With the first four smallmouth bass dubbed Jake and Elwood, Frank Lloyd Wright and Jane Addams, I have high hopes for the Illinois Natural History Survey study about smallmouth movement on southern Lake Michigan and in the Calumet.
Even early on, fascinating tidbits come. That’s what Charlie Roswell, assistant research scientist for aquatic ecology for the INHS, outlined Thursday at the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant’s Lake Michigan fisheries meeting in Wilmette.
Fifty smallmouth bass were tagged (28 from three tournaments at East Chicago Marina in Indiana, 22 from two tournaments at Waterfront Marine in suburban Burnham) between August and October. The fish came from tournaments of the Cal Sag Bass Anglers, Big Lake Bass Anglers and Angler’s Choice.
The smallmouth were fitted with acoustic transmitters. Nine stationary receivers were set in the Calumet and nine in southern Lake Michigan. But transmitters also can be detected by the GLATOS network of receivers around the Great Lakes. Fish potentially could be detected far from home.
Jake was the first smallmouth fitted with a transmitter at East Chicago. Elwood, the second tagged, eventually swam off the receiving map. Frank Lloyd Wright was a homebody, hanging around East Chicago. Jane Addams went all the way to Calumet Harbor and back and forth.
Roswell said it took an average of 5.3 days for fish to leave East Chicago.
‘‘None of Lake Michigan fish swam into the river,’’ he said. ‘‘Most went to the east toward Gary, [and] smaller numbers went to Calumet Harbor.’’
Calumet smallmouth took an average of 8.6 days to leave Waterfront Marine.
‘‘None of the Calumet fish were detected in Lake Michigan through mid-November,’’ Roswell said.
About 80% of the Calumet fish passed through the O’Brien Lock and Dam.
‘‘As we have those tags out there, we will have some interesting patterns,’’ Roswell said.
The transmitters have a life span of three-plus years.
‘‘I am really excited to see what happens through the spring as the fish move around to look for spawning locations,’’ Roswell said.
There are plans to add receivers around Chicago, Waukegan and Winthrop Harbor and to tag fish around Waukegan/North Point Marina.
Surprises included detecting three sturgeon (two from Michigan, one from Wisconsin) and a largemouth bass from the Chicago River study led by the Shedd.
Wild things
I’m betting this weekend will be big for morel mushrooms.
Illinois hunting
Turkey hunting opened Monday in the north zone.
Stray cast
As somebody who originated where a much-hyped invasive lager comes from, I highly recommend sticking with native brews.