STURGEON NEWS
February 7, 2010
2010 Black Lake Sturgeon Season lasts 1 day and 30 minutes
Fish # Date Length (in) Weight (lbs) Pit Tag Gender Age
1. Tebo 2/6 75.0 104.0 yes F
2. Zeller 2/6 50.5 28.0 yes F
3. Motto 2/6 73.5 100.5 yes F
4. Stroup 2/6 57.0 48.0 no F
5. Archambo 2/7 70.0 102.5 yes F
Day 1 - 255 anglers registered for sturgeon
Day 2 - 169 anglers registered for sturgeon
11th Annual Sturgeon For Tomorrow Banquet held on September 12, 2009 a huge success!
The continuing success of Sturgeon For Tomorrow demonstrates that you Northern Michigan care deeply about Michigan's Lake Sturgeon. Please join us in thanking the following contributors, including our guests, who have given generously to support our programming. Our success is most certainly your success. THANK YOU!
SPONSORS
Rick Ackerberg/Kathy Bezotte
Archambo Electric
Gil/Brenda Archambo
Ed/Sandy Ardanowski
Black River Sand & Gravel
Bill/Sharon Church
Dan Brown/Diane Libby
James /Jean Deurwearder
Ellenberger Lumber
Anne Marie Farrell
George/Anita Fox
Jim Gahn Construction
Bob/Beth Garner
Dave/Linda Gregg
Hammond Bay Area Anglers Assn
Dick/Bette Hopkins
Ryan/Kerry Howell
Indian River Lions Club
Jay’s Sporting Goods
Dave Kujawa
McKay Builders
Tom/Nancy Madison
Bryan Madision/Jan Vandyck
Michigan Hydraulic Dredging
Todd/Donna Merchant
Fred Moulder/Linda Green
Susan Muschell
Stan/Mary Neff
Jim/Nancy Norton
South End Party Mart
David/Linda Steenstra
Straits Area Federal Credit Union
Sunrise Communications
Bob and Jackie Williams
Jay/Mary Kay Woiderski
BIG SPENDERS
Roy/Donna Berry
Sally Biggings
Bob/Mary Bonner
Dave/Lorraine Borowicz
Dave Cowper
Timothy/Kathleen Dann
Jim Delay
Ron/Sharon Dulak
Morley/Carolyn Johnson
Randy Lee
Dock/Gail McCall
Pete Rash
Jay/Ginny Robarge
Harley/Pam Schaedig
Carla Skuse
ARTISAN GALLERY
Brenda Archambo
John Archambo
Chuck Chapman
Mark/Ann Feldhauser
Jim Felgenauer
Mary Ann Heidemann
Rick Herring
Kelly Key
Arden McNeil
Moran Iron Works
Morley Johnson
Gene Reck
Tom Richards
Cill Taylor
Rusty Veihl
Greg Wickert
Jason Woiderski
CENTERPIECES
Gail McCall
CONTRIBUTORS
Rick Ackerberg/Kathy Bezotte
Senator Jason Allen
Gil/Brenda Archambo
Billies Fashions
The Ark Bookstore
Betsie Bay Marine
Black Lake Sportsman’s Club
Bob/Mary Bonner
Dave Borgeson
The Bow Hole-Pat & Gary’s
BoxFit
The Brown Trout
Cheboygan Used Books
Cheboygan Lumber Company
Chillermania
Dar’s Hallmark
Dona Crist
Cross in the Woods
Dairy Queen-Cheboygan
Dunham’s-Cheboygan
Fabric Stach
Frank’s Party Supply
Ehmann’s Quick Lube
Bob/Beth Garner
Glen’s-Cheboygan
Craig Gronda
Indian River Golf Club
Johnson’s Camera Shop
Kaygenes
Keith’s Hunting & Fishing
Linde Furniture
Indian River Auto Care
Indian River Sports Center
Logmark Bookstore
Mackinac Bridge Authority
Market Square
Deb McCall
Kathy McCall
Modern Pharmacy
Mullett Lake Country Club
New Creation Hair Design
North Star Gardens
Nancy Norton
O’Keefe’s Reef
Onaway CarQuest
Parrott’s Outpost
Peeble’s
John Rash
Rachel Savenkoff
Schell’s Auto Center
Dr. Kelley Smith
Shanty Boy
Stoney Links Golf Course
Straits Are Printing
Studio 27 Salon and Nails
Sturgeon For Tomorrow -WI Chapters
Sunrise Communications
Topinabee Market
UAW Black Lake Golf Club
UAW Family Education Center
Viau’s Clothing
Doug/Ellie Wilson
Wilson’s River Edge
Jason/Stacy Woiderski
Jay/Mary Kay Woiderski
Larry Wood
Woodwinds Restaurant
Xcel Physical Therapy
And anyone else regrettably omitted
Mark Your Calendars now for our 12th Annual Sturgeon For Tomorrow Banquet Saturday, September 11, 2010, K of C Hall, Cheboygan, MI
September 1, 2009
11th Annual Sturgeon For Tomorrow Banquet
Saturday, September 12, 2009, K of C Hall - Cheboygan, MI
STURGEON FOR TOMORROW will host their 11th Annual Banquet on Saturday, September 12, 2009 at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Cheboygan. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. with dinner served at 6:00 p.m.
