To the Editor:

Last week I received an email from the Taxpayers for Family Fishing. It stated that one more hurdle to get legislative change has cleared the House. The House passed the Game and Fish bill by a vote of 85-42. One of the provisions in this bill is to prohibit muskie stocking in the six lakes proposed by the DNR. Fairmont Chain of Lakes is included in this proposal.

I would like to thank all of you who have written and made phone calls to our legislators. A proposed amendment to this bill that would have removed the muskie language from the bill failed by a single vote – 63-62.

Last week, the Senate passed an AIS bill that includes a provision that prohibits muskie stocking for four years.

Thank you again for your effort to keep non-native invasive species from being stocked in the lakes that we love. Our message that the DNR needs to listen to all fishermen, lake associations, lakeshore property owners and local communities is resonating with our legislators. For more information, see: muskietroubles.com

Ron Dickenson

Fairmont