Two tools to help chinook anglers fish Lake Michigan tributaries
EAGLE, Wis. -- Interactive maps showing shore fishing sites in southeastern Wisconsin and real-
time data tracking river water levels statewide are two information tools chinook anglers will want to
consult while waiting for rain to trigger the kings on their spawning runs up Lake Michigan
tributaries.
Right now, the fish are gathering "or staging," in southern Lake Michigan harbors, as they ready
for their spawning runs up tributaries like the Root and the Pike.
"They're out in the harbors now," Pfaff says. "Now it's all about rain. When it rains, it's going to get
crazy."
In northern Lake Michigan, chinook are up in the tributaries.
Both information tools can be found on the Fall Shore Fishing page of the Department of Natural
Resources website. Anglers also will find other resources to help them enjoy fall tributary fishing.
The interactive maps give driving directions, fish species, and a picture of the fishing location, all
of which are within 60 miles of the state's largest city and home to the most anglers.
A downloadable companion brochure is available on the page as well, and contact information for
how anglers can get a printed copy of the brochure.
U.S. Geological Survey real time water data for Wisconsin [waterdata.usgs.gov/wi/nwis/rt] (exit
DNR) can also be helpful to anglers. With the low water levels in tributaries right now due to lack of
rain, almost any substantial rain event should trigger spawning migration runs of salmon and trout,
says Ben Pfaff, a DNR fisheries technician in Eagle.
And as always, the Lake Michigan hotline, (414) 382-7920, provides up-to-date fishing reports and
conditions.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Brad Eggold (414) 382-7921
Machine able to mark 700,000 fish a key to keeping taps on Great Lakes salmon
MADISON -- A new technology Wisconsin and other Great Lakes states are using will help assure
chinook anglers will have a healthy supply of kings at the end of their lines in coming years.
A machine that can mark up to 90,000 fish in a day with a fin clip and a coded wire tag makes it
easier, more accurate and more cost effective to discern which fish have been produced by
hatcheries and which have been produced naturally, according to Brad Eggold, the Department of
Natural Resources fisheries biologist.
The machine is featured in a new video available on the DNR website.
Knowing the difference can help produce a more accurate count of how many fish are in Lake
Michigan and other Great Lakes, and can allow states to adjust their stocking to keep the total
number of fish in the lake in line with the available forage base, Eggold says. "The goal this year
was to mark all the Chinook salmon stocked into Lake Michigan and Lake Huron."
Anglers also will be able to tell whether the fish they caught was hatchery-produced or produced in
the wild. Hatchery fish processed by the machine have the adipose fin -- the fleshy fin on the fish's
back in front of its tail -- clipped off.
The trailer containing the marking equipment is part of a cooperative effort by all of the state,
tribal, provincial and federal fisheries agencies in the Great Lakes to mark more of the fish that are
stocked into the Great Lakes.
The mass marking trailer, owned by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, marked 1.2 million chinook
this spring at three Wisconsin fish hatcheries, according to Steve Fajfer, supervisor of Wild Rose
state Fish hatchery, one of the three. The other hatcheries the trailer was used at were Kettle
Moraine State Fish Hatchery and the Les Voigt State Fish Hatchery.
Those fish were stocked out in Lake Michigan harbors in late May. In about two years, the fish will
be big enough to be caught by anglers, and anglers will start seeing fish without the adipose fin,
indicating those fish were produced at a hatchery.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Brad Eggold (414) 382-7921
Discovery of two aggressive aquatic invasive plants underscores need to clean boats
BUFFALO CITY, Wis. -- The recent discovery of two aggressive invasive plant species in a popular
Upper Mississippi River waterfowl area underscores the need for waterfowl hunters to clean their
boats and take other steps to avoid accidentally spreading invasive plants and nonnative species
that can threaten waterways and future hunting opportunities, state and federal wildlife officials say.
“This is the first time we’ve found these two species of invasive water plants in Pool 5,” said Upper
Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge Winona District Manager Mary Stefanski. “We
are hopeful that none of these plants will survive if we get a cold winter, but we still need boaters to
be vigilant.”
Pool 5 is by Buffalo City and encompasses river miles 750 to 739.
Bob Wakeman, who coordinates aquatic invasive species prevention and control efforts for the
Department of Natural Resources, urges hunters to check their boats, trailers and other equipment
before they launch and after they're done for the day.
"Please take a few minutes to inspect your boats and equipment, remove any plants and animals,
and drain water from your boat and equipment," he says. "These steps will prevent the spread of
these new invasive plants, and will also help contain other aquatic invasive species and diseases
that may be present."
DNR Water Guards and wardens will be checking boats at popular landings in the area and across
the state, educating hunters about the rules and enforcing them. “The waterfowl hunting
community is an important partner in the effort to prevent the spread of invasive species in
Wisconsin’s waterways,” says DNR Chief Warden Randy Stark.
And DNR was working with the River Alliance of Wisconsin to post signs at boat landings (pdf;
629kb) in the area to alert hunters to the presence of water hyacinth and water lettuce in Pool 5 of
the Upper Mississippi River.
Water lettuce and water hyacinth are two innocuous sounding invasive plants with outsized
impacts: as few as 25 individual plants can expand to cover 10,000 square meters of water surface
in one growing season, nearly enough to cover Lambeau Field twice. This expansion creates a
thick, impenetrable mat of vegetation that prevents waterfowl from foraging.
Stefanski also notes that another invasive plant, purple loosestrife, has been spotted in larger than
normal amounts along the river this year. She believes this is because many of the beetles that
normally feed on the loosestrife and keep them under control may have died over the winter due to
cold weather and high water. “We plan to release more of the beetles next summer to hopefully get
the population of loosestrife back under control,” she says.
Here is how hunters and others enjoying Wisconsin's outdoors can help protect their hunting,
fishing and the state's natural resources from invasive species.
•If you see these plants or other plants on the watch list, please pull them and put them in a trash
bag or other container to be disposed of in a landfill.
•If you find a large infestation that you are not capable of pulling contact the toll-free DNR
information line at 1-888-WDNRINFo (1-888-936-7463).
•Inspect your equipment and remove all plants and animals before transporting.
•Follow all other state and federal laws to prevent the spread of invasive species and diseases.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:Bob Wakeman, DNR (262) 574-2149; Mary Stefanski, U.S.
