Article on anglers response to lake trout stocking

Remember that reducing lake trout is a two year process because they are in the hatchery so long. The Lake Committee agreed to go from 3.1 million lake trout to 2.74 in 2017. That is what is occurring. The full reduction will be for 2018 where there will be 2.54 lake trout stocked in Lake Michigan. These fish that are getting the press where slated for the mid-lake reef. They are still going on the mid-lake reef just a few miles to the east across the state line. No one on the Lake Michigan Committee wanted to landfill lake trout that were already tagged.

We will continue to look for opportunity to balance the fishery. We have new information coming soon about the lower trophic levels and what the lake capacity is. This will be important to figure out the right balance. Also, each state is working on ways to increase harvest of lake trout. Those plans are moving forward and are in the process. Michigan regulation changes go through the Natural Resource Commission.

Any more lake trout reductions would be implemented in 2019.

Michigan is reviewing all of its stockings now and through the Lake Michigan Management Plan process. We will look for opportunities to change stocking numbers, sites, and species while staying within our legal bounds of the Consent Degree and collaborative process with the Lake Michigan Committee.

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Article on anglers response to lake trout stocking