Piscatory Predator

Piscatory Predator

This fish has Illinois anglers hooked.

STORY BY P.J. PEREA
PHOTOS BY CHAS. J. DEES

The scientific name for the muskellunge is Esox masquinongy. Esox comes from the European name for pike, and masquinongy is derived from the Cree "mashk" meaning deformed and "kinonge," meaning a pike. Native Americans recognized that this fish was different from the more commonly seen northern pike.

Anglers report that the muskie is more difficult to catch than a northern pike, tougher to locate, fussier about lures and presentations and an incredible challenge to land on a rod and reel.

Stories abound of ducks, mice, muskrats and even small dogs being eaten by enormous muskies. Perhaps it is this fierce reputation that inspires many anglers to travel throughout North America in pursuit of the muskie, spending thousands of dollars on customized rods and baits for an opportunity to tangle with one of these legendary fish.

For many decades, anglers from Illinois went to Wisconsin, Minnesota and Canada to fish for muskie. Recently, anglers have noticed that our own home state is producing many impressive fish, with the state record being challenged on an annual basis.

Anglers now can find the toothy predator in 28 Illinois impoundments (see map) and in the Fox River system. Considerable research and cooperation have resulted in the creation of this rapidly growing fishery.

Muskie Research: Project Green Gene

"Our aim is to increase the trophy potential and maximize the effectiveness of the money spent stocking muskies in Illinois," said Dave Wahl, principal investigator of Project Green Gene. "We want to find out what strain of muskie performs best in the different regions of Illinois."

The project is a collaborative effort between DNR fisheries and the Central Illinois Chapter of Muskies, Inc. and investigates the performance of different genetic strains of muskies in Illinois.

Donations collected from Illinois muskie clubs, a $7500 grant from the Illinois Conservation Foundation and a five-year grant from the federal Sport Fish Restoration Project will provide funding to test the performance of four strains of muskie.

"We are testing fish from the Ohio River Valley, Upper Mississippi, Great Lakes and from Illinois' Spring Lake," Wahl said. "We are interested in studying the performance of these strains in growth and survival."

Steve Pallo, DNR Fisheries Administrator, added, "We hope to keep this project over the long term and follow these fish over the next 10 years. Muskie clubs, especially the Central Illinois Chapter of Muskies, Inc., have been instrumental in raising awareness about this project and getting it off the ground."

Common Muskie Myths

Myth: Muskies eat significant numbers of bass.

Truth: Scientific studies on muskie food habits indicate that muskies generally eat what is most abundant. In Illinois lakes, that equates to gizzard shad, common carp, suckers and sunfishes.

As an aquatic predator, the muskie's tapered body, well-developed teeth and keen senses aid it in capturing prey.

Myth: Muskies are overly abundant in Illinois lakes due to overstocking, restrictive limits and barrier nets.

Truth: DNR fisheries biologists monitor population structure on an annual basis through net surveys, creel catches, tagging studies and electrofishing. Stocking rates are adjusted to account for increasing or decreasing populations, and several lakes get stocked every other year instead of annually. Management techniques used in Illinois do include barrier nets to prevent lake escapement, restrictive limits to increase population densities of trophy-sized fish and stocking.

Myth: Illinois does no research on muskies.

Truth: In addition to Project Green Gene, significant research is taking place. Some of the first genetic studies in the nation were done during the early 1980s by University of Illinois researchers and Muskies, Inc. The Illinois Natural History Survey recently completed a seven-year study on muskellunge. Management strategies from the studies include finishing muskies on minnows, best sizes to stock, when to stock and the metabolic rates of different genetic strains. DNR biologists continue to collect data on age and growth, reproduction, population size and mortality rates. Thousands of muskies have been marked with "spaghetti" tags, and several hundred more have been tagged with "computer chips."

Myth: The 48-inch length limit won't work in Illinois.

