Humans aren’t the only ones that think before they speak.
Believe it or not, some species of fish also take a moment before communicating something worthwhile as well.
New research by Washington University in St. Louis and published on Science Daily has found that electric fish—any fish that generates an electric field such as electric eels, electric rays, etc.—actually “pause before sharing something particularly meaningful.”
While these water-dwellers obviously don’t talk in the ways humans do, what this means specifically is that there’s a moment in their prime sensory systems in which there is a type of “pause” before putting on a more emotional display.
To come to this conclusion, the researchers of the study observed a type of electric fish called mormyrids and tracked the pulses they use to communicate with each other. They observed that the fish communicated differently when they were with another fish as opposed to when they were alone in their tanks, producing sharper, higher bursts of pulses after pausing in conversation with their companion.
“Human auditory systems respond more strongly to words that come right after a pause, and during normal, everyday conversations, we tend to pause just before speaking words with especially high-information content,” explains Bruce Carlson, professor of biology at the school. “We see parallels in our fish where they respond more strongly to electrosensory stimuli that come after a pause.
“We also find that fish tend to pause right before they produce a high-frequency burst of electric pulses, which carries a large amount of information.”
Further information regarding this study remains pending.
KINGSTON TOWNSHIP, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Of course the rain is no worry for area fish.
Sunday was Fish for Free Day and some fishing enthusiasts turned out to Frances Slocum State Park to enjoy the waters. Sunday everyone in Pennsylvania could cast their lines without a license.
And those that fish regularly say it’s more than just a sport.
“It teaches you a lot of principles, there is a lot of hard work involved. You definitely get a little bit more rounded if you go fishing a lot,” Patrick Kelly of Wilkes-Barre said.
NAMPA — The Idaho Department of Fish and Game is stocking 300,000 catchable-sized rainbow trout throughout the state in June.
With so many fish stocked in so many places, it can be hard for anglers to sift through the stocking forecasts and records to identify noteworthy stocking events. To make it easier, Fish and Game hatchery staff highlighted some stocking events for the month:
Southwest Region (Nampa)
Bull Trout Lake – 1,000 Rainbow Trout. This lake is nestled in the pines above Banner Summit. While anglers can easily fish from the shore, this lake is ideal for canoes, kick boats and float tubes.
Dick Knox Pond – 1,100 Rainbow Trout. One of the newest fishing waters in the region, it is quickly becoming a popular location to take kids fishing! It’s located in Emmett at the corner of West Sales Yard Road and Airport Road.
Parkcenter Pond – 1,000 Rainbow Trout. A popular local fishing pond with a paved path alongside docks and tables with maturing trees. This convenient pond is near the greenbelt, the BSU campus, and a variety of restaurants.
Sagehen Reservoir – 4,800 Rainbow Trout. This mountain reservoir is surrounded by forests. Five campgrounds are located adjacent to the reservoir and are managed by the Boise National Forest.
Southwest Region (McCall)
Horsethief Reservoir – 7,500 Rainbow Trout. This reservoir has everything for a memorable fishing weekend - a beautiful lake in the trees and good fishing!
Meadow Creek Pond – 500 Rainbow Trout. This is a scenic little pond nestled in the lush New Meadows valley next to the Little Salmon River.
Warm Lake – 12,000 Rainbow Trout. Located in Valley County, this area is very popular for camping, hiking, boating and fishing.
Magic Valley Region
Gavers Lagoon – 1,425 Rainbow Trout. This pond near the Hayspur Campground is a high yield fishery. We encourage harvest, but please harvest what you need and consider leaving a few for your fellow anglers.
Little Wood Reservoir – 6,000 Rainbow Trout. Located in an upland desert setting in Blaine County, this reservoir provides great trout fishing. Bell Mountain provides a scenic backdrop for memorable sunsets.
Little Smoky Creek and Big Smoky Creek – These two creeks in Camas County will receive 1,400 Rainbow Trout and 1,000 Rainbow Trout, respectively.
Penny Lake – 1,000 Rainbow Trout. Great rustic fishing on a small pond! This lake also offers hiking and biking opportunities.
Upper Snake Region
Birch Creek – 3,400 Rainbow Trout. A productive spring creek in a high desert basin, this small stream is ideal for kids and less experienced anglers. Rainbow trout are stocked heavily around access areas and wild brook trout are fairly common.
Camas Creek – 750 Rainbow Trout. Located near Spencer, this is one of our newer stocking locations that’s quickly become a popular fishery. Come experience what it has to offer!
Henrys Fork – 10,000 Rainbow Trout. World Famous for trout fishing! The river is suitable for wade fishing, bank fishing and fishing from a boat.
Horseshoe Lake – 3,000 Rainbow Trout. This is a great place to take newer anglers to catch rainbow trout. More experienced anglers may try to catch some of the Artic Grayling that are stocked annually.
Island Park Reservoir – 12,000 Rainbow Trout. There are several developed campgrounds and boat launches near this large scenic reservoir on the Henrys Fork. Fishing is best from a boat, but bank fishing can be quite good in the springtime.
Salmon Region
Bayhorse Lake – 2,000 Rainbow Trout. Anglers will find good catch rates at this drive-in mountain lake. Primitive campsites are available. Check out Little Bayhorse Lake (1,000 Rainbow Trout) while you’re in the area. The two lakes are connected by a mile long hiking trail.
