Stocking and Rearing Muskies - A Never Ending Mission
Stocking Muskies In Forest Lake 1986
[ One The Water - July 2006 by John Newman, Jr.(pictured below), Project and Rearing Fund Chair]
I had the opportunity to get out early this spring to fish
two of our Twin City lakes: White Bear and Forest Lake. At
the time, the water was still very clear and I was amazed at
some of the fish we spotted. Both lakes have a good size
variety of fish and truly some trophy fish; 30 and 40 pound
class.
Our chapter’s stocking efforts began on Forest Lake in 1986 when we purchased 2,000 8-10 inch Wisconsin strain muskies at a cost of $10,000. These dollars were the proceeds from the 1985 Project and Rearing Fund Raffle. We continued stocking Forest Lake for a couple of years until the DNR took over the stocking.
We began stocking White Bear Lake in 1990 and the fish
were raised and purchased also from raffle proceeds. White
Bear was stocked in 1990, 1991, and 1992 with 330 18-23-
inch two-year old fish valued at $30 apiece each year. The
last few years, we have continued to spend our raffle
proceeds on White Bear Lake; approximately $15,000.
You can see how our raffle dollars have helped to create and maintain some truly great muskie lakes. It wasn’t that long ago, that if you wanted to go muskie fishing for a day, you would have to purchase a Wisconsin license and head for lakes such as Dear, Bone, or the Apple River. Now the Wisconsin people are buying Minnesota licenses and coming to our lakes.
Did you Know?
Stocking and rearing of muskies is a never ending mission to improve the muskie fishing on a lake(s).
Although not an easy nor cheap task it is a rewarding venture taken on by many Muskies Inc chapters and other muskie clubs across the country.
Through fund raisers to purchase fish from commercial fish farm or raising fry in a rear pond it is a challange with it's up and downs.
State Department of Natural Resources have the resources, facilities and expertise and will work with groups like Muskies Inc. for a common goal.
