March 11, 2009
The Department of Natural Resources is seeking input on new draft management strategies for pike and muskellunge in Michigan.
The plans, which were developed by a standing committee of DNR personnel as well as a representative from the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources, identify goals and recommend strategies to protect and enhance pike and muskellunge resources statewide.
The muskellunge plan calls for maximizing the abundance of large fish in the population and identifies the need to establish a brood-stock program for Great Lake muskies to restore traditional populations and perhaps expand them into major river systems.
The pike plan calls for increasing the size structure of the population while maintaining a stable harvest.
The plans are available on the DNR Web site at www.michigan.gov/dnrfishing.
Comments about the Northern Pike plan (DNR-PikePlan@michigan.gov) and Muskellunge plan (DNR-MuskyPlan@michigan.gov) can be e-mailed to each respective address.