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Member
Posts: 1314
Location: Menasha, WI | I just read a very informative and interesting article in the May issue of Wisconsin Outdoor Journal about the rise and fall of Winnebago's sauger population. Apparently the sauger population was non-existant until they built a canal linking the Fox and the Wisconsin rivers. The population flourished until the canal was closed and the water started to clear up. Sounds like they've under taken a fairly aggressive stocking program to find out if they can revive the population. I'm sure this is all probably common knowledge to many of you here, but I learned a lot. Any body else see the article? |
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Member
Posts: 874
Location: Neenah, WI | Hey Bud, how ya doin'? I haven't seen the article but the Sauger situation sure has dimmed over the last few years. I know you're a Minnesota guy and maybe you're not quite as informed as some of us regular cheesheads. They were so easy to catch that between fishing (and violating) and the silting over of their spawning areas the population took a bad nosedive. Thanks to Walleyes for Tomorrow and their efforts to bring them back, there is hope on the horizon. I'll have to check that article out. Thanks for the heads up. |
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I am very much hoping this sauger stocking program works. Well remember the days when these tasty creatures were the featured dish of us east shore trollers! |
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Member
Posts: 1314
Location: Menasha, WI | Yeah, the article also discussed overfishing and sedimentaion as contributors to the decline as well as the efforts of WFT in the restocking plan. That's why I found the article so interesting, because the stroy of the "Bago sauger is fairly complex. My first post glossed over many of the details so thanks for filling them in guys. I agree, it would be great to see a recovery. If it doesn't, at least you guys got to enjoy it while it lasted. |
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| The article was very interesting. It's ironic that they claim the possibility of a cleaner Winnebago to the sauger's demise. With the elimination of septic/sewer waste years ago and the now present zebra mussels, Winnebago waters are cleaner now than ever before. Who can ever remember seeing bottom as clearly as the past few years in spring and especially during sturgeon spearing?
It'll be interesting to see what happens with the stocking program and no sauger catch limitation. The DNR and WFT are doing a great job, but if Mother Nature has a different plan, so be it. Let's just hope the walleyes or other popular game fish never suffer the same fate. |
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