1
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The number of one-on-one high-needs

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00:01:42,180 --> 00:01:43,699
kids skyrocketing.

3
00:01:43,700 --> 00:01:44,759
Well, then clearly that's an

4
00:01:44,760 --> 00:01:45,939
indication that districts are

5
00:01:45,940 --> 00:01:47,859
classifying in that direction

6
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because it's 100% fun.

7
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And then they can get the state to

8
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pay for the staff and it's becoming

9
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a basically baby system.

10
00:05:23,560 --> 00:05:24,560
Thank you very much.

11
00:11:01,750 --> 00:11:03,090
So how long have you been with DNR?

12
00:11:04,740 --> 00:11:06,159
Six years, this is my third year

13
00:11:06,160 --> 00:11:07,160
here.

14
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So, low man on, toe-in-a-pole-in'

15
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away, but I like giving tours,

16
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and when Gary mentioned

17
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that we all just sign up for tours,

18
00:11:16,620 --> 00:11:17,999
you know, I've had people, one of

19
00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:19,319
the things I say right when we're

20
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standing pretty much right here is

21
00:11:20,440 --> 00:11:22,359
that, you now, we don't bring

22
00:11:22,360 --> 00:11:24,539
any adult fish back here.

23
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I mean, get some looks between

24
00:11:25,560 --> 00:11:27,039
couples, and they're like, well,

25
00:11:27,040 --> 00:11:28,279
what are we doing Yeah, so.

26
00:11:30,050 --> 00:11:31,909
Yeah, because you harvest all eggs

27
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in the...

28
00:11:33,500 --> 00:11:35,319
Yep, only for realize I

29
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could get brought back here.

30
00:11:39,010 --> 00:11:40,449
No, we've been working with walleyes

31
00:11:40,450 --> 00:11:42,349
for tomorrow, so some of them are

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mobile hatcheries.

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00:11:42,720 --> 00:11:43,569
Sure, sure.

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00:11:43,570 --> 00:11:44,629
Good to see that process.

35
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Yeah, those are cool, yeah.

36
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Yeah

37
00:12:01,000 --> 00:12:03,159
Oh yeah, yeah, it's

38
00:12:03,160 --> 00:12:04,179
almost like oh that was like an

39
00:12:04,180 --> 00:12:05,359
aspirational thing like and then

40
00:12:05,360 --> 00:12:06,360
we'll get into some wildlife.

41
00:12:10,969 --> 00:12:12,749
We started doing the math on that,

42
00:12:12,750 --> 00:12:14,229
and it's a lot of time, a lot

43
00:12:14,230 --> 00:12:15,849
effort, a lot of money now with, you

44
00:12:15,850 --> 00:12:17,669
know, the way electronics and...

45
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That's gone.

46
00:12:19,000 --> 00:12:20,000
Yeah. Yeah.

47
00:12:22,540 --> 00:12:24,439
Yeah, and then half those guys just

48
00:12:24,440 --> 00:12:25,209
throw him back.

49
00:12:25,210 --> 00:12:26,229
Oh, I know.

50
00:12:26,230 --> 00:12:28,129
I know and I do the creel

51
00:12:28,130 --> 00:12:30,349
surveys in the winter and

52
00:12:30,350 --> 00:12:32,489
it's nice to meet people who are,

53
00:12:32,490 --> 00:12:34,149
oh we're just catching release, but

54
00:12:34,150 --> 00:12:35,969
for our purposes it's also nice to

55
00:12:35,970 --> 00:12:37,829
see some fish up on the ice.

56
00:12:37,830 --> 00:12:39,249
That's a good one. No, I don't know.

57
00:12:39,250 --> 00:12:41,209
In some places, we

58
00:12:41,210 --> 00:12:43,209
stock at a rate of,

59
00:12:43,210 --> 00:12:45,209
you know, seven or nine,

60
00:12:45,210 --> 00:12:47,149
expecting it to all even out at

61
00:12:47,150 --> 00:12:48,150
three, you also.

62
00:12:50,040 --> 00:12:51,979
People look at our stocking reports

63
00:12:51,980 --> 00:12:53,019
and they think, oh, this is going to

64
00:12:53,020 --> 00:12:54,439
be a good one.

