Monday, Oct. 6 started as a beautiful, sunny October northern Minnesota morning. Fisheries workers arrived at the muskies rearing ponds near the Burntside River. The equipment was already in place to remove the muskie fingerlings that reached a good size for removal and stocking in Lake Vermilion. They would work on removing some of the beaver dam downstream on the river and continue lowering the water level in the West Pond.
The open ponds provide wetland habitat, and the minnows and young muskies provide some food resources for predators. This morning there were a few hooded mergansers, a belted kingfisher and at least one great blue heron actively seeking breakfast meals. In addition, aquatic insects, grayfish, other invertebrates and wildlife live in the waters and surrounding forest.
By tomorrow most of the water in that pond will have been removed and the remainder can be released through the trap on the river as the young muskies are removed. It will be an opportunity for a school group to observe and learn about their work and fish that are part of the Lake Vermilion Muskellunge Management Project.
It is currently planned to remove the rest of the muskies for stocking from East Pond on Monday, Oct. 13. As that is completed, they can assess the 2025 production from the ponds.
