Unoffical Results from 8/25/17 sturgeon tagging

Here’s the brief unofficial run down of today Sturgeon Round Up (MN DNR Lake Sturgeon tagging event) on Pool 4 of the Mississippi River.

39 total fish tagged
3 Shovelnose Sturgeon
36 Lake Sturgeon (I believe 3 were tagged with 10 year acoustic transmitters)

We had a great turnout. I counted 16 boat early and there were at least 20 boats later on with some leaving and other coming.
I know I didn’t get all the anglers out there but I did my best!

Special honors go to

Dennis Steele Big fish @ 57+ inches (photos to follow)

Chris Tuckner in the Kruger Farms boat with (last I heard) 13 Sturgeon tagged

Andy with two 55″ LS tagged by the DNR.

Final counts aren’t in but there were about 5 fish over 50″ landed.

Channels were going well for some boats too. Notably Andy had and 18 pound channel released.

Without the volunteers there would be many DNR hours spent catching over 60 fish in the two days you guys helped.

The Sturgeon thank you
and I thank you!

I have to shrink the photos I have so I’ll be posting them Sunday.

By looking closely towards the back of the fish the DNR is holding, you’ll see and orange thread.
This is a marker that tells us there is an acoustic transmitter placed in this fish.

The picture of the float is an acoustic receiver. It’s been picking up “pings” to tagged fish in this area to the tune of 1000 per week.

It told the DNR that there’s a walleye from the St Croix River swimming in the area along with a 60+” Lake Sturgeon. Now we’re hoping to see a bunch of pings from the sturgeon that were implanted on Friday. Only 1 ping from a fish as it drifts down stream would not be a good sign.

That’s Dan with his personal best LS at 55″. Dan might still be wearing has badge of honor.

The slimed PFD!

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Some of the boaters…

and the DNR picking up another Sturgeon from Chris Tuckner in the Kruger Farm boat.
Tuck set the record for the most LS caught at 13.

Sorry for the dups…

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Here’s the only tagged fish caught.

It would have been a bad thing had most of the fish had tags. That would mean we have a low population in the area. The more fish that are caught without tags would indicate a larger population.

Mark’s first tagged fish.

On a side note, please leave the tags in the sturgeon on less it’s dead or you’re planning on harvesting the fish (in season and in an area open to harvest).

Every time a tagged fish is reported to the DNR it provides valuable info that can be used to help manage these gentle giants. They won’t help anyone in your dresser draw.

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More

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Few more

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Few more…

There was talk about holding more round ups next year and some suggested a St Croix River Round up which we did back in 2006 or ’07. We’ll need to see what the DNR has in mind.

Please keep in mind the only harm that will come to these fish will be from the handling by people. If you see someone holding these fish by the gill plates politely inform them of the best way to hold a large fish. If a photo is posted on line, best to send them a polite private message.

Our sturgeon population will only rebound if we take care of the fish we have now. I know everyone wants their grand kids to be able to battle a fish like the mighty Lake Sturgeon!

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Outstanding job guys!! I’m surprised at the number of people who turned out for this. Hope the DNR is appreciative and this provides more data to help the fishery.

You guys give yourselves a big hand!!

Brian Klawitter wrote:

Dennis Steele Big fish @ 57+ inches (photos to follow)

Wow, there’s a name I haven’t heard in a while!

Great job, guys! Thanks BK for the on the water report.

-J.

Ralph Wiggum wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Brian Klawitter wrote:</div>
Dennis Steele Big fish @ 57+ inches (photos to follow)

Wow, there’s a name I haven’t heard in a while!

He’s still a “fish head”.

Our boat just got the one 55″. But we did get ( or I did before the other two came) 2 18# channels, as well as others.

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Thanks Andy.