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5:30 pm
May 19, 2004
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I know most of us get these reports, but for those who don't. here is some great information fromo the state:
FALL MUSKY STOCKING CHANGE AS PART OF TARGETED MANAGEMENT
ADDITIONAL ANGLER INPUT SOUGHT IN SURVEY ON PFBC WEB SITE
October 25, 2006
Nine lakes and a river section have become the first beneficiaries of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) targeted approach to muskellunge stockings, with 15 other waters set to see stocking increases in future years.
The stocking changes on waters believed capable of supporting more and larger muskies are one of several moves to improve muskellunge fishing in the Commonwealth. Starting in 2007, musky season will extend year-round for most waters, with a creel limit of one fish that must be at least 40 inches. Currently the muskellunge season is closed mid-March through early June and two 30-inch muskies may be creeled each day.
“Muskellunge represent a true trophy fishery and we’re adjusting our management to maximize that trophy potential in those waters best suited for it. For most anglers, a musky is the largest fish they’ll ever catch in Pennsylvania waters. And for true musky aficionados, bigger is better. So in response to angler input, we’re tweaking the regulations to permit year-round angling opportunities and targeting our stockings on those waters with the best potential to be top-notch destinations,” said PFBC Executive Director Doug Austen.
The 10 waters that received additional tiger muskellunge in their autumn 2006 allotments include:
Water Body, 2005 Tiger Muskellunge Allotment, Tiger Muskellunge stocked in 2006
Beltzville Lake, Carbon County 3,798 6,785
Cowanesque Reservoir, Tioga County 1,100 4,424
East Branch Clarion River Lake, Elk County 2,050 7,592
Holman Lake, Perry County 500 768
Keystone Lake, Armstrong County 4,750 10,649
Loyalhanna Lake, Westmoreland County 3,706 6,263
Marsh Creek Lake, Chester County 2,699 4,332
Nockamixon Lake, Bucks County 7,252* 4,425
Sweet Arrow Lake, Schuylkill County 0* 805
Schuylkill River (between Black Rock Dam and the Perkiomen Creek) 250 500
* Previously not stocked on an annual basis but slated for annual stocking beginning in 2007. This will increase the average numbers stocked each year.
In 2007 and beyond, 15 additional waters will also see their annual allotment of purebred or tiger muskellunge increase. Those waters include: Allegheny Reservoir, Warren County; Canoe Lake, Blair County; Conneaut Lake, Crawford County; Delaware River, Northampton/Monroe/Pike counties; Frances Slocum Lake, Luzerne County; Glendale Lake, Cambria County; Lehigh River, Northampton/Lehigh counties; Lake Arthur, Butler County; Lake Somerset, Somerset County; Rose Valley Lake, Lycoming County; Sayers Lake, Centre County; Shenango Lake, Mercer County; Susquehanna River, Northumberland County; Susquehanna River North Branch, Luzerne County; and the Youghiogheny River, Fayette/Allegheny/Westmoreland counties.
In order to accommodate the move to more intensive stocking in waters with the most upside for muskellunge fishing, 29 lakes or water sections are being removed from the stocking program on a trial basis. The waters being removed from the musky stocking program were those where there is little angler interest in musky or tiger musky fishing and/or where there is inadequate forage to support desirable muskellunge or tiger muskellunge populations. In some waters in the native range of muskellunge, where there is some expectation that muskellunge may reproduce naturally, stocking of tiger muskellunge will cease.
Among the waters coming off the muskellunge stocking list are the Monongahela River, Sections 4, 6, 7 and 9 of the Raystown Branch of the Juniata River, and the Schuylkill River from Flat Rock Dam downstream. For a complete list of waters coming off the muskellunge stocking list, visit the Commission’s web site at http://www.fishandboat.com.
While on the site, anglers can also complete an online survey asking input on the specific stocking changes as well as provide thoughts on other aspects of muskellunge management in Pennsylvania.
Biologists expect that it will take at least four to eight years until the stocking changes begin to manifest themselves in a way anglers can fully experience. However, there’s no need to wait that long to get great musky action. The cooling water temperatures of autumn represent a great time to pursue muskellunge. On the Commission web site, select “Fish” from the left-hand navigation bar, then click “Pennsylvania Fishes.” Select “Species Feature Pages” and then click on the musky picture for a list of musky hot spots, biggest catches in recent years and tips and techniques from Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Magazine.
RELATED
Musky survey
Musky feature page
Press Release Index
We may only see what we look for.
5:50 pm
May 19, 2004
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Please take the time to fill out the survey. We need to show the state our level of interest.
Barry
We may only see what we look for.
6:50 pm
March 22, 2004
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Barry,
Ok, I've done the survey. Thanks for posting.
DL
DL
6:58 pm
March 20, 2004
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Good stuff, thanks Barry for the heads up.
Take the survey, try to drill home our point of establishing a pure bred musky lake in E PA.
Two concerns I had after taking the survey.
1: In the press release they talk about waters to receive additional pure/tiger stockings in 2007 and beyond. Some of these include our favorite waters, i.e. the Susquehanna, Delaware and Lehigh. In the survey they ask questions about this but indicate an increase in Tiger stockings only. Is this a typo or are they moving to tigers in these waters???
2: We had a tremendous success in the Marsh Creek stocking this month. I think many in the club have a goal to adopt this lake and continue what we did every year for the next 5 years+. If the state continues to stock tigers, are they possibly negatively effecting the fish we stock in terms of predation and competition. Should we try to take over all stocking of this lake and try to convert 100% to pures???
Greg
10:03 pm
Greg , I mentioned that to Mike K , His reply was he will continue to stock tigers up to a point in the future that he sees a return on our stockings, and at that point he will revise the tiger program as he sees fit. One of these top predators are going to be king it is going to take a few years to see if our fish are on top, I have no doubt that the pures will rule !! Matt L
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