• Starboard Choice Marine
  • Moore Boats
D&R Sports Center
Clear H2O Tackle

Tournament News Powered By Lake Drive MarineTournament News Powered By Lake Drive Marine

MDNR Report

DNR Staff with ChinookDNR Staff with Chinook

The Michigan DNR worked hard this fall and winter to gather the eggs necessary for the continued production of hatchery fish that support Michigan’s world-class fisheries.

Chinook salmon eggs were collected Sept. 30 through Oct. 7 at the Little Manistee River Weir, and coho salmon eggs were collected Oct. 17 through Nov. 2 at the Platte River State Fish Hatchery Weir. 

“We had a decent run of wild Chinook salmon this year,” said Aaron Switzer, manager of the state fish hatcheries located in the Lower Peninsula. “The run at the Little Manistee was healthy enough to provide all of Michigan’s egg needs. We were also able to provide eggs to Indiana and Illinois. Once hatched, reared and stocked, all of these Chinook salmon will contribute to the Lake Michigan salmon fishery.” 

Chinook eggsChinook eggsThe coho egg take got off to a good start at the Upper Platte River. The coho run was strong this fall.

Michigan planned to collect about 5.5 million coho salmon eggs at the Platte River which includes approximately 2.5 million eggs for Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin. All four states work together cooperatively each year to ensure Lake Michigan continues to receive Pacific salmon to supplement the fishery.

At Oden State Fish Hatchery, egg-takes for brown trout occurred in late October. Captive broodstock egg-takes for brook and lake trout occurred at the Marquette State Fish Hatchery. Rainbow trout egg-takes at Oden State Fish Hatchery continued into January.

Captive broodstocks provide 220,000 brook trout eggs, 410,000 lake trout eggs, 2.3 million brown trout eggs and 1 million rainbow trout eggs. An additional 640,000 splake eggs (brook trout and lake trout hybrid) was scheduled to be collected to support Michigan’s fisheries management objectives.