Fisheries Research Report No.1876, 1980

Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Fisheries Research Report No.1876, 1980
Contribution to the Anglers' Creel of Marsh-

Reared Northern Pike Stocked as Fingerlings in Long Lake, Barry County, Michigan

George B. Beyerle

Abstract.-From 1973 to 1975 marsh-reared northern pike were stocked into Long Lake, Barry County, at the average rate of 40 fingerlings per hectare, per year, at a cost of $0. 20 each. Survival of these fish to the anglers' creel varied from 15.8 to 36. 3% (mean, 23. 7%). The harvest of each year class was essentially complete 4 years after stocking. Marsh-reared fish provided 65.1% of the total harvest from the 1973-75 year classes of northern pike . The cost to produce the harvested marsh-reared northern pike was $0. 87 per fish, or $0. 70 per kilogram.

During the study the growth of panfish remained within the anticipated range for southern Michigan lakes. There was no fluctuation in harvest of panfish or largemouth bass that could be related to abundance of northern pike. It was suggested that the stocking rate of northern pike could be increased to 8, 000 fingerlings (68. 4 per hectare) with no detrimental effect on other fish species in Long Lake.