Eagle Lake Anglers Urged to Protect Musky Fishery Amid Forward-Facing Sonar Debate

Eagle Lake in Ontario, Canada, renowned as a world-class muskie fishery, is at the center of a conservation effort led by the Eagle Lake Conservation Group, Eagle Lake Resorts, local businesses, and muskie anglers Steve Herbeck and Cal Ritchie. Together, they are calling on anglers to adopt sustainable fishing practices to preserve the lake’s naturally-reproducing muskies for future generations.

The initiative addresses growing concerns over musky mortality, particularly due to the use of Forward-Facing Sonar (FFS). Anglers are urged to use FFS responsibly by limiting it to one transducer, also they are asked to not use the combinatoin of gas motor and FFS  while fishing muskies. They are also asked to refrain from aggressive targeting methods like “sharp shooting,” “road hunting,” or “spotlighting,” which use sonar to scan deep or open water and target muskies—a practice that threatens long-term fish health. Additional guidelines include avoiding fishing for muskie holding or suspended deeper than 20 feet, keeping fish in the water during unhooking, minimizing air exposure, using barbless hooks, and taking quick boat-side photos to reduce stress on the fish. All-species anglers are encouraged to be prepared for musky encounters with proper gear, such as large landing nets, cutters, long nose pliers, and jaw spreaders.

Signs posted around Eagle Lake, endorsed by the Eagle Lake Conservation Group, resorts, local businesses, and conservation-minded guides, emphasize these best practices under the slogan, “Protect the Tradition, Preserve the Challenge.” The signs highlight that while most released muskies survive catch-and-release, repeated handling increases mortality—a concern amplified by the efficiency of modern technology like FFS.

Herbeck, a veteran musky angler, is spearheading this effort with the above mentioned groups to preserve not only the quality and quantity of muskies on Eagle Lake but also the spirit of muskie fishing. He expresses faith in modern anglers to prioritize the sport’s future, advocating for a fishery left “natural and unbridled” by the pressures of modern technology.

Freshwater Hall of Fame angler and muskie fishing pioneer Joe Bucher has praised Herbeck’s efforts, calling this a “Teddy Roosevelt moment” where technology has surpassed the principle of “fair chase”—a term coined by Roosevelt and adopted by groups like Pope & Young and Boone & Crockett. Bucher notes, “The element of ‘fair chase’ in musky fishing is going away fast due to forward-facing sonar… I never thought I’d see the day where anglers float all over lakes staring at an FFS unit.” He adds, “Steve is brave to tackle this for sure. What an awful path we have now gone down.”

The debate around FFS is complex and often fraught with shortcomings in the arguments from both sides. While some frame it as a “new school versus old school” conflict or a “haves versus have-nots” scenario, it ultimately centers on the principle of fair chase. For meaningful change to occur, the sport as a whole must reach a general consensus on its future, balancing technological advancements with the traditions of musky fishing.

By voluntarily adopting these practices Herbeck, Ritchie and the Eagle Lake Conservations Association believe anglers can help ensure Eagle Lake remains one of the world’s premier musky fisheries for generations to come.

PROTECT THE TRADITION, PRESERVE THE CHALLENGE.

ATTENTION: EAGLE LAKE ANGLERS

Please help protect and preserve Eagle Lake’s world-class musky fishery.

Eagle Lake’s naturally-reproducing muskies have supported a world-class trophy fishery through catch-and-release. While most released fish survive, repeated handling increases mortality – a concern amplified by rising angler efficiency with Forward Facing Sonar.

As passionate anglers, your choices on the water matter. Please help support sustainable muskie fishing by following these best practices:

    Use Forward Facing Sonar Responsibly:  Minimize use to one transducer and no use of gas motor while using FFS.

    Avoid “Sharp Shooting,” “Road Hunting,” or “Spotlighting”: These tactics use sonar to quickly scan deep or open water and aggressively target muskies – a method of concern for long-term fish health and sustainability.

    Respect Depth Limits: Refrain from targeting muskies holding in – or suspending in – depths deeper than 20 feet, regardless of depth being finished.

    Keep Wet: Unhook your muskie while it’s still in the net and in the water. Limit air exposure and consider releasing directly without lifting the fish from the water.

    Take Quick, Boat-Side Photos: Snap your memories with the fish in or just above the water – it’s better for the musky and still makes an epic shot.

    Go Barbless Where You Can: Especially when fishing with large rubber baits like Tubes or Bull Dawgs, pinching barbs or using barbless hooks to minimize injury.

    All Species Anglers – Be Ready: Musky encounters happen while bass or walleye fishing. Make sure you’re equipped with a large landing net, cutters, long nose pliers and a jaw spreader.

Your voluntary compliance will help ensure Eagle Lake remains one of the world’s premier musky fisheries for future generations.

Messaging endorsed by: The Eagle Lake Conservation Group, Eagle Lake Resorts, Local Businesses, Conservation-minded guides and anglers of Eagle Lake.