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(Provided by Michigan DNR)
DNR produces map to help with morel hunting.The Michigan Department of Natural Resources provides an online interactive map (www.midnr.com/Publications ) that highlights the state's 2015 wildfires and prescribed burns each more than 10 acres in size to help mushroom hunters in their quest for morels.
"Morel mushrooms are often found in locations where large fires occurred the previous year," said Jim Fisher, resource protection manager for the DNR Forest Resources Division. "Each spring we get calls from people who are seeking details on those sites to hunt morels. We've enhanced the features of this map to give our customers the information they are looking for in a mobile-friendly, easily accessible package."
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(Provided by Michigan DNR)
In 2015 the Michigan departments of Environmental Quality and Natural Resources confirmed the presence of the invasive New Zealand mudsnail [ http://www.michigan.gov/invasives ]in the Pere Marquette River near Baldwin, which is a popular destination for trout and salmon anglers.
New Zealand mudsnails are each only about 1/8 inch long and can be difficult to see. However, these snails can significantly change the aquatic habitats they live in by reaching extremely high densities. When that happens, they can out-compete native species that are important food sources for trout. They also have no nutritional value for trout species that may feed upon them, which can negatively affect the overall condition of the trout.
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(Provided by Michigan DNR)
DNR seeks public reports on lake sturgeon sightings.The Michigan DNR is seeking the publicís assistance in gathering information on the states most historically and culturally significant fish species, the lake sturgeon.
Those who have seen a lake sturgeon in the wild can provide details on their sighting via the Lake Sturgeon DNR Reporting Page found at www.michigan.gov/sturgeon. These reports allow the DNR to learn more about populations of lake sturgeon that exist throughout the state, especially those smaller populations about which the department may have little information.
Lake sturgeon are Michiganís largest fish species and are one of the most awe-inspiring species found in the Great Lakes and select inland waters. Once abundant, lake sturgeon populations were decimated by over-fishing and habitat destruction in the late 1800s. These fish were largely forgotten until recent decades when a renewed interest and desire for rehabilitation began to occur.
These fish can grow to weigh more than 200 pounds and measure 7 feet long. Their typical life span is 55 years for males and 70 to 100 years for females.
Michigan has strong populations of lake sturgeon in limited areas, such as the Sturgeon and Menominee rivers in the Upper Peninsula, Black Lake (Cheboygan County), the St. Clair River and the Detroit River. There also are smaller, recovering populations in other areas, including the St. Marys, Manistee, Muskegon, Grand and Kalamazoo rivers, as well as Burt and Mullett lakes (Cheboygan County).
Sturgeon can be seen any time of year, but spring is the most likely time when you may encounter them, said Dave Caroffino, DNR fisheries biologist. As river water temperatures warm during April and May, these fish will move from the Great Lakes into rivers for spawning. Documenting sightings may help us prioritize rehabilitation efforts in the future and provide us more evidence about the distribution of lake sturgeon in Michigan.
Lake sturgeon rehabilitation in Michigan is a collaborative effort. State, federal and tribal agencies have partnered with each other and many citizen-led interest groups to help improve habitat, provide protection through regulations, and provide funding for research and hatchery production of juvenile sturgeon for stocking.
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(Provided by Michigan DNR)
DNR Creel Clerks Collecting Angler Information on Inland Water BodiesAs the spring fishing season approaches, the Michigan DNR reminds anglers that fisheries staff will be interviewing them about their fishing trips on several inland lakes located throughout the state.
They will work several locations, but popular bodies of water being surveyed this year include Mullett Lake (Cheboygan County), Cass and Union lakes (Oakland County), Big Manistee River including a component on Manistee Lake (Manistee County), Deer Lake Basin (Marquette County) and Lake Gogebic (Gogebic County).
At each of these water bodies a DNR creel clerk will, through brief interviews, ask anglers how long they fished, what species they targeted, what they caught and where they live. In some instances, the clerks will ask to measure or weigh fish and take scale samples to gather key biological information on anglers' catches.
These efforts are part of the DNR's Statewide Angler Survey Program, a monitoring program designed to track recreational fisheries across Michigan waters of the Great Lakes and select inland waters. Fisheries managers use the data to determine future management actions that include developing appropriate regulations, addressing habitat improvements and identifying fish stocking needs.
Inland creel efforts will begin on various dates this spring and extend, in some cases, into 2017. Anglers are asked to cooperate with the DNR creel clerks during the study.
To see past creel results, visit michigan.gov/fishing and click on Fishing in Michigan in the left toolbar.
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The Michigan DNR annually adjusts fishing regulations to ensure Michigans fisheries resources are managed properly and provide the best benefits to anglers and the public.
For the coming 2016-2017 angling year, which started April 1, the DNR the following new or changed fishing regulations will be in effect:
- Lake Michigan Lake trout and splake are now covered by the same regulations in MM 1-8.
- The Menominee River lake sturgeon protection zone was expanded and now encompasses the Grand Rapids Dam downstream to the end of the breakwalls in Green Bay.
- Anglers fishing for trout on inland waters should double-check the regulations for where they plan to fish as regulations for several waters were changed.
- Regulation changes effective last fall (November 2015) are highlighted in red text in the 2016-2017 Michigan Fishing Guide.
Anglers should note that this yearís fishing guide covers a two-year cycle, 2016 and 2017. A new guide will not be produced in 2017. The guide is available at all major retailers and online at www.michigan.gov/fishingguide.