FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 16, 2009
Contact Matt Smith 269-685-6851 ext. 136 or Mary Dettloff 517-335-3014
DNR Fisheries Staff to Collect Muskie Eggs at Thornapple, Hudson Lakes
The Department of Natural Resources wants anglers to know that Fisheries Division staff will be on Lake Hudson in Lenawee County and Thornapple Lake in Barry County beginning the second week of April to collect eggs from muskellunge for the hatchery program.
“We’ll begin looking for ripe females and once we find them, the operation shouldn’t take more than a week or 10 days,” said DNR Southern Lake Michigan Management Unit Supervisor Jay Wesley. “We need about 1.5 million eggs – about 33 quarts –and it takes fewer than 40 females to get that many.”
DNR Fisheries personnel will be out every day until the egg collection is complete. The eggs and milt will be collected on site and the fish will be immediately returned to the lake.
Fisheries personnel will set trap nets within 100 feet of shore in shallow water. Nets are marked with multiple fluorescent orange floats. Boaters should avoid the areas where they see the floats.
The DNR is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state's natural resources for current and future generations.
Talked with Matt Smith yesterday, and he said he is all set as far as helpersvolunteers go for egg collecting. But anyone who is interested in seeing the whole process is more than welcome to come and watch, and you will probably end up getting your hands a little dirty anyways. As of right now, the tentative schedule for the first day at Thornapple is setting out nets Monday April 6th. On Tuesday the 7th, they will begin the harvest around 9-9:30 am.
"Jim tenHaaf" said:
Talked with Matt Smith yesterday, and he said he is all set as far as helpersvolunteers go for egg collecting. But anyone who is interested in seeing the whole process is more than welcome to come and watch, and you will probably end up getting your hands a little dirty anyways. As of right now, the tentative schedule for the first day at Thornapple is setting out nets Monday April 6th. On Tuesday the 7th, they will begin the harvest around 9-9:30 am.
Does anyone know when they will do Hudson?
"Duke" said:
I knew I wouldn't lose you Jim! But this coming from the math wiz who tries to throw everybody off with his name… you could just make it simple for us and change it to "Jim Five". Of course when you & Matt are fishing together you just would be the "Tens".
HAHAHA!!! That's perfect! If we do the Match Fishing 2009, that will be our name. The "Unperfect 10's" [smilie=2thumbsup.gif] 😀
Well, turns out with the weight restrictions coming off the roads today, and the weather getting a little warmer, we have just gone from "hardly any work, to pretty busy for the next 3 weeks." I guess I won't be able to see the egg take after all. [smilie=cry.gif] Anyone going to make it? Jason suggested some video if you're going. I second the great idea. I would love to see that!
"jasonvkop" said:
I might stop by for a little bit and get some video seeing as I dont work until 1:30. Does anyone know exactly what time this is starting?
From above…
"Jim tenHaaf" said:
As of right now, the tentative schedule for the first day at Thornapple is setting out nets Monday April 6th. On Tuesday the 7th, they will begin the harvest around 9-9:30 am.
That usually means they start at that time and then go check nets and bring fish back. This might take a half hour or it might take an hour. Then the fish are segregated and put into a tank to knock them out for egg harvest and fertilizing.
Well, they could always use Anaesthesia diluted down. This is common for used in brood fish. MS-222 would be a little milder and fish recover easily from it. After 39 hours, there was nomally no traces of it left in the muscle tissue. Quinaldine (2–4 methylchinolin) is a toxic liquid and must, therefore, be handled with care. But this is normally used only in larger tanks.
I suppose they could always try Phenoxyethanol, Oreochromis mossambicus treated with benzocaine-hydrochloride , sodium amytal, sodium amytal in combination with barbital preparations, Carbonic acid, or even Combelen. I don't know… there's just so many! LOL!
(And I'm sure Hemi is following right along with this, nodding his head, and understanding it all !) [smilie=applause.gif]
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