Why Harvest Pike? Everything you need to know about the “Pike Improvement Project 2019”
Why Harvest Pike?
Everything you need to know about the “Pike Improvement Project”
Goal: Bigger pike, more muskies, and a healthier fishery
The Chippewa Flowage and Pike
Many people are not aware that pike are not native to the Chippewa Flowage. But pike are now present, and very abundant. The result has been poor pike size and impacts on other species like muskel-lunge, walleye, and panfish.
What Can Be Done?
Reducing pike abundance has potential to lead to a variety of improvements in the fishery, in-cluding bigger pike. We have proposed a removal strategy that combines DNR netting and intense angler harvest in 2019.
Has This Worked Elsewhere?
Yes! In 2017 about 1/3 of the pike in Lac Courte Oreilles were re-moved. The results were very positive, including a 3.5″ increase in av-erage pike size (in just one year) and better musky stocking survival.
What needs to happen for this to be successful on the Chip?
Our goal is to see 10,000+ pike harvested in 2019. We need to espe-cially encourage the harvest of small pike (<22 inches) as much as we can. It may be possible for anglers to donate pike to be processed for local food shelves during some of the larger angling events. Tell guests about the project and the incentives being offered.
Anglers need to be aware that the daily bag limit of 5 still applies, and that fish cannot be wasted.
