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Muskie Long Range Plan - Public Input

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is updating its long-range muskellunge (muskie) plan. The previous plan, published in 2008, included muskies and northern pike. A major change from previous plan is that muskie will now have its own plan.  A number of ecological and recreational changes have occurred since that time, necessitating a muskie plan update. 


As a first step in updating the plan, the DNR is seeking public input on the experiences and interests of anglers and others related to muskie management. Please complete the following questionnaire to provide this input. This input will guide development of a draft plan, which will then be shared again for public review prior to publication. The plan update is anticipated to be published by winter 2024-2025.

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Muskie background 

Prior to completing the questionnaire, please review the following background information to familiarize yourself with the topics that will be covered in the questionnaire.

Muskie management

Muskies are managed in 102 waters, comprising 2% of Minnesota’s fishable lakes and rivers and 21% of the total surface area that is fishable.

  • Muskie management may include: stocking muskies, setting harvest and season regulations, population monitoring and research, and outreach and education.
  • Muskies have been introduced in 48 lakes and are maintained through stocking.
  • A few lakes, all located in the Twin Cities, are managed for hybrid muskies, also known as tiger muskies (cross between a female muskie and male northern pike).

Muskie research

Since the last plan in 2008, the DNR has conducted additional Minnesota-focused research on the ecological role of muskies in lakes. Research topics and key findings include the following table:

Research topic

Key finding

The effect of introducing muskies on the remainder of the fish community in a lake
Extensive research and long-term monitoring of Minnesota's stocked muskie lakes has shown that the introduction and ongoing management of muskies has not adversely impacted other gamefish populations.
The diet and food consumption patterns of muskies relative to other predators (e.g., walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass)
Muskies share some key prey, such as yellow perch, with other predators like walleye, northern pike, and largemouth bass. However, the varied diet of muskies includes cisco, white sucker, northern pike, and bullheads, resulting in low overlap of diets with other predators. Muskie predation on Walleye was exceptionally low. Of the 631 muskies examined for diets, only 4 walleye were found in the 350 muskies that contained prey.
The success of different sizes of muskies when stocked
From 2008 through 2012, stocked yearlings (15-20 inches) had higher survival rates than stocked fingerlings (10-12 inches).

 Muskie angling

Interest in muskie fishing grew rapidly throughout the 1990s and 2000s, thanks to the high-quality angling opportunities in many stocked lakes. Although a 2007 survey found that 80% of muskie anglers were satisfied or very satisfied with their overall fishing experience, they were less satisfied with the number of lakes managed for muskies.  A 2018 statewide angler survey reported 11% of Minnesota anglers spent at least one day targeting muskie in 2017 and 30% of respondents said they were interested in fishing for muskies in the future.