Fish & Wildlife Service (507)-494-6229
Hook and line sturgeon season opens Sept. 3
"Excellent" fishing forecast for some waters
MADISON -- Anglers looking for a unique fishing opportunity don't have to look far. The 2011 hook
and line season for sturgeon season opens Sept. 3 on about a dozen waters statewide and gives
anglers the chance to reel in one of Wisconsin's largest and oldest fish.
The opening date is wrong in the Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations 2011-
2012, anglers should note, and Sept. 3 is the correct opening day.
Lake sturgeon can grow to more than 200 pounds and live more than 100 years. The 2011
season marks the fifth year that the minimum length for harvesting sturgeon is set at 60 inches,
with a one-fish limit per season. The season runs through Sept. 30, 2011.
There is a catch and release season only on a stretch of the Menominee River downstream from
the Hattie Street dam to Green Bay from Sept. 3-30.
And anglers will find an extra catch-and-release opportunity on the lower St. Croix River from St.
Croix Falls Dam downstream to the Mississippi River from Oct. 1 through Oct. 15. This catch-and-
release season allows Wisconsin and Minnesota to have the same regulations for the same
species.
There are signs that the 60-inch length limit Wisconsin put in place is working to increase fish size
and protect the vulnerable female population on some waters, fisheries biologists say.
"Sturgeon fishing on the Chippewa River in Chippewa and Eau Claire counties should be good to
excellent," says Heath Benike, fisheries biologist for those counties.
"Sturgeon surveys conducted this field season on the Chippewa River in Eau Claire and Chippewa
counties showed that 10 percent of the lake sturgeon captured were over 60 inches in length."
The largest lake sturgeon was just over 67 inches and weighed almost 60 pounds. There also are
a good number of mid- to upper-50 inch fish that will be available for anglers who prefer catch and
release angling, Benike says.
The length limit is also helping boost the sturgeon population in the upper Menominee River,
according to Mike Donofrio, fisheries supervisor in Peshtigo. "Our assessment indicates likely very
few sturgeon over 60 inches in the upper Menominee river but for those anglers interested in
catch and release, the population estimate of sturgeon over 50 inches from the White Rapids dam
to the Upper Scott dam is more than 1,000."
Sturgeon fishing on Lake Superior's Chequamegon Bay should be good this fall and into the ice
fishing season consistent with previous years, according to Peter Stevens, Lake Superior fisheries
team supervisor. Stevens says 30 percent of sturgeon captured in spring surveys were larger than
50 inches with the largest fish coming in at a little over 64 inches and about 68 pounds. Surveys
continue to show good recruitment with the bulk of the fish in the 30 to 40 inch range.
“Catch per hours of effort continues to show a steady upward trend, indicating that the best days
of fishing may still be in front of us,” Stevens said.
The Lower Wisconsin River and Lake Wisconsin both support healthy populations of lake
sturgeon. Previous to the implementation of the 60 inch size limit the harvest would often exceed
30 percent of the estimated adult population, according to David Rowe, DNR fisheries biologist at
Poynette.
“With the higher size limit harvest has been maintained below the 5 percent safe harvest limit
except for 2010 when harvest was estimated at 6 percent,” Rowe said. “There appear to be many
fish between 50 and 60 inches as observed in spring and fall gillnet surveys and fishing should
continue to be good for these big river wanderers. There are several radio tagged lake sturgeon in
the Lower Wisconsin River and we continue to follow their movements from the Mississippi River
and deep water habitat where they spend the summer, through their long swim back up the river
this fall and begin to stage for spawning next spring.”
The 60-inch limit was enacted because harvest rates on some waters were significantly above 5
percent, the level of harvest DNR considers safe. Lake sturgeon are slow-growing, late maturing
fish, with females spawning for the first time when they are 20 to 25 years old and then only every
four to five years thereafter. Because females are larger than males, they are often targeted by
anglers, and their overharvest can cause population declines that may take years to recover.
Remember to buy a harvest tag.
If anglers do plan to harvest a sturgeon this season, they must purchase a harvest tag before they
fish. The sturgeon harvest tag was implemented for the first time in the 2006 hook and line
season. All revenues from the harvest tag sales go directly to projects dedicated to the
improvement of sturgeon populations and habitats and therefore, better fishing opportunities. No
tag is needed if anglers are catch and release fishing only.
The harvest tag is available throughout the season and costs $20 for residents and $50 for
nonresidents. It can be can be purchased: over the Internet through the Online Licensing Center;
by calling toll-free 1-877-WI LICENSE (1-877-945-4236); at license sales locations; or DNR service
centers during their regular business hours.
Anglers who harvest a legal-size fish must immediately attach the harvest tag to the fish and take it
to a registration station by 6 p.m. the next day for registration.
All anglers must have a Wisconsin general inland fishing license unless they are under 16 years
old, or were born before Jan. 1, 1927. Military personnel who are Wisconsin residents and in active
service but on furlough or leave are eligible to receive a free annual fishing license. They still need
to purchase the $20 lake sturgeon harvest tag if they plan to keep a lake sturgeon.
Additional Menominee River sturgeon registration station
Of note on the Menominee River sturgeon season is that one more registration station has been
added on the Wisconsin side this year. A complete list of lake sturgeon registration stations is
available on the hook and line sturgeon fishing page of the DNR website.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Karl Scheidegger, (608) 267-9426; Heath Benike, (715)
839-2877; Mike Donofrio, (715) 582-5050
Grass carp discoveries concern Wisconsin fisheries officials
Purchase, possession and stocking of this Asian carp illegal in Wisconsin
MILWAUKEE -- They aren't the fish that leap out of the water and knock out boaters nor the ones
that can reach 100 pounds, but the discoveries late last month of grass carp in the Milwaukee
River and in the Lower Wisconsin River are very concerning, state fisheries officials say.
"Grass carp aren’t any more desirable in Wisconsin waters than the other Asian carp that are at
our doorstep," says Mike Staggs, Wisconsin's fisheries director. "We don’t need these things
spreading around the state. We need everyone to follow the rules designed to stop the spread of
Asian carp and other aquatic invasive species."
Grass carp are plant eating machines that can rob lakes of the rooted plants that provide
important habitat for native fish and wildlife, and leave behind so much fish waste that they can fuel
excessive algae growth. Because of the damage they can do, grass carp are illegal to buy,
possess or stock in Wisconsin and the DNR destroys the fish when it finds them.