Proceeds from this signature event will be utilized to fund lake sturgeon research, streamside rearing/hatchery, habitat conservation, and outreach programming.
Bob Garner, Chairman of the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Board will be the master of ceremonies.
Activities for this year’s event include raffles, games, silent auction, door prizes, a youth, woman’s and men’s drawing and cash bar. Prizes include a huge array of firearms, hunting, fishing and camping equipment, signature wildlife prints, decoys, and exclusive outdoor decor.
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND will be our Artisan Gallery of exclusive, one of kind handmade items. Artists and craftsmen and women are encouraged to showcase their art to a collective audience while investing their works for auction and game prizes. Artisan Gallery donations are tax deductible.
Deadline for donations is September 5. Please contact Brenda at 231-625-2776 or email brenda@sturgeonfortomorrow.org.
Dinner Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for youth 14 y.o. and under. Sponsor and Big Spender packages are available. For additional information call (231) 625-2776 or log onto www.sturgeonfortomorow.org
August 4, 2009
Public Tours of Sturgeon Hatchery on Black River Now Offered; Provides Unique Opportunity to See Sturgeon Fingerlings
The Department of Natural Resources, Michigan State University, Tower-Kleber Limited Partnership and Sturgeon for Tomorrow will host sturgeon hatchery tours at the Black River facility near Onaway on Wednesday, Aug. 12, and Thursday, Aug. 13. Tours will run from 11 a.m. to 1 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 DNR and MSU will be on hand to talk about lake sturgeon biology, reproductive ecology and 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 three 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 DNR.
“Through DNR and federal funding, MSU and the DNR are conducting research on rearing sturgeon in a streamside culture facility to determine growth and survival,” said Ben Rook, MSU doctorate student.
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 and potentially other large local lakes with known sturgeon populations on Aug. 15.
The Tower-Kleber Limited Partnership entered into an agreement with the DNR and have provided the land and invested in the building of this facility.
“The commitment Tower-Kleber demonstrated in constructing the facility this year in time to allow for fish production is outstanding,” said Kurt Newman, Lake Huron Basin coordinator with the DNR.
“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 was a 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 eight feet in length and weigh over 200 pounds.
A ceremony to celebrate the successful construction of the facility and the stocking of the young lake sturgeon will be held at 11 a.m.
Saturday, Aug. 15, at Kleber Dam.
June 17, 2009
Another Successful Spring for Black River Sturgeon Program
The sturgeon spawning season on the Black River in Cheboygan County concluded earlier this month, and those involved with protecting the fish and collecting data have declared the season highly successful.
“Through the efforts of Michigan State University, 200 sturgeon were netted, tagged and cataloged,” said Dr. Kim Scribner, lead sturgeon researcher with MSU. “Additionally, our research team collected eggs and milt from numerous sturgeon to raise in our newly developed streamside hatchery.”
The MSU team has also been working long nights collecting newly hatched larval sturgeon that have begun drifting downstream from the spawning areas and transferring them to the rearing facility.
The hatchery, a collaborative effort by Tower-Kleber Limited Partnership, MSU and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, is now home to between 5,000 and 6,000 newly hatched sturgeon, which are destined to be stocked in Black Lake.
Data indicated that of the 200 sturgeon netted and released during this spring’s spawning season, 46 were sturgeon never before captured, while the remainder were recaptures from previous spawning season efforts. This information indicates that new generations of sturgeon are reaching maturity in Black Lake, a sign that the population is slowly recovering.
“The sturgeon effort in Black Lake and on the Black River is one that we all take great pride in,” said Dave Borgeson, Northern Lake Huron Management Unit Supervisor for the DNR in Gaylord. “This program is a role model for other programs nationwide in that it involves all aspects of resource management that are necessary for recovery of lake sturgeon in Black Lake.”
