MUSKIE CONSERVATION & MANAGEMENT. FISH STOCKING PROGRAMS. FISHERIES ENHANCEMENTS. RESEARCH.
Although muskies are the main focus, Northwoods Muskies collaborates with the Wisconsin DNR, other fishing organizations, and local lake associations to introduce “Extended Growth” fish stocking programs that includes both muskie & walleye stocking in area lakes.
50″ Size Limits on Vilas and Oneida County Waters
Since 2014, Northwoods Muskies Inc. has assisted the Vilas and Oneida County biologists and fisheries managers on improving the muskie fishing in our area on several levels.
To date, we have successfully implemented 50-inch size limits and trophy fisheries on Trout Lake, North Twin Lake, South Twin Lake, Little Saint Germain Lake, Lac Vieux Desert, and the Cisco Chain of Lakes in Vilas County. In Oneida County, we have succeeded to do the same to Katherine Lake, and Willow Flowage.
Northwoods Muskies Inc. has spearheaded the same resolutions and modernized regulations on Oneida County waters. In 2019, the Minocqua Chain of Lakes, Rainbow Flowage, and White Sand Lake in Boulder Junction (Vilas co.) are the latest to be voted on join trophy management status.
Wisconsin muskie anglers would like to see more trophy regulations, and have opportunities at catching more bigger fish. We believe these regulations will lead to that, and more lakes being added in the future.
According to MUSKIES Inc. log data, more 48 inch or larger muskies are being caught in Wisconsin now than ever before. This data includes both inland Wisconsin waters and Great Lakes.
DNR MUSKY STOCKING PROGRAM AND INITIATIVES
From (L) to (R): John Bennett (NWMI), Nick Durkee (NWMI), John Kubisiak (WIDNR Fisheries Biologist for Oneida Co.), Mike Sasse (NWMI), Mike Vogelsang (WIDNR – NR Region Program Manager), Steve Gilbert (WIDNR Fisheries Biologist – Vilas Co.)
In September, 2015, Northwoods Muskies Inc. Chapter 61 donated $2,500 each for Vilas and Oneida Counties for a total of $5,000 to the Wisconsin DNR to support the stocking of extended growth muskellunge fingerlings in area waters. Northwoods Muskies Inc. has been working with the Wisconsin DNR for the past 5 years to improve muskie fisheries in the Northwoods.
The Northwoods Chapter also donated funds to the DNR to implant integrated transponder (PIT) tags in muskies grown at the Art Oehmke Fish Hatchery in Woodruff to gauge the success of muskie stocking. In addition, the chapter donated funds to the DNR to rehabilitate ponds at the hatchery. More recently, Northwoods Muskies Inc. donated $2,500 each ($5,000 total) to support charter stocking of muskellunge in the Rainbow Flowage and stocking of extended growth muskies in newly designated “muskellunge action lakes” by the DNR. In Oneida County, lakes receiving “bonus” stocked muskies include: Carol (330), Crescent (308), East Horsehead (192), and Squirrel (654). In Vilas County, Boot Lake and Pioneer Lake will receive 284 and 427 “bonus” stocked muskies, respectively.
Smallmouth Bass Half-Log Cooperative Habitat Project
On July 11, 2017, available NMI chapter members assisted the DNR with providing materials and labor to install 31 half-log smallmouth bass spawning habitat structures in the north basin of Trout Lake in Vilas County.
Completion of this project was a team effort between DNR and Northwoods Muskies Inc. Thanks in particular go to the Dean Zaumseil and the members of Muskies Inc. who provided funding and volunteered, to the forestry (Craig Dalton, Bryce Berklund, Ken Hayes) and lands (Don Tatalovitch)crews for getting logs to the shop, and Woodruff area fisheries staff, in particular Tim Tobias and Eric Brown who took care of the majority of logistics and heavy lifting (literally).
Project Timeline
- In February 2015 oak and maple logs from a timber sale were cooperatively cut into 8’ logs and transported to the Woodruff shop by DNR forestry and lands crews.
- In October 2016 logs were halved.
- The Northwoods Chapter of Muskies Inc. provided funds for the portable sawmill and hardware (bolts, nuts, washers).
- FM identified appropriate smallmouth bass spawning habitat and prepared and transported building materials.
- On-site assembly and deployment of 31 half-log structures took place on July 11, 2017.
WALLEYES STOCKED INTO LOCAL LAKE
A partnership between the Shishebogama/Gunlock Lake Association and Northwoods Chapter of Muskies Inc. has resulted in more walleyes in a Northwoods lake.
The joint effort came to fruition when 3,375 walleyes ranging up to 12 inches in length were stocked in Lake Shishebogama on Friday, Oct. 11, 2013.
The stocking effort was approed by the Department of Natural Resources. DNR fisheries biologist John Kubisiak supervised the permit approval process.
Northwoods Muskies Inc. looks to work with other lake associations with muskie and walleye stocking programs. Interested lake associations can call Dean Zaumseil at 715-588-3248.
Northwoods Muskies Inc. also recently donated two PIT (passive integrated transponder) tag readers to the DNR for a muskie rearing project on Vilas and Oneida county lakes.