Cape Horn Lake #1 – 600 Rainbow Trout. This is the larger of two picturesque lakes endowed with fish, lily pads and frogs. Especially well-suited to float tubes or a small boat, this lake offers limited shoreline access. The area is good for wildlife viewing and is Stop 20 on the Idaho Birding Trail. Camping is available at nearby Forest Service sites. No facilities are available here.
Salmon River – Sections #5-8 will be stocked with a total of 8,000 Rainbow Trout.
• Section #5 – O’Brien Campground to Torrey’s Hole
• Section #6 – Lower Stanley to Sunbeam Hot Springs
• Section #7 – Sunny Gulch Campground to Stanley
• Section #8 – Decker Flats to Buckhorn Bridge
Stanley Lake – 2,100 Rainbow Trout. This is a popular spot known for its breathtaking view of the Sawtooth Mountains. It offers great fishing and places for kids to explore nature.
Wallace Lake – 1,500 Tiger Trout. Kids will enjoy fishing from shore and exploring the surrounding woods. Grown-ups will appreciate this high-country fishing retreat to a beautiful mountain lake. Check with local offices for seasonal access conditions before heading out to this lake.
In 2019, Colorado sports men and women took to the state’s lakes and streams vying for extra bragging rights.
That year, Colorado Parks and Wildlife introduced an online tracking system for its Master Angler program, outlining trophy lengths for 46 fish types found across the mountains and plains. The game changed with the system upgrades.
Not only could anglers get certificates with every qualifying catch, but now they could see their names added to the roster maintained by the state agency. Pull a 10-inch bluegill, or 18-inch largemouth bass, or 24-inch rainbow trout, or 28-inch saugeye, or 36-inch northern pike, to name but a few benchmarks, and be rewarded with your proof of catch.
The second year of the online Master Angler program coincided with a pandemic that saw an uptick in fishing, as gleaned from a reported 16% year-to-year increase in state licenses sold.
Parks and Wildlife catalogued 483 Master Angler-worthy catches in 2019. In 2020, 725 hits were noted, including a record 46-inch common carp from the Gunnison River.
And 2021 is off to a hot start.
Near the end of May, the state database showed a trio of 42-inch tiger muskies pulled. Impressive lake trout have been recorded, several outsizing their 32-inch “master” mark. Many others appear to be biting above their qualifying sizes, from smallmouth bass longer than 17 inches, to cutbows extending past 22 inches, to channel catfish lurking more than 30 inches.
As you embark for your next lunker, here’s some inspiration from Colorado record books:
• The state’s heaviest fish ever reeled in and recorded is a 57-pound grass carp. The monster emerged in 2013 from Cottonwood Park Lake in Lakewood. It was 47 inches long.
• Weighing in second is the 50-pound lake trout battled in 2007 at Blue Mesa Reservoir in western Colorado.
Brian Husmann, right, caught the state’s heaviest fish ever reeled in and recorded, a 57-pound grass carp. The monster emerged in 2013 from Cottonwood Park Lake in Lakewood. It was 47 inches long. Photo courtesy Colorado Parks and Wildlife
• The state’s longest fish on the Master Angler books is a 58-inch tiger muskie, caught in 1997 at Quincy Reservoir in Aurora. That’s about the height of the average 10-year-old human.
• Second in length: a 48-inch northern pike from Navajo Lake in the state’s southwest corner.
• The state’s biggest bass was celebrated in 2017: a striper weighing 29 pounds and measuring 39 inches, found at John Martin Reservoir on the southeast plains.
The state’s biggest bass was celebrated in 2017: a striper weighing 29 pounds and measuring 39 inches, caught by Harvey Shade at John Martin Reservoir on the southeast plains. Photo courtesy Colorado Parks and Wildlife
• It appears one Christopher Claeys was awarded the most Master Angler certificates last year. His name is listed 17 times in the database, with catches including a 30-inch channel catfish, 25-inch cutbow, 22-inch brown trout and 21-inch largemouth bass from waters in the central and northern parts of the state
• The state record rainbow trout — the main species stocked in Colorado — remains the 19-pound, 34-inch one from 2003. It came from Morrow Point Reservoir in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison.
Lee Cox with his state record rainbow trout — the main species stocked in Colorado — from 2003. The fish weighed 19 pounds and measured 34 inches. Photo courtesy Colorado Parks and Wildlife
• Lee Cox drew that rainbow trout. On the state’s prize list for weight, his is the only name that shows twice. He snagged a 7-pound, 5-ounce kokanee salmon from the Blue Mesa Reservoir in 2002.
• By weight, Pueblo and Aurora reservoirs each have three top catches, the most of any single fishery in the state. From Pueblo Reservoir, anglers caught a 30-pound flathead catfish, 29-pound blue catfish and 26-pound wiper bass. At Aurora Reservoir, a 43-pound channel catfish, 6-pound smallmouth bass and 5-pound white sucker were claimed.
Jessica Walton with her Colorado record channel catfish weighing 43 pounds, pulled from Aurora Reservoir in 2010. Photo courtesy Colorado Parks and Wildlife
• Colorado’s oldest fishing record is from 1947: a brook trout weighing 7 pounds and 10 ounces, pulled from the high-alpine Upper Cataract Lake in Summit County.
Visitors to Durand-Eastman Beach may have noticed something fishy recently: small, silver, fish have washed up dead where Lake Ontario’s waters lap at the sand of the beach.
But the state Department of Environmental Conservation cautions there’s no reason for alarm. The body count, according to the agency, is likely related to the lake’s natural cycles.
