Study 427. Measurement of sportfishing harvest in lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, and Erie.

• Objective: To obtain a continuous record of sport catch, catch rates, and catch composition in the Great Lakes (Superior, Michigan, and Huron) and anadromous fisheries.
• Funding Source: Federal Aid (Resource Inventory Group)
• Contact: Dr. Sarah Thayer, Charlevoix Fisheries Research Station, 231-547-2914, thayersa@michigan.gov

Study 462. Charter boat catch and effort from the Michigan waters of the Great Lakes.

• Objective: To obtain a continuous annual record of the fishing effort as well as number, type, and location of fish caught by charter boats in Michigan waters of the Great Lakes.
• Funding Source: Federal Aid (Resource Inventory Group)
• Contact: Dr. Sarah Thayer, Charlevoix Fisheries Research Station, 231-547-2914, thayersa@michigan.gov

Study 464. Coded-wire tag and oxytetracycline marking of salmonines in the Great Lakes and tributary streams and database management for tagged fish returns and weir and survey data.

• Objectives: To coded-wire tag and adipose fin clip experimental lots of fish at state fish hatcheries. To design, develop, and manage data bases for research studies which utilize coded-wire tags (CWT).
• Funding Source: Federal Aid (Experiments, Evaluations, Model Development Group)
• Contact: David F. Clapp, Charlevoix Fisheries Research Station, 231-547-2914, clappd@michigan.gov

Study 484. Population dynamics of yellow perch stocks in Michigan waters of Lake Michigan.

• Objectives: (1) To summarize pertinent existing data from state, federal, commercial, sport, university, and private sources; (2) to conduct assessment netting to establish baseline data and determine whether lack of recruitment and declining yellow perch numbers are problems in Michigan waters; (3) to determine whether factors of fish health might be affecting abundance or recruitment of yellow perch; (4) to reestablish a program of biological data collection for sport-caught yellow perch; (5) to investigate discreteness of yellow perch populations in Lake Michigan; and (6) to develop information and mathematical models from these data that will allow managers to predict, with some predetermined level of certainty, the outcome of various yellow perch management strategies.
• Funding Source: Federal Aid (Resource Inventory Group)
• Contact: Dave Clapp, Charlevoix Fisheries Research Station, 231-547-2914, clappd@michigan.gov

Study 485. Assessment of chinook salmon and coho salmon populations and their prey in Eastern Lake Michigan.

• Objective: To assess the health of chinook and coho salmon stocks in Lake Michigan through continuous monitoring of distribution, relative abundance, growth, mortality, diet composition, and clinical indicators of disease.
• Funding Source: Federal Aid (Resource Inventory Group)
• Contact: Randy Claramunt, Charlevoix Fisheries Research Station, 231-547-2914, claramur@michigan.gov

Study 486. Assessment of lake trout populations in Michigan's waters of Lake Michigan.

• Objectives: To determine the population structure, health, and reproductive success of lake trout in Michigan's waters of eastern Lake Michigan. To determine if spawning adults are present at the three stocked spawning reefs within the northern refuge (NGS Crew) and at traditional spawning reefs that lie within (Big Reef) and outside (Fisherman's Island and Dahlia Shoals) the boundaries of the northern refuge.
• Funding Source: Federal Aid (Resource Inventory Group)
• Contact: Jory Jonas, Charlevoix Fisheries Research Station, 231-547-2914, jonasj@michigan.gov

Study 487. Performance, survival and production of steelhead strains in tributaries of Lake Michigan.

• Objectives: To evaluate strain performance of winter (Michigan) and summer (Skamania) strains of steelhead. To evaluate the performance of steelhead in six rivers, Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. To evaluate returns of steelhead from upstream and downstream plants in rivers. To describe year-to-year variation in growth and survival of steelhead populations in Michigan. To define the quality condition and health of different strains and batches of hatchery produced fish.
• Funding Source: Federal Aid (Experiments, Evaluations, Model Development Group)
• Contact: Jory Jonas, Charlevoix Fisheries Research Station, 231-547-2914, jonasj@michigan.gov

Study 513. Evaluation of returns of salmonids to weirs in Michigan's waters of the Great Lakes.

• Objectives: (1) To annually monitor and record returns of chinook salmon, coho salmon, and steelhead trout to Michigan weir operation facilities. (2) To mark chinook salmon, coho salmon, and steelhead trout at index sites and provide annual estimates of size at age. (3) To collect data and report on contracted salmon harvest operations. (4) To provide annual data summaries of weir returns to be used in Management Unit reports, GLFC reports, MDNR web site updates, and for distribution to interested researchers and the public.
• Funding Source: Federal Aid (Resource Inventory Group)
• Contact: David F. Clapp, Charlevoix Fisheries Research Station, 231-547-2914, clappd@michigan.gov

Study 692. Influence of total length and condition at stocking on chinook salmon survival and time at large.

• Objectives: 1) To evaluate the influence of the total length of stocked chinook salmon on post-stocking survival. 2) To evaluate the influence of total length of chinook salmon at stocking on the age and size of fish returning to spawn. 3) To evaluate the cost per return of small verses large stocked chinook salmon. 4) To evaluate the influence of condition on survival of chinook salmon stocked at the same size. 5) To evaluate the influences of high and low condition on the return size and age of chinook salmon stocked at similar sizes. 6) To determine the cost per return of chinook salmon at two condition levels.
• unding Source: Federal Aid (Experiments, Evaluations, Model Development Group)
• Contact: Jory Jonas, Charlevoix Fisheries Research Station, 231-547-2914, (jonasj@michigan.gov)

Effects of Egg and Fry Predators on Lake Trout Recruitment in Lake Michigan. Fitzsimons, J. D., J. E. Marsden, J. Jonas (jonasj@michigan.gov) and R. Claramunt. 2000. A three-year study co-funded by the Great Lakes Fishery Trust and the Great Lakes Fishery Commission.

Success of Current Strategies to Recolonize Lake Trout Spawning Reefs in Northern Lake Michigan. Holey, M., R. Claramunt (claramur@michigan.gov), M. Ebener, J. Jonas, G. Fleischer, E. Olsen and M. Toneys. 1999. A three-year study funded by the Great Lakes Fishery Trust.

Great Lakes Fish Condition/Health Monitoring Methodologies Workshop. Wright, G., J. Jonas (jonasj@michigan.gov), and S. Marquenski. 2001. Funded by the Great Lakes Fishery Commission-Coordination Activities Program.

A Modeling Approach to Understanding Potential Effects of double-crested Cormorants on Simulated Great Lakes Fish Populations. Gillingham, Seefelt, and Jonas (jonasj@michigan.gov). Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act.

Lake-wide mark and recapture investigation of Lake Michigan yellow perch: evaluation of inter-state movements, spawning site fidelity, spawning population abundance, and sources of mortality. Great Lakes Fishery Commission, J. Dettmers and D. Clapp (clappd@michigan.gov) co-PIs. March 2002 - February 2004.

Development of an age-structured yellow perch population model for Lake Michigan. Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act, J. Bence and D. Clapp (clappd@michigan.gov) co-PIs. August 2000 - December 2003.

Evaluation of trends in growth and relative abundance of Lake Whitefish in Lake Michigan. R.M. Claramunt (claramur@michigan.gov), D. Clapp, Dr. Tracy Galarowicz. Game and Fish Fund.

Research and technical reports generated from many of these studies are available on the internet, at the Fisheries Division library.