Less restrictive Red Lake winter walleye regulations announced

Anglers fishing Upper Red Lake this winter will be able to keep three walleye – one more than last winter’s limit – and those fish can be from a broader size range.

Effective Tuesday, Dec. 1, the daily bag and possession limit for Red Lake will be three walleye, only one of which may be longer than 17 inches.

Last winter, anglers could keep two walleye, one of which could be longer than 26 inches. All walleye 17-26 inches had to be immediately released.

“In fall assessment netting by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the Red Lake Band of Chippewa, there was high walleye abundance and large numbers of fish from 12 to 21 inches,” said Gary Barnard, DNR Bemidji area fisheries supervisor. “The coming winter’s less restrictive regulations are based on the excellent status of Red Lake’s walleye fishery.”  

The DNR and the Red Lake Band have developed a joint harvest plan that governs walleye harvest on an annual basis. The harvest plan was recently revised for the first time since the walleye fishery reopened in 2006 after being closed in the 1990s due to overharvest.

Harvest regulation options were the topic at a Red Lake Citizen Advisory Committee meeting in late September.

“The Citizen’s Advisory Committee wholeheartedly endorses the new winter regulations for the 2015-2016 ice fishing season,” said Advisory Committee member Joe Corcoran. “We are optimistic these regulations will be successful at keeping walleye harvest within the established target harvest range for the winter season.”

More information on Red Lake fishing regulations are available at www.mndnr.gov/fishing.

Wisconsin Researchers Study “Rogue Waves” Like Ones Thought to Have Sunk the Fitzgerald

Preliminary findings show that sandstone bluffs like those in the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore can increase the probability for these dangerous waves because waves reflect off them

November 9, 2015

By Marie Zhuikov

On the 40th anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald, Wisconsin Sea Grant researchers are learning more about the type of waves suspected in the Great Lakes freighter’s foundering.

Chin Wu, professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and his research assistant Josh Anderson studied rogue waves and wave and current patterns in the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore in Lake Superior.

Rogue waves are defined as waves with a height more than double that of other waves occurring around them. They can be caused by multiple factors, such as wind, strong currents or shoreline geography. Also known as freak or killer waves, their tendency to occur unexpectedly and with huge force makes them especially dangerous.

On Lake Superior, a group of three rogue waves, colloquially called “three sisters,” is suspected as one of several causes for the sinking of the Fitzgerald in a storm near Whitefish Point, Mich., on Nov. 10, 1975. Because the waves follow each other closely, ships can’t recover and shed the water from the first before the others strike, which leads to sinkings. The captain of a ship near the Fitzgerald (Captain Cooper of the Anderson) reported that his ship was hit by two 30- to 35-foot waves. These waves, possibly followed by a third, continued in the direction of the Fitzgerald and may have struck it about the same time it sank. Twenty-nine crew members were lost.

For their experiment, Wu and Anderson deployed wave and current-measuring instruments throughout the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. They examined the data for rogue wave patterns, looking at three possible causes: refraction on shoals, diffraction around islands, and reflection off the sandstone bluffs so prevalent in the area, and which make up the popular mainland sea caves near Cornucopia, Wis.

Anderson says that although the study is still in progress, preliminary results show an increase in the probability for rogue waves near reflecting walls. The duo also found that if one rogue wave was observed, others can’t be far behind. “They group together during certain wave conditions,” said Anderson. “You might get three or four in an hour and then you won’t get one for the rest of the day.”

The largest rogue wave they observed at the sea caves was 12.8 feet when the other waves around it were 6.1 feet. However, the largest they observed during the study occurred on Gull Island Shoal in the eastern part of the lakeshore. It measured 17.7 feet when the other waves were an average of 8.9 feet.

Although the rogue waves observed in the Apostles aren’t nearly as large as the offshore ones that may have sunk the Fitzgerald, “They’re still dangerous to kayakers or sailboaters,” said Anderson. “Waves are hazardous and we still don’t know everything about them, so we’re doing this research for public safety and to understand them better.”

To document other wave and current patterns for their study, Wu and Anderson developed a computer model and calculated 35 years of conditions. “We found that basically, the overall wave climate has been increasing on Lake Superior due to less ice cover and stronger winds in the winter, which generates larger waves,” Anderson said. This can impact how sediment is transported around the islands and can change how bluffs erode.

Their ground-breaking work can be seen on the INFOs website.

