A program for successful muskellunge management: A Minnesota success story

Minnesota has established a successful muskellunge, Esox masquinongy, stocking program as a result of a series of research studies that enabled area fisheries managers to make informed management decisions. The previous propagation and stocking program (pre-1982) reared muskellunge progeny from Shoe...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental biology of fishes 2007-06, Vol.79 (1-2), p.163-169
Main Authors: WINGATE, Paul J, YOUNK, Jerry A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agnatha. Pisces
Analytical methods
Angling
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Animals
Autoecology
Biological and medical sciences
Breeding stock
Electrophoresis
Esox masquinongy
Fish
Fish populations
Fisheries
Fisheries management
Fishery management
Fishing
Freshwater
Freshwater fishes
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Gametes
Growth rate
Hirudinea
Lakes
Natural resources
Offspring
Populations
Progeny
Restocking
Spawning
Sport fishing
Stocking
Vertebrata
Vertebrates: general zoology, morphology, phylogeny, systematics, cytogenetics, geographical distribution
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Summary:Minnesota has established a successful muskellunge, Esox masquinongy, stocking program as a result of a series of research studies that enabled area fisheries managers to make informed management decisions. The previous propagation and stocking program (pre-1982) reared muskellunge progeny from Shoepack Lake near the Minnesota-Ontario border, but these fish were not attaining trophy size. Protein electrophoresis showed there were two different muskellunge strains in the state. A controlled study was conducted on progeny from natural muskellunge populations from Leech and Shoepack lakes. Fish from these populations, together, were used to stock two other Minnesota lakes, and their growth rates, age of maturity, and maximum size attained were compared. Leech Lake muskellunge grew faster and attained a larger maximum size than the Shoepack Lake strain. As a result, a new stocking program based on the Leech Lake strain was developed. Because it was difficult to collect Leech Lake gametes, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources created seven brood stock lakes using Leech Lake progeny. As a result of combining genetic considerations, new research on spawning sites, more restrictive harvest regulations, and catch-and-release fishing, anglers' catch of trophy-sized muskellunge in Minnesota has increased.
ISSN:0378-1909
1573-5133
DOI:10.1007/s10641-006-9092-6