September 2005
TO: People interested in Great Lakes fisheries
FROM: Bill Horns, Great Lakes Fisheries Specialist
This is an update on some of the issues facing us on the Great Lakes. If you have questions or comments about the topics discussed here or any other issues related to Great Lakes fisheries, contact me by phone (608.266.8782), FAX (608.266.2244), or e-mail (William.Horns@wisconsin.gov). We also maintain Lake Michigan and Lake Superior web pages:
Lake Michigan -http://dnr.wi.gov/fish/lakemich/index.html
Lake Superior - http://dnr.wi.gov/org/gmu/superior/Fish/Fish.html
Should we reduce chinook stocking in 2006? Fishing has been great, but there are signs that Lake Michigan predators may overtake their forage base in the near future. A public meeting to discuss the situation is scheduled for September 24.
Lake Superior brook trout. The joint WDNR - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service "Wisconsin Lake Superior Basin Brook Trout Plan" was completed this summer. I can get you a copy of the plan, or go to our Lake Superior web site (see above) for a link to a copy. The plan describes a number of experimental approaches, including limited stocking, to rehabilitation in five streams. We hope that runs of large lake-run brook trout (also known as coasters) can be restored in our streams, but because of long-term alterations to the streams and surrounding watersheds, that goal may be difficult to achieve.
Streamside rearing of sturgeon. Wisconsin is moving forward with sturgeon restoration in the Milwaukee and Manitowoc Rivers. 1000 fingerling sturgeon will be released into each river this fall. A smaller number of yearlings and a few radio-tagged juveniles are also being stocked. We hope to continue this stocking program for many years using stream-side rearing facilities to be constructed on each river.
Green Bay yellow perch hearings. As you probably are aware, natural reproduction by yellow perch was excellent in 2003. We are hopeful that this generation of yellow perch will survive well to adulthood and support increased sport and commercial harvests in the near future. The Department has proposed increasing the annual commercial harvest limit from 20,000 to 60,000 pounds and increasing the daily sport fishing bag limit from 10 to 25 fish. Data being collected this summer will help guide the final recommendation. Public hearings on the proposed rule change are scheduled for October 12 in Peshtigo (1:30 pm – Peshtigo City Hall – 331 French St.) and Green Bay (5:30 pm – Room 208, Cofrin Building, UW-Green Bay – park in visitor lot).
Sea Lamprey. The numbers of lake trout and other fish with wounds from sea lamprey attacks have been alarmingly high in both Lake Superior and Lake Michigan. Our Lake Superior biologists believe that the increased wounding rates there may reflect sea lamprey colonization of Canadian streams where they had not previously been present. In Lake Michigan it is hoped that treatments in 2003 and 2004 of the Manistique River (Michigan) and in 2005 of the Oconto and Peshtigo Rivers (Wisconsin) will finally bring the sea lamprey population back under control. We will be watching this closely. In Lake Michigan and in US waters of Lake Superior the sea lamprey control program is conducted by the Great Lakes Fishery Commission through its agent, the US Fish and Wildlife Service.