Wisconsin Lends Expertise to Certify a Clean Marina in a Neighboring State

Oct. 13, 2015

The Wisconsin Marine Association (WMA) announced it has bestowed clean marina status to the Port of Dubuque Marina, which met the required number of green-management practices.

The designation comes at the hands of a rigorous training and certification process carried out by the WMA, Wisconsin Sea Grant and other partners. The business becomes the 21st clean marina designated by the WMA, and the first to be designated outside the state of Wisconsin.          

“Obtaining a Clean Marina certification has been a goal of ours since opening the Port of Dubuque Marina in June of 2013,” said Ben Alden, facility supervisor. “After learning the state of Iowa had not developed a Clean Marina certification process, we joined the Wisconsin Marine Association, which offered us the opportunity to become Iowa's first certified clean marina.”

According to Alden, “The city of Dubuque, Iowa, strives to improve and maintain current green initiatives in an effort to become a more sustainable community. The city of Dubuque, Iowa, sits along the banks of the Mississippi River, a river which is enjoyed by many members of the community through boating, fishing, swimming and paddling. Obtaining the Clean Marina certification emphasizes our commitment to ensuring the water and habitat along the river are pristine, and the people and wildlife are safe.”

“As the newest certified clean marina member of the Wisconsin Marine Association our journey has just begun,” said Alden. “I hope to use the information learned to educate local and visiting boaters on the best management practices of a clean marina, and to make the Mississippi River a cleaner and more enjoyable place for all.”

Marinas and related industries and services contribute more than $2.7 billion to Wisconsin's economy. The voluntary, industry-led Clean Marina Program ensures clean boating practices that benefit the environment, and marinas alike. Best-management practices include preventing the release of water pollutants from boat fueling, petroleum storage and vessel maintenance.

“Participating marinas and boatyards benefit in many ways, including cost savings from reduced hazardous waste disposal, fewer pollutant cleanups and lower insurance rates,” said the WMA’s Clean Marina Program Coordinator Vicky Harris. “Designated marinas are safer and healthier facilities for employees and boaters while also protecting valuable public benefits like swimming, fishing and drinking water.”

The Wisconsin Clean Marina Program is administered by the WMA with assistance from Sea Grant and the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program. Additional partners include the University of Wisconsin-Extension Solid and Hazardous Waste Education Center, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources-Office of the Great Lakes and the U.S. Coast Guard.

Wisconsin Walleye Initiative Stocking Chequamegon Bay

MADISON -- Fall walleye stocking is well underway as part of the Wisconsin Walleye Initiative, with some 355,000 of the 6 to 8 inch extended growth walleye now distributed primarily in northern lakes.

Click on URL below for short WDNR video regarding the latest stocking.

https://www.facebook.com/WIDNR/videos/1040026646061536/

Zebra mussels reported on two Minnesota lakes

Lake John has broad infestation; One zebra mussel found on Bryant Lake
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has confirmed a report of zebra mussels in Lake John, in Wright County.
A citizen involved in a monitoring program reported a single zebra mussel in late September, but subsequent surveys revealed a more widespread and established infestation throughout much of the lake. The lake is not a candidate for current treatment methods because the infestation is widespread. Lake John has been added to the infested waters list. Other bodies of water connected to Lake John may also be added to the infested waters list after further assessment.
In another case, a single zebra mussel was recently reported in Bryant Lake in Eden Prairie. Three Rivers Park District staff discovered the invasive species on a settlement plate, a simple underwater detection device placed around docks and shorelines, and reported it to the DNR.
Extensive dive searches over the next several days revealed no additional zebra mussels in the lake. DNR invasive species specialist Keegan Lund said Bryant Lake will be carefully monitored the rest of this season and next year, but no treatment is necessary at this time.
The combined efforts of the DNR, lake property owners and lake users to spot and report suspected new infestations increase the chances of treating them or limiting their spread. This time of year it is especially important to check docks, lifts, and other equipment for zebra mussels. By law, docks and lifts must also dry for at least 21 days before putting them into another body of water.
“There is a common misconception that zebra mussels ‘are everywhere’ and that their spread is inevitable. The reality is, zebra mussels have been confirmed in less than two percent of Minnesota lakes, and more Minnesotans than ever before know and follow invasive species laws,” Lund said. “People spread zebra mussels, and people can prevent the spread.”
Before leaving a lake, Minnesota’s aquatic invasive species laws require boaters and anglers to:

• Clean aquatic plants and animals from watercraft.
• Drain all water by removing drain plugs and keeping plugs out while transporting watercraft.
• Dispose of unwanted bait in the trash.

