DNR plants over 2,000 muskies

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Wednesday, October 25, 2006 Jason Witz ** you do not have permission to see this link ** 354-3111 ext. 318

A local Department of Natural Resources biologist is hoping to restore the muskellunge population to the Thunder Bay River by creating a fishery.

The DNR Fisheries Division planted more than 2,600 muskies upstream of Seven Mile Dam at Wes Point Shores on Lake Winyah Tuesday.

Tim Cwalinski, fisheries management biologist with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Division in Gaylord, said the Thunder Bay River has lower muskie populations because of habitat and space fragmentation from the lower river dams through time.

“In your neck of the woods, we don’t have a quality muskie fishery,” he said. “Basically, I’m re-introducing something that was there in the past.”

Cwalinski, who is overseeing the Thunder Bay River Assessment, said the plan is to stock three muskies per acre at Lake Winyah — or approximately 4,590 fish — each year. Following the three-year period, the DNR would plant muskies every other year.

However, Cwalinski said requesting a certain figure doesn’t always mean he will receive the amount.

In 2005, the DNR planted 2,373 muskies at Lake Winyah.

“Obviously, we’re not planting 40-inch muskies,” Cwalinski said. “They’re coming in at 9-10 inches.”

According to the DNR Fisheries Division, Lake Winyah has a diverse fish community, but fishing pressure can be low.

Cwalinski said the restoration of muskies to Lake Winyah shouldn’t affect native pike populations or deplete other species.

Cwalinski said panfish are abundant in Lake Winyah, which include rock bass, black crappie, yellow perch and bluegill. Growth of these species is at or below the statewide average. Additional thinning of panfish will increase or maintain growth rates, he said.

Currently, predators such as largemouth bass, northern pike and walleye exist in Lake Winyah. Cwalinski said adding muskies to the lake will add diversity, since the area is lacking a muskie fishery.

“There’s so much prey (fish) in there,” he said about Lake Winyah. “Adding another predator to that system won’t hurt.”

Cwalinski said he is hoping the muskie population remains in Lake Winyah, although three rivers intersect.

“The food is in the lake,” he said.

The DNR will conduct surveys in future years to document the status of the muskie population, along with the entire Lake Winyah population.