The agency has fielded several reports about dead fish along Lake Ontario, DEC spokesperson Kevin Frazier said.
Staff “determined that alewives are dying as they get trapped in cold water in the northern end of their natural range,” Frazier explained in an e-mail. “This causes stress and occasionally mortality among this species.”
Alewife are a non-native, invasive bait fish that long ago took hold in Lake Ontario and that has proved problematic over the years. In 2015, the fish were linked to a vitamin B deficiency in steelhead trout — alewife have lower levels of vitamin B than other prey fish and they also produce an enzyme that breaks down the B vitamin thiamine.
Winter and spring die-offs of alewife are common across the Great Lakes. Since the fish aren’t native to the region, they don’t withstand cold water well.
There have been large die-offs in the past, such as an event in 1985 that alarmed scientists and anglers alike. But most years, including this one according to the DEC, the death toll is relatively low.
Still, the sight of the fish can be jarring to the senses - sight and smell.
Right now there are dead alewives scattered along the Durand-Eastman shoreline, with the largest clusters numbering three or four small fish. A quick walk on the beach also turned up a couple of dead round goby, an invasive fish that’s disrupting the lake ecosystem — since they eat the eggs and fry of treasured sportfish, nobody is likely to shed any tears over the goby deaths.
Durand-Eastman Beach doesn’t open to swimming until June 19, though it is common for people to take a dip on hot days regardless of the status of the beach.
On Tuesday, Monroe County Public Health Department staff made their first monitoring visit of the season to Durand-Eastman Beach. They saw that fish had washed up, but didn’t see anything alarming, said department spokesperson Julie Philipp.
“At this point here nobody’s too concerned,” Philipp said.
Outdoor writer and photographer Corbet Deary is featured regularly in The Sentinel-Record. Today, Deary takes readers on a journey to Harris Brake Lake.
Sandy and I recently loaded our dog, Sydney, in the rig and struck out on an afternoon excursion. Our intentions were to visit a small recreation area nestled in the heart of the Ouachitas, which we did.
And as it turned out, we still had ample time to visit yet another destination before the evening light gave way to darkness. That in mind, we embarked upon a short drive to a location I had visited several times throughout the years.
In fact, this particular body of water was one of those spots where I try to wet a hook at least once or twice on an annual basis. And although I failed to carry a rod and reel along with me on this particular trip, I was more than satisfied with simply kicking around along sections of its shoreline, and experiencing a casual jaunt in the midst of the wonderful outdoors.
Situated next door to the Harris Brake Wildlife Management Area, Harris Brake Lake is the third-largest Arkansas Game and Fish Commission-owned reservoir throughout the state.
The reservoir is located just south of Perryville, and can be seen from Highway 9/10 on occasions. There is actually a ramp on this side of the lake. However, most of the land alongside the highway is privately owned.
The lake can most easily be accessed from Highway 300. In fact, two public ramps are accessible from this particular stretch of road.
Those who are not familiar with the lake might find it advantageous to utilize the first ramp that is accessible from 300, as it is located within a stone's throw of a bait shop.
Of course, the proprietor will be more than happy to share the most up-to-date fishing report. And of course, many will likely be in need of live bait. And those who are more into casting artificial lures might just find the model that has recently proven effective on their shelves.
Those with physical limitations, and those who do not own a boat, might find Harris Brake Lake of interest, as it sports an impressive fishing pier.
One would think that the waters within casting distance of the pier see their fair share of fishing pressure, However, a local angler, who was utilizing the structure during our most recent visit, assured me that she catches her fair share of channel catfish from the structure. And I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if other native gamefish species frequent this particular section of the lake, as well.
I suppose one could find a few designated primitive camping sites along the water's edge. But it appears that many anglers consider the lake as a day-trip destination.
The reservoir was constructed in 1955 and is relatively shallow, in comparison to our area lakes. Although its deepest waters are 28 feet, it sports an average depth of 10 feet.
Standing timber is prominent throughout sections of the main bay, much of which protrudes above the surface. Other sections, however, are far easier to navigate. But one should bear submerged structures in mind within its perimeters until they become familiar with the body of water.
Speaking of structures, the fish swimming within its perimeters should have no issues finding their preferred cover. Along with large stands of dead timber, several cypress trees can be found growing in the lake, as well.
Artificial fish structures have been added to the mix, and those who prefer fishing alongside docks will have plenty of optimal waters awaiting them.
A few sunken islands lurk in the murky waters. Of course, the underwater points should never be ignored, nor should the channels winding along the substrate.
There are a few pockets strewn throughout the lake as well. And anybody who has spent much time fishing will likely be quick to agree that such waters are often effective. These indentures in the main body of water are often shaded and it is common to find water willow growing along their edges.
There are several houses situated along the shoreline's edge. However, other sections of banks are shaded by the canopy of native trees.
Now let's get down to the million-dollar question. What fish species seem to thrive most on this particular body of water? Well, one shouldn't be surprised if they notice a few rough fish in the shallows or swimming near the surface, as all of our lakes provide a habitat for such fish to thrive.
But it also sports a fair share of species that anglers notoriously pursue. Harris Brake is a great destination for those who enjoy coaxing panfish from the water.
I have actually visited this lake with intention of focusing predominantly on bream fishing. And I can't recall an outing when I didn't experience at least a little success. In fact, it is not uncommon to boat impressive yields when they are nesting.
