1 00:00:02,630 --> 00:00:04,389 Well, I guess, why don't you start 2 00:00:04,390 --> 00:00:07,049 with kind of explaining what 3 00:00:07,050 --> 00:00:09,009 it is that the, why this 4 00:00:09,010 --> 00:00:11,009 lake was a good choice as 5 00:00:11,010 --> 00:00:12,649 a, as a not one that's generally 6 00:00:12,650 --> 00:00:14,708 accessible to the public 7 00:00:14,709 --> 00:00:16,349 for the experiment that you guys are 8 00:00:16,350 --> 00:00:17,059 running. 9 00:00:17,060 --> 00:00:18,019 For the experiment that we're 10 00:00:18,020 --> 00:00:20,199 running here, which is overall 11 00:00:20,200 --> 00:00:22,059 the objective is, 12 00:00:22,060 --> 00:00:23,919 does adding trees or of 13 00:00:23,920 --> 00:00:25,259 course woody habitat to a lake 14 00:00:25,260 --> 00:00:27,399 increase fish community productivity 15 00:00:27,400 --> 00:00:28,719 or the carrying capacity of the 16 00:00:28,720 --> 00:00:29,720 lake? 17 00:00:30,020 --> 00:00:31,679 And there's not, even though there's 18 00:00:31,680 --> 00:00:33,279 thousands of lakes up here, there's 19 00:00:33,280 --> 00:00:35,299 a lot of lakes where we can do a 20 00:00:35,300 --> 00:00:36,999 manipulation or experiment at that 21 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:38,459 sort of scale. 22 00:00:38,460 --> 00:00:40,399 Also in the absence, as we look 23 00:00:40,400 --> 00:00:41,919 around the lake today, there is no 24 00:00:41,920 --> 00:00:43,479 development. This is the minor 25 00:00:43,480 --> 00:00:44,979 footprint of any development on the 26 00:00:44,980 --> 00:00:47,029 lake in its entirety so we can 27 00:00:47,030 --> 00:00:48,929 truly understand how the 28 00:00:48,930 --> 00:00:50,949 fish community responds to that 29 00:00:50,950 --> 00:00:52,509 manipulation in the absence of 30 00:00:52,510 --> 00:00:54,449 things like high fishing pressure, 31 00:00:54,450 --> 00:00:55,569 invasive species, lake shore 32 00:00:55,570 --> 00:00:57,369 residential development, excess 33 00:00:57,370 --> 00:01:00,109 nutrient loading, all those things. 34 00:01:00,110 --> 00:01:01,449 So it was really ideal. 35 00:01:01,450 --> 00:01:03,009 It was ideal because it's a 36 00:01:03,010 --> 00:01:03,929 manageable lake size. 37 00:01:03,930 --> 00:01:05,889 It's about 90 acres, this lake 38 00:01:05,890 --> 00:01:06,669 here. 39 00:01:06,670 --> 00:01:08,569 In addition to that, 40 00:01:08,570 --> 00:01:10,409 we've really only studied kind 41 00:01:10,410 --> 00:01:11,949 of woody habitat dynamics in 42 00:01:11,950 --> 00:01:13,569 relatively simple fish communities. 43 00:01:13,570 --> 00:01:15,509 Largemouth bass and yellow perch 44 00:01:15,510 --> 00:01:17,319 or largemouth Bass and bluegill. 45 00:01:17,320 --> 00:01:18,539 This lake has a pretty 46 00:01:18,540 --> 00:01:20,399 species-diverse fish community 47 00:01:20,400 --> 00:01:22,259 for a small lake, so we've got 48 00:01:22,260 --> 00:01:24,359 naturally producing musculine, 49 00:01:24,360 --> 00:01:26,439 smallmouth bass, walleye, largemouth 50 00:01:26,440 --> 00:01:27,499 bass. 51 00:01:27,500 --> 00:01:29,419 As far as the panfish, yellow perch, 52 00:01:29,420 --> 00:01:31,659 rock bass, bluegill, pumpkin seed, 53 00:01:31,660 --> 00:01:33,439 green sunfish, and hybrids of those 54 00:01:33,440 --> 00:01:34,679 species. 55 00:01:34,680 --> 00:01:36,119 There's some white sucker in here, 56 00:01:36,120 --> 00:01:37,979 there's very few crappie, so it's a 57 00:01:37,980 --> 00:01:39,159 very diverse fish community. 58 00:01:39,160 --> 00:01:41,119 We can understand a little bit 59 00:01:41,120 --> 00:01:42,659 more than just bass and bluegills 60 00:01:42,660 --> 00:01:44,939 and bass and yellow perch about how. 61 00:01:44,940 --> 00:01:46,419 The fish community or more diverse 62 00:01:46,420 --> 00:01:47,799 fish community might respond to 63 00:01:47,800 --> 00:01:48,840 these sorts of manipulations. 64 00:01:50,290 --> 00:01:52,149 So why don't you take us around 65 00:01:52,150 --> 00:01:54,009 and show us some good examples of 66 00:01:54,010 --> 00:01:55,010 what it's like. 67 00:01:55,680 --> 00:01:57,039 So we started the experiment out 68 00:01:57,040 --> 00:01:58,239 here in 2015, 69 00:01:59,280 --> 00:02:01,319 and often when we do, or generally 70 00:02:01,320 --> 00:02:02,739 always with whole lake experiments, 71 00:02:02,740 --> 00:02:04,719 what we should be doing is we should 72 00:02:04,720 --> 00:02:07,399 have a treatment and 73 00:02:07,400 --> 00:02:08,939 a reference system. 74 00:02:08,940 --> 00:02:10,239 So our reference system for this 75 00:02:10,240 --> 00:02:12,379 lake is Escanaba Lake. 76 00:02:12,380 --> 00:02:14,979 And in 2015 to 2018, 77 00:02:14,980 --> 00:02:16,459 we essentially came out here every 78 00:02:16,460 --> 00:02:17,619 spring and sampled the fish 79 00:02:17,620 --> 00:02:19,579 community and got to understand 80 00:02:19,580 --> 00:02:21,719 the limnological conditions, 81 00:02:21,720 --> 00:02:23,399 the riparian zone conditions. 82 00:02:23,400 --> 00:02:24,619 So for three years, we just wanted 83 00:02:24,620 --> 00:02:25,679 to get a baseline. 84 00:02:25,680 --> 00:02:27,819 What was, how was this lake 85 00:02:27,820 --> 00:02:29,419 behaving, so to speak? 86 00:02:29,420 --> 00:02:30,739 Is it's fish community? 87 00:02:30,740 --> 00:02:32,759 Is it water quality and other 88 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:34,839 aspects that we were interested 89 00:02:34,840 --> 00:02:37,059 in might be influenced by a whole 90 00:02:37,060 --> 00:02:39,020 lake addition of woody habitat. 91 00:02:40,040 --> 00:02:41,919 And in 2018, in the summer of 92 00:02:41,920 --> 00:02:43,739 2018, these are some 93 00:02:43,740 --> 00:02:45,039 of the trees that were dropped at 94 00:02:45,040 --> 00:02:46,719 that point. So you can see the 95 00:02:46,720 --> 00:02:48,619 needles are no longer on the trees 96 00:02:48,620 --> 00:02:50,359 anymore, but they're still 97 00:02:50,360 --> 00:02:52,459 maintaining a pretty high branching 98 00:02:52,460 --> 00:02:53,419 complexity. 99 00:02:53,420 --> 00:02:55,499 Even after after 100 00:02:55,500 --> 00:02:57,559 seven years of being in this lake, 101 00:02:57,560 --> 00:02:59,459 ice conditions, but the bark 102 00:02:59,460 --> 00:03:02,239 is starting to be gone now. 103 00:03:02,240 --> 00:03:03,379 But again those very smallest 104 00:03:03,380 --> 00:03:05,299 branches seem to be holding on, the 105 00:03:05,300 --> 00:03:06,379 needles are gone. 106 00:03:06,380 --> 00:03:07,939 It's early in the season yet if this 107 00:03:07,940 --> 00:03:09,959 was about a month from now you'd 108 00:03:09,960 --> 00:03:11,779 see or algae growth 109 00:03:11,780 --> 00:03:13,659 on these trees that we 110 00:03:13,660 --> 00:03:15,599 dropped in 2018. 111 00:03:15,600 --> 00:03:17,399 If we get up close, maybe not right 112 00:03:17,400 --> 00:03:19,119 now, but in the summertime, you'll 113 00:03:19,120 --> 00:03:20,699 see small bluegills and other fish 114 00:03:20,700 --> 00:03:22,119 that are all inside that refuge 115 00:03:22,120 --> 00:03:23,999 area. You might see some of the 116 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:26,499 larger predatory or piscivorous 117 00:03:26,500 --> 00:03:28,399 fish-eating fish, musky 118 00:03:28,400 --> 00:03:30,199 bass, using the outside edges of 119 00:03:30,200 --> 00:03:32,219 them. In a couple weeks here, 120 00:03:32,220 --> 00:03:33,639 we might see smallmouth bass and 121 00:03:33,640 --> 00:03:34,999 largemouth bass nesting in 122 00:03:35,000 --> 00:03:36,859 association with that wood. 123 00:03:36,860 --> 00:03:38,699 So this was the initial phase 124 00:03:38,700 --> 00:03:40,739 of the experiment, or phase one, 125 00:03:40,740 --> 00:03:42,779 where we dropped 140 trees 126 00:03:42,780 --> 00:03:44,449 all along the North Shore. 127 00:03:44,450 --> 00:03:45,509 Of the lake here. 128 00:03:45,510 --> 00:03:46,969 And we did it in kind of bundles and 129 00:03:46,970 --> 00:03:48,349 complexes as you can see. 130 00:03:48,350 --> 00:03:49,449 We got a couple there and we're just 131 00:03:49,450 --> 00:03:50,789 kind of opportunistic with the 132 00:03:50,790 --> 00:03:52,029 sizes. 133 00:03:52,030 --> 00:03:52,849 And then we dropped trees 134 00:03:52,850 --> 00:03:54,089 commensurate with what the forest 135 00:03:54,090 --> 00:03:55,489 is. It was about 87 percent 136 00:03:55,490 --> 00:03:57,389 conifers, 137 00:03:57,390 --> 00:03:59,249 13 percent deciduous trees, 138 00:03:59,250 --> 00:04:00,250 mostly maples. 139 00:04:01,610 --> 00:04:03,189 So that was the first phase of the 140 00:04:03,190 --> 00:04:05,069 project and then we monitor 141 00:04:05,070 --> 00:04:06,089 it. You know, what happened to the 142 00:04:06,090 --> 00:04:07,349 fish community? What happened to the 143 00:04:07,350 --> 00:04:09,989 limnology of the Lake in 144 00:04:09,990 --> 00:04:12,189 that first five, six, 145 00:04:12,190 --> 00:04:13,479 seven years? 