I do believe my initial post on this was supportive with what he did. I have always been in total support of anyone wanting to keep a legal fish. I am totally against putting the poor thing on a wall as a trophy. Hell, I have my own smallie taste test going on comparing how smallies taste out of different bodies of water. So far it's inconclusive. They're the best tasting fish out there no matter what body of water they come out of.
I expected different.
What I can't stand is the idea of dead things hanging on walls. If you are going to go out and spend a day in the woods or on the water and kill things, then you better eat it. Better yet, cook it up and share it with friends. It's all part of the process.
Ken you're right they're not that bad tasting really but with all your knowledge I am surprised you still feel this way.
It's exactly my knowledge of the Fox that lets me feel that way. Years ago I was very involved with working with a few DNR fisheries biologists, used to collect the data from all their shocking surveys, used to have extensive conversations about fish population health, participated in a couple of shocking surveys and between that and the shocking surveys from the rest of the river it would surprise you where these fish are. Guys might want to catch 48 inch muskie out of the Fox, but the reality is very few would ever get that big. Rivers are tough on fish. Haven't you ever noticed how they look almost nothing like their lake cousins. Much leaner and fight much meaner.
I would much rather rest my decision on the science of fisheries that the DNR conducts rather than the opinion of fisherman, which is generally more emotion based than anything else. Ask the average fisherman about dams. Then try to get them to cite the science behind what should be done with them.
Nobody has been able to show that these fish are reproducing in the river. Even though this is not impossible since their traditional habitat is rivers, not lakes. If you want more muskie in the Fox, then make sure there is nothing in there way when they flip the dam or go through the locks on the Chain. The next time there is a muskie rescue in Somanauk Creek below Lake Holiday or Indian Creek at Shabonna Lake, make sure you put a stop to it. Also make sure they take down the netting that is at the tops of the dams to keep muskie from going over them.
Where do you think a lot of those lower Fox muskie are coming from?
I threw away all the info I collected a couple of years ago. There's nothing more I need to know or prove. But before this topic ever comes up again about any of the river species, somebody needs to call the fisheries biologists. You can get through to them at Silver Springs. See what they have to say before making generalities about the scarcity of any of these fish.
As for a 7 course meal, I think a game dinner is in order. I can bring squirrel and chipmunks (the grouse of the rodent world).
I also have 26 recipes for raccoon.
And Quetico, where's your Apple River camp? I set up mine about 1.5 miles down from the main park. Apple River smallies are the standard to which all other smallies are being held to.
It's like they've been marinated in a mild maple syrup.