Truth: Muskie length limits have been raised in many states. Wisconsin has a statewide 34-inch length limit, with some lakes extending limits to 40, 45 and even 50 inches. Minnesota, New York and Ontario, Canada have similar regulations. Illinois has a 36-inch statewide length limit, with a 42-inch length limit on one lake and a 48-inch length limit on nine lakes. Time will tell if the 48-inch length limit results in bigger fish.

Myth: Illinois is not a good muskie state.

Truth: Illinois' reported catch rates are some of the best in the country— one for every 16 hours spent muskie fishing. This is well documented by creel studies and volunteer creel cards turned in by muskie anglers.

Muskie Events

Illinois is hosting two major muskie events this fall—the 7th Annual Director's Muskie Tournament and the Professional Muskie Tournament Trail (PMTT) Invitational Championship, held on consecutive weekends in October at Eagle Creek State Park on Lake Shelbyville.

At the Oct. 4-6 Director's Muskie Tournament, anglers from across the country will compete for cash prizes and raise funds for the Illinois Conservation Foundation. Last year, more than 160 anglers fished in the tournament.

"The money collected will support youth programs and the muskie fishery on Lake Shelbyville," said tournament organizer Richard Glazebrook. Anglers interested in fishing the tournament can contact him at (217) 756-8260.

The following weekend, the top 50 teams on the PMTT will compete for a Ranger boat and $10,000 cash. Anglers interested in fishing the tournament can contact Tim Widlacki at (815) 264-3228 or visit www.promusky.com.

The Future

It seems that muskies are here to stay. The continued support and cooperation of anglers, clubs, researchers and resource managers will guarantee the success of the fishery and provide anglers with ample opportunities to catch a trophy of a lifetime—in Illinois!

John Stevenson and Deb Stauffer admire a muskie taken during the 2001 Director's Tournament on Lake Shelbyville.

October 2002 9

Hey muskie—bite me! I dare you!

Few people really appreciate the scale of these oversized baits. It seems that bigger baits mean bigger fish—and a sore arm. Here are a few baits you might see a muskie following at a lake near you.

Type
Lure (Photo) Specification Contact
Jerkbait-glide bait

Jerko or Squirko 9-inch plastic jerkbait, Wolverine split rings, 4/0 treble hooks Llungen Lures 3025 Malmo Road Arlington Hts., IL 60005 (847) 223-5720 www .llungen.com
In-line spinner

Muskie Attacker
Two-hook model in-line spinner. Wolverine split rings, VMC hooks Muskie Attacker Tackle Co. 2417 Manchester Court Woodridge,IL 60517 (630) 663-4562 muskieattacker.micronpcweb.com
Spinnerbait

Imagic Spinnerbait

Titanium alloy wire, holographic eyes, high-carbon steel hooks, weight-2 oz.

Aurora Sports, Inc. 2355-B Greenleaf Ave. Elk Grove Village, IL 60007 (847)545-1388 www. aurorasports .corn

Crankbait-lipless

Rat-L-Trap Super-Trap
4 3/4-inch rattling bait, 100-pound test stainless steel internal harness, 3/0 hooks

Bill Lewis Lures P.O. Box 7959 Alexandria, LA 71306 1-800-633-4861 www.rat-l-trap.com

Crankbait-lipped

Jake

10-inch high-impact plastic crankbait

Muskie Mania Tackle 5699 East 71st Street No. 4B Indianapolis, IN 46220 www.muskymania.com
Trolling bait

Leo Hog
11-inch jointed balsa bait, dives 11 feet deep, 7/0 treble hooks
Leopardi' s Leo-Lures 809 Marion Avenue Ellwood City, PA 16117 (724) 758-2701 www. leolures. corn

Soft bait

Giant Witch
16-inch plastic jerkbait, 120-pound test braided wire backbone, 8/0 Mustad hooks
DeLONG Lure Mfg. 955 Joliet Road Valparaiso, IN 46385 1-877-335-6642 www.delonglure.com