articles from May, 1992 newsletter:
President's Message
I have recently attended a very important conference dealing with the use of our lands and waters here in this and other countries. The buzzword for the conference was "STEWARDSHIP." For three days the conferees sat and listened most attentively to world leaders speak of their environmental concerns. The invitees included senators, congressmen, foundation directors, corporation presidents and professors. There were people from the emerging Republic of Russia, the Ukraine, Canada, and, by no means least, a gentleman who is a Faithkeeper from Onondaga Iroquois Indian Nation. Let me assure you, he can get and hold your attention on anything he cares to talk about. The keynote speaker was none less than Dr. Jeane J. Kirkpatrick, former ambassador to the United Nations. She also knows of what she speaks.
Well, what did they talk about? They talked about Stewardship. They taiked about how we need to manage our resources in a wise and sustaining way; how we as dwellers on the Earth must allow the time and care for the Earth to replenish what we take from her. One speaker alluded that the Earth is simply a big farm. When we take more than it can replenish: we and the Earth are in trouble. There are instances where we are in trouble. They told us of ways that we can, in fact, accomplish this sustainment. Through proper education and leadership, proper management and creativity, it can be done. We will have to change some of our ways, refine others and create still more. There are those who will profess, "Set it aside, don't use it"; others will say, "Go get it now, it's there, we'll worry about it when the time comes." We have to get those people together.
At the conclusion of the conference we were asked to split up into groups of about 15 people. There were some 12 groups in all and they asked us a few questions. One question was, "What does the word Stewardship mean to you?" They wanted a definition. We were each allowed to express our thoughts. We defined, refined and combined. When we assembled the product, it came out that Stewardship means, "The Wise/Sustainable Use of Our Natural Resources." By changing perhaps only one or two words, you could come up with the same definition from all 12 groups. We can do it. This old fisherman from Northeastern Minnesota believes in it.
See you on the Lake,
Sparky
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Donations to the Club
We would like to thank the following people who in addition to their regular membership have sent to us an extra donation to assist us with our many projects: Howard Metcalf, C.W. Kuehn, R.N. Sampson, Mrs. G. Henke, D. Robert Sellers, Theda Carron, G. Bradford Dunn, Dr. Mark Johnson, L. Seppi, K. Grosshauser, Jerome Bolda in memory of Clem and Mary Bolda - charter members of the club, Gerald Wagner, Evelyn Everhart in memory of Dr. A.M, Everhart and Ruth Miller, D.A. Fredricks, Bruce Raps, Roger E. Kronholm, Ken Grabarek, R. Indihar, J.D. McKinney, J. McKinney, B. Christensen, P, Ohman, R. Stratton, J. McPeak, Ludlow Development, N.A. Perlich, M/M Ron Nesset, D.D. Lisowski, Ann G. Anderson, J.W. Roddy, Gordy and Pam Rodby, Joan Lato, G.W. Jacobson, Miller and Julie Friesen, G. Koehn, C, Mars Jr., R.J. Poor, M/M Joe Zubert, David Anderson.
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Need a Boat?
Once again this year the Sportsmen's Club will put up for bids a boat and motor combination which has been on loan to the Department of Natural Resources. We purchased the unit new in the spring of 1990. The DNR used it in the Large Lake Creel Survey on Lake Vermilian for the past two seasons. Both boat and motor are in good to excellent shape and have been well cared for. You must be an SCLV member in order to bid. The boat is a 16-ft. Crestliner "Commodore" fishing boat; the motor is a 25-hp. Mercury long shaft, manual start. It will be sold as a unit and will be available for your inspection at the Jack Sparks residence at Box 1753 Everett Bay Rd., Tower, MN 55790. Should you desire a test spin, it would be best to give me a call at 218-753-4341 and I'll try to have it gassed up and tied to my dock for you.
Sealed bids must be in my hands by Saturday, the 6th of June, with bid opening at the regular Board of Directors meeting on the night of June 10. There is a $1,500 minimum bid and the Club reserves the right to reject any and all bids.
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Make Mine Panfish
Walleyes and northerns may get the publicity, but more panfish are caught in Minnesota than fish in any other group. -- Jack Skrypek
Remember that first fish you caught on your first fishing trip? I bet it wasn't a walleye. My first fish was a small bluegill caught on a dropline and worm-baited hook while sitting in a rowboat with my father. I suspect most anglers started their love affair with fishing by catching a bluegill or some other species of panfish. They seem especially designed for youngsters who want to go fishing. On second thought, they seem especially designed for all fishermen. Easy to catch, they possess excellent eating qualities, and are present in most waters. Even though Minnesota is known as the walleye state, panfish are actually more important in terms of harvest on a statewide basis than walleyes.