"If they were to reproduce in our lakes, it can foster algae blooms because of their eating habits,"
says Randy Schumacher, fisheries supervisor in southeastern Wisconsin. "When you have algae,
you lose perch, blue gills, etc. that feed off insects that feed off plants. So they are every bit as
bad as the common carp and worse."
Grass carp are one of many Asian carp species that are causing problems in the United States,
but they are not one of the three Asian carp species that may be making their way up the Chicago
Sanitary Ship Canal and in danger of colonizing the Great Lakes. Those species are the bighead
carp, which eat plankton; the silver carp, which also eat plankton and have been known to jump
out of the water and injure boaters; and the black carp, which eat snails and mollusks. A bighead
carp was found last week on the St. Croix River at Prescott. Common carp, brought to the United
States in the 1800s and stocked in Wisconsin, are invasive and destructive as well, uprooting
aquatic plants and contributing to water quality problems.
A single grass carp was captured April 27 by DNR fisheries research crews on the Lower
Wisconsin Riverway, and a single grass carp was captured April 21 during fish population surveys
on the Milwaukee River.
The two fish were the only Asian carp captured during the surveys, which the crews conduct with
boats that can deliver an electric current to the water that stuns fish and makes them easy to
capture in nets.
DNR is now working with the UW-Milwaukee Water Institute to examine the fish caught in the
Milwaukee River to determine whether it has the immature sexual organs that might mark the fish
as sterile. The grass carp from the Lower Wisconsin Riverway is having a DNA test run on it in
Louisiana. Both grass carp caught in Wisconsin last week are old fish to judge by their size.
Randy Schumacher, fisheries supervisor for southeastern Wisconsin, says a few grass carp have
been found in the Milwaukee River in the last decade.
"We've picked up a few over the years now dating back to 2003, which suggests that somebody
perhaps had them in a pond and they escaped or were transferred to another water."
Some grass carp bred to be sterile are allowed in Illinois, and Iowa allows both sterile and fertile
grass carp.
Grass carp in the Mississippi River
Grass carp have turned up in increasing numbers in the Upper Mississippi River in recent years,
so it's likely that some grass carp from the Mississippi have been moving into the Lower Wisconsin
in recent years, says Ron Benjamin, fish supervisor for the Mississippi River.
Grass carp were introduced to the United States several decades ago for aquatic plant control in
aquaculture operations and in golf course and other ponds. Bighead, silver and black carp were
introduced about 15 years later.
"We first found a few stragglers in the Upper Mississippi River in 1987, and in 1995, we started
seeing them in the commercial harvest," says Benjamin. Wisconsin waters include 259 miles of the
839 mile portion of the river designed as the Upper Mississippi River, including pools 3-12.
Numbers of grass carp harvested commercially on the Mississippi increased starting in 2008, when
massive flooding occurred in Iowa. Grass carp can still be legally sold and imported to Iowa, and
the state itself produces at its hatcheries grass carp for stocking in aquaculture and other ponds.
"The giant floods washed a ton of grass carp out of Iowa," Benjamin says. "Some came in the
Mississippi River."
Commercial fishermen harvested 24,007 pounds of grass carp from Iowa and Wisconsin waters of
the Mississippi River in 2008, 65,833 in 2009, and 32,628 in 2010, with the vast bulk of that
coming from Iowa waters, Benjamin says.
Reproduction of grass carp has never been documented in Wisconsin waters but such
reproduction has been documented in pool 14, about 60 miles south of the Wisconsin border,
where they have found fish of different ages.
Black, silver and bighead carp are listed as injurious under the federal Lacey Act, making them
illegal to transport across state lines without authorization. Wisconsin DNR has sought to have
grass carp listed as injurious under the Lacey Act to keep them out of the state.
DNR has sought to take other actions within Wisconsin boundaries to prevent the fish from
establishing populations here. DNR is cooperatively developing a set of Best Management
Practices to lower the risk that fish imports will be contaminated with grass carp, mosquito fish and
other invasive fish species. And businesses selling fish, aquatic plants and other regulated species
are being contacted through a cooperative effort with DATCP and DNR with information about the
invasive species rule, according to Mindy Wilkinson, who coordinates Wisconsin's invasive species
classification program.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Ron Benjamin (608) 785-9012; Randy Schumacher (414)
263-8672; Mindy Wilkinson ( 608) 266-6437; Bob Wakeman (262) 574-2149
All boats required to operate at slow-no-wake within 100 feet of shoreline
MADISON – A new boating rule in Wisconsin is designed to make lakes safer while protecting
shorelines and improving water quality. The law prohibits boaters from operating their boats at
speeds greater than slow-no-wake within 100 feet of lake shorelines.
The law applies to all lakes, including the lake areas of flowages.
“The law will make it safer for people wading, swimming or fishing near shore, and it should help
reduce conflicts between near-shore recreationists and boaters,” said Scott Bowe, a Department
of Natural Resources conservation warden in Chippewa County.
Moreover, boats operating in shallow waters often churn up sediment and chop up vegetation,
decreasing water quality, and potentially spreading invasive aquatic species like Eurasian water-
milfoil. Slowing these boats will reduce this problem. In addition, eliminating near shore wakes will
reduce shoreline erosion.
This change is in addition to current law which already prohibits boaters on lakes from operating at
speeds greater than slow-no-wake within 100 feet of docks, rafts, piers and buoyed restricted
areas.
Personal watercraft (PWC) operators must also follow these laws in addition to speed restrictions
that apply specifically to PWCs. PWC operators cannot operate at a speed greater than slow-no-
wake within 200 feet of the shoreline of any lake. They also are required to cut back to slow-no-
wake speed when passing within 100 feet of other boats, including other PWCs. This law applies to
both rivers and lakes.
Slow-no-wake is defined as the minimum speed required to maintain steerage. Speed violations
are the primary source of boating complaints in the summer. Speed is also a frequent cause of
boat crashes, especially at night, Bowe said.
People operating boats at night need to slow down to avoid colliding with people, boats or
structures lawfully on the water. Running lights are required from sunset to sunrise.
When on unfamiliar waters, boaters are responsible for knowing all the rules. This means checking
at boat ramps for local ordinances that might further regulate boating on that body of water.
