Page 76 - 2019 Lake St. Clair Guide Magazine

Cont. is taking place in some areas how-
ever it is not yet certain if there is
from any success. The results of this pilot
program for the Atlantic Salmon are
Page 75 proving positive. So much so there
are plans now to expand from the
The St. annual release of roughly 110,000
the last two years up to 180,000 in
Clair 2020. This number (180K) was orig-
inally what Lake Huron managers
Flats requested from the state hatchery
system, but space limitations kept
have the actual stocking number below
the requested stocking number. This
shown will change hopefully beginning in
2020, but that total number will still
to be be focused mainly at the four initial
stocking locations of Lexington, Os-
an ex- coda, Alpena, and Sault Ste. Marie.
Regardless of the stocking sites,
The pink belly of this Salmon is actually reflecting cellent these fish move freely throughout
Larry’s shirt as he took this photo June 1st. early the lake, from all stocking sites.
summer
Also to note: Fish is laid out on a “full size!” newspaper. home But more data obtained by anglers
around the Lake St. Clair area will
until wa- help the DNR understand growth,
patterns, and survival rates which
ter temperatures approach 62-65 F. will help keep the program moving

Over the last 3-4 years, the Atlantic forward and will help
to enhance the Atlantic
Salmon harvest has been increasing Salmon fishery for the
future.
and a “limit day” is now not uncom-
Thanks also goes
mon! to the Lake Huron Citi-
zens Advisory Commit-
Ten pound fish are being caught tee. This committee is
comprised of anglers,
regularly and some heads have captains, and port cities
who volunteer to meet
been returned from larger fish. with the Department of
Natural Resources to
The DNR has also stocked over discuss observations,
review data, and provide recom-
500,000 Brown Trout around Algo- mendations. It is through the coop-
eration of the Department of Natural
nac (North Channel) since 2010 – in- Resources that programs such as
the Atlantic Salmon program are a
cluding 60,500 in 2018. The brown success and are expanding angler
opportunities for us all.
trout stocking looks Mark from
Fair Haven
FOR as though it will be
discontinued since
those fish are not

being caught in ac-

ceptable return num-

bers…. Or maybe

not reported, being

confused with the At-

lantic Salmon.

So, if you do

catch one, let your

local bait shop know!

IS TO BUY A Atlantic Salmon
can live for five years and typically
don’t die from spawning. Spawning

Page 76 Mike from
Ohio

accidently
caught this

“Bowfin”
fishing for
Bluegill off the
docks early

July on
Bouvier Bay.
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