146 00:04:13,480 --> 00:04:15,259 Actually, we monitor for six years 147 00:04:15,260 --> 00:04:16,879 is what it ended up being because we 148 00:04:16,880 --> 00:04:18,659 missed a year with COVID with field 149 00:04:18,660 --> 00:04:19,049 sections. 150 00:04:19,050 --> 00:04:20,919 Or is that more electroshock? 151 00:04:20,920 --> 00:04:21,778 So both. 152 00:04:21,779 --> 00:04:22,579 So when we sample the fish 153 00:04:22,580 --> 00:04:24,459 community, we do surveys out 154 00:04:24,460 --> 00:04:25,599 here just like we do on a lot of our 155 00:04:25,600 --> 00:04:27,579 other lakes. We'll FIKE net it for 156 00:04:27,580 --> 00:04:29,059 usually out here for about a month 157 00:04:29,060 --> 00:04:31,119 to get through all the species. 158 00:04:31,120 --> 00:04:32,859 We get mark recapture population 159 00:04:32,860 --> 00:04:34,379 estimates on all the major species 160 00:04:34,380 --> 00:04:35,439 in here. 161 00:04:35,440 --> 00:04:36,899 And then through the collection of 162 00:04:36,900 --> 00:04:38,839 aging material from those fish 163 00:04:38,840 --> 00:04:41,179 and the population estimates, we can 164 00:04:41,180 --> 00:04:42,559 measure production. 165 00:04:42,560 --> 00:04:44,119 So fish production of the fish the 166 00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:45,939 community and production is a 167 00:04:45,940 --> 00:04:47,779 rate. So it's for 168 00:04:47,780 --> 00:04:49,599 scientific terms, it's kilograms per 169 00:04:49,600 --> 00:04:50,689 hectare per year. 170 00:04:50,690 --> 00:04:52,269 English units would be pounds per 171 00:04:52,270 --> 00:04:54,169 acre per year, and so it's 172 00:04:54,170 --> 00:04:56,289 a rate of the productive capacity 173 00:04:56,290 --> 00:04:57,670 of an individual species. 174 00:04:59,250 --> 00:05:00,249 And what we found, we've just 175 00:05:00,250 --> 00:05:01,669 submitted this paper for publication 176 00:05:01,670 --> 00:05:03,489 to Fisheries Magazine, 177 00:05:03,490 --> 00:05:04,889 which is an American Fisheries 178 00:05:04,890 --> 00:05:07,089 Society publication, 179 00:05:07,090 --> 00:05:09,329 is that in six 180 00:05:09,330 --> 00:05:11,549 years, post-coast 181 00:05:11,550 --> 00:05:13,569 woody habitat addition of those 140 182 00:05:13,570 --> 00:05:15,449 trees, we've doubled the fish 183 00:05:15,450 --> 00:05:17,329 community production of Samford 184 00:05:17,330 --> 00:05:18,330 Lake here. 185 00:05:20,080 --> 00:05:21,899 What mostly happened is what we 186 00:05:21,900 --> 00:05:24,059 hypothesize would happen is 187 00:05:24,060 --> 00:05:25,519 every one of these trees is setting 188 00:05:25,520 --> 00:05:27,219 up a micro ecosystem within this 189 00:05:27,220 --> 00:05:28,639 larger ecosystem. 190 00:05:28,640 --> 00:05:30,079 So that tree drops in, it slowly 191 00:05:30,080 --> 00:05:32,279 starts to degrade, that periphyte 192 00:05:32,280 --> 00:05:33,899 grows on it, that algae, that 193 00:05:33,900 --> 00:05:34,959 healthy algae. 194 00:05:34,960 --> 00:05:36,119 That attracts benthic 195 00:05:36,120 --> 00:05:37,899 macroinvertebrates, that attracts 196 00:05:37,900 --> 00:05:39,839 the small fishes that eat those, 197 00:05:39,840 --> 00:05:41,559 and eventually that's to translate 198 00:05:41,560 --> 00:05:43,819 up into the upper trophic levels, 199 00:05:43,820 --> 00:05:45,839 into the musky, into the bass, 200 00:05:45,840 --> 00:05:47,029 and into the walleye. 201 00:05:47,030 --> 00:05:48,449 So in this phase of the experiment 202 00:05:48,450 --> 00:05:50,109 right now, most of that production 203 00:05:50,110 --> 00:05:51,809 is all locked up in those lower 204 00:05:51,810 --> 00:05:53,829 trophic level forage fishes. 205 00:05:53,830 --> 00:05:55,409 So major increases in production in 206 00:05:55,410 --> 00:05:56,969 yellow perch, bluegill, and rock 207 00:05:56,970 --> 00:05:58,989 bass as a response 208 00:05:58,990 --> 00:05:59,990 to the experiment. 209 00:06:01,730 --> 00:06:03,469 And we'll continue to monitor it as 210 00:06:03,470 --> 00:06:05,329 we get farther down the lake here. 211 00:06:05,330 --> 00:06:07,949 Phase two of the project was 212 00:06:07,950 --> 00:06:09,789 to drop trees on 213 00:06:09,790 --> 00:06:12,009 the entire western shoreline of 214 00:06:12,010 --> 00:06:13,989 the lake. And so we really loaded 215 00:06:13,990 --> 00:06:15,519 it up this last time. 216 00:06:15,520 --> 00:06:17,019 And added, and we'll see this when 217 00:06:17,020 --> 00:06:19,019 we get down to shore, we added 240 218 00:06:19,020 --> 00:06:20,859 more trees to this 219 00:06:20,860 --> 00:06:22,999 lake in 220 00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:25,199 early November this past fall. 221 00:06:26,380 --> 00:06:27,999 And the reason we're doing this and 222 00:06:28,000 --> 00:06:30,519 staggering it is we want to find out 223 00:06:30,520 --> 00:06:32,559 or we want a test whether there's 224 00:06:32,560 --> 00:06:34,199 a point where fish production 225 00:06:34,200 --> 00:06:36,499 basically caps out and saturates. 226 00:06:36,500 --> 00:06:38,479 So is there a point were you 227 00:06:38,480 --> 00:06:40,679 know you don't get the benefit of 228 00:06:40,680 --> 00:06:42,159 adding the wood anymore for fish 229 00:06:42,160 --> 00:06:43,899 production. You see some of the 230 00:06:43,900 --> 00:06:44,809 para-fighting there? 231 00:06:44,810 --> 00:06:46,809 That's also freshwater sponge, 232 00:06:46,810 --> 00:06:47,810 which is kind of neat. 233 00:06:49,640 --> 00:06:51,399 The other reason that we are 234 00:06:51,400 --> 00:06:53,939 staggering these 235 00:06:53,940 --> 00:06:55,719 tree drops in the lake is eventually 236 00:06:55,720 --> 00:06:56,879 we'll have a third phase where we do 237 00:06:56,880 --> 00:06:58,039 the rest of the lake, the entire 238 00:06:58,040 --> 00:06:59,119 southern shore. 239 00:06:59,120 --> 00:07:00,979 We're staggering it because most 240 00:07:00,980 --> 00:07:02,339 of the lakes in northern Wisconsin 241 00:07:02,340 --> 00:07:03,999 or almost anywhere, there's not 242 00:07:04,000 --> 00:07:05,859 going to be this amount of 243 00:07:05,860 --> 00:07:08,039 area to put trees into. 244 00:07:08,040 --> 00:07:09,739 So it'd be good to know if there is 245 00:07:09,740 --> 00:07:11,319 a saturating point and we get the 246 00:07:11,320 --> 00:07:13,399 question of how many trees should we 247 00:07:13,400 --> 00:07:15,819 add to get this sort of response or 248 00:07:15,820 --> 00:07:19,149 what type of 249 00:07:19,150 --> 00:07:20,369 We should be able to answer some of 250 00:07:20,370 --> 00:07:23,089 those questions, so again, 251 00:07:23,090 --> 00:07:24,169 everything we're trying to do here 252 00:07:24,170 --> 00:07:26,109 is applied so that what we 253 00:07:26,110 --> 00:07:27,829 learn here can be taken on the 254 00:07:27,830 --> 00:07:29,189 landscape for the greater good of 255 00:07:29,190 --> 00:07:32,159 lakes based on what we observe here. 256 00:07:32,160 --> 00:07:33,919 Yeah, so have you determined if 257 00:07:33,920 --> 00:07:34,899 there's a difference between 258 00:07:34,900 --> 00:07:36,739 dropping a conifer versus a 259 00:07:36,740 --> 00:07:37,849 deciduous tree? 260 00:07:37,850 --> 00:07:39,789 Not a difference per se, 261 00:07:39,790 --> 00:07:41,729 it's only going to be, or what we 262 00:07:41,730 --> 00:07:42,809 do know is it's going to be in 263 00:07:42,810 --> 00:07:44,289 longevity of how long that wood is 264 00:07:44,290 --> 00:07:45,729 going to last. 265 00:07:45,730 --> 00:07:47,449 And so everything we've dropped in 266 00:07:47,450 --> 00:07:49,269 here is either a hardwood or 267 00:07:49,270 --> 00:07:51,229 a conifer and they last a long 268 00:07:51,230 --> 00:07:52,629 time compared to something like a 269 00:07:52,630 --> 00:07:54,649 birch or an aspen in our softer 270 00:07:54,650 --> 00:07:55,429 woods. 271 00:07:55,430 --> 00:07:56,509 They also have to maintain their 272 00:07:56,510 --> 00:07:58,589 branching complexity a bit better. 273 00:07:58,590 --> 00:08:00,069 But like the conifers, you know, if 274 00:08:00,070 --> 00:08:01,229 we were to take a chainsaw to that 275 00:08:01,230 --> 00:08:03,069 one right there and we cut into 276 00:08:03,070 --> 00:08:04,629 that, that sap would smell as fresh 277 00:08:04,630 --> 00:08:06,519 as cutting that tree down. 278 00:08:06,520 --> 00:08:08,499 In the wood. It doesn't degrade 279 00:08:08,500 --> 00:08:10,379 very rapidly at all, especially 280 00:08:10,380 --> 00:08:11,839 those that are under water. 281 00:08:13,140 --> 00:08:14,179 So it's a long process. 282 00:08:14,180 --> 00:08:16,319 They've done some dendrology on 283 00:08:16,320 --> 00:08:17,599 woody habitat in lakes and some 284 00:08:17,600 --> 00:08:18,879 Ontario lakes, and some of those 285 00:08:18,880 --> 00:08:20,539 pieces of wood had been in the lake 286 00:08:20,540 --> 00:08:23,279 for 500, 550 years. 