65
00:12:54,440 --> 00:12:55,599
And it's the reason we put so many

66
00:12:55,600 --> 00:12:56,459
fish in sometimes.

67
00:12:56,460 --> 00:12:57,460
Yeah.

68
00:13:03,370 --> 00:13:05,249
So he's kind of stocking it,

69
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but that is interesting.

70
00:13:06,930 --> 00:13:07,930
OK.

71
00:13:15,310 --> 00:13:18,529
We've done a lot up on Namacoggin,

72
00:13:18,530 --> 00:13:20,249
and reading some of the reports

73
00:13:20,250 --> 00:13:22,189
there, like they used to be at

74
00:13:22,190 --> 00:13:23,149
over nine.

75
00:13:23,150 --> 00:13:24,150
Yeah, yeah

76
00:13:25,390 --> 00:13:27,449
like then they crash come back

77
00:13:27,450 --> 00:13:28,809
and they're like above average but

78
00:13:28,810 --> 00:13:30,589
it's still not even half of what it

79
00:13:30,590 --> 00:13:32,309
was right right peak and it's like

80
00:13:32,310 --> 00:13:34,169
that gives you the sense of like

81
00:13:34,170 --> 00:13:35,709
I do a lot of deer hunting I like

82
00:13:35,710 --> 00:13:37,289
you remember like yeah you see 50

83
00:13:37,290 --> 00:13:38,469
deer a day kind of thing right well

84
00:13:38,470 --> 00:13:39,910
that was the peak never come back

85
00:13:39,911 --> 00:13:41,519
Yep, those are good old days, yeah.

86
00:13:41,520 --> 00:13:42,919
Like that's not coming back in

87
00:13:42,920 --> 00:13:45,039
anyone who thinks it is, like they

88
00:13:45,040 --> 00:13:46,199
played in the DNR like oh there's

89
00:13:46,200 --> 00:13:48,199
no, all the wolves, they

90
00:13:48,200 --> 00:13:49,909
were way overpopulated.

91
00:13:49,910 --> 00:13:51,680
Down in like the south of here.

92
00:13:53,940 --> 00:13:56,099
Used to be thought of as just a

93
00:13:56,100 --> 00:13:59,899
world-class walleye destination for

94
00:13:59,900 --> 00:14:01,999
trophy-sized fish.

95
00:14:02,000 --> 00:14:03,259
Supposedly they're still out there,

96
00:14:03,260 --> 00:14:05,259
but their numbers are so low it's

97
00:14:05,260 --> 00:14:06,579
just become impossible to catch

98
00:14:06,580 --> 00:14:08,359
them.

99
00:14:08,360 --> 00:14:09,859
You know, we'll go stalk them, but

100
00:14:09,860 --> 00:14:11,769
you got to tell people, You

101
00:14:11,770 --> 00:14:14,009
know, like seven, eight years, you

102
00:14:14,010 --> 00:14:15,869
know, your tannin

103
00:14:15,870 --> 00:14:17,249
stained like flowages and whatever.

104
00:14:18,330 --> 00:14:20,809
Well, just even going over to

105
00:14:20,810 --> 00:14:22,449
Marinette and into the Bay of Green

106
00:14:22,450 --> 00:14:23,729
Bay where it's like three-year-old

107
00:14:23,730 --> 00:14:24,489
fish are full size.

108
00:14:24,490 --> 00:14:25,030
Yes. Yeah.

109
00:14:25,031 --> 00:14:26,619
And they've got huge fish, but

110
00:14:26,620 --> 00:14:28,479
that's such a giant body of water,

111
00:14:28,480 --> 00:14:29,879
most people can't even safely bring

112
00:14:29,880 --> 00:14:30,329
their boat out.

113
00:14:30,330 --> 00:14:31,109
Right, right.

114
00:14:31,110 --> 00:14:32,329
They're eating different stuff too

115
00:14:32,330 --> 00:14:33,710
and there's a lot there, yeah.

116
00:14:36,780 --> 00:14:38,279
I'm good to go when you guys are.

117
00:14:40,640 --> 00:14:42,959
So our Emke Statefish Hatchery,

118
00:14:42,960 --> 00:14:44,799
founded in 1901, is

119
00:14:44,800 --> 00:14:46,479
originally called the Monaco fish

120
00:14:46,480 --> 00:14:47,939
hatchery and then the name changed

121
00:14:47,940 --> 00:14:49,919
to the Woodruff fish hatchetry.