The dictionary defines a panfish as "any fish small enough to be fried whole in a pan." I don't like this definition. I've seen many panfish fill a frying pan better than small walleyes caught in hard-fished waters. I do acknowledge, however, that panfish tend to be small in size and are generally thought of as lesser fishes. But in Minnesota when we speak of panfish, we are usually talking about sunfish and crappies, and I also include yellow perch.
The dictionary also states that panfish are primarily table fare. There is good reason for this. The fine eating qualities of panfish, especially bluegill and yellow perch, are one reason for their popularity.
Bluegill. The bluegill is perhaps the most popular panfish in Minnesota. It gets its name from the blue color on the lower parts of its gill covers and chin. It tends to be greenish in color on the back and upper sides and yellow on the lower sides and belly. The dorsal fin has a dark spot near the back margin. Variations in color depend on sex, age, and other factors. Look for an all-black ear flap as a positive identifying characteristic.
It occurs in about 65 percent of our fishing lakes, especially the fertile, warm ones in the southern half of the state. It feeds primarily on insects, but also eats other small aquatic animals and even a certain amount of plant material. Large, older bluegiils will often eat small fish, snails, and crayfish.
Pumpkinseed. The pumpkinseed enjoys much the same popularity as the bluegill in Minnesota. Lakes that have bluegills usually have pumpkinseeds, too. It is slightly less common, however, and occurs in about 60 percent of our fishing lakes. The pumpkinseed is one of our prettiest fish and rivals the brook trout for sheer beauty. It is usually grayish green on top, yellow on the belly, mottled green on the sides with vertical bars and scattered orange spots. The pumpkinseed can be distinguished from the bluegill by the orange spot on the tip of the ear flap.
Green Sunfish. The green sunfish is notorious for crossing with the pumpkinseed and bluegill. Females will deposit eggs in more than one nest even though the male on the nest may be another species. The hybrids that result will attain a larger size than a pure-strain green sunfish and may be more tolerant of low oxygen levels than bluegills and pumpkinseeds.
Rock Bass. The rock bass is common in many lakes in northern Minnesota and is often associated with walleyes. It occurs in about 37 percent of our lakes. Feeding and spawning habits are similar to other members of the sunfish family. It probably eats more small fish than do bluegills and pumpkinseeds. It also tends to get fairly abundant in warm water streams.
Like the green sunfish, the rock bass is less important to anglers than the bluegill, crappie or pumpkinseed. It can be recognized by its red eye and dark side markings. It has the interesting ability to change its pigmentation rapidly to blend with its surroundings.
Crappie. Two kinds of crappies are present in Minnesota. The black crappie occurs in about 65 percent of our fishing lakes and the white crappie in seven percent. The white crappie is apparently at the northern extremity of its natural range, which probably accounts for its reduced occurrence.
Anglers sometimes have difficulty distinguishing the white crappie from the black. In general, the white is more slender than the black, paler in color, and has dark vertical bars on its side rather than mottled spots. Also the dorsal fin in the white crappie has a shorter base, front to back, than the black.
But spawning and food habits of the black and white crappie are similar. Both spawn earlier in the season than do bluegills and usually in slightly deeper water. Males do most of the work; they clear a dish-shaped nest and guard the eggs until hatching. They eat small aquatic animals and have a greater preference for small fishes than do other members of the sunfish family. At times, they also feed on small planktonic crustaceans like water fleas.
Perch Family. The most commonly-occurring fish species in our lakes is the northern pike. It occurs in 84 percent of our fishing lakes. The next most commonly occurring fish is the yellow perch. It occurs in 83 percent of our fishing lakes.
The yellow is a member of the family which includes the famous walleye. It is becoming more important in the catch on some Minnesota lakes and provides an essential forage base for walleye and northern pike populations. Identification is easy; there is no other species to which it bears a close resemblance. Perch can be distinguished from small walleyes by the absence of sharp, pointed canine teeth.
Yellow perch tend to be more predatory than sunfish and crappies, but they also will eat aquatic insects, snails, crayfish and leeches. They usually travel in schools composed of members of the same size and age. They spawn usually in May and lay their eggs in gelatinous, ribbon-like masses that are often draped over water weeds or sunken debris. They tend to be most abundant, and reach sizes desirable to anglers, in larger lakes, such as Leech, Mille Lacs and Winnibigoshish. Sometimes they become abundant and reach large sizes in winterkill-type lakes. They tolerate low oxygen levels much better than do walleyes.
Portions of this article appeared in the March-April 1983 issue of the "Minnesota Volunteer" (used with permission).
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Lake Development Subject of New Regulations
(Reprinted with permission of the Tlmberjay
By Marshall Helmberger
Changes in St. Louis County's zoning ordinance, aimed at protecting lakes, rivers, and groundwater, will mean adjustments for future development along the county's thousands of miles of shoreland. The changes will also mean stricter guidelines for the issuing of building permits in shoreland areas.