287 00:08:23,280 --> 00:08:24,579 It's very long-lived. 288 00:08:25,980 --> 00:08:27,059 Another reason for doing the 289 00:08:27,060 --> 00:08:29,199 experiment out here, though, is that 290 00:08:29,200 --> 00:08:31,199 there was a lot of woody habitats 291 00:08:31,200 --> 00:08:32,479 in this lake, but it was all highly 292 00:08:32,480 --> 00:08:34,699 degraded and contributing 293 00:08:34,700 --> 00:08:35,918 to the system. 294 00:08:35,919 --> 00:08:37,859 So to speak anymore and 295 00:08:37,860 --> 00:08:39,859 so this was kind of a pulse 296 00:08:39,860 --> 00:08:41,798 of new 297 00:08:41,799 --> 00:08:43,379 coarse woody habitat, new carbon 298 00:08:43,380 --> 00:08:44,739 that's going to slowly enter this 299 00:08:44,740 --> 00:08:46,899 system and 300 00:08:46,900 --> 00:08:48,779 then as we've shown so far 301 00:08:48,780 --> 00:08:50,119 it's made its way into the food web 302 00:08:50,120 --> 00:08:51,240 and increased fish production. 303 00:08:53,040 --> 00:08:54,659 There's a difference between someone 304 00:08:54,660 --> 00:08:56,939 who will put logs out 305 00:08:56,940 --> 00:08:58,279 on the ice in the middle of the lake 306 00:08:58,280 --> 00:09:00,079 versus dropping a tree on the edge 307 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:01,080 of it. 308 00:09:02,280 --> 00:09:03,619 So we've had a lot of conversations 309 00:09:03,620 --> 00:09:05,099 about that and some research. 310 00:09:05,100 --> 00:09:06,939 And so formally within 311 00:09:06,940 --> 00:09:08,759 Wisconsin DNR, you know, 312 00:09:08,760 --> 00:09:10,739 we fill out permits for Cribs, 313 00:09:10,740 --> 00:09:11,879 fish cribs, which is more of what 314 00:09:11,880 --> 00:09:13,759 you're talking about, Zach, where 315 00:09:13,760 --> 00:09:14,759 we're going to go on to some deeper 316 00:09:14,760 --> 00:09:15,799 water. It's not going to be a 317 00:09:15,800 --> 00:09:17,099 navigational hazard. 318 00:09:17,100 --> 00:09:18,719 We're going kind of sunk a log cabin 319 00:09:18,720 --> 00:09:21,419 or a complex of trees. 320 00:09:21,420 --> 00:09:23,259 We've gotten away from that as an 321 00:09:23,260 --> 00:09:24,719 agency. We still have that permit 322 00:09:24,720 --> 00:09:26,139 and we still allow it. 323 00:09:26,140 --> 00:09:27,919 But we've gone more towards fish 324 00:09:27,920 --> 00:09:29,679 sticks and tree drops, which this is 325 00:09:29,680 --> 00:09:31,820 Because that simulates the natural 326 00:09:33,489 --> 00:09:34,789 environment of what would happen. 327 00:09:34,790 --> 00:09:36,609 That pine tree right there, 328 00:09:36,610 --> 00:09:38,469 you know, when that dies it has 360 329 00:09:38,470 --> 00:09:40,369 degrees to fall and about 180 of 330 00:09:40,370 --> 00:09:42,269 them would be associated with the 331 00:09:42,270 --> 00:09:44,029 lake. That's the natural process 332 00:09:44,030 --> 00:09:46,169 we're trying to simulate with this. 333 00:09:46,170 --> 00:09:47,849 What we did here was by request of 334 00:09:47,850 --> 00:09:49,149 the group that we're working with, 335 00:09:49,150 --> 00:09:50,589 they wanted us to specifically do 336 00:09:50,590 --> 00:09:51,629 tree drops. 337 00:09:51,630 --> 00:09:52,809 Another thing that we promote that's 338 00:09:52,810 --> 00:09:54,149 probably even better than tree drops 339 00:09:54,150 --> 00:09:56,269 is if possible go 340 00:09:56,270 --> 00:09:57,929 cut wood in an upland forest that's 341 00:09:57,930 --> 00:09:59,369 away from the lakes. You leave all 342 00:09:59,370 --> 00:10:01,229 the riparian habitat to fall 343 00:10:01,230 --> 00:10:03,169 in. Bring that onto the ice in the 344 00:10:03,170 --> 00:10:04,569 winter and distribute it like this 345 00:10:04,570 --> 00:10:05,869 and that's what we call our fish 346 00:10:05,870 --> 00:10:07,949 sticks program that Scott Toshner 347 00:10:07,950 --> 00:10:09,789 started oh at least 348 00:10:09,790 --> 00:10:11,849 ten years ago now in northwestern 349 00:10:11,850 --> 00:10:13,629 Wisconsin based out of the Hayward 350 00:10:13,630 --> 00:10:14,919 and Brule area. 351 00:10:14,920 --> 00:10:16,759 So I guess that's, I mean, obviously 352 00:10:16,760 --> 00:10:18,999 there's an advantage to having a 353 00:10:19,000 --> 00:10:20,779 private lake that you can do this on 354 00:10:20,780 --> 00:10:21,939 where it is more of a controlled 355 00:10:21,940 --> 00:10:23,079 experiment. Yeah. 356 00:10:23,080 --> 00:10:25,119 But if we're going to expand this to 357 00:10:25,120 --> 00:10:27,479 public lakes that are developed, 358 00:10:27,480 --> 00:10:29,179 they don't have trees left, but they 359 00:10:29,180 --> 00:10:31,239 can still possibly get there by 360 00:10:31,240 --> 00:10:31,969 fish sticks. 361 00:10:31,970 --> 00:10:33,789 And that's exactly what we're doing. 362 00:10:33,790 --> 00:10:35,909 So, you know, as an agency, 363 00:10:35,910 --> 00:10:38,069 we prefer to 364 00:10:38,070 --> 00:10:39,549 have the riparian zone intact. 365 00:10:39,550 --> 00:10:41,269 There's all kinds of benefits to 366 00:10:41,270 --> 00:10:43,529 having that riparian forest from, 367 00:10:43,530 --> 00:10:44,809 you know nutrients, preventing 368 00:10:44,810 --> 00:10:47,149 nutrients from getting in the lake. 369 00:10:47,150 --> 00:10:48,669 Some, you water kind of 370 00:10:48,670 --> 00:10:50,529 purification, clarification sorts of 371 00:10:50,530 --> 00:10:51,669 purposes. 372 00:10:51,670 --> 00:10:53,309 So those runoff effects, but then 373 00:10:53,310 --> 00:10:55,089 also having that leaf litter that 374 00:10:55,090 --> 00:10:56,569 naturally falls in the Lake, breaks 375 00:10:56,570 --> 00:10:58,049 down and gets incorporated into the 376 00:10:58,050 --> 00:10:59,889 food web, as well as just the woody 377 00:10:59,890 --> 00:11:01,409 habitat that might naturally fall in 378 00:11:01,410 --> 00:11:03,399 through. Storm event or senescence 379 00:11:03,400 --> 00:11:04,739 or a beaver dropping it into the 380 00:11:04,740 --> 00:11:05,599 lake. 381 00:11:05,600 --> 00:11:06,839 So that's exactly what we'd, you 382 00:11:06,840 --> 00:11:08,159 know, promote in those sorts of 383 00:11:08,160 --> 00:11:10,939 situations is that we want, 384 00:11:10,940 --> 00:11:13,279 we've signed that permit but 385 00:11:13,280 --> 00:11:14,699 we want you to bring it from upland 386 00:11:14,700 --> 00:11:16,239 sources, drag it onto the lake in 387 00:11:16,240 --> 00:11:17,240 winter and distribute it. 388 00:11:19,540 --> 00:11:21,839 We were on Lake Namacoggin, 389 00:11:21,840 --> 00:11:23,879 with Mike DeAndrea, 390 00:11:23,880 --> 00:11:25,519 and he said they've dropped a number 391 00:11:25,520 --> 00:11:27,799 on a one undeveloped 392 00:11:27,800 --> 00:11:29,239 section of shoreline. 393 00:11:29,240 --> 00:11:31,039 So when, when, how fast do they see 394 00:11:31,040 --> 00:11:32,040 results? 395 00:11:33,569 --> 00:11:35,529 So I'd say relatively quickly 396 00:11:35,530 --> 00:11:37,729 depending on what the response is 397 00:11:37,730 --> 00:11:39,569 and so in general 398 00:11:39,570 --> 00:11:40,869 as soon as you drop these trees 399 00:11:40,870 --> 00:11:41,989 they'll become fish attracting 400 00:11:41,990 --> 00:11:44,209 structure really rapidly especially 401 00:11:44,210 --> 00:11:46,029 for the small fishes and then 402 00:11:46,030 --> 00:11:47,649 the larger fishes will often set up 403 00:11:47,650 --> 00:11:49,629 ambush points on the edges of 404 00:11:49,630 --> 00:11:51,009 it. Then within a couple years 405 00:11:51,010 --> 00:11:52,069 you're going to start to see the 406 00:11:52,070 --> 00:11:54,589 degradation of the tree bark, 407 00:11:54,590 --> 00:11:55,909 the pine needles falling off and 408 00:11:55,910 --> 00:11:56,769 things like that. 409 00:11:56,770 --> 00:11:57,849 That's where you start to get You're 410 00:11:57,850 --> 00:11:58,769 para-fighting through that 411 00:11:58,770 --> 00:12:00,109 degradation and those release of 412 00:12:00,110 --> 00:12:01,019 nutrients. 413 00:12:01,020 --> 00:12:02,479 The background vertebrates quickly 414 00:12:02,480 --> 00:12:04,359 respond to that and then, like I 415 00:12:04,360 --> 00:12:06,319 said, the micro-ecosystem now the 416 00:12:06,320 --> 00:12:07,839 fish progression starts. 417 00:12:07,840 --> 00:12:11,219 So it happens pretty rapidly, you 418 00:12:11,220 --> 00:12:12,940 know, once these are implemented. 419 00:12:15,020 --> 00:12:16,399 Another question we get about this, 420 00:12:16,400 --> 00:12:17,679 you now, I talk about periphyton and 421 00:12:17,680 --> 00:12:18,939 it's kind of a healthy, naturally 422 00:12:18,940 --> 00:12:19,940 algae. 