More information about boating safety and Wisconsin Boating Regulations (pdf; 9.6kb) are
available on the DNR website.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Conservation Warden Scott Bowe, Chippewa Falls, (715)
239-6586 or communications specialist Ed Culhane, (715) 839-3715
Minnow harvest ban, other VHS fish disease rules in effect on Lake Superior
MADISON – News that traces of vhs fish disease have been found in low levels in fish from some
parts of Lake Superior won’t change state VHS rules but underscores the need for anglers,
boaters and bait harvesters to follow those rules, state fisheries officials say.
Key among those rules is a ban on harvesting minnows from Lake Superior and tributaries up to
the first dam impassable by fish, and requirements that no live fish moved away from a lake or river.
“VHS is a very serious fish disease with the potential to kill a lot of fish,” says Mike Staggs,
Wisconsin’s fisheries director.”Cornell’s findings really highlight the need for everybody to continue
taking the steps to prevent spreading this VHS to our inland lakes and rivers.”
Cornell University researchers on Jan. 27, 2010, announced that they had found genetic material
of the virus in low levels in fish from four of seven areas tested in Lake Superior, including the
Duluth-Superior Harbor. VHS, which stands for viral hemorrhagic septicemia, is not a human health
risk but can infect dozens of native fish species and can cause them to bleed to death.
Wisconsin included Lake Superior and its connecting waters in rules originally passed in 2007 and
made permanent in 2008 in its definition of waters infected by VHS. Lake Superior is connected to
waters which already had the virus at the time.
Bait harvest is prohibited in infected waters, in addition to the other statewide rules. “Infected
waters” are Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, the Winnebago System and the Mississippi River, and
all of their connecting waters up to the first dam impassable to fish. A listing of all affected waters
can be found online.
Under VHS statewide rules:
•Minnow harvesting of any kind is not allowed on any VHS affected waters (including Lake Superior
and tributaries).
•All anglers and boaters statewide are required to drain all water from the fishing and boating
equipment when leaving the lake or entering the state (except drinking water and a small amount
of water to move minnows as described below).
•All anglers statewide may not move live fish or fish eggs away from any water with the exception of
minnows purchased from a registered Wisconsin bait dealer and used under certain condition.
Such leftover minnows can be used again on the same water, or they can be used elsewhere if the
angler did not add lake or river water or other fish to their bait container.
•Use of dead fish for bait is not allowed except on the waters from which they were taken or if they
were preserved by a method that does not require freezing or refrigeration.
VHS found in Lake Superior fish
Michigan, Wisconsin not planning regulation changes in Lake Superior based on findings of
Cornell University
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment and the Wisconsin Department
of Natural Resources today said the recent finding by a Cornell University research team of traces
of Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia virus (VHS) in fish inhabiting Lake Superior would not lead to any
immediate regulation changes for anglers or boaters.
Cornell University reported in a press release today that they had found trace amounts of VHS
virus in organ samples taken from a small number of healthy fish in four sites in Lake Superior.
The news release [exit DNR] is available on Cornell University's Web site.
“We appreciate the efforts of Cornell University to help better understand this disease, but we also
want to caution anglers and others who enjoy Lake Superior that this does not mean there has
been a widespread outbreak of VHS in those waters,” said Michigan DNRE Director Rebecca
Humphries. “What this study does indicate is that VHS has been observed in four locations in Lake
Superior, but it is not everywhere. Based on this limited finding, Michigan is not planning to make
any changes in its regulations at this time.”
Wisconsin DNR Secretary Matt Frank said that Wisconsin’s strong VHS protections were already
set with Lake Superior in mind. “We’re disappointed with Cornell’s finding, but not surprised. The
good news is that our VHS rules for boaters and anglers stay the same and will continue to protect
our inland waters. We included Lake Superior when we originally passed regulations in 2007
because it’s directly connected to waters that already had the virus present. We appreciate the
efforts of Wisconsin boaters and anglers who comply.”
The Cornell University-led research team spent several days in June collecting and sampling
healthy fish in Lake Superior. Nearly 900 fish were collected from the lake, and a new screening
tool used by the team found a preliminary positive result for VHS in a small number of fish collected
from four points in the Lake Superior basin – Paradise/Whitefish Point, Chippewa County,
Michigan; Skanee in Huron Bay in Baraga County, Michigan; Superior Bay near Duluth, Minnesota;
and St. Louis Bay, also near Duluth. The only location that had a VHS sample confirmed as
positive was at Paradise/Whitefish Point where VHS was confirmed in one sample from a yellow
perch. Not all of the samples from this site, however, were confirmed to have VHS.
Humphries said the finding is not surprising, adding that finding a VHS-positive fish at the east end
of the Lake Superior basin is where biologists have long thought a positive would be found first --
near the St. Mary’s River, which connects the basin to Lake Huron, a VHS-affected lake.
“VHS remains a threat to all the Great Lakes, and we will increase our efforts to slow the spread
through public awareness of the simple things boaters and anglers can do to help,” Humphries
said.
Frank said that the result underscores the importance of anglers and boaters taking required and
appropriate steps to stop the further spread of VHS within Lake Superior itself, and to inland
waters. “VHS has not gone away - whether you are boating or fishing in Wisconsin or Michigan,
you should drain all water from your bilge, live well or bait bucket, and never take live fish away
from any water,” said Frank.
Humphries and Frank said their agencies will continue collecting and testing fish for VHS in Lake
Superior. Both states have been collecting samples of fish from Lake Superior for the last 3 years,
and neither state has yet found any fish positive for VHS using rigorous, confirmatory testing
procedures.
Anglers and boaters who recreate on Lake Superior can help both the Michigan DNRE and
Wisconsin DNR by reporting any significant fish kills they encounter on Lake Superior to the
agencies. Also, anglers and boaters should drain their livewells and bilge as they exit a lake. Boats
should regularly be cleaned and disinfected after use, as well as any boating and fishing
equipment.
Both states prohibit release of unused minnows back into the water. Unused bait should be
disposed of on land or in a trash can. Also, both states prohibit the transfer of live fish from one
lake to another without appropriate permits. Wisconsin has additional rules relating to the
movement of live fish and the use and possession of live minnows.