Specifically, the proposed changes establish a shore impact zone, stretching back 50 feet from the water's edge on most county lakes. On trout streams and most rivers the impact zone may extend up to 100 feet. New construction within the impact zone will not be permitted, although boathouses or storage buildings will still be acceptable, with size restrictions. There are some restrictions on the clearing of vegetation within the impact zone, but most brush clearing, removal of damaged or diseased trees, and the clearing of up to 25 percent of a lot's trees is permitted.The building setback on most lakes will remain at its present 75 feet.
Tighter Rules on Septic Systems - In addition, the proposed ordinance will establish a sanitary sewage check-off system for all new building permits. Presently, the county only reviews on-site sewage disposal capability for new homes or expansions that increase demands on the septic system. The new rules will require that all permit requests, including those for decks or storage buildings will require a review of the site's septic system. No permits will be issued on a failing system. Also, no permits will be issued for construction that will impact a lot's sewage expansion area.
However, no sanitary check-off will be required for septic systems installed within the past five years.
County officials said they will be encouraging the construction of more centralized sewage disposal systems for high-density development along shorelands.
Other provisions of the new ordinance include the creation of a bluff impact zone, for steeply-sloped shoreland areas. The new bluff restrictions would not apply to any building site that is less than 25 feet above the lake or river water level. The intent of the new regulation, say county officials, is to maintain vegetation and keep buildings off of areas with steep slopes. The final language of the ordinance is not completed, and the county is considering modifications to the DNR's recommendations. It appears that setbacks in bluff zones, especially in ledgerock areas, will be extended back to 150 percent of the present setback.
The St. Louis County Planning Commission will be holding public hearings this summer on the changes to the zoning ordinance. The County Board is expected to act on the ordinance by August, and the new ordinance could be in effect as early as September. For more information about the zoning changes, call 725-5244 in Duluth or 749-7103 in Virginia.
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Exotic Plants and Animals -- Do they Threaten Lake Vermilion
A scientific conference titled "EXOTICS IN MINNESOTA: the Inland Invasion" was recently attended by Dale Lundblad and Jack Sparks, board members of the Sportsmen's Club of Lake Vermilion, and Mark Ludlow, owner of Ludlow's Island Lodge.
The conference, sponsored by The Freshwater Foundation and Minnesota Sea Grant Program was held at Breezy Point Resort in Brainerd and featured speakers from the University of Minnesota, University of Wisconsin, Michigan Technological University, Hennepin Regional Park District, Minnesota DNR and Minnesota Sea Grant/ Natural Resources Research Institute.
The theme of the seminar was "Why Exotics are a threat to Minnesota's waters and what actions can be taken to minimize their impact." An "Exotic" is an organism that is not native to a certain area but is foreign or imported.
The Exotics that present a potential threat to the Lake Vermilion Ecosystem are:
-- EURASIAN WATERMILFOIL
-- ZEBRA MUSSEL
-- RUFFE
-- SPINY WATER FLEA (BYTHOTREPHES)
-- RUSTY CRAYFISH
Eurasian Watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum)
Eurasian watermilfoil is a non-native aquatic weed that grows in some parts of lakes and rivers. It usually grows in shallow water less than 15 feet deep.
Aquatic plants are vital to the biology and health of our lakes and streams. They provide food, habitat, rearing and nursery areas for a wide variety of aquatic organisms; stabilize the bottom and lakeshore; aerate the water; and add to the beauty of aquatic systems. However, when they become over-abundant, aquatic plants may have significant detrimental effects.
Eurasian watermilfoil has difficulty becoming established in lakes with healthy populations of native plants. However, like many non-native species, it can quickly infest disturbed areas. Because native controls are not present, Eurasian watermilfoil tends to grow rapidly and form dense mats that replace native vegetation.
Eurasian watermilfoil spreads by fragmentation. A plant fragment only a few inches long that is carried from an infested lake on a boat, boat equipment, or trailer can start a new infestation in another lake or stream. In mid to late summer the plant breaks up by itself. This is called "autofragmentation." When this happens, plant fragments are carried around the lake by wind and wave action or boat traffic and can establish new colonies within the infested lake.
In Minnesota, Eurasian watermilfoil:
- adversely affects boating, water-skiing, fishing and swimming;
- replaces desirable native plants;
- destroys fish spawning areas;
- impairs visual aesthetics.
The weed was first discovered in Lake Minnetonka in 1987. By the fall of 1991, Eurasian watermilfoil had been identified in 47 Minnesota lakes and two streams. It is now in 13 counties.
The Zebra Mussel (Dreissena polymorpha)
Zebra mussels are fingernail-size clams with yellowish or brownish shells marked with yellow bands. Their larvae are too small to be seen, but they live for weeks in any water left in your boat.
