Fat Prespawn Muskies

Here's the message I got from Labrat today. I did this last year and had a great time.



Greetings muskie and pike enthusiasts:



Despite the seemingly very early spring, the muskies in the Bemidji area are finally beginning to make their spawning movements. This past Friday we were able to take one lot (female) of muskie eggs as well as one lot of hybrid muskie eggs from Elk Lake for the statewide production program. Unfortunately, the cool weather dropped water temperatures into the low 40s and no muskies were sampled over the weekend. Our crew set nets into Allens Bay of Cass Lake on Monday the 23rd and will continue to work them for at least the next two weeks. Water temperatures around the bay ranged 48-51 degrees in the peak of the afternoon so we should be getting a nice push of fish early this week. This will be the second consecutive year of sampling muskies on Cass Lake with the goal of recapturing fish that were tagged last year. As part of sampling this year we will also be electrofishing for muskies after dark when the weather cooperates. This is a really unusual, yet fun way to sample these critters. Since this type of sampling is so weather dependent we typically only have a day or two notice of when we are going to do it. Conditions we look for are warm nights, and most importantly little to no wind. Having said all that, we are looking for volunteers for both the netting and electrofishing. Netting days typically begin about 9 a.m. and go until around 11 a.m., while electrofishing nights begin just before sunset and go until around midnight.



If you or anyone you know can help out at all please let me know.



Mike




Mike Habrat

Fisheries Specialist

MNDNR-Bemidji Area Fisheries

2114 Bemidji Avenue

Bemidji, MN 56601

218-308-2338

662-312-6201 Cell