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Minnesota Musky Research with Kamden Glade: What These Predators Really Eat
Season 10 Episode 637
Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/637
Presented By: Skwala, Togiak River Lodge, Togens Fly Shop, Visit Helena, MT
Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors
Kamden Glade, fisheries specialist from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, joins us to discuss his groundbreaking research on the Minnesota musky diet. In some regions, these formidable fish have earned a dubious reputation for preying on prized sport fish like walleye and bass. However, Kamden's research provides a different perspective, revealing that musky in Minnesota seldom consume these highly valued species.
Throughout the episode, Kamden shares intriguing insights from his comprehensive study, including the innovative techniques used to examine the stomach contents of these apex predators without causing them harm. Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of what musky feed on, the average sizes of their prey, and how this knowledge can enhance their chances of a successful catch during the fishing season.
Episode Chapters with Kamden Glade on Minnesota Musky Research
3:45 - Kamden shares his lifelong passion for fishing, which started at a young age with his family, and later evolved into a professional career in fisheries biology. He explains that his interest in the ecology and biology of fish was sparked during his undergraduate studies, where a professor with a background in fisheries biology inspired him to pursue this path.
5:03 - His work in fisheries biology became more specialized during his graduate studies at Bemidji State University, where he led a research project analyzing the diets of muskies, walleye, northern pike, and largemouth bass in various lakes across Minnesota. This project aimed to address the negative perception of muskies, which are often thought to indiscriminately eat other fish species.
8:50 - Kamden discusses the diet of muskies, focusing on why walleye are not a significant part of their diet. Kamden explains that research, including studies in Minnesota and Wisconsin, shows that muskies primarily consume yellow perch and suckers. Other notable components of their diet include Northern pike, insects, aquatic invertebrates, and bullheads, depending on the region.
Despite the presence of healthy walleye populations in the lakes studied, walleye were found in only four out of 650 muskie stomachs analyzed. This scarcity is not due to habitat differences, as both species often occupy the same areas in the lakes. Instead, it appears that walleye have effective defenses against predation. They have large tails for quick escapes, a heightened awareness of their surroundings, and sharp dorsal spines that deter muskies.
12:11 - We delve into the status, native range, and life history of muskies. Kamden explains that muskies are originally native to the Mississippi River and Ohio River basin, the Great Lakes drainage, and parts of Eastern and Central Canada. Despite remaining naturally reproducing in many systems, habitat changes caused by human activities like building dams and docks, and removing aquatic vegetation have led to a decline in natural reproduction.
14:27 - On the musky life history, he details that muskies typically spawn in spring when water temperatures range from the high 40s to low 60s, with peak spawning activity around the mid-50s. Unlike some fish, muskies do not build nests or defend their eggs. Instead, they spawn in shallow vegetation, and the eggs are left to fend for themselves.
16:25 - We talk about the conservation
Published on 1 year, 4 months ago