2008 Black Lake Sturgeon Season

The Black Lake Sturgeon Spearing Season opens February 2, 2008 and runs through February 10, 2008 or until the total harvest of five fish has been reached, whichever comes first. Twenty-five tags will be issued on a daily basis to successful applicants, until maximum harvest level is reached.

Applicants for tags will be registered during business hours January 7-11, 2008. This pool of applicants will be used for the entire Black Lake sturgeon spearing season.

Persons registering for the lottery drawing may call the Department of Natural Resources Gaylord Operations Center at 989-732-3541. All applicants 17 years of age and older must hold a valid Michigan fishing license.

There will be a drawing on Saturday, January 12 at the Chateau North located at 10621 Twin Lakes Road, Cheboygan, see www.chateaunorth.com. This drawing will be held starting at 7:00 p.m. to select those 225 anglers (twenty-five anglers daily for 9 days) to fish from February 2 through February 10. Successful anglers in the lottery drawing may fish between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on the day they are eligible to fish. A 36-inch minimum size limit will apply.

Successful applicants will receive a tag and marking flags, both issued in their name. These must be picked up before 10 a.m. and returned to the Department of Natural Resources M-211 Field Station by 6:00 p.m. daily.

The marking flags must be located at opposite corners of the successful applicant's fishing shanty, and must be visible from any direction.

All fish harvested must be registered immediately with the Department of Natural Resources at the M-211 DNR Onaway Field Station.

Unclaimed tags will be made available to registered anglers present at the registration station by means of a secondary drawing to begin at 10:00 a.m. Tags are not transferable, and anglers must present proper identification when picking up tags.

2008 Sturgeon Season Info:

January 7—11, 2008 Registration -Call: 989-732-3541
January 12 Lottery Drawing: Chateau North-7pm
February 2—10, 2008 Sturgeon Spearing Season
Registration Station - M-211 Onaway Field Station

2007 Black Lake Sturgeon Season Summary

The 2007 Black Lake sturgeon harvest season ended on February 11th with a total of 4 fish harvested.

According Tim Cwalinski, Fisheries Biologist with the MDNR, roughly 215 anglers participated in the 2007 fishing event, not including friends or family members who went along for the experience. There was much uncertainty over ice conditions in 2007, but ice conditions strengthened just enough prior to season to allow the event to occur.

Two large lake sturgeon were harvested the first day, including a fish just under 70 inches in length and one that was 63 inches long. Weight for these fish were 71 and 69 pounds, respectively. The third sturgeon was harvested on the fifth day of the season and was 51 inches long and weighed 38 pounds. The fourth and final fish was harvested on the sixth day and was 63 inches long and weighed 59 pounds. Three of the four harvested fish were tagged in previous years for research and management purposes.

2007 Black Lake Sturgeon Spearing Guidelines

Black Lake Sturgeon Spearing Season February 3-11, 2007: 5 Fish Quota; Lottery Registration: January 8 -12, 2007

The Black Lake Sturgeon Spearing Season opens February 3, 2007 and runs through February 11, 2007 or until the total harvest of five fish has been reached, whichever comes first. Twenty-five tags will be issued on a daily basis to successful applicants, until maximum harvest level is reached.

Applicants for tags will be registered during business hours January 8-12, 2007. This pool of applicants will be used for the entire Black Lake sturgeon spearing season.

There will be a drawing on Saturday, January 13 at the Chateau North located at 10621 Twin Lakes Road, Cheboygan, see www.chateaunorth.com. This drawing will be held starting at 7:00 p.m. to select those 225 anglers (twenty-five anglers daily for 9 days) to fish from February 3 through February 11.

Successful anglers in the lottery drawing may fish between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on the day they are eligible to fish. A 36-inch minimum size limit will apply.

Successful applicants will receive a tag and marking flags, both issued in their name. These must be picked up before 10a.m. and returned to the Department of Natural Resources M-211 Field Station by 6:00 p.m. daily.

The marking flags must be located at opposite corners of the successful applicant's fishing shanty, and must be visible from any direction.

All fish harvested must be registered immediately with the Department of Natural Resources at the M-211 DNR Onaway Field Station.

2007 Sturgeon Season Info:

January 8 -12: Registration - Call: 989-732-3541
January 13: Lottery Drawing at Chateau North - 7pm
February 3-11: Sturgeon Spearing Season
Registration Station: M-211 Onaway Field Station

Directions to Chateau North:

Take I-75 to exit 310, take M-68 right/east 8 miles to M-33, left/north 8 miles to Mann Road, right/east 5 miles to Black River Road, left/north 2 miles to Twin Lakes Road, right/east 4 miles. Chateau North will be on your left overlooking beautiful East Twin Lake.

Directions to Registration Station:

Take I-75 to exit 310, take M-68 right/east 19 miles to M-211, left/north 4 miles to DNR Onaway Field Station on left.