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muskiedreams

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Posts posted by muskiedreams

  1. If you are trailering it like that, there might be a lot of stress on it from bouncing while going over bumps and dips in the road. I have an Evinrude 15hp 4 stroke on a Garelick heavy duty aluminum kicker bracket on an aluminum boat. When I had it installed, they put in an extra brace on the inside of the boat's transom to reinforce the transom at that point. Also, my boat has the tie down "U" bolt mounted to the inside of the kicker motor. So I use a ratchet strap from that tie down wrapped around the motor shaft to the cleat on the rear deck. That keeps the whole setup rigid so there is no bouncing on the road. Any bouncing is like a constant hammering on the bolts.

  2. It is within anybody's right to keep a legal fish. Posting it on the internet is the main concern here. It can become a promotion, for everyone not familiar with the reasons for catch and release, to keep their legal size muskies. That could be bad for the future of many musky populations especially in NYS. That is why the reasons for catch and release must be mentioned here. It is not an attack on you BassMrs.ster for keeping the fish.  It is just a concern that this thread can turn into a promotion for keeping all muskies which is something that most musky anglers understand would be bad for the sustainability of most musky fisheries.

     

    The main point that has to be made here is that muskies can easily become an endangered species, at least in NY. Due greatly to the internet, more people are fishing for muskies. Musky communities simply cannot be sustained without catch and release and/or massive stocking programs.

     

    Based on all the conservation reasons already mentioned here, most musky anglers understand the need to, and practice, catch and release for muskies in particular. They cannot be compared to any other fresh water fish,aside from sturgeon, when discussing keep or release. There are not many waters, at least in New York, that hold muskies. Muskies in NY waters of the Great Lakes, which are currently sustained only by natural reproduction, are already in decline for a variety of reasons. Catch and release is the main reason we have the opportunity to catch large muskies in those waters and all waters in NY.

     

    As for tigers, aside from a few very small central and northern NY lakes and a few small tributaries, Otisco is the only other lake that Tiger Muskies have done well in. If most anglers practice catch and release there, there is a great potential for mid and upper forties tigers to become fairly common in the future.

     

    Since there are more and more anglers in NY fishing for muskies, and so few waters that hold them, it is important to do all we can to protect the muskies that we do have and at the same time, work to show the DEC that there is a growing interest in musky fishing so that they will consider expanding management and stocking of muskies and tiger muskies in other waters in the state. A lot of what the DEC does in fisheries management is based on angler utilization and the commerce it generates. That is one of the important reasons for angler participation in the angler diary studies. This is also one of the most important reasons for the existence of Muskies Inc. Chapters 69 and 70 and all other chapters throughout the musky range as well as Muskies Canada. This helps the DEC to justify expansion of the stocking program to the legislation in Albany (there always has to be a money component for action in Albany). So hopefully, we will eventually have more musky fishing opportunities in NY.

     

    More and more people are taking up fishing and that generates commerce. But there are limited numbers of fish. Healthy communities of fish and diversity of species are very important for the health of a body of water. The same is true for plant and other life in and around the water. All of us who use it have a certain amount of responsibility to do our part to help insure the health of our waters and the life within them for the future of mankind and the earth. If we want to enjoy those resources and take from them we also must give back.

     

     

    • Like 3
  3. What are things like in the SLR with the border lock down? Have they been strict about the border line?

     

    I have heard that they are being very strict in the Niagara River. I understand that fishing is not allowed across the border (either direction) even with a fishing license and passport or enhanced driver's license. I,m not sure but I think they are allowing boaters to cross the line if it is needed to navigate safely between points. But there could be an issue if you stop on the other side of the line or maybe even drift or slightly cross while fishing. I would think that in some areas in the islands, it might be even more of a headache.

  4. From what I have read and experienced, they tend to be in the weed beds and in open pockets in weeds. Similar to Largemouth bass. Prety much all the finger lakes have more extensive weed beds at the north and south ends but there can be good weed beds in coves as well. So you can use maps to identify likely locations but if you are restricted to shore fishing you will also be limited by shore access. And I believe wading (and swimming) is not allowed in those lakes without waders.

  5. First off, BassMrs.ster, I am not trying to bash you or anything like that. Us musky anglers are just concerned about muskies and tiger muskies being kept because there are so few waters in NY that hold them, and there is an increasing amount of angling pressure on them. This makes it increasingly important to do what we can to minimize their mortality.

     

    The point is that tigers are stocked and maintained in that lake as a sport fish. The size limit was recently raised in order to discourage keeping them and to help the lake become a trophy tiger musky lake. It also helps relieve the angling pressure on the few waters in NY that support purebred muskies because they take a much longer time to reach trophy size.

     

    Anglers come to Otisco lake for the experience of catching those fish and that helps justify the cost and effort of stocking them in the lake, because they spend money locally while they are there. That helps support the local businesses as well as the local tax base which in turn helps the residents.

     

    Fortunately, the greater majority of anglers who fish for them take great care not to harm them or cause excessive stress and do their best to release them unharmed so they live to grow and provide another great experience for another angler. Many of those anglers are youths who will have a very memorable experience.