122
00:14:49,920 --> 00:14:51,339
The reason for our location here,

123
00:14:51,340 --> 00:14:53,139
we're pretty centrally located

124
00:14:53,140 --> 00:14:55,599
amongst a lot of clear

125
00:14:55,600 --> 00:14:57,459
freshwater lakes, good

126
00:14:57,460 --> 00:14:59,379
places for us to harvest eggs from

127
00:14:59,380 --> 00:15:01,379
and also good places for

128
00:15:01,380 --> 00:15:02,539
our fish to end up.

129
00:15:03,580 --> 00:15:05,859
The hatchery began raising mostly

130
00:15:05,860 --> 00:15:07,739
black bass, so your small mouth

131
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and large mouth bass.

132
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Over the years we've transitioned to

133
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what's known as a cool

134
00:15:13,040 --> 00:15:15,099
water hatchery, so cool water

135
00:15:15,100 --> 00:15:17,699
meaning we're pretty much set up to

136
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raise walleye, northern pike,

137
00:15:20,200 --> 00:15:22,159
musky, some

138
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sturgeon, but as

139
00:15:24,240 --> 00:15:26,159
it is now we raise

140
00:15:26,160 --> 00:15:28,379
our musky to a

141
00:15:28,380 --> 00:15:30,399
foot long fish and then two sizes

142
00:15:30,400 --> 00:15:32,279
of walleye. So we raise out

143
00:15:32,280 --> 00:15:34,499
small fingerling walleye they

144
00:15:34,500 --> 00:15:36,479
will get put out into lakes

145
00:15:36,480 --> 00:15:38,159
around Memorial Day.

146
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Our large fingerling walleye,

147
00:15:40,380 --> 00:15:41,839
which are going to be eight to nine

148
00:15:41,840 --> 00:15:43,739
inches. They're going to get put out

149
00:15:43,740 --> 00:15:45,859
around Labor Day

150
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The reason for the name

151
00:15:47,680 --> 00:15:49,679
Art Emkey Art was

152
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Supervisor here and he

153
00:15:51,720 --> 00:15:53,419
was pretty integral in the way that

154
00:15:53,420 --> 00:15:55,579
we raise our musky As

155
00:15:55,580 --> 00:15:57,639
far as walleye go

156
00:15:57,640 --> 00:15:58,820
I think this year

157
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We have 13 of our

158
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15 lined ponds

159
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are being utilized to

160
00:16:06,620 --> 00:16:07,620
raise walleye

161
00:16:08,640 --> 00:16:10,559
As far as the split goes, we mostly

162
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focus on walleye here.

163
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This sign right here gives

164
00:16:14,900 --> 00:16:16,879
kind of a pretty

165
00:16:16,880 --> 00:16:19,059
simplified, you

166
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know, basically timeline

167
00:16:21,220 --> 00:16:23,079
for what we deal with here at the

168
00:16:23,080 --> 00:16:24,019
hatchery.

169
00:16:24,020 --> 00:16:26,359
So for walleye,

170
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as soon as the ice goes out on a

171
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lake, we're going to be out looking

172
00:16:29,360 --> 00:16:31,139
for where we're gonna set our nets.

173
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I should mention that

174
00:16:33,140 --> 00:16:34,969
we do not take

175
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any adult fish back to the hatchery

176
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it's only going to be fertilized

177
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eggs coming here.

178
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So ice is off the lake we have open

179
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water we're gonna put boats on and

180
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for walleye we're typically looking

181
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for pea-sized gravel

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maybe what you might consider

183
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rubble on the

184
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bottom of the lake up near shore

185
00:16:54,550 --> 00:16:56,569
maybe you know three to

186
00:16:56,570 --> 00:16:58,389
five feet of water.

187
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Walleye you're not typically going

188
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to see them during daylight hours,

189
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so we're looking for their spawning

190
00:17:03,210 --> 00:17:04,269
habitat.

191
00:17:04,270 --> 00:17:06,009
And we have a lot of historical data

192
00:17:06,010 --> 00:17:09,049
on where that is on any given lake.

