Vol. 10 No. 8July 2012

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Midwest Region

Down at theRiver

Essay

2 Fish Lines / July 2012 Table of TontentsTable of TontentsTable of TontentsTable of TontentsTable of Tontents

The Mission of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service: working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, and plantsand their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.

The vision of the Service’s Fisheries Program is working with partners to restore and maintain fish and other aquaticresources at self-sustaining levels and to support Federal mitigation programs for the benefit of the American public.Implementing this vision will help the Fisheries Program do more for aquatic resources and the people who value and dependon them through enhanced partnerships, scientific integrity, and a balanced approach to conservation.

To view other issues of “Fish Lines,” visit our website at:http://www.fws.gov/midwest/Fisheries/library/fishlines.htm

Fisheries & Aquatic Resources Program - Midwest Region

-Allison Muss“Little Lunkers” participants try on the newest in Great Lakes fishery biologistfashion.

Feature

4 Down at the River EssayDan Magneson reminisces about growing up in Southern Iowa.BY DAN MAGNESON, QUILCENE NFH

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Paddlefish PartnershipPaddlefish PartnershipPaddlefish PartnershipPaddlefish PartnershipPaddlefish PartnershipBY MARK STEINGRAEBER, LACROSSE FWCOBY MARK STEINGRAEBER, LACROSSE FWCOBY MARK STEINGRAEBER, LACROSSE FWCOBY MARK STEINGRAEBER, LACROSSE FWCOBY MARK STEINGRAEBER, LACROSSE FWCO

Mussels go from Ohio to Genoa NFH and BackMussels go from Ohio to Genoa NFH and BackMussels go from Ohio to Genoa NFH and BackMussels go from Ohio to Genoa NFH and BackMussels go from Ohio to Genoa NFH and BackBY NABY NABY NABY NABY NATHAN ECKERTHAN ECKERTHAN ECKERTHAN ECKERTHAN ECKERTTTTT, GENOA NFH, GENOA NFH, GENOA NFH, GENOA NFH, GENOA NFH

Genoa NFH Partners with New YGenoa NFH Partners with New YGenoa NFH Partners with New YGenoa NFH Partners with New YGenoa NFH Partners with New York’ork’ork’ork’ork’s DEC tos DEC tos DEC tos DEC tos DEC toFurther Lake Sturgeon RestorationFurther Lake Sturgeon RestorationFurther Lake Sturgeon RestorationFurther Lake Sturgeon RestorationFurther Lake Sturgeon RestorationBY DOUG ALOISI, GENOA NFHBY DOUG ALOISI, GENOA NFHBY DOUG ALOISI, GENOA NFHBY DOUG ALOISI, GENOA NFHBY DOUG ALOISI, GENOA NFH

Great Lakes Fish TGreat Lakes Fish TGreat Lakes Fish TGreat Lakes Fish TGreat Lakes Fish Tag and Recovery Laboratory Assistsag and Recovery Laboratory Assistsag and Recovery Laboratory Assistsag and Recovery Laboratory Assistsag and Recovery Laboratory AssistsMichigan DNR with Coded-wire TMichigan DNR with Coded-wire TMichigan DNR with Coded-wire TMichigan DNR with Coded-wire TMichigan DNR with Coded-wire Tag Recoveriesag Recoveriesag Recoveriesag Recoveriesag RecoveriesBY KEVIN PBY KEVIN PBY KEVIN PBY KEVIN PBY KEVIN PANKOWANKOWANKOWANKOWANKOW, GREEN BA, GREEN BA, GREEN BA, GREEN BA, GREEN BAY FWCOY FWCOY FWCOY FWCOY FWCO

Great Lakes Fish TGreat Lakes Fish TGreat Lakes Fish TGreat Lakes Fish TGreat Lakes Fish Tag and Recovery Lab Assistsag and Recovery Lab Assistsag and Recovery Lab Assistsag and Recovery Lab Assistsag and Recovery Lab AssistsIndiana DNR with Coded-wire TIndiana DNR with Coded-wire TIndiana DNR with Coded-wire TIndiana DNR with Coded-wire TIndiana DNR with Coded-wire Tag Recoveryag Recoveryag Recoveryag Recoveryag RecoveryBY ELLIOT HOFFMAN, GREEN BABY ELLIOT HOFFMAN, GREEN BABY ELLIOT HOFFMAN, GREEN BABY ELLIOT HOFFMAN, GREEN BABY ELLIOT HOFFMAN, GREEN BAY FWCOY FWCOY FWCOY FWCOY FWCO

Iron River NFH Develops New Fish TIron River NFH Develops New Fish TIron River NFH Develops New Fish TIron River NFH Develops New Fish TIron River NFH Develops New Fish TrailerrailerrailerrailerrailerBY NICK STBY NICK STBY NICK STBY NICK STBY NICK STARZL, IRON RIVER NFHARZL, IRON RIVER NFHARZL, IRON RIVER NFHARZL, IRON RIVER NFHARZL, IRON RIVER NFH

TTTTTribal and Federal Collaboration Once Againribal and Federal Collaboration Once Againribal and Federal Collaboration Once Againribal and Federal Collaboration Once Againribal and Federal Collaboration Once AgainYYYYYields Positive Resultsields Positive Resultsields Positive Resultsields Positive Resultsields Positive ResultsBY KEVIN MANN, GREEN BABY KEVIN MANN, GREEN BABY KEVIN MANN, GREEN BABY KEVIN MANN, GREEN BABY KEVIN MANN, GREEN BAY FWCOY FWCOY FWCOY FWCOY FWCO

YYYYYoungsters Learn it’oungsters Learn it’oungsters Learn it’oungsters Learn it’oungsters Learn it’s not What Ys not What Ys not What Ys not What Ys not What You Catch, asou Catch, asou Catch, asou Catch, asou Catch, asLong as YLong as YLong as YLong as YLong as You have FUN Doing Itou have FUN Doing Itou have FUN Doing Itou have FUN Doing Itou have FUN Doing ItBY TED TRESKA, GREEN BABY TED TRESKA, GREEN BABY TED TRESKA, GREEN BABY TED TRESKA, GREEN BABY TED TRESKA, GREEN BAY FWCOY FWCOY FWCOY FWCOY FWCO

River Days Kids Fishing FestRiver Days Kids Fishing FestRiver Days Kids Fishing FestRiver Days Kids Fishing FestRiver Days Kids Fishing Feston the Detroit Riveron the Detroit Riveron the Detroit Riveron the Detroit Riveron the Detroit RiverBY JUSTIN CHIOTTI, ALPENA FWCOBY JUSTIN CHIOTTI, ALPENA FWCOBY JUSTIN CHIOTTI, ALPENA FWCOBY JUSTIN CHIOTTI, ALPENA FWCOBY JUSTIN CHIOTTI, ALPENA FWCO

Pendills Creek NFH Children’Pendills Creek NFH Children’Pendills Creek NFH Children’Pendills Creek NFH Children’Pendills Creek NFH Children’sssssFishing Day is Catching OnFishing Day is Catching OnFishing Day is Catching OnFishing Day is Catching OnFishing Day is Catching OnBY CRBY CRBY CRBY CRBY CRYSTYSTYSTYSTYSTAL LEGAULAL LEGAULAL LEGAULAL LEGAULAL LEGAULTTTTT-ANDERSON, PENDILLS-ANDERSON, PENDILLS-ANDERSON, PENDILLS-ANDERSON, PENDILLS-ANDERSON, PENDILLSCREEK NFHCREEK NFHCREEK NFHCREEK NFHCREEK NFH

Pendills Creek NFH Stocks Over One MillionPendills Creek NFH Stocks Over One MillionPendills Creek NFH Stocks Over One MillionPendills Creek NFH Stocks Over One MillionPendills Creek NFH Stocks Over One MillionYYYYYearlings into Lakes Michigan and Huronearlings into Lakes Michigan and Huronearlings into Lakes Michigan and Huronearlings into Lakes Michigan and Huronearlings into Lakes Michigan and HuronBY CRBY CRBY CRBY CRBY CRYSTYSTYSTYSTYSTAL LEGAULAL LEGAULAL LEGAULAL LEGAULAL LEGAULTTTTT-ANDERSON, PENDILLS-ANDERSON, PENDILLS-ANDERSON, PENDILLS-ANDERSON, PENDILLS-ANDERSON, PENDILLSCREEK NFHCREEK NFHCREEK NFHCREEK NFHCREEK NFH

Thinking Outside the Ponds…Thinking Outside the Ponds…Thinking Outside the Ponds…Thinking Outside the Ponds…Thinking Outside the Ponds…BY ANGELA BARAN, GENOA NFHBY ANGELA BARAN, GENOA NFHBY ANGELA BARAN, GENOA NFHBY ANGELA BARAN, GENOA NFHBY ANGELA BARAN, GENOA NFH

WWWWWildcat Scholars Vildcat Scholars Vildcat Scholars Vildcat Scholars Vildcat Scholars Visit Marquette Biologicalisit Marquette Biologicalisit Marquette Biologicalisit Marquette Biologicalisit Marquette BiologicalStationStationStationStationStationBY MICHAEL TWOHEYBY MICHAEL TWOHEYBY MICHAEL TWOHEYBY MICHAEL TWOHEYBY MICHAEL TWOHEY, MARQUETTE BIOLOGICAL, MARQUETTE BIOLOGICAL, MARQUETTE BIOLOGICAL, MARQUETTE BIOLOGICAL, MARQUETTE BIOLOGICALSTSTSTSTSTAAAAATIONTIONTIONTIONTION

WWWWWelcome Aboardelcome Aboardelcome Aboardelcome Aboardelcome AboardBY MARK SEINGRAEBER, LA CROSSE FWCOBY MARK SEINGRAEBER, LA CROSSE FWCOBY MARK SEINGRAEBER, LA CROSSE FWCOBY MARK SEINGRAEBER, LA CROSSE FWCOBY MARK SEINGRAEBER, LA CROSSE FWCO

Farewell and Good Luck to Jenny BaileyFarewell and Good Luck to Jenny BaileyFarewell and Good Luck to Jenny BaileyFarewell and Good Luck to Jenny BaileyFarewell and Good Luck to Jenny BaileyBY STBY STBY STBY STBY STAFF FROM GENOA NFHAFF FROM GENOA NFHAFF FROM GENOA NFHAFF FROM GENOA NFHAFF FROM GENOA NFH

Wild Rice on Radigan FlowageWild Rice on Radigan FlowageWild Rice on Radigan FlowageWild Rice on Radigan FlowageWild Rice on Radigan FlowageBY TED KOEHLER, ASHLAND FWCOBY TED KOEHLER, ASHLAND FWCOBY TED KOEHLER, ASHLAND FWCOBY TED KOEHLER, ASHLAND FWCOBY TED KOEHLER, ASHLAND FWCO

Midwest Region Fisheries DivisionsFisheries ContactsFish Tails

Fish Lines is produced by the Fisheries andAquatic Resources Program, Region 3, U.S.Fish & Wildlife Service, Ft. Snelling, Minne-sota. Items included are selected frommonthly reports submitted by Region 3fisheries offices. Photos included are used bypermission and may be copyrighted.

