Working to Preserve, Promote and Advance Muskie and Pike Education and Research in Minnesota.

Transcription

1 Working to Preserve, Promote and Advance Muskie and Pike Education and Research in Minnesota. March, 2017 One Hundredth and Third Edition From Co-chair Aaron Meyer, It's expo time already! If it seems a little early, it is. The MN muskie expo dates are earlier than normal this year, and personally I like it. It seems like it's always way too nice outside, on the weekend of the expo, to be stuck in a big hot building. If it slipped your mind, the expo is this coming weekend: March As usual, we will be having our MMPA meeting on Saturday, from 10:00am-Noon ay O Gara s. Hope to see you there. We will again have our booth set up at the expo, to help gain exposure to what we do and spread our message. Dan Crooms is in charge of the booth this year. So far, we are short on volunteers, and need more help. If you can help with the booth at any point over the weekend, please contact Dan at dcmusky@msn.com or We received some interesting information from the DNR at our last MMPA meeting: Whenever muskie stocking is discussed at the Legislature, in public forums, at lake association meetings, or just about anywhere else, it's often stated that stocking muskies is extremely expensive. The people opposed to muskie stocking often make claims that the amount spent on muskies far outweighs the benefit to MN anglers. These are easy claims to make, especially when they use over-inflated prices and claim very low numbers of resident muskie anglers. One recent property owners association even recently claimed that the only reason we muskie anglers are able to garner support is that we tap into hundreds of nonresident anglers, since there aren't enough of us here. We all know that muskie fishing has seen an explosion in angler numbers here in Minnesota. The last DNR survey, from several years ago, estimated that there are 140,000 resident muskie anglers in MN. That means that approximately 14% of Minnesota's anglers fish for muskies. Well, we now have the real data on how much money is spent on stocking programs for the various fish species in MN. Muskies account for 8% of the money spent on stocking fish in Minnesota.

2 Muskie anglers represent 14% of the total anglers, but muskie stocking only accounts for 8% of stocking expenditures. When you consider that muskie anglers typically spent more hours on the water than other anglers, muskie stocking is actually pretty cheap in terms of how much return there is on the investment. This completely disproves the claims we hear from the anti-muskie folks. By comparison, walleye stocking accounts for 52% of the fish stocking expenditures. To me, the big surprise was that trout and salmon account for 33% of the expenditures. I don't know how many trout and salmon anglers we have in MN, but I'm quite confident it isn't as many as muskie anglers. So again, we're actually a fairly cheap addition to the fishery! Keep this info in mind when you are confronted with the anti-muskie stocking arguments! Now for a bit of bad news: The new pike regulations will NOT be put in place this coming season. This is contrary to everything we'd been told up until now. The final step in implementing these regs through the DNR's process required approval from an administrative law judge. The judge found that everything was put in place and done in the proper legal fashion, but that there is an existing statute stating the statewide pike law allows for one fish over 30 inches. This statute must be repealed legislatively, and must be done before the new regulations can be put in place. This was a huge disappointment. These regulations are several decades past due for improvement, and this will cause at least one more year of delay. Possibly even two years. We are involved in this process, and will continue doing what we can to move this forward. Stay tuned. Aaron Meyer MMPA co-chair HELP NEEDED, volunteers are needed to work at the Minnesota Muskie and Pike booth at the Minnesota Muskie Expo. Help will be needed on all 3 days, March 10, 11 and 12 th. Please contact Dan Crooms, dcmuskie@msn.com or MMPA meeting dates March 11th - Meeting will be at the Muskie Expo, 10 AM O Gara s April 1st - Ultimate Sports Bar in Waite Park I have confirmed the location for the MMPA meeting in St.Cloud on April 1st 2017 will be held at the Ultimate Sports Bar in Waite Park, MN it will be in the basement meeting room. Water and coffee in the morning and lunch off their menu... Bruce Ultimate Sports Bar & Grill 1101 Division St, Waite Park, MN (320)

