The elusive musky continues to grow in popularity
The popularity of fishing for the legendary muskellunge is growing. The number of people fishing for the giant fish has quadrupled in the last 50 years. Photo from Wikepdia.com
When the first day of the 2007 northern zone musky season arrives May 26, more anglers will be catching more fish faster, and sending more back to the water to fight another day, than a generation ago.
According to Tim Simonson, a DNR fisheries biologist who co-chairs the agency’s musky team, the popularity of musky fishing is definitely growing. The number of participants has more than quadrupled over the last 50 years.
An estimated 456,000 anglers pursued muskellunge in Wisconsin in 2001, the last year for which survey results are available, up 25 percent since 1994.
The legendary fish of “10,000 casts,” used to take two guys in a boat 50 hours to catch. Now it is closer to 24 hours and 3,000 casts. More anglers are landing trophy fish than a generation ago, based on reports from Muskies Inc. members.
In 2006, members reported catching more than 60 fish 48 inches and greater. That’s up from the average over the past decade of about 29 fish longer than 48 inches. Of course, more fish of all sizes are being released.
Simonson says during 2006, muskellunge harvest averaged only about 26 fish per 1,000 acres of Class A musky water, down from 41 per 1,000 acres in 1990. Class A musky waters are the best musky waters, with the most fish and the biggest fish.
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