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Wisconsin Smallmouth Alliance
December 2019
Monthly Meetings
Wisconsin
Smallmouth Alliance Meets 3rd Tuesday, Sept-April 6 pm dinner, program 7 pm Maple Tree, Hwy 51, McFarland, Wis.
WSA Club Information wisconsinsmallmouth.com Mike Simon, 608-334-4448 [email protected]
President: Jerry Pasdo [email protected] Send your stories & photos to:Editor: John [email protected]
Other Local Fishing ClubsCheck club websites for schedules
Southern Wisc. TUMeets 2nd Thursday of month (Except Jul /Aug) 7 p.m. at the Coliseum Bar, Olin Ave, Madison Badger Flyfishers Meets 4th Monday of month Maple Tree, McFarland Yahara Fishing Club Meets 2nd Wednesday of month 7 pm, VFW Hall 301 Cottage Grove Rd, Madison Capital City Muskies Meets 2nd Monday of month, 7 pm. Coliseum Bar, 232 E. Olin, Madison until further notice.
Protect and Enhance Quality Smallmouth Bass Fishing
Hoping to see you at the
Annual Holiday Party Monday, December 16
RSVP Required - Reserve Now
OurJointHolidayPartywiththeBadgerFlyFisherswillbeonMonday,Dec.16thattheMapleTreerestaurantonHighway51inMcFarland.WerequireanRSVPbyDec.9thinordertoobtainamoreaccuratecountofdinneraAendees.PleaseRSVPbyDec.9thviaemailtoeither:[email protected],[email protected],or-MikeSimonatmadisonmike@tds.netwithyournumberofdinneraAendees.ThemeeLngbeginsat5:30withasocialhour.Familystyledinnerservedat6:30whichincludesfish,chicken,ham,vegetables,saladbaranddessert.ThepresentaLonwillfollowthedinnerandmembersarewelcometoaAendthepresentaLononlyifthatistheirpreference.Thedinnercostis$19whichincludestheAp.PaymentneedstobemadeintheexactcashamountorviaacheckpayabletoBadgerFlyFishers.ThepresentaLonbyDr.JimLaRs,DirectoroftheUWSpacePlaceisLtled“UWMadison’sWashburnObservatory-140YearsontheFronLers”andwillreviewtheoriginsandimportantachievementsinthehistoryoftheobservatoryanditsastronomers.
MikeSimon,Treasurer,Membership,&FundraiserChair
WSA Meeting Schedule 2019-20
Dec. 16 (3rd Mon.) Joint Christmas Party with BFF
Jan. 21 Dan Oele, Dane WDNR Senior Fisheries Biologist
Feb. 18 Hunter Dorn - TBD
Mar. 10 Noah Humfeld - TBD
Apr. 21 WSA Annual Fundraiser
Last Sundays Wisconsin State Journal had a front page article on the evidence of the diminishing walleye population in our state. The most recent issue of Wisconsin Outdoor News had an even more extended article covering this same topic. These articles caught my attention because, as SMB anglers, we must be vigilant as to the success of our favorite fighting fish. We are the only advocate for SMB in the state.
Since 1990 the walleye population in the northern third of the state has fallen 36 per cent despite stocking and limit monitoring. Holly Embke, a graduate student at UW Madison Center for Limnology is the lead author of this study. Steve Carpenter at the Center co-authored the study. The following paragraphs summarize the article.
First of all, the population decline is evident and well publicized. The State continually spends millions of dollars on stocking. Various reasons listed for the decline have been habitat degradation, climate change, and over harvest. Walleye is still a favorite table fare.
