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Caught a Fish with a Weird Fin? The Michigan DNR Wants to Know!
2 hours ago
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
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.
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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that "valuable data" is worthless .the dnr only listens to nrc commission and special intrest groups. as usual big democrat government has come in and said they have accurate data and science on things but make rule changes on how special interest groups and nrc " feel " about it. take our steelhead .the rule changes they made are solely based upon attitude and how they feel about things.they made it clear they had zero data about the changes but instituted them anyway.so please say no to the dnr when they come around with their little clip boards bugging the shit out of you
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