Of course, it is essential to choose a time when they are actively spawning. But if one's timing is right they are nothing more than a tube of crickets from a memorable outing.
Although not an avid crappie angler, I have talked to several people who cast into these waters for this delectable table fare. Those who are planning to try their hand at crappie fishing on this particular body of water should certainly consider making a pit stop and chewing the fat with those manning the local bait shop.
Crappie can prove finicky at times and will be very particular. In turn, it might prove most advantageous to learn if they are hitting live bait or if they are most responsive to artificial presentations. And then comes the challenge of choosing the most effective colors and the proper depth.
I have also spent my fair share of time fishing within the perimeters of Harris Brake for largemouth bass. They too, can prove somewhat choosy. However, I would suspect that one can arrive at this body of water with a handful of lures with good odds of seeing some success.
A plastic worm is effective in just about any lake throughout the state. And my preferred choice of colors are watermelon/red and purple. But one doesn't necessarily have to cast soft plastics to entice a bass into biting. In fact, various topwater lures are often the ticket, while those who cast spinnerbaits are equally as apt to entice a few into the boat.
I have talked to several locals throughout the years who seem to enjoy soaking a nightcrawler or a chunk of chicken liver in its waters. And although most of the folks I have talked with catch predominantly channel catfish, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if a few flatheads and blue cats can be found in the lake, as well.
Yep, the Harris Brake Lake has been serving anglers for more than 65 years. And I would suspect that it continues providing those who enjoy the sport with memories for years to come.
To get to Harris Brake Lake from Hot Springs, travel north on Park Avenue/Highway 5 for approximately 20 miles and turn left onto Highway 9 at Crow. Go 21 miles and take a left onto Highway 10/9 at Williams Junction. Travel 8.6 miles and take a right onto Highway 300. Drive eight-tenths of a mile and take a right onto Coffee Creek Landing Road. Travel 300 feet to the destination.
The ADA pier at Harris Brake Lake provides everyone with access to its productive waters. - Photo by Corbet Deary of The Sentinel-Record
It took three biologists to haul a 240-pound (109 kilograms) fish out of the Detroit River in Michigan last month. The nearly 7-foot-long (2.1 meters) "monster' sturgeon," caught and released by the Alpena Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office, could be more than 100 years old. It's a mightily impressive catch for sure, but is it the biggest freshwater fish in the world?
The Detroit River fish is a lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens), and while it is believed to be one of the largest ever caught in the U.S., there are much bigger fish swimming in rivers around the world. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the planet's largest freshwater fish is the beluga sturgeon (Huso huso), living between Europe and Asia in the Black, Azov and Caspian seas, and the rivers feeding them.
Beluga sturgeon can reach a maximum length of more than 26 feet (8 m), or about four times as long as a king-size mattress, and weigh up to 2.2 tons (2,000 kg, or 2 metric tons), according to the Pan-European Action Plan for Sturgeons, prepared by the World Sturgeon Conservation Society and World Wildlife Fund. When they grow up, belugas are at the top of the food chain, eating fish such as roach and carp, aquatic birds and even seals, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Belugas can live more than 100 years, like lake sturgeon, which gives them plenty of time to grow. "If you live a long time, you've got a lot of time to eat," Phaedra Doukakis, a fishery policy analyst at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), told Live Science.
Sturgeon have existed for more than 250 million years and even lived alongside the dinosaurs. The beluga is the biggest of the 27 sturgeon and paddlefish species alive today.
Apart from their long lifespan, it's difficult to say exactly why belugas grow so big. Larger sturgeon individuals probably had greater reproductive success, perhaps because the females can generate more eggs than smaller female fish. Their vast size could also help them catch prey and survive predation interactions, according to Leonardo Congiu, an associate professor of ecology at the University of Padova in Italy.
However, today's beluga sturgeon may not be reaching lengths upward of 23 feet (7 m). "I don't think there are beluga of that size any more," Congiu told Live Science in an email. "The species is under great pressure due to poaching, and probably the large animals have all been caught."
Congiu and his colleagues published a paper in January 2021 about the distribution and genetic diversity of beluga populations in the journal Diversity and Distributions. They aim to reintroduce the fish into Italian rivers, after it became locally extinct due to overfishing and the construction of dams in the country.
Beluga sturgeon are listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the category for species most at risk of extinction. Adult females are prized for their fish eggs, which are sold as caviar and valued at more than $3,500/lbs. ($8,000/kg), according to the IUCN.
Doukakis, who is also co-chair of the IUCN Sturgeon Specialist Group, thinks it's possible that there are 23-foot-plus belugas out there, but they would have a significant bounty on their heads. "An old female that achieved that kind of a length could be loaded with caviar and could be a very, very expensive, very lucrative fish to poach," she said.
Sustainably farmed caviar is now available, but Doukakis explained that even if maximum protections were put in place for wild beluga sturgeon, it would take a long time for younger individuals to mature and reach their maximum lengths.
The title for biggest growing sturgeon today may actually belong to the white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus), the largest sturgeon in the U.S. In fact, people are probably more likely to see more large white sturgeon than beluga sturgeon, just because white sturgeon are probably better protected, Doukakis said.
For now, white sturgeon are not threatened with extinction and their population is stable, according to the IUCN. However, like almost all sturgeon species, they are threatened by the construction of dams. Dams prevent sturgeon from swimming upstream to reach their spawning grounds and also alter the environmental conditions of the rivers that sturgeon rely on, according to Doukakis.