Equal opportunity to participate in, andbenefit from programs and activities of theU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is available toall individuals regardless of race, color,national origin, sex, age, disability, religion,sexual orientation, status as a parent andgenetic information. For information contactthe U.S. Department of Interior, Office forEqual Opportunity, 1849 C Street N.W.,Washington, DC 20240

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Printed on 30% Recycled by Fiber Weight Paper

Conservation Briefs 8-21...................................................................

2012 Vol. 10 No. 8

ASSISTANT REGIONAL DIRECTORTodd Turner

To submit suggestions or comments, e-maildavid_radloff@fws.gov

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Midwest RegionFisheries & Aquatic Resources Program1 Federal Drive, Ft. Snelling, MN 55111

Phone: 612/713-5111

-USFWSThe weather was cool but the fishing was hotfor the first annual “Rainbows for VeteransFishing Derby” at the Neosho National FishHatchery.

4 Fish Lines / July 2012 Featured ArticlesFeatured ArticlesFeatured ArticlesFeatured ArticlesFeatured Articles

Down at the River EssayDown at the River EssayDown at the River EssayDown at the River EssayDown at the River EssayBY DAN MAGNESON, QUILCENE NFH

I went back home to my native southern Iowa a few years ago to attend my mother’sfuneral, and afterward went for a walk along the old trail created by fishermen down

along the river.

It was autumn, and the trail was dotted with fallen leaves – as was the water in the river.Silver maple, box elder, black walnut, green ash, hackberry and a sycamore or two grew

in woods along the river, and the cottonwoods towered above everything. The upland hills –from which maniacal coyote choruses emanated every fall - were aflame with the crimson ofsumac and the fiery orange of black maple, but down here near the river the fall color wasuniformly yellow and even the air seemed to have a bit of a yellow tint. I crossed paths witha few woolly bear caterpillars, but I was the only person around that day; everyone’sthinking of pheasants and deer now. The trail cut up near the edge of a picked cornfield, andwarty hedge apples dot the ground like bright greenish-yellow grapefruit; they always seemto have a slight glow about them. I flushed a covey of bobwhite quail from within a screen ofthat coarse and rough giant ragweed that stood between the edge of the woods and thecornfield, and this took me back to when I left this river to go to college in North Dakota.I’d ended up packing some of this country along with me: up there, they ribbed me aboutpronouncing “ice” as “eyes” and “hair” as “hayer” and “creek” as “crick” and in later trav-els I came to a realization that even a slight southern accent seemed to coincide with thenatural range of the bobwhite.

Now I’m down near the river, and each little thicket of sandbar willow - whose leaf sizeand shape remind me of letter openers - seems like a miniature oasis across the ex-

panses of sand. Flood debris clogs the bottom of each thicket, and cobwebs jam the honey-hued branches above. The air along the river always seemed heavily-laden with insects andso it must be a spider’s idea of paradise; the only place that could possibly be better wouldbe next to a porch light, the spider’s version of winning the lottery.

My early recollection of fishing takes many forms. I think of the first fish I ever caught,and picture a bait-casting reel, yellow rod, braided line and a brassy carp lying in the

grass. I think of sitting in a rowboat wearing one of those musty-smelling, bloated oldorange life vests; I’d watch that red-and-white bobber go under and later admire the or-ange and blue markings of a saucer-sized pumpkinseed sunfish and that neat little red spoton the gill cover. I think of the first fish I ever caught on an artificial lure and I picture asmall bluegill dangling from a red cork popper along a weedy shoreline. I remember trollingfor walleyes on those lavender evenings up north and listening to the loons in thedarkness.But fishing in this river mines my richest vein of memories, probably because I didit so much and with so many different friends over all those years.

As kids, we’d start riding our bikes down here during those first nice days of early springand fish under those bright and crystal-clear blue skies. It was still far too chilly to

enjoy much success at catching catfish – it was more a combination of spring fever andwishful thinking than actual effective fishing – but we had fun anyway. Sometimes therewould be mourning cloak butterflies in the sunlit openings in the woods during the after-noons and spring peepers singing in the evenings. And you would maybe come across a tigersalamander every once in a while.

As spring progressed, the trees began to bud out and the plants began pushing upthrough the leaf litter, and that earthy, sunlit smell of the bottomlands permeated the

5Fish Lines / July 2012Featured ArticlesFeatured ArticlesFeatured ArticlesFeatured ArticlesFeatured Articles

air. The green was such a fresh and bright shade that – were color to have an ethnicity – itwould be that which I would associate with shamrocks and leprechauns. The river waterturned warmer too, and the catfishing began in earnest. As the warming weather pro-gressed, the little purple violets bloomed in profusion and you might even find some morelmushrooms to take home along with your catfish.

We’d jam a forked stick into the blond sand along the river, and take a seat on a water-washed and whitish-tan log; the tops of those oldest logs at the choicest fishing holes

had well-worn surfaces: the seats of all those denim jeans had polished them over the yearsuntil they were smooth as bone.

Usually you did not have a very long wait until you’d hooked a catfish. I never under-stood descriptions of catfish as homely or ugly and especially when it came to the

smaller specimens of channel catfish. They looked kind of like little sharks to us landlockedIowa boys, and were sleek in shape and handsome with their light bluish-whitish-greenishcoloring with black freckles, good-sized eyes and deeply-forked tails. They would make littlegroaning-croaking sounds as you held them and the smaller they were the sharper thespines seemed to be; if you rubbed their belly over the wound in your hand, the stingingwould go away. And no matter how careful you tried to be, you always seemed to end upwith sand in your reel.

Those spring evenings remained chilly and your hands were always slightly numb fromthe cold and your lips always seemed to form a thick, gummy film. We’d gather drift-

wood and build a fire, and sometimes roast marshmallows and hotdogs over it. Best of allwas coring an apple, filling the center with that cinnamon candy (that grandma alwayscalled “red hots” but the grocery store calls “cinnamon imperials”), wrapping it in aluminumfoil and then tossing it into the embers of the fire. We’d roll it back out with a stick later onand let it cool enough to handle it – makes my mouth water just thinking back on it.

There was both an air of competition and camaraderie at the river; you always wanted tocatch the biggest or most fish, but always happily reeled in your line when someone else

had a nice fish on and always enthusiastically helped them land it.

Across the river I see where the oldest of the old always seemed to fish, probablybecause parking was nearby and access down the bank was easiest. Those guys always

seemed lean, slow as tortoises and slightly stooped over, and if they still had any hair, itwas always thin and limp and conformed to the contours of their skulls. And it was alwaysas white as that ubiquitous handkerchief that they carried in the pocket of their bib over-alls. Their faces were brown, grizzled and leathery, like a well-worn baseball glove andtheir eyes always seemed to be set way back into their wrinkled sockets and radiated acertain warmth. And they were gentle and humble and had an aura of contentment aboutthem. To a man, they were always soft-spoken and kindly and congenial with us kids, pa-tiently enduring our casting over their line and always willing to share their experience -like showing us how to tie a better knot with their gnarled hands. Unlike the youngeradults, they never got grumpy or grouchy or ever growled at us, so there must be someother kind of metamorphosis that takes place very, very late in adulthood. I’ve often won-dered if they tolerated us rowdy and rambunctious kids so well because they were gratefulto simply still be among the living or whether we wistfully reminded them of when theywere young or even whether they were just plain so old and so tired that they viewed ourannoying antics as trifling matters. And they always seemed to fish alone. I wondered too

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whether they had outlived all of their former fishing buddies or they just plain decided theyliked it better that way as they aged. It couldn’t be just for the solitude, not with us around.

All of those old-timers are no doubt long gone by now, and so too are some of the youngkids I formerly fished alongside. I myself have grayish-whitish whiskers and need

reading glasses to tie on my hooks these days, but still feel lucky: a few of those other kidswere already gone before they ever had a gray hair or needed to use reading glasses.

One morning as a teenager, I had driven down to check the river, and there was one ofthose ancient fishermen stranded there with his broken-down car. He asked for a ride

home and after I dropped him off, I didn’t think much more about it. Later that evening,there was a knock at our front door and there was that old man, wanting to give me moneyso that I could treat myself to “a malted milkshake.” I watched him hobble down our frontsteps and then down our steep driveway to where his now-functioning car sat in the street;I could only imagine his struggle to walk up to our door. I stood at the window with asolemn and somber feeling, and I learned more about expressions of gratitude, commoncourtesy, and basic human decency right then and there than I ever did from any Sundayschool lesson. After close to 40 years, the image of that old man and his dusty old Chevyremains as vivid as on the day it happened.

Over there is where we ate mulberries in the summer. It’s still standing in the samefamiliar spot and so it must be the same tree, but I don’t recognize its much larger size

at all. A little further upstream, where that giant cottonwood shades the shore, marks thesite of my only foray into the commercial fishing business. It was a scorching hot day, farinto the summer, and I caught a stringer of carp using canned sweet corn as bait. We had arestaurant locally famous for its fish baskets, and carp were the main ingredient. I pedaledmy bike like crazy – lest the carp quit breathing. There was no breeze and no one elseabroad in the blistering heat – just my own panting, the crunch of gravel under my tires,and those now-airborne dark grasshoppers, the ones with colored wings who flew roller-coaster flights and made those rapid series of sharp snapping sounds that reminded me ofwhen we used to clothespin a playing card into the spokes of our bicycles and pretend thatit was a motorcycle.

I delivered the carp alive and offered them for sale, and I remember the owner puttingthem into one of his concrete tanks inside that dim and cool back room, then giving me

fifty cents for my effort. A nearby tractor repair shop had one of those old vending ma-chines that held bottles of pop within holes arranged vertically on one side of the machine.When you’d pull out a bottle by its neck, a metal contraption would snap down after thebottom of the bottle exited the hole. I spent all of my proceeds on Dr. Pepper, trying toslake the thirst I’d built up during that fast and furious bike ride.

We were out of school and so always kept fishing throughout the entire summer, withthe glint of cottonwood spoor in the dazzling air, the odor of fresh-cut hay in the

breeze, those soft and pensive turtle dove calls intertwined with the even murmur of theriver, the electric, see-saw song of cicadas at dusk and then the sound of katydids when it

7Fish Lines / July 2012Featured ArticlesFeatured ArticlesFeatured ArticlesFeatured ArticlesFeatured Articles

was solidly night. The water would get low and tepid and languid and the river took on abraided look as the beaches broadened and islands began to appear, much to the delight ofthe killdeers. The whirlpools grew lazy and listless and developed central spots of foamresembling the heads on mugs of root beer. One year we watched the Perseid meteorshower raining out of the sky. I pass by the spot where we found the whitetail doe that hadwashed down after the spring flood waters receded. She was pretty badly decomposed bythen, and the only way we realized it was a doe was from the tiny hooves poking throughthe bottom of her belly.

