Southern Ohio Muskie Hunters

Why Take Scale Samples

Muskie Fishermen could become an endangered species in Ohio. The Division of Wildlife stocks almost 100% of the muskies. The Division keeps track of the Muskie Program, by fisherman sending in scale samples from the fish they catch. They keep track of where the muskies are caught, the size of the fish and how old the fish is by the scale. This information plays a big part, of the decisions the state makes about the Muskie Stocking Program. Some lakes could be eliminated from the stocking program, because of diminished scale sample returns!

There are lakes and streams where many of the muskies caught, never get reported to the ODW. The easiest way to report your fish is with a scale sample placed in an envelope. You can find the envelopes at most bait shops or marinas near lakes where muskies have been stocked. Many of the Muskie Fishing Clubs in Ohio can furnish envelopes to their members and local bait shops. You can write to: Division of Wildlife, District Two 952 Lima Ave., Findly, Ohio 45840-9917. The envelopes are at no charge and the postage is free. Just fill out the information, collect 4 to 6 scales from your fish and send it in.

SCALE SAMPLE ENVELOPE

FISH MEASUREMENT: To help insure the future of muskellunge fishing in Ohio, the Ohio Division of Wildlife request that total length and scale samples be taken from each muskellunge caught.  Place fish horizontally on a smooth flat surface across a measuring tape.  Do not place fish on dry carpet, against dry clothing or hold vertically.  Note that total length measurement requires compressed tail to give maximum length (see picture below).  Scales are used to determine age, growth and survival of muskellunge stockings.  Needle nose pliers or a small knife make removal of scales easy and can be used on both kept and released fish.  Remove 4 to 6 scales from the area indicated on the picture.  Place scales in one of the Division's postage paid envelopes or a standard postage envelope and mail to: Richard Day / ODNR Wildlife District Two /
952 Lima Ave. / Findlay, Ohio 45840-9917
 



 
 

Listed below you will find the results of fisherman sending in the scale sample envelopes. Each year the Ohio Huskie Muskie Club posts the returns. You can see the numbers for 1996,1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000.
2000 OHIO HUSKIE MUSKIE RETURNS - As of 12/31/00
WATER  AREA  HUSKIE MUSKIE HONORABLE MENTION LESS THAN 30" TOTAL TOTAL
  Caught* 50** Kept Caught* Kept Caught* Kept Caught* Kept
RESERVOIRS/LAKES                  
Alum Creek Reservoir 15     119 6 23   157 6
Berlin Lake 1     1       2 0
Cowan Lake       6 2 1   7 2
Clear Fork Reservoir 62   9 240 4 93 1 395 14
Lake Erie               0 0
Lake Milton 6   2 17   6 1 29 3
Leesville Lake 96 1 15 355 13 40 1 491 29
Piedmont Lake 12 2 5 82 2 13   107 7
Pleasant Hill Reservoir       3       3 0
Pymatuning Reservoir 25 1 2 40   20   85 2
Rocky Fork Lake       1       1 0
Salt Fork Lake 57 5 15 125 4 17   199 19
West Branch Reservoir 16 2 1 256 2 46   318 3
SUB TOTAL RES. 290 11 49 1245 33 259 3 1794 85
 
STREAMS                  
Alum Creek               0 0
Clear Fork of Mohican 3     4   1   8 0
Cowan Creek               0 0
Grand River               0 0
Little Muskingum River       7       7 0
Little Salt Creek               0 0
Muskingum River               0 0
Paint Creek               0 0
Rocky Fork Creek       1 1     1 1
Salt Creek               0 0
Scioto River               0 0
Sunfish Creek       3       3 0
SUB TOTAL STREAM 3 0 0 15 1 1 0 19 1
                   
GRAND  TOTALS 293 11 49 1260 34 260 3 1813 86
*Caught = Released + Kept (includes 50 Inches or larger)
** 50 Inches or larger        NUMBER RELEASED =1727 or 95%

Scale Sample Returns for 1999


 
OHIO HUSKIE MUSKIE RETURNS FOR 1999
WATER AREA
HUSKIE MUSKIE
HONORABLE MENTION
LESS THAN 30"
TOTAL CAUGHT
FISH 42" AND LARGER
FISH 30" TO 42"
FISH UNDER 30'
ALUM CREEK RES.
17
205
23
245
BERLIN LAKE
0
3
0
3
CAESER CREEK RES.
0
0
0
0
COWAN LAKE
2
10
4
16
CLEAR FORK RES.
49
251
44
344
LAKE ERIE
0
0
0
0
LAKE MILTON
10
19
3
32
LEESVILLE LAKE
104
327
36
467
PIEDMONT LAKE
42
114
29
185
PLEASANT HILL RES. 
0
2
0
2
PYMATUNING RES.
13
24
11
48
ROCKY FORK LAKE
0
0
0
0
SALT FORK LAKE
26
105
15
146
WEST BRANCH RES.
28
157
19
204
ALUM CREEK 
0
2
0
2
CLEAR FORK CREEK
0
0
0
0
COWAN CREEK
0
0
0
0
GRAND RIVER
0
0
0
0
LITTLE MUSKINGUM RIVER
1
4
0
5
LITTLE SALT CREEK
0
0
0
0
MUSKINGUM RIVER
0
0
0
0
PAINT CREEK
0
0
0
0
ROCKY FORK CREEK
0
0
0
0
SALT CREEK
0
0
0
0
SALT FORK CREEK
1
0
0
1
SCIOTO RIVER
0
0
0
0
STILLWATER CREED
0
1
0
1
SUNFISH CREEK
0
2
0
2
TOTAL FISH
1703

