easily. One of my favorite bucktails is made with the .040" thick indiana blade. It is probably the most versatile bucktail blade as it can be retrieved fast or slow and still spin at a proper rate. On a well balanced bucktail, this blade can be fished anywhere from four feet on a fast retrieve, to nearly fifteen feet deep on a crawling retrieve.

Colorado blades provide the most water resistance and are generally the shallowest running blades. Colorado bladed bucktails are usually designed for fishing over shallow weeds very high in the water column (2 feet or less). They are a good choice for covering a lot of water in a hurry as they perform well on a fast retrieve, though they can wear a fisherman out in a hurry. Magnum colorado blades, which are almost a hybrid of indiana and colorado blades, run even shallower than a standard colorado, and will do so on a much slower retrieve. A .040" thick colorado blade, like its indiana counterpart, is very versitile. It is my favorite blade for fishing after dark as it normally runs shallow, but can be slowed down to fish the weed edge. This blade also seems to send out tremendous vibrations, which is a distinct advantage at night.
In-line blades, those that attach directly to the shaft of the bucktail with no clevis, are very popular with trout fishermen, but haven't made much of an impact in the muskie world. This is probably because of their relative small size, though larger models are becoming more available. In-line blades give off a stronger vibration than other blades, but can be difficult to start spinning on the retrieve. I personally only own three bucktails equipped with in-line blades, and I'll admit that they rarely make it out of my tackle box. I am starting to use them more for night fishing, however, as I believe that like the .040" thick standard blades, their strong vibration can be helpful for fish attempting to locate a midnight snack.

Hair
When buying a bucktail, everyone looks at color. Color can be important, but the type of hair is equally important. All true "bucktails" are made with the hair from a deer's tail, for which they are named. There are other varieties of dressings, such as skunk hair, feathers, plastic, and fox or coyote hair, and each has distinct qualities.

Deer hair is hollow and will float. A lot of hair will make a bucktail run slightly shallower, where as a bucktail with sparse hair will run deeper. It's simple, right? Not so fast. Let's talk a little about the different kinds of deer hair. I'm betting that many people think it is all the same, which is far from the truth.

Pick up a few of your favorite bucktails and take a good look at the hair. All deer hair is hollow, but not all deer hair is the same. Thin, soft hair is dense, and is not very buoyant. On the contrary, some hair is very stiff and thick. Stiff, thick hair is not dense and is extremely buoyant. On bucktails you'd like to run deep, the hair should be thin and sparse, while the opposite holds true for shallow running bucktails.

If you'd like to make a bucktail run deeper, trim the hair. This will also allow you to retrieve the bucktail somewhat faster due to the reduced water resistance. Some people prefer thinly tied bucktails for the majority of their applications simply because they are easier to retrieve.
I always use a thinly tied bucktail when I'm "burning" the surface with bucktails or trying to get down as deep as possible. In fact, if you have a bucktail you seldom use, burn it! Ok, so I don't mean that in a literal sense. What you can do is see how the bucktail performs on a very quick retrieve. If it tends to come out of the water, start by trimming the hair. Once you have adequately thinned it out, add some weight. Clip-on bell sinkers work well for this. Add between 1/4 and 3/4 oz. of weight and try it again. You might just end up with a new favorite.
I do believe there are times and places for a thickly tied bucktail. If you don't like catching pike, use a larger bucktail. If you are headed to Canada, by all means get out a big, slow moving 'tail. I usually use a bucktail with two tails when I head North of the border and even much of the time I spend on stateside waters in August and September. I'll use a thickly tied tail when I'm trying to keep the lure above the weeds or using a slow retrieve.

There has recently been a tremendous interest in different types of hair. Skunk hair is an especially interesting example. This hair is much longer and softer than deer hair. I am personally a big fan of skunk hair bucktails. They really breathe in the water and the fact that they are most often tied thinly makes them easy to fish with all day. The color pattern, white into black, is also a bit unusual. I'm still not sure if the scent of the hair has much to do with the attraction. Some of my old roadside finds have a tremendous odor, even when they are dry. Yet the tails I now purchase for tying have no dry odor, and a moderate odor when wet. So far they have produced similar results, but I've only been fishing with them for one season.

Weight and Depth

A first thought might tell you that a heavily weighted bucktail would run deeper than a lighter bucktail, which is often true. However, bucktails must be balanced in order to run properly at different depths. In most cases, added weight won't just make a bucktail run deeper; it will also increase the speed with which you must retrieve the bait. Most blades seem to have a maximum depth at which they will spin and all the weight in the world won't make them work at greater depths.

Modifying a bucktail designed to run three feet below the surface with an extra half-ounce of weight in the tail it will obviously make it sink much faster. It will also increase the rate of retrieve needed to make the blade spin. The faster retrieve will simply pull the bucktail up, close to its original depth. The point is that simply adding weight to bucktails will seldom make them run significantly deeper. Bucktails must have a certain balance between blade and weight to run properly at different depths.