There was a particularly deep and persistent hole out there, and we knew that bigflathead catfish lurked in it. Those fish required larger live baits and long time periods

were the norm between bites – as much as the thought of catching one excited me, I wastoo young and far too impatient to sit still long enough to be successful. One day under acatalpa tree, amongst the litter of fallen pencil-like pods and heart-shaped leaves, we founda pair of huge catfish heads. They looked like dark brown basketballs that someone hadbacked a truck tire into and with that protruding, bulldog lower jaw, were unquestionablyflatheads. I was awestruck; I don’t think that either of those heads would have fit down intoa five gallon bucket and I could hardly believe that they originated from our little river!After that, I always wished I could levitate the water – if only for a few seconds – just tosee what would be flopping on the bottom.

And over there was where mom once caught me wading. All mothers hear of thebottomless holes in the river and I was still pretty young then and wasn’t supposed to

wade. I remember mom standing on the bank with a grim look and me standing sheepishly inthe river trying not to look back at her. In hindsight, there was real danger in that slowlyswirling and whirling river below where we waded, mostly from becoming entangled inthose old treacherous tentacles of broken-off fishing line if you were ever swept down-stream, and people really have drowned there since that time.

I turn and head back to where I’m parked. It’s hard for me to believe that most of thisstory took place between 35 and 40 years ago, and some elements of it stretch back

nearly 50 years now. It seems like just yesterday when I was a young kid coming downhere, and then it was our grandparents who were passing on. Today my former fishing palsand I are burying our parents. It is easy math to figure out which generation is going to gotomorrow.

Somewhere I once read or heard a saying to the effect of “if magic exists on this planet,it is found in flowing water.” Maybe that river has unseen currents besides those mov-

ing downstream and the combination of that soothing sound and the effect of time movingslower is what ultimately pulls you down here. One good thing about getting older is that Inow have the patience to sit and wait for one of those leviathan flatheads.

If I live and sit next to the river long enough, maybe I’ll gain some insight as to why theoldest of those old fishermen were always the best of the best human beings. And I hope

that these kids today will have what we had.

8 Fish Lines / July 2012 Tonservation BriefsTonservation BriefsTonservation BriefsTonservation BriefsTonservation Briefs

Partnerships are essential for effectivefisheries conservation. Many agencies,organizations, and private individuals areinvolved in fisheries conservation andmanagement, but no one can do it alone.Together, these stakeholders combineefforts and expertise to tackle challengesfacing fisheries conservation. The successof these partnerships will depend onstrong, two-way communications andaccountability.

Partnerships and Accountability

Paddlefish PartnershipPaddlefish PartnershipPaddlefish PartnershipPaddlefish PartnershipPaddlefish PartnershipBY MARK STEINGRAEBER, LACROSSE FWCO

One factor that led my career on a path to theLa Crosse Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office

(FWCO) 17 years ago was the prospect of work withpaddlefish, a unique looking species that is protectedin Minnesota and Wisconsin.

There was concern then whether a plannedproject to increase habitat diversity and improvewater quality in Polander Lake, a 1,200-acre back-water in the Upper Mississippi River (UMR) Pool 5Anear Winona, Minnesota, could be accomplishedwithout jeopardizing the existing value of this im-poundment as a favored habitat for paddlefish.

After many hours tracking the whereabouts ofindividual paddlefish that were captured, radio-tagged, and released here between 1994 and 1996,several deep water locations were identified aspreferred seasonal habitats for this species. As aresult, these sites were largely protected during the1999-2001 habitat rehabilitation and enhancementproject.

Meanwhile, several shallow areas here werestrategically dredged for fill to build artificial islands.A 2002 post-project paddlefish survey by the LaCrosse FWCO later confirmed the newly createddeep water sites did indeed function as useful habitatfor this species.

Although largely unseen by FWCO staff duringthe past decade, this migratory species and its sea-sonal utilization of Polander Lake was not forgotten.Thus, I was pleased to accept a recent invitation from

Josh Lallaman, abiology profes-sor at St. Mary’sUniversity(SMU) inWinona, for theFWCO to part-ner with this institution in continuing efforts to betterunderstand the biology of paddlefish here.

Since 2011, Lallaman has directed student re-search efforts to capture, radio tag and track thewhereabouts of several paddlefish in UMR Pools 5Aand 6. This ongoing work should yield information onthe longevity of the deep water habitats createdearlier in Polander Lake and whether these sitescontinue to attract paddlefish.

With our assistance in netting efforts this year,the work has now expanded to collect blood samplesfrom most captured fish. Under the guidance of Lillianand colleague Jeanne Minnerath, the plasma will beanalyzed by a student intern to assess the reproduc-tive status of each fish, as well as its immune re-sponse to parasites.

Continued efforts of SMU faculty, students, andthe La Crosse FWCO staff will provide a usefulupdate on the local status and well-being of thisancient species.

-USFWSAnn Runstrom of the La Crosse Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office tracksUpper Mississippi River paddlefish.

-USFWSNative paddlefish are sometimes used as a host for native lampreys.

For further info about the La Crosse FWCO: http://www.fws.gov/midwest/lacrossefisheries/

9Fish Lines / July 2012Tonservation BriefsTonservation BriefsTonservation BriefsTonservation BriefsTonservation Briefs

Partnerships and Accountability

Mussels go from Ohio to Genoa NFHMussels go from Ohio to Genoa NFHMussels go from Ohio to Genoa NFHMussels go from Ohio to Genoa NFHMussels go from Ohio to Genoa NFHand Backand Backand Backand Backand Back

BY NATHAN ECKERT, GENOA NFH

Freshwater mussels are often difficult to propa-gate. In most cases, this is due to difficulty with

the mussel itself. Some species are so rare they arenext to impossible to collect gravid (carrying viableembryos) individuals. Other common species aregravid during the spring or summer when rain eventscan prevent stream access.

It is far less common that the mussels are easy tocollect and their host fish make them difficult topropagate. This is the case for the butterfly and pinkheelsplitter, two mussels whose charismatic namesare over-shadowed by the fact that they use thefreshwater drum as their sole fish host, a fish notori-ous for being difficult to collect and hold in captivity.Recently, Genoa National Fish hatchery (NFH) hasdeveloped sources of freshwater drum, and tanksystems suitable for holding these fragile fish whilemussels develop on their gills.

This year, Genoa NFH agreed to participate infreshwater mussel restoration activities with part-ners in West Virginia and Ohio on a Natural ResourceDamage and Assessment project aimed at recoveringmussels after an impact to the main stem of the OhioRiver. Our objective was to receive brooding animalsfrom the Ohio River, attach mussel larvae from thosemussels to our captive freshwater drum, collect thenewly metamorphosed juveniles and ship them back toour recovery partners in Ohio and West Virginia forextended culture. The project was successful; we justsent our sixth and final shipment providing a total of

67,435 juvenile mussels. Overall 48,710 pinkheelsplitter and 18,725 butterfly were split betweenthree facilities (Ohio River Islands National WildlifeRefuge, White Sulphur Springs NFH and the Colum-bus Zoo and Aquarium). Hopefully these mussels willsurvive and grow large enough to be stocked back inthe Ohio River to meet restoration goals for theproject.

-USFWSJuvenile pink heelsplitter mussels are ready to ship to Ohio for a NaturalResource Damage and Assessment project aimed at recovering mussels afteran impact to the main stem of the Ohio River. Each animal is about half amillimeter across.

For further info about the Genoa NFH: http://www.fws.gov/midwest/genoa/

10 Fish Lines / July 2012

-USFWSSt. Lawrence River lake sturgeon grow inside their protective egg shells .

Partnerships and Accountability

Tonservation BriefsTonservation BriefsTonservation BriefsTonservation BriefsTonservation Briefs

-USFWSLake sturgeon fry from the St. Lawrence River currently reside at the GenoaNational Fish Hatchery.

For further info about the Genoa NFH: http://www.fws.gov/midwest/genoa/

Genoa NFH Partners with New YGenoa NFH Partners with New YGenoa NFH Partners with New YGenoa NFH Partners with New YGenoa NFH Partners with New York’ork’ork’ork’ork’s DECs DECs DECs DECs DECto Further Lake Sturgeon Restorationto Further Lake Sturgeon Restorationto Further Lake Sturgeon Restorationto Further Lake Sturgeon Restorationto Further Lake Sturgeon Restoration

BY DOUG ALOISI, GENOA NFH

Biologists from Genoa National Fish Hatchery(NFH) recently travelled to the site of one the

latest spawning populations of lake sturgeon in thecontinental United States, to assist in spawningoperations. The St. Lawrence River population oflake sturgeon typically spawns in late May to earlyJune, which is almost 1-2 months later than theirMidwestern cousins. The New York Department ofEnvironmental Conservation (DEC) is our stateconservation partner involved in the restoration ofsturgeon populations in the State of New York. Theyhave been actively taking eggs from lake sturgeonadults in the St. Lawrence River for many years withgreat success.

However in the past several years, complete eggfailures have resulted in the production of no sturgeonfingerlings for ongoing restoration efforts. GenoaNFH was asked to participate in egg spawning opera-tions using methods refined through the station’sStandard Operating Procedures for lake sturgeonculture. After a 20 hour drive to Massena, New York,the Genoa staff was river-side to assist in the eggtake and processing. Lake sturgeon adults capturedby the New York DEC staff were given egg and miltreleasing hormone injections and spawning wasinduced. Spawning commenced the next day and atotal of 36,000 eggs were taken and packaged for thetrip back to Wisconsin. Egg takes were from twofemales and the milt mixed from nine males to initiateegg fertilization.

After a second 20 hour drive, the eggs werereceived at their new home in the station’s newquarantine facility to wait for health inspections fromthe adults. After microscopic inspection, it was foundthat a portion of the eggs did become fertilized andwere developing normally. Egg survival from thispopulation is still much lower (<25%) compared tospawning populations on the Wolf and Rainy Rivers inWisconsin and Canada. Station goals for egg survivalin lake sturgeon normally should reach from 50-85%.Through continued refinement of techniques andtiming of hormone injections, it is hoped that thesestation goals may be met in the near future.

The station is also working with New York’sOneida hatchery to help increase larval sturgeonsurvival. Sharing knowledge and expertise betweenagencies exhibits cooperative conservation efforts,leverages resources, and increases both efficiencyand conservation. Hopefully, through these coopera-tive efforts, many more lake sturgeon will be presentin New York’s waterways in the very near future.