RELATED MYSTERIES:
Beluga and white sturgeon are called freshwater fish because they are born in freshwater and use it for breeding, but they also occupy saltwater environments. Doukakis prefered to call them freshwater-dependent fish to distinguish them from species that spend their entire lives in freshwater.
What about the biggest fish that only live in freshwater? The Mekong giant catfish (Pangasianodon gigas), native to the Mekong river in Southeast Asia, holds that record. These catfish can grow to 10 feet (3 m) long and have previously been caught weighing 646 lbs. (293 kg), Live Science previously reported. Like beluga sturgeon, these fish are also considered critically endangered by the IUCN, due to dams and overfishing.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources fisheries crew that looks after Lake Superior is asking anglers to donate the leftover parts of any and all fish they catch on Gitche Gumee.
You can keep the fillets. They just want the rest — intact stomachs, spines and heads — refrigerated or frozen as quickly as possible and then dropped off at the French River office outside Duluth.
They aren't pretty, but the guts leftover after the fillets were removed from this small coho salmon caught last month will help fisheries biologists better understand what salmon eat, and when, in Lake Superior. (Photo courtesy of the Minnesota DNR)
It’s called the Lake Superior PredatorPrey Project, part of a region-wide effort that includes Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Ontario as well as federal and tribal agencies and university researchers all looking at the relationship between predator fish and their prey in the big lake.
They hope to find out if there’s enough food in the lake to go around and how much competition there is between predator species for specific prey species.
“We’re basically teaming up with all the other agencies around the lake to determine the feeding ecology of the fish in the lake. We want to know who’s eating who out there,” said Nick Peterson, Lake Superior migratory fish specialist for the Minnesota DNR. “It doesn’t matter how or when you catch the fish, we want them all.”
Contributions by anglers will be especially helpful in surveying salmon, which tend not to swim into DNR test nets that are normally set for lake trout and herring.
The participating agencies are members of the Lake Superior Technical Committee of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission. The project idea came from Cory Goldsworthy, Minnesota DNR Lake Superior Area fisheries supervisor.
“All of the agencies do our own diet content analysis for the predator fish. … But we want to standardize how it’s done now across the lake,’’ Goldsworthy said. That will allow an apples-to-apples comparison between the same species no matter where they are caught.
Goldsworthy said there’s some hint that small prey fish are getting eaten sooner, such as sculpin and rainbow smelt, that on average are considerably smaller now than a few decades ago. That would indicate increased competition among predator fish, especially as lake trout continue to rebound on the big lake after being decimated by sea lamprey in the mid-1900s.
The PredatorPrey effort started slowly last summer under COVID-19 constraints and only 70 samples were collected. Already this year more than 300 Lake Superior fish have been collected by Minnesota DNR, Peterson said. Nearly 200 have been processed and sent on to a lab in Michigan for results so far a mix of brown trout, chinook salmon, coho salmon, lake trout, clipped rainbow trout, splake, and cisco.
“It would be great to recruit a bunch more, particularly anglers who fish from Two Harbors and north,” Peterson said. “The project will continue throughout the year for sure and likely through the winter and spring of 2022.”
As of last week, 36 Minnesota anglers had signed up to participate. And the Lift Bridge Charter Association of six Duluth charter captains also are collecting fish guts from their clients' catch, so far contributing more than 125 samples for the project.
"We wanted to get all our guys in the association to help so we can get more samples to the DNR,'' said James Hall of James Addiction Charters, part of the Lift Bridge group. "Anything we can do to sustain the fishing in this lake, we want to help. This is our way of life. … Maybe it can help them understand the fishery a little better and maybe lead to more fish down the line."
Duluth angler Trevor Rodd with a chinook salmon he caught, the carcass of which he continbuted to the Lake Superior PredtorPrey project. (Photo courtesy of Trevor Rodd)
Shawn Sitar, fisheries research biologist for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, said predator fish diets will be analyzed at laboratories at Northern Michigan University and Michigan DNR’s Marquette Fisheries Research Station, while prey fish diets will be analyzed at the laboratory at Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie.
A final report on what they find will come out later, probably in 2023, and Sitar said enough new information likely will be gleaned to publish several scientific papers.
Sitar said the angler-contributed fish will be especially helpful to show what bigger fish are eating during fall, winter and early spring months when DNR survey crews can’t get out to net.
“We hope to be able to do this every five years on Lake Superior so we can capture those long-term trends in the food web of the lake,’’ Sitar said. “We want to see how their diets change, what kind of competition there is, how much overlap there is in what they eat.”
Michigan and Wisconsin researchers so far are netting their own fish for the samples. But because the Minnesota DNR doesn’t get a chance to net salmon very often, they are asking shore and boat anglers to volunteer for the effort — citizen scientists of sorts.
The DNR wants anglers to sign up for the program before donating samples. They’ll get detailed information on what fish parts are needed and participants will be given free storage bags. They can then drop off the bags at the DNR’s French River office where extra freezers have been brought in to store them.
The Minnesota DNR's French River fisheries office is collecting hundreds of angler-donated fish guts this year as part of a region-wide study of Lake Superior's predator-prey ecology. Anglers can sign up and then donate intact fish remains after the fillets have been removed. (Photo courtesy of the Minnesota DNR)
2021 PredatorPrey Project fish gut study
Sign up first!
Who can participate? All anglers who fish on Lake Superior.
