WALLEYE SURVEYS CONTINUE THROUGH SPRING LANSING--The Fisheries Division of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources will continue surveying popular walleye lakes in Michigan this spring as part of its effort to assess key sport fishing waters in Michigan. To date, nearly 47,000 walleye have been jaw-tagged and counted in Muskegon Lake, and DNR crews have moved to north and south Lakes Leelanaw, where assessment will continue through the end of April. More than 10,000 walleye are targeted for the population estimates in those two water bodies. The next effort will focus on the Cisco chain of lakes, which span the Michigan-Wisconsin border in the western Upper Peninsula. That assessment is slated for late April or early May, once work has been completed in the Lower Peninsula and northern inland lakes are ice-free. "The Cisco chain of lakes, which includes 14 lakes in all, will be an important assessment," said Kelley Smith, DNR Fisheries Chief. Smith noted that approximately 1,500 walleye from various points throughout the chain will be captured, jaw-tagged and released over a period of two to three weeks. The information helps the DNR better understand fish populations and densities, and jaw-tagging allows biologists to track fish movement from lake to lake. "The data gathered in the Cisco chain also helps the Michigan and Wisconsin DNR set harvest quotas for future Native American walleye harvests," added Jim Ekdahl, DNR U.P. Field Deputy and Tribal Issues Coordinator. Each spring, Native American fishermen spear walleye throughout the Cisco chain under the 1842 Treaty. Lake surveys are conducted on lakes around the state on an annual rotational basis. Survey results are shared with other agencies to establish databases that will assist future management planning. The Wisconsin DNR, which assists the Michigan DNR survey crews with the Cisco chain assessment, will be utilizing the collected data to help establish that state's rules and regulations. Three lakes in the Cisco chain span the state boundary, including Big Lake, West Bay Lake and Mamie Lake, and are governed by special regulations outlined on page 18 of the 2002 Michigan Fishing Guide. Walleye season opens in Wisconsin May 4, and will include the three boundary lakes in the Cisco chain. The Michigan walleye fishing season opens May 15. "It is important for anglers planning to fish the Cisco chain of lakes to be aware of our survey crews, which will likely still be working those waters when the Wisconsin walleye season opens, and the process may even carry through the Michigan's opening day," said Smith, who emphasized that anglers should be watchful for "boom shocking" efforts and nets. The agency survey nets are clearly marked property of the Michigan or Wisconsin DNR, and are checked daily by survey crews. Creel census surveys will be conducted throughout the coming year to assess the prevalence of tagged walleye in the overall sport fishing harvest. Angler success can also be reported to area DNR field offices. The DNR, in some cases, provides a financial reward to anglers who assist with the assessment by returning the jaw tags from the walleye they catch. For more information contact Richard Clark, DNR research Section, 734-663-3554, extension 109.
Source: MBNR
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