Lake Michigan stocking plan paying off for anglers

Contact(s): Brad Eggold, DNR Great Lakes District Supervisor, bradley.eggold@wisconsin.gov, 414-382-7921, or Todd Kalish, DNR Fisheries Management Deputy Bureau Director, todd.kalish@wisconsin.gov, 608-266-5285

MADISON – Lake Michigan boat anglers report catching good numbers of salmon and trout this summer and the Department of Natural Resources has finished its first full year of implementing a new and enhanced stocking strategy to assure strong fish populations and fishing into the future.

“We’re happy to see boat anglers are reporting good harvests of fish this year,” says Brad Eggold, DNR Great Lakes District fisheries supervisor. “Fish caught this year are large and in good condition. This indicates that the stocking adjustments that Wisconsin and other agencies have made appear to be paying off, and we’re excited about what future years will bring.

“The hard work of our hatchery staff has allowed us to fully implement the first year of the enhanced stocking plan, we’ve strengthened partnerships with stakeholders, and we’ve secured funding for a hatchery renovation. All of these will help us provide fantastic fishing on Lake Michigan into the future.”

Boat anglers are reporting catching Lake Michigan trout and salmon that are large and in good shape, like this 28 pound chinook caught in June.Photo credit: Ren Ryd

The Lake Michigan stocking strategy was developed over more than two years with discussion and input from more than 500 anglers, business owners and other stakeholders. This spring DNR started carrying out that plan resulting in:

• Stocking Lake Michigan with chinook and coho salmon and brown and rainbow trout under the new 2018-2020 management plan;
• Stocking Skamania steelhead for the first time in a decade, as shown in the video below;
• Expanding efforts with fishing clubs to place stocked fish in pens in Lake Michigan to get acclimatized and grow bigger before they’re released.

As well, DNR secured approval in June from the state Building Commission to go ahead with final design phases for an updated Kettle Moraine Springs Fish Hatchery. At 70 years old, the facility has reached its useful lifetime and plans call for major improvements to the hatchery that will allow production of more fish for stocking in Lake Michigan with less groundwater and energy use and better conditions for fish and staff. The request for proposals to refurbish the hatchery are expected to go out this winter, with construction beginning shortly thereafter

In addition, the DNR is embarking on a public-private partnership with Coolidge Springs Trout Farm in Fifield, Wis. to raise 50,000 steelhead annually to meet the stocking plan for the next three years.

For more information on Lake Michigan fishing, visit the DNR website, dnr.wi.gov, and search “Lake Michigan fisheries.“