423 00:12:21,120 --> 00:12:22,919 One of the other questions that we 424 00:12:22,920 --> 00:12:24,319 answered in this experiment is we've 425 00:12:24,320 --> 00:12:26,359 heard a number of times, 426 00:12:26,360 --> 00:12:28,139 like, well, if we add trees to our 427 00:12:28,140 --> 00:12:29,479 lake, that's going to... 428 00:12:29,480 --> 00:12:32,459 Make the water less clear, 429 00:12:32,460 --> 00:12:34,039 because of the nutrients that are in 430 00:12:34,040 --> 00:12:35,219 the system now, it's going to lead 431 00:12:35,220 --> 00:12:37,359 to harmful algal blooms and 432 00:12:37,360 --> 00:12:38,419 it's just going to change our water 433 00:12:38,420 --> 00:12:39,699 quality in general so we're not in 434 00:12:39,700 --> 00:12:40,599 favor of it. 435 00:12:40,600 --> 00:12:41,959 We just published a paper recently 436 00:12:41,960 --> 00:12:43,959 that basically what we did out 437 00:12:43,960 --> 00:12:45,539 here changed none of those 438 00:12:45,540 --> 00:12:46,699 variables. 439 00:12:46,700 --> 00:12:47,679 It didn't change anything 440 00:12:47,680 --> 00:12:49,399 meaningful. Chlorophyll A went up a 441 00:12:49,400 --> 00:12:51,339 tiny bit, but it didn't 442 00:12:51,340 --> 00:12:52,879 make any difference with second this 443 00:12:52,880 --> 00:12:54,799 transparency or water clarity 444 00:12:54,800 --> 00:12:55,800 in this lake. 445 00:12:58,660 --> 00:12:59,859 And so that was, I think, a good, 446 00:12:59,860 --> 00:13:01,379 again, one of those demonstration 447 00:13:01,380 --> 00:13:03,139 experiments like I talked about. 448 00:13:03,140 --> 00:13:04,699 Until you do it and you measure it 449 00:13:04,700 --> 00:13:06,239 and get it out there and are able to 450 00:13:06,240 --> 00:13:08,199 talk about it, people may be 451 00:13:08,200 --> 00:13:09,539 reluctant to do something that's 452 00:13:09,540 --> 00:13:10,600 quite beneficial for a lake. 453 00:13:12,150 --> 00:13:14,229 There's a lot of conventional 454 00:13:14,230 --> 00:13:16,169 wisdom that you have 455 00:13:16,170 --> 00:13:18,029 to overcome in a lot of these 456 00:13:18,030 --> 00:13:19,509 places where people this is why 457 00:13:19,510 --> 00:13:20,909 we've always done it this is what 458 00:13:20,910 --> 00:13:22,769 we've always assumed how 459 00:13:22,770 --> 00:13:24,629 hard is it to I mean can one study 460 00:13:24,630 --> 00:13:26,509 penetrate some of that or does it 461 00:13:26,510 --> 00:13:28,369 have to be a study that then shows 462 00:13:28,370 --> 00:13:29,769 it like they have to feel it 463 00:13:29,770 --> 00:13:30,770 themselves 464 00:13:31,570 --> 00:13:32,990 I think a little bit of both. 465 00:13:34,210 --> 00:13:35,309 I mean, like I said, I think the 466 00:13:35,310 --> 00:13:37,169 demonstration science helps a lot, 467 00:13:37,170 --> 00:13:38,749 but it's also the outreach then, 468 00:13:38,750 --> 00:13:40,729 right? And so as an agency 469 00:13:40,730 --> 00:13:42,189 we spend a lot of time working with 470 00:13:42,190 --> 00:13:44,009 lake associations and anglers and 471 00:13:44,010 --> 00:13:46,209 fishing clubs to 472 00:13:46,210 --> 00:13:48,089 take the science that's 473 00:13:48,090 --> 00:13:49,329 out here that we're looking at right 474 00:13:49,330 --> 00:13:50,809 now and the research we're looking 475 00:13:50,810 --> 00:13:52,569 at, right now, and the results and 476 00:13:52,570 --> 00:13:53,889 taking it out into the public and 477 00:13:53,890 --> 00:13:55,869 having those conversations and 478 00:13:55,870 --> 00:13:57,129 showing those things and talking 479 00:13:57,130 --> 00:13:59,009 about it, and 480 00:13:59,010 --> 00:14:00,069 so I think that's one of our 481 00:14:00,070 --> 00:14:01,269 greatest tools. 482 00:14:01,270 --> 00:14:02,909 That we have for some of those 483 00:14:02,910 --> 00:14:04,549 transformative changes or policy 484 00:14:04,550 --> 00:14:06,409 changes and then like I said I 485 00:14:06,410 --> 00:14:08,729 think often times there's a lot of, 486 00:14:08,730 --> 00:14:10,629 it can be very contagious and 487 00:14:10,630 --> 00:14:12,009 so you get a lake association or 488 00:14:12,010 --> 00:14:13,829 someone that sees 489 00:14:13,830 --> 00:14:15,129 the results, they understand the 490 00:14:15,130 --> 00:14:16,489 results and then it becomes they're 491 00:14:16,490 --> 00:14:18,509 promoting it and it propagates from 492 00:14:18,510 --> 00:14:19,510 there. 493 00:14:20,150 --> 00:14:22,389 So I think a lot of that is where 494 00:14:22,390 --> 00:14:23,749 you know big progress comes from 495 00:14:23,750 --> 00:14:24,750 these sorts of things. 496 00:14:29,600 --> 00:14:31,239 So you see all the freshwater sponge 497 00:14:31,240 --> 00:14:33,099 that's growing? 498 00:14:33,100 --> 00:14:34,159 So that's been a really... That's 499 00:14:34,160 --> 00:14:35,119 the green stuff that's down there? 500 00:14:35,120 --> 00:14:37,319 Yep, yep. So this kind of green 501 00:14:37,320 --> 00:14:39,239 wavy sort 502 00:14:39,240 --> 00:14:41,099 of stalks there, that's freshwater 503 00:14:41,100 --> 00:14:42,100 sponge. 504 00:14:42,900 --> 00:14:44,439 And that was a pretty big response. 505 00:14:44,440 --> 00:14:45,659 A lot of periphyton, but a lot of 506 00:14:45,660 --> 00:14:46,819 freshwater sponge on most of these 507 00:14:46,820 --> 00:14:47,820 trees. 508 00:14:48,530 --> 00:14:50,449 Are we able to kind of go 509 00:14:50,450 --> 00:14:52,309 into them and 510 00:14:52,310 --> 00:14:54,089 Ethan's got the GoPro we can kind of 511 00:14:54,090 --> 00:14:54,909 put that down the water 512 00:14:54,910 --> 00:14:55,949 I'm going to take you to one of our 513 00:14:55,950 --> 00:14:56,749 biggest ones down here. 514 00:14:56,750 --> 00:14:57,969 We got a huge hemlock that we 515 00:14:57,970 --> 00:14:59,389 dropped. And maybe that'll be a neat 516 00:14:59,390 --> 00:15:00,390 one. 517 00:15:00,790 --> 00:15:02,289 That one was so loud when it hit the 518 00:15:02,290 --> 00:15:04,129 water, it like cut out the audio on 519 00:15:04,130 --> 00:15:06,209 my video camera. 520 00:15:06,210 --> 00:15:07,929 It just like went blank for a second 521 00:15:07,930 --> 00:15:09,169 when I hit the water. 522 00:15:13,050 --> 00:15:14,509 And we've left a couple areas in 523 00:15:14,510 --> 00:15:16,449 here by the club's 524 00:15:16,450 --> 00:15:17,989 request, like this one not to drop 525 00:15:17,990 --> 00:15:19,089 trees here. 526 00:15:19,090 --> 00:15:20,329 There is some walleye spawning that 527 00:15:20,330 --> 00:15:21,330 goes on in here. 528 00:15:25,220 --> 00:15:27,039 But for the most part, we added a 529 00:15:27,040 --> 00:15:28,019 lot of trees and we're going to go 530 00:15:28,020 --> 00:15:30,139 along the western shoreline here, 531 00:15:30,140 --> 00:15:32,259 which we did last fall. 532 00:15:33,780 --> 00:15:34,780 Take a look. 533 00:15:35,680 --> 00:15:36,659 All the work that we're doing out 534 00:15:36,660 --> 00:15:37,959 here, we're a lot behavioral work 535 00:15:37,960 --> 00:15:39,979 with fish to see how they respond to 536 00:15:39,980 --> 00:15:41,859 this. So we have musky 537 00:15:41,860 --> 00:15:44,739 smallmouth, largemouth, 538 00:15:44,740 --> 00:15:46,479 and walleye that have radio 539 00:15:46,480 --> 00:15:47,359 transmitters in them. 540 00:15:47,360 --> 00:15:49,219 So we find where 541 00:15:49,220 --> 00:15:50,519 they are in the lake every two 542 00:15:50,520 --> 00:15:51,599 weeks. 543 00:15:51,600 --> 00:15:52,939 We've had what are called pit tag 544 00:15:52,940 --> 00:15:54,599 receivers out here, so your pit tag 545 00:15:54,600 --> 00:15:56,439 is... The same as like a microchip 546 00:15:56,440 --> 00:15:58,219 that you might put into a pet that 547 00:15:58,220 --> 00:16:00,139 gets lost and you can find it. 548 00:16:00,140 --> 00:16:01,699 We put a lot of those into fish and 549 00:16:01,700 --> 00:16:03,799 we had receivers out here that were 550 00:16:03,800 --> 00:16:05,579 tracking fish movements in relation 551 00:16:05,580 --> 00:16:07,839 to the new habitat constantly 552 00:16:07,840 --> 00:16:08,739 basically. 553 00:16:08,740 --> 00:16:09,799 Anytime they passed over those 554 00:16:09,800 --> 00:16:11,739 antennae they would get picked 555 00:16:11,740 --> 00:16:14,159 up and we get that information. 556 00:16:14,160 --> 00:16:15,159 A former master student of mine 557 00:16:15,160 --> 00:16:16,659 worked on that aspect of the project 558 00:16:16,660 --> 00:16:17,660 out here. 559 00:16:18,070 --> 00:16:19,769 And they found that they were coming 560 00:16:19,770 --> 00:16:20,639 into it more. 561 00:16:20,640 --> 00:16:22,340 It's been very interesting. 562 00:16:23,400 --> 00:16:24,999 So there was definitely some early 563 00:16:25,000 --> 00:16:26,139 attraction to the structure, but 564 00:16:26,140 --> 00:16:27,699 then we started to see more offshore 565 00:16:27,700 --> 00:16:28,919 movement and just movement in 566 00:16:28,920 --> 00:16:29,959 general. 