The zebra mussel is originally from the Caspian Sea area in Russia. Today, it is common throughout most of Europe too.
The adult mussels attach themselves to any hard bottom or object in a lake or river. One female can provide up to 30,000 eggs, which are released into the water. The larvae float around in the water bodies for up to three weeks and then settle to the bottom where they develop a hard shell.
Like most mussels, they filter small particles of algae from the water. Unlike most mussels, what they do not eat is bound up in a mucous-like ball and expelled, making it unavailable for any other aquatic organisms to eat.
The zebra mussels compete with other organisms that feed on particles in the water. They can reduce the number of organisms eaten by fish. They can kill native clams by colonizing its shell and preventing it from eating or breathing. Massive die-offs can use up oxygen in the water and cause putrid odors. The sharp shells of dead zebra mussels that wash up on'beaches can cut the feet of swimmers. In addition, huge numbers of zebra mussels can block any underwater intake pipes, causing serious problems for utilities, industry, and other water users. Navigational buoys may be sunk due to the weight of large numbers of zebra mussels on their chains. Encrustations on hulls can slow boats and reduce performance. It has been found in two areas of Minnesota. It was first discovered in the Duluth Harbor area of Lake Superior. In 1991, it was discovered in the Mississippi River south of Winona. It will likely spread to other segments of the Mississippi in 1992.
The Ruffe (Gymnocebhalus cernuus)
The Ruffe was first discovered in 1987. It is a Eurasian freshwater percid (member of the perch-walleye family), typically considered a pest species in its native range and not found in North America before discovery in the estuary.
Since its discovery, the ruffe population has exploded and by 1991 was the most abundant species of fish found in the 11,500 acre St. Louis River estuary. Many of the other species have declined in abundance during the same time period. The ruffe is a fierce competitor for food and habitat.
It possesses protective, bony fins which discourage bigger fish from eating it. Thus it may survive better than native species of small fish, to the eventual detriment of the game fish that rely on the small fish for food.
The ruffe is also expanding its range (spreading) and is presently found in Thunder Bay, Ontario, and a few coastal tributary estuaries on Wisconsin's shoreline. The ruffe was possibly carried to Thunder Bay by a vessel taking ballast water from the Duluth/Superior harbor and dumping it there. The coastal tributaries the ruffe is found in are the Amnicon River, the Bois Brule River, and the Iron River (27 miles from Superior).
Ruffe are here to stay and will eventually spread to the rest of North America!" The questions that still exist are: How Long? Can we slow the spread? What impacts will the ruffe have on our existing freshwater fisheries?
Spiny Water Flea (Bythotrephes)
Bythotrephes belongs to the class Crustacea, a group of animals such as crabs and shrimp that possesses a hard exoskeleton (outer shell). Like all other Crustacea, its exoskeleton is molted in order to grow. Bythotrephes is unique, for it sheds only the exoskeleton that covers the tail spine. The animal is never without its long, stout spine; a fact which suggests to biologists that the tail serves a vital protective function.
Bythotrephes eat smaller herbivorous Crustacea, including the common zooplankton, Daphnia. Daphnia, however, is also an important food item for small, juvenile fish such as the bloater chub. Bythotrephes thus competes directly with young fish for food. Because of their unique reproductive pattern, Bythotrephes can reproduce many times faster than the fish. Their rapid population growth enables Bythotrephes to monopolize the food supply at times, to the eventual detriment of the fish.
Although Bythotrephes can fall prey to fish, its spine seems to frustrate most small fish, which tend to experience great difficulty swallowing the animal. In Lake Michigan, Bythotrephes can rarely be found in stomachs of fish less than 5 centimeters (2 inches) in length, although fish of that size avidly consume Daphnia when that food item is available. There are indications that the growth rates and survival of these young fish may be adversely affected by the presence of Bythotrephes in the ecosystem, owing to competition for food. In general, the more abundant Bythotrephes becomes, the less food will remain available for juvenile fish.
When Bythotrephes collect on fishing line, they look like bristly gobs of jelly with black spots.
The animal is native to northern Europe, including the British Isles, Scandinavia, and the Soviet Union. The first living specimen in the New World was found in Lake Huron in December 1984. The most likely mode of transport was in fresh water or mud brought to the Great Lakes from Europe in the ballast water of merchant ships. By 1985, Bythotrephes had spread to Lakes Erie and Ontario. It had invaded Lake Michigan by 1986 and Lake Superior by 1987.
Rusty Crayfish
The Rusty Crayfish is the only one of these Exotics known to have already invaded Lake Vermilion. Rusty Crayfish, who have a large rust colored spot on their sides, differ from the native "Blue" Crayfish found in Lake Vermilion in a number of important ways. They are mush larger, have larger claws, are very aggressive, and they eat much more. Their eggs hatch earlier in the spring and their young grow faster. Because of their large size and aggressive nature, fish do not prey on them as readily. Therefore, they achieve larger populations and impact the entire ecosystem. Rusties are omnivors.