The Sturgeon Guarding Program, which draws upon volunteers from all over Michigan to protect the sturgeon from poaching, also saw a banner year and is rallying more help for the spring spawning season in 2010.
“The DNR’s Law Enforcement Division is proud to work with so many dedicated volunteers, to protect this very valuable resource,” said Sgt. Greg Drogowski, DNR Law Enforcement supervisor, who is responsible for coordinating the DNR’s law enforcement efforts with volunteers in the Sturgeon Guarding Program.
“Literally hundreds of volunteers kept watch over the spawning grounds on the Black River, and we are all very grateful for the increasing level of support,” said Ann Feldhauser, DNR retiree and Sturgeon Guarding Program volunteer coordinator. “We count on that and even more support in the years to come.”
Brenda Archambo, who spearheads the Sturgeon for Tomorrow Program on Black Lake, also gave tribute to a concerted habitat restoration project undertaken in early May by the Huron Pines Youth Program, in cooperation with AmeriCorps.
“These volunteers did a lot of river bank stabilization and planted over 3,000 native plants at critical areas along the river to help restore eroded sand banks,” said Archambo. “All in all, it was a terrific year for the sturgeon and the Black River, and it is very gratifying to see this program grow in so many new and exciting aspects.”
For more information, log on to the Sturgeon for Tomorrow Web site at www.sturgeonfortomorrow.org, or the DNR Web site, www.michigan.gov/dnr. Dr. Kim Scribner can be reached at his MSU office at 517- 353-3288, and Brenda Archambo can be reached at 231- 625-2776.
Protecting Critical Species Habitat
Saturday, May 9th, 10 am to 2 pm
Huron Pines, Sturgeon For Tomorrow and AmeriCorps will be facilitating a Spring Service Project scheduled for May 9th, 10 am to 2 pm at the Upper Black River lake sturgeon spawning sites. The recovery of the threatened Lake Sturgeon is of huge economic and ecologic importance in this region. On this day, we will celebrate our accomplishments while spending time with volunteers to plant native shrubs and to stabilize the streambank and protect spawning habitat. This event is part of AmeriCorps Week - a week long, nationwide event designed to bring more Americans into service, salute AmeriCorps members, thank community partners and continue to make a powerful impact.
Guided Sturgeon Viewing Tours
Thursday, May 7, from 1-3pm
The Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council and Sturgeon for Tomorrow will host a Sturgeon Viewing Guided Tour. Experts from the Watershed Council, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, and Sturgeon for Tomorrow will be on hand to talk about lake sturgeon, poaching enforcement, research, and restoration work to improve sturgeon habitat.
“The Black River Watershed is special because it contains the largest self-sustaining population of lake sturgeon in Michigan. We will walk along the banks of the Upper Black River and not only learn about threats to the lake sturgeon, but also how we can all play a role to keep this fish in our lakes,” said Valerie Olinik-Damstra, Watershed Coordinator at Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council in Petoskey. “This free guided tour will provide a unique opportunity to potentially observe this fascinating fish while they spawn, as well as learn more about lake sturgeon biology, ecology and research.”
Participants are asked to pre-register by calling Valerie Olinik-Damstra, (231) 347-1181 ext. 111, or by email valerie@watershedcouncil.org. Meeting arrangements will be made upon registration.
Research
Netting/Tagging, Streamside Rearing, Larval Sampling, Mullett-Burt Lake Assessments
Research is funded through the National Sport Fish Restoration Act with additional funds contributed by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Division.
Michigan DNR, Michigan State University and other agencies will be collecting biological data on adult sturgeon. Data collected: date, length, weight, girth, gender, and river capture location. A small fin sample is taken for genetics and aging. Each new fish is tagged with a Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tag. A PIT tag is about the size of rice and has a unique 10 digit, alpha-numeric code that is read with an electronic reader. Each fish is also tagged with a numbered floy tag; a 4 inch spaghetti-type external marker. The floy tag is an external marker that identifies when a fish has been tagged this field season and data collected.
Streamside Rearing Facility
Land and facility funded by the Tower-Kleber Limited Partnership
The purpose of the facility is for enhancing the lake sturgeon population in the Cheboygan River Watershed and for additional research on lake sturgeon culture, genetics, and early life history.
Gamete takes and naturally drifting larvae will be utilized in rearing. The facility is located at the Kleber Dam.
Mullett Lake and Burt Lake Assessments
In Spring/Summer 2009 research assessments on the lake sturgeon populations in Burt and Mullett lakes will be conducted. These assessments will be similar to the research implemented on Black Lake. At this time very little is known about the Sturgeon populations in these lakes including the condition of critical life stage habitats in connecting rivers. When spawning adults are observed, researchers will be using larval drift nets in the rivers to determine if there is natural reproduction. Stay tuned…
Golf Scramble FUNdraiser to benefit lake sturgeon recovery efforts.