567 00:16:29,960 --> 00:16:32,179 And we think, based 568 00:16:32,180 --> 00:16:34,159 on the literature and those 569 00:16:34,160 --> 00:16:36,099 results, what we're seeing is that 570 00:16:36,100 --> 00:16:37,959 we probably created so much good 571 00:16:37,960 --> 00:16:39,879 refuge habitat in here that 572 00:16:39,880 --> 00:16:41,039 it didn't become good foraging 573 00:16:41,040 --> 00:16:42,159 habitat anymore. 574 00:16:42,160 --> 00:16:43,459 You can hit that point, and it's 575 00:16:43,460 --> 00:16:44,499 another reason of doing the 576 00:16:44,500 --> 00:16:46,619 experiment of how much is too much 577 00:16:46,620 --> 00:16:47,939 where you start to imbalance things 578 00:16:47,940 --> 00:16:48,969 in the other way. 579 00:16:48,970 --> 00:16:50,309 Because we know this with aquatic 580 00:16:50,310 --> 00:16:52,609 weeds and with some woody 581 00:16:52,610 --> 00:16:53,610 habitat studies. 582 00:17:03,620 --> 00:17:05,578 Went up and in other studies we 583 00:17:05,579 --> 00:17:07,479 found that their activity costs for 584 00:17:07,480 --> 00:17:08,899 the predators went down because it 585 00:17:08,900 --> 00:17:10,338 would just stay in association with 586 00:17:10,339 --> 00:17:11,339 the habitat. 587 00:17:40,430 --> 00:17:42,009 It's been seven years and we can 588 00:17:42,010 --> 00:17:43,010 see. 589 00:17:45,810 --> 00:17:47,349 If you look into the water, all the 590 00:17:47,350 --> 00:17:48,629 branching complexity that's still 591 00:17:48,630 --> 00:17:51,269 remaining in habitat that 592 00:17:51,270 --> 00:17:53,609 that's creating for small fish. 593 00:17:55,110 --> 00:17:56,909 And I'll also note, these woody 594 00:17:56,910 --> 00:17:58,429 habitat additions are not just for 595 00:17:58,430 --> 00:17:59,589 fish. 596 00:17:59,590 --> 00:18:02,269 This is basking habitat for turtles. 597 00:18:02,270 --> 00:18:03,809 In the right situation, a loon may 598 00:18:03,810 --> 00:18:05,749 build its nest on a floating log 599 00:18:05,750 --> 00:18:06,969 in a right situation. 600 00:18:08,170 --> 00:18:10,029 You see blue herons perched on 601 00:18:10,030 --> 00:18:11,409 them and fishing. 602 00:18:11,410 --> 00:18:13,489 So there's a lot of different 603 00:18:13,490 --> 00:18:14,829 benefits. 604 00:18:14,830 --> 00:18:16,889 A yellow perch lay their eggs. 605 00:18:16,890 --> 00:18:17,949 Their egg ribbons will be draped 606 00:18:17,950 --> 00:18:19,689 across this coarse woody habitat. 607 00:18:19,690 --> 00:18:21,609 Same thing for frogs and toads 608 00:18:21,610 --> 00:18:23,009 and our amphibians. 609 00:18:23,010 --> 00:18:24,190 They use this habitat too. 610 00:18:26,930 --> 00:18:28,769 Yeah, the number of 611 00:18:28,770 --> 00:18:31,729 tadpoles, massive tadpols, 612 00:18:31,730 --> 00:18:33,729 was incredible. 613 00:18:33,730 --> 00:18:35,649 And that's not even many. 614 00:18:35,650 --> 00:18:37,509 In some years out here, we're dip 615 00:18:37,510 --> 00:18:39,649 netting out five gallon buckets 616 00:18:39,650 --> 00:18:41,389 full of tadpoles. 617 00:18:41,390 --> 00:18:43,469 And what I've understood over the 618 00:18:43,470 --> 00:18:44,529 years here, I'm pretty sure they're 619 00:18:44,530 --> 00:18:45,869 green frogs. And what happens is 620 00:18:45,870 --> 00:18:47,929 that they get these banner tadpole 621 00:18:47,930 --> 00:18:49,489 years where everything's right. 622 00:18:49,490 --> 00:18:51,129 And there's so many of them that 623 00:18:51,130 --> 00:18:52,829 they actually, it becomes a 624 00:18:52,830 --> 00:18:53,789 rhinovirus die off. 625 00:18:53,790 --> 00:18:55,209 So we've seen it on Escanaba for 626 00:18:55,210 --> 00:18:56,769 sure. I think it's seen it here. 627 00:18:56,770 --> 00:18:58,789 So as they start to emerge from 628 00:18:58,790 --> 00:19:00,729 tadpols to become frogs. 629 00:19:00,730 --> 00:19:02,369 Right at that stage, that rhinovirus 630 00:19:02,370 --> 00:19:03,449 kind of hits and knocks those 631 00:19:03,450 --> 00:19:04,569 densities down, and so you'll see a 632 00:19:04,570 --> 00:19:07,969 lot of dead tadpoles that 633 00:19:07,970 --> 00:19:09,950 are going through metamorphosis. 634 00:19:15,380 --> 00:19:17,039 I just realized Green Frog got that 635 00:19:17,040 --> 00:19:18,109 big. 636 00:19:18,110 --> 00:19:19,589 Yeah, the tadpoles, I think they're 637 00:19:19,590 --> 00:19:21,109 a pretty good size. 638 00:19:21,110 --> 00:19:22,589 These tadpols are in the water for 639 00:19:22,590 --> 00:19:24,409 at least two years, so a lot of the 640 00:19:24,410 --> 00:19:26,069 ones in here in Escanaba, they're 641 00:19:26,070 --> 00:19:27,070 getting their legs right now. 642 00:19:30,580 --> 00:19:32,579 So we're just ending the first phase 643 00:19:32,580 --> 00:19:34,359 of the woody habitat edition right 644 00:19:34,360 --> 00:19:36,299 now. Again, that was in 645 00:19:36,300 --> 00:19:38,379 June of 2018 that we dropped those 646 00:19:38,380 --> 00:19:40,939 trees along the North shoreline. 647 00:19:40,940 --> 00:19:43,459 And then we started phase two 648 00:19:43,460 --> 00:19:45,698 this past fall 649 00:19:45,699 --> 00:19:47,639 in early November of 650 00:19:47,640 --> 00:19:49,559 2024, where now 651 00:19:49,560 --> 00:19:51,379 we're on the Western shoreline of 652 00:19:51,380 --> 00:19:52,659 the lake. 653 00:19:52,660 --> 00:19:54,679 And I came out here with a 654 00:19:54,680 --> 00:19:56,239 forester and took a look 655 00:19:56,240 --> 00:19:57,859 opportunistically at what trees 656 00:19:57,860 --> 00:19:59,899 would make sense species 657 00:19:59,900 --> 00:20:00,789 wise. 658 00:20:00,790 --> 00:20:03,089 To drop in and 659 00:20:03,090 --> 00:20:05,809 now we're seeing trees 660 00:20:05,810 --> 00:20:07,869 that have been dropped in 661 00:20:07,870 --> 00:20:09,829 wherever we're at six months ago 662 00:20:09,830 --> 00:20:11,669 now and have just gone through their 663 00:20:11,670 --> 00:20:13,109 first winter. 664 00:20:13,110 --> 00:20:14,089 You can see there's a little 665 00:20:14,090 --> 00:20:15,909 discoloration on some of the 666 00:20:15,910 --> 00:20:17,549 pine needles there but we still have 667 00:20:17,550 --> 00:20:20,489 some green underneath and 668 00:20:20,490 --> 00:20:22,149 again we were pretty optimistic of 669 00:20:22,150 --> 00:20:24,389 trying to put the trees in bundles 670 00:20:24,390 --> 00:20:26,509 creating a lot of habitat to 671 00:20:26,510 --> 00:20:28,409 continue to see how it influences. 672 00:20:28,410 --> 00:20:29,829 The fish community production of the 673 00:20:29,830 --> 00:20:31,309 lake and other aspects of the 674 00:20:31,310 --> 00:20:32,569 aquatic ecosystem out here. 675 00:20:38,390 --> 00:20:39,829 We worked with some amazing lagers 676 00:20:39,830 --> 00:20:41,549 that did this. 677 00:20:41,550 --> 00:20:42,949 How long do you think it took to 678 00:20:42,950 --> 00:20:45,029 drop 240 trees into the shoreline 679 00:20:45,030 --> 00:20:46,569 of Lake with two guys? 680 00:20:46,570 --> 00:20:48,390 Walking with the chainsaw. 681 00:20:50,280 --> 00:20:51,280 Three hours. 682 00:20:53,780 --> 00:20:55,479 We started about 9.30, and we were 683 00:20:55,480 --> 00:20:56,480 eating lunch at 1. 684 00:20:57,380 --> 00:20:58,779 And they took a couple breaks. 685 00:20:58,780 --> 00:21:00,379 It was a little bit warmer that day. 686 00:21:00,380 --> 00:21:01,419 And I sort of understand it. 687 00:21:01,420 --> 00:21:02,879 I was like, guys, by all means, I'll 688 00:21:02,880 --> 00:21:03,880 take your time. 689 00:21:04,840 --> 00:21:05,819 And they didn't want to go back to 690 00:21:05,820 --> 00:21:07,079 the shop to grease equipment and 691 00:21:07,080 --> 00:21:08,259 stuff like that. 692 00:21:09,760 --> 00:21:11,659 And it was just 693 00:21:11,660 --> 00:21:13,279 amazing to watch your professional 694 00:21:13,280 --> 00:21:15,099 work 695 00:21:15,100 --> 00:21:16,119 in that aspect. 696 00:21:16,120 --> 00:21:17,499 I wish I had the same level of 697 00:21:17,500 --> 00:21:18,449 confidence. 698 00:21:18,450 --> 00:21:19,559 Sick. 699 00:21:19,560 --> 00:21:21,379 Just guys, this is absolutely 700 00:21:21,380 --> 00:21:22,339 incredible what you're doing. 701 00:21:22,340 --> 00:21:23,340 This is amazing. 702 00:21:25,300 --> 00:21:26,599 They're like, this is the cherry of 703 00:21:26,600 --> 00:21:27,499 cherry jobs we get. 704 00:21:27,500 --> 00:21:29,539 We're not trying to lift a 705 00:21:29,540 --> 00:21:30,699 huge tree that's sitting over 706 00:21:30,700 --> 00:21:31,780 somebody's garage. 707 00:21:33,000 --> 00:21:34,999 With this lift, this pulley system, 708 00:21:35,000 --> 00:21:36,099 he's like, we're just dropping trees. 709 00:21:36,100 --> 00:21:37,100 He's like this is great. 