| Nine lakes and a river section have
become the first beneficiaries of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat
Commission (PFBC) targeted approach to muskellunge stockings, with 15
other waters set to see stocking increases in future years. The
stocking changes on waters believed capable of supporting more and
larger muskies are one of several moves to improve muskellunge fishing
in the Commonwealth. Starting in 2007, musky season will extend
year-round for most waters, with a creel limit of one fish that must be
at least 40 inches. Currently the muskellunge season is closed mid-March
through early June and two 30-inch muskies may be creeled each day.
“Muskellunge represent a true trophy fishery and we’re adjusting our
management to maximize that trophy potential in those waters best suited
for it. For most anglers, a musky is the largest fish they’ll ever catch
in Pennsylvania waters. And for true musky aficionados, bigger is
better. So in response to angler input, we’re tweaking the regulations
to permit year-round angling opportunities and targeting our stockings
on those waters with the best potential to be top-notch destinations,”
said PFBC Executive Director Doug Austen.
The 10 waters that received additional tiger muskellunge in their
autumn 2006 allotments include:
| Water Body |
2005 Tiger Muskellunge
Allotment |
Tiger Muskellunge stocked in
2006 |
| Beltzville Lake, Carbon County |
3,798 |
6,785 |
| Cowanesque Reservoir, Tioga County |
1,100 |
4,424 |
| East Branch Clarion River Lake, Elk County |
2,050 |
7,592 |
| Holman Lake, Perry County |
500 |
768 |
| Keystone Lake, Armstrong County |
4,750 |
10,649 |
| Loyalhanna Lake, Westmoreland County |
3,706 |
6,263 |
| Marsh Creek Lake, Chester County |
2,699 |
4,332 |
| Nockamixon Lake, Bucks County |
7,252* |
4,425 |
| Sweet Arrow Lake, Schuylkill County |
0* |
805 |
| Schuylkill River (between Black Rock Dam and the
Perkiomen Creek) |
250 |
500 |
| * Previously not stocked on an annual
basis but slated for annual stocking beginning in 2007. This will
increase the average numbers stocked each year. |
In 2007 and beyond, 15 additional waters will also see their annual
allotment of purebred or tiger muskellunge increase. Those waters
include: Allegheny Reservoir, Warren County; Canoe Lake, Blair County;
Conneaut Lake, Crawford County; Delaware River, Northampton/Monroe/Pike
counties; Frances Slocum Lake, Luzerne County; Glendale Lake, Cambria
County; Lehigh River, Northampton/Lehigh counties; Lake Arthur, Butler
County; Lake Somerset, Somerset County; Rose Valley Lake, Lycoming
County; Sayers Lake, Centre County; Shenango Lake, Mercer County;
Susquehanna River, Northumberland County; Susquehanna River North
Branch, Luzerne County; and the Youghiogheny River,
Fayette/Allegheny/Westmoreland counties.
In order to accommodate the move to more intensive stocking in waters
with the most upside for muskellunge fishing, 29 lakes or water sections
are being removed from the stocking program on a trial basis. The waters
being removed from the musky stocking program were those where there is
little angler interest in musky or tiger musky fishing and/or where
there is inadequate forage to support desirable muskellunge or tiger
muskellunge populations. In some waters in the native range of
muskellunge, where there is some expectation that muskellunge may
reproduce naturally, stocking of tiger muskellunge will cease.
Among the waters coming off the muskellunge stocking list are the
Monongahela River, Sections 4, 6, 7 and 9 of the Raystown Branch of the
Juniata River, and the Schuylkill River from Flat Rock Dam downstream.
For a
complete list of waters coming off the muskellunge stocking list,
visit the Commission’s web site at www.fishandboat.com.
While on the site, anglers can also complete an
online survey asking input on the specific stocking changes as well
as provide thoughts on other aspects of muskellunge management in
Pennsylvania.
Biologists expect that it will take at least four to eight years
until the stocking changes begin to manifest themselves in a way anglers
can fully experience. However, there’s no need to wait that long to get
great musky action. The cooling water temperatures of autumn represent a
great time to pursue muskellunge. On the Commission web site, select
“Fish” from the left-hand navigation bar, then click “Pennsylvania
Fishes.” Select “Species
Feature Pages” and then
click on
the musky picture for a list of musky hot spots, biggest catches in
recent years and tips and techniques from Pennsylvania Angler &
Boater Magazine. |