Copyright© 2006 BobberStop.com
EAGLE, Wis. -- Interactive maps showing shore fishing sites in southeastern Wisconsin and real-
time data tracking river water levels statewide are two information tools chinook anglers will want to
consult while waiting for rain to trigger the kings on their spawning runs up Lake Michigan
tributaries.
Right now, the fish are gathering "or staging," in southern Lake Michigan harbors, as they ready
for their spawning runs up tributaries like the Root and the Pike.
"They're out in the harbors now," Pfaff says. "Now it's all about rain. When it rains, it's going to get
crazy."
In northern Lake Michigan, chinook are up in the tributaries.
Both information tools can be found on the Fall Shore Fishing page of the Department of Natural
Resources website. Anglers also will find other resources to help them enjoy fall tributary fishing.
The interactive maps give driving directions, fish species, and a picture of the fishing location, all
of which are within 60 miles of the state's largest city and home to the most anglers.
A downloadable companion brochure is available on the page as well, and contact information for
how anglers can get a printed copy of the brochure.
U.S. Geological Survey real time water data for Wisconsin [waterdata.usgs.gov/wi/nwis/rt] (exit
DNR) can also be helpful to anglers. With the low water levels in tributaries right now due to lack of
rain, almost any substantial rain event should trigger spawning migration runs of salmon and trout,
says Ben Pfaff, a DNR fisheries technician in Eagle.
And as always, the Lake Michigan hotline, (414) 382-7920, provides up-to-date fishing reports and
conditions.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Brad Eggold (414) 382-7921
Machine able to mark 700,000 fish a key to keeping taps on Great Lakes salmon
MADISON -- A new technology Wisconsin and other Great Lakes states are using will help assure
chinook anglers will have a healthy supply of kings at the end of their lines in coming years.
A machine that can mark up to 90,000 fish in a day with a fin clip and a coded wire tag makes it
easier, more accurate and more cost effective to discern which fish have been produced by
hatcheries and which have been produced naturally, according to Brad Eggold, the Department of
Natural Resources fisheries biologist.
The machine is featured in a new video available on the DNR website.
Knowing the difference can help produce a more accurate count of how many fish are in Lake
Michigan and other Great Lakes, and can allow states to adjust their stocking to keep the total
number of fish in the lake in line with the available forage base, Eggold says. "The goal this year
was to mark all the Chinook salmon stocked into Lake Michigan and Lake Huron."
Anglers also will be able to tell whether the fish they caught was hatchery-produced or produced in
the wild. Hatchery fish processed by the machine have the adipose fin -- the fleshy fin on the fish's
back in front of its tail -- clipped off.
The trailer containing the marking equipment is part of a cooperative effort by all of the state,
tribal, provincial and federal fisheries agencies in the Great Lakes to mark more of the fish that are
stocked into the Great Lakes.
The mass marking trailer, owned by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, marked 1.2 million chinook
this spring at three Wisconsin fish hatcheries, according to Steve Fajfer, supervisor of Wild Rose
state Fish hatchery, one of the three. The other hatcheries the trailer was used at were Kettle
Moraine State Fish Hatchery and the Les Voigt State Fish Hatchery.
Those fish were stocked out in Lake Michigan harbors in late May. In about two years, the fish will
be big enough to be caught by anglers, and anglers will start seeing fish without the adipose fin,
indicating those fish were produced at a hatchery.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Brad Eggold (414) 382-7921
Discovery of two aggressive aquatic invasive plants underscores need to clean boats
BUFFALO CITY, Wis. -- The recent discovery of two aggressive invasive plant species in a popular
Upper Mississippi River waterfowl area underscores the need for waterfowl hunters to clean their
boats and take other steps to avoid accidentally spreading invasive plants and nonnative species
that can threaten waterways and future hunting opportunities, state and federal wildlife officials say.
“This is the first time we’ve found these two species of invasive water plants in Pool 5,” said Upper
Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge Winona District Manager Mary Stefanski. “We
are hopeful that none of these plants will survive if we get a cold winter, but we still need boaters to
be vigilant.”
Pool 5 is by Buffalo City and encompasses river miles 750 to 739.
Bob Wakeman, who coordinates aquatic invasive species prevention and control efforts for the
Department of Natural Resources, urges hunters to check their boats, trailers and other equipment
before they launch and after they're done for the day.
"Please take a few minutes to inspect your boats and equipment, remove any plants and animals,
and drain water from your boat and equipment," he says. "These steps will prevent the spread of
these new invasive plants, and will also help contain other aquatic invasive species and diseases
that may be present."
DNR Water Guards and wardens will be checking boats at popular landings in the area and across
the state, educating hunters about the rules and enforcing them. “The waterfowl hunting
community is an important partner in the effort to prevent the spread of invasive species in
Wisconsin’s waterways,” says DNR Chief Warden Randy Stark.
And DNR was working with the River Alliance of Wisconsin to post signs at boat landings (pdf;
629kb) in the area to alert hunters to the presence of water hyacinth and water lettuce in Pool 5 of
the Upper Mississippi River.
Water lettuce and water hyacinth are two innocuous sounding invasive plants with outsized
impacts: as few as 25 individual plants can expand to cover 10,000 square meters of water surface
in one growing season, nearly enough to cover Lambeau Field twice. This expansion creates a
thick, impenetrable mat of vegetation that prevents waterfowl from foraging.
Stefanski also notes that another invasive plant, purple loosestrife, has been spotted in larger than
normal amounts along the river this year. She believes this is because many of the beetles that
normally feed on the loosestrife and keep them under control may have died over the winter due to
cold weather and high water. “We plan to release more of the beetles next summer to hopefully get
the population of loosestrife back under control,” she says.
Here is how hunters and others enjoying Wisconsin's outdoors can help protect their hunting,
fishing and the state's natural resources from invasive species.
•If you see these plants or other plants on the watch list, please pull them and put them in a trash
bag or other container to be disposed of in a landfill.
•If you find a large infestation that you are not capable of pulling contact the toll-free DNR
information line at 1-888-WDNRINFo (1-888-936-7463).
•Inspect your equipment and remove all plants and animals before transporting.
•Follow all other state and federal laws to prevent the spread of invasive species and diseases.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:Bob Wakeman, DNR (262) 574-2149; Mary Stefanski, U.S.
