NM Muskies Inc 2010 Minnow Project
Thanks to all the Corporate Sponsors for supporting this project!
Express UU Bar Ranches- expressuubar.com
Los Pinos Fly & Tackle Shop- (505)-884-7501
Platinum Builders Corporation- platinumbuilderscorp.com
Chaparral Materials- chaparralmaterials.com
-Pelletier Constuction Inc-
D&M Marine Inc.- dandmarineinc.com
JLM Auto Sales-jlmautosales.com
Ashcraft Mechanical-ashcraftmi.com
Insight Construction-insightnm.com
Franks Supply Company-franks-supply.com
New Mexico’s Muskie fisheries are experiencing our first setback. Bluewater Lake especially is experiencing a massive surplus of 36” -41” muskies (est. 2,000 – 3, 000 at Bluewater, per Richard Hansen, Cold Waters Biologist at NMDGF.) The 2” Muskie fry stocked from 2003 – 2005 have grown and are believed to be eating the stocked classes of 2006 – 2009. To combat this and provide room for fish to grow to trophy sizes, NMDGF has implemented a harvest of 1 fish per angler per day over 40” in length.
In addition to this surplus our hatcheries have been unsuccessful in raising fall fingerlings (9” – 12”) on the current dietary program (pellets). So far, Officials have only been able to stock 2” fry which are much more vulnerable to being preyed upon. Chapter 59 or Muskies Inc believes these two problems are interconnected. We feel that if properly managed, the new 2010, 40” minimal harvest regulations coupled with the fish structures, and successfully raising fingerlings to be stocked in September, this fishery will become an outstanding trophy fishery for many years to come!
We have proposed establishing a minnow pond at Rock Lake State Hatchery. These Fathead Minnows will be used solely for the dietary needs of the muskie fingerlings. Chapter 59 Members have volunteered to help building suitable spawning structures for the minnows in the pond and are doing so March 20thl.
Leonard Rice at Rock Lake State Hatchery has estimated the need for 3 separate shipments of minnows totaling 603 lbs of minnows. The first shipment is needed in May and will only require 3pounds of minnows to establish the pond habitat. The second shipment has been requested to total 300 pounds and would arrive in late June. A third and final shipment in of 300 pounds will be requested to arrive in August.
Our Chapter and state officials feel this effort of adding minnows to the dietary program for successfully raising healthy, strong fingerlings will increase their chances of survival. In combination with the 40” harvest limit, the minnow project will greatly help our local officials better manage our muskie fisheries for trophy specimens.
In preparation for this project, we are working to create the greatest chance for fingerling survival. Our Chapter has proposed a fish locator structure project to NM State Parks and NMDGF for Bluewater Lake. Both agencies have accepted the preliminary stages of the proposal. NMDGF will assist us by bringing their pontoon boats to transport trees during installation. The materials are all collected and we are waiting for the ice to open up before further research and installation.
The primary funds needed for the 2010 Minnow Project are as follows;
600 lbs of flat heat minnows, cost = $9 per lb, totaling $5,427. Delivery and application charges have been generously waived by Dunn’s
Fish Farms.
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*UPDATE-March 17th
March 15th we received notification that CH59 has been granted $5,400 from Muskie Inc’s Hugh C. Becker Foundation. To learn more about Hugh C. Becker and see what chapters were granted funds and for what, click the following link:
As of March our chapter has raised 1,600.00 through raffles and corporate donations. Thanks to all the people and companies that have been so gracious. These funds will be left alone, untouched to use on future projects to benefit New Mexico's Tiger Muskie Fisheries.
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Milestone Dates
* Operating monthly Raffles beginning in January
* Big fundraiser at February Outdoor Expo -COMPLETE
* By April 30th, the construction of pond will be complete -COMPLETE 03-27-10
* In mid-April we will receive 3 lbs of minnows to start with
* May-Muskie Fishing Seminar/Clinic-$200 per participant
* In June we will receive our second shipment, 300 lbs of minnows
* In August the final shipment of 300 lbs of minnows will arrive
All individuals involved in this project are volunteers and are not receiving any compensation for time or labor put into this project.
New Mexico Muskies Inc is a non profit organization and registered 501 (C)3, all donations are eligible for tax exemptions.
Official Documents
2010 Minnow Project Complete with Hugh Becker Request.doc
2010 Minnow Project Cover Letter Hugh Becker Request.doc
2010 Minnow Project Committee
Committee Chairman Trustee Fundraising
Matt Pelletier Jared Blaschke Joe Gavigan
matt@fishenchantment.com jbfshn@comcast.net jgavigan4802@msn.com
NMDGF: Coldwater Biologist NMDGF: Rock Lake Hatchery Manager
Richard Hansen Leonard Rice
Richard.hansen@state.nm.us rocklake.hatchery@state.nm.us
Reporting Importer:Dunn’s Fish Farm
Leah Baca Lisa Phillips
leddablue@gmail.com lisa@dunnsfishfarm.com
Trustee
Chris Nordquist
cdnordquist@hotmail.com