So you want to catch a musky on a fly and size doesn't matter

[Mike]

Leaser Lk, Lehigh Co, is your place! This reclaimed impoundment was stocked with 1150 3-4 inch fingerling tigers in early to mid-summer, 2013. With no other piscavores present at that time, a growing forage fish population, excellent cover, and new lake productivity, survival and growth rates were exceptionally good....much better than anticipated. Tigers are now 26-35 inches long, with some reports of fish up to 42 inches. Many multiple catches by an angler in a day have been common, with some ice angler's for instance, catching up to a dozen per angler per day last winter. As for open water angler's, I know of one very reliable source who has caught over 100 each season for the past two seasons. Bass are also doing quite well. At the moment I would call the Tigers overly abundant and something that will not be desired or occurring long term, but it is a rare but great tiger musky opportunity for angler's that only has come around to this extent two or three times in SE Pa in the last 40 years. Be advised, however, that some of the fish are thin, as their density is high and, being a reclaimed lake, the larger forage fish are most likely not abundant enough yet to support an abundance of larger tiger muskies, but that situation is apparently improving as well or else the larger fish would not be growing to that size.

 

[Fishidiot]

Interesting. Seems there's a tiger boom since the dam repairs(?). Will be interesting to see how long this effect lasts. Considering the size of the lake, around 100 acres, that is a lot of fingerlings in 2013 and in line with some of the waters that have received such high stocking rates.

Mike,
Was the 2013 stocking a one time deal or will this be an annual (or semi-annual) event? I'm assuming there were tiger stockings prior to 2013 due to the size range of fish being reported over 40 inches. Also, is the lack of predation from other piscavores likely a factor in the high population? If this is thought to be significant, it sheds insight on predation of smaller muskie fingerlings and perhaps serves to reinforce the current belief that larger yearlings survive better. At this point, I've always been inclined to think the higher survival of bigger fish was just a result of better health and vigor...however, resistance to predation may be a bigger influence than I had surmised.

Again, very interesting. Please keep us informed.

 

[Mike]

FI,
No tigers were stocked prior to 2013; none has been stocked since. There was no water; the dam was under construction, thus the comment regarding growth rates. As for the future, fingerlings, pures and tigers, that are the standard (not the small-due to predation toll) fingerlings will be stocked, but in lower densities than normal until some of the present fish are reduced in abundance from attrition. Pures are presently beginning to be stocked at the normal rate in Leaser of about 1 per acre or slightly less (due to rounding the numbers to the nearest hundred fish). Tigers are scheduled for 2016 in anticipation of their providing a fishery as the present tigers start to fade in the future. Leaser is 117 ac.

 

[afishinado]

Mike,

Thanks for the info about Leaser.

Just to be clear, the lake is completely full / 117 acres?

Most aerial photos like Google Earth and Bing Bird's Eye show the lake as being empty (good intel to see lake structure and cover, though).

Others show it maintained at a low level. Also the PFBC site states that the lake is currently maintained at a 40 acre level here.

Good to see the lake back up and doing well.

Thanks again for the heads up...

 

[Fredrick]

Here is a good article on the lake http://www.examiner.com/article/leaser-lake-destined-to-become-a-premier-fishery

 

[PACOFRANSICO]

It's impossible for a tiger to reach low forties in 24 months after stocking. Biologically with the hybrid vigor the first year they double the stocking sz and growth rate slows significantly after that's. The 26 to 35 seems more realistic.