Shoepack strain of Muskie?

[Rdelahunr]

I got a Minnesota Sportsman’s Journal in the mail yesterday, and they had an article on shoepack muskies. I realized that was the fish I caught earlier this summer on a Park Rapids lake. Head of a northern with a body coloring similar to a walleye. The article said they are only found in shoepack lake and a few lakes near Park Rapids. Has anyone else caught one? I feel like I got a good fish story out of that fish!

[dew2]

Cant remember where or when I read about how the Shoepack muskies were actually deposited there.Have you ever read that?? About the last ice age and a seperate water system enclosed by glacial ice where those muskies developed.Then when the ice slowly melted Shoepack was the area the fish were left all alone.
I have caught many of them, only on shoepack tho? Their size and habitat isnt favorable for any stocking by the DNR.The artical also said few are in other lakes stocked by the onknowing fisherpeople who took them from shoepack.

Of all the things I've ever done,
I aint never had Too much fun.

[PanfishPopper]

I heard that the DNR did stock some lakes with Shoepack muskies back in the 80’s, but stopped because these fish just do not grow like the Wisconsin and Leech Lake strain muskies do.

My buddy and I made the hike back into Little Shoepack and Shoepack lakes in 2009. It was a pretty awesome experience…fishing muskies with bass gear and actually catching fish! We caught 10 muskies in 2 days of fishing, but the biggest was only 32 inches which the park ranger told us was huge for a Shoepack muskie.

The fish in the 2nd pic has a tag behind the adipose fin…pretty cool!

Here are a few picks from that trip…

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[dew2]

Yah panfispoppper the DNR did stock,I mislead,sorry I remembered that after the fact.You are right the DNR quit cause of size restrictions in the strain

Of all the things I've ever done,
I aint never had Too much fun.

[walleyeben]

One of our staffers has an absolute GIANT Shoepack ashis avitar, hopfuly he will post a pic of it.

http://rainydazeoutdoors.com

Walleyes or Whitetails? So many options so little time!

[dew2]

Heres a read on Shoepack,I am trying to find what I read about how the lake formed, and how the fish were deposited exclusivly in there

Of all the things I've ever done,
I aint never had Too much fun.

[thedanimal]

They were stocked in Big Mantrap during the 80’s until they realized they did not grow to the trophy size that the Leech Lake strain does that is currently stocked.

Dan

[BenjaminP]

Shoepac Strain were the first Musky stocked by the MN DNR, they stocked and studied them for almost 18 years before learning it was a stunted strain. It wasn’t until they discovered that Musky spawn deeper than Northern Pike that they were able to successfully produce a hatchery from the Leech Lake Strain. There are a few dozen lakes spread out across the state that still have populations of Shoepac. They are not currently being stocked anywhere in MN and the lakes that do contain Shoepac tend to have high populations. They reproduce very well and with legal size restrictions virtually eliminating anglers from being able to catch one large enough to keep, these fish do not generally succumb to fishing pressure.

[ShoepackMac]

We were just at Shoepack this weekend with our two young boys. We caught some Muskies but the trip was cut short due to rain and a leaky tent. (Frustrating) For what little time we had we caught them on both Boot (little shoe) and Shoepack. Largest was probably 27,28 inches. For the little time we had there we caught some but were hoping to catch a few in the 7 to 10lbs range but that was not the case. I’m surprised the dnr doesn’t stock crappies and sunfish into the lakes because they seem to be lacking forage. Either way, beautiful lake and cool thing to catch a shoepack musky. Didn’t take too many pics but ha e a few.  Praise the Lord for his beaty!!!

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