How do you sign up? Contact Nick Peterson at the Minnesota DNR’s French River office, nick.peterson@state.mn.us or 218-302-3272.
What is needed? Everything that is left after you fillet your fish — the head, spine and all internal organs. The DNR will accept samples from all species harvested in Minnesota waters of Lake Superior at any time throughout the year — trout, salmon, walleye, herring (cisco), whatever.
DNR provides: Official PredatorPrey Project plastic fish gut bags and directions on how to collect and submit samples.
Drop-off sites: DNR French River office at 5351 North Shore Drive, Silver Bay Marina, Grand Marais Recreation Area.
The new “Go Fish, Alabama!” program recently rolled out by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) holds fishing events in public fishing lakes, state parks and local lakes in or near metropolitan areas.
Centerpiece of the program is the “Go Fish, Alabama!” trailer, which acts as a rolling billboard for the program as well as carrying the equipment to provide participants with a start in angling.
Kasie McKee of the Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) Division says the program not only teaches recreational fishing, but also encourages conservation.
“By purchasing a fishing license, you become an active participant in conservation before ever stepping foot outdoors. Your fishing license and purchases of fishing equipment and boat fuel provide funds for conservation efforts across Alabama. These funds are critical to ongoing education, research, and management of Alabama’s aquatic resources and providing funds for boating access. The Sport Fish Restoration Program is one of the most successful user-pay, user-benefits programs.”
The program also encourages ethical angling, safety on the water, keeping waterways clean and supporting conservation laws.
According to ADCNR lead writer David Rainer, the program starts at the most basic level, explaining the differences between spincast, spinning and baitcasting reels, lines, methods of casting, setting the drag, tying basic fishing knots, choosing hook sizes to match bait and species and lots more.
After the instruction, attendees get to choose their fishing tackle for a 20-minute session of casting instruction and practice. A plastic practice plug is tied on the line, and attendees cast toward plastic fish targets that can be snagged and reeled in. The novice anglers then go fishing to try their new skills.
The program also covers ways to prepare fish for cooking, including filleting, skinning, gutting and scaling. He emphasized safety when using a sharp fillet knife and discussed how delicious freshly caught fish can be when cleaned and cooked properly.
Justin Grider, WFF’s R3 Coordinator, explained the goal of the campaign.
“The idea was to teach folks who didn’t have the opportunity to learn about fishing growing up,” Grider said. “We’ve done some grassroots marketing. We’ve traveled to some of the towns close to events. We’ve set up the trailer to do some ‘meet and greets’ and interacted with people who might benefit from the program. We’ve been marketing on social media and trying to get the news about the opportunity spread by word of mouth.
“Our goal when somebody attends an event is to provide the skills they need to replicate the experience on their own. We want them to learn to fish, learn the basic principles so they can do that on their own after the event.”
Grider said the program is geared toward adults and families and not particularly at youths.
“If we teach the parents to fish, it’s more likely the kids will get involved,” he said. “There are lots of existing youth programs, and youth programs are great. But there is a niche for these adults who haven’t had the opportunity and are interested in learning. We intend to fill that niche with the ‘Go Fish, Alabama!’ Program.”
The next “Go Fish, Alabama!” event is scheduled for Saturday, June 5, at Cosby Lake Park at 6275 Old Springville Road in Pinson.
Here’s the rest of the 2021 schedule:
Saturday, June 12, at Van de Graaff Park, 3231 Robert Cardinal Airport Rd., Northport, Alabama
Saturday June 19, at Oak Mountain State Park, 200 Terrace Drive, Pelham, Alabama
Saturday, June 26, at Tricentennial Park, 2121 Lake Drive, Mobile, Alabama
Friday, July 16, at E.W. Shell Fisheries Center, 2101 North College St., Auburn, Alabama
Saturday, July 17, at Lee County Public Fishing Lake, 321 Lee Rd. 808, Opelika, Alabama
Friday, July 23, at Tricentennial Park, 2121 Lake Drive, Mobile, Alabama
Friday, August 27, at Pike County Public Fishing Lake, 200 Pike County Lake Rd., Troy, Alabama
Saturday, August 28, at Dale County Public Fishing Lake, 861 Myrtle Drive, Ozark, Alabama
Saturday, September 18, at Madison County Public Fishing Lake, 2501 County Lake Rd., Gurley, Alabama
PENNSYLVANIA (WKBN) – Memorial Day weekend is kind of the unofficial start of summer, and for fans of the outdoors, today you can go fishing for free in Pennsylvania.
All across the Commonwealth, everyone’s able to go fishing in public waterways without a fishing license.
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission has waived that fee for today only.
This includes rivers, lakes and some state parks.
The special licenses to fish for trout, salmon and to fish on Lake Erie are also waived.
Usually a license is about $23, with special add-ons costing an extra $10.
“Fish-for-free days are the perfect opportunity to try fishing for the first time, reconnect with the water or share your passion for fishing with someone new,” said Amber Nabors, director of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Bureau of Outreach.
There’s also going to be another free fishing day later this summer to kick off the July 4th weekend.
Anyone can go dip a line in the public waterways today in PA, residents and non- residents.
This doesn’t apply to privately owned land so don’t go trespassing.
It’s also a good time to remind people that this past week was National Safe Boating Week.
Make sure to check your gear, boating license and life jackets before heading out on the water.
