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Message: <blockquote data-quote="MuskyManiac" data-source="post: 60365" data-attributes="member: 381">I thought this post was going to die.  Guess not, so I will say one more thing regarding population densities, because it is the major factor regarding why catch-and-release is so important.  Remember, you can keep a muskie in Minnesota, it just has to be at least 54 inches. Not many muskie fishermen seem to have a problem with the size restriction, it's the people who don't even fish for them that raise all the stink. Now why is that?  I think many assume there are thousands and thousands of muskie swimming around eating everything in sight, and it's just not true.A recent study of Lake Bemidji revealed there are between 500-600 adult muskie in the lake.  This lake is approximately 6500 acres, with 1800 littoral acres. That puts muskie density at 1 fish per 100 acres, or 1 fish per 3 littoral acres. Now if a 50 inch fish is around 18 years old and you had someone keep a muskie a day during the summer months, you can see how a population could be severely impacted in just a few years.Keep in mind that Minnesota DNR's muskie management plan is based on creating a trophy fishery, and so far they are doing an excellent job. Lots of other states are looking at Minnesota's management because of the success they've had in creating a population of large fish. They are still learning on the fly, however, so there probably will be some bumps in the road.Hardcore muskie fishermen are just like any other fishermen, but it seems we get a bad rap.  I can tell you it does get old having to defend what you like to do all the time, whether on internet forums, on the water, or at boat the ramps when people tell you how a muskie stole their perch they were reeling up, or that muskies are eating all their walleye, or that they slit the gills of any muskie they incidentally catch.</blockquote>

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