For more information on aquatic invasive species prevention and how to report a suspected infestation, visit www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/aquatic.

New National Marine Sanctuary Much Closer to a Berth in Wisconsin

Oct. 5, 2015

By Moira Harrington

Wisconsin Sea Grant welcomed President Obama’s announcement today that the nation’s newest NOAA national marine sanctuary is moving closer to a designation along the Lake Michigan shoreline in Manitowoc, Sheboygan or Ozaukee counties and in the waters in a location to be determined, having met preliminary national significance criteria and management considerations. As proposed, it encompasses 875 square miles.

The Wisconsin sanctuary is currently on a so-called inventory list and now heads into a more intensive public comment period and scoping, preparation of an environmental impact statement and a management plan. Once those processes are complete, the clock would start ticking toward official designation. The timeframe for those actions is not fully known but could range from months to a year. If successful, Wisconsin would host only one of 14 National Marine Sanctuaries and only the second one in fresh water.

The Wisconsin site has been selected, in large measure, based on the success of shipwreck explorations in state waters of Lake Michigan. There are 59 Wisconsin shipwrecks listed on the National Register of Historic Places, far more than any other state. Of that number, a proposed 15 would be within the designated sanctuary boundaries. Another 24 known wrecks are in the proposed sanctuary but are not, at this point, on the register.

Since the 1990s, Sea Grant has supported maritime explorations through grant funding in collaboration with the Wisconsin Historical Society’s (WHS) maritime archeology program.

In addition to shipwreck exploration, mapping and registration for protection, the Sea Grant-WHS partnership extends public understanding of the nautical past by creating and sharing land-based signage that explains the shipwrecks’ significance; preparing geocaches, which are an innovative, accessible and active way to extend the learning; and co-hosting an entertaining and informative website, wisconsinshipwrecks.org.           

“Wisconsin has a rich maritime heritage and an equally rich legacy of preserving that heritage,” said Jim Hurley, Sea Grant’s director. “We are thrilled the national panel looking at siting the newest sanctuary has chosen the Great Lakes to move forward. It means continued historic preservation, along with tourism for an important area of the state and highlights an important ecosystem.” 

Marine sanctuaries are now found in Lake Huron, the Pacific and Atlantic oceans and touch states such as Hawaii, Texas, California and Massachusetts. Sanctuaries are established to protect natural and cultural features while allowing people to use and enjoy the waters in a sustainable way. No disruption of commercial or recreational activities occurs. Sanctuary waters provide a secure habitat for species close to extinction and protect historically significant shipwrecks and artifacts. Sanctuaries also serve as natural classrooms and laboratories.

Wisconsin applied for the sanctuary designation in December 2014 and competed against four other proposed locations. After an initial screening, Wisconsin and a site on the Potomac River emerged as the strongest applicants. The review panel was impressed by the broad range of support for the Lake Michigan proposal from the governor’s office on behalf of the state of Wisconsin; the cities of Two Rivers, Manitowoc, Sheboygan and Port Washington; Manitowoc, Sheboygan and Ozaukee counties; NGOs and area businesses. The Wisconsin Coastal Management Program, along with the WHS, were also highly instrumental in the application process.

The sanctuary’s application reads, in part, “The proposed Wisconsin sanctuary encompasses a key portion of an early transportation corridor that was critical to the expansion of the United States and the development of the agricultural and the industrial core of the nation.” 

Details on how to participate in the public comment period on the proposal are at sanctuaries.noaa.gov/wisconsin/

WCSFO 2015 Fall Meeting Notice

Date: Saturday, October 17, 2015

Time: 10:00 AM

Location: Walleyes for Tomorrow Office

224 Auburn St

Fond Du Lac, WI

Typical Fall Meeting Agenda:

 

1. Call to order / Introductions / sign in

2. Minutes from March 21, 2015 Spring Meeting (Brenda Rosin

    Schaff)

3. Treasurers Report (Cornell Stroik)

4. Dues Notices (2016)                                                           Click photo to enlarge

5. DNR Update (There will be a WDNR Representative

    attending to give us an update on what is happening in the department.)

6. WI Wildlife Federation Update from a WWF Representative.

7. Lake access news

8. B.A.S.S. Federation/Bass Nation News (Cornell Stoik)

9. Tournaments/C.A.S.T. – Updates/News

10. “Kids Fishing Klinics,” Recap of 2015 events and update

11. Old Business:

      A. Kids Klinic Books

      B. Facebook

      C. eNewsline

12. New Business

      Election of Officers

Adjourn