Muskie @Cabela's

[Gringo Pescador]

Hey all, I made a run down to Cabela's yesterday. Last time I was down there the Musky were just introduced into the tanks. I will start off by saying I know nothing about Musky (other that what I have learned from posts here) - never caught one, never seen one caught, in fact the only live ones I have ever seen are those in the Cabela's tank. With that said, to me and my uneducated eye - those poor guys looked really thrashed! Tails all torn up, jaws a little wonky. Is that normal? I mean the trout in the other tank were beat up, and I get that (though 1 had a 1/2 golf ball sized tumor/growth on it's lower jaw, dead center front that made it so it couldn't even close it's mouth). But why would the Musky look so haggard? I figured they would be the top of the food chain in that tank, are they doing it to each other (tails) or slamming the glass (jaws)? Educate me:)

[fishcreekspinners]

Those must be a couple of Merle Haggard's 'Tanked Muskies'. They're on tour. I saw em at Bass Pro.

You see the Ink on the big guys pec's?

[Fish_Bait111397]

Hmmmm...i dont have a clue... I was at Cabelas yesterday, and a few of the bass looked half dead,and beat up, same as the trout.

[coretron22]

Same reaction for me...I thought the tank would be cool, but instead it made me feel kinda sad. They really are some nasty diseased-looking specimens. I won't take my daughter in there to see that freakshow.
We did just visit Seattle Aquarium, however, and Daddy stared at the really nice monster trout in the dome for awhile...those are nice!!!

[Anonymous]

Maybe someone should take pictures and send them to PETA, that other animal feel good organization, and the WDFW, and the local tv news and newspapers. And DEMAND that the fish are taken care of and new fish in the future are taken care of much BETTER. If peta and those want something to REALLY do that's good, then they should take care of THAT/THIS problem.

STACEY WHERE ARE YOU?

[Gringo Pescador]

Same reaction for me...I thought the tank would be cool, but instead it made me feel kinda sad. They really are some nasty diseased-looking specimens.

Yeah, I thought the same thing - the Muskie and the trout were bad, the others looked ok though. I know some of the members of this site were involved (along iwth the WDFW I believe) in getting the Muskie into the Lacey Cabela's tanks. Just don't know if they were aware of the condition they are in and if there is anything they can do about it.

With the trout, I don't see why they don't just cycle them in & out, put em in the tank for awhile, then donate em to a local lake, or hell, put a swimming pool out back and let the little ones fish for them for a buck.

[dougw]

Maybe someone should take pictures and send them to PETA, that other animal feel good organization, and the WDFW, and the local tv news and newspapers. And DEMAND that the fish are taken care of and new fish in the future are taken care of much BETTER. If peta and those want something to REALLY do that's good, then they should take care of THAT/THIS problem.

STACEY WHERE ARE YOU?

Thats all we need, PETA getting upset with fishing... You know they would blame it on fishermen somehow! The problem with keeping game fish in a small tank like that is just what you see. Their fins get beat up, and they get a little deformed. Not only that, I am sure they get what's left over for stock, so the good fish get put in the lakes..... Ever notice that about the killer whales at Sea World? The dorsal gets bent over. Some fish/ mammals were just not meant to be kept in captivity.

[kevinb]

I assume that AMX has a bit of humor in his post,we've met a few times and he's a really nice guy.
Getting PETA involved on anything for outdoors enthusiasts,well,you'd have more productive results picking up a hammer
and slamming yourself in the face a few times.
The tigers were donated by CMA in partnership with WDFW but honestly,it doesn't matter who donated them.
Its only a little sign that gives credit to the club.In the long run it benefits all 3 clubs,the more that will follow in the future
and all musky anglers. The way I see it goes basically,some fellow checking out the tank see's the tigers and might have a general interest and eventually begins fishing for them,maybe he joins a club...maybe he doesn't but he is one more individual that has a vested interest in the fishery.
I hope the tigers do well in the tank because if they are removed,its not likely that they will be released into a lake.

[cudaman]

personally i think they should,ve gone into alake. Where i could enjoy catching them ,not somewhere were they scare small children they look like someone grabbed em and gave them a big kiss

[Meeks9591]

PETA= People Eat Tasty Animals. PETA calls fishing a bloodsport. That's flat out rediculous.

[muskyhunter]

Hello,
First I would say that I agree with Doug, Fishbait, Coretron and Kevinb. Gringo I can apprectiate your question. Amx, not sure about your comment about bringing PETA into this picture. I hope you were joking around. I can say from first hand experience with these fish since I was part of the introduction of these Tigers being put into the tank at Cabelas. That they were put into the good hands of the aquarium manager. The only thing that the WDFW had to do with them (Tigers) was handing them over to the aquarium manager. If you do not know the gent maybe next time you are down there see if you could talk to him about your issues with the aquarium. His name is Ethan he is one heck of a guy and cares for all the fish as if they are his own.
As most of you all in the musky (muskie) clubs or just fish for them on your own, there has been an issue with the deformities with the Tigers since their inception way back in 1988. All the biologists at the hatchery where the Tigers are raised could not make a scientific determination of the hows and why's of it happening. They thought genetic. Then one biologist thought it might be the tanks (which have been upgraded) that were being used at the hatchery and then maybe too many fish in a tank. So now they think they have figured it out. Less fish being recieved in might be the solution to the problem. Less over crowding maybe will improve their looks and stop deformities. All we can do is hope. Wait and see. I was told this next batch of 6,000 looks outstanding.
I agree the fish at Cabelas are not the most sexy looking Tigers that anyone has seen. But there is nothing that can be done at this time. Maybe replacing those with new ones. Cudaman, putting those fish into a lake is not the answer. You should know that. Sorry. Ethan has said those fish would die. Those fish are on a feeding pattern. In a controlled habitat. Most likely those fish will be destroyed and then replaced. As would any of the other fish in that one aquarium. That tank of fish is way different than it looked a year ago. Looks like a lot of those fish that were in the tanks are no longer there. The population seems to be down. Thats what it looks like to me. They may go in cycles. I do not know. I would say ask the aquarium manager rather than questioning Stacey or the WDFW or bringing in PETA. I really do not like that word. Amx that is the solution to that/this problem.
I hope I didnt come across as a know it all but I do have alot insight on these tigers at Cabelas. I am just another Musky angler in this state that has an immense love and respect for the fishery and sport. And I have an ultimate respect for the folks that help make it happen. This is where the "educate" part of me comes into play. And the "education" is what I have learned from my Dad and from the Boldings of the WDFW world and for the 30 + years I have been hunting these fine creatures.
If you have any other questions throw them up here or my personal email at ratherbefishin@nventure.com Hope this helps, Todd

