Madison muskies

The muskies from Lake Monona have made their way up Wingra Creek for their springtime spawning run. Their spawn won't be successful (according to the DNR), but it's still an interesting demonstration of nature at work. The muskies head up stream looking for favorable spawning grounds, which in this case is the shallow, weedy Lake Wingra above Wingra Dam. The big females aren't able to make it over, but some of the smaller males do. Here's a few pics I took this afternoon.

Muskellunge (Esox masquinongy)














The new Wingra Dam.



The muskies always attract a crowd.



Please remember not to harass the muskies.  If you throw lures at them now all you're going to do is snag them.  No fishing allowed near Wingra Dam, or the locks by Tenney Park, until after May 15th.