Muskellunge Esox masquinongy are large piscivores stocked into numerous lakes in North America, but the potential effects of these stockings remains poorly understood. To investigate potential fish community changes associated with Muskellunge stocking, we contrasted catch per unit effort (CPUE) for seven fish species commonly found in Minnesota, along with mean weight for two predator species, before and after Muskellunge introduction in 36 lakes with that of paired reference lakes. Because of the known importance of Cisco Coregonus artedi as prey for Muskellunge, we also examined these data by separating the lakes into those with and without Cisco. Across all 36 lakes, we observed several significant differences between stocked and reference lakes. Yellow Perch Perca flavescent CPUE in gill nets were significantly higher after Muskellunge were introduced, as was mean weight for Northern Pike Esox lucius. Gill‐net CPUE for Northern Pike and White Sucker Catostomus commersonii were both lower following Muskellunge introduction. When subsets of lakes with and without Cisco were considered, results for the 21 lakes without Cisco were similar to the results of the entire set of lakes. In the 15 lakes with Cisco, the only significant result was lower Northern Pike CPUE after Muskellunge stocking. Our results are evidence that the introduction and management of Muskellunge in these lakes has not adversely affected game fish populations.

Popular opinion assumes that guides and guided anglers are more successful in catching and harvesting fish than other anglers are. Using creel survey data obtained during 1999-2000, we compared the fishing success of guides and their clients with that of other anglers targeting walleyes Sander vitreus on five lakes managed for walleyes near Brainerd, Minnesota. Effort from guided trips ranged from 1.0% to 4.6% of the total angler-hours in each lake, resulting in 5.2-22.6% of the total walleye harvest. Guided-trip catch rates were 2.6-4.7 times greater than catch rates of unguided trips made by walleye anglers, and harvest rates for guided trips were 2.5-5.8 times greater than those of unguided trips. The consequences of guided harvest on these fisheries are unknown at this time, but this study provides insight into the success of guided trips and the potential effects exerted by a relatively small segment of the angling population.