TFF Musky Populations?

[AndrewR]

I know that most Musky guys like to keep their mouths shut, but I could use some guidance.

I've got 4 or 5 days free to spend fishing next week. I plan on lake hopping a few of the lakes in the area and float the Flambeau River, but would also like to fish the TFF for a few hours to show around to my friend who is new to the area. He wants to see this flowage and the spots where I catch Smallies from for a future reference.

However, we will be fishing Muskies.

Does anybody here have current numbers on the Muskies that are in here? Looking for an estimated population, as well as a density per acre number. Stocking numbers if available too. I know it's low from what I've been told.

There's a lot of water to eliminate from here, but ideas on where to fish would be splendid. I like to fish the far north end if it helps, and have encountered a few smaller fish in the 30 inch range hitting bass size lures up around the Four Mile Creek area.

If you got anything, thanks. If not, I understand and keep my share of secrets as well.

[Flambeau dreamer]

Try Pink Rock,and the big reed beds north of there, and there are deep weeds at the very north end of the flowage (follow the north shoreline, and you will find them).
Those are a couple of areas I hit when I venture that way. There are more around, but those should get you started.
I too will be muskie fishing on the flowage starting saturday.
Good luck
Chris

[ToddM]

I do not think the TFF is stocked anymore with muskies. There was a 5 year morritorium on musky stocking in iron county to evaluate natural reproduction, that was 7 or 8 years ago and I was told it was adequate enough to curtail stocking efforts. I also thought the TFF had about 1 adult fish per 4 or 5 acres which sounds about right.

[Mark Benson]

Andrew:

Your encountering areas would be good spots to keep in the back of your mind as you fish to there or away from there while fishing. You didn't mention in a lot of detail, but considering your quarry this spring, look for any weed growth that may have some up since or wood, no fish, then consider the channel edges not far from those locations. As you are motoring along to your locations to start and you flat calm water consider a little visual scouting for things that you might want to fish, such as cabbage tips...

Good luck, I heard an absolute monster came out of there recently!!!

Mark

[AndrewR]

Thanks for the fast replies. I've got a few pretty good areas in mind already and I'm excited to try something new.

Will be fishing Tuesday night thru next Sunday. We'll see what a half-day outing is like on the TFF. If not so good, I've got other lakes in the area to work with (Island / Moose / Cedar / Long / Spider / etc).... Tons of options here.

Other than some Smallies in the Lac Du Flambeau area, looks like next week will be pretty much all Ski's for my friend and I.

[Tom502]

Andrew,

Click on the link below to go the the TFF page of the WI-DNR web site.

Then scroll down to the bottom and download a PDF called "The Fishery in the Turtle-Flambeau Flowage." This 2010 brochure has lots of detail from a major fish survey done in 2009 including lots of info on Musky population and size.

http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/facilitie...u/fishing.html


Tight Lines,

Tom502