Although they seek out high-protein animal food, such as fish eggs, carrion, and insect larvae, much of their diet consists of generally more abundant but less nutritious plant food. At night, they scrape periphyton, or "scum flora," a complex green or brown film of organic detritus, bacteria, and algae, from the surface of rocks. They have been known to nearly eliminate vegetation and plant dependent invertebrates, such as snails from small lakes.
Only time will tell how they will impact the Lake Vermilion ecosystem. The experts are unable to predict if any of these Exotics will become established or cause damage to Lake Vermilion.
If we, as members of the Sportsmen's Club, can be successful in keeping Lake Vermilion healthy and unpolluted, we will maintain an effective deterrent to them.
Our first line of defense, however, must be education of the boating and fishing public.
If we can observe and promote the following precautions, perhaps we can keep these invaders from entering Lake Vermilion in the first place.
Prevent the spread of these pests with a thorough inspection of your boat and fishing gear.
BEFORE YOU USE YOUR BOAT IN ANOTHER LAKE OR RIVER:
Clean your boat - Clean all mud and plant matter from your boat, trailer, propeller, live well and anchors before leaving the landing. Even canoes should be checked inside and out.
Dry or wash your boat and fishing equipment - Drain live wells, bait buckets, and bilge areas. Let your boat and trailer dry in the sun for at least three days before you use it again in another lake or river. Or wash your boat and equipment with very hot water tat least 105 degrees F). Make sure tackle and fishing lines are free of B.C. eggs.
Do not transport bait from one waterway to another - Purchase it in the area where you intend to fish.
Remember:
-- Young adult mussels can be hard to see.
-- A single leaf of milfoil can infest a lake.
-- One spiny water flea egg can start a new population, even if you don't use your boat or fishing gear again for months.
It takes only one mistake to spread a pest and ruin a waterway. Don't be the one!
Your Board of Directors is now formulating a plan of action to keep Exotics out of Lake Vermilion. Some of the ideas under consideration include:
- Volunteer inspection of arriving boats at Public Landings
- Informational Billboards on main roads leading to Lake Vermilion
-- A citizen "Exotics Watch" to quickly identify and monitor Exotics that do reach our lake.
-- Informational news releases in the print media and radio.
Since public involvement is essential, we encourage your input and participation in the Club's efforts. Contact any board member to volunteer.
Dale Lundblad -- Director
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MORE HISTORY OF LAKE VERMILION
Lake Vermilion -- Reached via Tower and Cook
According to Mr. Warren Upham's "Minnesota's Geographic Names," Lake Vermilion derived its name from the translation of "Onamuni," the Ojibway name of the lake. The aboriginal name refers to the red and golden reflection from the sky to the smooth lake surface near sunset, being thus of the same significance as the Ojibway name of Red Lake. Probably the first white men to visit Lake Vermilion were Medart Chouart, more commonly known by his assumed title, "Sieur des Groseilliers, and his brother-in-law, Pierre Esprit Radisson, two fur traders sometimes spoken of as the founders of the Hudson Bay Company, who visited Northern Minnesota about 1660 and probably visited Lake Vermilion at that time, the first men in Minnesota. The next European to visit this region was Daniel Greysolon Du Luth, who explored Northern Minnesota in 1678-1680 and who, no doubt, also visited Lake Vermilion. Father Louis Hennepin, who visited this region in 1680, made the first map of the northern part of the state, which was published in 1697.
The Dakotas or Sioux were the first indians known to have lived on Vermilion Lake, though a prehistoric race no doubt lived there before them and left the mounds and flint and copper relics that have been found around its shores. About the middle of the Seventeenth Century the Ojibways, who had formerly lived on Lake Ontario, occupied this region, driving out the Dakotas. Most of Northern Minnesota, including the site of Duluth, was ceded to the United States by the Ojibways on Sept. 30, 1854, at the La Pointe treaty. The Ojibways ceded to the Government the last of their land on Vermilion Lake on April 7, 1866, but by the executive order of Dec. 20, 1881, the president set apart a reservation for them on that lake and here part of their tribe still lives. Thus there is a historic record of the Indian having lived here nearly 300 years and no one knows how much longer.
The shoreline of Lake Vermilion never has been actually measured, but it is estimated there are 1,000 miles of shoreline and 365 islands in the lake.
This marvelous lake is connected, by short portages and rivers, with 1,500 other lakes and rivers. One of these rivers, the Vermilion, flows out of Lake Vermilion emptying into Rainy Lake, Canada. This is a part of the old Vermilion Trail, traveled years ago by trappers, French voyageurs, Hudson Bay factors and their men. Delightful canoe trips may be made down these streams. One might travel this wilderness for years at a time without covering the same route twice. The abrupt slopes, deep ravines, heavy timber and occasional rocky table lands, while a constant source of wonder and delight, do not permit of farming, so the nature lover, in his rambles, meets with no spoiling touch of civilization. The Chippewa Indians in the vicinity is one of the attractive features of this region, and their life, pursuits and characteristics present interesting subjects for observation and study.
