2021 Conservation Congress – Musky Questions
As most of you know the upcoming Conservation Congress Spring Hearings will be held online this year starting Monday April 12 at 7:00 pm. You may vote for the following 72 hours. There are several musky related questions that are up for a vote this spring.
Please pay attention to question 14 on the fisheries ballot that asks for a vote on increasing the musky size limit on the Presque Isle chain of lakes in Vilas county and the Namekagon River in Washburn and Burnett counties. Also up for a vote is an increase to the statewide 40″ size limit on Butternut Lake in Ashland and Price counties. This would replace the 28″ size limit that is currently in place on that lake.
In addition I have introduced a citizens resolution to increase the size limit for muskies on Plum Lake to 50″. This was done after discussion and guidance from our local DNR fisheries personnel. Plum lake was part of a 10 year study that eliminated stocking for that period. While some stocking has resumed on Plum it appears that natural reproduction is minimal and the fishery needs some help to get back to the status it enjoyed prior to the experimental study. This question should appear at the end of the ballot listed as a citizens resolution.
As an organization that supports conservation and the improvement of our fisheries I would strongly encourage you and your like minded friends to vote in favor of these resolutions. We already know that most Muskies Inc. members release their fish but a large number of fish that are caught incidentally by other anglers along with pressure from tourism and tribal harvest make these protections one of the ways that we can help in sustaining fishable musky populations. Please note that you do NOT need to be a resident of the county or even a Wisconsin resident to vote on the Conservation Congress Spring Hearing questionaire. I will include a link below that should give you all the information you need including a pdf of all the questions to be included in the 2021 hearing.
Thanks very much for your continued interest and support.
Pete Stoltman
Muskies Inc. Chapter 61 president
