Tracking Study

Text Box: Muskellunge Study at Kinkaid Lake The Shawnee Muskie Hunters with the support of the Muskies, Inc. and Gander Mountain grant program have contributed $1,000 in 2004 to the Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Department of Fisheries and Illinois Aquaculture Center to conduct a Telemetry Project in an effort to better understand the effects of warmer waters and angling pressures on muskellunge on Kinkaid Lake. Southern Illinois’ Kinkaid Lake in Jackson County is located just a few miles north of Murphysboro. In the beautiful rolling hills and forested countryside, this man made reservoir which began in 1968 of approximately 2,750 acres and nearly 92 miles of irregular shorelines share areas of differing topographies. One can see glimpses of the north’s’ pine forests and rocky lakes, sandstone bluffs and tall rock walls lining shorelines like that of the Ozark’s, gorges which appear to have been cut by swiftly flowing river waters, and lakes of the plain states and flat lands with shorelines of forests and prairie grasses. All of the surrounding undeveloped lands are owned by the US Forest Service, the IDNR and the Kinkaid-Reed’s Creek Conservancy District. Water clarities range from muddy to the north and relatively clear in the south end of the lake. Maximum depth is about 70 feet and only about 10% of the lake is less than 10 feet. Varieties of weeds grow throughout the lake, stumps and standing timber remain mostly in the coves, fall downs occur due to erosion problems, and rocky outcrops, boulders and reefs are all available covers for many species of fish, including of course our favorite toothy critters. Proper management of the lake has resulted in a quality fishery with growing popularity among anglers. The minimum length limit restriction of 122 cm (48 inches) has improved the number of large Muskie being caught. A study is underway to better understand the effects of the unnatural habitat of the Muskie in southern reservoirs. Previous studies have been done on the natural habitat in their native northern waters, but the relatively new introduction of the species to southern impoundments has created a need for further information to successfully manage and propagate this highly valued sport fish. Due to thermal stratification, the warmer summer water temperatures of the southern reservoir create a different habitat than the well studied northern waters. Preferred oxygen content and temperature ranges can often conflict creating conditions of an unhealthy environment. Therefore, angling for musky during the summer months is discouraged due to hooking and handling stress, and resulting higher mortality rates. In an effort to better understand the effects of warmer waters and angling pressures on muskellunge, the Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Department of Fisheries and Illinois Aquaculture Center (hereafter called SIUC), and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) have joined forces to produce a study, “ Habitat Use of Muskellunge in Kinkaid Lake, Illinois “. Commonly referred to as the Telemetry Project, fish are raised at the IDNR’s Jake Wolfe Fish Hatchery and then freeze branded and tagged by SIUC’s researchers prior to the yearly stocking program. To be later studied, 1000 of the 2000 Muskie which were stocked in 2004 were PIT tagged (Passive Integrated Transponder) and all 2000 were freeze branded. In 2004 and 2005, the program includes collecting adult fish, 24 of which are then implanted with temperature sensitive ultrasonic transmitters which enable the researchers to later locate these fish. Objectives of this study include: to determine seasonal habitat use and activity, assess the impact of catch & release angling on habitat use and behavior, and to gain preliminary information on the growth rates and relative survival rates. After implantation of tags and the branding process is complete, the IDNR release the 2000 10 to 12 inch fingerlings at several locations throughout the lake. Spring trap netting by the IDNR, assisted by volunteers from groups such as Muskies, Inc. Chapter 28 (Shawnee Muskie Hunters), gathers information from the tagged fish on dispersal patterns, relative survival rates, growth and longevity rates. All Muskie collected are tagged by the dorsal fin with individually numbered external Floy Tags. Anyone catching a tagged Muskie is urged to contact Shawn Hirst (IDNR Fish Biologist) at 618-687-4546 with tag number, fish length and catch date. Please do not remove the tag! Fish collected and implanted with the temperature sensitive ultrasonic radio transmitters (with a life expectancy of approximately 3 years) are studied by attempting to locate each fish 3 times per week. Records are then taken of transmitter (fish) temperature along with information on the fish depth, dissolved oxygen content at varying depths, habitat information such as depth at locations, type of cover, boating activity, and coordinates of locations using GPS methods. In addition, attempts to capture the fish implanted with radio transmitters using conventional angling methods during the spring, summer, and fall seasons will be to monitor the effects of catch & release practices on the fishes activity and habitat by locating the fish hourly for 24 hours after its release, and after to be tracked during the routine weekly inspections. During the same 24 hour period, radio tagged fish in the same area, that anglers were unable to catch, will also be monitored to compare mortality rates and other noted variables between the two groups. With continued study, successful management, educating anglers to proper catch & release practices, Muskie fishing in Kinkaid Lake may well prove to be one of the best places to catch that trophy fish. The efforts and contributions made by the various institutions, government, and organizations have already provided anglers with one heck of a place to fish. It is only fitting that individuals working towards this goal should be acknowledged and our gratitude bestowed upon them, but the list would be long. We would however like to mention a few. Shawn Hirst and Steve Pallo with the IDNR, Robert Neumann, Ron Brooks and Patrick Beck of SIUC (Mr. Neumann now on the IN-FISHERMAN staff but was instrumental in the project), to the members of Muskies, Inc. whose membership dues helped with contributions and those who volunteered for work on the water, to those members of the Kinkaid Area Watershed Project (KAWP, Inc.) who work towards ending lake erosion, and finally the members of the Shawnee Muskie Hunters, Chapter of MI who donate their time and money towards a cleaner lake with a yearly clean up program, and do volunteer work with the IDNR. Last, but certainly not least, we would like to thank Gander Mountain for their generous donations to the grant programs, and to Muskies, Inc. and Shawnee Muskie Hunters Chapter of Muskies, Inc. Whose matching funds have now contributed $2,000 in the past two years to Kinkaid Lake projects. We thank you all for providing us anglers a wonderful recreational resource. Submitted on behalf of the Shawnee Muskie Hunters Chapter 28 of Muskies, Inc. Steve Burian Manuel Santa Cruz

Text Box: Catch - Photo - Release