Put a tiger in your tank … eventually

A closure on fishing for tiger muskies at Newman Lake started this week and will run through May 15 as researchers capture and implant radio transmitters in adult fish so their movements can be tracked.

In the second year of a three-year study, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists plan to complete the implanting work this week. The fish will be anesthetized for the procedure with a drug that should not be consumed by humans for at least 21 days, agency officials said.

Once fish retention resumes, anglers can participate in the study by carefully releasing any tiger musky bearing a fluorescent orange mark identifying it as having been implanted with a transmitter.

Tiger muskies are a sterile cross between northern pike and muskellunge and introduced to some area waters to prey on tench, suckers and other species to help keep their populations in control.

Often exceeding 20 pounds, tiger muskies also provide a “trophy” fishery. A size limit prevents anglers from catching and keeping the fish until they’ve had a chance to do their job.

In Idaho, the minimum size for keeping a tiger musky is 40 inches.

The minimum size at Newman and other Washington waters is 36 inches.