STURGEON NEWS


January 17, 2012
The Department of Natural Resources has announced that the 2012 lake sturgeon season on Black Lake (Cheboygan County) will begin Saturday, February 4. All lake sturgeon anglers must register to participate in the lake sturgeon season.

The registration process has changed this year. Anglers need to only register once for the entire season. An early registration will be held at the DNR Onaway Field Station from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, February 3. This station is located approximately five miles north of Onaway on Route 211. For those anglers unable to participate in the Friday registration, they may register during the actual season at the entrance to Onaway State Park or on the northwest shore of Black Lake at Zollner Road near F05. Registration begins at 6:30 a.m. each day of the season. Anglers are encouraged to register on Friday.

Similar to 2011, the 2012 allocation is seven fish. However, in 2011 the total recreational harvest of lake sturgeon from Black Lake was 11. To ensure the 2012 allocation is not exceeded, officials will begin to close the lake sturgeon season under the following scenarios:
1. Immediately following the harvest of the second fish, or
2. If, at the end of a day's fishing, one fish has been harvested.

Anglers 17 years of age or older must possess a valid all species fishing license. In addition, all anglers must possess a lake sturgeon tag, available free from all license vendors.

Fishing hours are 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. each day of the season. The season will end either at 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 8 or when one of the above scenarios is met, at which point anglers will be notified on the ice by DNR personnel that they must immediately stop fishing for lake sturgeon.
Anglers will be issued a disposable flag at registration that must be displayed at the entrance of the angler's shanty each day.

Anglers that harvest a lake sturgeon must at once tag the fish, and immediately contact an on-ice DNR employee or register the fish at the DNR Onaway Field Office. Registration may include an examination of internal organs and removal of a piece of fin tissue for DNA analysis and aging.

Recent changes in registration logistics were developed to allow greater participation by anglers while protecting the population of lake sturgeon in Black Lake from overharvest. Rehabilitation of lake sturgeon in the Cheboygan River watershed is a cooperative effort involving the Department of Natural Resources, the Black Lake Chapter of Sturgeon for Tomorrow, Michigan State University and Tower-Kleber Limited Partnership.

Anglers may call the Gaylord Field Office at (989) 732-3541 for more details.

May 18, 2011 - There have been 187 sturgeon marked so far, 32 of them are new that have not been tagged before – very exciting! Hats off to the MSU research team and Gary Stranely our sturgeon wrangler!

There is also sturgeon larva in the hatchery located near the Kleber Dam. Hatchery Tours and releases are planned for August 20, 2011.

The high water levels on the Black River this spring has caused some changes in the migration of Lake Sturgeon into the Black River to spawn, mainly in terms of their timing. This slowed the onset of the spawning run, so now we anticipate that the fish will continue to run upriver in waves through Memorial Weekend and perhaps even into the first week of June!

As a result of these unpredictable, amazing sturgeons, we really need to fill some Sturgeon Guarding slots. If you or someone you know can help out and fill a guarding shift or two, it would be most appreciated!


Shift # 1 is from 6 a.m. till Noon,
Shift # 2 is Noon to 6 p.m. and,
Shift # 3 is from 6:00 p.m. till nightfall.

Open dates: May 23 – June 4 You can register here www.sturgeonfortomorrow.org/guarding-program.php

And, if we have to go beyond June 4, we will send out a message.

Note that Memorial Weekend (May 27-30) is a great time to take the family camping! Why not make it a weekend to remember guarding the mighty sturgeon in the Black River. Plenty of great camping sites are available overlooking the river and the sturgeon spawning areas, it costs nothing to camp there, and all you need is your camping stuff and a supply of water. Porta Potties are on site! If anyone can camp on any of the other dates mentioned above, we would love to have you. Truck campers, pop ups and smaller RV's as well as tents can easily be hauled into Sites B and C.

Please consider a trip to the Black River as we work together to protect this threatened population of sturgeon. Thanks in advance for your support!

Ann and Mark Feldhauser, SFT Volunteer Coordinators 906-346-9511 or email at feldhausers@gmail.com
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May 2, 2011
Greetings Everyone!

The sturgeons are beginning to make their way to the spawning grounds on the Upper Black River. The water still needs to warm a bit before we begin to see spawning activity. With 3 days of heavy rain last week the river is extremely high and fast. It is nearly impossible to see through the water to see the sturgeon.

The Sturgeon Guarding Program is in motion. We will continue through the month of May or until the sturgeon have safely returned to Black Lake. There are several shifts open. Please consider signing up.