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Lake Vermilion Creel Survey -- 1991
The Department of Natural Resources, Section of Fisheries, conducted a creel survey on Lake Vermilion this past summer and I wanted to take this opportunity to report some of the results to the members of the Sportsmen's Club. Creel survey is a method based on a scientific design where we can obtain estimates of angling pressure and fish harvest from a series of boat counts and angler interviews. Creel survey on Lake Vermilion is conducted as part of the state Large Lake Sampling Program which schedules creel surveys for two consecutive years out of every six. The 1991 creel was the second of this two-year cycle. In addition to creel survey there is also a fish population assessment done on Lake Vermilion each year.
There were an estimated 567,285 hours of angling pressure on Lake Vermilion during the summer season (May 11-Sept. 30) in 1991. This is a slight increase from the 521,106 hours of pressure in 1990 and a 37% increase from the estimated angling pressure in 1985. An estimated 71,958 walleye were harvested from Lake Vermilion in 1991,with an average weight of 1.0 pound. The walleye harvest had decreased slightly from the 1990 catch of 78,388 walleye, however, is still 20% above the 1985 harvest of 57,701 walleye. Estimated harvest of other species were: northern pike - 7,783; smallmouth bass - 7,078; largemouth bass - 2,585; bluegill - 50,677; black crappie - 12,003; and yellow perch - 3,323. Harvest of these species was similar to the 1990 harvest with the exception of black crappie, which doubled in harvest. Bluegill numbers have increased greatly in recent years and bluegill harvest has increased four-fold since 1985. It should be pointed out that harvest means just fish that were caught and kept. Many more fish are caught and released. For example, only one of five smallmouth caught were kept, one of four northern pike caught were kept, and about one of two walleye caught were kept. The walleye harvest rate in 1991 was 0.12 fish per hour of angling pressure, which is down slightly from the 1990 walleye catch rate of 0.15 fish/hour. The walleye harvest rate may have declined because there is currently a high perch population which provides an abundant food source for the walleye, making them less likely to bite on a bait or lure. All of the above estimates are for boat anglers only and do not include shore anglers:
Gamefish populations on Lake Vermilion remain at average or above average levels. The 1988 year class of walleye is the best in recent years and will be available to anglers this summer as 13- to l6-inch fish. Northern pike numbers are slightly above average and the muskie population appears to be doing well also. Bluegill numbers continue to be high and a strong 1987 year class of black crappie should now provide fish that average about 11 inches apiece.
I would like to thank everyone who was interviewed on the lake for their cooperation. I realize being interviewed can be an inconvenience, however the information collected is extremely important in understanding the fish population of the lake and your cooperation was greatly appreciated. The next creel surveys on Lake Vermilion will be in 1996 and 1997. I would also like to thank the Lake Vermilion Sportsmen's Club for use of the boat and motor and would also like to thank Grant Hughes of Muskego Point Resort for dock space during the survey. If anyone has any questions about the creel survey or Lake Vermilion fish popu!ations, please feel free to contact me at our Ely office, 218-365-7280.
Duane Williams
Fisheries Specialist for Lake Vermilion
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Fish Species of Lake Vermilion -- Native or Exotic?
One of the more common questions we hear at the Fisheries Headquarters about Lake Vermilion concerns what species of fish are present in the lake. Because Lake Vermilion has a wide variety of fish habitats, ranging from large windswept basins to small weedy bays, it supports a rather diverse fish community. Some of the major species present in the lake are cisco (or tullibee), whitefish, northern pike, muskellunge, white sucker, bullhead, burbot, rock bass, pumpkinseed, bluegill, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, black crappie, yellow perch, and walleye. A total of 18 different minnow-type species have also been identified in Lake Vermilion.
A number of these species are probably not native to Lake Vermilion and were introduced by man. Smallmouth bass and largemouth bass are not native and were introduced in the 1940s. Bluegill are probably not native, although it is not known when or how they were introduced. The first reported stocking of muskie in Lake Vermilion was in 1968, although Carlander (a fisheries biologist) reported an occasional muskie being caught in the 1940s. It is likely these fish came from undocumented stocking in the early 1900s, however, it is possible they came from a remnant native population, since muskie are native to the Rainy Lake system. A recent increase in bullhead catches has many anglers wondering where these bullheads came from. Carlander reported bullheads were common in the 1940s and it is likely they are native to the lake.
