I've been keeping this quiet for a while because I didn't have much to report for sure and didn't want to get questions I couldn't answer. So, here's the story…
This spring was going well at Wolf Lake and the fry hatched well and were doing fine. As the time came for them to learn how to eat pelleted food they just didn't want to learn and either decided to starve or become cannibals. As of now all that are left in the hatchery are a small percentage that are now being fed fry of another species. This is one of those crazy hatchery things that can just happen. This has never happened at Wolf Lake but has happened at other hatcheries including Spirit Lake in IA.
So now what? Well, Wolf Lake contacted IA and they have some extra pre-spring fingerlings that will be picked up this week in IA and brought back to Wolf Lake. There was some question the out of state travel would be approved but I just got a call that the travel has been approved.
Thanks Wolf Lake for not giving up on the program this year and making the effort to salvage stocking in 2009!!!
Thanks for the info Will. That is terrible news, but at least there are still some alive and Iowa is helping us out. I'm surprised with the way our state is going that they would approve spending money on something like that. Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled they did, just surprised at the same time.
"Chris Barton" said:
I think I am going to be sick…..
Yep… I had that same feeling when Matt called. He never calls with good news and especially when the message on my work phone says that he needs to talk and he'll try my cell phone too – that's always BAD!!
"Smada962" said:
Thanks for the info Will. That is terrible news, but at least there are still some alive and Iowa is helping us out. I'm surprised with the way our state is going that they would approve spending money on something like that. Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled they did, just surprised at the same time.
I didn't think they would approve the travel and neither did Wolf Lake. I had already made a call to a private hauler we have used in the past anticipating MMA would be spending the money to bring these fish to Michigan.
"Will Schultz" said:
I just got a call that the travel has been approved.Thanks Wolf Lake for not giving up on the program this year and making the effort to salvage stocking in 2009!!!
Awesome news!! Is it still around 30,000? Since they are going there anyways, is there any chance of us funding some more to get some extra fish over here? I figure if the truck is going there already, might as well fill 'er up! 😀
Also, is Wolf Lake going to get them soon, or wait until they are ready to be planted?
"Jim tenHaaf" said:
[quote="Will Schultz"]I just got a call that the travel has been approved.Thanks Wolf Lake for not giving up on the program this year and making the effort to salvage stocking in 2009!!!
Awesome news!! Is it still around 30,000? Since they are going there anyways, is there any chance of us funding some more to get some extra fish over here? I figure if the truck is going there already, might as well fill 'er up! 😀
Also, is Wolf Lake going to get them soon, or wait until they are ready to be planted?
I like this idea and I would like to place an order for a 50" muskie…
So not to be a kill joy here but how is it that the Iowa program is supposedly Verboten but now it is ok for the DNR to get fingerlings from Iowa? Wouldn't this tend to suggest that the Iowa program is still viable and that the DNR can accept Iowa fish despite the alleged VHS restrictions? We need fish and MMA's more than willing attitude to turn our back on the Iowa program when it can do A LOT of good until such time as the DNR can raise muskies at Wolf Lake more than 1 year in a row, never mind get the GLS program off the ground, remains a mystery to me.
A disappointment it is, but I believe the Iowa fish are a month larger and we'll be somewhat back on track. I'm trying to remain positive. My question would be, Was there a difference between the feeding behavior and mortality of the northern strain and GLS experiment? Is the GLS experiment still on track?
"Jim tenHaaf" said:
Awesome news!! Is it still around 30,000? Since they are going there anyways, is there any chance of us funding some more to get some extra fish over here? I figure if the truck is going there already, might as well fill 'er up! 😀
Also, is Wolf Lake going to get them soon, or wait until they are ready to be planted?
Jim – Yes, 30,000 and that is all that Iowa could spare so there’s no chance of getting more.
"Larry Porter" said:
Good for the MI DNR to go quickly to plan B. And we know Will stands ready to try to make it happen if other snags develop.
I was surprised to hear that pellets were part of the purebred muskie equation; I thought that live forage was offered at all fingerling sizes except for hybrids.
Larry – Pellets have always been part of the early rearing process. They get brine shrimp, then pellets, then minnows once they go to the ponds.
"Scrappy" said:
So not to be a kill joy here but how is it that the Iowa program is supposedly Verboten but now it is ok for the DNR to get fingerlings from Iowa? Wouldn't this tend to suggest that the Iowa program is still viable and that the DNR can accept Iowa fish despite the alleged VHS restrictions? We need fish and MMA's more than willing attitude to turn our back on the Iowa program when it can do A LOT of good until such time as the DNR can raise muskies at Wolf Lake more than 1 year in a row, never mind get the GLS program off the ground, remains a mystery to me.
Johnny Raincloud – There’s a difference between planning an Iowa program and taking up much needed space in the ponds vs. going to Iowa in an emergency situation. VHS restrictions were a slight factor but really had little to do with the overall decision to stop the Iowa program. MMA also wasn’t “more than willing” to turn its back on the Iowa program.
"Steve S" said:
Are the Iowa fish from MN. or WI.? And where are these going to go?
Steve – Iowa muskies are a genetic mutt and have genetics from Mississippi strain, Wisconsin strain and others. These fish will be stocked according to the stocking list and the priority of that list.
"Will Schultz" said:
After more accurate counts Iowa has more fish than anticipated and Wolf Lake will be picking up 60,000 fish, not 30,000.
Ohhh yeah! 
So last year, we estimated around 85,000, but after the oxygen disaster, we stocked just shy of 40,000. Hopefully, this year with the oxygen problem solved, we can still come close to that 40,000 number again I hope?
"Jim tenHaaf" said:
[quote="Will Schultz"]After more accurate counts Iowa has more fish than anticipated and Wolf Lake will be picking up 60,000 fish, not 30,000.
Ohhh yeah!
So last year, we estimated around 85,000, but after the oxygen disaster, we stocked just shy of 40,000. Hopefully, this year with the oxygen problem solved, we can still come close to that 40,000 number again I hope?
I would be VERY happy to see these yeild 30K this fall.
The little devils would eat themselves if they could get a hold of thier own tails.
It good to see we can rebound back to the Iowa program just like that. I am impressed. No sense losing any sleep over it . Lets move forward. The Iowa fish grow big and grow fast. Hey Will , how about talking the D.N.R. into giving me about 50 of them . I know this nice little lake——–
"Kingfisher" said:
The little devils would eat themselves if they could get a hold of thier own tails.It good to see we can rebound back to the Iowa program just like that. I am impressed. No sense losing any sleep over it . Lets move forward. The Iowa fish grow big and grow fast. Hey Will , how about talking the D.N.R. into giving me about 50 of them
Just do what I did, Mike: Help move the fish from the ponds into the trucks. Before you go, fill up your boots with water, and dump a few in there! [smilie=laugh2.gif]
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