Friday, January 1, 2010

Happy New Year & Best of Luck in 2010....!


While the temps may have put a damper on our usual lake trout fishing expedition, my thoughts are still on this species.............
You may recall the study that the MNR had started this spring by radio tagging some trout and setting up underwater tracking stations at a number of narrows on Eagle Lake. This map shows some very preliminary, but interesting , trout movements. The most interesting is the fish named "Christina" (blue line) who travelled from the main body and back to the West Arm (passing 4 tracking stations) from May 30 to June 1. Now that is a lot of miles over a few days!
"Carlos" (red line) hung out by the tracking station at the North end of Portage Bay on and off from May 23rd- 24th.
"Joe" (yellow line) left Vermilion Bay for the West Arm on June 5th.
"Fernando" (green line) followed Joe on June 12th.
I have to assume the location of where these fish were captured is depicted by the large round dot. Seems others in Portage Bay did not move past the tracking points.
The tracking continues on over this winter and into the spring and summer.

6 comments:

  1. Gord,

    This is very interesting information. I never would have guessed this kind of mobility in a short amount of time. Have you fished Portage bay in the spring for trout?

    Andy

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  2. Great stuff Gord. Do you have any information on how mature the fish were that they were tracking?
    Remember many years ago when Larry Ramsell was involved in a tracking project for muskies? My son and I were fishing with him one day when he had the receiver along. We actually spent a good part of the day trolling along while monitoring the progress of a certain fish. I was amazed at how far it was traveling and also how it's course mirrored previous trips.
    No guys, we didn't get ahead of it and cast.
    My best to all blogers. Happy New Year.

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  3. No, I haven't fished for trout in Portage Bay in the spring, mainly because I've had success closer to the lodge. It would be fun to try it once though, as I'm sure there is a resident population of trout that remains there year-round. The spring would be the easiest time to find a few trolling.

    Bill...I don't have info on the individual fish but I'm sure I will find out more info as time goes on...I'll be sure and post updates. I do remember Larry and the telemetry study he was involved in (we're dating ourselves!) I also remember the 28 inch size limit for muskie!

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  4. That Lake trout tracking is interesting stuff...
    I also am surprised at the distances these lake trout have traveled in such a short period of time.
    Would be interesting to see the trackings during the entire year to see where the movement of these fish are during periods of the time of year...
    Keep us posted Gord very interesting....
    28" size limit on muskies WOW Gord you must be old....HAHAHA!!!!

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  5. Gord,

    A 28" size limit for musky would be the equivelant of a 6" size limit on bull perch. Maybe the Perchmaster should be less selective this spring?

    Andy

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  6. Andy
    Why take out those dink perch when you have so many BULL PERCH in these waters.
    Besides when Gord has to clean those little guy's all he does is BITCH BITCH...

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