When people first settled in the Lake Vermilian area it did not take long for fish stocking to become popular, although in many cases inappropriate species were stocked. Some of the species stocked from 1909-1945 included: lake trout, Loch Leven trout (a type of brown trout), whitefish, herring, suckers, northern pike, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, crappies and walleye. Subsequent investigation has shown Lake Vermilion to be unsuitable for trout management and it is unlikely any stocked trout would have survived for any length of time. It has also been shown that stocking a species where natural reproduction occurs is usually not productive. Currently we stock two different species in Lake Vermilion. Walleye fry are stocked because Lake Vermilion is used as a source for walleye fry that are then stocked into other lakes. It is not known what contribution fry stocked into Lake Vermilion make to the walleye population because there is also substantial natural reproduction in the lake.
Muskie fingerlings are also stocked into the lake in order to create a trophy type fishery. It is not known if muskie will reproduce naturally in Lake Vermilion although it is certainly possible. We hope to answer this question through our annual assessment work. A small northern pike spawning area is also operated on the lake in cooperation with the Lake Vermiiion Sportsmen's Club. Adult northern are stocked into the pond and allowed to spawn naturally. The pond is then drained, along with the northern fingerlings, into the lake.
Two of the fish species in Lake Vermilion that often cause some confusion are whitefish and tullibee. These are two distinct species although they are in the same family (Salmonidae). Tullibee in Lake Vermilion seldom get over a pound and are commonly from 12-15 inches in length. Whitefish are much larger, commonly reaching 20 inches in length. Tullibee are also much more common in Lake Vermilon than whitefish. The most distinctive characteristic in separating the two species is the location of the mouth. On tullibee, the mouth is located right at the end of the snout with the upper and lower jaws being equal in length. On whitefish, the upper jaw is longer than the lower jaw and therefore the mouth is on the bottom of the snout.
Anyone who has further questions about fish populations of Lake Vermilion can call me at our Ely office. The phone number is 218-365-7280.
Duane Williams
Fisheries Specialist for Lake Vermilion
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Greenwood Township's Long-Range Planning Includes Protecting Water Quality of Lake Vermilion
Greenwood Township on Lake Vermilion has recently applied for a grant from the IRRRB to assist in setting up a revolving loan fund. The loan fund program is designed to offer financial incentives to township property owners who need to upgrade their on-site sewage disposal systems. The program's main objectives are (1) to effectively meet the sewage treatment needs of the township, and (2) to protect the water quality of Lake Vermilion.
If the project is approved for IRRRB funding, loan applications will be invited early in 1993. Successful applicants could expect to receive their loans in time to take advantage of the summer 1993 construction season.
The maximum amount of the loan would be 50% of the total cost of the upgrade or new system, with an interest rate of 4% and for a term of two years. All Greenwood Township property owners, whether seasonal or year-round, would be eligible to apply.
Top priority will be given to construction of multipleuser systems where lot sizes, geography or other limiting factors prohibit construction of standard systems. Next in line for consideration would be outdated systems not meeting current codes. Third on the priority list would be new construction.
This is a serious effort by Greenwood Township to initiate some long-range planning for the township. Enthusiastic letters of endorsement have gone to the IRRRB from the DNR, MPCA, St. Louis County Health Department -- and from the Sportsmen's Club of Lake Vermilion.
Our Club has always been out front in advocating sewage treatment systems that protect the water quality of Lake Vermilion. We applaud the decision of Greenwood Township to take a leadership position in planning for the future of its residents and for the future of our resources.
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How to Protect the Lake From Our Lawns and Gardens
1) Filter strips should be developed and maintained between open bodies of water and agricultural fields or lawns. Filter strips are effective at minimizing erosion and movement of soil, and sorbed and soluble nitrogen compounds into surface water.
2) For lawns located adjacent to surface water bodles, construct a berm (roughly six inches
high) between the lawn and water body. The berm may also be covered in grass or turf. In addition to berms, an unmanaged fringe of natural vegetation may be utilized as a filter strip.
The berm serves to minimize run-off from the lawn to the surface water body. It also encourages infiltration at the lawn's edge.
3) Do not apply insurance nitrogen to turf. Apply only the amount of nitrogen necessary to maintain plant nutrition.
4) Leave grass clippings on mowed lawns and account for residue nitrogen content in determining nitrogen load rates for subsequent applications.
By accounting for lawn clippings in fertilizer credits, at least one fertilizer application can be eliminated each year.
5) Use a slow release fertilizer formulation when possible. Slow release formulations are more likely to provide nitrogen to the turf during its peak period of need and less likely to result in nitrogen being leached below the root zone where it becomes unavallable to the turf roots.
