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DNR contiplating stocking Musky's in Sauk River Chain.


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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Creators

First time that I've heard the Sauk Chain discussed for Musky. A few other lakes in the past but here's the link for the information for fall 2011.

New Musky Stocking Proposal

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  • BrdHunter01

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  • AWH

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  • HorseshoeChain

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  • DHanson

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The DNR must have read my thread "top 5 lakes that need muskies" I posted last year wink I believe I had the horseshoe chain at #4.

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I dont see the problem with muskies. The Chain has a lot of nooks and cranys for the ski. This would make for some fun fishing! If anything the muskie would help the fishery and local economy!

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  • Official Fishing Report Team - MN

I am all for the introduction of Muskies on the chain!! What a valuable target fish to have so local. The chain has plenty of water and habitat to suppport a healthy population.

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Creators

I had heard that Koronis had received some serious consideration the past few years.

Sure would make the fishing on the river that much more exciting.

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Were they in the chain naturally and fished out? If so then I am all for stocking them. If not keep them out of it.

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It meets all the DNR's requirements and would also provide greatly to the local economy and fisherman. It won't hurt the great walleye fishing that currently exists, look at most muskie waters which are also great walleye fisheries.

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Couldn't there already be some in there with the Saulk running into the Miss a few miles away?

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KEEP THEM OUT OF OUR LAKES!

I can't believe they actually call that fishing....

Just curious if you share the same opinion about walleye stocking? The majority of walleyes caught in MN today can be attributed to stocking and the majority of the lakes stocked cannot support the populations through natural reproduction OR were not "native" walleye lakes so walleyes are "exotic" species to many lakes.

Muskies can tremendously help a fishery in many ways. Obviously some people need to take the blinders off and actually see the facts that have been posted over and over regarding muskies and impact to fisheries.

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I have only heard of Muskies being caught below the SCSU dam.
Muskies are native to the Mississippi and there's plenty of them north of the SCSU dam all the way to Little Falls and beyond. I don't know the history of the Sauk River Chain. But there's every reason to believe that muskies once swam there before the dam was put in to create these lakes. No different than many bodies of water around the state.

Aaron

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They catch Muskies in the sippi all the way down to the Iowa line.

Also all the way down the Minnesota River to Blue Earth.

All are incidental catches but they do make the news you just have to look very deep lol

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Yep AWH. You are correct. Sounds like more musky above the SCSU dam than below grin

The only Muskies I have seen have been around the Monti area fishing for channels. I have not caught one, but those who have where reeling up cut sucker when it they got hit.

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Ya there is a pretty good population above the dam here in town. As for muskies in the chain I am all for it. I think it would be an intresting adition to a very diverce body of water.

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I've caught a couple accidental muskies in the Sauk River while bass fishing in St. Cloud. Nice fish by the way. They would have a ways to swim up to the Richmond area, but I'm sure a few have.

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Creators

The d-a-m in Cold Spring stops them from making it up to Richmond. I have seen one in my years fishing the Sauk river. The bugger slammed several crappies I was catching out of a hole late fall before I got tired of feeding it. Big fish too.

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They should stock more muskies in the Monticello to St. Cloud strech of the Mississippi. Tons of forage fish for them out there. Could be a huge fishery for them out there. 30 some miles of river to catch muskies.

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They catch Muskies in the sippi all the way down to the Iowa line.

Also all the way down the Minnesota River to Blue Earth.

All are incidental catches but they do make the news you just have to look very deep lol

we fish some of the deepest holes on the minnesota for flats... i think i would [PoorWordUsage] my pants if i accidentally drug in a muskie out of one of those holes!

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They should stock more muskies in the Monticello to St. Cloud strech of the Mississippi. Tons of forage fish for them out there. Could be a huge fishery for them out there. 30 some miles of river to catch muskies.

My fear of this would be that it may have a negative affect on the small mouth bass fishing along this section of the river. I realize they are already in the river in this section but we don't need to introduce more of them. If we want to add fish to this section add in flathead catfish.

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Originally Posted By: RiverRunner
They should stock more muskies in the Monticello to St. Cloud strech of the Mississippi. Tons of forage fish for them out there. Could be a huge fishery for them out there. 30 some miles of river to catch muskies.

My fear of this would be that it may have a negative affect on the small mouth bass fishing along this section of the river. I realize they are already in the river in this section but we don't need to introduce more of them. If we want to add fish to this section add in flathead catfish.

The river is not deep enough in this section for either fish, the only deep section of this river has them there, Clearwater. (muskies anyway) and as far as flats go, heck no keep those things away.... if those come then those deliverance looking cat men come next grin

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river rat,

I have a map of that section of river and on it they have one of the bends labeled as musky bend but to me it doesn't look like it is up by clearwater. my map says that from the nuclear plant discharge up river is the designated muskie area. musky bend is at river mile 33 on my map (33 miles up river from anoka, this map goes from anoka to st cloud)the clearwater access is at river mile 39. of course this map may be outdated it has a copyright of 1986

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There actually is Flat heads in the Monticello area. Theres not many but I've caught three in the last 15 years. One in the Crow River, Rogers area. And two in the Monticello area they were about 3 or 4 pounds each. Ugly fish.

The strecth of the Mississippi from Clearwater to Monticello is deep enough to support muskies. A lot of big holes that are 8 to 10 feet deep. If the fish didn't like the area they would just move on to something they did like. The Brainerd below the dam to Little Falls Section is actually pretty shallow.

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RiverRunner,

Sad part about, I have little faith there are any flatheads above the Coon Rapids Dam. Mississippi river channel cats (during spawn and temp changes) can change colors like nothing. I have caught tan, gray, purple, blue, black, dang near white, channels cats form the river. Also river channel cats seen to have a higher rate of deformities and weird heads. I have had some past cats I thought where flatheads, but after speaking to local CO's who live on this section electrofishing, my thoughts have changed. I feel they where just weird looking channels.

Now, there is (on the net) some one who has openly admitted to releasing 40-50lb flatheads in the Crow River smirkgrin If this is true or not, I have no clue.

I would love to know more about introducing flatheads to the Miss. North. If it would work or not. I feel they would benefit the ecosystem and maybe help with getting bigger smallies in this section grin

And two in the Monticello area they were about 3 or 4 pounds each. Ugly fish.

Those could have very well been Madtom catfish. They are reported to be in the area, but very rare. 3-4lbs might be pushing a madtom though.

river rat316 has deliverance written all over him grin

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Not to change the subject but I would love to see a picture of a Flathead in the upper Miss.

Seeing is believing thumbsup.gif

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Flatheads up here! now that would be fun. I have gotten a few deformed channels on this section of river over the years that kinda look like flats but never saw one north of the Cr. dam.

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I know this is an emotional issue...but read the research before you decide...

I think it is clear where I stand

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The Horseshoe Chain would be perfect for muskies. Look at all the bottom feeding ruff fish in the water that the muskies could help clean out. Which in the end would have a positive effect on the walleye fishing.

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