The implications of the first year findings are potentially enormous for fisheries management as well as musky fishing as a sport. For fisheries management, the first year of the Chippewa Flowage Musky Study-Year 1 (CFMS-Y 1) provides fisheries managers with greatly improved data by which to estimate fisheries populations, make stocking decisions, and to better determine prudent size limits. For musky fishing, the CFMSY1 smashed many of the longest held beliefs, but also confirmed some of the things that we, as musky fishermen, have come to rely on in our pursuit of Old Esox. The CFMS-Y1 findings are, for the most part, not necessarily exclusive to the Chippewa Flowage; but rather, are likely reflective of musky behavior anywhere. TWO REMAINING QUESTIONS As noted, the CFMS-Y1 is completed. The large and diversified consortium of agencies that were part of the first year of the CFMS continue to analyze the data for additional insight into the world of the musky. To recap -the finding for the first year came from the Lac Courte Oreilles Tribe, the U.S. Dept. of Interior and the Hayward Lakes Chapter of Muskies, Inc. As a result of this cooperation, all of the questions that were part of the original study were answered with the exception of two. They are: Whether two genetically different species of Muskies exist. The mortality (death) rate of Muskies caught and released while utilizing the single hook sucker method. These two remaining questions are among the most discussed in musky fishing. But, of the two questions, the most controversial involves the use of the single hook sucker rig.
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