How to get our Fish Back

2/25/2016

For those who attended last year's LMPO meeting, a lengthy discussion was made about how we could increase the fish in the lake. President Karen Johnson had met with the DNR to discuss this issue. Several possibilities were brought up at that time and other avenues were offered. With the fishing season fast approaching, we thought this might be a good time to explore those avenues rather than wait.
In Karen Johnson's meeting with the local DNR they discussed perhaps a fish plant in Lake Michigamme. Anyway, one idea mentioned that the DNR recommended putting out wood cribs for fish cover and perhaps assist in maintaining/growing the forage base in Lake Michigamme. It is believed that if we can develop interest, we should put together a volunteer operation to consider what the DNR suggested. We need to clarify that the DNR provides the material for the crib building free; all we have to do is put together a group to take action.
Lee Holbrook has already offered to be on the committee, who else wants to join? Let us know your thoughts.

28 Comments

Lee

2/25/2016 01:12:23 pm

Usually the cribs are built on the ice at locations that the DNR would recommend; right depth, bottom contour, past fish surveys……when the ice melts the cribs drop to the bottom. It would be nice to get organized and get this underway for next winter……We would have to check with the DNR to see if we could do it sooner without ice.

Vince

2/25/2016 02:39:31 pm

I will volunteer to anything that will improve the fishery on Lake Michigamme. Glad to help. It's an awesome lake.

Karen

2/25/2016 05:22:30 pm

Darren Kramer is the contact at the DNR. He gave me several links to literature about habitat improvement and said that he would get back to me after a Fall site visit to the lake.I have not heard anything.

John

2/25/2016 05:50:46 pm

Maybe decide who has a strong interest and divide chores, research, contacts. I'm sure we need to get a starting point. Any ideas?

2/27/2016 04:04:51 pm

Glad to help, but I am only a part time lake resident. So I can't really take the lead on anything from where I am located. But when it comes time for actual work to improve the fishery, I would be more than happy to pitch in.

3/2/2016 11:38:22 am

Thanks for all of the comments. Karen, when you hear from Darren please post. We will need some help from the DNR on this. Hopefully we will hear from Darren this early spring and perhaps we can all meet sometime this spring early summer to make some fish improvement plans. I know of a number of people that have places on Silver Rd. that would be happy to help; I will pass the word on to them.

Don

3/5/2016 03:06:38 pm

I wanted to pass along some information that has been pertinent to the Walleye population on Lake Michigamme. I have numerous correspondences with the DNR - Darren Kramer and Jennifer Johnson and Senator Caspersons office - Kendra Everett and Dale McNamme. The DNR (Darren Kramer and Jennifer Johnson) and Senator Caspersons representative (Dale McNamme) spent 2 + hours on the lake in Early Sept. performing plankton tows and touring the shoreline. There is so much to cover but the bottom line is the DNR seems very interested in assisting with improving the fishery on Lake Michigamme and Senator Casperson's office has shown a keen interest in watching the progress. The below represents some information that may be useful to the website that may keep the LMPO informed.

The work Dave Balconi and I have been involved with to this point has been behind the scenes to explore our options but the LMPO certainly needs to be up to speed.The Senators office also has offered up an avenue for funding through a grant and we have yet to explore joining an organization such as “Walleyes For Tomorrow”

I have limited time due to my job but would be more than happy to carry on the discussions and solutions. We are at a point however where the DNR knows the situation and can provide their recommendations and solutions accordingly.

Karen Johnson

3/5/2016 04:09:13 pm

Don, it would be helpful if the organization that you and Dave have in place could work in conjunction with LMPO. Would either of you be available to attend one of our Board meetings?

Don Leake

4/7/2016 04:31:01 pm

Karen,
Myself and Dave would be happy to meet with the board to share in the information we have gathered to date. We would love to push forward as an organized group with the LMPO. Please let me know what dates we are looking at for a discussion.

4/12/2016 03:27:41 pm

Karen, i see that the DNR is going to survey Lake Michigamme this month. Can I get Jennifer's e mail address? I am going to be at Michigamme the weekend of the 22nd and would volunteer to help out with the night electro shocking. I worked for the DNR during my college years with both shocking and chemical methods to survey rivers and streams and I believe that the DNR at times will accept volunteer help. thanks

4/13/2016 04:39:11 pm

Lee,
Doubtful that the survey will be anytime soon. The lake is still frozen. I have Darren Kramer's email, but not Jennifer's.

Fritz Curth

4/30/2016 10:23:36 am

I bumped into Don at the Brown Rd launch today and we discussed the walleye issue at length. I would be glad to help out any way I can.

5/2/2016 05:26:59 am

As Fritz stated we had a great discussion and it is helpful to gather more information from fellow fisherman. Dave is also back in and we met Sunday to discuss a path forward. I will contact the DNR to determine the length of time for the boom shock and the results. As far as I can tell they boom shocked to date 8 days (or at least back and forth for 8) beginning last Sunday and they were out again last night (Sunday). We are looking for more people like Fritz to get involved and we are moving forward with improving the lakes Walleye habitat.

Jen Johnson

5/3/2016 12:59:16 pm

Thanks Don for sending everyone an update. We should be all done now with electroshocking. Once the data has been entered and analyzed I can give you an update. It likely won’t be until after our sampling season is completed (late fall, early winter). If an opportunity arises where we can get it done earlier, we most certainly will make it a priority.

