I am not so sure about the Muskies yet. I am going to take a wait and see attitude. I enjoy my crappie fishing on my home lakes down here by Evansville. I don't have a lot of say as to what IDNR decides to do. They surveyed everyone that fished while the DNR guy was present and then the Fishery Biologist decided to stock the Muskies

The IDNR stocked Northern Pike in Patoka lake when it was first built back in 1977/78.

I caught a lot of Northern Pike and still have a few pictures of them on the hook by the boat. There were lots of Northerns in Patoka in the early days. But Northerns will out compete bass and drive them from the area that the Northerns want to utilize.

Evidently the Northern Pike didn't breed and build up any sustainable population in Patoka Lake. I think there may be a few Big Northerners still in the lake. I think that they catch a few Walleyes in the sampling nets also.

I really would love to see a breeding population of Walleye in Patoka Lake. From what I have read the Walleyes are doing well in Brookville Lake.

I just hope that my favorite crappies are not harmed by the introduction of the Muskies. If so then I may have to start trolling for Big Muskies for a few years. I have some huge rods and reels that can land big fish like Muskies or Sharks. Wire leaders attached to lead core fishing lines and huge reels with short very stout rods. The rods have stainless steel rollers for the line guides.

And I have a large tackle box full of Muskie Baits. Most of these are 8" long or bigger.

One thing that's fun when fishing for Big Pike or Muskie is to reel the bait into the tip end of the rod and leave about 12" of line between the tip of the rod and the bait. When you get the bait back to the boat just stick the rod back down into the water next to the boat and move the tip around in a Figure 8 Motion. This drives Big Norther Pike Nuts. They will follow the lure but not strike the bait until you do the figure 8 motion and then they will attack the bait with a VENGENCE. So hold onto the rod and reel when they attack. They can rip the rod right out of your hands. It's funny to watch a 3 ft long fish try to turn on a 12" radius. LOL

I have a feeling that the Muskies won't live and breed in these stip pits but I could be wrong. Only time will tell. Patoka is over 50 ft deep near the area by the **** in the old river channel. But most of that water is unusable to the fish during the summer months. Now if we have winter year round down here in Southern IN they may be able to survive and even breed. But it would take another ice age for that to happen.

Regards,

Moose1am