BROOKINGS – The Brookings Wildlife Federation will host GFP fisheries biologists Todd St. Sauver (Sioux Falls) and Mark Ermer (Webster), who will talk about recent data and GFP programs for lake fisheries in eastern South Dakota, at the noon June 1 Infolunch at the Hy-Vee Club Room.
At this annual get-together between the Federation and GFP biologists, the speakers reveal the results of their test netting in area lakes, success in trapping walleyes for spawning, movement of game fish among lakes for restocking, assessment of winterkill and other fish management activities.
The speakers will also cover information on new rules and regulations. They will address the controversial closure of state boat ramps at 20 lakes and recent legislation to reopen some lakes. Some public lakes can now be private.
The GFP walleye spawning program requires the biologists to set nets as soon as the ice goes off of area lakes. This year, the ice-out was later than in most years, causing some upset in the normal egg taking program. Walleyes in spawning condition can usually be “stripped,” meaning that the eggs and sperm can be expressed from the fish into containers where fertilization takes place.
The adult walleyes are returned to the lake. The fertilized eggs are taken to Blue Dog Fish Hatchery, where they are hatched and reared for restocking. The young fish “fry” are restocked by the millions as 6-day-old fry, or as 3-inch-long fingerlings after they spend one summer growing in hatchery ponds or small natural wetlands.
The infolunch is open to the public. The BWF is affiliated with the South Dakota Wildlife Federation and the National Wildlife Federation. The BWF is in its 38th year of supplying conservation information and activities to the Brookings community.
For more information, contact BWF President Spencer Vaa 695-6867.