710 00:21:39,170 --> 00:21:40,269 I figured it would take longer than 711 00:21:40,270 --> 00:21:41,270 that just to walk. 712 00:21:42,140 --> 00:21:44,459 Said three hours and 713 00:21:44,460 --> 00:21:46,559 they probably took at least 714 00:21:46,560 --> 00:21:48,399 they took two they took like 715 00:21:48,400 --> 00:21:50,199 a 10 minute break and they took a 20 716 00:21:50,200 --> 00:21:51,200 minute break 717 00:21:58,560 --> 00:22:00,239 And it's literally just zip, zip, 718 00:22:00,240 --> 00:22:01,919 boom, zip zip boom. 719 00:22:01,920 --> 00:22:03,799 So is the bike net in here 720 00:22:03,800 --> 00:22:05,099 deliberately trying to see what 721 00:22:05,100 --> 00:22:06,829 comes into these shorelines? 722 00:22:06,830 --> 00:22:08,269 It's more opportunistically. 723 00:22:09,690 --> 00:22:11,409 We typically set them in slightly 724 00:22:11,410 --> 00:22:13,409 different areas, but now 725 00:22:13,410 --> 00:22:14,589 that there's so much wood on this 726 00:22:14,590 --> 00:22:15,969 side of the lake it's harder to get 727 00:22:15,970 --> 00:22:18,129 to some of the place we wanted to. 728 00:22:18,130 --> 00:22:20,009 So Taylor, she's the 729 00:22:20,010 --> 00:22:21,249 one Taylor and Dylan set it this 730 00:22:21,250 --> 00:22:22,809 year, so they just set it more 731 00:22:22,810 --> 00:22:24,269 opportunistic to get good coverage 732 00:22:24,270 --> 00:22:26,309 of the Lake where we 733 00:22:26,310 --> 00:22:27,969 know there's decent walleye spawning 734 00:22:27,970 --> 00:22:28,970 habitat. 735 00:22:31,740 --> 00:22:33,079 Because our nets out here, they've 736 00:22:33,080 --> 00:22:34,179 got good coverage throughout the 737 00:22:34,180 --> 00:22:35,899 lake and we're getting all species, 738 00:22:35,900 --> 00:22:37,019 but at least early on we're 739 00:22:37,020 --> 00:22:39,079 targeting walleye spawning 740 00:22:39,080 --> 00:22:40,080 habitat. 741 00:22:43,400 --> 00:22:45,639 So what is the walleye 742 00:22:45,640 --> 00:22:46,640 per acre? 743 00:22:48,440 --> 00:22:50,399 Out here, it started at 744 00:22:50,400 --> 00:22:52,919 about three adults per acre in 745 00:22:52,920 --> 00:22:54,899 2015. 746 00:22:54,900 --> 00:22:56,279 Like many of the lakes up here, 747 00:22:56,280 --> 00:22:58,239 especially the smaller ones, we've 748 00:22:58,240 --> 00:22:59,779 seen that slightly decline over 749 00:22:59,780 --> 00:23:00,780 time. 750 00:23:01,740 --> 00:23:03,079 We've written about this. 751 00:23:03,080 --> 00:23:04,659 We can't say that it's because of 752 00:23:04,660 --> 00:23:06,539 the tree drops causing it because 753 00:23:06,540 --> 00:23:08,839 it's been a systemic pattern 754 00:23:08,840 --> 00:23:11,039 up here at that same time where 755 00:23:11,040 --> 00:23:12,379 small lakes and walleye recruitment 756 00:23:12,380 --> 00:23:13,779 seem to go down. 757 00:23:13,780 --> 00:23:15,289 We've seen. 758 00:23:15,290 --> 00:23:17,089 An uptick of largemouth bass out 759 00:23:17,090 --> 00:23:18,769 here afterwards, but that's often 760 00:23:18,770 --> 00:23:20,589 what happens in other places. 761 00:23:20,590 --> 00:23:23,029 So our note to those 762 00:23:23,030 --> 00:23:24,969 interested in this practice for 763 00:23:24,970 --> 00:23:27,189 fish habitat purposes is 764 00:23:27,190 --> 00:23:29,249 probably to be precautionary in 765 00:23:29,250 --> 00:23:31,369 walleye lakes and certainly not 766 00:23:31,370 --> 00:23:33,329 unknown walleye spawning 767 00:23:33,330 --> 00:23:34,709 locations within a lake. 768 00:23:36,690 --> 00:23:38,209 This lake probably did not 769 00:23:38,210 --> 00:23:39,649 originally have walleye. 770 00:23:39,650 --> 00:23:41,769 It was stocked by the club in 771 00:23:41,770 --> 00:23:42,809 the 70s. 772 00:23:42,810 --> 00:23:44,250 It was natural reproducing. 773 00:23:46,780 --> 00:23:47,979 Again, as we talked about this 774 00:23:47,980 --> 00:23:49,879 morning, some of that fades away 775 00:23:49,880 --> 00:23:51,719 over time, where this lake 776 00:23:51,720 --> 00:23:53,579 is, it's got very limited 777 00:23:53,580 --> 00:23:55,099 walleye spawning habitat, very 778 00:23:55,100 --> 00:23:56,119 limited. 779 00:23:56,120 --> 00:23:57,579 And in fact, I can't even tell you 780 00:23:57,580 --> 00:23:59,399 exactly where they spawn in here. 781 00:23:59,400 --> 00:24:00,819 I could go out in Escanaba and point 782 00:24:00,820 --> 00:24:02,679 out 10 different areas where 783 00:24:02,680 --> 00:24:03,779 I know walleyes are gonna be 784 00:24:03,780 --> 00:24:04,719 spawning. 785 00:24:04,720 --> 00:24:05,959 If we went out there at night and 786 00:24:05,960 --> 00:24:07,479 electrofished it, or probably even 787 00:24:07,480 --> 00:24:09,399 more, in here, 788 00:24:09,400 --> 00:24:10,439 we've been out here electrofishing 789 00:24:10,440 --> 00:24:12,279 and what we think is peak spawn, 790 00:24:12,280 --> 00:24:14,099 and you get a couple here, you get 791 00:24:14,100 --> 00:24:15,059 a couple there. 792 00:24:15,060 --> 00:24:16,379 But you don't see the concentrations 793 00:24:16,380 --> 00:24:17,680 of fish like we do in other lakes. 794 00:24:25,290 --> 00:24:26,869 So what are the types of habitat 795 00:24:26,870 --> 00:24:28,729 that are ideal for Wallace 796 00:24:28,730 --> 00:24:29,730 Water? 797 00:24:30,180 --> 00:24:31,559 So for walleye spawning, I mean, 798 00:24:31,560 --> 00:24:33,899 their ideal habitat is to have 799 00:24:33,900 --> 00:24:36,119 gravel and cobble. 800 00:24:36,120 --> 00:24:37,939 And so, oftentimes they can 801 00:24:37,940 --> 00:24:39,579 wind-swept shoreline so that it's 802 00:24:39,580 --> 00:24:41,699 constantly cleaning that silt 803 00:24:41,700 --> 00:24:43,599 and it's nice and oxygenated. 804 00:24:43,600 --> 00:24:44,999 So when walleyes spawn, they're 805 00:24:45,000 --> 00:24:46,959 broadcast spawners which means that 806 00:24:46,960 --> 00:24:48,399 they spawn and then there's no 807 00:24:48,400 --> 00:24:49,479 parental guarding or anything, they 808 00:24:49,480 --> 00:24:50,659 just leave those eggs to the mercy 809 00:24:50,660 --> 00:24:51,759 of environmental conditions. 810 00:24:52,980 --> 00:24:54,419 But with that spawning habitat, 811 00:24:54,420 --> 00:24:56,339 those eggs are sticky, 812 00:24:56,340 --> 00:24:58,179 they fall down into the interstices 813 00:24:58,180 --> 00:24:59,749 of that gravel and cobble. 814 00:24:59,750 --> 00:25:01,169 Where they're kind of protected, 815 00:25:01,170 --> 00:25:02,269 they've got enough oxygen, they're 816 00:25:02,270 --> 00:25:04,089 not getting suffocated 817 00:25:04,090 --> 00:25:06,009 by silt, so that's what walleyes 818 00:25:06,010 --> 00:25:07,010 are really looking for. 819 00:25:08,390 --> 00:25:10,469 So then why do they use the 820 00:25:10,470 --> 00:25:12,009 marshes on the wolf? 821 00:25:12,010 --> 00:25:13,549 So there's unique circumstances 822 00:25:13,550 --> 00:25:15,089 where walleye can do some different 823 00:25:15,090 --> 00:25:16,929 things. There's, I think, Lake Pepin 824 00:25:16,930 --> 00:25:18,789 in the Mississippi River is a 825 00:25:18,790 --> 00:25:19,809 similar situation. 826 00:25:19,810 --> 00:25:21,689 And so somehow they're 827 00:25:21,690 --> 00:25:23,549 making it work and found a way 828 00:25:23,550 --> 00:25:25,309 to adapt to those marsh conditions 829 00:25:25,310 --> 00:25:26,849 and spawning in them. 830 00:25:26,850 --> 00:25:28,829 But in general, with walleye 831 00:25:28,830 --> 00:25:30,249 as a river fish, that's what they're 832 00:25:30,250 --> 00:25:32,170 seeking is gravel and cobble. 833 00:25:35,490 --> 00:25:36,989 There's gravel and cobble in here, 834 00:25:36,990 --> 00:25:38,829 but it's a smaller lake. 835 00:25:38,830 --> 00:25:40,589 It doesn't get windswept just by the 836 00:25:40,590 --> 00:25:42,029 general nature of it being small. 837 00:25:51,730 --> 00:25:53,149 It's got the wind pushing us in a 838 00:25:53,150 --> 00:25:54,150 little bit. 839 00:25:55,690 --> 00:25:57,409 You want to put the GoPro in the 840 00:25:57,410 --> 00:25:59,309 water, especially under some 841 00:25:59,310 --> 00:26:00,310 of these green ones. 842 00:26:02,660 --> 00:26:03,879 And if you need it, we've got a lot 843 00:26:03,880 --> 00:26:06,339 of B-roll of that stuff, 844 00:26:06,340 --> 00:26:08,279 of GoPro, of underwater photography 845 00:26:08,280 --> 00:26:10,199 from our comms 846 00:26:10,200 --> 00:26:11,219 gals. 847 00:26:11,220 --> 00:26:12,239 They came out here and got in the 848 00:26:12,240 --> 00:26:13,759 water for a couple days and did a 849 00:26:13,760 --> 00:26:14,760 bunch of it. 850 00:26:38,620 --> 00:26:39,479 Yeah, let's get that. 851 00:26:39,480 --> 00:26:40,259 And if you need anything 852 00:26:40,260 --> 00:26:41,679 specifically from me, Ethan, just 853 00:26:41,680 --> 00:26:41,989 let me know. 854 00:26:41,990 --> 00:26:43,189 Yeah, sure. 855 00:26:43,190 --> 00:26:45,049 Evaluating those regulations. 