If you would like to receive an email notice when conditions and viewing improve, please click on the “Contact” button on the home page and send us a note so we can notify everyone.

See you on the river.
Brenda
 

 

04.01.11 STURGEON GUARDING PROGRAM SEEKS VOLUNTEERS
Each spring, mature lake sturgeon, a threatened fish species in Michigan and rare throughout the United States, briefly leave the Black Lake in Cheboygan County, seeking sites in the remote and scenic Black River to spawn. When spawning on the shallow rocky beds of the River, the fish become vulnerable to those who might be tempted to take one illegally. For over a decade the Sturgeon Guarding Program, a division of SFT, has proven overwhelmingly that citizens who watch over the river and report any suspicious activity have greatly reduced the unlawful take of this valuable fish, thereby helping to assure protection and future population growth of the species.

“For a period of about a month, from late April through late May, these incredible fish, which can live up to 100 years and weigh over 200 pounds, swim up the Black River to spawn. Such a sight is amazing to witness, but even more rewarding is the role caring citizens can play to ensure the protection and enhancement of the sturgeon population in Black Lake,” said Ann Feldhauser, who helps to coordinate the volunteer aspect of the program.

While the sturgeon are in the river spawning, volunteers stand watch and, if necessary, use cellular phones provided by SFT, to contact Conservation Officers with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE), who patrol the spawning areas of the Black River in support of the Sturgeon for Tomorrow effort. In addition, Fisheries Biologists with the DNR, Michigan State University, and other agencies are on hand during the spawning season, collecting biological data.

Guarding shifts are available for those volunteers wish to help watch over the spawning sturgeon, as well as help to collect data on the number of fish seen in the river. Coordinators will be on site to assist volunteers and answer questions.

Volunteers are encouraged to camp along the Black River to assure overnight presence of sturgeon guards. New this year for those who camp at the River for more than a few days during the spawning season and help to coordinate other volunteers during that time, incentives are being offered, including tickets to the annual SFT banquet, name tags and other rewards.

“We are always so appreciative of those who come to help watch over the sturgeon during this critical time,” said Brenda Archambo, Coordinator of the SFT Program. “Many people from the Black River area support the Sturgeon Guarding Program, but we also get many enthusiastic helpers from Lansing, Detroit and the Upper Peninsula to fill guarding shifts. Everyone is encouraged to come and witness this amazing spectacle.”

For more information, contact, Ann Feldhauser, 906-346-9511 or 906-201-2484 or Brenda Archambo at 231-625-2776 or go on line to learn more and sign up for a shift at www.sturgeonfortomorrow.org


2011 Black Lake Sturgeon Season Summary 
The 2011 Black Lake sturgeon harvest season ended on the opening day, Feb. 5, with the quota of seven fish being attained, along with an additional harvest of four fish, said Department of Natural Resources and Environment officials. The fishing season, which includes spearing or hook and line fishing, was scheduled to run from Feb. 5-9, or until the harvest total of seven fish had been reached.

“Water clarity was excellent opening day, weather was beautiful, and fish were moving,” said Tim Cwalinski, DNRE fisheries biologist. “In addition, we had 330 registered anglers on the ice, an increase from 255 the year before.”

The first fish was registered very soon after 8a.m. on opening day, while the seventh fish was harvested exactly at noon. The quota hotline was updated within five minutes of seeing the seventh fish, and DNRE conservation officers were on patrol on the lake immediately notifying all anglers within the next 45 minutes.

“Our response was very quick, but some additional fish were taken beyond the quota right around the noon hour,” said Cwalinski.

Harvested sturgeon ranged in length from 29 to 68 inches long, with weight going from five to 73 pounds. Some young fish were captured that may have been raised at the streamside hatchery operation on the Black River.

“The presence of young fish in the harvest is a positive sign that our rehabilitation efforts are working,” said DNRE Fisheries Division Unit Supervisor Dave Borgeson. “Harvest of immature fish may take the burden off the larger reproducing females in the population.”

According to Borgeson, the DNRE along with Sturgeon for Tomorrow (SFT) have set a conservative harvest rate for the Black Lake fishing season. “It is unfortunate that the quota was breached, but our very low harvest quota acts as a buffer to such events. This overharvest may occur in some years but other years no fish were harvested or the quota was not fully reached,” said Borgeson.

“The quota is set at just over one percent of the estimated breeding adults which is very, very low, and the overages of the quota are still within the safety net in protecting our sturgeon stock,” said SFT President Brenda Archambo.

