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Musky Stocking in Lake Metonga – March 23, 2016

NO Musky in Lake Metonga

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Musky Stocking in Lake Metonga

This important message is for all Lake Metonga property owners, local area residents, friends and tourists.  There is an informational open meeting on March 23rd, at 6:00 PM at the Crandon High School.  Greg Matzke, DNR fishery biologist for Florence and Forest County, will be proposing to stock Muskies in Lake Metonga in the fall of 2016.  It appears that Matzke will present a proposal at this March 23rd meeting with minimal notification to the public.  Apparently Wisconsin open meeting law only requires at least 24 hours to notify the public as to any government meeting.  To date there hasn’t been any public notice.  The Boundary Waters Musky Club will be in favor of Matzke’s proposal.

Consider these Metonga fishery facts:  Metonga Association with the joint cooperation and funding from the Mole Lake Tribe stocked 10,000 Walleye fingerlings in 2007 and 2008.  (shared cost with the tribe–$10,000)  Also the tribes fishery biologist, Mike Preul, harvest and incubated walleye spawn and stocked a total of 8.5 million fry in 2009, 2010, and 2012.  As a further plan to increase walleye population, the Mole Lake Tribe choose not to spear walleyes in 2009, 2010, and 2011.  Also for the last 6 years Mike has directed the harvesting of bullheads in his fishery plan and this effort has had a very positive impact on the population of walleyes and perch.  Further, the walleye angular harvest size was increased from 15 inches to 18 inches.  A bag limit of (3) was set by the DNR.

Result:  All this effort, cost, and Tribal participation, plus a very positive natural reproduction, has increased the walleye population in Metonga from 0.6 mature walleyes per acre in 2004 to 4.9 in 2013.  The DNR is going to do a walleye population assessment again in 2016.

The result is Lake Metonga is probably one of the best walleye and now perch fisheries in Wisconsin.  That’s why it’s extremely important to attend this informational meeting.  You’ll find out the facts about stocking muskies in Metonga and you’ll be able to voice your opinion.  Is it a benefit?  Will muskies control the bullhead and sucker population or will it have a negative impact on the current walleye, perch, and smallmouth bass fishery and should not be stocked?