Friday, May 17, 2019

Indiana: muskie population at Brookville Lake is growing

The muskie population in Brookville Lake has increased substantially in the past two years, according to sampling by DNR fisheries biologists.

Fisheries biologists have caught far more muskies the last two years during standard sampling than in previous years, with some of the highest catch rates observed since monitoring began in 1994. Muskies are sampled during the annual spring walleye broodstock collection at the lake.

“In the past, we might see a single muskie every eight nets we would run during the walleye spawn,” said Corey DeBoom, DNR fisheries biologist. “In the last two years, we’ve been capturing an adult muskie every two to three nets. We used to handle about 20 adult muskies in an average year but we saw over 50 in 2018 and 45 again this season.”

DNR biologists suspect the increase is a result of improvements to muskie rearing techniques. Hatcheries have produced larger muskie fingerlings for stocking in recent years, leading to increased survival.

“Anglers have also started to report an increase in the number of fish they are catching,” DeBoom said.

Anglers targeting muskie at Brookville Lake should focus their efforts on windblown shores, areas near the dam or other riprap, and standing timber. Fishing in low light and cloudy weather can improve odds of catching muskie. The best times of year are in the spring and fall when cooler surface water brings the fish into shallower depths. Most of the muskies at Brookville Lake will currently run 30 to 40 inches in length, but biologists have handled much larger fish up to 49 inches and 38 pounds.

For more information on Indiana’s muskie program, visit wildlife.IN.gov/9698.htm.

To view all DNR news releases, please see dnr.IN.gov.

 

Media contact: Corey DeBoom, fisheries biologist, DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife, 765-342-5527,cdeboom@dnr.IN.gov.