DNRE and SFT will continue to work together in the future to try to optimize participation in the fishery while keeping harvest rates within the quota.

“We have made some very popular changes with the season the last two years, and the anglers, SFT, and Fisheries Division are generally pleased with the results,” Cwalinski said. “Obviously, we realize we still have to make some adjustments, and we will continue to work together to shorten the response time while maintaining this popular fishery.”
 

 
The quota for recreational anglers for the 2011 sturgeon season on Black Lake in February is seven sturgeon.
 
Black Lake Sturgeon Season Opens Saturday, February 5, 2011

All anglers must register daily. Anglers 17 years of age or older must possess a valid fishing license. All anglers must possess a sturgeon tag, available free from all license vendors.

Spearing hours are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The season runs through Feb. 9 or when the sturgeon quota, which has yet to be determined, is reached, whichever comes first. For quota status during the season, anglers may call the Onaway Field Office at 989-733-8775 during business hours, or the Gaylord Field Office at 989-732-3541 after 6 p.m.

Anglers will be issued a daily disposable flag at registration that must be displayed at the entrance of the angler’s shanty.

Harvested sturgeon must be immediately tagged and immediately registered at the DNRE Onaway Field Office. Registration will include an examination of internal organs and removal of a piece of fin tissue for DNA analysis.

In the event the quota is reached, anglers will be notified on the ice by DNRE personnel. They must stop sturgeon fishing immediately.

This new system allows greater angler participation and still protects the Black Lake sturgeon population from overharvest. These changes were developed cooperatively in recent years with Black Lake Chapter of Sturgeon for Tomorrow, a conservation organization dedicated to the rehabilitation of lake sturgeon.

 

Public Tours of Sturgeon Hatchery on Black River Aug. 19-20 Provide Unique Opportunity to See Sturgeon Fingerlings

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Michigan State University, Tower-Kleber Limited Partnership and Sturgeon for Tomorrow will host sturgeon hatchery tours at the Black River facility near Onaway on Thursday, Aug. 19, and Friday, Aug. 20. Tours will run from 1 to 4 p.m. on both days.

Tours are free of charge. Group tours of 10 or more participants are asked to pre-register by calling 231-625-2776. Meeting arrangements will be made upon registration. The hatchery is located in Cheboygan County's Upper Black River on Twin School Road, adjacent to the Kleber Dam.

Sturgeon researchers from the DNRE and MSU will be on hand to talk about lake sturgeon biology, reproductive ecology and the current year's research. Sturgeon for Tomorrow representatives will discuss restoration work to improve sturgeon spawning habitat, sturgeon conservation and outreach programming.

"On the tour we will see the 3-month-old sturgeon currently in the hatchery, and learn about early life history and how we can all play a role to keep this fish in our lakes," said David Borgeson, Northern Lake Huron Unit supervisor with the DNRE.

"Through DNRE and federal funding, MSU and the DNRE are conducting research on rearing sturgeon in a streamside culture facility to determine growth and survival," said John Bauman, on-site supervisor of the MSU research effort. Results will provide much-needed guidance for managers involved in lake sturgeon restoration efforts, while improving the effectiveness of lake sturgeon culture and stocking efforts. The sturgeon fingerlings produced at the hatchery will be reintroduced to Black Lake, Burt Lake and Mullett Lake on Aug. 21.

The Tower-Kleber Limited Partnership entered into an agreement with the DNRE and has provided the land and invested in the building of this facility.

"The commitment Tower-Kleber demonstrated in upgrading the facility this year in time to allow for continued fish production is outstanding," said Steve Hewett, Lake Huron Basin coordinator with the DNRE.

"The primary purpose of the facility is to rear lake sturgeon to assist in the species' rehabilitation," said Nate Sayers, Tower-Kleber project manager.

The lake sturgeon has a long history in the lakes and rivers of Michigan. In fact, sturgeon have been cruising lake waters since the time of the dinosaurs - about 136 million years ago - and were common fish in Great Lakes waters 120 years ago. However, many stresses threaten their survival. The lake sturgeon is now considered an uncommon fish, and is a state-listed threatened species. Sturgeon can live to be over 100 years old, grow to 8 feet in length and weigh over 200 pounds. 



Lake sturgeon rehabilitation in the Cheboygan River watershed is a cooperative effort involving the DNR, the Black Lake Chapter of Sturgeon for Tomorrow, Michigan State University and Tower-Kleber Limited Partnership.