856 00:26:45,050 --> 00:26:47,029 So it feels like another one that's 857 00:26:47,030 --> 00:26:48,929 gonna have science 858 00:26:48,930 --> 00:26:50,769 and then the politics or 859 00:26:50,770 --> 00:26:52,949 the implications for, 860 00:26:52,950 --> 00:26:54,629 you know, the people that fish those 861 00:26:54,630 --> 00:26:56,529 the most heavily, not 862 00:26:56,530 --> 00:26:58,489 wanting to have to change what 863 00:26:58,490 --> 00:26:59,490 they've always done. 864 00:27:00,620 --> 00:27:01,859 Yeah, I think it's a little bit half 865 00:27:01,860 --> 00:27:02,860 and half. 866 00:27:03,379 --> 00:27:05,279 I understand why we're doing 867 00:27:05,280 --> 00:27:07,219 it, and I'm glad we've done a very 868 00:27:07,220 --> 00:27:08,899 nice experiment testing it at over 869 00:27:08,900 --> 00:27:10,979 100 waters for a 870 00:27:10,980 --> 00:27:12,479 period of time that will let us know 871 00:27:12,480 --> 00:27:14,879 how panfish are going to respond. 872 00:27:14,880 --> 00:27:17,539 I do worry a little because of 873 00:27:17,540 --> 00:27:18,899 some panfish and negative 874 00:27:18,900 --> 00:27:20,259 interactions with walleyes and other 875 00:27:20,260 --> 00:27:22,359 species, because that should serve 876 00:27:22,360 --> 00:27:24,159 to increase abundances, too, if you 877 00:27:24,160 --> 00:27:25,899 lower exploitation. 878 00:27:25,900 --> 00:27:27,479 But I guess that becomes part of the 879 00:27:27,480 --> 00:27:29,239 next experiment to see what happens. 880 00:27:29,240 --> 00:27:30,919 Well, that's crappie, right? 881 00:27:30,920 --> 00:27:33,279 Yeah, crappi. 882 00:27:33,280 --> 00:27:35,099 His perch abundance is good for 883 00:27:35,100 --> 00:27:36,339 walleye. Right. Crappie. 884 00:27:36,340 --> 00:27:38,459 Do they predate on walleyes more 885 00:27:38,460 --> 00:27:39,449 exclusively? 886 00:27:39,450 --> 00:27:41,349 The crappie? Yeah. 887 00:27:41,350 --> 00:27:42,829 We think, and it's really difficult 888 00:27:42,830 --> 00:27:44,049 with diet studies like that because 889 00:27:44,050 --> 00:27:45,189 it can happen really, really 890 00:27:45,190 --> 00:27:46,049 quickly. 891 00:27:46,050 --> 00:27:47,009 You know, you've got a whole bunch of 892 00:27:47,010 --> 00:27:48,029 crappies and then the walleyes are 893 00:27:48,030 --> 00:27:49,209 all this big and they're interacting 894 00:27:49,210 --> 00:27:50,349 in the same habitat. 895 00:27:50,350 --> 00:27:51,849 They can disappear almost before you 896 00:27:51,850 --> 00:27:53,230 can even track it. 897 00:27:54,470 --> 00:27:56,929 But my inclination is that 898 00:27:56,930 --> 00:27:59,829 when walleye are, 899 00:27:59,830 --> 00:28:01,829 you know, being born, 900 00:28:01,830 --> 00:28:03,869 they're interacting with adult 901 00:28:03,870 --> 00:28:05,789 crappi that are feeding heavily at 902 00:28:05,790 --> 00:28:07,549 that time. And crappies are... 903 00:28:07,550 --> 00:28:09,089 They're piscivores. 904 00:28:09,090 --> 00:28:10,509 They will eat plankton and things 905 00:28:10,510 --> 00:28:11,389 like that. 906 00:28:11,390 --> 00:28:13,429 But if they can get minnows, that's 907 00:28:13,430 --> 00:28:15,749 going to be a main forage for them. 908 00:28:15,750 --> 00:28:16,709 And I think it's just one of those 909 00:28:16,710 --> 00:28:18,629 things where they could 910 00:28:18,630 --> 00:28:19,849 probably wipe out a year class when 911 00:28:19,850 --> 00:28:20,789 they're at higher abundance is 912 00:28:20,790 --> 00:28:21,790 pretty quick. 913 00:28:23,030 --> 00:28:24,189 Am I doing OK for you, Ethan? 914 00:28:24,190 --> 00:28:25,190 It's great. OK. 915 00:28:25,810 --> 00:28:27,149 So there really aren't going to be 916 00:28:27,150 --> 00:28:29,069 any good wall-like cropping 917 00:28:29,070 --> 00:28:30,070 lakes. 918 00:28:30,580 --> 00:28:32,519 In general, what we 919 00:28:32,520 --> 00:28:34,379 see is that they cycle. 920 00:28:34,380 --> 00:28:35,879 There's rehabilitation. 921 00:28:35,880 --> 00:28:37,759 So Kentucky Lake is a great example 922 00:28:37,760 --> 00:28:39,599 up here in Vilas County, where 923 00:28:39,600 --> 00:28:40,959 Kentucky Lake's walleye population 924 00:28:40,960 --> 00:28:42,759 has collapsed a number of times. 925 00:28:42,760 --> 00:28:43,859 Whenever it collapses, it usually 926 00:28:43,860 --> 00:28:46,019 turns into a world-class crappie 927 00:28:46,020 --> 00:28:47,499 fishery for a while. 928 00:28:47,500 --> 00:28:49,139 I don't think it mentioned it in 929 00:28:49,140 --> 00:28:51,039 Paul Romsky's Walleye Beautiful 930 00:28:51,040 --> 00:28:52,519 Creature of the Nightbook, but he's 931 00:28:52,520 --> 00:28:54,199 talking about the Upper Red Lakes. 932 00:28:54,200 --> 00:28:56,019 When that population collapsed in 933 00:28:56,020 --> 00:28:58,039 Upper Red, the walleye population, 934 00:28:58,040 --> 00:28:59,939 that was a world-class destination 935 00:28:59,940 --> 00:29:00,819 for crappies. 936 00:29:00,820 --> 00:29:02,719 And so they seem to go that way 937 00:29:02,720 --> 00:29:04,819 where if crappie get the upper edge, 938 00:29:04,820 --> 00:29:06,459 walleye go down, or if walleye get 939 00:29:06,460 --> 00:29:07,979 down for some reason it releases the 940 00:29:07,980 --> 00:29:08,980 crappys. 941 00:29:10,470 --> 00:29:11,829 I remember fishing Kentucky when I 942 00:29:11,830 --> 00:29:13,649 was a kid and that was just 943 00:29:13,650 --> 00:29:15,449 a crazy panfish lake and then all of 944 00:29:15,450 --> 00:29:17,049 a sudden it shifted again. 945 00:29:21,160 --> 00:29:22,599 So we have several examples of that 946 00:29:22,600 --> 00:29:24,739 where a walleye population collapses 947 00:29:24,740 --> 00:29:26,319 or declines and the crappie fishery 948 00:29:26,320 --> 00:29:27,320 just takes off. 949 00:29:33,070 --> 00:29:34,729 So why are large mouth bass 950 00:29:34,730 --> 00:29:36,289 different than small mouth bass 951 00:29:36,290 --> 00:29:38,399 then, when it comes to interacting? 952 00:29:38,400 --> 00:29:39,400 With walleye. 953 00:29:44,210 --> 00:29:46,269 Smallmouth habitat preferences are 954 00:29:46,270 --> 00:29:48,329 much more specialized than 955 00:29:48,330 --> 00:29:50,309 largemouth bass and largemouth 956 00:29:50,310 --> 00:29:52,089 bass tend to be a bit more of a 957 00:29:52,090 --> 00:29:53,090 generalist feeder. 958 00:29:53,830 --> 00:29:55,669 So smallmouth bass, you know they're 959 00:29:55,670 --> 00:29:56,869 spawning habitat they're going to 960 00:29:56,870 --> 00:29:58,689 need to exclusively find some 961 00:29:58,690 --> 00:29:59,690 gravel and cobble. 962 00:30:00,910 --> 00:30:02,409 There might be sand over those areas 963 00:30:02,410 --> 00:30:04,269 but they'll fan out a nest 964 00:30:04,270 --> 00:30:06,409 to get to that habitat where 965 00:30:06,410 --> 00:30:07,689 some of the largemouth Bass work 966 00:30:07,690 --> 00:30:08,659 I've done. 967 00:30:08,660 --> 00:30:09,819 They can spawn on just about 968 00:30:09,820 --> 00:30:11,159 anything. You'll see them spawn on a 969 00:30:11,160 --> 00:30:12,739 muck. You'll them spawning on top of 970 00:30:12,740 --> 00:30:14,039 that log right there. 971 00:30:14,040 --> 00:30:15,439 You'll seen them spawing on top of a 972 00:30:15,440 --> 00:30:16,799 rock, especially when they're at 973 00:30:16,800 --> 00:30:17,799 higher densities. 974 00:30:17,800 --> 00:30:20,179 So they kind of make it work. 975 00:30:20,180 --> 00:30:22,379 And I think what, 976 00:30:22,380 --> 00:30:24,239 the largemouth and crappie, they're 977 00:30:24,240 --> 00:30:26,059 very similar species, as 978 00:30:26,060 --> 00:30:27,859 far as a bit more generalist in 979 00:30:27,860 --> 00:30:29,719 their spawning habitats, 980 00:30:29,720 --> 00:30:31,599 how much fish they eat. 981 00:30:31,600 --> 00:30:32,739 Like smallmouth, they eat a lot of 982 00:30:32,740 --> 00:30:33,759 crayfish if it's available. 983 00:30:33,760 --> 00:30:35,779 They'll also eat fish too, but 984 00:30:35,780 --> 00:30:37,279 they're typically associated with 985 00:30:37,280 --> 00:30:38,799 rocks and crayfish. 986 00:30:38,800 --> 00:30:40,999 Macro invertebrates where 987 00:30:41,000 --> 00:30:42,859 bass are just much more generalist 988 00:30:42,860 --> 00:30:44,799 predators probably much like 989 00:30:44,800 --> 00:30:45,800 a crappie is 990 00:30:52,860 --> 00:30:53,959 Should I just keep buttoning around 991 00:30:53,960 --> 00:30:56,449 or do you need something specific? 992 00:30:56,450 --> 00:30:57,949 I think we're probably good on this 993 00:30:57,950 --> 00:30:59,169 end, we'll probably, if we head 994 00:30:59,170 --> 00:30:59,439 back. 995 00:30:59,440 --> 00:31:00,440 Get to him, Madison. 996 00:31:01,530 --> 00:31:02,530 Alright. 