Contact: Ellie Wilson (231) 625-8148 or Jason Woiderski (231) 420-7853
Golfers of every ability are invited to participate in a Golf Scramble FUNdraiser that will benefit lake sturgeon recovery efforts in Black, Burt and Mullett Lakes.
Sturgeon For Tomorrow will host a Golf Scramble FUNdraiser at the beautiful Mullett Lake Country Club on Saturday, June 20, 2009. The Mullett Lake Country Club was voted the “2007 People’s Choice Best Golf Course”.
Play is limited to 18 teams. The four-person, 9-hole golf scramble will include green fees with cart, lunch, fun, prizes and cash awards. There will be additional contests and raffles. The day will consist of two shotgun starts: one at 8:30am and one at 10:30am. The registration fee for foursome is $160.
Several Corporate and tee-sign sponsorships are available to area businesses and supporters. “We sincerely appreciate the champions of the community to partner with us to save the sturgeon,” said Sturgeon For Tomorrow President Brenda Archambo. For sponsorship information, email Brenda at 231-625-2776.
Annual Sturgeon For Tomorrow Banquet
STURGEON FOR TOMORROW will host their 11th Annual Banquet on Saturday, September 12, 2009 at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Cheboygan. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. with dinner served at 6:00 p.m.
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It pays to belong - become a member of sturgeon for Tomorrow today. You can help save the sturgeon!
Volunteers Sought For Annual Sturgeon Guarding Program
March 21, 2009
Each Spring, hundreds of volunteers guard sturgeon at their spawning sites on the Black River to protect the fish from poaching. This rich tradition in partnership with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement staff and the public is directed and funded by Sturgeon For Tomorrow, a local sturgeon conservation organization.
When sturgeon spawn along the rocky shorelines of Cheboygan County’s Black River they pay little attention to people and are very susceptible to illegal harvest. To protect them, "Sturgeon Guard" volunteers maintain a presence at the spawning sites throughout the spawning season, which usually begins in late April and lasts through the month of May.
When spawning begins, sturgeon guards are assigned to sites along the river in shifts. Prior to assignment, guards register with Sturgeon Guard Coordinator then check in at "Base Camp" on the river, where they are issued an identification hat (that they keep), a rules of engagement binder, and directed to their site. Groups are welcome, and camping is encouraged.
Fisheries researchers from the Michigan DNR, Michigan State University and other collaborators are also on the river collecting biological data on the adults to better understand reproductive ecology and early life history of lake sturgeon.
If you would like to help to save the sturgeon, please contact Sturgeon Guard Coordinator, Ann Feldhauser at 906-201-2484 or register online at www.sturgeonfortomorrow.org/guarding-program
While it is impossible to predict the exact dates that spawning will occur each year, guards are routinely scheduled somewhere within a window from April 25 through May 30. Several spawning events generally occur for five to seven day periods. Schedulers do their best to get all scheduled guards out on the riverbank to see this majestic fish.
Contact:
Ann Feldhauser 906-201-2484 guarding@sturgeonfortomorrow.org
Brenda Archambo 231-625-2776 brenda@sturgeonfortomorrow.org
February 10, 2009
2009 Black Lake Sturgeon Spearing Season Ended Today!
A total of 629 applicants registered for the 2009 spearing lottery.
There were 225 successful anglers chosen (25 anglers/day x 9 days).
The largest sturgeon harvested weighed 89.5 pounds and was 70.5 inches in length. The happy angler was Brian LePage from Hazel Park, Michigan.
Day 1 - Feb 7:
Fish # 1
Angler: Claude T. - Belmont, MI
Weight: 83#
Length: 67.25 inches
Day 2 - Feb 8:
Fish # 2
Angler: Gil A. - Cheboygan, MI
Weight: 66#
Length: 64.5"
Fish # 3
Angler: Bryan L. - Hazel Park, MI
Weight: 89.5#
Length: 70.5"
Day 3 - Feb 9
Fish # 4
Angler: John B. - Sand Lake, MI
Weight: 60#
Length: 63"
Day 4 - Feb 10
Fish # 5
Angler: Bruce F. - Fenton, MI
Weight: 35#
Length: 53"
February 6, 2009 -Excerpt from www.cheboygannews.com
The 2009 Black Lake sturgeon spearing season will open Saturday on Black Lake, and ice conditions are favorable.
