{"id":124884,"date":"2016-01-17T13:37:56","date_gmt":"2016-01-17T13:37:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/muskies.kracmedia.com\/the-lake-simcoe-muskellunge-restoration-project\/"},"modified":"2016-01-17T13:37:56","modified_gmt":"2016-01-17T13:37:56","slug":"the-lake-simcoe-muskellunge-restoration-project","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/muskies.kracmedia.com\/fr\/the-lake-simcoe-muskellunge-restoration-project\/","title":{"rendered":"The Lake Simcoe Muskellunge Restoration Project"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Muskellunge (Esox masquinongy<\/em>; “muskie”) are native to Lake Simcoe and were once quite common. \u00a0Lake Simcoe had a commercial fishery for muskie in the 1800s, which closed in 1904. \u00a0The muskie population started to decline in the 1930s due to a number of factors, including harvest, habitat loss, and changes to the Lake Simcoe fish communities. \u00a0The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and forestry (MNRF) socked the lake with fry and fingerlings during 1936 0 1969. \u00a0The brood stock was taken from the Kawartha Lakes and this introduction proved unsuccessful, possibly because this strain was not able to co-exist with northern pike. \u00a0 The recreational fishery for muskie on Lakes Simcoe and Couchiching closed in 2005.<\/p>\n

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Brent Shirley from MNRF Midhurst District (left) and Wil Wegman from MNRF Aurora District with one of the muskie from Gloucester pool used for egg collections in the spring of 2015<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By the early 2000s, a feasibility study and a habitat inventory determined that restoring the native muskie fishery to Lake Simcoe was a feasible fisheries management goal. \u00a0The study noted that efforts towards habitat restoration include broader benefits for the entire aquatic community.<\/p>\n

Why Stock Muskie?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Muskie are a highly prized game fish. \u00a0They were once a significant member of the native fish community in Lake Simcoe and the goal is to make that happen once again. \u00a0The objective of the Lake Simcoe Muskellunge Restoration Project (LSMRP) is to re-establish a self-sustaining muskie population which does not rely on continuous stocking efforts. \u00a0 To reach this objective, MNRF is stocking muskie to facilitate natural reproduction, evaluating the muskie population in Lake Simcoe through time, and enhancing muskie spawning and nursery habitats. \u00a0The Georgian Bay strain, which utilize similar spawning habitats and co-exist with northern pike, is seen to be a goo fit for Lake Simcoe stocking. \u00a0Although other populations around Lake Simcoe were tested for genetics, Gloucester Pool (near Port Severn) was the lake chosen as the most feasible source of Georgian Bay strain muskie for egg collections.<\/p>\n

Muskie Stocking<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The LSMRP began in 2005 and continues through to 2015 with support of key partners including Muskies Canada, Fleming College, Orillia Fish and Game Club and the Ontario Federation of anglers and Hunters. \u00a0During the fall of 2015, approximately 4,000 muskie were stocked; more than in any other year previously. \u00a0this brings the total number of young, hatchery-raised muskie fall fingerlings into Lake Simcoe through the LSMRP at 15,673. \u00a0Locations for the 2015 stocking included: Barnstable Bay, Talbot River, Talbot River mouth area, south side of Georgina Island, Cook’s Bay east and Cook’s Bay west.<\/p>\n

Raising Muskie<\/h2>\n

Typically, there are two hatcheries where the fish are raised -= Fleming College in Lindsay and MNRF’s Blue Jay Creek on Manitoulin Island. \u00a0However, one of the key reasons we were able to stock more muskie in 2015 was the addition of MNRF’s Harwood Fish Culture Station. \u00a0Staff here offered to raise 700 surplus muskies (from Fleming College) and they did a great job raising these fish which contributed to the overall total stocked. \u00a0All three hatcheries experienced excellent success. \u00a0Muskie raised in these hatcheries are marked with Coded-Wire Tags. \u00a0If encountered during monitoring efforts, these Lake Simcoe muskie can be scanned with a device by MNRF staff that tells them if the muskie is stocked or or natural origin. \u00a0Genetic tests will also confirm their origin.<\/p>\n

2015 Egg Collection<\/h2>\n

The spring eff collection on Gloucester Pool in 2015 was extremely successful. \u00a0Staff from MNRG’s Aurora and Midhurst Districts (both are responsible for managing Lake Simcoe) combined efforts once again to set six trap nets to capture muskie for the egg collection. \u00a0Staff captured 11 muskies and enough eggs were collected (~60,000 eggs) to fill both hatcheries to capacity. \u00a0All muskie captured in the nets are quickly sampled (measured, scales and spine taken for aging) and then tagged before they are carefully live released.<\/p>\n

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Of course other species of fish are captured in the trap nets as well and staff record\u00a0their numbers before they are live released. Below are the results of the bi-catch for\u00a0both 2014 and 2015<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Species<\/strong><\/td>\n2014<\/strong><\/td>\n2015<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Yellow Perch<\/td>\n71<\/td>\n21<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Rock Bass<\/td>\n77<\/td>\n199<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pumpkinseed Sunfish<\/td>\n221<\/td>\n239<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bluegill Sunfish<\/td>\n6<\/td>\n22<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Black Crappie<\/td>\n198<\/td>\n210<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Northern Pike<\/td>\n150<\/td>\n249<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Longnosed Gar<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n57<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Common Carp<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Brown Bullhead<\/td>\n1,195<\/td>\n1,106<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Channel Catfish<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n14<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Smallmouth Bass<\/td>\n83<\/td>\n132<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Largemouth Bass<\/td>\n115<\/td>\n216<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Walleye<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n216<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Round Goby<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
White Sucker<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Northern Map Turtle<\/td>\n12<\/td>\n26<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Stinkpot (Musk) Turtle<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bowfin<\/td>\n7<\/td>\n19<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Total<\/strong><\/td>\n2,050<\/strong><\/td>\n2,509<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Total 2,050 2,509<\/p>\n