11Fish Lines / July 2012

Great Lakes Fish TGreat Lakes Fish TGreat Lakes Fish TGreat Lakes Fish TGreat Lakes Fish Tag and Recoveryag and Recoveryag and Recoveryag and Recoveryag and RecoveryLaboratory Assists Michigan DNRLaboratory Assists Michigan DNRLaboratory Assists Michigan DNRLaboratory Assists Michigan DNRLaboratory Assists Michigan DNRwith Coded-wire Twith Coded-wire Twith Coded-wire Twith Coded-wire Twith Coded-wire Tag Recoveriesag Recoveriesag Recoveriesag Recoveriesag Recoveries

BY KEVIN PANKOW, GREEN BAY FWCO

Biologists Elliot Hoffman and Kevin Pankow of theGreen Bay Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office

(FWCO) assisted Michigan Department of NaturalResources (DNR) staff, collecting biological data andrecovering coded-wire tags (CWT) from anglerharvested trout and salmon at Lake Michigan ports.By tracking the proportion of CWTs and wild(untagged) fish in the sport catch, biologists candetermine the number of naturally reproduced Chi-nook salmon and address concerns about predatornumbers and depleting prey abundances. Coded-wiretag recovery also can help determine the movementsand homing to stocking sites of Chinook salmonthroughout Lake Michigan.

The biological data collected from individual fishincluded length, weight, fin clips, scales for aging andlamprey wound presence. Additionally, ten Chinooksalmon stomach samples were collected from eachage class for diet analysis. This information will helpbiologists determine the health of the sport fishery onLake Michigan as well as the efficacy of stockingefforts.

Tonservation BriefsTonservation BriefsTonservation BriefsTonservation BriefsTonservation Briefs

Partnerships and Accountability

-Michigan DNR/NickArendBiologists Elliot Hoffman (upper lt.) and Kevin Pankow (rt.) of the Green Bay Fishand Wildlife Conservation Office collect biological data and coded-wire tagswith Michigan Department of Natural Resources fisheries technician JohnClevenger Jr. at the Southwest Michigan Steelheaders Summer Challengefishing tournament in St. Joseph, Michigan.

-USFWSBiologist Kevin Pankow (lt.) samples a Chinook salmon tail as biologist ElliotHoffman (middle) records biological data and Tom Myers (rt.) prepares to bagthe sample at the South Haven Steelheaders Open fishing tournament in SouthHaven, Michigan.

Chinook salmon tails were also collected as a partof a lake-wide study initiated in 2006 involving mul-tiple agencies. While being reared at state hatcheries,some Chinook salmon were fed diets that containedoxy-tetracycline (OTC), which forms a mark on bonystructures. The vertebrae sampled from harvestedfish are examined for OTC marks; those that have themarks are identified as hatchery-reared fish. The fiveyear study will be used to estimate the level of natu-ral reproduction of Chinook salmon in Lake Michiganbefore the coded-wire tagging study began in 2011.

Hoffman and Pankow sampled catches at St.Joseph, Michigan, during May 11th -13th, and assistedMichigan DNR technicians John Clevenger Jr. andNick Arend at the Southwest Michigan SteelheadersSummer Challenge tournament during May 11th -12th.That weekend the team processed 1,057 fish, andcollected 120 Chinook salmon tails, 32 Chinook salmonstomach samples and snouts containing CWTs from 54Chinook salmon, 59 lake trout and 2 coho salmon.

During May 17th -20th, sampling efforts occurred atSouth Haven, Michigan, with Michigan DNR techni-cian Nick Arend and Jordan River National FishHatchery employee Tom Myers. The team sampled atthe South Haven Steelheaders Open fishing tourna-ment during May 19th -20th. Over 600 fish were

12 Fish Lines / July 2012 Tonservation BriefsTonservation BriefsTonservation BriefsTonservation BriefsTonservation Briefs

Partnerships and Accountability

Great Lakes Fish TGreat Lakes Fish TGreat Lakes Fish TGreat Lakes Fish TGreat Lakes Fish Tag and Recovery Lab Assistsag and Recovery Lab Assistsag and Recovery Lab Assistsag and Recovery Lab Assistsag and Recovery Lab AssistsIndiana DNR with Coded-wire TIndiana DNR with Coded-wire TIndiana DNR with Coded-wire TIndiana DNR with Coded-wire TIndiana DNR with Coded-wire Tag Recoveryag Recoveryag Recoveryag Recoveryag Recovery

BY ELLIOT HOFFMAN, GREEN BAY FWCO

The Great Lakes Fish Tag and Recovery Labora-tory, headquartered at the Green Bay Fish and

Wildlife Conservation Office (FWCO), assisted theIndiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR)with coded-wire tag recovery and collection of infor-mation on Lake Michigan salmon and trout. Informa-tion collected included length, weight, sex, maturity,stomach samples, lamprey wounds and the presenceof any fin clips. Biologists Kevin Pankow and ElliotHoffman collected data and recovered coded-wiretags (CWT) from angler-caught fish through thefishing tournaments. Tournaments were held duringApril 19th -22nd , April – 29th , and May 3rd - May 6th inMichigan City, Indiana. Data were collected from1,493 fish. Coded-wire tags are a 1-mm long magnetized tagwith numbers etched onto the surface used to identifya group of fish. Tags are injected into the snout ofjuvenile fish at the hatchery, and each fish receives anadipose fin clip that indicates the presence of a coded-wire tag. Snouts were collected from 98 Chinooksalmon, 15 lake trout, and 1 coho salmon, and thenprocessed at the Green Bay FWCO where the tagsare removed and read. Analyzing the CWT returnsprovides an estimate of the level of natural reproduc-tion. Because all Chinook salmon and lake troutstocked into Lakes Michigan and Huron are now CTWand fin clipped, only those fish without tags and clipare considered wild. Information on migration pat-terns, survival of different strains, and other impor-tant economic and biological aspects of the fishery isalso gained from the analysis of the tag return data.Six hundred thirty six tail samples were collectedfrom Chinook salmon to determine the presence ofoxytetracycline, which prior to the CWT program,was used to indicate whether the fish was hatcheryraised. Oxytetracycline is put in the food of hatchery-reared fish and is deposited as a ring on the bonystructures. Those fish recovered without an oxytetra-cycline ring are considered wild.

Agencies throughout the Great Lakes region sendsnouts for processing at the Great Lakes Fish Tagand Recovery Laboratory, which is equipped to batchprocess fish snouts with CWTs. In 2011, the labprocessed over 3,200 snouts bearing CWTs. Tags aredissected from the snouts, read under magnification,and entered into a database. All information associ-ated with the samples is returned to the collectingagency as well as archived at the lab. In the nearfuture, the Lab anticipates extracting and readingnearly 100,000 CWTs annually.

The Great Lakes Fish Tag and Recovery Labora-tory is in its third season of operation. In addition tocollecting and reading CWTs this spring and summer,the team marked and/or tagged 4.3 million Chinooksalmon at eight state fish hatcheries in Illinois, Indi-ana, Michigan and Wisconsin during April-May. In2011, nearly 5.3 million lake trout at four NationalFish Hatcheries in Wisconsin, Michigan and Vermontwere tagged, with similar numbers expected in 2012.

For further info about the Green Bay FWCO: http://www.fws.gov/midwest/Fisheries/library/StationFactSheets/greenbay.pdf

sampled on the four day trip and yielded CWT snoutsfrom 62 Chinook salmon and 10 lake trout, 128 Chi-nook salmon tails, and 32 stomach samples.

The Great Lakes Fish Tag and Recovery Labprovides tagging and recovery services to federal,

state and tribal agencies throughout the Great Lakesbasin. It is funded by the Great Lakes RestorationInitiative (GLRI) and headquartered at the GreenBay FWCO.

For further info about the Green Bay FWCO: http://www.fws.gov/midwest/Fisheries/library/StationFactSheets/greenbay.pdf

-USFWS/ElliotHoffmanBiologist Kevin Pankow of the Green Bay Fish and Wildlife Conservation Officeand Indiana Department of Natural Resources employee Ben Rhoda collectbiological information from tournament fish in Michigan City, Indiana.

13Fish Lines / July 2012Tonservation BriefsTonservation BriefsTonservation BriefsTonservation BriefsTonservation Briefs

The Fisheries Program maintains andimplements a comprehensive set of toolsand activities to conserve and manageself-sustaining populations of native fishand other aquatic resources. These toolsand activities are linked to managementand recovery plans that help achieverestoration and recovery goals, providerecreational benefits, and addressFederal trust responsibilities. Soundscience, effective partnerships, andcareful planning and evaluation areintegral to conservation andmanagement efforts.

Aquatic Species Conservation and Management

Pendills Creek NFH Stocks Over One MillionPendills Creek NFH Stocks Over One MillionPendills Creek NFH Stocks Over One MillionPendills Creek NFH Stocks Over One MillionPendills Creek NFH Stocks Over One MillionYYYYYearlings into Lakes Michigan and Huronearlings into Lakes Michigan and Huronearlings into Lakes Michigan and Huronearlings into Lakes Michigan and Huronearlings into Lakes Michigan and Huron

BY CRYSTAL LEGAULT-ANDERSON, PENDILLS CREEK NFH

Pendills Creek National Fish Hatchery (NFH)raises lake trout for release into the Great Lakes

under the Great Lakes Rehabilitation Program. Withthe help of Jordan River NFH, Iron River NFH, M/VSpencer F. Baird, and Alpena Fish and Wildlife Con-servation Office; 1,026,906 coded-wire tagged andadipose clipped yearling lake trout were stocked ontoreefs in Lakes Michigan and Huron.

Fish stocking and distribution is a very busy timeof year, and requires much coordination among thelake trout hatcheries and the fish stocking vessel, theSpencer F. Baird. All three hatcheries have severalmillion lake trout to stock into the Great lakes in aspan of about two and a half months, and each musthelp the other haul their fish in special fish distribu-tion trucks with bulk tanks designed just for haulinglake trout. Once the fish are in the distribution trucks,

they are hauledto the Baird,which has tenspecially de-signed fish tankson its deck. Thevessel thentransports thelake trout out to different reefs in the lakes andstocks the fish into their new homes.

Pendills Creek NFH stocked Superior ApostleIsland Wild, Lewis Lake Wild, and Seneca Lake Wildstrains of lake trout. The fish averaged 6.22" in lengthand weighed a total of 74,060 pounds.

For further info about the Pendills Creek NFH/Sullivan Creek NFH: http://www.fws.gov/midwest/Fisheries/library/StationFactSheets/pendills.pdf

-USFWSThe Pendills Creek National Fish Hatchery fish distribution truck prepares totransfer its cargo of lake trout to the offshore stocking vessel M/V Spencer F.Baird.

-USFWSThe Great Lakes fish stocking vessel M/V Spencer F. Baird in dock atCheboygan, Michigan.

