Gill-T

Justin, salmon fitness and alewife fitness as measured by "plumpness" (can't believe that is a term used) is excellent. Smaller salmon sizes is a result of having lived thru two harsh winters where feeding is suppressed (not due to a lack of bait). Again, there is no lack of bait in the lake NOW. The problem perceived is on the horizon with the hole in the alewife population. Again this is a temporary blip (unless that volcano erupts in Iceland and we will be ice fishing for salmon) that will probably go mostly unnoticed. We probably will end up with 38 lb salmon again at top of LOC. Extra 150,000-200,000 King salmon stockings have been planted numerous times in recent years by Canadians when bait levels have supported the increases (public is unaware of this fact) because neither side wants to ever have to destroy fish. If the DEC is worried about meeting egg quota, Andy Todd gets a phone call and the Canadians set aside extra stockers as contingency. Even if not needed, those fish usually get thrown into the Niagara. Therefore, raising stocking figures is not unprecedented. I am also a little leery their position but I looked across the table at the two fisheries managers and believed that THEY believe there is a problem that needs adjusting so I am willing to give them the benefit of the doubt (until proven otherwise). With three of the most sophisticated research vessels at their disposal gathering data I now at least feel they have a better handle on things.

At the last meeting LePan stated Lake Trout cuts are on the table but will have little effect as they are slow growers. Lake Trout plants next year won't start eating Alewives until four years down the road.

I have a feeling they will be stripping fish in the lower reaches this year

Brian, I told Steve LePan it has to go both ways. I warned if we didn't see increases in King stocking with better alewife numbers the public will fry him given the paranoia already out there. I think he understands this to be true. We ask our lake managers to manage the lake so I am willing to allow the cuts without too much yelling. With the hole in the alewife population I would be questioning their leadership if they didn't consider the cuts. I also realize my perspective as a West-end fisherman is slightly skewed because we never have a shortage of bait. With the warming trend starting anew and the plankton community healthy this is a temporary blip. I also think we are going to be king heavy from natural reproduction from 2013,'14 so if they are going to make cuts they have to do it this spring.

Well I guess the cat is out of the bag. Yes both the DEC and OMNR are advising cuts starting with next years spring stocking allocations lakewide. The cuts are designed to get ahead of the apparent two year hole where we lost our YOY alewife class due to back to back historically bad winters. There is nothing wrong with the food web so these cuts will be temporary. Discussions about cutting lake trout plants are being considered. Hopefully they wait to see if we have a run of fish with the drought as we may have our own cut on naturals via Mother Nature.

Looks like a tyee to me

I almost sacrificed my lunch in those waves Friday!

Great work Nick, Teresa, the volunteers, and donors! Thank you Arney's. Great event. Never gets old getting a vet their first King. Look forward to next year! Now go take a nap.

Too bad you didn't get a weight but she looks over 5 for sure. Nice bass.

I saw some 10' rollers out there with a nasty cross chop in close

Well it got to last years 6-10's. Made the slow slog to 280' and made one troll in with waves. 4 releases and zero fish. No bait or marks. Cold water still inside 120' where we picked up

Hey Nick I can see white caps crashing over pier. You should rename the Friday event to "big-wave Friday". How big is the surf?

To your point Jerry, everything I have heard from LePan at the state-of-lake meetings is that funding is a non-issue for stocking program.

Yep, went to school in Michigan. The stamp was an easy non-issue that is easy to enforce similar to a duck stamp. If there is a will there is a way.

Jerry, who shot down the salmon stamp idea? If it was government agencies and biologists it would sure indicate that the powers in control are anti-Pacifics. Not liking the tone of this discussion. Some people need to get their heads out of their arses. Looks like time to organize boys.