No fish were harvested during the 2008 season — which lasted the full nine days — due to poor water clarity under the ice following a week of heavy rains prior to the season.
A total of 225 anglers, or 25 for each day, were selected to fish during the Black Lake sturgeon season via a lottery held Jan. 17. The season will run from Saturday through Feb. 15 or until a total harvest of five fish has been reached, whichever comes first. Twenty-five tags will be issued on a daily basis to applicants that were selected in the lottery until the maximum harvest level is reached or the season is completed.
A total of 629 people applied to participate in the lottery this year, a decrease from the 704 applicants in 2008.
Due to overfishing, habitat loss, the construction of dams and pollution, the lake sturgeon population was pushed to near extinction and is listed as threatened in Michigan. Locally, a group known as Sturgeon For Tomorrow was founded as a means to help revive the population of sturgeon in Black Lake, as well as in Mullett and Burt.
A group of locals banded together in the 1990s after the Department of Natural Resources considered closing the lake sturgeon spearing season down. In an effort to save the sport and the fish, they asked Lansing officials to continue allowing legitimate anglers a chance to spear and agreed to protect the sturgeon from poaching while they were spawning to help the population.
As a result, an annual harvest was allowed to continue and the lottery and limits were established in 1999. Sturgeon For Tomorrow will be starting research on sturgeon populations in Mullett and Burt lakes in the spring of 2009, with the eventual goal of creating a world-class fishery in all three lakes.
December 11, 2008
The application period for the 2009 Black Lake sturgeon spearing lottery is
Jan. 12-16, 2009
Interested anglers may register for the spearing lottery by calling the
DNR Gaylord Operations Service Center at (989) 732-3541 or applying in
person at the center between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. during the application
period. All applicants 17 years and older must hold a valid Michigan
fishing license. Those under 17 years old also may register for the
season. Those applying for the drawing should have proper identification
on hand during the application process. This may include a valid
Michigan driver license, a Michigan ID card, a DNR Sportcard or a valid
Michigan fishing license.
The limited sturgeon spearing season on Black Lake, located in
Cheboygan and Presque Isle counties, opens Feb. 7, 2009, and runs
through Feb. 15 or until the maximum harvest of five fish has been
reached. A total of 225 anglers, or 25 per day, will be selected to
participate. The drawing to determine those participants will be held
Jan. 17 at 7 p.m. at the Chateau North, 10621 Twin Lakes Rd., in
Cheboygan. Successful applicants will be notified of their date to fish
by mail in advance of the season.
Last year, 704 individuals registered for the spearing lottery. No fish
were harvested during the 2008 season, which lasted the full nine days.
Reasons for zero harvest were attributed to poor water clarity under the
ice following a week of heavy rains prior to the season.
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SFT Banquet K of C Hall, Cheboygan
Master of Ceremonies: Bob Garner, Chairman, Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund
Featured Speaker: Dr. Kelley Smith, Chief Michigan DNR Fisheries Division
Come and see old friends, meet new friends and celebrate the wonderful success of Sturgeon For Tomorrow’s programs. Your participation in this fundraising celebration will ensure the continued growth of Sturgeon For Tomorrow’s programming.
To order tickets, see link on our home page. Seating is limited - please reply soon.
NEW THIS YEAR…
We are featuring an Artisan Gallery of exclusive, one of a kind hand made items. Artists and craftsmen and women are encouraged to display and promote their art while investing their works for the auction and game prizes. We will also have a framed print gallery.
We are in search of hand crafted fishing decoys, twig and birch items, one of a kind jewelry, paintings, wildlife prints, nature photography, discounts on taxidermy, guided fishing or hunting trips, hunting and fishing collectables, anything outdoors.
A guided Montana elk hunt will be auctioned. This is an 8-day archery or rifle hunt in 2009 donated by Montana’s Colter Creek Outfitters. This Wilderness camp is located in the Bitterroot National Forest on the Lewis & Clark trail.
Your donations are tax deductible. Deadline for donations is September 5. Please contact Brenda at 231-625-2776 or email brenda@sturgeonfortomorrow.org
STURGEON FOR TOMORROW Annual Membership Meeting is Saturday, July 19th
from 10am to Noon at the Great Lakes Grille conference room.
A continental breakfast is included. Topics include the new sturgeon hatchery, research update including Mullet and Burt lake proposed assessments, spawning habitat projects, organizational overview, and more. There is no charge for members or members guests, and $10 annual memberships are available at the door for not yet members.
