Cave Run Lake , 3,347 hectares, was impounded in 1974 on the Licking River. The river had a native population of muskellunge but an additional 0.3 fish/ha were stocked above the dam in 1973. Since then, annual stockings of the lake have occurred at the rates of 1.1-1.3 fish/ha; lengths of stocked fish have been 102-356 mm. The largest planting was in 1974; 10,445 fish of 102-305 mm length. Yearly standing crops of muskellunge in coves have ranged between 0 and 0.7 fish (0.04-0.7 kg)/hectare. In 1975, anglers took 56 muskellunge (214 kg) of legal size (762 mm minimum length) at a rate of 1 fish/58 hours. In 1976, these statistics improved to 1,029 fish (4,140 kg) and 1 fish/48 hours. Muskellunge provided 21% by weight of the total angler harvest that year. The 1977 muskellunge take was 478 fish (2,300 kg) at a rate of 1 fish/82 hours. The 1974 year class provided 68% and 78% of the muskellunge harvest in 1976 and 1977, respectively. Muskellunge reach legal length between ages II and IV compared with ages III-VI in Kentucky streams. Carp and gizzard shad were the only food items identified in stomachs of muskellunge.
Catch and Release Muskie Fishing – Let Them Go – Let Them Grow