Fish & Wildlife Service (507)-494-6229
Hook and line sturgeon season opens Sept. 3
"Excellent" fishing forecast for some waters
MADISON -- Anglers looking for a unique fishing opportunity don't have to look far. The 2011 hook
and line season for sturgeon season opens Sept. 3 on about a dozen waters statewide and gives
anglers the chance to reel in one of Wisconsin's largest and oldest fish.
The opening date is wrong in the Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations 2011-
2012, anglers should note, and Sept. 3 is the correct opening day.
Lake sturgeon can grow to more than 200 pounds and live more than 100 years. The 2011
season marks the fifth year that the minimum length for harvesting sturgeon is set at 60 inches,
with a one-fish limit per season. The season runs through Sept. 30, 2011.
There is a catch and release season only on a stretch of the Menominee River downstream from
the Hattie Street dam to Green Bay from Sept. 3-30.
And anglers will find an extra catch-and-release opportunity on the lower St. Croix River from St.
Croix Falls Dam downstream to the Mississippi River from Oct. 1 through Oct. 15. This catch-and-
release season allows Wisconsin and Minnesota to have the same regulations for the same
species.
There are signs that the 60-inch length limit Wisconsin put in place is working to increase fish size
and protect the vulnerable female population on some waters, fisheries biologists say.
"Sturgeon fishing on the Chippewa River in Chippewa and Eau Claire counties should be good to
excellent," says Heath Benike, fisheries biologist for those counties.
"Sturgeon surveys conducted this field season on the Chippewa River in Eau Claire and Chippewa
counties showed that 10 percent of the lake sturgeon captured were over 60 inches in length."
The largest lake sturgeon was just over 67 inches and weighed almost 60 pounds. There also are
a good number of mid- to upper-50 inch fish that will be available for anglers who prefer catch and
release angling, Benike says.
The length limit is also helping boost the sturgeon population in the upper Menominee River,
according to Mike Donofrio, fisheries supervisor in Peshtigo. "Our assessment indicates likely very
few sturgeon over 60 inches in the upper Menominee river but for those anglers interested in
catch and release, the population estimate of sturgeon over 50 inches from the White Rapids dam
to the Upper Scott dam is more than 1,000."
Sturgeon fishing on Lake Superior's Chequamegon Bay should be good this fall and into the ice
fishing season consistent with previous years, according to Peter Stevens, Lake Superior fisheries
team supervisor. Stevens says 30 percent of sturgeon captured in spring surveys were larger than
50 inches with the largest fish coming in at a little over 64 inches and about 68 pounds. Surveys
continue to show good recruitment with the bulk of the fish in the 30 to 40 inch range.
“Catch per hours of effort continues to show a steady upward trend, indicating that the best days
of fishing may still be in front of us,” Stevens said.
The Lower Wisconsin River and Lake Wisconsin both support healthy populations of lake
sturgeon. Previous to the implementation of the 60 inch size limit the harvest would often exceed
30 percent of the estimated adult population, according to David Rowe, DNR fisheries biologist at
Poynette.
“With the higher size limit harvest has been maintained below the 5 percent safe harvest limit
except for 2010 when harvest was estimated at 6 percent,” Rowe said. “There appear to be many
fish between 50 and 60 inches as observed in spring and fall gillnet surveys and fishing should
continue to be good for these big river wanderers. There are several radio tagged lake sturgeon in
the Lower Wisconsin River and we continue to follow their movements from the Mississippi River
and deep water habitat where they spend the summer, through their long swim back up the river
this fall and begin to stage for spawning next spring.”
The 60-inch limit was enacted because harvest rates on some waters were significantly above 5
percent, the level of harvest DNR considers safe. Lake sturgeon are slow-growing, late maturing
fish, with females spawning for the first time when they are 20 to 25 years old and then only every
four to five years thereafter. Because females are larger than males, they are often targeted by
anglers, and their overharvest can cause population declines that may take years to recover.
Remember to buy a harvest tag.
If anglers do plan to harvest a sturgeon this season, they must purchase a harvest tag before they
fish. The sturgeon harvest tag was implemented for the first time in the 2006 hook and line
season. All revenues from the harvest tag sales go directly to projects dedicated to the
improvement of sturgeon populations and habitats and therefore, better fishing opportunities. No
tag is needed if anglers are catch and release fishing only.
The harvest tag is available throughout the season and costs $20 for residents and $50 for
nonresidents. It can be can be purchased: over the Internet through the Online Licensing Center;
by calling toll-free 1-877-WI LICENSE (1-877-945-4236); at license sales locations; or DNR service
centers during their regular business hours.
Anglers who harvest a legal-size fish must immediately attach the harvest tag to the fish and take it
to a registration station by 6 p.m. the next day for registration.
All anglers must have a Wisconsin general inland fishing license unless they are under 16 years
old, or were born before Jan. 1, 1927. Military personnel who are Wisconsin residents and in active
service but on furlough or leave are eligible to receive a free annual fishing license. They still need
to purchase the $20 lake sturgeon harvest tag if they plan to keep a lake sturgeon.
Additional Menominee River sturgeon registration station
Of note on the Menominee River sturgeon season is that one more registration station has been
added on the Wisconsin side this year. A complete list of lake sturgeon registration stations is
available on the hook and line sturgeon fishing page of the DNR website.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Karl Scheidegger, (608) 267-9426; Heath Benike, (715)
839-2877; Mike Donofrio, (715) 582-5050
Grass carp discoveries concern Wisconsin fisheries officials
Purchase, possession and stocking of this Asian carp illegal in Wisconsin
MILWAUKEE -- They aren't the fish that leap out of the water and knock out boaters nor the ones
that can reach 100 pounds, but the discoveries late last month of grass carp in the Milwaukee
River and in the Lower Wisconsin River are very concerning, state fisheries officials say.
"Grass carp aren’t any more desirable in Wisconsin waters than the other Asian carp that are at
our doorstep," says Mike Staggs, Wisconsin's fisheries director. "We don’t need these things
spreading around the state. We need everyone to follow the rules designed to stop the spread of
Asian carp and other aquatic invasive species."
Grass carp are plant eating machines that can rob lakes of the rooted plants that provide
important habitat for native fish and wildlife, and leave behind so much fish waste that they can fuel
excessive algae growth. Because of the damage they can do, grass carp are illegal to buy,
possess or stock in Wisconsin and the DNR destroys the fish when it finds them.