     

    I know it is completely within your rights to keep and eat a legal size fish. But it looks like you also are thrilled and proud to catch such a large fish since you posted a picture of it on this board. And it is true that there are a lot of them in the lake but not so many of that size or larger. And I bet you would be even more thrilled if one day you catch one that is 48 inches. That is a big reason why most musky anglers release all their muskies.

     

    There are a lot of walleye in that lake which are stocked by the state in much greater numbers and they grow to legal size faster than tiger muskies. Walleye, as I am sure you know, is a better eating fish and it is a primary reason why they are stocked and people fish for them. So could you please consider trying not to keep tiger muskies for food if you are able to catch enough walleye to feed your family? Then someday, who knows, you may get that 48 incher and post a picture of it here and a release photo is even more satisfying.

     

    Also, if you need to increase your success with walleye, I am sure Justin or others on this board or the Otisco or walleye boards can give you some tips.

    • Like 1
  6. On 6/28/2020 at 10:21 AM, wallychaser said:

    That would be Oneida by the way ;)

    I guess they didn't follow the general English rule, I before E except after C, when they named that lake. But maybe it is because it was translated from a Native American language. So Tim actually followed the rule. I always get that rule mixed up. In those cases I am glad to have spell check.

  7. Thank you very much Chad, Steve LaPan and John Farrell.

     

    I do have one question for those of us who have been participating in the hard copy diaries. Should this be used instead of the hard copy?

     

    I just want to say that there has been a lot of hesitation in trying an online version of the "Diary Study". PLEASE BE HONEST AND ACCURATE. To the fisheries management community, this is a very important tool in their toolbox but the accuracy of this tool is critical for fisheries research and management. So, for those of you who target muskies in the SLR only occasionally or rarely catch any, that information is also important for management of the fishery.  Even if you go out and get blown off by the weather, that information could be useful. Here is a quote from the final paragraph of the form that sums it up.

     

     

    Record EVERY trip and ALL warm water game fish caught.  Please record your trip information even if you catch no fish.  Information on the number of trips where no fish are caught is valuable to the DEC in making management decisions about this water.

  8. I just want to say that in the second photo, the area of the keel that is dented in could be an issue. It looks like that is where the boat sits on a roller. If that is the case, it is most likely dented in because the boat is bouncing up and down on the trailer on the road. It could cause the hull to crack under or near the keel from the pounding and also damage the roller. I have had that problem. You may need to strap down the bow of the boat to keep that from happening.

  9. This virus is nothing to sneeze at or take lightly.

     

    If we didn't have a new flu vaccine every year it potentially would be just as (or more) deadly and many of you might not exist.

     

    Until the medical community develops a vaccine and/or finds treatments that are effective and safe to treat it, we must do what is necessary to keep it from spreading. The more people who follow the guidelines to control the spread, the less the economic impact will be in the long run. It is as bad as it is now because too many people have not taken it seriously, including many politicians, business leaders, some media outlets, social media platforms, and even health officials under pressure from the first four. Anyone who thinks otherwise is just plain mistaken. With that said, If you can still work with absolute certainty you will not be putting yourself or others at risk, then maybe you can but everything you do must be done with best practices in mind. This is because you can not see it, you can not smell or taste it, you can not tell if you or someone else is carrying it and by the time you know, it will be to late.

     

    There are more people dying from it than we really know because the testing has not caught up with the need and the only deaths they are confirming are those who have been tested positive. Not all people who have died from it have been tested.

  10. Very tough call. This COVID-19 is presenting many unknowns. One thing I want to mention is that in the Chapter 70 blog in the back of the Jan/Feb Muskie mag, they announced that they are going to have a season long tournament where members can fish any waters, and will not have any traditional tournaments. I am not sure how it will be judged or how prizes will be determined. And I don't think they had the COVID-19 virus in mind when they decided on the plan. So some input from them on how they will manage it might be helpful.

     

    At this point, we don't know how to be diligent and in compliance with new mandated gathering and travel restrictions, including anglers traveling across state lines. It also looks like the Region 3 Chapter Challenge might even be affected.

  11. The virus is here and it is real.

    But!!!

    1) Everybody needs to, above all, use common sense. Stop, seek professional knowledge and advice and think before you act. Don't be a naysayer.  Don't use pure emotions. Don't be a fear monger.

    2) Fueling mass panic and perpetuating false notions will only create more polarization, cause additional problems and help the virus and the Russians who want to tear our democracy down.

    3) You cant protect yourself from it with TP, bullets, etc.

    4) Don't be a hypocrite and complain about high drug prices and then try to create and/or cash in on shortages caused by the situation.

    5) Know that you and everyone around you might be infected and take reasonable precautions.

    6) It might be reasonable to assume you are infected if someone in your house or that you have been close to has tested positive.

    7) Don't believe everything you read on social media. So you don't have to believe a word I have said. But maybe you should check with professional sources in the medical field.

  12. 3 hours ago, HB2 said:

    So it's really no different then any of the other flus that have been coming around so since the beginning of time . 

    That is just not true and not what the top medical professionals are saying. I prefer to believe what they say. If you respect people over 60, you should also.

  13. Everyone should take basic precautions like more hand washing (done correctly and before contact with your face), no handshaking, using hand sanitizer, reducing close quarter situations with strangers and whatever health officials recommend. Even Those who are younger and healthy who are at lower risk should do the same, to keep from spreading the virus to the vulnerable public.

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