 

Scale Sample Returns for 1998

As of December 31, 1998


 
OHIO HUSKIE MUSKIE RETURNS FOR 1998
WATER AREA
HUSKIE MUSKIE
HONORABLE MENTION
LESS THAN 30"
TOTAL CAUGHT
FISH 42" AND LARGER
FISH 30" TO 42"
FISH UNDER 30'
0
ALUM CREEK RES.
7
117
32
156
BERLIN LAKE
0
22
4
26
CAESAR CREEK RES.
0
0
1
1
COWAN LAKE
0
6
6
12
CLEAR FORK RES.
61
594
146
801
LAKE ERIE
0
2
0
2
LAKE MILTON
15
23
4
42
LEESVILLE LAKE
97
400
38
535
PIEDMONT LAKE
29
98
38
165
PLEASANT HILL RES. 
4
17
0
21
PYMATUNING RES.
16
14
0
30
ROCKY FORK LAKE
0
2
0
2
SALT FORK LAKE
33
104
30
167
WEST BRANCH RES.
30
83
23
136
ALUM CREEK 
0
2
0
2
CLEAR FORK CREEK
1
9
0
10
COWAN CREEK
0
2
0
2
GRAND RIVER
0
1
1
2
LITTLE MUSKINGUM R
0
8
0
8
LITTLE SALT CREEK
0
0
0
0
MUSKINGUM RIVER
0
0
0
0
PAINT CREEK
0
0
0
0
ROCKY FORK CREEK
0
2
0
2
SALT CREEK
0
0
0
0
SCIOTO RIVER
0
2
0
2
SANDUSKY RIVER
0
2
0
2
SUNFISH CREEK
0
2
3
5
TOTAL FISH
2131

 

Scale Sample Returns for 1997

As of December 31, 1997


 
OHIO HUSKIE MUSKIE RETURNS FOR 1997
WATER AREA
HUSKIE MUSKIE
HONORABLE MENTION
LESS THAN 30"
TOTAL CAUGHT
FISH 42" AND LARGER
FISH 30" TO 42"
FISH UNDER 30'
0
ALUM CREEK RES.
1
43
31
75
BERLIN LAKE
1
13
2
16
COWAN LAKE
0
12
6
18
CLEAR FORK RES.
45
451
108
604
LAKE ERIE
0
0
0
0
LAKE MILTON
17
13
1
31
LEESVILLE LAKE
59
428
58
545
PIEDMONT LAKE
41
124
14
179
PLEASANT HILL RES. 
9
47
0
56
PYMATUNING RES.
14
19
1
34
ROCKY FORK LAKE
0
0
0
0
SALT FORK LAKE
35
187
13
235
WEST BRANCH RES.
20
92
22
134
ALUM CREEK 
0
20
3
23
CLEAR FORK CREEK
0
0
0
0
COWAN CREEK
0
2
0
2
GRAND RIVER
0
0
2
2
LITTLE MUSKINGUM R
0
5
4
9
LITTLE SALT CREEK
0
0
0
0
MUSKINGUM RIVER
0
0
0
0
PAINT CREEK
3
2
0
5
ROCKY FORK CREEK
2
13
0
15
SALT CREEK
0
0
0
0
SCIOTO RIVER
0
2
0
2
SUNFISH CREEK
0
0
1
1
TOTAL FISH
1986

 

SCALE SAMPLE RETURNS FOR 1996


 
 
 
OHIO HUSKIE MUSKIE RETURNS FOR 1996
WATER AREA
HUSKIE MUSKIE
HONORABLE MENTION
LESS THAN 30"
TOTAL CAUGHT
 
FISH 42" AND LARGER
FISH 30" TO 42"
FISH UNDER 30"
 
ALUM CREEK RES.
2
30
18
50
BERLIN LAKE
5
19
1
25
COWAN LAKE
4
25
8
37
CLEAR FORK RES.
33
317
191
541
LAKE ERIE
2
0
0
2
LAKE MILTON
20
55
0
75
LEESVILLE LAKE
50
511
46
607
PIEDMONT LAKE
31
154
19
204
PLEASANT HILL RES. 
3
6
0
9
PYMATUNING RES.
4
12
1
17
ROCKY FORK LAKE
1
15
2
18
SALT FORK LAKE
11
229
39
279
WEST BRANCH RES.
42
137
24
203
ALUM CREEK 
4
15
2
21
CLEAR FORK CREEK
2
0
0
2
COWAN CREEK
0
5
0
5
LITTLE SALT CREEK
4
7
0
11
MUSKINGUM RIVER
0
1
0
1
PAINT CREEK
0
2
0
2
ROCKY FORK CREEK
11
30
1
42
SALT CREEK
0
1
0
1
SCIOTO RIVER
0
1
0
1
SUNFISH CREEK
0
1
0
1
 
 
 
TOTAL FISH
2154

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