"If they were to reproduce in our lakes, it can foster algae blooms because of their eating habits,"
says Randy Schumacher, fisheries supervisor in southeastern Wisconsin. "When you have algae,
you lose perch, blue gills, etc. that feed off insects that feed off plants. So they are every bit as
bad as the common carp and worse."
Grass carp are one of many Asian carp species that are causing problems in the United States,
but they are not one of the three Asian carp species that may be making their way up the Chicago
Sanitary Ship Canal and in danger of colonizing the Great Lakes. Those species are the bighead
carp, which eat plankton; the silver carp, which also eat plankton and have been known to jump
out of the water and injure boaters; and the black carp, which eat snails and mollusks. A bighead
carp was found last week on the St. Croix River at Prescott. Common carp, brought to the United
States in the 1800s and stocked in Wisconsin, are invasive and destructive as well, uprooting
aquatic plants and contributing to water quality problems.
A single grass carp was captured April 27 by DNR fisheries research crews on the Lower
Wisconsin Riverway, and a single grass carp was captured April 21 during fish population surveys
on the Milwaukee River.
The two fish were the only Asian carp captured during the surveys, which the crews conduct with
boats that can deliver an electric current to the water that stuns fish and makes them easy to
capture in nets.
DNR is now working with the UW-Milwaukee Water Institute to examine the fish caught in the
Milwaukee River to determine whether it has the immature sexual organs that might mark the fish
as sterile. The grass carp from the Lower Wisconsin Riverway is having a DNA test run on it in
Louisiana. Both grass carp caught in Wisconsin last week are old fish to judge by their size.
Randy Schumacher, fisheries supervisor for southeastern Wisconsin, says a few grass carp have
been found in the Milwaukee River in the last decade.
"We've picked up a few over the years now dating back to 2003, which suggests that somebody
perhaps had them in a pond and they escaped or were transferred to another water."
Some grass carp bred to be sterile are allowed in Illinois, and Iowa allows both sterile and fertile
grass carp.
Grass carp in the Mississippi River
Grass carp have turned up in increasing numbers in the Upper Mississippi River in recent years,
so it's likely that some grass carp from the Mississippi have been moving into the Lower Wisconsin
in recent years, says Ron Benjamin, fish supervisor for the Mississippi River.
Grass carp were introduced to the United States several decades ago for aquatic plant control in
aquaculture operations and in golf course and other ponds. Bighead, silver and black carp were
introduced about 15 years later.
"We first found a few stragglers in the Upper Mississippi River in 1987, and in 1995, we started
seeing them in the commercial harvest," says Benjamin. Wisconsin waters include 259 miles of the
839 mile portion of the river designed as the Upper Mississippi River, including pools 3-12.
Numbers of grass carp harvested commercially on the Mississippi increased starting in 2008, when
massive flooding occurred in Iowa. Grass carp can still be legally sold and imported to Iowa, and
the state itself produces at its hatcheries grass carp for stocking in aquaculture and other ponds.
"The giant floods washed a ton of grass carp out of Iowa," Benjamin says. "Some came in the
Mississippi River."
Commercial fishermen harvested 24,007 pounds of grass carp from Iowa and Wisconsin waters of
the Mississippi River in 2008, 65,833 in 2009, and 32,628 in 2010, with the vast bulk of that
coming from Iowa waters, Benjamin says.
Reproduction of grass carp has never been documented in Wisconsin waters but such
reproduction has been documented in pool 14, about 60 miles south of the Wisconsin border,
where they have found fish of different ages.
Black, silver and bighead carp are listed as injurious under the federal Lacey Act, making them
illegal to transport across state lines without authorization. Wisconsin DNR has sought to have
grass carp listed as injurious under the Lacey Act to keep them out of the state.
DNR has sought to take other actions within Wisconsin boundaries to prevent the fish from
establishing populations here. DNR is cooperatively developing a set of Best Management
Practices to lower the risk that fish imports will be contaminated with grass carp, mosquito fish and
other invasive fish species. And businesses selling fish, aquatic plants and other regulated species
are being contacted through a cooperative effort with DATCP and DNR with information about the
invasive species rule, according to Mindy Wilkinson, who coordinates Wisconsin's invasive species
classification program.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Ron Benjamin (608) 785-9012; Randy Schumacher (414)
263-8672; Mindy Wilkinson ( 608) 266-6437; Bob Wakeman (262) 574-2149
All boats required to operate at slow-no-wake within 100 feet of shoreline
MADISON – A new boating rule in Wisconsin is designed to make lakes safer while protecting
shorelines and improving water quality. The law prohibits boaters from operating their boats at
speeds greater than slow-no-wake within 100 feet of lake shorelines.
The law applies to all lakes, including the lake areas of flowages.
“The law will make it safer for people wading, swimming or fishing near shore, and it should help
reduce conflicts between near-shore recreationists and boaters,” said Scott Bowe, a Department
of Natural Resources conservation warden in Chippewa County.
Moreover, boats operating in shallow waters often churn up sediment and chop up vegetation,
decreasing water quality, and potentially spreading invasive aquatic species like Eurasian water-
milfoil. Slowing these boats will reduce this problem. In addition, eliminating near shore wakes will
reduce shoreline erosion.
This change is in addition to current law which already prohibits boaters on lakes from operating at
speeds greater than slow-no-wake within 100 feet of docks, rafts, piers and buoyed restricted
areas.
Personal watercraft (PWC) operators must also follow these laws in addition to speed restrictions
that apply specifically to PWCs. PWC operators cannot operate at a speed greater than slow-no-
wake within 200 feet of the shoreline of any lake. They also are required to cut back to slow-no-
wake speed when passing within 100 feet of other boats, including other PWCs. This law applies to
both rivers and lakes.
Slow-no-wake is defined as the minimum speed required to maintain steerage. Speed violations
are the primary source of boating complaints in the summer. Speed is also a frequent cause of
boat crashes, especially at night, Bowe said.
People operating boats at night need to slow down to avoid colliding with people, boats or
structures lawfully on the water. Running lights are required from sunset to sunrise.
When on unfamiliar waters, boaters are responsible for knowing all the rules. This means checking
at boat ramps for local ordinances that might further regulate boating on that body of water.
