TOPIC:

22 mins ·
With the amount of Chinook being planted in Michigan waters of Lake Michigan (330,000), Coho Salmon have taken on a major role in our fishery. Coho Movement has become an important issue but first we need to understand the life cycle of these fish.
Coho are planted in 2 ways. Coho are different from Chinook and are like steelhead in that they spend 18 months in the hatchery. First are the fall fingerlings that are generally culls that are removed from hatcheries to allow room for the planned numbers to be raised to smolt age. 2nd are the spring smolt plants that are planted at the stage when they are showing signs of agitation--wanting to swim downstream to the lake or when water temps are exceeding optimal conditions whether at hatchery or net pens.
Michigan plants just under 1.44 million coho in Michigan rivers from Manistique to the Galien River with the Platte getting 800,000 of these fish, Grand River 270,000 and the St. Joe 130,000 the rest are spread out thru other ports. The GLSI is trying to get further fish movement from the Platte River to other ports to spread this fishery throughout the state. Problem--eggs are taken at the Platte weir--biologists are concerned about egg take meaning enough returns to get enough eggs. Can the state move fish and get eggs? Much of this has to do with environmental conditions when released, most importantly is Young of the Year or YOY of alewives from the year previous to provide food. Water temps on the surface during bug hatches both terrestrial and aquatic--do these fish have adequate access to bugs to feed at a small size. The MDNR put the weirs in earlier this year to collect fish, and there appears to be a tremendous survival rate and return. If young coho don't survive well we won't get returns or the eggs if too many fish are moved. Can a weir be put in another river if fish are moved to another system for another egg collection site?
The MDNR has also committed to moving fish further downstream in the Grand and St. Joe systems to increase survivability. Another "no brainer" to escape the "predator gauntlet" and increase survival of young fish. Due to the Andronomous Fishing Act the DNR was committed to planting fish far upstream because of monies given to the implementation of fish ladders to allow fish to pass upstream to insure fish return to rivers like the Rogue and provide a fishery upstream. Biologically this doesn't make much sense! The fish will continue to swim upstream to spawning grounds and still provide a fishery but they need to have good survival first. We commend the MDNR for making the movement and going beyond politics
Where would the fish be planted that are moved from the Platte? Currently the plan is Saugatuck but this is not written in stone. Jay Wesley has listened to anglers and sports groups and the demand has been for fish to moved to a southern port since this is where cuts have been implemented to reintroduce a fall return fishery. Much talk on facebook has been the Muskegon River system. What is important and plausible under economic and environmental factors? To continue to provide a world class fishery so many issues need to be examined to maximize angling opportunities both lake and river systems. Also anglers and sports groups need to step up and be a part of the process. Coho were planted in Ludington this year, some of the fish were planted in net pens to increase imprinting fro returns. This takes a number of volunteers and coordination and we have to take an interest in this fishery beyond just going fishing.