Moving Fish

[Ponyroper]

Friend told me Game and Fish was netting fish out of Wentz Lake by Napoleon today because they think it will winter kill. Wonder where they plan to take them and if they do that with other lakes too. Wentz always was just a big slough like Alkaline and I wondered why they bothered to stock it in the first place. Got a feeling a lot of those Sconie hot spots down there will be drying up in the next few years if the weather pattern gets back to normal.

 

[guywhofishes]

I have never heard of such a thing.

 

[Captain Ahab]

They net crappies and perch for transplant all the time. Other species as well. Never heard of netting for winter kill before, but if it dropped enough and large vegetation die off is expected it could be valid.

 

[Brian Renville]

Yea they've been doing that more often lately. There was an article about in one of the last few issues of the GNF mag.

 

[guywhofishes]

yeah - heard of smaller fish, walleyes I have not

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amazing they can keep them all aerated etc.

 

[Phill Latio]

They have been out there all week doing it. Too bad, was a good lake at one time

 

[Allen]

Hope they're not using gill nets!


I think they do this now because of their put and take program. Kinda like where they dump keepable size trout into various waters. McDowell dam, Turtle River, etc. One's gotta get the keepers from somewhere, it can just as well be from something they are afraid of winterkill in this year.

 

[LBrandt]

Don't think its going to hurt anything, like moving cows off from bad pasture.

 

[guywhofishes]

I am fascinated by the logistics involved. Once netted, getting into trucks, type of trucks, how released at new location, etc.

Tried searching but found nothing. Anybody have link that describes process/equipment? No small feat IMO.

 

[Captain Ahab]

I imagine hoop nets and electrofishing are employed.

 

[DirtyMike]

Anyone know where they're moving them to?

 

[guywhofishes]

Seems likes lots of people/equipment needed - on state wages - big $$$$.

Not that it’s not worthwhile... just that it’s not two guys, a dip net, a stock tank, and a pickup. I find myself asking “how would a crew best accomplish such a large task?”

 

[Captain Ahab]

Seems likes lots of people/equipment needed - on state wages - big $$$$.

Not that it’s not worthwhile... just that it’s not two guys, a dip net, a stock tank, and a pickup. I find myself asking “how would a crew best accomplish such a large task?”

Most are probably salaried anyway. Might as well play outside instead of flip a quarter for pops in the office.

 

[Kentucky Windage]

I move fish all the time. From the lake to the freezer.

 

[martinslanding]

I have never heard of such a thing.

I believe they did this on Ashtabula ... took a bunch of perch out of Hobart because they were getting stunted and moved them to Ash...

 

[Holmsvc]

I believe they did this on Ashtabula ... took a bunch of perch out of Hobart because they were getting stunted and moved them to Ash...

Maybe they could move some bullheads out of Ashtabula.

 

[Sluggo]

I talked to a GNF biologist. He confirmed they are moving a few fish from Wentz. This is what he said "Maximum depth in Wentz is only about 5 feet right now making a winterkill very likely. These walleye are also extremely skinny due to lack of forage. We are moving a few of them to other lakes where forage is very abundant (primarily small stunted perch) to hopefully thin the perch population and improve growth of the remaining perch. This may provide some improved walleye fishing opportunity in the future as well."

I then asked HOW for GuyWhoWantsToKnowEverything and he said "Trap nets. It is not a very intensive operation. Two of us run the nets about once a week as the fish do just fine in the nets at these cooler temperatures."

I did not ask where they are moving them to.

 

[guywhofishes]

I believe they did this on Ashtabula ... took a bunch of perch out of Hobart because they were getting stunted and moved them to Ash...

as stated - I've heard of panfish moves - but never walleye

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It is not a very intensive operation. Two of us run the nets about once a week as the fish do just fine in the nets at these cooler temperatures."

I did not ask where they are moving them to.

ha ha - OK - nets

so - lets say the fish are in the nets - now what? dump them in a half flooded boat, pull boat out of lake, drive to new lake, put boat in, flop them out of boat into new lake with a dip net?

 

[luvcatchingbass]

I'm guessing they have a few 5gal buckets with lids and water that they just transport them with. Seems like a legit method

 

[LBrandt]

I'm guessing they have a few 5gal buckets with lids and water that they just transport them with. Seems like a legit method

More than one great perch slough/lake got started that way. WINK WINK