Summer nursery habitats of Great Lakes muskellunge were studied during July and August, 1981. The “typical” habitat was occupied by young-of-year (YOY) muskellunge about 50 mm long and by five other fish species, the most abundant being largemouth bass, pumpkinseed and yellow perch. Each habitat was comprised of eight families of emergent and floating vegetation and nine species of submergent vegetation. Sedge (Cyperaceae) was the most abundant emergent family while bushy pondweed (Najax flexilis), muskgrass (Chara sp) and variable pondweed (Potamogeton gramineus) were the predominant submergent species. Emergent vegetation was dense in a narrow band along the shore where submergent vegetation was sparse. Off shore habitat consisted of a wider band of less dense emergent and floating vegetation and increased bottom cover of submergent vegetation. Shoreline residents often alter littoral areas and their activities may restrict muskellunge production by reducing macrophytes in critical spawning and nursery habitats. Fishery management of southern Georgian Bay can use the “typical” nursery area description to identify potentially important habitats and possibly mitigate the impacts of proposed alterations.
Catch and Release Muskie Fishing – Let Them Go – Let Them Grow