Muskie cannot be targeted on simcoe/couchiching. As part of muskies Canada, you can apply for a special permit that will cost x amount (cannot remember exactly how much but they are very limited). I love muskie fishing, got into it in last 2 years. biggest being a 42" on pigeon but have missed MONSTERS! getting out more this coming year on st clair hopefully!
There have been stocking efforts combined by the MNRF and Muskies Canada to reintroduce them to the area using the Georgian Bay Muskie DNA strain mostly but have also used some Kawartha strains as well. Kawartha strain muskie have a harder time coping with pike in the same waters (big reason kawartha invasive pike is such an issue). If you would like to target them with the special permit, there is a chapter that has monthly meetings in Barrie, or if you don't live in the area there are other chapters. For the people that have the special permits, you must log every kind of data you possibly can even when you get skunked. I don't have one personally, I only know of one person that does. These are given out as research opportunity only and every fish caught MUST be released asap after measurements are taken. I cannot remember if you can target them through the ice even with the special permit. I usually fish the Kawartha's because I know the lakes very well but the muskies are smaller than other areas. I saw a muskie through the ice following a jumbo i had on last year on couchiching. very exciting! ive seen 2 on scugog while crappie fishing (unsuccessfully i might add haha) and one on chemong targeting gills and crappie.
If you would like more information, you should check out
http://www.muskiescanada.ca. you can always come out to a meeting even if you are not a member. I usually go to the Hamilton chapter meetings being in Oakville, but I will be starting to go to Mississauga as well.
To get this permit, you have to be a muskies Canada member for starters otherwise you cannot target them.
Muskie?