[natetreat]

I saw those muskies a while back, their fins were bit up, but it looks like it was from the hatchery like musky hunter says. But they were actgive enough to eat one of the smaller blue gill while I watched. It was pretty neat. They get fed a lot there, I'm sure they're lazy. They got the good life, just have to sit and wait for the food to come to them. They certainly won't be as packed in as they were at the hatchery. They were sweet looking fish.

[Rich McVey]

As far as the fins go... I have a pic somewhere of what they looked like before being placed in the tank and pics of them in the first weeks of being in there.

The fins were already ragged before being placed in the tank. The bulbs on the end of their chins are from rubbing against the glass.

Ethan does a fine job with what he has there. I just wish the tanks were bigger and looked more natural. (Ya hear that Cabelas...? BIGGER...)



Maybe someone should call PETA, then we could pan fry a few of their members...

Just sayin...




This pic was taken 3 months after they were put in the tank. The fins were already ragged. This did not happen at Cabelas. Dont make me find more pics....

[Gringo Pescador]

Thats what I love about this site - want to learn something - just ask! Thanks for the insite all.

[Marc Martyn]

I have wondered how big they will get. When I had tropical fish, I was told that they will only get so large because of the size of the environment they are in. Will this apply also to these fish?

[coretron22]

Wow...cool that a walakes.com member (Muskyhunter) was actually involved. yes, thanks for the insight.
The tank is a great concept...certainly expensive for Cabela's too, given that it is just for decoration. I hope they can turn it around because I would like to be able to enjoy it, but I gotta believe they are aware that the uglies scare away more customers than they attract...so I wonder how long they'll stick with it.

FWIW - I was curious, so I did some research on the Orca dorsal fins - Over 30% of wild male orcas worldwide have flopped over dorsals. Only happens to large males. It can be more prevalent in orcas raised in captivity because of the lack of deep water swimming where water pressure keeps the fin upright during growth, but isn't believed to be a detriment to the animal, nor specifically caused by captivity.

[kevinb]

I have wondered how big they will get. When I had tropical fish, I was told that they will only get so large because of the size of the environment they are in. Will this apply also to these fish?

Thats actually a very common myth but these fish will continue to grow. The only way to start producing smaller species of
fish would be through captive care breeding and it would take many generations. How many generations? Not a clue and
would probably vary from each species. As long as the food/diet habits continue,it will continue its regular growth.
This is why Cabelas in Post Falls eventually had to get rid of the northerns in their tanks.

[Amx]

"Maybe someone should call PETA, then we could pan fry a few of their members..."

BEST statement yet.

Maybe put the peta people in the tank for a year. Let the muskies feed on THEM.

I heard last year or so, that the tails are ragged because they bite each other.

I've not been to Cabela's so I have no idea what the fish ot tanks look like, only what has been reported here on WaLakes, both in this thread and what was reported a year or so ago/last winter that stated the same ragged look to the fish in the tank. Maybe some day I'll get there.

My thought is that the store must have a permit from the WDFW to have those tanks/fish/muskies. So the dept. would have a say in their condition.

[Anonymous]

I would rather see a "picture" of a grizzly bear near his pen at the zoo, rather than a really majestic animal with deformed body parts, ragged skin, a mere poor representation of a noble creature.
Animals in zoos need to be in the very best condition to be able to teach others what they look like, hopefully, in the wild. They give up their freedom in order to do that. Don't like it, but it is necessary to teach those who don't know just how fine they are.
To me, it is shameful to see our proud and beautiful esox represented by the sample of species in that tank.

[Gringo Pescador]

I would rather see a "picture" of a grizzly bear near his pen at the zoo, rather than a really majestic animal with deformed body parts, ragged skin, a mere poor representation of a noble creature.
Animals in zoos need to be in the very best condition to be able to teach others what they look like, hopefully, in the wild. They give up there freedom in order to do that. Don't like it, but it is necessary to teach those who don't know just how fine they are.
To me, it is shameful to see our proud and beautiful esox represented by the sample of species in that tank.

I agree KUP - it looks like they could leave the fish that do well in that environment, and then just mount some replicas of the Tigers and others for people to see. It was interesting. My wife (not a fisherwoman) was looking at them in the tank and not understanding why I was kind of bummed about them, so we went home and I showed her some picks you all have posted up on here. She says "wow! that's not the same fish we saw is it?"