The Muskegon River system offers some of Michigan's most diverse angling opportunities. In order to properly manage this resource, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has partnered with Huron Pines to carry out an angler survey program.
"The program's basic objective is to obtain a continuous record of sport catch, catch rates and catch composition for the Great Lakes while rotating efforts on inland lakes/streams from year to year," Tom Goniea, a fisheries biologist from the DNR stated.
The data collected by the creel clerks is submitted to the DNR and used to make fishery management decisions related to habitat management, fish stocking, dam removals, and fish passage at dams. This data is fundamental to managing fisheries with solid scientific data.
The DNR has been conducting similar surveys since the 1980s. However, a Creel census has been conducted on all segments of the Muskegon River except for the upper portion, from Meads Landing to Rogers Impoundment. This segment of the river makes up the largest portion and comprises approximately 123 miles.
Therefore, Huron Pines is working with the DNR to conduct interviews at access sites and boat launching ramps on the Upper Muskegon River. Huron Pines is providing oversight and is responsible for on the ground progress and completion of the project. These creel clerk positions started in late April 2008 and will last until the end of September.
2008 Creel Clerks
The three creel clerks have been conducting interviews and collecting critical data needed to help direct future management decisions to improve fisheries. Craig Cotterman is a graduate of Central Michigan University and is covering the stretch from Meads Landing to Dolph Bridge. Craig has lived in the Houghton Lake area since the mid 1970’s and is involved with numerous local organizations and conservation projects throughout the area.
Jason Lorenz is a recent graduate of Lake Superior State University with a Bachelor’s in Fisheries and Wildlife Management (Congratulations Jason!). Jason has had some great field experiences while attending Lake State including working as a Fisheries Technician to do field sampling of early life stages of lake sturgeon. He also worked as a Fish Hatchery Technician at the Aquatics Research Lab in Sault Ste. Marie. Jason is responsible for the stretch from Wolf Creek to Temple Campground.
Scott Walrath is a student at Ferris State University with a major in Biology. Scott is an avid backpacker, fisherman, and has been involved with related course work and studies including studying river and impounded freshwater environments to determine differences and causes of pollution and morphological variances in local insect populations. Scott is covering the lower stretch from M-115 Bridge down to Paris.
The information collected by the creel clerks is very important and we appreciate their hard work and dedication to this project.
For more information on this project, please contact Eric Nelson, eric@huronpines.org.
The Department of Natural Resources has conducted creel census on all other segments of the Muskegon River Watershed including Higgins Lake (2001-2002), Houghton Lake (2001-2002), Hardy Impoundment (2006), Croton Impoundment (2007), the Muskegon River from Croton Impoundment to Muskegon Lake (1999-2005), and Muskegon Lake (2002).