RSVP before July 14th to membership chair Ellie Wilson at 625-8148 or by email elliekay@peoplepc.com
The inaugural Sturgeon For Tomorrow Golf Scramble FUNdraiser, held on Saturday, June 7, was a wonderful success for the lake sturgeon in Northern Michigan.
The 4-person scramble was held at the award winning Mullett Lake Golf Club with 56 golfers in attendance. The scramble net proceeds raised over $1,500 to assist with lake sturgeon recovery programming.
The team winning first place was The Twin Laker's.
Team members included Bill Thompson, Karl Kalis, Dave Hinkel and Darrin Madeley.
The team coming in at Second place was The Hebert's:
Joe Hebert, Ed Hebert, Dewey Hebert, and Kenny Hebert.
Coming in third place was the Go-Nads consisting of:
Phil Bellrose, Jerry Allen, Bill Conway, and Fred Stempky.
Prizes were also awarded to Great Lakes Taxidermy for coming in last place.
The winner of the Men’s Longest Drive on hole #4 went to Jim McGee.
Women’s Longest Drive winner on hole #2 went to Janel Newman.
Men’s Closest to the Pin on hole #8 was Ed Hebert, and Women’s Closest to the Pin on hole #5 was Bev Rathbun.
There was unanimous support by all attending that we should continue to host this event annually.
Sturgeon For Tomorrow would like to thank those who supported the Golf Scramble by playing on a team and the area businesses for their generous support of sponsorships door prizes and silent action items. We would also like to commend event co-chairs Ellie Wilson and Jason Woiderski for coordinating this event.
Corporate Sponsors:
Straits Area Federal Credit Union
Cunningham’s Restaurant
Marshall’s Fudge and Gifts
Hole Sponsor:
Archambo Electric
Contributors:
Gil and Brenda Archambo
Kathy Bezotte
Janet Campbell
The Dirty Duck
Michele Gardner
Golf USA
Gary Goodall
Vickie Berden-Huyck
Mullett Lake Country Club
Penny Rode
This Old House Pizza
Doug and Ellie Wilson
Jay Woiderski
Jason and Stacey Woiderski
Jim Woiderski
Jodi Woiderski
April 9, 2008
Volunteers Sought For Annual Sturgeon Guarding/Habitat Conservation ProgramVolunteer Sturgeon Guards may participate in spawning habitat conservation project.
From late April throughout the month of May, Sturgeon For Tomorrow (SFT) is again joining forces with Michigan citizens, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians (LTBBOI) in Cheboygan County to protect spawning lake sturgeon and their habitat in the Upper Black River.
"When lake sturgeon migrate upstream to spawn, they are very vulnerable to poachers," said Brenda Archambo, President of Sturgeon For Tomorrow. "With the help of Sturgeon Guard volunteers, we will be able to monitor key areas 24 hours a day."
Michigan citizens and members of the local chapter of SFT stand watch and use cellular phones, donated by Radio Shack of Cheboygan, to report suspicious activity to conservation officers on patrol in the area. Fisheries Biologists from the Michigan DNR, LTBBOI, and volunteers are also on the river collecting biological data on the adults to better understand reproductive ecology and early life history of lake sturgeon.
New this year, Huron Pines RC&D and SFT volunteers are collaborating to prevent soil erosion and protect sturgeon spawning habitat. “Preventing the further erosion of these sites and resultant input of sediment to the stream will help protect and restore the sensitive spawning habitat of lake sturgeon,” said Patrick Ertel, Project Manager for Huron Pines.
In the Black Lake Watershed Management Plan these sites were listed as “severe” erosion sites and it was noted that they are contributing to the sediment load, the Black River’s number one pollutant. “This is also a great opportunity to educate users about the watershed and its management, non-point source pollution, and habitat for endangered species”, said Ertel.
For more information and to register for the Sturgeon Guarding Program/Sturgeon Spawning Habitat Conservation Project, contact Sondra Shephard, at 904-261-6909 /231-625-9232, Brenda Archambo, 231-625-2776, or log onto www.sturgeonfortomorrow.org, click on Guarding Program.
February 12, 2007
By SHAWNA JANKOVIAK
Tribune Staff Writer
Cheboygan Daily Tribune
Sturgeon 5, fishermen 0
For the first time in 60 years, no big fish were speared at Black Lake
BLACK LAKE - No fish were harvested during Black Lake's recently concluded nine-day sturgeon spearing season, making 2008 a memorable year.
This sturgeon season will go down in history as the first time since the late 1940s that we have witnessed such a change in events.
This is first year in 60 years that we stand at zero sturgeon harvested. Rest assured there is lots of sturgeon in Black Lake. We have tagged over 600 adults since 2000 and stocked roughly 17,000 fingerlings.