997 00:31:05,010 --> 00:31:07,009 If it was 82 here, 998 00:31:08,210 --> 00:31:09,649 I don't know if you'd be pushing 90, 999 00:31:09,650 --> 00:31:10,569 but I bet you it was pretty darn 1000 00:31:10,570 --> 00:31:11,570 warm. 1001 00:31:15,050 --> 00:31:16,729 Now this feels like what I expected, 1002 00:31:16,730 --> 00:31:18,209 like a nice day in spring to be. 1003 00:31:20,070 --> 00:31:21,889 This will be a nice bike day outside 1004 00:31:21,890 --> 00:31:23,770 of the, it's a little windy. 1005 00:31:26,790 --> 00:31:28,609 I don't know, yesterday was a 1006 00:31:28,610 --> 00:31:30,329 nice day, but when it gets windy 1007 00:31:30,330 --> 00:31:31,449 like this, depending on the net 1008 00:31:31,450 --> 00:31:32,450 location, 1009 00:31:33,850 --> 00:31:36,049 sometimes it causes the net to roll 1010 00:31:36,050 --> 00:31:38,109 and that can be 1011 00:31:38,110 --> 00:31:39,690 a little bit of a pain sometimes. 1012 00:32:06,890 --> 00:32:08,629 Is everything waterproof there for 1013 00:32:08,630 --> 00:32:09,649 you, Ethan? 1014 00:32:09,650 --> 00:32:11,609 This isn't, but a 1015 00:32:11,610 --> 00:32:12,839 little splash is fine. 1016 00:32:12,840 --> 00:32:14,319 All right, I mean there's not really 1017 00:32:14,320 --> 00:32:15,119 anything I can do. 1018 00:32:15,120 --> 00:32:16,259 It's fine. 1019 00:32:16,260 --> 00:32:17,459 Now that's a little bit more than a 1020 00:32:17,460 --> 00:32:18,319 little. 1021 00:32:18,320 --> 00:32:20,159 And that wind's picking up 1022 00:32:20,160 --> 00:32:21,160 now. 1023 00:32:22,460 --> 00:32:24,359 It'll just, once we go a little 1024 00:32:24,360 --> 00:32:26,219 more, I mean, I wonder if I could 1025 00:32:26,220 --> 00:32:27,699 go a bit faster maybe, and maybe 1026 00:32:27,700 --> 00:32:28,979 that'll help. 1027 00:32:28,980 --> 00:32:30,360 Just to get us away from this. 1028 00:33:31,140 --> 00:33:32,199 So there's some things spawning 1029 00:33:32,200 --> 00:33:33,579 wise, like there's a rock bar right 1030 00:33:33,580 --> 00:33:35,419 here you can see that big rock 1031 00:33:35,420 --> 00:33:36,979 on it. We're going to another 1032 00:33:36,980 --> 00:33:38,439 complex in the mid-lake as we go 1033 00:33:38,440 --> 00:33:40,359 across but there's rock bars 1034 00:33:40,360 --> 00:33:42,419 that are spread out over there too. 1035 00:33:42,420 --> 00:33:43,619 It's possible that there could be 1036 00:33:43,620 --> 00:33:45,240 some spawning on those, they're 1037 00:33:45,241 --> 00:33:46,859 just, we can't really at those 1038 00:33:46,860 --> 00:33:47,860 areas. 1039 00:34:31,790 --> 00:34:33,009 Yeah, so they're tougher to see, but 1040 00:34:33,010 --> 00:34:34,229 there's at least a couple of rock 1041 00:34:34,230 --> 00:34:36,109 bars that are out in this area 1042 00:34:36,110 --> 00:34:38,189 here and 1043 00:34:38,190 --> 00:34:40,049 through our radio telemetry, most 1044 00:34:40,050 --> 00:34:41,289 of the walleyes live right in this 1045 00:34:41,290 --> 00:34:42,290 bay. 1046 00:34:44,070 --> 00:34:45,749 There's a weed bed in about nine 1047 00:34:45,750 --> 00:34:47,709 feet of water where oftentimes when 1048 00:34:47,710 --> 00:34:48,888 we're out here doing our telemetery, 1049 00:34:48,889 --> 00:34:49,889 that's where they'll be. 1050 00:34:51,050 --> 00:34:52,408 That's during the day too, I'm sure 1051 00:34:52,409 --> 00:34:54,928 they distribute themselves around, 1052 00:34:54,929 --> 00:34:56,669 but like we're on a rock, there's a 1053 00:34:56,670 --> 00:34:57,750 rock bar right here. 1054 00:34:58,870 --> 00:34:59,870 Yeah, we're ontop of one. 1055 00:35:04,060 --> 00:35:05,239 So I think some of the better trees 1056 00:35:05,240 --> 00:35:07,099 that we'll get are up here 1057 00:35:07,100 --> 00:35:09,059 around the 1058 00:35:09,060 --> 00:35:10,060 corner. 1059 00:35:14,650 --> 00:35:15,949 I think what's interesting too is if 1060 00:35:15,950 --> 00:35:17,230 you look from a distance here, does 1061 00:35:17,231 --> 00:35:18,189 it look like there's anything 1062 00:35:18,190 --> 00:35:20,109 different about the forest after 1063 00:35:20,110 --> 00:35:21,269 240 trees? 1064 00:35:21,270 --> 00:35:22,109 No. 1065 00:35:22,110 --> 00:35:23,369 It really was surprising to me when 1066 00:35:23,370 --> 00:35:24,989 we did this one too, it's like, it 1067 00:35:24,990 --> 00:35:25,990 doesn't look different at all. 1068 00:36:00,110 --> 00:36:02,089 Questions about it or I want 1069 00:36:02,090 --> 00:36:03,589 all the length, weight, and age data 1070 00:36:03,590 --> 00:36:04,869 from bass ever collected in 1071 00:36:04,870 --> 00:36:06,189 Wisconsin and we're doing analysis 1072 00:36:06,190 --> 00:36:07,049 with. 1073 00:36:07,050 --> 00:36:08,889 So I kind of call 1074 00:36:08,890 --> 00:36:10,089 you know the summer is our 1075 00:36:10,090 --> 00:36:12,229 construction or field season and 1076 00:36:12,230 --> 00:36:14,009 our winter is kind of our analysis, 1077 00:36:14,010 --> 00:36:16,249 report writing, paper writing, 1078 00:36:16,250 --> 00:36:17,450 scientific article writing, 1079 00:36:19,130 --> 00:36:20,409 working on independent research 1080 00:36:20,410 --> 00:36:22,469 particularly for like 1081 00:36:22,470 --> 00:36:23,669 our younger technicians that are 1082 00:36:23,670 --> 00:36:25,069 just getting a start in the field 1083 00:36:25,070 --> 00:36:26,649 and want to embrace that experience. 1084 00:36:30,000 --> 00:36:31,400 So there's not a lot of ice fishing. 1085 00:36:33,030 --> 00:36:34,889 No, we've dabbled 1086 00:36:34,890 --> 00:36:36,409 in a little bit like we've got radio 1087 00:36:36,410 --> 00:36:38,289 transmitters like you saw go into a 1088 00:36:38,290 --> 00:36:39,869 tiger musky yesterday. 1089 00:36:39,870 --> 00:36:41,009 So we're tracking those fish 1090 00:36:41,010 --> 00:36:42,909 year-round on Escanaba so we 1091 00:36:42,910 --> 00:36:43,849 want to understand their winter 1092 00:36:43,850 --> 00:36:45,789 behavior as well. 1093 00:36:45,790 --> 00:36:47,429 So that's a little winter work. 1094 00:36:47,430 --> 00:36:48,729 We have done some of the fish sticks 1095 00:36:48,730 --> 00:36:50,789 work in the winter time on 1096 00:36:50,790 --> 00:36:52,889 some lakes as part of projects. 1097 00:36:52,890 --> 00:36:53,969 We were going to get into some 1098 00:36:53,970 --> 00:36:55,389 winter fisheries work by actually 1099 00:36:55,390 --> 00:36:57,429 setting gill nets underneath the ice 1100 00:36:57,430 --> 00:36:59,389 but that project kind of fizzled 1101 00:36:59,390 --> 00:37:00,390 out. 1102 00:37:00,700 --> 00:37:02,539 The collaboration with Minnesota 1103 00:37:02,540 --> 00:37:04,079 Duluth, it wasn't their fault or our 1104 00:37:04,080 --> 00:37:05,819 fault. It just, there were some 1105 00:37:05,820 --> 00:37:07,459 challenges with it and we never 1106 00:37:07,460 --> 00:37:08,709 really got it off the ground. 1107 00:37:08,710 --> 00:37:10,549 How do you collect a bike net 1108 00:37:10,550 --> 00:37:11,550 and what do you do with it? 1109 00:37:12,770 --> 00:37:15,249 You basically drill a hole and 1110 00:37:15,250 --> 00:37:16,549 you send out this kind of runner 1111 00:37:16,550 --> 00:37:18,009 that goes along the ice and you've 1112 00:37:18,010 --> 00:37:19,749 got to intersect another hole to get 1113 00:37:19,750 --> 00:37:21,109 the other end of it and then that 1114 00:37:21,110 --> 00:37:23,249 gill net hangs and you basically 1115 00:37:23,250 --> 00:37:24,250 pull it out the hole. 1116 00:37:25,150 --> 00:37:27,049 So you can pop in 1117 00:37:27,050 --> 00:37:28,369 minnow traps and things like that 1118 00:37:28,370 --> 00:37:29,370 too. 1119 00:37:29,870 --> 00:37:30,829 So Ethan, you wanted to get maybe 1120 00:37:30,830 --> 00:37:32,389 some GoPro or kind of stiller 1121 00:37:32,390 --> 00:37:33,789 footage closer to the older stuff? 1122 00:37:33,790 --> 00:37:35,589 Yeah. Are we going okay? 1123 00:37:35,590 --> 00:37:36,590 Perfect. All right. 1124 00:38:11,610 --> 00:38:12,629 The winter is kind of present. 1125 00:38:12,630 --> 00:38:14,609 I call general fisheries ecology and 1126 00:38:14,610 --> 00:38:16,289 management scientists that could 1127 00:38:16,290 --> 00:38:18,329 handle just about any species but 1128 00:38:18,330 --> 00:38:20,289 we do have some specialization with 1129 00:38:20,290 --> 00:38:22,209 Matt Mitro with his focus on 1130 00:38:22,210 --> 00:38:24,249 like statewide trout resources and 1131 00:38:24,250 --> 00:38:26,129 then E. L. Bsi is a 1132 00:38:26,130 --> 00:38:27,309 kind of a quantitative stock 1133 00:38:27,310 --> 00:38:29,209 assessment scientist so he's more 1134 00:38:29,210 --> 00:38:31,369 trained like almost like a marine 1135 00:38:31,370 --> 00:38:33,289 fisheries person would be 1136 00:38:33,290 --> 00:38:34,709 and he handles a lot of our Great 1137 00:38:34,710 --> 00:38:36,569 Lakes questions where these are 1138 00:38:36,570 --> 00:38:38,449 big models, big powerful models, 1139 00:38:39,610 --> 00:38:40,610 complex models. 1140 00:38:41,630 --> 00:38:43,030 And he's got a very special skill.