While prospects for smelt are not good, Ralph Tingley III, the biologist for the USGS Great Lakes Science Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan responsible for the annual assessment of Lake Michigan prey fish populations, found some hope on prey fish.
“Adult smelt were rare in the Chicago/northwestern Indiana area in both the USGS annual bottom trawl survey and the underwater acoustic survey,” he emailed. “Overall, adult smelt biomass remains very low throughout the lake. We did catch a modest number of young smelt in the bottom trawl survey, but these were mostly collected in northern Lake Michigan and we haven’t seen these sorts of catches result in increases in the overall number of adults in the lake in subsequent years.”
As to prey fish in general, he emailed, “Results of the underwater acoustic survey indicate a building up of prey fish biomass in Lake Michigan, mostly in the form of bloater and alewife. This year’s biomass estimate from the acoustic survey was one of the highest estimates since it began in 2004, second only to 2023.”
But he noted, it was “still far below what we observed in the 70s, 80s and 90s.” Many benthic prey fish, including natives like slimy sculpin, remain “in very low abundance.”
He added this tidbit, “I still fish for rainbow smelt on inland lakes in Michigan during the winter. It can be a lot of fun if you can find them!”
Turkey hunting
First season of spring turkey hunting opens Monday, April 14, in the north zone.
Waterfowl hunting
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is holding open houses for waterfowl hunters, all from 5:30 to 8 p.m. The Chicago area one is May 7 at James “Pate” Philip State Park in Bartlett. Statewide details are at dnr.illinois.gov/press-release.31106.html.
Wild things
On Monday, a confirmed morel find in Will County was as far north as any reported on the Facebook group Illinois Morel Mushrooms.
Stray cast
The difference between a blowhole and a strongman is like that of a sucker and a muskie.