Water clarity was a problem throughout the season. Murky water and poor visibility caused by recent rains may have contributed to the slow season.
The 2008 season ran from Feb. 2 through Feb. 10, or until five fish were speared, whichever came first.
More than 700 people registered for this year's spearing lottery. In 2007, 590 individuals registered, and the season ran out with only four successful in spearing a fish. Poor ice conditions were a factor in 2007.
The sturgeon harvested last year ranged in size from 51 inches to 70 inches and weighed between 38 pounds and 71 pounds.
Although sturgeon spearing on Black Lake was limited to 225 individuals (25 each day) who were pre-selected in a Jan. 12 random drawing, any unclaimed fishing tags were made available to anglers present at the registration station by means of a daily secondary drawing. The Onaway DNR field office, located four and one-quarter miles north of Onaway on M-211, was the sturgeon spearing headquarters.
Those who were selected in the lottery drawing were allowed to fish between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. the day they were eligible. A 36-inch minimum size limit applied. Anglers received a tag and marking flags issued in their name for their day of fishing. Fishing tags were not transferable and anglers had to present proper identification when picking up materials…
Black Lake is located in Michigan’s North Eastern Lower Peninsula (Cheboygan & Presque Isle Counties). Black Lake is the 8th largest inland lake in Michigan and is 10,130 acres. Black Lake is a popular lake as it is home to the majestic lake sturgeon. Five miles south of Black Lake is Onaway, the “Sturgeon Capitol of Michigan”. The lake also sports a good fishery. Ice anglers can expect to catch sturgeon (February), as well as muskie, pike, walleye, and perch.
ICE FISHING TIPS
Always use caution while going on to frozen lakes. Here are a few safety tips every person venturing out onto frozen lakes should observe:
Leave information about your plans with someone -- where you intend to fish and when you expect to return.
Wear a personal floatation device except when in a vehicle.
Carry a cell phone.
Ice varies in thickness and condition. Always carry an ice spud or chisel to check ice as you proceed.
Be extremely cautious crossing ice near river mouths, points of land, bridges, islands, and springs. Current causes ice to be thinner over these areas.
Avoid going onto the ice if it has melted away from the shore. This indicates melting is underway, and ice can shift position as wind direction changes.
Carry a set of hand spikes to help you work your way out onto the surface of the ice if you go through. Holding one in each hand, you can alternately punch them into the ice and pull yourself up and out. You can make these at home, using large nails/screwdrivers, or you can purchase them at stores that sell fishing supplies.
Carry a safety line that can be thrown to someone who has gone through the ice.
The Winter Free Fishing Weekend was designed to invite people out to discover the fun and relaxing sport of winter fishing. Free Fishing Weekend is a great opportunity to introduce a child to the sport, and show him or her a fun part of Michigan's outdoor heritage. Those willing to try ice fishing techniques, whether it be hand-held lines, tip-ups, or spear fishing, will uncover a new winter adventure that can be fun for the entire family. Anglers will enjoy the opportunity to learn a new winter sport while enjoying Michigan's out-of-doors at the same time.
Sturgeon Hatchery Moving to Kleber Dam
In 1994, the DNR entered into a settlement agreement with the Tower-Kleber hydro-project owners through the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) licensing process. Among many things, this agreement contained a clause that stated, “…if a rearing facility is necessary for the sturgeon propagation activities of the MDNR, the utility will work with MDNR in constructing the rearing facility.
Since that time, the MDNR Fisheries Division has invested more than $2 million in research and monitoring to investigate the appropriate ways to go about sturgeon rehabilitation.
Over the past couple of years after careful review of the current scientific information, Fisheries Division realized the time was right to develop this sturgeon rearing facility to rehabilitate sturgeon in the Black River system, starting with Black Lake. We have learned much from ongoing research about streamside rearing and are ready to move beyond a research-only phase and into a rehabilitation phase for lake sturgeon.
We are pleased to announce that the resource agencies, MDNR, MDEQ, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service along with the Tower Kleber Limited Partnership have an agreement in principle for this facility and that the Tower-Kleber Limited Partnership will be investing in the building of this facility in the coming year.
The formal FERC process will require filing of the appropriate paperwork and plans in November or December 2007. FERC will then need time to review the specific plans and provide comments back to the agencies and Tower- Kleber Limited Partnership for a finalized agreement for signing. The primary purpose of the facility will be to raise young sturgeon for the purposes of rehabilitation. The facility will consist of two buildings, one for incubation and rearing of the juvenile sturgeon and one for outdoor rearing to stocking size. The outdoor facility will be the facility that was previously located downstream. Unlike other fish, sturgeon require a lot of “floor” space and thus we need a larger area to raise these fish compared to other fish.