193
00:17:09,050 --> 00:17:10,409
So we're going to set our nets,

194
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we're gonna take our

195
00:17:12,390 --> 00:17:13,629
eggs, and I'm going to get into that

196
00:17:13,630 --> 00:17:15,489
in a little bit, but those eggs are

197
00:17:15,490 --> 00:17:16,789
going to come back to the hatchery

198
00:17:16,790 --> 00:17:18,629
and within 10 days

199
00:17:18,630 --> 00:17:20,389
you're going start seeing, looks

200
00:17:20,390 --> 00:17:21,509
like salt and pepper at the bottom

201
00:17:21,510 --> 00:17:23,189
of the jar. Those are their eyes.

202
00:17:23,190 --> 00:17:24,489
So their eyes are going form

203
00:17:24,490 --> 00:17:26,348
anything that's not

204
00:17:26,349 --> 00:17:28,269
showing this

205
00:17:28,270 --> 00:17:30,129
sign here, this eye up,

206
00:17:30,130 --> 00:17:31,229
we're gonna assume was never

207
00:17:31,230 --> 00:17:32,709
fertilized.

208
00:17:32,710 --> 00:17:34,519
So, typically for us.

209
00:17:34,520 --> 00:17:36,459
We're looking at 60

210
00:17:36,460 --> 00:17:39,219
plus percent, 60 to 90 percent

211
00:17:39,220 --> 00:17:41,359
success with our fertilization.

212
00:17:41,360 --> 00:17:43,379
For some comparison, in the

213
00:17:43,380 --> 00:17:45,539
wild, walleye are

214
00:17:45,540 --> 00:17:47,779
lucky to achieve one percent.

215
00:17:47,780 --> 00:17:49,199
A lot of that's just inshore water

216
00:17:49,200 --> 00:17:51,259
movement, kind of

217
00:17:51,260 --> 00:17:53,819
making it so that the

218
00:17:53,820 --> 00:17:55,759
sperm can never meet the egg.

219
00:17:55,760 --> 00:17:57,659
So those eggs are gonna sit

220
00:17:57,660 --> 00:17:58,759
and do their thing. They're gonna

221
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hatch.

222
00:18:00,020 --> 00:18:02,299
17 days into this process,

223
00:18:02,300 --> 00:18:03,819
they're going to hatch as what's

224
00:18:03,820 --> 00:18:05,179
known as a sack fry.

225
00:18:05,180 --> 00:18:07,019
So this little kind

226
00:18:07,020 --> 00:18:08,699
of belly that you can see here,

227
00:18:08,700 --> 00:18:09,779
that's their yolk sac.

228
00:18:09,780 --> 00:18:11,439
It's still attached to them.

229
00:18:11,440 --> 00:18:13,359
Their fins have not fully developed

230
00:18:13,360 --> 00:18:15,319
yet and they're not able

231
00:18:15,320 --> 00:18:16,739
to freely swim.

232
00:18:16,740 --> 00:18:18,659
They're kind of just wiggling

233
00:18:18,660 --> 00:18:20,599
around at the bottom of

234
00:18:20,600 --> 00:18:21,600
the jars.

235
00:18:22,880 --> 00:18:24,759
We let them absorb their

236
00:18:24,760 --> 00:18:26,399
yolk sack. We try not to bother them

237
00:18:26,400 --> 00:18:28,949
too much during this time frame.

238
00:18:28,950 --> 00:18:30,489
Once that's been absorbed, they're

239
00:18:30,490 --> 00:18:32,229
going to swim out of their jars, and

240
00:18:32,230 --> 00:18:33,409
I'll explain that when we get down

241
00:18:33,410 --> 00:18:35,949
to the hatchery, but they're

242
00:18:35,950 --> 00:18:37,029
pretty much ready to go into our

243
00:18:37,030 --> 00:18:38,188
ponds.

244
00:18:38,189 --> 00:18:40,069
So they go into the ponds, and this

245
00:18:40,070 --> 00:18:42,249
is a fairly nice

246
00:18:42,250 --> 00:18:43,869
large fingerling walleye here.