“Many people will be enjoying the holiday weekend together for picnics at the state parks, campgrounds and other places near the water,” Nabors said. “Now you can spend some time fishing at no cost.”
Each weekend this summer we'll publish a list of big fish caught in our region. Email your information to outdoors@duluthnews.com or call 218-723-5300. List the angler's name, hometown, body of water where the fish was caught, nearest town, the resort you stayed at (if applicable) and the length or weight of the fish.
We'd also like to see photographs of you and your big fish. We'll publish some each Sunday and post more online. Email them to outdoors@duluthnews.com. Use jpeg format and include all pertinent information.
The News Tribune, in an effort to promote responsible handling of released fish, will not run photos of people with fish that are being mishandled. Do not hold fish vertically with one hand. Support the fish with two hands. Keep your hands away from the eyes and gills.
Walleye release
28-inch minimum
31.5 - Tim Dillon, Hermantown, St. Louis River, Duluth
30 - Matt Bloomfield, St. Charles, Missouri, Saganaga Lake, Seagull Creek Fishing Camp, Grand Marais
29.5 - Mike Berg, Grand Marais, Saganaga Lake, Seagull Creek Fishing Camp, Grand Marais
28.5 - Nancy Andrews, Duluth, Lake Vermilion, Ludlow's Island Resort, Cook
We all have our own goals, our own intentions for summer and ways to relax. Some of us have families with little kids, some want to catch the biggest fish we can find, and some just want to relax.
Fortunately, we all live in Wyoming, a place that offers perfect opportunities for any number of summertime aims. And many places will suit a variety of needs.
Take a place like Curt Gowdy State Park in Laramie County. It’s humming most of the summer from visitation, and for good reason. The state park has reservoirs for fishing and boating, opportunities for stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking, camping and plenty of specially built, single-track trails. It also has an archery course for those keeping their skills sharp for hunting season. And it’s not the only place with plenty of choices.
Consider this a choose-your-own-fishing-adventure guide. We offer four scenarios that will fit most readers. Pick one and see where you should end up.
If you want to catch the biggest fish
Few places in the state offer more chances for monster fish than Flaming Gorge Reservoir. From its depths came the state record lake trout, measuring a whopping 48 inches and weighing 50 pounds. Flaming Gorge also holds the record for small mouth bass, kokanee and brown trout.
But the 40-mile-long bucket straddling Wyoming and Utah’s borders isn’t the only place in the state you can catch fish so big your arms hurt from holding them, said Matt Hahn, Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s Casper fisheries supervisor.
“If you want to catch a big fish, and you don’t care what kind it is, carp are all over the state, and they get big everywhere,” he said. “They’re also available from shore and boats, and with a fly rod or bait.”
And he’s not exaggerating. The state record carp weighed more than 34 pounds.
But Wyoming’s channel catfish also grow exceptionally large. Biologists electrofished part of the North Platte River above Glendo Reservoir in 2020 to survey fish populations and caught a catfish that was too big for the scale to measure, which meant it was likely about 30 pounds.
The real river and lake monsters aren’t all that common, but most catfish in Glendo likely average about 25 to 30 inches and weigh 8 to 10 pounds, which is still a big fish.
Keyhole Reservoir holds long, aggressive northern pike for anyone interested in a toothier fight.
But if you don’t have much time, and you want to catch something big, try the carp bite on any larger reservoir or river below 6,500 feet. You won’t be disappointed.
You want to fish, but your kids want to play
If you have children, especially small children, the quickest way to boredom for them and unpleasant fishing for you may be taking them to a river and asking them to stand by while you cast.
Josh Peterson helps his daughter catch a Colorado cutthroat trout in a beaver pond in southwest Wyoming. Off-the-beaten-path streams, ponds and lakes can be some of the easiest places to catch hungry trout.
Christine Peterson, for the Star-Tribune
It might work for a while, but quickly your child is likely going to want to do something other than hang out on the bank. That’s why Hahn recommends heading somewhere with fish and also alternate forms of entertainment. Pathfinder and Alcova reservoirs west of Casper or Boysen Reservoir in Fremont County, are easy choices. All of them have areas with sandy beach and also plenty of fish.
“Go shore fishing on a big reservoir where they can run around and can go down the shore and ways and skip rocks, or play and wade and swim,” said Hahn, who has three kids of his own. “That’s what my kids do. They fish for a little while, then get bored and want to explore and build sand castles.”
Some parks like Glendo also have playground equipment for when the little angler really needs a break. Also, for any of us who need a reminder, bring along plenty of snacks, sunscreen, hats and water. The more special you make the fishing trip, the longer it will last, so bring those treats you may not usually offer. Don’t forget a change of clothes and coats, sweaters and rain jackets because Wyoming’s weather is anything but predictable.
You want to fish but don’t have a boat
Yes, it is possible to catch fish without a boat. It may be easier on some big reservoirs to use a boat to cover ground than to walk the shore for hours, but it’s still possible.
If you want to quickly catch fish, though, and don’t have means of over-water transportation, consider heading to the mountains.
Theo Anest, of Alcova, fishes the North Platte River on March 24, 2015 below the Grey Reef Dam in Alcova. While fishing from a boat allows anglers to cover more ground, they can still be successful casting from the shore.
Ryan Dorgan file, Star-Tribune
Mountain lakes in most of Wyoming’s major ranges from the Snowies and Bighorns to Wyoming Range and Wind Rivers have plenty of trout either naturally reproducing or stocked by Game and Fish. Depending on where you are, you can expect to find lake, brook, cutthroat, rainbow, brown and even golden trout. And they’re usually hungry.