The production target will be about 3,300 young sturgeon per year. This annual number is based on a projected number of 65,000 fish stocked over 20 years to achieve a desired level of 2,000 adult sturgeon in Black Lake. This produces a density similar to that of Lake Winnebago in Wisconsin.
In addition to the rehabilitation program, the facility will provide a platform for continued research to help us better understand the limitations to sturgeon production and survival and to help us continue improving our management and rehabilitation programs for sturgeon statewide. Timeline: the facility should be up and running by fall 2008, and ready to receive the first round of youngsters in spring 2009.
The agreement for the facility will be in place through the life of the current license which expires in 2024.
SFT anticipates providing outreach, education, perhaps in the form of an interpretive center, and any and all other means necessary and proper to assure management of this facility produces the sustainability in the resource. We would also like the thank Gil and Brenda Archambo for the use of their river property that supported the past three years of rearing.
STURGEON NEWS
February 7, 2010
STURGEON NEWS
2010 Black Lake Sturgeon Season lasts 1 day and 30 minutes
STURGEON NEWS
2010 Black Lake Sturgeon Season lasts 1 day and 30 minutes
Fish # Date Length (in) Weight (lbs) Pit Tag Gender
1. Tebo 2/6 75.0 104.0 yes F
2. Zeller 2/6 50.5 28.0 yes F
3. Motto 2/6 73.5 100.5 yes F
4. Stroup 2/6 57.0 48.0 no F
5. Archambo 2/7 70.0 102.5 yes F
Day 1 - 255 anglers registered for sturgeon
Day 2 - 169 anglers registered for sturgeon
STURGEON NEWS
2010 Black Lake Sturgeon Season Lasts 1 day and 30 minutes
STURGEON NEWS
2010 Black Lake Sturgeon Season lasts 1 day and 30 minutes
Fish # Date Length (in) Weight (lbs) Pit Tag Gender Age
1. Tebo 2/6 75.0 104.0 yes F
2. Zeller 2/6 50.5 28.0 yes F
3. Motto 2/6 73.5 100.5 yes F
4. Stroup 2/6 57.0 48.0 no F
5. Archambo 2/7 70.0 102.5 yes F
Day 1 - 255 anglers registered for sturgeon
Day 2 - 169 anglers registered for sturgeon
Proposed New Sturgeon Regulations for Black Lake
Sturgeon For Tomorrow have been working with DNR Fisheries Division to improve the process for the Black Lake lake sturgeon spearing/angling season that takes place in February each year. Previously, the fishery has been managed through a special drawing where anglers call the local fisheries unit and apply to be one of 25 chosen to participate in the fishery per day. With this limited entry system, however, the season often lasted the maximum number of days, the management of which required a significant investment by DNR Fisheries and Law Enforcement divisions. The limited entry also limited the number of anglers who were able to participate in the fishery. For these reasons, and because we are confident the fishery can be efficiently managed under a different scenario that continues to protect the Black Lake sturgeon population from over-harvest, we propose establishing a shorter season where anglers are allowed to participate at will with certain daily constraints, eliminating the special drawing-based system.
Here are the proposed changes for the 2010 Black Lake Sturgeon Season
• The spearing and hook-and-line harvest season for lake sturgeon shall be the first Saturday in February through the following Wednesday, inclusive or until the harvest quota has been reached, whichever comes first.
• Fishing for lake sturgeon shall be prohibited from the end of the harvest season through the first Friday in February, inclusive.
• Size Limit: No minimum size limit.
• Harvest Limit: The total harvest by all anglers combined shall not exceed (5) lake sturgeon per year.
• Spearing and hook-and-line fishing for lake sturgeon shall be allowed between 8:00 AM and 2:00 PM on each day that the harvest season remains open as established above.
• Prior to fishing, an angler shall register on site each day and obtain a flag each day. The flag shall be displayed outside the entryway to the shanty being used, and shall be displayed for the entire time of fishing for lake sturgeon each day. Note: Angler Daily Registration; Onaway State Park, Zollner Road public access (NW side of Black Lake, by former Black Lake Hotel), and Onaway DNR Field Office (M-211).
• A lake sturgeon that is harvested shall be immediately tagged with a validated lake sturgeon harvest tag, immediately registered with DNR personnel, and that lake sturgeon shall be subject to internal examination of reproductive organs by the DNR personnel.