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Muskies Canada began an Adopt A Muskie Program in 2015 that allows donors to pledge $20.00 to help pay for the expenses of raising these your fish.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

During the course of the year staff from all three hatcheries network regularly with one another, which helps maximize their efforts to raise healthy young muskie. \u00a0This year, Mark Newell, the manager of the Fleming Hatchery even developed a Facebook page set up for stakeholders and the public to follow the process in his hatchery of raising muskie from eggs to 7-12 inch fall fingerlings. \u00a0Muskies Canada began an Adopt A Muskie Program in 2015 that allows donors to pledge $20.00 to help pay for the expenses of raising these your fish. To learn how you can adopt your own muskie visit: \u00a0Adopt A Muskie<\/a><\/p>\n

Notables<\/h3>\n
    \n
  • Over the years, lessons learned from the hatcheries help build a strong science-based approach to wild muskie rearing for the Province<\/li>\n
  • Muskie eggs, feeder fish, and a small percentage of fingerlings are tested annually for diseases including Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS). Once again, all fish came back disease free in 2015<\/li>\n
  • In November, 2011 the Lake Simcoe Muskie Restoration Project was selected as the winner of the Canadian Fishing Hall of Fame, Conservation Award<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Lake Simcoe Muskie Monitoring<\/h2>\n

    MNRF has several ongoing monitoring and habitat enhancement programs in place through Aurora District and Lake Simcoe Fisheries Assessment Unit.<\/p>\n

    Prior to 2014, 1998 was the last year MNRF caught and sampled a muskie on Lake Simcoe. \u00a0In the spring of 2014 however, MNRF utilized an electro-fishing boat to target historical known spawning areas and captured, sampled, tagged and released five muskie. \u00a0DNA testing afterwards proved these fish were of Kawartha lakes strain – not the stocked Georgian Bay strain. \u00a0These individual fish likely came through the Trent System but were obviously thriving in Simcoe. \u00a0During the spring of 2015, three additional muskie were caught electro-fishing, but these to were of Kawartha origin.<\/p>\n

    Over time, MNRF has documented some anecdotal evidence of the occasional muskie catch from anglers who inadvertently caught (and released) muskie when targeting other species. \u00a0For example in 2015, a bass angler in Cook’s Bay caught and released a muskie. \u00a0This location is on the opposite end of the lake from where the Kawartha Lakes strain muskie were sampled. \u00a0Between this sighting and others that have been reported, there is a possibility that this elusive fish of the Lake Simcoe or Georgian Bay strain could be surviving in Lake Simcoe one again.<\/p>\n

    In 2016 MNRF staff and partners look forward to another successful year for the Lake\u00a0Simcoe Muskie Restoration Program. Until then a BIG thank you to all the\u00a0organizations who have supported this project over the years:<\/p>\n

    \u2022 Muskies Canada<\/p>\n

    \u2022 Fleming College<\/p>\n

    \u2022 Orillia Fish and Game Club<\/p>\n

    \u2022 Twin Lakes Conservation Club<\/p>\n

    \u2022 Lafontaine Fish and Game Club<\/p>\n

    \u2022 North Simcoe Hunters and Anglers<\/p>\n

    \u2022 Georgian Bay Hunters and Anglers<\/p>\n

    \u2022 Georgian Bay Bassmasters<\/p>\n

    \u2022 Gloucester Pool Cottage Association<\/p>\n

    \u2022 The Sexsmith family<\/p>\n

    \u2022 Ontario Streams<\/p>\n

    \u2022 Toronto Region Conservation Authority<\/p>\n

    \u2022 Department of Fisheries and Oceans<\/p>\n

    \u2022 Aurora Bassmasters<\/p>\n

    \u2022 Environment Canada<\/p>\n

    \u2022 Wisconsin DNR<\/p>\n

    \u2022 Midhurst District (MNRF)<\/p>\n

    \u2022 Aurora District (MNRF)<\/p>\n

    \u2022 Upper Great Lakes Management Unit (MNRF)<\/p>\n

    \u2022 MNRF Fish Policy Section<\/p>\n

    \u2022 Blue Jay Creek Fish Hatchery (MNRF)<\/p>\n

    \u2022 Harwood Fish Culture Station (MNRF)<\/p>\n

    \u2022 Lake Simcoe Fisheries Assessment Unit (MNRF)<\/p>\n

    \u2022 \u2026AND OTHERS!<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Introduction Muskellunge (Esox masquinongy; “muskie”) are native to Lake Simcoe and were once quite common. \u00a0Lake Simcoe had a commercial fishery for muskie in the 1800s, which closed in 1904. \u00a0The muskie population started to decline in the 1930s due to a number of factors, including harvest, habitat loss, and changes to the Lake Simcoe […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[63,67,71],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-124884","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-biology","category-habitat-restoration-restocking","category-lake-simcoe"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/muskies.kracmedia.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/124884","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/muskies.kracmedia.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/muskies.kracmedia.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/muskies.kracmedia.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/muskies.kracmedia.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=124884"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/muskies.kracmedia.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/124884\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/muskies.kracmedia.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=124884"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/muskies.kracmedia.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=124884"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/muskies.kracmedia.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=124884"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}