Sturgeon spawning 2008, Singler Farms, New London4/21/08
PESHTIGO, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Along the Lakeshore, crews from the Department of Natural Resources are fishing for sturgeon, using nets to corral the prehistoric fish.
It’s all part of an effort to gather more information about the species.
With reports of sturgeon spawning activity below the Peshtigo Dam, DNR crews take to the relatively shallow water to try their hand at netting some fish. Peshtigo Team Fisheries Supervisor Adam Nickel says the run is a little early this year.
“It’s been a kind of difficult spring to gauge, with the variable weather, and ups and downs in water temperatures. So, we’re just trying to kind of track the run as best we can, and see what we can do,” said Adam Nickel, DNR Peshtigo Team Fisheries Supervisor.
Nickel says it takes patience, skill, and perhaps a little luck to capture the prehistoric fish. He says crews guide the monster to the shoreline where more workers wait.
“When we’re handling fish, we’re measuring fish. We’re also checking them for PIT tags, which give the fish basically a small microchip. So each fish gets its own ID number, so if we recapture that fish down the line, we’ll know which one we handled, when we handled it,” he said.
The spawning activity Friday is taking place at the Peshtigo River Recreation Park.
“The word gets out. Once they’re in, everybody starts seeing cars, and it’s just park wherever you can find room,” said Cathi Malke, Peshtigo.
Cathi Malke says the 160-foot long fish viewing platform is a great place to take it all in.
“We have readings on what fish are out there, and what you’re going to read about. And it brings you up-to-date on what you’re going to see down there,” she said.
Back to the river, Adam Nickel says he expects the sturgeon run to continue.
“Hopefully they’ll be here at least for a few days, and even through the weekend. So with the weekend coming up here, it would probably be a good time to come up and take a look, if you want to see fish,” he said.
In addition to the Peshtigo River, the DNR says the fish typically spawn in many tributaries that flow into the waters of Green Bay, including the Menominee River, the Oconto River, and the Fox River.
Comments