247
00:18:45,510 --> 00:18:47,669
So generally speaking,

248
00:18:47,670 --> 00:18:48,749
the way we do things, we will

249
00:18:48,750 --> 00:18:50,469
harvest out our small fingerlings

250
00:18:50,470 --> 00:18:52,449
and a portion of those

251
00:18:52,450 --> 00:18:54,149
small fingerlings get planted back

252
00:18:54,150 --> 00:18:55,989
into our ponds for

253
00:18:55,990 --> 00:18:56,990
extended growth.

254
00:18:58,990 --> 00:19:00,269
Interacted with this fish once

255
00:19:00,270 --> 00:19:01,270
before.

256
00:19:02,890 --> 00:19:04,329
The grand scope of what's going on

257
00:19:04,330 --> 00:19:06,369
in a large fingerling pond is

258
00:19:06,370 --> 00:19:07,929
pretty much unknown until we go to

259
00:19:07,930 --> 00:19:09,109
harvest those out.

260
00:19:10,590 --> 00:19:11,629
So like I said, right around Labor

261
00:19:11,630 --> 00:19:12,630
Day.

262
00:19:13,910 --> 00:19:14,910
Do you want me to talk about?

263
00:19:15,830 --> 00:19:17,189
You can run a little bit through

264
00:19:17,190 --> 00:19:18,949
yeah, okay, so is it that different

265
00:19:18,950 --> 00:19:19,779
or?

266
00:19:19,780 --> 00:19:21,119
It's only just the time frame

267
00:19:21,120 --> 00:19:23,119
difference and the

268
00:19:23,120 --> 00:19:24,479
spawning habitat. I guess I can talk

269
00:19:24,480 --> 00:19:25,399
about it here.

270
00:19:25,400 --> 00:19:27,339
So this is what's called

271
00:19:27,340 --> 00:19:28,659
a Fike Net.

272
00:19:28,660 --> 00:19:30,819
The Fike net consists

273
00:19:30,820 --> 00:19:33,039
of basically three main components

274
00:19:33,040 --> 00:19:34,219
you've got. What I'm holding onto

275
00:19:34,220 --> 00:19:36,399
right now, this is the lead.

276
00:19:36,400 --> 00:19:38,839
It's a curtain of netting with

277
00:19:38,840 --> 00:19:40,719
your floats on top and

278
00:19:40,720 --> 00:19:41,720
lead on the bottom.

279
00:19:43,060 --> 00:19:45,279
It literally leads the fish into

280
00:19:45,280 --> 00:19:46,399
the remainder of the net.

281
00:19:46,400 --> 00:19:47,400
So

282
00:19:48,450 --> 00:19:50,589
On a typical lake we might set as

283
00:19:50,590 --> 00:19:52,409
many as a dozen of these,

284
00:19:52,410 --> 00:19:53,929
sometimes it's only two or three

285
00:19:53,930 --> 00:19:55,489
that are necessary.

286
00:19:55,490 --> 00:19:57,049
What's going to happen is those fish

287
00:19:57,050 --> 00:19:58,209
are going to be swimming along

288
00:19:58,210 --> 00:20:00,049
looking for their spawning

289
00:20:00,050 --> 00:20:01,869
ground and they're swimming up

290
00:20:01,870 --> 00:20:03,849
pretty tight to shore typically at

291
00:20:03,850 --> 00:20:05,589
night and they're going to bump this

292
00:20:05,590 --> 00:20:07,929
net and basically they're

293
00:20:07,930 --> 00:20:09,269
gonna treat this like the shoreline.

294
00:20:09,270 --> 00:20:11,210
So they're going to follow it down.

295
00:20:14,640 --> 00:20:16,679
All the way to these

296
00:20:16,680 --> 00:20:17,680
frames here.

297
00:20:18,620 --> 00:20:19,759
Would you guys like to come over

298
00:20:19,760 --> 00:20:20,760
this way?

299
00:20:30,780 --> 00:20:32,499
So, once they're lead into these

300
00:20:32,500 --> 00:20:33,500
frames,

301
00:20:34,639 --> 00:20:36,279
this portion of netting I'm tugging

302
00:20:36,280 --> 00:20:38,339
on here is sewn shut for

303
00:20:38,340 --> 00:20:40,039
this display net.