Putting It All Together
And there you have it: the three components that determine the where's and how's of a bucktail. The pieces that make a bucktail really aren't magic at all, but the results of knowing how to make the most of them can be. Next time you hit your favorite lake, think carefully about exactly where the fish are and what kind of mood they are in. Are aggressive fish holding tight to a deep weed edge? Grab a deep running willow blade bucktail and put it in their face. If the fish are sluggish and shallow put a slow moving magnum blade bucktail right on top of them. You're sure to find fish that wouldn't have budged for the traditional approach of throw and crank.
Who knows how many fish simply ignore the boring bucktail cranked over the weeds? There's no doubt in my mind that those same fish would respond to a different presentation. Arm yourself with information and consider different options to increase your success.
That is the result of putting this information together. Next time you visit your favorite muskie haunt you'll think harder about which bucktail you're using. You'll be able to make a better choice of lure and presentation. You'll probably see and even catch more fish. And if that isn't magic, I don't know what is!

John is the President of Blackburn Tackle, LLC. Visit his website at http://www.blackburntackle.com/

Big Muskies, Big Lakes?

Big Muskies, Big Lakes?by Steve Huber

When you think of big muskies, one of the first things that come to mind is huge, windswept waters. Big water, big boats, big fish....the three go hand in hand....right? NOT necessarily so Bubba. I routinely fish small waters and it pays off in BIG dividends.What do I mean by small lakes? By small, I'm talking less than 500 acres. There are sooo many small lakes in the upper Midwest that have good populations of muskies that it's unbelievable. I have a tattered, dog eared copy of a book published by the Wisconsin DNR titled "WISCONSIN LAKES" (PUBL-FM-800) and it lists 14,974 lakes in the state. Each county is listed, along with the lakes in each county, the size in surface acres, maximum depth, average depth, whether public access is available, if a lake map is available and the species of fish present in each lake. Man, you wouldn't believe how many lakes have muskies in them.I look for lakes that have muskies present, with public access and if I haven't heard about the lake I get really excited! This means that if I haven't heard of it, not too many others have either.

Sometimes, if I have the time, I'll go to the local DNR office and talk to some of the fisheries people. They often have stocking records, growth records, lake fertility studies, net surveys and all kinds of really neat, scientific stuff. I mean, you can really get a ton of info from these guys if you take the time to talk to them. Based on this information, you can make some fairly educated guesses as to the potential of the water. This is a great wintertime pastime and it sure beats sitting in the Lazy-Boy, eyes glazed over, mindlessly cranking a reel and watching bass fishing shows on TV.Then, the fun begins....I go check them out. I'll slowly run the lake with my locator going, map in hand (if available) keeping an eye out for weed-beds, downed timber, rock bars, etc.. If I can spot forage fish, that's even better, it gives me an idea of what type lure to use.

Luckily, in the Rhinelander area, just about anything bigger than the puddle in my driveway has perch in it. This makes lure selection somewhat easier. I'll put on a medium sized perch imitation and start casting likely looking areas. Another thing that I've done is ease around the lake with my trolling motor and a handheld spotlight. I won't have any tackle in the boat and I'm not there to fish. I just cruise the shallows going as deep as my Q-Beam will penetrate. You'd be amazed at the numbers and sizes of the muskies that you'll see doing this. On one small (under 100 acre) lake, a friend and I spotted 14 legal muskies ranging in size from around 36 inches to one jumbo that would have stretched a tape measure over 50 inches!!

There are many side benefits to fishing small lakes. First of all, you normally don't have to pick a number to drift a good looking spot. You wouldn't believe how many times I have had a lake entirely to myself. You usually don't have to dodge water-skiers, jet skis, pontoon boats and all of the other distractions that the bigger lakes have.

Small lakes are usually protected, so if the weather turns nasty and the wind is howling, your weekend plans aren't trashed. With small lakes, after a couple of trips, you'll soon be able to jump from spot to spot, fishing them thoroughly in just a couple hours. If you're blessed with many lakes like I am, you can set up a "Milk Run", fish a lake, jump to another lake, fish those spots, jump to another lake....well, you get the idea. I've fished as many as five lakes in a single day, producing musky action on each lake. Structure is usually limited in small lakes, this in effect concentrates the muskies, making them easier to find. Night fishing these lakes is much simpler. You don't have to worry about running across a dark lake, hitting objects, getting hit, all the fun things that happen at night.

Quite often, it's a matter of launching the boat, start fishing right from the landing and continuing around the lake until you're back at the landing.Don't for a single minute think that just because the lake is small, that the muskies are too. I've seen some of the largest muskies of my life in little lakes. One of the biggest muskies that I've ever seen was in a lake that is under 70 acres. Conservatively, I'd estimate this fish in the mid 40 pound class. I don't care where you fish, this is a trophy fish!!One word of caution when fishing these lakes, catch and release is a MUST!! With today's angler reaching a level of sophistication absolutely unheard of in the past, one skilled muskie hunter can seriously damage a lake's muskie population.

Please, enjoy them and release these wonderful creatures to fight again.Keep those hooks sharp and please, catch photo and release, Steve @ G & S Guide Service http://www.herefishyfishy.com