MNR predicts strong fishing season in Lake Michigan
FROM THE WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is forecasting a strong fishing season in Lake Michigan today based on early surveys and contact with anglers showing successful fishing early in the season.
“We are seeing really strong catches in many parts of Lake Michigan and like most years the fish will start to bite even more as the summer progresses,†said Brad Eggold, Great Lakes District Fisheries Supervisor. of the MRN. “We believe 2021 will be a strong year for most salmon and trout, building on a successful 2020 season.”
Last year, Wisconsin fishermen caught a good number of rainbow, chinook and coho salmon and projections for 2021 look positive.
Over the past two years, MNR staff have worked closely with stakeholders and partners to develop the Lake Michigan Stocking Plan 2020-2022 to improve fisheries management in Lake Michigan. As part of this plan, MNR will continue its repopulation efforts in Lake Michigan and has stockpiled to date:
- 50,077 brook trout (fall 2020)
- 411,229 brown trout
- 1 202 183 chinook salmon
- 514 657 coho salmon
- 430 313 rainbow
Additionally, the US Fish and Wildlife Service stocked 45,000 lake trout in Lake Michigan this year, and more fish are expected to be stocked by MNR this fall to meet our annual stocking targets.
In 2020, MNR made various short-term management decisions to protect the health and safety of the public and MNR personnel, including modifying certain initiatives in Lake Michigan and restocking plans. Some of these initiatives, like net pens, picked up again this year.