04-15-2008, 12:10 AM
Here in Newberry, we are finishing our analyses of fish growth, population dynamics, and
management options for last summer's survey waters. We are also working on net and other<br />
equipment repairs, as well as attending lots of management meetings. The winter has already<br />
been a long one, and we are getting fired up for spring survey work. As a reminder, a map<br />
showing current Upper Peninsula management unit boundaries can be found on the DNR website<br />
under the Fisheries section, and also at the end of this newsletter.<br />
Fish Rearing<br />
We did not raise any walleyes or other fish species within the unit during 2007. In addition to<br />
minimizing unit travel and equipment expenses, we were trying to limit our potential for<br />
transferring the VHS virus into new waters. Because of VHS, we will not be raising walleyes in<br />
2008, either. We are hoping to get back into the walleye rearing business during the summer of<br />
2009.<br />
Creel Survey<br />
Creel census clerks in the Eastern Upper Peninsula were employed last summer and fall at Grand<br />
Marais, Au Train Lake, Munising, the St. Marys River and Cedarville. Another clerk split time<br />
between Detour and St. Ignace. Data generated by all the clerks will be analyzed at Charlevoix.<br />
For each of those areas, we will see estimates of fishing pressure, species harvested, and catch<br />
per effort.<br />
Large Lake Survey at Portage/Torch Lake<br />
Technicians assisted during the extensive survey of the Keewenaw area Portage and Torch Lakes<br />
in April, which included tagging of pike, walleye, sturgeon and smallmouth bass. Fisheries<br />
crews from all over the state converged on the area, helping to net and tag the fish. In the past,<br />
Fisheries Division had done 2 - 4 large lake surveys state-wide every spring. Now, however, we<br />
plan only one per spring.<br />
East Branch Tahquamenon River<br />
We are still working with the U.S. Forest Service<br />
(USFS) Fisheries personnel to reduce the number<br />
of beaver and their dams in the East Branch<br />
Tahquamenon River around the Strongs area.<br />
Several dams were removed by USFS personnel in<br />
2007 from Creek #8 between Salt Point Road and<br />
the old railroad grade. We also met on-site to<br />
determine future plans concerning the Creeks #8<br />
and #9 culverts under the old railroad grade. We<br />
also discussed the potential to place gravel<br />
spawning habitat downstream from the railroad<br />
grade in Creek #8. The 2004 Status Typical beaver dam in the East Branch, of the Fishery<br />
blocking trout spawning migrations<br />
Report by Chuck Bassett, U.S. Forest Service Fisheries Biologist, described a doubling of the<br />
number of beaver dams during the previous ten years. The dams are blocking trout migration<br />
into spawning areas and limiting total number of trout present in the river. This long-term<br />
project includes beaver trapping, dam removal, and possibly spawning gravel placement, and<br />
will continue for several more years.<br />
Surveys of Interest<br />
We conducted a limited number of surveys during 2007, mainly constrained by technician<br />
commitments to help fight the Sleeper Lake Fire, north of Newberry. Listed below are some of<br />
the surveys that we were able to complete.<br />
Andrus Lake, Chippewa County, 33 acres<br />
This 2007 shoreline boomshocking effort was<br />
basically an effort to see whether fish were using<br />
trees that we had placed in the water for shelter.<br />
We found the water level very low, most of the<br />
trees were at least partially out of the water, and<br />
even the tops were too shallow to provide fish<br />
shelter. Other than the several trees we had<br />
placed and anchored, the shallow water shoreline<br />
was completely barren of vegetation. The good<br />
news is that, when the lake level returns to<br />
normal, the new terrestrial grasses growing on the<br />
now-exposed shoreline will provide a good<br />
temporary shelter for small fish. Upon decay from being submerged, those grasses will also<br />
provide a temporary source of nutrients that will help the lake. We captured only a few fish, and<br />
few of them were associated with the trees. Water levels will have to come back up to<br />
approximately normal before those trees will be used as we had envisioned.<br />
Au Train Lake, Alger County, 830 acres<br />
Au Train Lake has not been stocked with walleyes since 2005. It was scheduled for stocking in<br />
2007, but due to unusual circumstances, no walleyes were raised by Fisheries Division. The<br />
stocking protocol that we are currently following is to stock 25,000 fingerlings on alternate<br />
years. Prior to 2003, the stocking rate was about 50,000 fingerlings on alternate years. The next<br />
year scheduled will be 2009. Age and stocking data for Au Train Lake are shown in the<br />
