Muskellunge in Missouri: a 10 year strategic plan

Abstract

In 1995, a 10-year strategic plan for muskellunge program management in Missouri was developed by the Missouri Department of Conservation. Our mission was to efficiently produce and manage muskellunge in order to provide high-quality angling opportunities in suitable, well-distributed lakes throughout the state. The first goal was to increase the number and improve the distribution of muskellunge fisheries in small lakes. In 1995, our three existing muskellunge fisheries were in west central, northwest, and north Missouri. Six additional lakes were stocked with muskellunge from 1995 to 2001 in southeast, northeast, southwest, and central Missouri, plus the St. Louis area. The second goal was to maintain density and size structure of muskellunge populations commensurate with muskellunge angler expectations. Our objective was for muskellunge anglers to catch a muskellunge at least 91 cm (36 in.) in 20–40 h of angling. The Show-Me Muskie Project, a volunteer angler diary program, was initiated in 1996 to help evaluate this objective. The third goal was to inform Missouri anglers about increased opportunities for high-quality muskellunge fishing. We developed a muskellunge web page, created a release poster, updated our muskellunge brochure, published magazine articles, and mailed biannual letters to our Show-Me Muskie Project cooperators.