Quote Originally Posted by ppalko View Post
Here's the stocking list for Crawford County. I'm guessing that the issue is that so many little lakes are stocked. Why not just focus the efforts on one in order to establish a "super fishery"? Is it possible that the concern is too many musky in one place is a bad thing, at least in the smaller PA lakes as listed here?

Or, in terms of lakes, would it be better to stock fewer lakes in general. I did see a number of smaller stream that receive musky. Mahoning Creek in Armstrong Co. for example. Does anyone actually fish for these? I've actually fished this creek and have never seen a musky. Is this another example of wasted fish?
I am from erie and Crawford county, the reason a lot of those little lake are stocked in my area is because the fish commission uses them as brood stock lakes. meaning muskies in those lakes are netted in the spring to gather the eggs to make the baby muskies that will be stocked around the state. So its kinda important that these lakes get stocked.

While I understand not every lake in my area is a brood stock lake, but many lakes are small, under 500 acres. IMO to make a super fishery you need a larger lake or body of water. Well PA just doesn't have many big bodies of water, the ones that have most fisherman do not use to the full extent. Conneautte lake it beautiful lake but aweful to fish in the summer due to traffic. PMY Wilham, morain all have hp restrictions.

As for all the small streams being stocked, the number of fish put in is minimal but can yield good results. I spend a lot of time working those small streams on foot and get many fish doing it. It is a different kind of fishing that I find very rewarding and there is a decent size group of guys doing it along with me.

All I know is that I enjoy the many options of small water I have, I do not have a lot of time to fish and with my network of friends we can keep good tabs on what the different waters are like through out the season, most lakes are with in 20 miles of me. So I really like the shotgun effect of the stocking in my area.

When it comes to managing any resource the people making the decisions will never make everyone happy, I am happy I have muskies that I can fish for locally