High mountain lakes and streams — particularly ones a bit off the beaten path — are usually teeming with hungry trout and don’t see as many flies and lures.
You won’t likely catch big trout, but you will catch plenty. Depending on the regulations, consider keeping a couple for dinner while you’re there.
You want a challenge
Most of us have some kind of goals. Some are athletic — running a marathon or riding 100 miles on a bike. Some are intellectual — reading a book a month or even a book a week. How about making a fishing goal?
Game and Fish offers a couple of its own pre-packaged goals that will likely also make you fish somewhere new.
The first is the Cutt-Slam, a contest of sorts established to encourage anglers to fish for Wyoming’s four native cutthroat trout strains. But it’s not enough just to catch a Snake River cutthroat. You also need to catch all four in their native drainages. Submit photos of your catches to Game and Fish and wait for your certificate and Cutt-Slam medallion (provided by Wyoming Trout Unlimited) to arrive in the mail.
You can also try the X-Stream Angler program, where you go fishing in at least three instream flow segments. Instream flows are areas where a certain amount of water is designated to stay in the river. Complete this one, and you’ll receive a hat.
Steven Brutger, Wyoming Energy Coordinator for Trout Unlimited, casts into Pelham Lake in search of Yellowstone cutthroat trout on Aug. 5, 2014, outside Dubois. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department's Cutt Slam encourages anglers to explore Wyoming's fisheries by catching the state's four subspecies of cutthroat trout in their native ranges.
Ryan Dorgan file, Star-Tribune
Lastly, see if you can answer Game and Fish’s question: “Do you have what it takes to master Wyoming waters?” The department’s Master Angler program is established to recognize trophy-sized fish. The categories are Master Angler, with one qualifying catch; Trophy Angler, with 5 qualifying catches; and Ultimate Angler, with 10 species of qualifying length.
These aren’t small fish. A brown trout and walleye must be at least 23 inches, a cutthroat trout at least 18, a northern pike at least 34 inches and a lake trout at least 36 inches. Catch five and you’ll earn a coin. Catch 10 and you get a plaque.
For more information on the contests or to submit for an award, go to wgfd.wyo.gov.
If you are looking to improve your salmon and trout fishing skills on Lake Ontario, the next meeting of the Lake Ontario Trout and Salmon Association (LOTSA) could be your ticket to a better year on the lake. Starting at 7 p.m. on June 3, LOTSA members Marty Polovick, Steve Olay and Joe Yaeger will begin a roundtable discussion at the Town of Newfane Marina in Olcott. The meeting location is new for the group for the June gathering.
The trio of recreational anglers have a solid reputation for catching big fish, and they will be talking about how they consistently catch contest winners in the club tournaments and local fishing events. After they have finished speaking, attendees will be able to ask questions on specifics for fishing the waters of the western basin of the lake. The public is invited to attend, but it is only $10 to become a member. Check out lotsa1.org for more information.
Don Johannes/Pete DeAngelo Memorial Contest June 3
The Don Johannes/Pete DeAngelo Memorial three-fish/one-fish contest from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 3 is the perfect warmup to the Niagara County Pro-Am Tournament June 4-5.
You do not have to be entered in the Pro-Am to compete in this friendly competition and it is a great way to see how your team can stack up against other boats. Entry fee is $100 per team.
The concept is simple. Fish on Lake Ontario targeting salmon and trout for the day. Bring your best three salmon and trout to the scales at Clark’s Park in Wilson before 3 p.m. Prizes will be awarded for the best three fish (total weight) as well as for the biggest fish overall. Sign up by 6 a.m. the morning of the contest at Bootlegger’s Cove Marina and the Gas Shack in Wilson, and The Boat Doctors in Olcott. Scoring will be based on 10 points per fish and a point per pound. For more information, call Mike Johannes at 523-1727.
Southtowns Walleye Derby entry deadlines set
The countdown has started to register for the 37th annual Southtowns Walleye Association of Western New York’s Walleye Derby, set for June 12-20 on Lake Erie and the Upper Niagara River. More than $100,000 in cash and prizes will be up for grabs for this nine-day event. No registration will take place following the in-person sign-up from noon to 5:30 p.m. on June 11 at the SWA clubhouse, 5895 Southwestern Blvd., Hamburg. The club will also have a sign-up from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. June 3. You can also sign up at the monthly club meeting starting at 7:30 p.m. June 10.
Online registration is available at southtownswalleye.com/derby, but only until 11:59 p.m. June 1. Participants can also register at a variety of locations around Western New York, but only until June 7. For a complete list of locations, visit the club website.
The newest prize this year is the Champions NY Bounty. A weight will be selected during the June 10 meeting and the angler ho weighs a fish caught in New York waters that is closest to that weight without going over will win $1,500. This year’s special derby lure was designed by Eye-Fish Lures and will be available at all club functions.
Fish stocking orders available
Erie County’s Soil and Water Conservation District is accepting orders for the annual summer fish stocking program. If you are looking to stock or restock your warm/cool water pond, orders can be placed for largemouth bass and/or fathead minnows through July 12. Pickup is scheduled at 10 a.m. July 24 at 50 Commerce Way, East Aurora.
For order forms, fish management information and fish stocking license applications, visit ecswcd.org or call Joe Bodnarchuk at 652-8480, Ext. 5.
