Jump to content
  • GUESTS

    If You  want access  to member only forums on FM, You will need to Sign-in or  Sign-Up now .

    This box will disappear once you are signed in as a member.

Muskie caught on Big Stone Lake


Recommended Posts

I saw that the first-ever documented musky was caught (and released) on Big Stone Lake over the weekend. Any theories on how that fish could have possibly gotten into the lake? Perhaps via the Minnesota River from the Mississippi River? Seems hard to believe it could make it all that way, but maybe. Anyone else ever hear of muskies in Big Stone or anywhere else in the Minnesota River?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If I had to guess it would be what you suggested Dakota. I would guess it came up via the Minnesota river. I haven't heard of people catching Musky on the Minnesota, but that doesn't mean that they aren't in there.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Every so often one is caught on the MN. In fact I seen a pic of one this spring.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A fisheries oops? migrated over the traverse silt plug during the browns valley flood? Private stocking? Who knows. Would be pretty sweet to have a sustained population of 45" muskies in big stone.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Same Kind of question in the Chisago lakes area how did smallmouth bass get into Big Green, private stock, mis-stock from the DNR not sure. I know I am not loosing sleep, they are fun to catch.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have caught muskies, and tiger muskies on Artichoke in the past. I think they are in more lakes than people think.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

There are Muskies in the MN river. I have actually heard of them caught all the way up by the dam in Rapidan on the BLUE EARTH river, which is a smaller tributary

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I would guess bucket biologists at work here in this case.

I was kinda thinkin the same thing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I believe there are muskies in the MN, but they cant get to Big stone.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I would guess bucket biologists at work here in this case.

Stupid question but what exactly is a "bucket biologist"? I'm guessing you mean somebody transported/stocked some there themselves?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Not sure who read the article in Outdoor News but they talked about the musky caught and how it may have gotten in there. One DNR fisheries guy said that at least 3 have been caught in nets in the past while doing fish surveys. They said the most likely way they got in the lake was via the Red River system to the North when it floods and Musky may find thier way in at that time. They said a couple other possibilities were from fisherman transplanting them or possibly coming up from the Minnesota River (regardless of what some have said on this forum)...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Not sure who read the article in Outdoor News but they talked about the musky caught and how it may have gotten in there. One DNR fisheries guy said that at least 3 have been caught in nets in the past while doing fish surveys. They said the most likely way they got in the lake was via the Red River system to the North when it floods and Musky may find thier way in at that time. They said a couple other possibilities were from fisherman transplanting them or possibly coming up from the Minnesota River (regardless of what some have said on this forum)...

Red River theory has merit; especially when you look at where the lake traverse water shed's eastern most reaches are. MN river theory is interesting...doubt anything came up from below granite falls though. One path would be muskies from the minnewaska area...down through the Chip, up the Sag into LQP, over/around the marsh lake spillway, through big stone refuge, and over the big stone spillway. Other would be fish originating from the upper reaches of the pomme de terre, migrating downstream to marsh and taking the same path from there. I've seen musky caught on Lake Emily which the chippewa flows through. any of the scenarios is plausible I guess...just think what the fisheries would be like without all the dams on the pomm, chip, MN, and Red.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This may be a little far fetched but I have read some articles on how waterfowl have been known to get fish eggs tangled in their webbed feet. Like I said.. Far fetched but possible. Who knows...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.



  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • Brianf.
      I'm not there, so I can't tell exactly what's going on but it looks like a large area of open water developed in the last day with all of the heavy snow on the east side of wake em up Narrows. These two photos are from my Ring Camera facing north towards Niles Point.  You can see what happened with all of snow that fell in the last three days, though the open water could have been wind driven. Hard to say. .  
    • SkunkedAgain
      Black Bay had great ice before but a few spots near rockpiles where there were spots of open water. It looks like the weight of the snow has created a little lake in the middle of the bay.  
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   Thanks to some cold spring weather, ice fishing continues strong for those still ice fishing.  The bite remains very good.  Most resorts have pulled their fish houses off for the year, however, some still have fish houses out and others are allowing ATV and side by sides.  Check social media or call ahead to your favorite resort for specifics. Reports this week for walleyes and saugers remain excellent.   A nice mix of jumbo perch, pike, eelpout, and an occasional crappie, tullibee or sturgeon being reported by anglers. Jigging one line and using a live minnow on the second line is the way to go.  Green, glow red, pink and gold were good colors this week.     Monster pike are on a tear!  Good number of pike, some reaching over 45 inches long, being caught using tip ups with live suckers or dead bait such as smelt and herring in 8 - 14' of water.   As always, work through a resort or outfitter for ice road conditions.  Safety first always. Fish houses are allowed on the ice through March 31st, the walleye / sauger season goes through April 14th and the pike season never ends. On the Rainy River...  The river is opened up along the Nelson Park boat ramp in Birchdale, the Frontier boat ramp and Vidas boat ramp.  This past week, much of the open water skimmed over with the single digit overnight temps.   Areas of the river have popped open again and with temps getting warmer, things are shaping up for the last stretch through the rest of the spring season, which continues through April 14th.   Very good numbers of walleyes are in the river.  Reports this week, even with fewer anglers, have been good.  When temps warm up and the sun shines, things will fire up again.   Jigs with brightly colored plastics or jigs with a frozen emerald shiner have been the desired bait on the river.  Don't overlook slow trolling crankbaits upstream as well.   Good reports of sturgeon being caught on the river as well.  Sturgeon put the feed bag on in the spring.  The bite has been very good.  Most are using a sturgeon rig with a circle hook loaded with crawlers or crawlers / frozen emerald shiners. Up at the NW Angle...  Ice fishing is winding down up at the Angle.  Walleyes, saugers, and a number of various species in the mix again this week.  The bite is still very good with good numbers of fish.  The one two punch of jigging one line and deadsticking the second line is working well.   Check with Angle resorts on transport options from Young's Bay.  Call ahead for ice road guidelines.  
    • CigarGuy
      With the drifting, kind of hard to tell for sure, but I'm guessing about a foot and still lightly snowing. Cook end!
    • PSU
      How much snow did you get on Vermilion? 
    • Mike89
      lake here refroze too...  started opening again yesterday with the wet snow and wind...  very little ice left today...
    • Hookmaster
      A friend who has a cabin between Alex and Fergus said the lake he's on refroze. He texted me a pic from March 12th when it was open and one from 23rd when it wasn't. 🤯
    • SkunkedAgain
      I don't think that there has been any ice melt in the past few weeks on Vermilion. Things looked like a record and then Mother Nature swept in again.   I'll give my revised guess of April 21st
    • leech~~
      As I get older it's really not just about sending bullets down range.  Some of it's just the workmanship of the gun and the wow factor. The other two guns I have really wanted which I'll never have now because of their price, is a 8mm Jap Nambu and 9mm German Luger.   Just thought they always looked cool!  
    • jim curlee
      I had a guy hit me with a lightly used 1969 BAR, he wanted $1650 with an older Leupold scope. More than I think they are worth, I made an offer, he declined end of story.   You know if you look at the old brochures, a grade II BAR sold for $250 in the late 60s, $1650 would be a good return on your investment.    Why would anybody want a 50 year old gun, they are heavy, have wood stocks, and blued metal.  I guess mainly to keep their gun safes glued to the floor. lol   You can probably buy a stainless rifle that you never have to clean, with a synthetic stock you never have to refinish, is as light as a feather, and for half as much money, perfect.   I'm too old for a youth gun, although I've shrunk enough that it would probably fit. lol   No Ruger 10/44s.   Jim      
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.