Thinking Outside the Ponds…Thinking Outside the Ponds…Thinking Outside the Ponds…Thinking Outside the Ponds…Thinking Outside the Ponds…BY ANGELA BARAN, GENOA NFH

One of the challenges Genoa National Fish Hatch-ery (NFH) faces is trying to keep a supply of

certified disease-free fish available for the Freshwa-ter Mussel Program. Hatchery staff has worked with

the Wisconsin and the Minnesota Departments ofNatural Resources (DNR) to collect wild fish fortesting and future brood fish. These fish are collected,brought into quarantine and a subsample of 60 fish aretested for diseases.

14 Fish Lines / July 2012 Tonservation BriefsTonservation BriefsTonservation BriefsTonservation BriefsTonservation Briefs

For further info about the Genoa NFH: http://www.fws.gov/midwest/genoa/

-USFWS/NathanEckertSeveral golden shiner eggs are taken from their spawning nest to view thedevelopmental stage.

and the fish were switched to pond water from wellwater. As the water temperature of the ponds in-creased in May, spawning activity was observed inboth the log perch and golden shiners. The log perchdeposited their eggs in the sandy substrate added totheir trough and the golden shiners created nests onthe Spawntec spawning mats suspended in their tank.The logperch are hatching and then swimming into thetank below their trough, the fry will be given brineshrimp as they begin to grow and will also have anatural food source from the pond water. The goldenshiner nests are carefully removed from the spawningmat and placed into a small pond on the underside ofalgae mats to hatch out and grow up. We are nowstarting to see several sizes of golden shiner fry inthe pond, and both species of fish are continuing tospawn.

The offspring of the brood fish will hopefully growto sufficient size to become mussel hosts, providingthe much needed fish source while we are trying tofind additional clean sources from the wild.

-USFWS/NathanEckertYou can see the developing golden shiner inside its egg. The well developedeyes indicate the little fish is close to hatch.

In the fall of 2011, a small number of logperchwere collected from Lake Pepin by Minnesota DNRstaff and quarantined at Genoa NFH After clearingtheir testing they were added to the hatchery inven-tory in the Mussel Building. During the summer of2011, golden shiners from the Black River, a previ-ously clean source of fish, were collected with theassistance of the Wisconsin DNR. When the testresults came back after four weeks, it was discoveredthe fish were carrying Enteric Redmouth Disease,and the remaining fish were destroyed to preventfurther disease transmission, and the quarantine

facility was completely disinfected. Trying to findanother disease free source for the golden shiners hasproved difficult and the logperch have proved difficultto collect in large numbers.

The Genoa NFH staff was presented with theinteresting task of trying to propagate the smallnumbers of these two fish species still on station.Traditional methods would include stocking a smallpond to try to get recruitment in the fall, but withsuch small numbers initially, it will be difficult torecapture the founding stock.

To resolve this issue, the golden shiners andlogperch were kept inside their tanks in the MusselBuilding, artificial spawning habitats were created

Aquatic Species Conservation and Management

15Fish Lines / July 2012Tonservation BriefsTonservation BriefsTonservation BriefsTonservation BriefsTonservation Briefs

Aquatic Invasive SpeciesAquatic Invasive SpeciesAquatic Invasive SpeciesAquatic Invasive SpeciesAquatic Invasive SpeciesAquatic invasive species are one of themost significant threats to fish andwildlife and their habitats. Local andregional economies are severely affectedwith control costs exceeding $123 billionannually. The Fisheries Program hasfocused its efforts on preventingintroductions of new aquatic invasivespecies, detecting and monitoring newand established invasives, controllingestablished invasives, providing coordi-nation and technical assistance toorganizations that respond to invasivespecies problems, and developingcomprehensive, integrated plans to fightaquatic invasive species.

Aquatic Invasive Species

WWWWWildcat Scholars Vildcat Scholars Vildcat Scholars Vildcat Scholars Vildcat Scholars Visit Marquetteisit Marquetteisit Marquetteisit Marquetteisit MarquetteBiological StationBiological StationBiological StationBiological StationBiological Station

BY MICHAEL TWOHEY, MARQUETTE BIOLOGICAL STATION

The Marquette Biological Station participated in aprogram hosted by Northern Michigan University

(NMU) entitled “Young Wildcat Scholars.” About 60sixth grade students from NMU charter schoolsthroughout Michigan visited the Marquette area andwere exposed to a variety of educational experiences.The camp provides the students an opportunity toexperience academic, social, career and communityopportunities in the beautiful Marquette area. Classeswere conducted by cooperating organizations, includ-ing federal and state agencies, local schools, NativeAmerican tribes, and others for a week-long event. Students were bussed to the Marquette BiologicalStation in four sessions which lasted about two hourseach. They learned how non-native species have anegative impact on the Great Lakes ecosystem andwhat is being done to stop their distribution. They

were able to seeand touch vari-ous fish, aquaticinsects, amphib-ians and leechesand gained anunderstanding ofhow thesespecies play avital role in thehealth of our ecosystem. Retired Fish and WildlifeService biologists Bob Kahl and Joe Genovese volun-teered to take the students to a local marsh wherethey netted and identified aquatic invertebrates,something most had never done before. MichaelTwohey coordinated the event.

USFWS/MichaelTwoheyRetired biologists Bob Kahl and Joe Genovese collect invertebrates with Young Wildcat Scholars from Northern Michigan Universitycharter schools.

For further info about the Marquette Biological Station: http://www.fws.gov/midwest/marquette/

16 Fish Lines / July 2012 Tonservation BriefsTonservation BriefsTonservation BriefsTonservation BriefsTonservation Briefs

As the population in the United Statescontinues to grow, the potential foradverse impacts on aquatic resources,including habitat will increase. At thesame time, demands for responsible,quality recreational fishing experienceswill also increase. The Service has along tradition of providingopportunities for public enjoyment ofaquatic resources through recreationalfishing, habitat restoration, andeducation programs and throughmitigating impacts of Federal waterprojects. The Service also recognizesthat some aquatic habitats have beenirreversibly altered by human activity(i.e. - dam building). To compensate forthese significant changes in habitat andlost fishing opportunities, managersoften introduce non-native specieswhen native species can no longersurvive in the altered habitat.

Public Use

Pendills Creek NFH Children’Pendills Creek NFH Children’Pendills Creek NFH Children’Pendills Creek NFH Children’Pendills Creek NFH Children’sssssFishing Day is Catching OnFishing Day is Catching OnFishing Day is Catching OnFishing Day is Catching OnFishing Day is Catching On

BY CRYSTAL LEGAULT-ANDERSON, PENDILLS CREEK NFH

The staff of Pendills Creek and Sullivan CreekNational Fish Hatcheries (NFH), along with their

Friend’s group, the Friends of Pendills Creek Fish

Hatchery (FPCH), held their 4th Annual Kid’s FishingDay for children under the age of 15 years on Satur-day June 9. This year’s fishing contest was held at thenewly renovated Lower Water Control StructurePond which worked out wonderfully with plenty ofspace for all the young anglers, and much more beau-tiful surroundings than in the past.

Jordan RiverNFH suppliedjust over 1,200fat and happycoaster brooktrout, whichaveraged one totwo poundseach, and up to22 inches inlength. JordanRiver NFH alsobrought up alarge display ofnative freshwater fish mounts and outreach materi-als. Sullivan Creek NFH supplied 40 splendid laketrout brood fish which were two to three poundseach, and up to 20 inches in length. The U.S. ForestService transferred and supplied numerous picnictables for the event participants.

The Friends group served a hot dog lunch withlots of goodies to all the families and kids participat-ing in the festivities. At least 450 people attended,with 193 children participating in the fishing action.Twenty seven prizes were awarded at the end of theday by random ticket drawings. Our 44 sponsor’sgenerous donations were crucial for the FPCH andFish and Wildlife Service staff to host this children’soutreach event.

-USFWS/JulieTimmerTwo children enjoy the good weather and fishing at the 4th Annual Kid’s FishingDay held at the Pendills Creek National Fish Hatchery.

River Days Kids Fishing FestRiver Days Kids Fishing FestRiver Days Kids Fishing FestRiver Days Kids Fishing FestRiver Days Kids Fishing Feston the Detroit Riveron the Detroit Riveron the Detroit Riveron the Detroit Riveron the Detroit River

BY JUSTIN CHIOTTI, ALPENA FWCO

On June 9th , the Detroit Riverfront Conservancyheld its 2nd Annual “River Days Kids Fishing

Fest” along the Detroit River. The event was held atthe marina at Milliken State Park and Harbor andwas designed to give families, parents and children anopportunity to enjoy fishing along the DetroitRiverfront while learning about environmental stew-ardship and sustainability. June 9th & 10th were desig-nated by the State of Michigan as free fishing week-end, so adults as well as children could enjoy this freeevent. Approximately 400 children, parents andgrandparents participated.

Children attending the event who did not havefishing poles received loaner poles provided by the

For further info about the Pendills Creek NFH/Sullivan Creek NFH: http://www.fws.gov/midwest/Fisheries/library/StationFactSheets/pendills.pdf

Fish and Wildlife Service and Michigan State Univer-sity Extension. Michigan Sea Grant and the MichiganDepartment of Natural Resources (DNR) mannedbooths, where attendees learned about aquatic inva-sive species, including Asian carp, round goby andrusty crayfish. The Michigan Department of Commu-nity Health provided handouts regarding fish con-sumption advisories in nearby rivers and lakes. TheMichigan DNR also coordinated a fishing clinic wherechildren learned the basics of casting, knot tying, fishidentification, as well as catch and release techniques.Employees from the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy,United States Coast Guard, Detroit River Interna-tional Wildlife Refuge, Alpena Fish and Wildlife

17Fish Lines / July 2012Tonservation BriefsTonservation BriefsTonservation BriefsTonservation BriefsTonservation Briefs

Public Use

Conservation Office (FWCO), Wayne County Parks,and Gander Mountain assisted with activities.

A great deal of time was spent distributing fishingpoles, bait and teaching children fishing basics such ascasting and untangling fishing line. Fish and WildlifeService employees had the opportunity to help manychildren catch their first fish. It was very excitingwatching them reel in a fish for the first time. At theconclusion of the event, the Detroit Riverfront Con-For further info about the Alpena FWCO: http://www.fws.gov/midwest/alpena/index.htm

servancy gave away fishing tackle, fishing poles andother items.

In addition to other sponsors, this years’ “RiverDays Kids Fishing Fest” was supported by the Fishand Wildlife Service’s Connecting People with Nature(CPWN) Initiative. Using $4,800 received through theCPWN, the Alpena FWCO purchased fishing poles,bait, tackle and other equipment to make this event asuccess.

