Wisconsin Muskellunge Management Team

Wisconsin's Muskellunge Management Team (WMMT) is a standing team of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Bureau of Fisheries. Its members include state Fisheries Biologists, with representatives from Wisconsin's major muskellunge fishing organizations.

The "Musky Committee" was active in the late 1970s, when the first contemporary management plan was developed. During the late 1980s, a small group of biologists led a successful effort to increase the minimum length limits on several individual water bodies. In the early 1990s, the committee was reformed to address lingering concerns regarding harvest and size-structure of muskellunge. That effort resulted in an increase in the minimum length limit to 34" statewide. In the mid-1990s, the present committee was formed to update the muskellunge management plan and address specific issues related to the propagation and stocking of muskellunge.

Current members
Charge
Recent Meeting Notes
Management Plans and Reports

Musky Management Team Current Members

Team Sponsor, Scot Stewart, Regional Fisheries Supervisor, Fitchburg

Team Leader, Tim Simonson, Fisheries Biologist, Bureau of Fisheries Management, Madison

Team Members: NER - David Rowe, Fisheries Biologist, Green Bay
NOR - Steve Gilbert, Fisheries Biologist, Woodruff
NOR - Terry Margenau, Fisheries Supervisor, Spooner
SCR - Kurt Welke, Fisheries Biologist, Fitchburg
SER - Doug Welch, Fisheries Biologist, Sturtevant
WCR - Jordan Weeks, Fisheries Biologist, La Crosse
Dr. Martin Jennings, Research Scientist, Spooner
Gary Lindenberger, Hatchery Manager, Spooner
TBD, Fisheries Biologist, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission

Partners

Dr. Brian Sloss, Wisconsin Cooperative Fisheries Research Unit, University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
Bob Haase (Muskellunge Clubs Alliance of Wisconsin)
Greg Wells (Wisconsin Chapters of Muskies, Inc.)
John Aschenbrenner (WI Conservation Congress, Forest County)
Joe Weiss (WI Conservation Congress, Washburn County)

Wisconsin's State Fish - the muskellunge.

Reorganization of Muskellunge Committee as a Standing Team (August 4, 2003); updated August 2007

Muskellunge management is an integral portion of the fisheries management program and the fisheries resources of Wisconsin in it's role as our state fish and status as our trophy species. As such, the FM board has suggested that the Muskellunge Committee be reconstituted as a standing team. It has become clear to the FH board that the species committees are needed to provide annual input into the regulation proposal process and to review other appropriate issues that appear on a recurring basis. See the new Fisheries Management Standing Team and Task Force Handbook, October 2008, for more information.

The charge from the FM Board to the Muskellunge Committee is to:

1. Continue to evaluate the regulation categories. Can we simplify the category system?
2. Annual review of regulation proposal guidance.
3. Review all muskellunge regulation proposals that are submitted by biologists on an annual basis.
4. Determine critical habitat needs for muskellunge for regulatory protection, acquisition, or improvement.
5. Review of current stocking guidance. Can we simplify categories across species for our stocking guidance and be more consistent across species?
6. Monitor and evaluate the musky stocking plan.
7. Coordinate future investigation needs with fisheries and aquatic research program.
8. Evaluate other issues as directed by the FM Board.

For more information, please contact:

Tim Simonson, Staff Specialist
(608) 267-7498