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Location: Athens, Ohio | Here's a copy of a message I got from Muskies, Inc. Weste Virginia Chapter president Jim Moore about the stocking of advanced fingerlindgs this year. Jim does a great job of keeping our chapter active in working with DNR. Great reading, enjoy! m
WV Division of Natural Resources, Advanced Muskie Fingerling Project 2006
Our annual fall collection of Advanced Fingerlings began this season at Bowden Hatchery on September 26. West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) personnel Chris O’Bara, Mike Nuckles, Ryan Bosserman and Corey Cutlip were joined by Chapter 09 members Dick Haney, Jim Marsh, Ken Squires, Elbert Robinson, Tim McCauley and Jim Moore to complete draining of the ponds, collection of the fingerlings and injecting with the polymeric tag used to distinguish year class fish after stocking.
Fingerlings had been placed in two ponds, Pond No. 2 had 72 fish which had recently been moved there. Pond No. 1 had received approximately 330 fingerlings earlier in the year. We completed draining Pond No. 2 first and recovered all 72 fish that had been placed there. Upon draining Pond No. 1, we recovered 287 advanced fingerlings. All these fish were measured and tagged. A total of 359 fish were documented, these fish averaged slightly over 10 inches and were stocked into Stonewall Jackson Lake. Overall, a very successful outing and a good start to the program this year.
Palestine Hatchery, September 29
Our second session for Advanced Fingerlings was held at Palestine Hatchery near Elizabeth on September 29. DNR personnel Chris O’Bara, Ryan Bosserman, Corey Cutlip, Gary Batton, Katie Ripfel and hatchery manager Rodney Null were joined by Chapter members Bill and Sharon Crane, Larry Robinson, Eric Moore, Ken Squires and Jim Moore.
Two ponds, No’s 3 and 26, contained fish and were drained for recovery. A total of 191 fingerlings were recovered from No. 26 while 237 were taken from pond 3. Some length difference was noted on the fish taken from each pond. Pond 26 had been stocked with fingerlings produced from North Bend Lake (NB) males and Middle Island (MI) females. Minnows were introduced the same time as the muskies. Pond 3 had minnows stocked prior to muskie introduction and they probably reproduced several times. Muskies in pond 3 were full-blood MI fish. Pond 3 fish averaged nearly 3 inches longer that those of pond 26.
Woodrum Lake had been surveyed for forage the previous week and it was felt that adequate levels were present for muskie introduction so 150 of the pond 26 fish averaging 8.91 inches were transported there. This in a sense completes the restoration project for the lake other than subsequent stocking in future seasons.
North Bend Lake received 225 of the pond 3 fingerlings averaging 11.73 inches. This makes 4 consecutive years stocking for this relatively new fishery. Good results have already been seen as the initial stocking has reached 34 inches as verified by electroshocking.
The remaining fish were held at the hatchery for subsequent stocking.
Apple Grove Hatchery, October 4
Wednesday, October 4 found several of our members joining DNR at the Apple Grove Hatchery to drain one pond containing advanced fingerlings. As we’ve reported in the past, water quality issues had proven to be detrimental to good success of the larger muskies at this hatchery. Hoping that some of these had been overcome, one pond was utilized for one more session with advanced fingerlings.
Unfortunately, this year we fared no better than in the past. Chapter members Lewis and Karen Shepherd, Edgar Rexroad, John Kaltenecker, Ken Mikes and Jim Moore helped recover only 37 fingerlings from Pond No. 16. Although the average length was good, 11.30 inches, Apple Grove probably will not be used further for advanced fingerlings due to the poor return rate. One fish was struggling and eventually died so 36 nice fish were transported for stocking in Upper Mud Lake.
Bee Run Ponds, October 13
Our next effort for Advanced Fingerlings found us at Bee Run Ponds near Sutton Lake. DNR members Chris O’Bara, Corey Cutlip, Mike Nuckles and Ryan Bosserman were joined by Chapter 09 members Bill Parsons, Marty Perri and Jim Moore to drain the pond, document and tag the fish. As usual, the young muskies did not want to leave the pond and insisted on swimming upstream, but with some encouragement by the team we were able to recover 420 nice fingerlings. These fish ran from 7.25 inches up to 12.68 inches and averaged 10.34 inches. All fish were healthy and ready to transport to Stonewall Jackson Lake. Once there Bill, Marty and Mike distributed them at three locations across the lake.
Palestine Hatchery, October 26
The final session for advanced fingerlings for 2006 was completed at Palestine on October 26. Members Ken Squires and his son Nick, Dave Powell, Chuck Braniff and Jim Moore worked with the DNRs’ Chris O’Bara, Ryan Bosserman, Gary Batton, Scott Morrison, Rodney Null, Mike Nuckles, Tim Swisher and Wayne Powell.
This day at Palestine was especially active since it was essentially the wrap-up of the stocking efforts for the season. In addition to the above mentioned, several other DNR personnel were there joined by a group of Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and adult supervisors which added up to a lot of helping hands. We needed them. Besides muskie fingerlings, we worked at tagging over 600 Paddle Fish, 600-800 Catfish as well as a pond full of Walleye. The days activities were covered by the Parkersburg Sentinel as well as Channel 8 Television. Thanks go to the DNR for providing lunch; grilled chicken, brats and hamburgers with all the trimmings.
Now, back to the muskies. We drained Pond No. 9 which had been filled with around 8000 Kentucky fry. We recovered 425 Advanced Fingerlings which ran from 7.68 to 19.69 inches and averaged about 11.5 inches. As most who have helped with the fingerlings over the years already know, an over 19 inch fish is not normal. Most fish run 10-13 inches with a handful occasionally reaching 14-15 in. Previously we’ve had a couple reach almost 18 inches but this big one was special. It appeared to have a large baitfish in its belly when recovered so we know it likes to eat. Perhaps it’s one of those “Alpha” types with state record potential !!
This days fish were distributed as follows: Upper Mud Lake received 114 fingerlings, this filled the allotment which we didn’t receive from Apple Grove. The Coal River in the southern part of the state received 160 nice fingerlings to jumpstart that fishery. Another exciting step was to introduce fingerlings to Fishing Creek up towards the Northern Panhandle. This will open up a new fishing opportunity to people in that part of the state on a very nice stream. We had discussed this stream in our annual Round Table Discussions as a potential recipient if new waters were introduced. 150 of the fingerlings were transported there.
Oh, by the way, the “big boy” went into Upper Mud Lake!
Over all, our best year yet for Advanced Fingerlings. A total of 1668 fingerlings ranging from 5.83 inches to 19.69 inches and averaging 10.48 inches were distributed into 6 different impoundments and streams. This included reintroduction into Woodrum after the restoration project was completed this summer. Advanced Fingerlings were in addition to the normal fingerling stockings occurring in July on selected waters.
Jim Moore, President
West Virginia Chapter 09 Muskies, Inc.
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West Virginia stocking update