Caught a Fish with a Weird Fin? The Michigan DNR Wants to Know!

Lake Superior SplakePhoto byMichigan Dept. Of Natural Resources

As fall splake fishing heats up in Lake Superior, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) urges anglers to report any marked splake they catch to aid in a long-term evaluation study.

Michigan DNR Seeks Angler Assistance in Tracking Marked Splake

With the arrival of the fall splake fishing season on Lake Superior, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is calling on anglers to help track marked fish. These efforts are part of a long-term study designed to evaluate the behavior, harvest rates, and movement patterns of splake, a hybrid fish created by crossing lake trout and brook trout. The study, which began in 2021, is expected to continue through 2030.

Cory Kovacs, a DNR fisheries biologist for the Lake Superior Management Unit, highlighted the importance of the project: “Early reporting from anglers has shown that splake remain relatively close to their stocking location and provide a fishery nearshore that is easily accessible with small boats or shore casting.”

Since splake can resemble either of their parent species, identifying them in the wild can be difficult. To distinguish these fish, they are marked with fin clips—portions of one or two fins are removed at the Marquette State Fish Hatchery before being stocked in Copper Harbor, Keweenaw Bay, and Munising Bay. Anglers are encouraged to report their catches of marked splake to contribute valuable data to the ongoing study.

A splake that has had its right pectoral fin clipped and removed. Marked splake may have clips on one or two fins.Photo byMichigan Dept. Of Natural Resources

Splake Marking and How to Identify Them

As part of this study, fisheries managers are monitoring how many stocked fish are caught, their range, and other key data. However, identifying marked splake in the wild can pose challenges. Fish marked by fin clipping may have misshapen or missing fins, making it tricky for anglers to determine if they’ve caught a marked fish. The DNR advises anglers to pay close attention to the fish’s pectoral, ventral, and adipose fins.

To report a marked fish, anglers can use the DNR’s Eyes in the Field app or speak directly with DNR creel staff at various ports through the end of October.

Your Chance to Help Shape the Future of Splake Fishing

Anglers who report marked splake contribute to a valuable resource for the state’s fisheries management efforts. The data collected will inform decisions that could help maintain and even expand nearshore fishing opportunities in Lake Superior's bays, providing access year-round.

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