Tiger Muskies Invade Horsethief Basin Lake

[joebartels]

Short version
Game & Fish introduced 450 sardine-sized meat eating tiger-striped predators into the 4 acre lake on May 16th.
They can grow over three feet. Unable to reproduce the game plan is for them to eat the small bass.

Interesting article. Hopefully they don't build up anger and learn to walk or Wendy & Dave will eventually be painting them blue like the buffelgrass at Piestewa.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nat ... 285809001/

[chumley]

Mormon Lake, also near Flagstaff. That lake dries up from time to time.

I think they meant to say it actually has some water in it from time to time.

[Alston_Neal]

I always really sucked at fishing until I learned to bait the hook with dynamite.

[nonot]

Muskie can get to about 8 feet long in northern climates and are pretty much the most dangerous freshwater fish you have to deal with in the US (in terms of catching them, they can bite your hand), but not sure if they'll do well in AZ.

[ALMAL]

@nonot Actually the current world record tiger Muskie was caught in Idaho. It was 52.5 inches long.
Tiger Muskie is a cross between a northern pike and a Muskie. Similarly, the tiger trout stocked in several rim lakes is a cross between a brook trout and a brown trout.
These do reach 8 feet in length at Woods Canyon lake.

[nonot]

Ah, I didn't know they were smaller than regular muskie. Still, seems like they should get bigger than that.

[ALMAL]

@nonot Alligator gar caught in Texas, Rio Grande river, have approached 8 feet in length. Nasty fish...

[skatchkins]

@ALMAL
I remember having to throw back 6 gar for every good fish back at the dam in Louisiana. The rock banks were almost covered with them because no one would throw them back in.

[ALMAL]

@skatchkins
@joebartels
Don’t forget tomorrow is FREE fishing in Arizona.
No license needed! Enjoy fishing somewhere!

[chumley]

tomorrow is FREE fishing in Arizona. No license needed! Enjoy fishing somewhere

Do you have to use specific equipment, or can Alston use dynamite and hand grenades?

[ALMAL]

@chumley
All legal until you get caught

[te_wa]

the old saying "you really have to WANT to get to horsethief lake" still holds true. after ten years of thinking about it, we went last spring. "that's it?" I asked myself. plus, there used to be 9 camping sites first come, first served but it seems camping is banned there now. I cannot see how it could get much traffic. the muskie will prolly only reach 24" there being so small a lake as it is. anyway, I've never caught one so it may be a nice stop from the 'back way to crown king' trip I have planned once I get the YJ. we shall see..

[tmuncy]

It would be nice it they stock a few lakes with Salmon as Colorado does.

[ALMAL]

@tmuncy
Maybe? Kokanee or Chinook salmon might grow quickly to a size that would prey on all of the 6-10” stocker sized rainbows that get stocked by the thousands in the same lakes. But who knows, maybe Chevelon?