More information about boating safety and Wisconsin Boating Regulations (pdf; 9.6kb) are
available on the DNR website.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Conservation Warden Scott Bowe, Chippewa Falls, (715)
239-6586 or communications specialist Ed Culhane, (715) 839-3715
Minnow harvest ban, other VHS fish disease rules in effect on Lake Superior
MADISON – News that traces of vhs fish disease have been found in low levels in fish from some
parts of Lake Superior won’t change state VHS rules but underscores the need for anglers,
boaters and bait harvesters to follow those rules, state fisheries officials say.
Key among those rules is a ban on harvesting minnows from Lake Superior and tributaries up to
the first dam impassable by fish, and requirements that no live fish moved away from a lake or river.
“VHS is a very serious fish disease with the potential to kill a lot of fish,” says Mike Staggs,
Wisconsin’s fisheries director.”Cornell’s findings really highlight the need for everybody to continue
taking the steps to prevent spreading this VHS to our inland lakes and rivers.”
Cornell University researchers on Jan. 27, 2010, announced that they had found genetic material
of the virus in low levels in fish from four of seven areas tested in Lake Superior, including the
Duluth-Superior Harbor. VHS, which stands for viral hemorrhagic septicemia, is not a human health
risk but can infect dozens of native fish species and can cause them to bleed to death.
Wisconsin included Lake Superior and its connecting waters in rules originally passed in 2007 and
made permanent in 2008 in its definition of waters infected by VHS. Lake Superior is connected to
waters which already had the virus at the time.
Bait harvest is prohibited in infected waters, in addition to the other statewide rules. “Infected
waters” are Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, the Winnebago System and the Mississippi River, and
all of their connecting waters up to the first dam impassable to fish. A listing of all affected waters
can be found online.
Under VHS statewide rules:
•Minnow harvesting of any kind is not allowed on any VHS affected waters (including Lake Superior
and tributaries).
•All anglers and boaters statewide are required to drain all water from the fishing and boating
equipment when leaving the lake or entering the state (except drinking water and a small amount
of water to move minnows as described below).
•All anglers statewide may not move live fish or fish eggs away from any water with the exception of
minnows purchased from a registered Wisconsin bait dealer and used under certain condition.
Such leftover minnows can be used again on the same water, or they can be used elsewhere if the
angler did not add lake or river water or other fish to their bait container.
•Use of dead fish for bait is not allowed except on the waters from which they were taken or if they
were preserved by a method that does not require freezing or refrigeration.
VHS found in Lake Superior fish
Michigan, Wisconsin not planning regulation changes in Lake Superior based on findings of
Cornell University
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment and the Wisconsin Department
of Natural Resources today said the recent finding by a Cornell University research team of traces
of Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia virus (VHS) in fish inhabiting Lake Superior would not lead to any
immediate regulation changes for anglers or boaters.
Cornell University reported in a press release today that they had found trace amounts of VHS
virus in organ samples taken from a small number of healthy fish in four sites in Lake Superior.
The news release [exit DNR] is available on Cornell University's Web site.
“We appreciate the efforts of Cornell University to help better understand this disease, but we also
want to caution anglers and others who enjoy Lake Superior that this does not mean there has
been a widespread outbreak of VHS in those waters,” said Michigan DNRE Director Rebecca
Humphries. “What this study does indicate is that VHS has been observed in four locations in Lake
Superior, but it is not everywhere. Based on this limited finding, Michigan is not planning to make
any changes in its regulations at this time.”
Wisconsin DNR Secretary Matt Frank said that Wisconsin’s strong VHS protections were already
set with Lake Superior in mind. “We’re disappointed with Cornell’s finding, but not surprised. The
good news is that our VHS rules for boaters and anglers stay the same and will continue to protect
our inland waters. We included Lake Superior when we originally passed regulations in 2007
because it’s directly connected to waters that already had the virus present. We appreciate the
efforts of Wisconsin boaters and anglers who comply.”
The Cornell University-led research team spent several days in June collecting and sampling
healthy fish in Lake Superior. Nearly 900 fish were collected from the lake, and a new screening
tool used by the team found a preliminary positive result for VHS in a small number of fish collected
from four points in the Lake Superior basin – Paradise/Whitefish Point, Chippewa County,
Michigan; Skanee in Huron Bay in Baraga County, Michigan; Superior Bay near Duluth, Minnesota;
and St. Louis Bay, also near Duluth. The only location that had a VHS sample confirmed as
positive was at Paradise/Whitefish Point where VHS was confirmed in one sample from a yellow
perch. Not all of the samples from this site, however, were confirmed to have VHS.
Humphries said the finding is not surprising, adding that finding a VHS-positive fish at the east end
of the Lake Superior basin is where biologists have long thought a positive would be found first --
near the St. Mary’s River, which connects the basin to Lake Huron, a VHS-affected lake.
“VHS remains a threat to all the Great Lakes, and we will increase our efforts to slow the spread
through public awareness of the simple things boaters and anglers can do to help,” Humphries
said.
Frank said that the result underscores the importance of anglers and boaters taking required and
appropriate steps to stop the further spread of VHS within Lake Superior itself, and to inland
waters. “VHS has not gone away - whether you are boating or fishing in Wisconsin or Michigan,
you should drain all water from your bilge, live well or bait bucket, and never take live fish away
from any water,” said Frank.
Humphries and Frank said their agencies will continue collecting and testing fish for VHS in Lake
Superior. Both states have been collecting samples of fish from Lake Superior for the last 3 years,
and neither state has yet found any fish positive for VHS using rigorous, confirmatory testing
procedures.
Anglers and boaters who recreate on Lake Superior can help both the Michigan DNRE and
Wisconsin DNR by reporting any significant fish kills they encounter on Lake Superior to the
agencies. Also, anglers and boaters should drain their livewells and bilge as they exit a lake. Boats
should regularly be cleaned and disinfected after use, as well as any boating and fishing
equipment.
Both states prohibit release of unused minnows back into the water. Unused bait should be
disposed of on land or in a trash can. Also, both states prohibit the transfer of live fish from one
lake to another without appropriate permits. Wisconsin has additional rules relating to the
movement of live fish and the use and possession of live minnows.
Copyright© 2006 BobberStop.com
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| Wisconsin Fishing News |
| "It has always been my private conviction that any man who pits his intelligence against a fish and loses has it coming." John Steinbeck |
