Recent rains set stage for chinook run as DNR prepares for salmon open house events and tours
MADISON - Recent rains have pushed stream flows well above long-term
averages in major Lake Michigan tributaries including the Root River in
Racine and Kewaunee River in Kewaunee County, prompting anticipation for
this year's chinook salmon run.
As the mature salmon begin their final journey up the Root and Kewaunee
rivers and Strawberry Creek in Door County, Wisconsin Department of Natural
Resources fisheries staff will be on hand to collect the eggs and milt
needed for the next generation of fish for Lake Michigan stocking.
Visitors will be able to see the action firsthand at open house events at
the C.D. "Buzz" Besadny Anadromous Fish Facility
<http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/fishing/hatcheries/cdbesadny.html> on Saturday,
Oct. 1 and Root River Steelhead Facility
<http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/fishing/lakemichigan/rootriver.html> on Saturday,
Oct. 8. At the Strawberry Creek facility
<http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/fishing/hatcheries/strawberrycreek.html> , a key
source for chinook salmon eggs, visitors are welcome and able to observe
inside the fence when staff are present.
"The fall open house events provide an opportunity for community members to
learn firsthand about efforts to collect eggs for next year's stocking and
how we manage the Lake Michigan fishery," said Todd Kalish, DNR fisheries
bureau deputy director. "We look forward to welcoming visitors to Besadny,
Root River and Strawberry Creek."
The open house events at Besadny and Root River feature egg collection
demonstrations as well as fly casting and tying lessons, youth instruction
and opportunities to learn Lake Michigan fishing tips from expert anglers.
The Besadny open house features an opportunity to sponsor tagged fingerling
sturgeon and participate in the river release of these young fish.
Mike Baumgartner, who supervises the Besadny facility in Kewaunee, said
based on early returns and natural water flows, this year's run should
surpass last year's results.
"Visitors can walk along the banks of the river to view the chinook swimming
upstream and they can get a face-to-face look at the fish through underwater
windows," Baumgartner said. "Up above, windows overlooking the egg
collection area also offer a great view of the egg collection and processing
area. The open house event also features guided tours of the facility, fish
print t-shirt making and fishing lessons along with other activities.
Visitors can park in a lot down the road and walk or take the horse and
wagon ride to get here."
The open house events are free and open to the public with food and
beverages available from local groups as well as guided facility tours and
activities geared to youth. Trails and paths near the facilities offer
opportunities for families to explore the river environment and enjoy
wildlife and bird viewing.
The Oct. 1 event at the Besadny facility
<http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Fishing/outreach/BesadnyOpenHouse.html> in
Kewaunee runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The facility, on the Kewaunee River, was
built in 1989-1990 and collects eggs from chinook and coho salmon as well as
brown and steelhead or rainbow trout for rearing in a series of ponds. A
processing building featuring a lobby with displays and a public viewing
window was completed in 1996.
The Oct. 8 event at the Root River facility
<http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/fishing/lakemichigan/rootriveropenhouse.html> in
Racine also runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will feature facility tours,
hands-on activities for kids, knot tying, fly casting and more. The facility
was built in 1993-1994 along the Root River by DNR in partnership with the
Salmon Unlimited fishing club. It serves as a significant source of coho
salmon, steelhead and brown trout eggs and plays an important role in the
collection of biological data relating to overall fish health, growth rates,
migration patterns and other data. In addition, DNR crews collect
seeforellen brown trout from the river in November to ensure the ability to
stock this important strain in the future.
Nick Legler, DNR fisheries biologist specializing in chinook, said fisheries
staff members anticipate processing fish at the Strawberry Creek Chinook
Facility outside Sturgeon Bay, on Oct. 3, 6, 11, possibly 13 and subsequent
Mondays and Thursdays throughout the run. However, the dates are subject to
change depending on the run and numbers of fish.
The fall egg collection marks the start of DNR's propagation process. The
eggs will be hatched and raised at DNR facilities until they are ready for
stocking at about four months for chinook and at one and a half years for
coho, steelhead and brown trout. The different species are stocked according
to the stage in their lifecycle at which naturally reproducing fish would
normally leave the tributaries to live in Lake Michigan. That stage is much
earlier for chinook.
To learn more, visit dnr.wi.gov <http://dnr.wi.gov/> and search "fisheries
open house
<http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/fishing/hatcheries/hatcheryopenhouses.html> ."