“For the past three decades resource managers have calculated walleye harvest based on fish abundance.” said Embke. They don't take into account factors such as the size of the fish, how fast they are growing, and how much offspring they are having each year. In 1990, it took about four and a half years for a walleye population to fully regenerate. By 2017, the same population needed six years. As Carpenter says "The adult walleyes just can't produce as many babies as they used to.” Using a unique model for inland fisheries, Embke and her
colleagues estimated the biomass of walleye in 179 lakes. They found that the over harvest is 10 times higher than what was estimated based on abundance alone. Even with stocking, the same results have occurred. some of the lakes can't even sustain a 15 % harvest. "Basically, what worked years ago doesn't work anymore because of climate change" says Carpenter. "If we want to have walleyes, we need to harvest less."
Even with the WSA promoting C&R in all its promotions, we all must do more to monitor the actual catch rates, population growth rates, habitat improvements, etc. The WDNR fish biologist can only do so much in their limited time frame for projects and also,with limited scientist help. Wisconsin is fortunate to have the Limnolgy school to delve into these issues for all species.
The references to the authors of the study and the article were obtained with permission of the Wisconsin State Journal.
Is Walleye the "Canary in the Coal Mine” By Jerry Pasdo
Couderay River Smallie Study by Max Wolter
Smallmouth bass are one of the most beloved species in northern Wisconsin and the Hayward area boasts many popular lakes for smallmouth fishing, including Round, Grindstone, Lac Courte Orielles, and Moose. There are many fantastic river fisheries as well, including the Chippewa, Namekagon, and Flambeau.
In general, we know less about our local river smallmouth populations and a Couderay river project initiated in 2019 aims to shed light on just what makes river smallies tick.
In August the Hayward DNR fish team PIT-tagged 106 Couderay River smallies in the cheek, using tags generously donated by the Wisconsin Smallmouth Alliance. While we commonly use PIT (passive integrated transponder) tags for muskellunge and sturgeon, this was the first time we have used PIT tags on Sawyer County smallmouth bass.The data collected from each fish tagged included length, location (GPS coordinates), and a small fin clip for potential future genetic analysis.
We will follow up the 2019 portion of the study in 2020 with an attempt to recapture as many tagged fish as possible. By recapturing a sufficient number of fish we should be able to gather important data such as growth rate, movement and possibly total population size. We also plan to collect fin ray samples to determine smallmouth age, which will provide additional context to growth rates observed from the PIT tags.
Watch this space for future updates and study results.
Max Wolter is Wisconsin DNR Fisheries Biologist for Sawyer County
WSA SUPPORTS COUDERAY RIVER ACCESS CONSTRUCTION By Jerry Pasdo
As an outgrowth of the successful tagging project on the Counderay river which demonstrated a good quantity of SMB, the WDNR is applying for grants to build disabled access landings at two locations. Since this river is not accessible for motor craft, this project is ideal for quiet water use. The grants are being initiated by the communities of Radisson and Counderay, and would use their particular lands for the access. The ramps would be similar to what is used on lakes for easier access to small craft such as canoes/kayaks and also utilize equipment to facilitate boarding the craft.
Besides the WSA financial assistance, the local muskies chapters, Fishing Has No Boundaries, Ojibwa Tribal resources, local communities, and a few other organizations have supported with grant commitments and letters of support. There is wide interest in this because it is a pristine waterway that contains SMB, musky, sturgeon, and other river inhabitants. The success of this request should be finalized this spring so that construction could begin this year. We will continue with updates as WDNR progresses through this project. This is another good example of partnerships providing enhanced fishing and water resource opportunities for everyone in our state.
This free flowing river has one small dam/obstruction upstream closer to Little Lac Courte Orielles and a dam was removed near Radisson. The river flows thru wetlands and alders, but much of it is tree lined with some areas with mature pines. Numerous small rapids and riffles and subsequent pools make this a desirable float. The DNR is also looking into shore access points.
Jerry Pasdo
The Couderay River is a tributary of the Chippewa River in northwestern Wisconsin. It is part of the Mississippi River watershed. Its entire length in Sawyer County. Its name is derived from the French "Rivière des Courte Oreilles" (River of the "Short Ears”).
Source - Wikipedia