YYYYYoungsters Learn it’oungsters Learn it’oungsters Learn it’oungsters Learn it’oungsters Learn it’s not What Ys not What Ys not What Ys not What Ys not What You Catch,ou Catch,ou Catch,ou Catch,ou Catch,as Long as Yas Long as Yas Long as Yas Long as Yas Long as You have FUN Doing Itou have FUN Doing Itou have FUN Doing Itou have FUN Doing Itou have FUN Doing It

BY TED TRESKA, GREEN BAY FWCO

You never know what you might catch when youcast a line. In this case, the shaking on the line

happened to be a few turtles, a goose and a bunch oftrout and bluegills that were landed by the 41 kidswho participated in the Little Lunkers fishing clinic inMadison, Wisconsin, on Sunday, May 20th. Green BayFish and Wildlife Conservation Office (FWCO) biolo-gist Ted Treska and two friends coordinated the clinic

in memory of a friend who passed away in 2011, as away to continue his legacy of teaching kids to fish andpassing on a love of the sport he loved so much.

Kids from 3 to 14 years old were taught about thebasics of fishing and boating by a number of volun-teers. Following the clinic, kids were encouraged totake their new skills and target the wily trout andpanfish that are stocked into the ponds on the Jennyand Kyle Preserve on the south side of Madison.

Treska and a colleague from the Wisconsin De-partment of Natural Resources (DNR) also explained

to the kids how their agencies sampled fish, the datathat they collect from those fish, and how that datagets used. While informative, talk about data pales incomparison with the opportunity to pluck foam fishfrom a gillnet or pretend to be a fish and see how itfeels to be caught in a fyke net, both of which werebig hits with the kids. Despite the early summer heat,a number of kids also donned float coats, rubber bootsand rain pants in an effort to dress the part of abiologist.

As most anglers will attest, the knot is one of themost important components of successfully landing afish, and one station focused on the common knotsused in fishing and boating. A local DNR wardenshowed kids the proper ways to stay safe on thewater, along with how to be a responsible in the out-of-doors. Veteran anglers worked with participantson how to cast basic spincast fishing equipment, animportant aspect as all of the new anglers were givena new rod and reel combo to take home. Youngstersalso had the opportunity to make fish print t-shirts totake home and show off their new hobby.

The kids all left with big smiles and a fair bit ofloot to help them on their way to becoming a fishingenthusiast. Foam lake trout, brook trout, and lakesturgeon; fish posters; and fishing and invasive spe-cies pamphlets were donated by the Fish and WildlifeService, while a local bait shop donated fishing tackleand bait. The Recreational Boating and FishingFoundation, an organization aimed at promotingfishing and boating and funded by Sportfish Restora-tion provided a rod and reel combo for each partici-pant, allowing them to jump right into fishing. Anumber of parents sent follow-up notes saying theirkids couldn’t wait to go fishing again and were puttingtheir new found skills and rods to work.

-RachelPiacenzaGreen Bay Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office biologist Ted Treska (rt.) andWisconsin Department of Natural Resources biologist Tom Cichosz talk toyoungsters about a day in the life of a fish biologist.

For further info about the Green Bay FWCO: http://www.fws.gov/midwest/Fisheries/library/StationFactSheets/greenbay.pdf

18 Fish Lines / July 2012 Tonservation BriefsTonservation BriefsTonservation BriefsTonservation BriefsTonservation Briefs

Conserving this Nation’s fish and otheraquatic resources cannot be successfulwithout the partnership of Tribes; theymanage or influence some of the mostimportant aquatic habitats both on andoff reservations. In addition, theFederal government and the Servicehave distinct and unique obligationstoward Tribes based on trustresponsibility, treaty provisions, andstatutory mandates. The FisheriesProgram plays an important role inproviding help and support to Tribes asthey exercise their sovereignty in themanagement of their fish and wildliferesources on more than 55 million acresof Federal Indian trust land and intreaty reserved areas.

Cooperation with Native Americans

TTTTTribal and Federal Collaborationribal and Federal Collaborationribal and Federal Collaborationribal and Federal Collaborationribal and Federal CollaborationOnce Again YOnce Again YOnce Again YOnce Again YOnce Again Yields Positive Resultsields Positive Resultsields Positive Resultsields Positive Resultsields Positive Results

BY KEVIN MANN, GREEN BAY FWCO

For many years, the Green Bay Fish and WildlifeConservation Office (FWCO) has maintained a

strong working relationship with the Little RiverBand of Ottawa Indians (LRBOI) in regards to lakesturgeon rehabilitation and streamside rearing. ThisMay, biologists from the Green Bay FWCO traveledto Manistee, Michigan (MI) to assist LRBOI withsturgeon egg and larva collections for their rearingfacility. This was just the latest example of the col-laboration between these two partners workingtogether toward common goals. Streamside rearing is used to help rehabilitate orreintroduce lake sturgeon populations into the riverwhere the mobile facility is located. The facilities aredesigned to protect young fish from predation, diseaseand starvation while conserving genetics and facilitat-ing imprinting to the river of their release. LRBOIbegan the first facility in 2004 on the Manistee Riverand since then they have successfully released fishback into the river each year and hope to continuewith that success in 2012 for the 9th consecutive year. Collecting eggs and larvae for rearing in theManistee River streamside rearing facility can attimes be a difficult and lengthy process. Many factorsaffect the willingness of fish to spawn, including watertemperature and river flow. LRBOI has been collect-ing eggs and larval sturgeon from the Manistee Riverfor their rearing facility and have been able to iden-tify two reliable spawning locations. A lot of effort isneeded to cover both sites and make sure everythingis properly sampled. Typically spawning occurs atthese locations multiple times during the spawning

season but riverconditions thisyear resulted inspawning at bothsites within avery shortwindow. During the2012 springspawning sea-son, biologistsKevin Mann and Rob Elliott from the Green BayFWCO traveled to Manistee, MI multiple times tohelp LRBOI staff in their efforts to sample bothspawning locations and to assist with the operation ofthe rearing trailer. They brought along a boat andenough equipment to supply a 2nd field crew so thateach site could be sampled simultaneously. At the endof the last week long sampling effort, Kevin Mannremained in Manistee through the Memorial Dayweekend to assist with rearing the larval sturgeonwhich were collected and brought into the streamsiderearing facility. As a former employee of LRBOI, itallowed Kevin to return to the facility where he hadreared lake sturgeon for many years before. Collaborations between these two agencies haveoccurred for years and will continue into the future. Itwas enjoyable to work on the Manistee River systemand, when called upon again, both Kevin and Rob lookforward to helping the Little River Band of OttawaIndians in the future.

For further info about the Green Bay FWCO: http://www.fws.gov/midwest/Fisheries/library/StationFactSheets/greenbay.pdf

19Fish Lines / July 2012Tonservation BriefsTonservation BriefsTonservation BriefsTonservation BriefsTonservation Briefs

Science and technology form thefoundation of successful fish and aquaticresource conservation and are used tostructure and implement monitoringand evaluation programs that arecritical to determine the success ofmanagement actions. The Service iscommitted to following establishedprinciples of sound science.

Leadership in Science and Technology

Iron River NFH DevelopsIron River NFH DevelopsIron River NFH DevelopsIron River NFH DevelopsIron River NFH DevelopsNew Fish TNew Fish TNew Fish TNew Fish TNew Fish Trailerrailerrailerrailerrailer

BY NICK STARZL, IRON RIVER NFH

The Iron River National Fish Hatchery (NFH)made great strides in terms of efficiency this year

with the development of a multi-use fish haulingtrailer, which saves time and improves overall fishhealth during transit on and off the hatchery. The IronRiver staff purchased the new aluminum trailer andtractor combo with the assistance of contractingspecialist Clark Bartelt’s expertise. Then, last winter,the Genoa NFH fabrication team, Jeff Lockington andDan Kumlin, worked together to outfit the trailerwith an existing 900 gallon fish transport tank. Theirefforts did not go unnoticed. The overall success ofthe project hinged on purchasing the right kind ofequipment and installing the tank’s life support sys-tems properly.

The new trailer was needed to provide two basicuses for the hatchery. First, it was intended to re-place an older Ford flatbed truck which was used tohaul loads of fish to their stocking locations. Secondly,the trailer set-up allowed Iron River staff to movefish throughout the hatchery more efficiently andincrease overall fish health after the transfer.

Prior to the new setup, hatchery staff would haveto spend hours erecting irrigation pipe from onebuilding to another each time they wanted to movefish out to the production building. This could be

tricky and timeconsuming, andwould need to betaken down andset-up again several times if the process occurs overseveral weeks. The new setup eliminates all of theirrigation pipe. The crew only needs to attach thetrailer to the new tractor via a 3-point ball hitch,drive into one building, load fish, and then move fish tothe intended rearing space.

The transport process can be stressful to fish. Theirrigation pipe system perpetually stressed fish, whichwould not feed aggressively for several days. Byhauling the fish in the new trailer, the fish can bemoved in a healthy environment using oxygen and asmall amount of salt to alleviate stress. A speciallydesigned rotating discharge pipe was also added forhatchery transport which was an idea borrowed fromthe Neosho NFH’s fish mover. Getting the last fishout of a tank can always be troublesome, but whenusing the tractor’s 3-point system, the trailer can begently raised in the front to allow easy fish removal.Many thanks go out to all individuals and stationswhich made this project successful. The fish at theIron River NFH thank you.

-USFWSThe new aluminum trailer and tractor combo provides a low stress option tomove fish between culture tanks at the Iron River National Fish Hatchery.

-USFWSStaff at the Iron River National Fish Hatchery transfer fish to a fish cultureraceway. The newly designed transfer tank system provides the ability to raiseand lower the front of the trailer with the tractor’s 3-point hitch, minimizing anyhandling stress to the fish.

For further info about the Iron River NFH: http://www.fws.gov/midwest/ironriver/

20 Fish Lines / July 2012 Tonservation BriefsTonservation BriefsTonservation BriefsTonservation BriefsTonservation Briefs

Loss and alteration of aquatic habitatsare principal factors in the decline ofnative fish and other aquatic resourcesand the loss of biodiversity. Seventypercent of the Nation’s rivers havealtered flows, and 50 percent ofwaterways fail to meet minimumbiological criteria.

Aquatic Habitat Conservation and Management

WWWWWild Rice on Radigan Flowageild Rice on Radigan Flowageild Rice on Radigan Flowageild Rice on Radigan Flowageild Rice on Radigan FlowageBY TED KOEHLER, ASHLAND FWCO

The Radigan Flowage in southwestern DouglasCounty, Wisconsin, is an expansive wild rice

wetland teaming with waterfowl and native song-birds. The water control structure which maintainsthe water levels that support over 300 hundred acresof wild rice and other emergent wetland types wasthreatened with failure due to age of the structure.The cost for restoring the water control structure toworking order was beyond the capabilities of theTown of Dairyland, who owns the structure and mostof the land around the flowage. In order to save thisimportant site for fish and wildlife, they sought assis-tance from many agencies and organizations. The Fishand Wildlife Service’s Partners for Fish and WildlifeProgram collaborated with the Town of Dairyland,U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Great LakesIndian Fish and Wildlife Commission to repair thewater control structure in order to protect the fishand wildlife habitat. Over the course of two years, thepartners worked together to secure funding for theproject, finalize engineering plans, and have theconstruction work completed.