304
00:20:40,040 --> 00:20:42,099
But they're gonna be funneled down

305
00:20:42,100 --> 00:20:43,279
in through the frames,

306
00:20:44,640 --> 00:20:46,979
through two successive funnels,

307
00:20:46,980 --> 00:20:48,479
and into what's called the pot end

308
00:20:48,480 --> 00:20:49,719
of the net.

309
00:20:49,720 --> 00:20:51,599
So, they're smart enough

310
00:20:51,600 --> 00:20:53,259
to know they don't wanna be in here,

311
00:20:53,260 --> 00:20:55,419
but they can't really navigate

312
00:20:55,420 --> 00:20:56,789
their way back out.

313
00:20:56,790 --> 00:20:58,229
They're going to end up in this pot

314
00:20:58,230 --> 00:21:00,629
end of the net and once a day during

315
00:21:00,630 --> 00:21:02,629
our spawning season we're going lift

316
00:21:02,630 --> 00:21:04,769
all of our nets.

317
00:21:04,770 --> 00:21:07,009
So we're gonna untie from

318
00:21:07,010 --> 00:21:09,069
your anchor and lift

319
00:21:09,070 --> 00:21:10,789
this first hoop onto the bow of the

320
00:21:10,790 --> 00:21:11,790
boat.

321
00:21:12,310 --> 00:21:13,789
Untying this little cinch knot here

322
00:21:13,790 --> 00:21:15,129
gives you access to everything that

323
00:21:15,130 --> 00:21:17,009
was caught the night before.

324
00:21:17,010 --> 00:21:18,869
If we're out walleye spawning,

325
00:21:18,870 --> 00:21:20,289
anything that's not a walleye is

326
00:21:20,290 --> 00:21:22,029
going to be safely released

327
00:21:22,030 --> 00:21:23,509
immediately.

328
00:21:23,510 --> 00:21:24,989
Those walleye are gonna get put on

329
00:21:24,990 --> 00:21:27,869
board our boat in holding tanks.

330
00:21:27,870 --> 00:21:29,809
Typically, with walleye,

331
00:21:29,810 --> 00:21:31,669
you're gonna be spawning at the

332
00:21:31,670 --> 00:21:32,670
net.

333
00:21:33,090 --> 00:21:35,069
So you're going to gather fish on

334
00:21:35,070 --> 00:21:36,209
board.

335
00:21:36,210 --> 00:21:39,609
You're going take whatever

336
00:21:39,610 --> 00:21:41,309
measurements you might need.

337
00:21:41,310 --> 00:21:43,109
Look for existing fin clips.

338
00:21:43,110 --> 00:21:45,149
You might have to clip

339
00:21:45,150 --> 00:21:47,459
some fins if it's necessary.

340
00:21:47,460 --> 00:21:48,699
And then we're gonna go through

341
00:21:48,700 --> 00:21:50,819
what's called the dry spawning

342
00:21:50,820 --> 00:21:51,820
method.

343
00:21:52,260 --> 00:21:54,399
So picture like a glass,

344
00:21:54,400 --> 00:21:55,960
a plastic salad bowl.

345
00:21:57,180 --> 00:21:58,879
You're gonna express the eggs for

346
00:21:58,880 --> 00:22:01,039
multiple females into that.

347
00:22:01,040 --> 00:22:03,019
I always have people ask, you know,

348
00:22:03,020 --> 00:22:04,079
how hard do you have to push on

349
00:22:04,080 --> 00:22:05,479
these fish?

350
00:22:05,480 --> 00:22:06,919
We're not going to spawn anything

351
00:22:06,920 --> 00:22:08,859
that's not ready to give

352
00:22:08,860 --> 00:22:10,779
eggs. So it's a pretty

353
00:22:10,780 --> 00:22:11,859
gentle procedure.

354
00:22:13,460 --> 00:22:15,179
You fill up that salad bowl,

355
00:22:16,410 --> 00:22:17,410
Wait a second.

356
00:22:19,840 --> 00:22:20,840
You

357
00:22:41,590 --> 00:22:42,590
Where is it?

358
00:22:51,410 --> 00:22:53,229
So we fill up that salad bowl,

359
00:22:53,230 --> 00:22:55,929
leaving some room at the top.

360
00:22:55,930 --> 00:22:57,769
And then you take the product

361
00:22:57,770 --> 00:22:59,729
or milk from a few males

362
00:22:59,730 --> 00:23:02,049
and add that over those eggs.

