For the future of Higgins Lake

[swampy]

I wanted to share an action myself and a friend Bill at Higgins lake sporting goods recently undertook.

The fishing here has undergone some drastic negative effects from invasive species.

Bill and I contacted our regional Bio Mark Tonello, explained our concerns and some ideas we had for improvement. We requested a meeting. which mark immediately and eagerly agreed to.

We assembled the owners of the 3 baitshops around the lake, as well as 12 of the best long time anglers. Representing all species and areas. A combined 400+ years of experience.

Among the possibilities

- Brown Trout will return to Higgins lake in spring 2019

- regulation changes to enhance the existing trophy pike fishery. Possibly a 30"msl

- lowering the daily whitefish limit from 12 to 3-4 . This will likely be a new statewide inland lake limitif accepted

- a possible increase in the MSL from 15" to 18" for lake trout.

- likely a 25 fish limit and 7" msl for perch here, to allow more time for growth, they are currently inhibited due to competition from zebra mussel's and smelt. This has worked elsewhere.

We also expect be having creel studies and other research. With the end goal of balancing all species with the new reality of a compromised food chain base due to the zebra's

We had a great meeting with Mark, we are fortunate to have people like him working for us. There was a huge amount of info exchanged.

We should have done this long ago, we just always thought it would go nowhere. We were stunned by the response/support from the DNR and the community.

It's still possible for a guy or two to make a difference !

It's going to take several years, but hopefully Higgins lake will be returned to it's former glory, our group of 2 has grown to a couple thousand!

[daappleknocker]

By all means, let's make Higgins Lake a trophy fish destination.

[swampy]

More along the lines of preserving what's there and restoring what is down.

There is nothing in there intended to be a trophy regulation. The goal is to balance species populations to offset the damage done by zebra mussels. While providing fishing opportunities approaching pre zebra mussels levels. It will never be what it once was. Those we're all possible solutions. We will have to wait, to see what they come up with.

[galena]

It's too bad them zebra mussels aren't a little bigger.  I am always looking to add another specie to my invasivore menu.  As it is I think the only thing that really relishes the little bass turds are sheepshead.  I keep a few west side sheep every year and them things are loaded with zebra mussels.  The flavor of sheepshead has even changed a bit since I was a kid due to the mussels, they are sweeter tasting now.  


I wish you well on the Higgins improvements, but I do not know enough about that lake to comment.  I have only fished it a few times in the winter and a dozen times in the summer.  It is painfully obvious I do not know how to fish that lake.  All I can catch in enough quantity for a meal from Higgins are rockbass and even them are not as big as I am used to from my favorite inland lake. :lol: 

[ridge]

Mar 19, 2018 19:41:24 GMT -5 swampy said:

I wanted to share an action myself and a friend Bill at Higgins lake sporting goods recently undertook.

The fishing here has undergone some drastic negative effects from invasive species.

Bill and I contacted our regional Bio Mark Tonello, explained our concerns and some ideas we had for improvement. We requested a meeting. which mark immediately and eagerly agreed to.

We assembled the owners of the 3 baitshops around the lake, as well as 12 of the best long time anglers. Representing all species and areas. A combined 400+ years of experience.

Among the possibilities

- Brown Trout will return to Higgins lake in spring 2019

- regulation changes to enhance the existing trophy pike fishery. Possibly a 30"msl

- lowering the daily whitefish limit from 12 to 3-4 . This will likely be a new statewide inland lake limitif accepted

- a possible increase in the MSL from 15" to 18" for lake trout.

- likely a 25 fish limit and 7" msl for perch here, to allow more time for growth, they are currently inhibited due to competition from zebra mussel's and smelt. This has worked elsewhere.

We also expect be having creel studies and other research. With the end goal of balancing all species with the new reality of a compromised food chain base due to the zebra's

We had a great meeting with Mark, we are fortunate to have people like him working for us. There was a huge amount of info exchanged.

We should have done this long ago, we just always thought it would go nowhere. We were stunned by the response/support from the DNR and the community.

It's still possible for a guy or two to make a difference !

It's going to take several years, but hopefully Higgins lake will be returned to it's former glory, our group of 2 has grown to a couple thousand!

I have no problem with anything shown above except for the pike size.  I like eating them from 26-28 inches because I think they taste a little better when smaller like that.  However that is just my preference and I don't ever remember fishing Higgins anyway.  I have seen it when I was up by Houghton Lake driving around on a bad weather day.  Actually I like fishing Reedsburg better than either of the big lakes.  My boat is small and I get blown around too easy.

[swampy]

Ridge, as far as the pike. We have always had big pike, but we don't have many. We believe they are transients from Houghton lake, we don't believe we have reproduction. However having a lake that produces 20-30lb pike is worth preserving.

Due to the issues with other species, there has been a significant increase in pressure, on this limited resource.

The ultimate goal is preservation of what is there. We have always had world class pike.

[ridge]

There must be some type of food base for those pike to grow that large.  Those pike are sure worthy of mounting if a person is into that.

[swampy]

They mostly feed on perch. But in the winter they hit the smelt and herring when they get shallower.

It's not a big number fishery. Similar to musky fishing, lots of hours per fish.

Between photo's, fish brought in to the bait shops etc. I probably know of 25-30 in the 44-46" range, 25lb +/- , and a couple very close to 30lb 50". The majority are 30-36"

I practice catch and release. Don't really care too eat them. But it is a very unique opportunity. We really aren't looking to grow them bigger, we have always had that. We just want to preserve that.

[ridge]

Northern pike are my mother-in-law's favorite fish.  She gets upset when I don't get one or two for her during the year.  

[swampy]

Well, our Brown trout planting has been restored. 25,000 were planted recently.

It's going to take a while to fix the fishing, but that first start is sweet!