Dennis Anderson: Muskie opportunities are abundant, and excellent, in the state

Complex theories aside, the muskie craze afflicting a seemingly ever-increasing number of Minnesota anglers can be explained quite simply:

Bigger is better.

That's certainly the case for muskie expert Bob Turgeon. He has fished muskies on many of the state's best muskie lakes, including Mille Lacs, Leech and Vermilion.

But Lake Minnetonka is his home water. And why not? He launches his boat 10 minutes from his driveway. And on Minnetonka, he has caught four muskies 54 inches long -- a record difficult to match on any water, anywhere.

"I grew up fishing Minnetonka, and as a kid I read Outdoor Life and the other outdoor magazines," said Turgeon, who blogs at www.startribune.com/cluboutdoors. "I was fascinated by muskie stories in which big fish wrecked tackle and even boats. Then, gradually, muskies that were introduced to Minnetonka grew to catchable size, and my interest in muskie fishing grew with them."

Turgeon isn't alone in his interest. The Department of Natural Resources estimates that as many as 14 percent of Minnesota anglers target muskies, a figure that, if accurate, translates to 200,000 or more people throwing big baits with thick rods.

Compare that to the number of trout stamps sold in Minnesota -- about 90,000 -- to gauge the relative interest in muskies.

"Muskie fishing represents one of the growth areas of fishing," DNR fisheries chief Ron Payer said.

Perhaps nowhere is that truer than in Minnesota, which now arguably has the best muskie fishing -- and the most varied muskie angling opportunities -- in the nation.

Basis for the growth can be found in the state's traditional muskie hotbeds -- Leech and Lake of the Woods, to name just two.

But those lakes are a long way from the Twin Cities, where most of the state's anglers live. Bringing quality muskie fishing to the back yards of these anglers -- which the DNR has done over the past decade -- is primarily responsible for the increased interest in muskie fishing.

So popular has muskie fishing become that specialty shops such as Thorne Brothers in Fridley and Blue Ribbon Bait in Maplewood (both of which also serve other types of anglers) have built businesses around big-fish mania.

In each shop -- as well as in Gander Mountain, Cabela's, Joe's and other general-interest sporting goods outlets -- hang scores of colorful muskie baits, some designed to work on top of water, others below the surface.

Supplying the lures in many instances are businesses that began in Minnesota garages and basements. Musky Mayhem Tackle, owned by muskie guide Brad Hoppe of the Alexandria area and his wife, Carrie, is one example.

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With about 110 lakes and rivers holding muskies (about 80 with the Leech Lake strain and the remainder -- generally in the metro -- with tiger hybrids), Minnesota doesn't have many suitable waters remaining to be stocked with the big fish.

A plan developed recently by the DNR says muskies will be introduced in another eight lakes over the next 12 years.

Not everyone approves. Some bass and walleye anglers say the expansion of muskies has come at a steep price: reduced numbers and size of other game fish.

Payer says the DNR has studied the issue closely and is satisfied that muskies can co-exist with bass, walleyes and panfish.

Ironically, muskie fishing's popularity has skyrocketed, even though most anglers expect that most times they cast their expensive muskie baits, they won't hook a fish.

And when they do hook up, they let the fish go.

In fact, were it not for the strict catch-and-release ethic practiced by muskie anglers (and a new 48-inch minimum size limit imposed by the Legislature this year on Leech Lake strain waters), the state likely would soon run out of muskies.

"For example," said Turgeon, "in Lake Minnetonka, there are about 1,100 adult muskies, give or take. About 10 percent are over 50 inches. In a given summer, about 300 adult muskies are caught on the lake. At that rate, without catch and release, we'd be out of muskies in the lake in just a few years."

Underscoring Turgeon's point: About 15 years are required for a muskie to grow to 50 inches.

At least one problem has attended the growth of muskie fishing in Minnesota: overcrowding on some lakes.

Anglers on metro muskie waters such as White Bear Lake and Minnetonka, for example, often fish at night -- the better to gain an edge on fish that have seen so many baits thrown at them.

Muskie specialists also adapt in other ways. Turgeon, for one, constantly applies new techniques and uses different lures to entice strikes -- even now, on the state's first weekend of muskie fishing, a time not known for many hookups.

"I think in later summer and in fall, muskie fishing is generally better, because the fish move into the shallows and are more accessible to more anglers," he said. "But I think muskies in deeper water, as they are now, can be caught. Figuring out how to do it is the next frontier of muskie fishing.

"The main questions, as always, are: Where are the fish? Are they active? Will they chase? Or are you going to have to force-feed them?"

Dennis Anderson • danderson@startribune.com