Thanks again!

Lee Holbrook

6/14/2016 08:25:52 am

i am all in on getting involved......

Chris FitzGerald

5/14/2016 11:46:34 am

When did the ice go out on Lake Michigamme this spring?

Dave Brostowitz

9/6/2016 06:46:19 pm

We would be very interested in helping out in anyway we can. We do not live on the lake year round but would be more than happy to bring people up to help build cribs. Keep us updated!

7/21/2017 09:05:12 am

I haven't checked the comments here in quite some time and clearly it is time for an update. LMPO coordinated an informative meeting with Darren Kramer and Jennifer Johnson in August 2016. The DNR shared an excellent PowerPoint presentation on the many attempts by the DNR to plant a variety of fish species in Lake Michigamme since the 1940's. Did you know that lake trout were planted at one time?

Subsequent follow-up demonstrated an overall lack of robust fish populatiions mostly due to our lake's rocky shoreline, a lack of nutrients in the water and hence, an insufficient food chain. In addition, an invasive species called Spiny Water Flea has been detected in our lake that has no nutritive value to game fish and can be harmful to their digestive systems. The DNR has no plan in the immediate future to plant fish.

Improving fish habitat appears to be our best course of action. Property owners are encouraged to leave weed beds intact as well as shoreline tree falls in order to attract algae, zooplankton, insects, and bait fish. In addition, fish cribs were suggested. LMPO earmarked $200 for the proper DNR permitting and start up materials for fish crib construction and the DNR provided optimal locations for fish crib placement. Permitting requires permission from the property owner and two adjacent properties on either side. LMPO was unable to secure permission for the site recommended by the DNR, so we are at a bit of am impasse.

8/15/2017 12:38:17 pm

There must be many other sites in Lake Michigamme that would be suitable for crib placement.......we should ask the DNR for alternatives.

8/15/2017 12:51:13 pm

Lee, at the LMPO Annual Meeting, several property owners were enthusiastic about giving consent for fish crib placement. We are hoping to resurrect the project this winter.

8/22/2017 06:36:19 am

Great. I can check with my neighbors and see if they are good with putting a crib out in front of our place.....

8/28/2017 02:46:44 pm

Does anyone know at what depth the cribs would be? I will need to know this before I talk to my neighbors.

7/11/2018 06:42:09 am

Hello; I hope that people interested in the fish population are reading this posting. I have been fishing Lake Michigamme since 1989. I have learned this lake probably better than most and I can assure you that certainly the walleye population is down. I have been on the lake twenty times this year since the May 15th opener of walleye season and from my many past experiences on the Lake fishing, I am not only catching fewer fish, most small, but also with the excellent electronics, I am not seeing them either. The DNR says lack of a minnow base is contributing to Lake Michigamme's non-healthy walleye population. The DNR says that we should put cribs in the lake for cover for the minnows. I believe someone is working on that right now. I guess there is a lot of paperwork involved to obtain permission to do so. The DNR's other suggestion regarding cover for minnows is leaving fallen trees on the Lake shore. Observations from the last few times on the lake, there are so many dead trees along the lake shore right now......it would be so easy to help them fall onto the shoreline and create much needed fish cover. I don't know if you need a permit to do this. There is so much undeveloped shoreline with dead trees just waiting to fall in. These trees are in areas where no pleasure boaters, skiers or wave runners operate....most of the trees would be only 10 to 15 feet into the Lake. Could property owners fell the dead trees into the Lake for fish/minnow cover?

7/11/2018 07:50:52 am

Lee, Dan Ostola is the LMPO board member spearheading the fish crib initiative. The DNR requires consent from the lake frontage owner AND the adjacent property owners on either side of the crib placement. Dan will once again be promoting participation at our annual meeting on July 28. The DNR has also shared literature about their "Fish Sticks" program that encourages property owners to leave fallen trees and weed beds intact. Maintaining a natural shoreline that contributes to both algae growth and the overall food chain for game fish is of course voluntary.

8/21/2018 09:21:33 am

I was not able to attend the annual LMPO meeting. Can someone post what transpired regarding the fish crib topic? It would be great if we could get some cribs built on the ice this coming winter.

8/21/2018 09:57:09 am

Fritz, Dan Ostola had the DNR consent forms at the LMPO Annual Meeting. Several property owners approached him after the meeting, so there is forward progress on fish crib placement. Dan is of the opinion that placement of the cribs would be more accurate if they are dropped in open water.

Any change to limits would of course be under the purview of the DNR. LMPO planted walleye fry over a decade ago, and several game fish species have been planted by the DNR over the years. Until we address the deficiencies in the lake’s food chain, planting efforts appear to be counterproductive.

8/21/2018 09:32:47 am

Suggestions beyond adding cribs: 1) impose a lower possession limit on the lake(currently five 15" or larger). 2) impose a slot limit(i.e. none taken between 18"-21"). This keeps the reproducing fish in the lake. 3) Private stocking. Use LMPO $$ and private donations. I would be willing to donate for this option.

8/23/2018 12:02:22 pm

Fritz, I agree with perhaps private funds for stocking. Slot limit maybe a good discussion piece too.

How to get our Fish Back

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