following table:
management options for last summer's survey waters. We are also working on net and other<br />
equipment repairs, as well as attending lots of management meetings. The winter has already<br />
been a long one, and we are getting fired up for spring survey work. As a reminder, a map<br />
showing current Upper Peninsula management unit boundaries can be found on the DNR website<br />
under the Fisheries section, and also at the end of this newsletter.<br />
Fish Rearing<br />
We did not raise any walleyes or other fish species within the unit during 2007. In addition to<br />
minimizing unit travel and equipment expenses, we were trying to limit our potential for<br />
transferring the VHS virus into new waters. Because of VHS, we will not be raising walleyes in<br />
2008, either. We are hoping to get back into the walleye rearing business during the summer of<br />
2009.<br />
Creel Survey<br />
Creel census clerks in the Eastern Upper Peninsula were employed last summer and fall at Grand<br />
Marais, Au Train Lake, Munising, the St. Marys River and Cedarville. Another clerk split time<br />
between Detour and St. Ignace. Data generated by all the clerks will be analyzed at Charlevoix.<br />
For each of those areas, we will see estimates of fishing pressure, species harvested, and catch<br />
per effort.<br />
Large Lake Survey at Portage/Torch Lake<br />
Technicians assisted during the extensive survey of the Keewenaw area Portage and Torch Lakes<br />
in April, which included tagging of pike, walleye, sturgeon and smallmouth bass. Fisheries<br />
crews from all over the state converged on the area, helping to net and tag the fish. In the past,<br />
Fisheries Division had done 2 - 4 large lake surveys state-wide every spring. Now, however, we<br />
plan only one per spring.<br />
East Branch Tahquamenon River<br />
We are still working with the U.S. Forest Service<br />
(USFS) Fisheries personnel to reduce the number<br />
of beaver and their dams in the East Branch<br />
Tahquamenon River around the Strongs area.<br />
Several dams were removed by USFS personnel in<br />
2007 from Creek #8 between Salt Point Road and<br />
the old railroad grade. We also met on-site to<br />
determine future plans concerning the Creeks #8<br />
and #9 culverts under the old railroad grade. We<br />
also discussed the potential to place gravel<br />
spawning habitat downstream from the railroad<br />
grade in Creek #8. The 2004 Status Typical beaver dam in the East Branch, of the Fishery<br />
blocking trout spawning migrations<br />
Report by Chuck Bassett, U.S. Forest Service Fisheries Biologist, described a doubling of the<br />
number of beaver dams during the previous ten years. The dams are blocking trout migration<br />
into spawning areas and limiting total number of trout present in the river. This long-term<br />
project includes beaver trapping, dam removal, and possibly spawning gravel placement, and<br />
will continue for several more years.<br />
Surveys of Interest<br />
We conducted a limited number of surveys during 2007, mainly constrained by technician<br />
commitments to help fight the Sleeper Lake Fire, north of Newberry. Listed below are some of<br />
the surveys that we were able to complete.<br />
Andrus Lake, Chippewa County, 33 acres<br />
This 2007 shoreline boomshocking effort was<br />
basically an effort to see whether fish were using<br />
trees that we had placed in the water for shelter.<br />
We found the water level very low, most of the<br />
trees were at least partially out of the water, and<br />
even the tops were too shallow to provide fish<br />
shelter. Other than the several trees we had<br />
placed and anchored, the shallow water shoreline<br />
was completely barren of vegetation. The good<br />
news is that, when the lake level returns to<br />
normal, the new terrestrial grasses growing on the<br />
now-exposed shoreline will provide a good<br />
temporary shelter for small fish. Upon decay from being submerged, those grasses will also<br />
provide a temporary source of nutrients that will help the lake. We captured only a few fish, and<br />
few of them were associated with the trees. Water levels will have to come back up to<br />
approximately normal before those trees will be used as we had envisioned.<br />
Au Train Lake, Alger County, 830 acres<br />
Au Train Lake has not been stocked with walleyes since 2005. It was scheduled for stocking in<br />
2007, but due to unusual circumstances, no walleyes were raised by Fisheries Division. The<br />
stocking protocol that we are currently following is to stock 25,000 fingerlings on alternate<br />
years. Prior to 2003, the stocking rate was about 50,000 fingerlings on alternate years. The next<br />
year scheduled will be 2009. Age and stocking data for Au Train Lake are shown in the<br />
following table: