working to preserve, promote and advance muskie and pike...
TRANSCRIPT
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 10-12. 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 [email protected] or 612-203-4041. 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.
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
12th. Please contact Dan Crooms, [email protected] or 612-203-4041.
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 56387
(320) 251-5580
2017 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 2017. With these awards, the total of benefits issued
since the beginning of the program (in 2008) will be >$1,235,000.00.
The order of funding dates for 2017, with amounts totaling $105,000.00 are:
To help fund the Minnesota DNR Fisheries Offices in Duluth with netting equipment.
February……$9,000.00
To provide funds three (3) Minnesota DNR projects in Little Falls and Sauk Rapids through the St. Cloud Chapter #37 of
Muskies, Inc.
February…….$2,000.00
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……$5,900.00
To assist the Minnesota Muskie and Pike Alliance (MMPA) in their political lobbying efforts with the Minnesota State
Legislature.
February……$6,000.00
To support the Maryland DNR with their muskie research on the upper reaches of the Potomac River through the
Thurmont, MD, Fisheries Offices.
March………$3,700.00
For further funding of muskie “pit-tagging“ research on the Mantrap Lakes System through the Minnesota DNR Park
Rapids, MN Fisheries Office’
March……$1,500.00
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……$7,000.00
To fund the Minnesota DNR Waterville Hatchery with new equipment for raising muskies.
March…… $9,600.00
Muskies Inc. – Twin Cities Chapter
4020 Pipewood Lane Chanhassen, MN 55331
To support the muskie ”pit-tagging” research on Lake Wissota, WI, through the First Wisconsin Chapter #6 of Muskies,
Inc.
April……$7,000.00
To partially fund the Ohio DNR at the Sandusky Fisheries Research Station with their study of spatial ecology of
muskellunge in Lake Erie.
April……$5,400.00
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……$5,400.00
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……$4,500.00
To provide partial funding of the FIN (youth) Program in St. Paul, MN through the Twin Cities Chapter #1 of Muskies, Inc.
May……$500.00
To support the Youth Conservation Alliance (YCA) for their programs at Hayward, WI.
May……$7,500.00
To support the Minnesota State High School Muskie-Fishing program through the North Metro Chapter #21 of Muskies,
Inc.
May……$2,000.00
To match funding of the Minnesota State High School Muskie-Fishing program through the Twin Cities Chapter #1 of
Muskies, Inc.
May……$2,000.00
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.….. $2,000.00
To fund four(4) Metro Day Camps through The Fishing for Life (FFL) programs in the Twin Cities of Minnesota.
May.…...$3,500.00
To assist in funding muskie forage to the Minnesota DNR New London, MN Fish Hatchery during the critical summer
raising.
June…….$5,000.00
To assist in funding muskie forage to the Michigan DNR Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery
for the 2017 season through the Michigan Muskie Alliance Chapter #47 of Muskies, Inc.
June…….$2,000.00
To assist the stocking efforts of the Green Bay Chapter #4 of Muskies, Inc.
August…$1,500.00.
To continue the funding to Muskies Canada in their restoration of muskellunge project at Lake Simcoe.
August…$5,000.00
To assist the stocking efforts of Bill’s Musky Club in central Wisconsin. August…$6,000.00
To help fund stocking muskies through the 12 Apostles Musky Club of Wisconsin.
August....$2,500.00
To help fund stocking muskies through the Consolidated Musky Club of Wisconsin.
August....$2,500.00
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.
http://www.cafepress.com/mnmuskie
Join Us on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Minnesota-Muskie-Alliance/340864160658
Minnesota Muskie and Pike Alliance
http://www.mnmuskie.org/
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.
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 e-mail 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 [email protected] Dan Crooms [email protected]
Department of Natural Resources Contacts:
Don Pereira, Central Office, Fisheries Management Chief, 500 Lafayette Road, St Paul, MN 55155 651-259-5229
Neil Vanderbosch, Program Coordinator (St Paul) – 651-259-5178 [email protected] Mike Habrat, DNR, Fisheries Biologist Specialist, Detroit Lakes Area Fisheries Office. 14583 County Rd. 19 Detroit Lakes,
MN 56501 218-846-8343. [email protected]
Al Stevens, DNR, Fisheries Lake and Stream Survey Program and Tourney Coordinator (St. Paul) - (651) 259-5239
MINNESOTA MUSKIE ALLIANCE OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES
Co-Chair –John Underhill (507) 259-5074, [email protected]
Co-Chair – Aaron Meyer (320)260-0961 [email protected]
Treasurer – Carl Phillips (612)709-8066, [email protected]
Secretary – Pat Okeson (218) 372-6389 [email protected]
DNR/Legislative Committee – John Underhill
Committee Members: Shawn Kellett (612) 201-0209, John Underhill (507)259-5074
New Waters/Stocking Committee- Chair Greg Kvale [email protected], 218-232-0328
Communications Committee – Co-chair Keith Okeson (218) 273-6389 [email protected]
Co-chair Dan Crooms (507)744-4265 [email protected]
DNR REGION REPRESENTATIVES:
NE DNR Region: Chapters: Brainerd Lakes, Lake Superior and Star of the North
MMPA Reps: Keith Okeson 218-273-6389
Greg Kvale 328-232-0328
NE Regional Fisheries Manager: Chris Kavanaugh 218-328-8832, [email protected].
NW DNR Region: Chapters: Fargo Moorhead, Bemidji/Cass Lake
MMPA Reps: Mark Stenger 218-342-2743
Brett Waldera 701-298-9032
Region Fisheries Manager Henry Drewes, 218-755-3959
Central DNR Region: St. Cloud MMPA Rep: Bruce Kitowski [email protected] ; Ken Schmitt
(320)290-6272 [email protected]
Brad Parsons, 651-259-5789
South DNR Region: Southern Crossroads
MMPA Rep: Dan Crooms 507-744-4265
Region Fisheries Manager: Jack Lauer, 507-359-6046
CONTACT INFORMATION FOR MINNESOTA MUSKIE INC. CHAPTERS
#01 Twin Cities: Peter Janik (952)649-9576, [email protected] Doug Malsom (612) 759-3407 [email protected]
#02 Fargo-Moorhead: PO Box 2021, Fargo, ND 58103; Brian Grote, [email protected] ; Brett Waldera
#15 Star of the North: 16774 W. Bay Dr., Pengilly, MN 55775; Gary Rutherford (218) 885-1677 [email protected];
Dave Berglund (218)244-1856 [email protected]
#21 North Metro: NMMI Chapter 21, PO B480098, Mpls, MN 55448. ; Steve Wernersbach (763)242-2625
[email protected] ; Mike Riha [email protected]
North Metro chapter website link www.nmmuskies.com
#24 Brainerd Lakes: 9143 Lone Pine Road, Brainerd, MN; (218)821-3669 Jeff Young; Greg Kvale (218)232-0328
[email protected] and Aaron Heimkes [email protected]
Brainerd web site at: www.Brainerdmuskies.com
#33 Lake Superior: 30879 100th Place Sturgeon Lake MN. 55783; Keith Okeson (218)273-6389 [email protected]; Pat
Okeson;
Lake Superior web site at: www.lakesuperiormuskies.com
#37 St. Cloud: 109 Greenstone Ln. Waite Park, MN. 56387; Bruce Kitowski [email protected] ; Ken
Schmitt (320)290-6272 [email protected]
Aaron Meyer (320)260-0961 [email protected]
St. Cloud web site at www.Stcloudmuskies.com
#38 Vikingland: 11513 State Hwy. 29 S., Alexandria MN. 56308 President, Katee Campion, 320-293-7910
#46 Bemidji/Cass Lake: Chris Thury [email protected] 1312 Carr Lake Rd SW Bemidji, MN 56601 612-590-9785
#54 Southern Crossroads: 1931 Greenwood Drive, Owatonna, MN 55061; Dean Peterson 507-345-8701; Dan Crooms
(507)744-4265
Supporters of the MMPA
State HS Muskie Tournament is June 23, 2017 on Lake Vermilion. Vermilion Dam Lodge is the tournament Headquarters. Contact Mike, [email protected]
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 14th
$30.00 at the door
Juniors Members are free 12 and under, 13 to 18 $12.50
Early Bird Packages must purchase before March 1st
Early Bird Packages will be pick up at the door
Gold package $100.00 (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.. ( )……………………………...
13 to 17… ….. ( )………………………………
Make Checks payable to Lake Superior Chapter of Muskies Inc.
Mail Checks to
Lake Superior Chapter c/o Keith Okeson , 30879 100th
Place, Sturgeon Lake, MN 55783