The mainpart of therepair involvedthe replacementof two large lift gates that maintain water levels.Creating dry conditions in which to work and pourconcrete was no easy task. A temporary dam aroundthe worksite was built and water redirected throughthe use of temporary culverts and pumps. In the end,the water control structure was repaired and thewetland preserved.

Many different species of migratory waterfowlnest and raise broods on the Radigan flowage includ-ing trumpeter swans, Canada geese, wood ducks andmallards. Sandhill Cranes, red-winged blackbirds,sedge wrens, and a host of other migratory songbirdsalso nest and raise young at the site. Northern pike,bass, bluegills and many other fish call the flowagehome. The flowage has a small boat launch and isutilized by hunters, fisherman, wild rice gatherers andother recreational users. Maintaining this site’simportant wetland functions will benefit the area’sfish, wildlife and public recreationists for years tocome.

For further info about the Ashland FWCO: http://www.fws.gov/midwest/ashland/

21Fish Lines / July 2012Tonservation BriefsTonservation BriefsTonservation BriefsTonservation BriefsTonservation Briefs

The Fisheries Program relies on a broadrange of professionals to accomplish itsmission: biologists, managers,administrators, clerks, animalcaretakers, and maintenance workers.Without their skills and dedication, theFisheries Program cannot succeed.Employees must be trained, equippedand supported in order to perform theirjobs safely, often under demandingenvironmental conditions, and to keepcurrent with the constantly expandingscience of fish and aquatic resourcemanagement and conservation.

Workforce Management

Farewell and Good Luck to Jenny BaileyFarewell and Good Luck to Jenny BaileyFarewell and Good Luck to Jenny BaileyFarewell and Good Luck to Jenny BaileyFarewell and Good Luck to Jenny BaileyBY STAFF FROM GENOA NFH

The staff at Genoa National Fish Hatchery (NFH)wishes a fond farewell to Jenny Bailey, our lead

fish biologist. Jenny has accepted a biologist positionwith our sister station upriver, the La Crosse FishHealth Center (FHC). Her new job will entail work-ing with the new genetic capabilities that are being

used to trackAsian carpdistribution thatthe La Crosseoffice is nowworking with.Jenny came fromthe La CrosseFHC to theGenoa NFH in the spring of 2004 as a Student Tempo-rary Employment Program employee. She was con-verted to the Student Career Experience Program in2005 and then transferred to Pendills Creek NFH inthe Upper Peninsula of Michigan in 2006, and cameback to Genoa in 2007 as a fish biologist. She then waspromoted to lead biologist in 2010. Some of hercrowning achievements at Genoa were the develop-ment of a station Standard Operating ProcedureManual, development and maintenance of the station’sbio-security and HAACP plans, and her outstandingoutreach and Children and Nature program work bythe establishment of Genoa’s outdoor classroom and“Sense of Wonder” wetland. We are confident thatshe will do as good of a job for the Fish Health Centeras she has for the hatchery. Good luck Jen! We missyou already!

WWWWWelcome Aboardelcome Aboardelcome Aboardelcome Aboardelcome AboardBY MARK SEINGRAEBER, LA CROSSE FWCO

Kyle Mosel joined the La Crosse Fish and WildlifeConservation Office (FWCO) staff this month as

a biological science technician. A native of Orchard,Nebraska, he grew up near the Missouri River. Kylereceived a bachelor’s degree in Wildlife and FisheriesSciences from South Dakota State University (SDSU)and a master’s degree in Fisheries Science from theUniversity of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP). Forhis thesis project, Kyle evaluated yellow perch andblack crappie harvest in Wisconsin.

Kyle has assisted on research projects at SDSUand UWSP and has sampled biota as far west asYellowstone Lake (Wyoming), across the Nebraskasand hills and the prairie potholes of South Dakota,the Missouri River, Lake Michigan, Lake Winnebago,and smaller lakes in Wisconsin. He looks forward toworking on a variety of FWCO projects includingAsian carp surveillance, lake sturgeon restoration,

paddlefish monitoring, native mussel conservation andpublic outreach.

WELCOME ABOARD KYLE!

-USFWSJenny Bailey has done a fantastic job at the Genoa National Fish Hatchery,establishing an outdoor classroom and “Sense of Wonder” wetland.

For further info about the Genoa NFH: http://www.fws.gov/midwest/genoa/

-USFWSKyle Mosel joins the staff of the La Crosse Fish andWildlife Conservation Office.

For further info about the La Crosse FWCO: http://www.fws.gov/midwest/lacrossefisheries/

22 Fish Lines / July 2012

Midwest Region Fisheries Divisions

Fisheries DivisionsFisheries DivisionsFisheries DivisionsFisheries DivisionsFisheries Divisions

National Fish HatcheriesNational Fish HatcheriesNational Fish HatcheriesNational Fish HatcheriesNational Fish HatcheriesThe Region’s National Fish Hatcheries primarily focuson native fish restoration/rehabilitation by stockingfish and eggs, such as pallid and lake sturgeon and bydeveloping and maintaining brood stocks of selectedfish strains, such as lake trout and brook trout.Hatcheries also provide technical assistance to otheragencies, provide fish and eggs for research, stockrainbow trout in fulfillment of federal mitigationobligations and assist with recovery of native musselsand other native aquatic species.

Sea Lamprey Biological StationsSea Lamprey Biological StationsSea Lamprey Biological StationsSea Lamprey Biological StationsSea Lamprey Biological StationsThe Fish and Wildlife Service is the United StatesAgent for sea lamprey control, with two BiologicalStations assessing and managing sea lamprey popula-tions throughout the Great Lakes. The Great LakesFishery Commission administers the Sea LampreyManagement Program, with funding provided throughthe U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of theInterior, and Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

Fish and WFish and WFish and WFish and WFish and Wildlife Conservation Officesildlife Conservation Officesildlife Conservation Officesildlife Conservation Officesildlife Conservation OfficesFish and Wildlife Conservation Offices conduct assess-ments of fish populations to guide management deci-sions, perform key monitoring and control activitiesrelated to invasive, aquatic species; survey and evalu-ate aquatic habitats to identify restoration/rehabilita-tion opportunities; play a key role in targeting andimplementing native fish and habitat restorationprograms; work with private land owners, states,local governments and watershed organizations tocomplete aquatic habitat restoration projects underthe Service’s Partners for Fish and Wildlife and theGreat Lakes Coastal Programs; provide coordinationand technical assistance toward the management ofinterjurisdictional fisheries; maintain and operateseveral key interagency fisheries databases; provide

Fish Health CenterFish Health CenterFish Health CenterFish Health CenterFish Health CenterThe Fish Health Center provides specialized fishhealth evaluation and diagnostic services to federal,state and tribal hatcheries in the region; conductsextensive monitoring and evaluation of wild fishhealth; examines and certifies the health of captivehatchery stocks; and, performs a wide range of specialservices helping to coordinate fishery program officesand partner organizations.

technical expertise to other Service programs ad-dressing contaminants, endangered species, federalproject review and hydro-power operation and re-licensing; evaluate and manage fisheries on Servicelands; and, provide technical support to 38 NativeAmerican tribal governments and treaty authorities.

Midwest Region Fisheries Field Offices

23Fish Lines / July 2012Tontact InformationTontact InformationTontact InformationTontact InformationTontact Information

Midwest Region Fisheries TontactsMichiganAlpena Fish and Wildlife Conservation OfficeAlpena Fish and Wildlife Conservation OfficeAlpena Fish and Wildlife Conservation OfficeAlpena Fish and Wildlife Conservation OfficeAlpena Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office480 W480 W480 W480 W480 West Fletcher St.est Fletcher St.est Fletcher St.est Fletcher St.est Fletcher St.Alpena, MI 49707Alpena, MI 49707Alpena, MI 49707Alpena, MI 49707Alpena, MI 49707Scott Koproski (Scott Koproski (Scott Koproski (Scott Koproski (Scott Koproski (scott_koproski@fws.govscott_koproski@fws.govscott_koproski@fws.govscott_koproski@fws.govscott_koproski@fws.gov)))))989/356-3052989/356-3052989/356-3052989/356-3052989/356-3052Area of Responsibility (Michigan, Ohio)Area of Responsibility (Michigan, Ohio)Area of Responsibility (Michigan, Ohio)Area of Responsibility (Michigan, Ohio)Area of Responsibility (Michigan, Ohio)

Jordan River National Fish HatcheryJordan River National Fish HatcheryJordan River National Fish HatcheryJordan River National Fish HatcheryJordan River National Fish Hatchery6623 T6623 T6623 T6623 T6623 Turner Roadurner Roadurner Roadurner Roadurner RoadElmira, MI 49730Elmira, MI 49730Elmira, MI 49730Elmira, MI 49730Elmira, MI 49730Roger Gordon (Roger Gordon (Roger Gordon (Roger Gordon (Roger Gordon (roger_gordon@fws.govroger_gordon@fws.govroger_gordon@fws.govroger_gordon@fws.govroger_gordon@fws.gov)))))231/584-2461231/584-2461231/584-2461231/584-2461231/584-2461

Ludington Biological StationLudington Biological StationLudington Biological StationLudington Biological StationLudington Biological Station229 South Jebavy Drive229 South Jebavy Drive229 South Jebavy Drive229 South Jebavy Drive229 South Jebavy DriveLudington, MI 49431Ludington, MI 49431Ludington, MI 49431Ludington, MI 49431Ludington, MI 49431Jeff Slade (Jeff Slade (Jeff Slade (Jeff Slade (Jeff Slade (jeff_slade@fws.govjeff_slade@fws.govjeff_slade@fws.govjeff_slade@fws.govjeff_slade@fws.gov)))))231/845-6205231/845-6205231/845-6205231/845-6205231/845-6205

Marquette Biological StationMarquette Biological StationMarquette Biological StationMarquette Biological StationMarquette Biological Station3090 Wright Street3090 Wright Street3090 Wright Street3090 Wright Street3090 Wright StreetMarquette, MI 49855-9649Marquette, MI 49855-9649Marquette, MI 49855-9649Marquette, MI 49855-9649Marquette, MI 49855-9649Katherine Mullett (Katherine Mullett (Katherine Mullett (Katherine Mullett (Katherine Mullett (katherine_mullett@fws.govkatherine_mullett@fws.govkatherine_mullett@fws.govkatherine_mullett@fws.govkatherine_mullett@fws.gov)))))906/226-1235906/226-1235906/226-1235906/226-1235906/226-1235