363
00:23:02,050 --> 00:23:03,949
At that point, nothing's happening.

364
00:23:03,950 --> 00:23:05,929
We bring disinfected water with us

365
00:23:05,930 --> 00:23:06,789
into the field.

366
00:23:06,790 --> 00:23:08,909
You add some of that water and

367
00:23:08,910 --> 00:23:09,929
give a quick mix.

368
00:23:09,930 --> 00:23:11,369
And within three seconds, all those

369
00:23:11,370 --> 00:23:13,889
eggs are going to be fertilized.

370
00:23:13,890 --> 00:23:15,609
Once fertilized, the eggs are gonna

371
00:23:15,610 --> 00:23:17,209
immediately start going through

372
00:23:17,210 --> 00:23:18,999
what's called water hardening.

373
00:23:19,000 --> 00:23:20,879
So they're going to swell to about

374
00:23:20,880 --> 00:23:24,179
four times their original size and

375
00:23:24,180 --> 00:23:26,019
the membrane that we

376
00:23:26,020 --> 00:23:27,519
think of as like an egg shell is

377
00:23:27,520 --> 00:23:29,439
going to seal up, the micropile

378
00:23:29,440 --> 00:23:31,519
is going, to seal, up and

379
00:23:31,520 --> 00:23:33,439
that egg will go from what's called

380
00:23:33,440 --> 00:23:35,299
a green egg, they're very soft,

381
00:23:35,300 --> 00:23:36,759
they are very fragile, to something

382
00:23:36,760 --> 00:23:38,759
that's fairly robust.

383
00:23:38,760 --> 00:23:40,239
That whole process takes about an

384
00:23:40,240 --> 00:23:42,259
hour and a half during which we're

385
00:23:42,260 --> 00:23:44,319
going to put them in coolers with

386
00:23:44,320 --> 00:23:45,879
some red clay.

387
00:23:45,880 --> 00:23:47,979
So, the red clay...

388
00:23:47,980 --> 00:23:49,459
Helps to keep those eggs from

389
00:23:49,460 --> 00:23:50,859
sticking to one another.

390
00:23:50,860 --> 00:23:52,259
The fertilized eggs will produce

391
00:23:52,260 --> 00:23:54,479
kind of a mucus layer and

392
00:23:54,480 --> 00:23:56,459
in nature that's used so

393
00:23:56,460 --> 00:23:58,799
they can kind of cling to,

394
00:23:58,800 --> 00:24:00,799
you know, sticks or rocks or

395
00:24:00,800 --> 00:24:02,059
something to just not be washed

396
00:24:02,060 --> 00:24:03,919
around in, you know

397
00:24:03,920 --> 00:24:06,359
the waves of wherever they are.

398
00:24:08,140 --> 00:24:10,459
This red clay binds to that mucus

399
00:24:10,460 --> 00:24:12,279
and instead of,

400
00:24:12,280 --> 00:24:14,139
you know creating clumps where the

401
00:24:14,140 --> 00:24:16,019
center of that clump wouldn't have

402
00:24:16,020 --> 00:24:16,929
any oxygen.

403
00:24:16,930 --> 00:24:19,049
They're more freely flowing or

404
00:24:19,050 --> 00:24:20,929
freely moving within our

405
00:24:20,930 --> 00:24:21,930
coolers.

406
00:24:22,610 --> 00:24:24,329
Those coolers are typically put on

407
00:24:24,330 --> 00:24:26,629
shore for that time just

408
00:24:26,630 --> 00:24:27,629
because we're going to have to go

409
00:24:27,630 --> 00:24:29,389
back and keep running more nets and

410
00:24:29,390 --> 00:24:30,649
we don't want them bouncing around

411
00:24:30,650 --> 00:24:32,709
on the boat as much as possible.

412
00:24:32,710 --> 00:24:34,629
At the end of the day we gather up

413
00:24:34,630 --> 00:24:36,149
all those coolers and come back here

414
00:24:36,150 --> 00:24:37,869
to the hatchery.

415
00:24:37,870 --> 00:24:39,729
So any questions that anything you'd

416
00:24:39,730 --> 00:24:41,199
like me to talk about with?

417
00:24:41,200 --> 00:24:42,459
Nope, I think that's good.