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Life Cycle of the Walleye
The life cycle of young walleyes begins with the fry stage of development. The newborn walleyes are approximately one-quarter inch long and feed primarily on small, microscopic organisms and aquatic insects. The young walleyes continue to grow until they reach two to four inches in length at which time they are classified as fingerlings. The diet of the fingerlings consists mainly of aquatic insects along with a variety of forage fish. Growth proceeds at a constant rate. A l-year-old walleye will usually be five to seven inches long and weigh three to four ounces.
Although growth of walleyes can vary significantly in different lakes, the following chart gives some indication of the average length and weight for each group of Minnesota walleyes:
AGE LENGTH WEIGHT
|
| 1 year | 5.1" | -- |
| 2 years | 9.0" | 0.5# |
| 3years | 12.3" | 0.7# |
| 4 years | 15.1" | 1.0# |
| 5 years | 17.3" | 1.6# |
| 6 years | 19.2" | 2.2# |
| 7 years | 20.9" | 2.9# |
| 8 years | 22.1" | 3.4# |
| 9 years | 23.4" | 3.9# |
| 10 years | 27.1" | 5.3# | |
Maturity in walleyes is related more to size than age with most males not reaching maturity until they are more than 11 inches long, and most females not until they are more than 14 inches long. So, here in Minnesota, male walleyes would be at least 3 years old before they spawn for the first time, while most females would be 4 or 5 years old. Slower-growing females may not become mature until they are 7 or 8.
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Nesting Eagles
by Jack J. Mooty, Nongame Specialist
Now is the time when bald eagles start to nest and all persons should be careful not to disturb them. Approaching too close to the nesting area will cause the birds to abandon their nest and eggs. Bald eagles are sharp-eyed and will respond to the presence of people within one quarter mile. Therefore do not approach any closer than this. Bald eagles are a threatened species and are federally protected. It is illegal to harass them. By viewing eagles from a distance they will have a successful hatch and will be around for us to enjoy in the future.
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Buoys
REMEMBER -- a channel is marked with green and black buoys. You must pass between the green and black. If for any reason you must go outside the channel as marked, proceed with EXTREME CAUTION ... all sorts of trouble can be waiting!
The white buoys mark a specific hazard, ie: large rock, outcropping of rock such as a reef. You must stay 50 feet away from such buoys in ANY DIRECTION. If the buoy is near the shoreline of either mainland or an island, do not take the chance of going between it and the shore. Again all sorts of trouble can be waiting. The buoys on Lake Vermilion are not mooring buoys. It is illegal to tie up to any of them. They are not heavy enough to withstand the pull of a boat and are very often dragged off mark and then present a hazard to everyone.
Your Club has numbered the buoys on the lake and It takes a great deal of time and expense to replace the numbers that have been shot at, stolen, tampered with, etc., etc., etc.! The lights and buoys are an aid to all persons using the lake and we sincerely hope that proper care is taken not to disturb them. If you are aware of a problem, report it to one of your directors.
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Do You Know Natural Minnesota?
1) How much surface water -- in square miles or acres -- do we have in Minnesota?
Ans. Including Minnesota's portion of Lake Superior, surface water covers about 7,762 square miles, or 4,967,510 acres. If accumulated in one area, it would cover 6 counties in the northwestern corner of Minnesota -- Red Lake, Roseau, Penington, Marshall, Polk and Kittson.
2) What percent of Minnesota is forest?
Ans. Forests account for 33 percent of the land or 16,709,000 acres.
3) How many miles of rivers and streams in Minnesota?
Ans. 93,000 miles of rivers and streams, some of which run through 55 state forests and 64 state parks.
4) How many native flowering plants and trees grow in Minnesota?
Ans. 1,600 native flowering plants and 48 tree types.
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Membership Notes:
Some time ago, I received a letter asking whether the Club had any record of members who had been charter members and were still maintaining their membership in the Club. In looking through the files that I have, the only evidence of membership from 1969 to 1977 is a joumal with names listed, pages and pages of them, but they are not in alphabetical order, and it would take days and days to figure out those who might possibly have been charter members. But I can tell you this, that going through my card files, there are still 360 members shown who have been constant members since 1977. Most of them started out as single memberships (at $3) and have since either upgraded to Mr. and Mrs. or family memberships.
This past two months have been the very best ever in welcoming new members to the Club. Actually, since the first part of February we have received 42 new members. The rolls now show 29 states represented with the farthest away being Alaska. Hopefully this shows an increasing awareness of the value of an organization such as the SCLV to act as a "watchdog," if you will, to protect the treasure that is Lake Vermilion. By counting a single membershp as 1, a Mr. and Mrs. as 2 and a family membership as 3, we now have well over 1,800 members. That is very gratifying, but with about 6,000 property owners on the lake it is a small percentage ... so we would urge you to check with a friend or neighbor and ask them to join us. We still have 165 members from last year who have not as yet sent in their dues. Many times the notice gets set aside and forgotten ... could you double check? We want you to continue to support us in our efforts to keep Vermilion special.
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