3 Muskies Inc. Twin Cities Chapter 4020 Pipewood Lane Chanhassen, MN Hugh C. Becker Foundation Awards Announcement The Twin Cities Chapter of Muskies, Inc., the Hugh C. Becker Grant Committee is pleased to announce the recipients of Grants for With these awards, the total of benefits issued since the beginning of the program (in 2008) will be >$1,235, The order of funding dates for 2017, with amounts totaling $105, are: To help fund the Minnesota DNR Fisheries Offices in Duluth with netting equipment. February $9, To provide funds three (3) Minnesota DNR projects in Little Falls and Sauk Rapids through the St. Cloud Chapter #37 of Muskies, Inc. February.$2, To continue supporting the cooperative Minnesota and Wisconsin DNRs telemetry research on the St. Louis River through the Lake Superior Chapter #33 of Muskies, Inc. February $5, To assist the Minnesota Muskie and Pike Alliance (MMPA) in their political lobbying efforts with the Minnesota State Legislature. February $6, To support the Maryland DNR with their muskie research on the upper reaches of the Potomac River through the Thurmont, MD, Fisheries Offices. March $3, For further funding of muskie pit-tagging research on the Mantrap Lakes System through the Minnesota DNR Park Rapids, MN Fisheries Office March $1, To provide the Minnesota DNR NE and NW Regional Fisheries offices with muskie pit-tagging equipment through the management of Chris Kavanaugh in Grand Rapids, MN., Fisheries Office. March $7, To fund the Minnesota DNR Waterville Hatchery with new equipment for raising muskies. March $9,600.00

4 To support the muskie pit-tagging research on Lake Wissota, WI, through the First Wisconsin Chapter #6 of Muskies, Inc. April $7, To partially fund the Ohio DNR at the Sandusky Fisheries Research Station with their study of spatial ecology of muskellunge in Lake Erie. April $5, To partially fund the Michigan DNR at the Lake St. Clair Fisheries Research Station with their study of spatial ecology of muskellunge in the St. Clair-Detroit River System-coordination with the Ohio DNR study in Lake Erie (above). April $5, To provide materials for the project to cover three ponds at the Spooner, Wisconsin Fish Hatchery through the Hayward Lakes Chapter #13 of Muskies, Inc. April $4, To provide partial funding of the FIN (youth) Program in St. Paul, MN through the Twin Cities Chapter #1 of Muskies, Inc. May $ To support the Youth Conservation Alliance (YCA) for their programs at Hayward, WI. May $7, To support the Minnesota State High School Muskie-Fishing program through the North Metro Chapter #21 of Muskies, Inc. May $2, To match funding of the Minnesota State High School Muskie-Fishing program through the Twin Cities Chapter #1 of Muskies, Inc. May $2, To provide funding for the Big Brothers and Big Sisters and Family Fun Festival programs by the St. Cloud Chapter #37 of Muskies, Inc.. May... $2, To fund four(4) Metro Day Camps through The Fishing for Life (FFL) programs in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. May....$3, To assist in funding muskie forage to the Minnesota DNR New London, MN Fish Hatchery during the critical summer raising. June.$5, To assist in funding muskie forage to the Michigan DNR Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery

5 for the 2017 season through the Michigan Muskie Alliance Chapter #47 of Muskies, Inc. June.$2, To assist the stocking efforts of the Green Bay Chapter #4 of Muskies, Inc. August $1, To continue the funding to Muskies Canada in their restoration of muskellunge project at Lake Simcoe. August $5, To assist the stocking efforts of Bill s Musky Club in central Wisconsin. August $6, To help fund stocking muskies through the 12 Apostles Musky Club of Wisconsin. August...$2, To help fund stocking muskies through the Consolidated Musky Club of Wisconsin. August...$2, District Finder - Use the district finder to retrieve a list of your representatives with contact information. Buy some MMPA Swag today. We send many thanks to those that have supported this effort. 100% of the profits go to fighting for your fish. Join Us on Facebook Minnesota Muskie and Pike Alliance Communications Please look over the contact information in the back of the newsletter to make sure the information is correct. Send me any new or updated information so the newsletter can get to those who need it. Our MI chapters and related groups have banded together as the MMPA to improve the fishing in our state. This is done by working together. Don t be afraid to ask for support on your projects, that s what we are here for.

6 My job as communications co-chair is to get the information out. It s up to YOU to share the information and pass it along to your friends. If you know someone that wants to receive the MMPA newsletter please send me their and I will add them to the newsletter list. Try to get your information to us by the 25th of the month so we have time to include it in the newsletter. Keith Okeson green@lcp2.net Dan Crooms dcmusky@msn.com Department of Natural Resources Contacts: Don Pereira, Central Office, Fisheries Management Chief, 500 Lafayette Road, St Paul, MN don.pereira@state.mn.us Neil Vanderbosch, Program Coordinator (St Paul) neil.vanderbosch@state.mn.us Mike Habrat, DNR, Fisheries Biologist Specialist, Detroit Lakes Area Fisheries Office County Rd. 19 Detroit Lakes, MN mike.habrat@state.mn.us Al Stevens, DNR, Fisheries Lake and Stream Survey Program and Tourney Coordinator (St. Paul) - (651) al.stevens@state.mn.us MINNESOTA MUSKIE ALLIANCE OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES Co-Chair John Underhill (507) , muskiefool@yahoo.com Co-Chair Aaron Meyer (320) aaronmmeyer@hotmail.com Treasurer Carl Phillips (612) , cphilli@yahoo.com Secretary Pat Okeson (218) green@lcp2.net DNR/Legislative Committee John Underhill Committee Members: Shawn Kellett (612) , John Underhill (507) New Waters/Stocking Committee- Chair Greg Kvale cattail1947@yahoo.com, Communications Committee Co-chair Keith Okeson (218) green@lcp2.net Co-chair Dan Crooms (507) dcmusky@msn.com DNR REGION REPRESENTATIVES: NE DNR Region: Chapters: Brainerd Lakes, Lake Superior and Star of the North MMPA Reps: Keith Okeson Greg Kvale NE Regional Fisheries Manager: Chris Kavanaugh , chris.kavanaugh@state.mn.us.

