2009 Stocking Update

[Don Wittenberger]

Everything continues to look great for the Class of 2009! Our babies passed their final viral exam with flying colors and are being moved out of quarantine to the rearing vessels. We'll not only have a surplus of fingerlings, which will allow enhanced stockings in waters needing more fish, but they're bigger than normal, too. WDFW plans to decide this fall where the extra fish will go.

[Rosann G]

Thanks for the update, Don. It sounds like things are going really good.
Rosann

[YellowBear]

Good morning Don,
I have a question for you, you stated in another post that Leech's are a carrier of both VHS & IAS.
I was just wondering were you got this info?

[Don Wittenberger]

The proposed leech ban was discussed by WDFW staff at the IFPAG meeting on June 28.

[YellowBear]

Don,
Can you tell me, who did the study on the Leech's to determine that they indeed do carry VHS?

[Don Wittenberger]

I don't know. Ask WDFW.

[Rich McVey]

Nice run down on the specifics of Merwin last night. I feel like I know it better than the lake I fish (Tapps).

I overheard a conversation last night between the WDFW guy and someone else, forgot who, about tagged muskie. The WDFW guy said the only fish he knew about being tagged were only in 1 lake and used wire tags but a couple people stated they have seen muskie with a broader tag on them that was covered in moss and crap.

Do you have any info on this and what the proper procedure would be if I caught one?

Thanks

[Don Wittenberger]

Thanks.

For identification purposes, the "WDFW guy" was Steve Jackson, manager of the warmwater program, and the fellow sitting with him was Jack Tipping, the retired WDFW biologist who started the tiger muskie program in Washington State back in 1988.

There is not supposed to be any private tagging of tiger muskies, because tagging fish requires training and skill, and improper tagging can injure the fish or lead to infection. WDFW has done radio tracking studies at several lakes, so there are wire-tagged fish in more than 1 lake. I don't have any information about other tags -- is it possible those folks were discussing fish caught in other states? Some of our members travel to the midwest.

[muskyhunter]

Heyah RaMcVey,
I was told by a person that fishes Mayfield that he had a Tiger on his line that had a red tag on its back. He did not get it close enough to see any numbers or marking on the tag. I talked to a friend who works in the WDFW. He told me that a biologist not of the WDFW tagged the fish unbeknownest to him. It had somehow gotten down below the dam and that person tagged it and released it back into Mayfield. My friend told me that if it the fish is caught to gently cut the tag. It could cause damage to the fish as stated by Don. Thats the only one that I have heard of that has a tag not tagged by the WDFW.