Lake Zumbro Musky

[MnSportsman]

Curiosity question fellow anglers,
HAs anyone heard anymore regarding the Musky fingerlings the DNR put into Lake Zumbro awhile back(last 10 years??0 ??
I know they put some in there, but I haven't heard of any caught....
I'm gonna go check out the DNR site for info, but I was wondering about some "first hand"local info.
Maybe I'll make a few calls too, & see if any of my "GOB"s down there have info too. If so,
I'll post it here!

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Good Luck & Watch your bobber!
MnSportsman
Proud to be a member in good standing, of the
"Church of the Divine Wilderness"!
;)

[MnSportsman]

"Survey says", < LOL

Year Species Age Number
1997 Muskellunge Fingerling 300
1998 Muskellunge Fingerling 300
1999 Muskellunge Fingerling 300

Well it was more recent than I thought...
Still interested, if by chance anyones heard anything...Was hoping it was longer ago..

------------------
Good Luck & Watch your bobber!
MnSportsman
Proud to be a member in good standing, of the
"Church of the Divine Wilderness"!
;)

[Guest]

Wow talk about catching musky? I have caught more than i can even count outta the 'ol Zumbro. Not much size yet to any of them but i do know that they bite more often than the bigger pike in those waters. I saw a guy this last summer pull a pike outta the Zumbro(right above the dam by the steps) that was enormous. But i actually just talked with a friend of mine that is in the DNR and was told that the musky are doing well and they hope to put in 300 more each year up until 2003 or 4. Right now swimming in the lake are about 1200 musky(this is the number they have put in there as of 1997,almost 300 each year)

[Guest]

Pike in Lake Zumbro? All Right! I love smallie fishing, but I sure would enjoy pulling in a pike or musky once in awhile. Two years ago I did happen to catch a couple of small muskie (24 inch range) down below the dam, half way to the green bridge. I was hunting for smallies with a #2 mepps spinner.On that trip I also picked up about a 3 lb. pike and some smallies. It was a good day. Thanks for the info on pike and muskies. Now I have even more reason to get out on Zumbro.

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Big_Lew

[james_walleye]

Watched a guy 2 weekends ago catch a 40" muskie on French Lake. 4 lb test with a light action crappie rod. Took about 20 minutes to land it.

[Jim W]

Don't quote me guys, but from my understanding, the Muskelunge that have been stocked in Lake Zumbro cannot reproduce! So preaching Catch and Release might be a good thing, especially if we want to see these fish become trophies!!! Keep'em bendin'!!!
Jim W

[Guest]

I had heard the same thing, maybe even in the Post-Bulletin when the stocking began. I too am not certain, but I thought they said that Lake Zumbro does not have the natural make-up for the Muskie to reproduce so the only muskie we will ever see will be store bought. The DNR intent was to include the muskie to enhance the fishing possibilities for all.

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Fish On!
Big Lew

[Guest]

As a matter of a fact i would love to try the early spawn. I have fished the Zumbro for quite some time and have never really tried that out. When abouts do they spawn? And say in a general area where do crappies most likey like to spawn? I do know many areas on the lake but i am usually on it going after largemouth bass or smallies. A few years back a friend of mine and me went out and caught somewhere between 8-10 10" or better crappies while trolling with some small jigs with the small spinner blades on them. For some reason they just pounded them. We only fished for about a hour and i cant remember if it got cold or what but we stopped fishing for them. But i would love to try that bite! Keep me informed!

[J.A.Say.Tree]

Those mean 'ol skeez should put on the lbs quick in that meat market! Plenty of forage to inhale!!! It will certainly be interesting to see what happens in a few more years. There could be some scary incounters at the water skeeee show!!!

P.S. I like hearing the talk of nice smallies in the lake!!! I have only fished it via boat once in recent years, but did have awesome luck as a kid growing up! GIANT crappies in the spring. I think I might actually try that again this year! Anybody done the crappie spawn in the last couple?

JA!

[J.A.Say.Tree]

BTF,

Crappies generally like sand & gravel, and are particularily fond of a gradual slope with some brush or a fallen tree in the Zumbro. But you can pretty much find them anywhere close to shore when the spawn kicks into high gear. Smaller little back bays will bring the first ones in, but once it peaks they'll be all around the lake.

A great method is to slowly troll the shores casting small jigs right up into the shallows. Once you catch a couple in an area, anchor. Continue with the jig, maybe tipping it with a minnow. Once things seem to cool off, switch to a rod (already set up) with a minnow on a plain hook with a small split and bobber. Set it so it's a foot off the bottom and cast it up into the shallows that will generally be 2-5 feet deep... this method will really clean 'em up! A spawning crappie cannot resist a wigglin' minnow in it's face. Use real ultralite gear and it's a blast.

JA!

[Guest]

As a matter of a fact they are all tigers. And that would give reason to why they can not reproduce. And i do want to thank J.A. Say Tree for the crappie info. That will help me out more than you know. One other quick question would be when exactally do crappies tend to start spawning? On the average anyways. Thanks once again for all the help guys!

[sockeye]

About those Zumbro Muskies. Might these be "tiger muskie" hybrids? They're a cross between a muskie and a northern. I've seen a lot of lakes where DNR plants these hybrids because they are a big predator that will trim down a crowded population of smaller fish, but they can't reproduce themselves so they can be monitored easily.

[Jim W]

I believe they are the Tigers.

[Guest]

41 inch muskie caught in lake zumbro as reporterd by the area dnr dude in his report in may 2001 !

[Guest]

Thanks for the update Andysmyname! This news could really make things exciting on Zumbro for many years to come.

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Fish On!
Big Lew

[fish4life]

im from rochester and ive never heard of muskie in zumbro where are they at i might have to try it out

[Born2Fish]

Just try diff areas where muskys are likely to lurk. I know they are in there. I caught a small 23" in a small bay here like 2 weekends ago. All i had to use was a maribou jig(going for crappies) and one just slammed it and it was a fun fight!