(Provided by Michigan DNR)
The Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries Divisions Southern Lake Michigan Management Unit will conduct a public meeting to discuss muskellunge management on Gun Lake in Barry County.
The meeting will be held on Thursday, July 18 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Orangeville Township Hall, located at 7350 Lindsey Road in Plainwell.
The meeting will provide an opportunity to discuss a proposal to increase the muskellunge minimum size limit from 42 to 46 inches on Gun Lake to protect this naturally reproducing population.
Muskellunge were a naturally occurring part of the fish community in Gun Lake in the early 1900s. The muskellunge population slowly declined due to overharvest and a reduction in recruitment, probably related to habitat alterations in the form of lake-level control structures and shoreline development. Muskellunge need access to woody structure or marsh areas for spawning.
Northern muskellunge were stocked in Gun Lake since 1979, but this practice was discontinued due to public concern the muskellunge population was becoming too high and negatively affecting the rest of the fish community.
Today, muskellunge continue to naturally reproduce in Gun Lake. On rare occasions, anglers catch muskellunge that show visual characteristics of the original spotted or Great Lakes strain that once was vibrant in the lake. Anglers also catch a natural hybrid between muskellunge and northern pike, known as tiger muskellunge.
Reducing the harvest size would give the remaining muskellunge a chance to thrive and assist rehabilitation efforts of this population, said Kregg Smith, senior fisheries biologist in charge of Gun Lake.
At the meeting, the DNR would also like to hear the publics interest in a potential small stocking program of Great Lakes muskellunge and possible habitat improvement projects on Gun Lake. A low level of stocking and habitat improvement could assist in muskellunge rehabilitation in the lake.
Those with disabilities needing accommodations for this meeting should contact Kregg Smith at 269-685-6851 a minimum of five business days prior to the meeting date. Requests made later than that may not be possible to accommodate.
For more information on this meeting, contact Kregg Smith at smithk34@michigan.gov or Jay Wesley at wesleyj@michigan.gov.