Pendills Creek/Sullivan CreekPendills Creek/Sullivan CreekPendills Creek/Sullivan CreekPendills Creek/Sullivan CreekPendills Creek/Sullivan CreekNational Fish HatcheryNational Fish HatcheryNational Fish HatcheryNational Fish HatcheryNational Fish Hatchery21990 W21990 W21990 W21990 W21990 West Test Test Test Test Trout Lanerout Lanerout Lanerout Lanerout LaneBrimleyBrimleyBrimleyBrimleyBrimley, MI 49715, MI 49715, MI 49715, MI 49715, MI 49715Curt Friez Curt Friez Curt Friez Curt Friez Curt Friez (((((curt_friez@fws.govcurt_friez@fws.govcurt_friez@fws.govcurt_friez@fws.govcurt_friez@fws.gov)))))906/437-5231906/437-5231906/437-5231906/437-5231906/437-5231

MissouriColumbia Fish and Wildlife Conservation OfficeColumbia Fish and Wildlife Conservation OfficeColumbia Fish and Wildlife Conservation OfficeColumbia Fish and Wildlife Conservation OfficeColumbia Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office101 Park Deville Drive; Suite A101 Park Deville Drive; Suite A101 Park Deville Drive; Suite A101 Park Deville Drive; Suite A101 Park Deville Drive; Suite AColumbia, MO 65203Columbia, MO 65203Columbia, MO 65203Columbia, MO 65203Columbia, MO 65203TTTTTracy Hill (racy Hill (racy Hill (racy Hill (racy Hill (tracy_hill@fws.govtracy_hill@fws.govtracy_hill@fws.govtracy_hill@fws.govtracy_hill@fws.gov)))))573/234-2132573/234-2132573/234-2132573/234-2132573/234-2132Area of Responsibility (Iowa, Missouri)Area of Responsibility (Iowa, Missouri)Area of Responsibility (Iowa, Missouri)Area of Responsibility (Iowa, Missouri)Area of Responsibility (Iowa, Missouri)

Neosho National Fish HatcheryNeosho National Fish HatcheryNeosho National Fish HatcheryNeosho National Fish HatcheryNeosho National Fish HatcheryEast Park StreetEast Park StreetEast Park StreetEast Park StreetEast Park StreetNeosho, MO 64850Neosho, MO 64850Neosho, MO 64850Neosho, MO 64850Neosho, MO 64850David Hendrix (David Hendrix (David Hendrix (David Hendrix (David Hendrix (david_hendrix@fws.govdavid_hendrix@fws.govdavid_hendrix@fws.govdavid_hendrix@fws.govdavid_hendrix@fws.gov)))))417/451-0554417/451-0554417/451-0554417/451-0554417/451-0554

IllinoisCarterville Fish and Wildlife Conservation OfficeCarterville Fish and Wildlife Conservation OfficeCarterville Fish and Wildlife Conservation OfficeCarterville Fish and Wildlife Conservation OfficeCarterville Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office9053 Route 148, Suite A9053 Route 148, Suite A9053 Route 148, Suite A9053 Route 148, Suite A9053 Route 148, Suite AMarion, Illinois 62959Marion, Illinois 62959Marion, Illinois 62959Marion, Illinois 62959Marion, Illinois 62959Rob Simmonds (Rob Simmonds (Rob Simmonds (Rob Simmonds (Rob Simmonds (rob_simmonds@fws.govrob_simmonds@fws.govrob_simmonds@fws.govrob_simmonds@fws.govrob_simmonds@fws.gov)))))618/997-6869618/997-6869618/997-6869618/997-6869618/997-6869Area of Responsibility (Illinois, Indiana, Ohio)Area of Responsibility (Illinois, Indiana, Ohio)Area of Responsibility (Illinois, Indiana, Ohio)Area of Responsibility (Illinois, Indiana, Ohio)Area of Responsibility (Illinois, Indiana, Ohio)

WisconsinAshland Fish and Wildlife Conservation OfficeAshland Fish and Wildlife Conservation OfficeAshland Fish and Wildlife Conservation OfficeAshland Fish and Wildlife Conservation OfficeAshland Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office2800 Lake Shore Drive East2800 Lake Shore Drive East2800 Lake Shore Drive East2800 Lake Shore Drive East2800 Lake Shore Drive EastAshland, WI 54806Ashland, WI 54806Ashland, WI 54806Ashland, WI 54806Ashland, WI 54806Mark Brouder (Mark Brouder (Mark Brouder (Mark Brouder (Mark Brouder (mark_brouder@fws.govmark_brouder@fws.govmark_brouder@fws.govmark_brouder@fws.govmark_brouder@fws.gov)))))715/682-6185715/682-6185715/682-6185715/682-6185715/682-6185Area of Responsibility (Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin)Area of Responsibility (Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin)Area of Responsibility (Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin)Area of Responsibility (Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin)Area of Responsibility (Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin)

Genoa National Fish HatcheryGenoa National Fish HatcheryGenoa National Fish HatcheryGenoa National Fish HatcheryGenoa National Fish HatcheryS5689 State Road 35S5689 State Road 35S5689 State Road 35S5689 State Road 35S5689 State Road 35Genoa, WI 54632-8836Genoa, WI 54632-8836Genoa, WI 54632-8836Genoa, WI 54632-8836Genoa, WI 54632-8836Doug Aloisi (Doug Aloisi (Doug Aloisi (Doug Aloisi (Doug Aloisi (doug_aloisi@fws.govdoug_aloisi@fws.govdoug_aloisi@fws.govdoug_aloisi@fws.govdoug_aloisi@fws.gov)))))608/689-2605608/689-2605608/689-2605608/689-2605608/689-2605

Green Bay Fish and Wildlife Conservation OfficeGreen Bay Fish and Wildlife Conservation OfficeGreen Bay Fish and Wildlife Conservation OfficeGreen Bay Fish and Wildlife Conservation OfficeGreen Bay Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office2661 Scott T2661 Scott T2661 Scott T2661 Scott T2661 Scott Tower Driveower Driveower Driveower Driveower DriveNew Franken, WI 54229New Franken, WI 54229New Franken, WI 54229New Franken, WI 54229New Franken, WI 54229Mark Holey (Mark Holey (Mark Holey (Mark Holey (Mark Holey (mark_holey@fws.govmark_holey@fws.govmark_holey@fws.govmark_holey@fws.govmark_holey@fws.gov)))))920/866-1717920/866-1717920/866-1717920/866-1717920/866-1717Area of Responsibility (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin)Area of Responsibility (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin)Area of Responsibility (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin)Area of Responsibility (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin)Area of Responsibility (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin)

Iron River National Fish HatcheryIron River National Fish HatcheryIron River National Fish HatcheryIron River National Fish HatcheryIron River National Fish Hatchery10325 Fairview Road10325 Fairview Road10325 Fairview Road10325 Fairview Road10325 Fairview RoadIron RiverIron RiverIron RiverIron RiverIron River, WI 54847, WI 54847, WI 54847, WI 54847, WI 54847Dale Bast (Dale Bast (Dale Bast (Dale Bast (Dale Bast (dale_bast@fws.govdale_bast@fws.govdale_bast@fws.govdale_bast@fws.govdale_bast@fws.gov)))))715/372-8510715/372-8510715/372-8510715/372-8510715/372-8510

LaCrosse Fish Health CenterLaCrosse Fish Health CenterLaCrosse Fish Health CenterLaCrosse Fish Health CenterLaCrosse Fish Health Center555 Lester A555 Lester A555 Lester A555 Lester A555 Lester AvenuevenuevenuevenuevenueOnalaska, WI 54650Onalaska, WI 54650Onalaska, WI 54650Onalaska, WI 54650Onalaska, WI 54650Becky Lasee (Becky Lasee (Becky Lasee (Becky Lasee (Becky Lasee (becky_lasee@fws.govbecky_lasee@fws.govbecky_lasee@fws.govbecky_lasee@fws.govbecky_lasee@fws.gov)))))608/783-8441608/783-8441608/783-8441608/783-8441608/783-8441

LaCrosse Fish and Wildlife Conservation OfficeLaCrosse Fish and Wildlife Conservation OfficeLaCrosse Fish and Wildlife Conservation OfficeLaCrosse Fish and Wildlife Conservation OfficeLaCrosse Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office555 Lester A555 Lester A555 Lester A555 Lester A555 Lester AvenuevenuevenuevenuevenueOnalaska, WI 54650Onalaska, WI 54650Onalaska, WI 54650Onalaska, WI 54650Onalaska, WI 54650Pamella Thiel (Pamella Thiel (Pamella Thiel (Pamella Thiel (Pamella Thiel (pam_thiel@fws.govpam_thiel@fws.govpam_thiel@fws.govpam_thiel@fws.govpam_thiel@fws.gov)))))608/783-8431608/783-8431608/783-8431608/783-8431608/783-8431Area of Responsibility (Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin)Area of Responsibility (Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin)Area of Responsibility (Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin)Area of Responsibility (Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin)Area of Responsibility (Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin)

Todd Turner (todd_turner@fws.govtodd_turner@fws.govtodd_turner@fws.govtodd_turner@fws.govtodd_turner@fws.gov)

24 Fish Lines / July 2012 Fish TailsFish TailsFish TailsFish TailsFish Tails

Fish Tails“Fish Tails” includes articles that are included in field station reports that are not published in the “Conservation Briefs.” Thesearticles are categorized by focus area and includes the article title, author and field station. The website link, where the fullarticle can be viewed, is highlighted in blue type.

Partnerships and AccountabilityPartnerships and AccountabilityPartnerships and AccountabilityPartnerships and AccountabilityPartnerships and Accountability

Aquatic Species Conservation andAquatic Species Conservation andAquatic Species Conservation andAquatic Species Conservation andAquatic Species Conservation andManagementManagementManagementManagementManagement Pendills Creek NFH Starts a New Produc-Pendills Creek NFH Starts a New Produc-Pendills Creek NFH Starts a New Produc-Pendills Creek NFH Starts a New Produc-Pendills Creek NFH Starts a New Produc-tion Cycle with 2012 Ytion Cycle with 2012 Ytion Cycle with 2012 Ytion Cycle with 2012 Ytion Cycle with 2012 Year Classesear Classesear Classesear Classesear Classeso Crystal LeGault-Anderson, Pen dills

Creek NFH

Aquatic Invasive SpeciesAquatic Invasive SpeciesAquatic Invasive SpeciesAquatic Invasive SpeciesAquatic Invasive Species

Public UsePublic UsePublic UsePublic UsePublic Use First Graders from Viroqua ElementaryTour Genoa NFHo Jorge Buening, Genoa NFH

Cooperation with Native AmericansCooperation with Native AmericansCooperation with Native AmericansCooperation with Native AmericansCooperation with Native Americans

Leadership in ScienceLeadership in ScienceLeadership in ScienceLeadership in ScienceLeadership in Scienceand Tand Tand Tand Tand Technologyechnologyechnologyechnologyechnology

Aquatic Habitat Conservation andAquatic Habitat Conservation andAquatic Habitat Conservation andAquatic Habitat Conservation andAquatic Habitat Conservation andManagementManagementManagementManagementManagement

WWWWWorkforce Managementorkforce Managementorkforce Managementorkforce Managementorkforce Management

By Shannon Jones, Bay Mill News