We are a proud member of the Au Sable River Watershed Restoration Committee (ARWRC). Visit them at:
www.ausablerestoration.org

ASBWPA Nominates 14 Miles of
Trophy Water for No Kill on Brown Trout

Read About It Here:
 ASBWPA_Nomination

And Send Letter of Support to:
 DNRE_Nominations

This reach has been managed under research regulations for many years:  Artificial lures only, 15 inch MSL for brown trout, 12 inches for other trout, a possession limit of two trout and a closed season from September 30 to the last Saturday in April.  This section, as with the Mio Dam to power lines section mentioned above, is stocked annually with brown trout and rainbow trout.  Trout growth in this reach is well above state average, and this section of river is valued for its ability to produce large brown trout.  High summer temperatures during some years can cause high mortality of trout, but large brown trout have persisted in this reach.  Fishing mortality in this reach is negligible.  A creel survey conducted throughout the 2009 trout season revealed that catch and release predominates.  The estimated harvest of brown trout was only 9 fish during the entire 2009 season, while over 21,000 brown trout were caught and released.  Anglers spent over 37,000 hours angling in this reach during 2009.

Stocked rainbow trout provide popular fishing throughout the year, but only a few of these fish survive through the following winter.  Both the general public and organized angling groups have recommended, and the NLHMU concurs, that the rainbow trout size limit should be lowered to 10 inches to allow for some harvest of these popular fish.  Allowing for the potential harvest of one trophy-sized brown trout over 18 inches long will have no impact on the trout population.

Our proposed regulations are extremely protective of the valued brown trout fishery, allow for utilization of the popular rainbow trout fishery, and open the season to year-round fishing.

Unit:  NLHMU 
County:  Crawford & Oscoda
Waterbody:  Au Sable River
Segment(s):  McKinley Bridge to 4001 Bridge (8 miles)
Entry No:  608, 611 & 644
Requested by:  Internal review (Type 2) and public. 

Recommendation:  We do not recommend that this stream segment be considered for gear restricted regulations.  We do recommend that this segment remain designated as Type 2.

If the current Type 2 regulations were no longer an option in the future, we would recommend that regulations in this segment be changed to Type 4.

This reach is currently managed under Type 2 regulations.  These regulations are more than adequate to protect trout in this section.  Brown trout and rainbow trout growth rates are higher than the MI average in this reach.  Natural mortality rates for both brown trout and rainbow trout are believed to be high because of warm summer water temperatures.  Very few rainbow trout survive overwinter.  Fishing mortality is low both because of the voluntary catch-and-release practices of most Au Sable River anglers and because angling pressure in this reach is fairly low.  During the most recent creel census conducted here in 2000, we estimated that only 10 brown trout and 10 rainbow trout were harvested per mile.  Over 90% of trout caught in 2000 were released.  We received only one nomination of this reach for gear restricted regulations.

This section meets only the growth criterion for selection of trout streams that are good candidates for gear restrictions.  

The situation for coldwater regulation below Mio Dam on the Au Sable has not been resolved.  For 2009, the regulations will remain the same as in 2008 (or, for that matter, all through the decade).  DNR will conduct another creel census and a decision regarding the fishery will be made next fall.  Here's the record so far:

DNR Director Rebecca Humphries and Fisheries Director Kelley Smith made the correct choice in keeping the trout regulations the same for 2009 on the Mio to McKinley stretch of the Au Sable River pending further research on the matter, including a creel census. It is a sign of professionalism as well as character when a person or institution is willing to admit they may need more time or additional input before making a decision.

Yes, some will be disappointed that there will be no extended season in 2009 to fish for some of the biggest browns east of the Rockies’ Front Range, but the proposed rules, a “modified” Type 6, did nothing to compensate for the additional pressure or maximize the trophy population.  That proposal by the Fisheries Division in our opinion, and many others, would have continued if not accelerated the decline of this once proud fishery.  Now there appears to be significant hope for a better outcome a year from now.

It is refreshing to know that government is listening again.

Thank You, Directors Humphries and Smith!  We look forward to working with the DNR on this and other issues affecting the Au Sable’s famed Trophy Water.

Thomas Buhr, President

(and, of course, before this....)

PLEASE SEND A LETTER OR E-MAIL TO DNR SUPPORTING NO KILL FOR BROWN TROUT!  WE NEED TO MAKE SURE OUR VOICE IS HEARD!  DO IT TODAY OR AS SOON AS YOU CAN!

The DNR’s Fisheries Division is in the process of developing a management plan for this section of the Au Sable River. In the past, the DNR focused on providing a quality trout fishing opportunity on the river. Recently, the Fisheries Division has received  considerable input from anglers who have an interest in fisheries management of this section of the river. The management plan the DNR will develop will address the potential need for regulation classifications for this stretch of river and any additional opportunities to improve the fishery.

“The overall goal of this process is to ensure adequate protection of our coldwater fish communities, while simultaneously providing quality fishing opportunities for anglers,” said Steve Sendek, DNR fisheries biologist at the Grayling Field Office. “Public input in this process is important and all comments received during this time will be considered in final decision-making.”

The Fisheries Division recently completed a “status of the fishery” report for this section of the Au Sable River, giving a historical and comprehensive assessment of the river. The Au Sable River - Mio to Alcona, Status of the Fishery” report is available online on the DNR’s Web site at http://www.michigan.gov/documents/dnr/2007-22_225164_7.pdf. This document is a thorough review of the fishery and contains in-depth information on the environment surrounding the river, the fish community, a chronology of historic fisheries management activities, current fisheries management activities, a discussion on factors limiting rainbow trout and brown trout populations, potential future management directions, and a discussion on the predicted outcomes of various regulation scenarios based on fisheries population modeling.

Written comments can be directed to the DNR via email at DNR-LakeHuron@michigan.gov or via U.S. Mail to Steve Sendek, DNR, 1955 Hartwick Pines Rd., Grayling, MI 49738.

Contacts:
Steven Sendek 989-348-6371, ext. 7477
Mary Dettloff 517-335-3014