OSAGE | Local anglers had an opportunity to hear about the mystery fish" -- also known more commonly as the muskie, from Levi Nettleton, recent naturalist intern with Mitchell County Conservation.

Nettleton, who will be a senior science education major at the University of Northern Iowa this fall, told attendees muskies are known as the mystery fish because of their unpredictability.

Muskies are very unpredictable, he said. You can find them in waters that are 6 inches to a 100 feet deep. They look like a pike, but they have six teeth instead of five teeth like northern, and northern are spotted.

Nettleton said a female Muskie can lay up to 265,000 eggs, but their survival rate is very low. They spawn best in water temps of 55 to 65 degrees, laying their eggs randomly in shallow waters where predators can consume the eggs.

Many fishermen believe the muskie is a major consumer of other game fish such as bass and walleye, but they are apt to eat softer fish like bullheads and minnows, Nettleton said, noting they also eat insects, crayfish, small mammals and waterfowl.

"Many believe they are aggressive, but that isnt true, unless they are feeding," he said. "They are complicated for naturalists to study.

Nettleton said Muskies habitats also vary, meaning they can be found in weeds like tobacco cabbage or 30 feet deep in open water.He said fisherman can find them in different places throughout the year.

Nettleton shared his enthusiasm for catching the large game fish, something he started four years ago.

Once you do it, it can become an addiction," he said. "There's a lot of skill in muskie fishing, and sometimes, muskies are called the fish of a 100,000 casts.

Nettletons study has rewarded him well, as he caught and released 36 muskies last year and 12 so far this year.

Fishermen seeking muskies typically use 7- to 10-foot rods, according to Nettleton. He uses a 300- to 400-foot reel with 22 pounds of drag, with 50-100 braid line and steel or fluorocarbon leaders.

He also carries needle-nosed pliers longer than 8 inches and a rubberized net, so he doesn't harm the Muskie.

He gave some additional pointers:

Leave the catch in the water and support and release it when the fish is calm.

Cut the hook if the fish has been deep-hooked.

Don't fish over 80 degrees.

If trolling, start at 2 mph, increasing to 4 mph.

Do figure-eights to attract muskies.

Nettleton, who whose biggest catch was 53 inches long, said there are Muskies in the Cedar, Iowa, Shell Rock, and Winnebago rivers, as well as in Clear Lake.

The largest populations of muskies are in Minnesota, according to Nettleton, where the largest caught was 56 inches long and weighed 54 pounds.

North Iowa anglers have landed some big fish over the years, reeling in massive walleyes, northern pike, catfish and muskies. This gallery con

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