7 NW DNR Region: Chapters: Fargo Moorhead, Bemidji/Cass Lake MMPA Reps: Mark Stenger Brett Waldera Region Fisheries Manager Henry Drewes, Central DNR Region: St. Cloud MMPA Rep: Bruce Kitowski ; Ken Schmitt (320) Brad Parsons, South DNR Region: Southern Crossroads MMPA Rep: Dan Crooms Region Fisheries Manager: Jack Lauer, CONTACT INFORMATION FOR MINNESOTA MUSKIE INC. CHAPTERS #01 Twin Cities: Peter Janik (952) , Doug Malsom (612) #02 Fargo-Moorhead: PO Box 2021, Fargo, ND 58103; Brian Grote, ; Brett Waldera #15 Star of the North: W. Bay Dr., Pengilly, MN 55775; Gary Rutherford (218) Dave Berglund (218) #21 North Metro: NMMI Chapter 21, PO B480098, Mpls, MN ; Steve Wernersbach (763) swernersbach@gmail.com ; Mike Riha mwriha@aol.com North Metro chapter website link #24 Brainerd Lakes: 9143 Lone Pine Road, Brainerd, MN; (218) Jeff Young; Greg Kvale (218) cattail1947@yahoo.com and Aaron Heimkes aaronheimkes@yahoo.com Brainerd web site at: #33 Lake Superior: th Place Sturgeon Lake MN ; Keith Okeson (218) green@lcp2.net; Pat Okeson; Lake Superior web site at: #37 St. Cloud: 109 Greenstone Ln. Waite Park, MN ; Bruce Kitowski EsoxMaster@charter.net ; Ken Schmitt (320) kenorschmitt@gmail.com Aaron Meyer (320) aaronmmeyer@hotmail.com St. Cloud web site at

8 #38 Vikingland: State Hwy. 29 S., Alexandria MN President, Katee Campion, #46 Bemidji/Cass Lake: Chris Thury 1312 Carr Lake Rd SW Bemidji, MN #54 Southern Crossroads: 1931 Greenwood Drive, Owatonna, MN 55061; Dean Peterson ; Dan Crooms (507) Supporters of the MMPA State HS Muskie Tournament is June 23, 2017 on Lake Vermilion. Vermilion Dam Lodge is the tournament Headquarters. Contact Mike,

9 21 st Annual Lake Superior Chapter Sportsman Banquet Everyone is welcome open to the public Where American legion post #71 West Duluth When March 18,2017 (5 PM) Time Social Hour 5 to 6:30 Meal 6:30 to 7:00 Awards & Drawings 7:00 Meal Roast Beef, Turkey, Potatoes, Bun, Salad and Dessert Adult meal tickets $25.00 till March 14 th $30.00 at the door Juniors Members are free 12 and under, 13 to 18 $12.50 Early Bird Packages must purchase before March 1 st Early Bird Packages will be pick up at the door Gold package $ (save $50.00) includes 1 adult meal, 100 general raffle tickets 3 chances at beer golf and 3 chances at High & Low.. Silver Package $75.00 (save $35.00) includes 1 adult meal, 75 general raffle tickets 1 chance at beer golf and 1 chance at High & low. Bronze Package $50.00 (save $20.00) includes 1 adult meal, 40 General raffle tickets, 1 chance at Beer golf. Early Bird Special Available only for Adults Number of Attendees Names Color (Gold), (Silver),(Bronze) Adults ( )... Early Bird Package s ( )... ( ) Meal Only..( ) 12 and under.. ( ) to 17.. ( ) Make Checks payable to Lake Superior Chapter of Muskies Inc. Mail Checks to Lake Superior Chapter c/o Keith Okeson, th Place, Sturgeon Lake, MN 55783

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