I agree with you as well, to each their own. I go fishing with my niece and nephew all the time and there are totaly different keeper slots when they are in the boat then when it is just me and my buddies who fish all the time....To me a 40 inch fish when it could grow to 55" in certain waters is not that big in relation to how big it could get. No question here in MN a 40 inch anything is a giant. Am a bit of a numbers geek by day soo if Muskies get to say 55 inches then a 40 incher is at about 63% of how big it could get. Also more of a Walleye guy so to me that same equation gets me bringing 19inch Walleye to the taxidermist.

These are just my opinions and I am in no way trying to steer anyone to have the same views as me or say that if someones opinions on this are difft from mine they are wrong...Just want to catch really, really big fish!!!!

One thing I have always thought could be promoted a little more is the proper way to release a musky. We and the Dnr spend a lot of dough to put these toothy critters in the lakes and rivers in MN, why not have a page in the regulations book or a video clip on their website or something. Not saying every crappie fishermen needs a pair of knipex and a big kahuna, but it would be nice to know that these fish that get caught by other anglers aren't bouncing off of every thing in the boat and drying out before the hooks come out. People also should know you have to work with a fish a while before they swim away. -Just a side comment to this subject.

I'm in favor of whatever keeps the fishing waters healthy and manageable.

Without that, the fishing will stink, whether or not you're able to keep your catch.

If a statewide 48'' minimum for musky provides a healthier ecosystem for musky lakes, or even if catch and release only provides a healthier ecosystem, heck I'm 100% for it. I'll never keep a musky in my life, because I only keep the fish I intend to eat, and memories of fishing are 100x more important to me than a wall mount.

I just hope that my trust in the researchers and the system that regulates fishing isn't misplaced, cuz who knows, more restrictions on keeping muskies might be bad for some lakes.

Education on C&R will only carry the fish so far as has been proven time and again all over the Muskie range, regulation to protect the fish either from harvest such was the case on Elk and the Miss or a Minimum is the best way to regulate harvest and manage fish for a Trophy situation.

A state wide 48 with some additional waters protected even further due to either their potential as world class fisheries or their inherent/intrinsic value for the future will be needed as this pressure grows.


How much value does a 55 on Leech or Winnie hold?? what makes that fish valuable?, how do we protect that fish?, why would we need to protect her?, why is she more or less valuable than a Minnetonka 55?, we need to ask ourselves these questions and others and ask is "A" better for me "B" is it better for the fishery "C" will this eventually benefit me only if we execute or reduce "B" or "A"

Would we be anywhere near the place to fish if it was still a 30 Min ??, Washington just went from 36 to 50 for tigers, it will be interesting to see how those fish respond to the reduction in mortality.

Many of us are convinced that Muskies are released 99.9% of the time just because thats a fact for MI members, the reality is many fish are harvested all across the state at probably less of a percntage than ever before but the additional amount of anglers is the concern for the additional protection.

I ask the MN DNR about the main points they observed from the 550+ responses in the public input, the first thing they said was the majority want a quality Muskie fishery and the opportunity to catch Large Pike.

I hope these overwhelming requests put a 48 on the fast track, If you get time just read the Long Range Plan it answer's and addresses so many issues and angles on this subject I guarantee you'll learn something about the fish how they effect the lakes and what is needed to maintain the fishing we enjoy.

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/fisheries/muskiepike_2020.html