418
00:24:42,460 --> 00:24:43,619
We got to go out in the field a few

419
00:24:43,620 --> 00:24:45,159
times to see some of this, so all of

420
00:24:45,160 --> 00:24:46,659
this kind of reinforces what we've

421
00:24:46,660 --> 00:24:47,660
seen.

422
00:24:48,090 --> 00:24:49,269
So we'll go down to the hatchery.

423
00:24:51,920 --> 00:24:53,399
I've seen a minivan go by and I was

424
00:24:53,400 --> 00:24:54,359
like, oh, maybe they're late. I

425
00:24:54,360 --> 00:24:54,780
know, I know.

426
00:24:54,781 --> 00:24:55,609
I know, I know.

427
00:24:55,610 --> 00:24:56,469
I don't know if you noticed, I

428
00:24:56,470 --> 00:24:58,529
looked over your shoulder to

429
00:24:58,530 --> 00:24:59,530
saw the same thing.

430
00:25:03,980 --> 00:25:05,799
Okay, so this right

431
00:25:05,800 --> 00:25:07,459
here is the first stop for the eggs

432
00:25:07,460 --> 00:25:09,259
once they come to the hatchery.

433
00:25:09,260 --> 00:25:10,979
It's kind of a newer construction

434
00:25:10,980 --> 00:25:11,859
within this building.

435
00:25:11,860 --> 00:25:13,579
This is our quarantine area or

436
00:25:13,580 --> 00:25:14,580
disinfection room.

437
00:25:15,560 --> 00:25:16,879
All the spouts that you can see

438
00:25:16,880 --> 00:25:18,759
hanging, those are going to be used

439
00:25:18,760 --> 00:25:20,579
to temper the water in our cooler

440
00:25:20,580 --> 00:25:22,559
to match the water temperature

441
00:25:22,560 --> 00:25:24,399
in the hatch.

442
00:25:24,400 --> 00:25:26,399
I should mention that we get

443
00:25:26,400 --> 00:25:28,379
our We have two different water

444
00:25:28,380 --> 00:25:30,259
sources here. So we have our warm

445
00:25:30,260 --> 00:25:31,859
water source, which is Madeline

446
00:25:31,860 --> 00:25:33,859
Lake, and our cold water source is

447
00:25:33,860 --> 00:25:36,639
Clear Lake, and we're able to

448
00:25:36,640 --> 00:25:38,299
combine those two to achieve

449
00:25:38,300 --> 00:25:39,659
whatever temperature we'd like out

450
00:25:39,660 --> 00:25:41,799
here. So that whole process

451
00:25:41,800 --> 00:25:43,779
of tempering takes, you

452
00:25:43,780 --> 00:25:45,639
know, 10-15 minutes depending on how

453
00:25:45,640 --> 00:25:47,159
much of a temperature swing you're

454
00:25:47,160 --> 00:25:48,639
trying to achieve.

455
00:25:48,640 --> 00:25:50,519
After that, all that red clay needs

456
00:25:50,520 --> 00:25:52,619
to get rinsed off, and any

457
00:25:52,620 --> 00:25:54,239
small clumps of eggs that may have

458
00:25:54,240 --> 00:25:56,549
formed need to be broken up.

459
00:25:56,550 --> 00:25:58,489
You're gonna rinse with, you know,

460
00:25:58,490 --> 00:26:00,429
fresh water and the eggs get

461
00:26:00,430 --> 00:26:02,269
passed through a silk screen to

462
00:26:02,270 --> 00:26:04,029
kind of break them apart, separate

463
00:26:04,030 --> 00:26:05,030
them all.

464
00:26:05,630 --> 00:26:07,609
After they've all been separated,

465
00:26:07,610 --> 00:26:09,289
they're gonna go into an iodine

466
00:26:09,290 --> 00:26:10,149
bath.

467
00:26:10,150 --> 00:26:12,009
So the iodine solution

468
00:26:12,010 --> 00:26:13,889
is going to kill

469
00:26:13,890 --> 00:26:15,490
anything on the surface of the egg.

470
00:26:16,530 --> 00:26:17,889
Remember that water hardening

471
00:26:17,890 --> 00:26:19,689
already took place so nothing is

472
00:26:19,690 --> 00:26:21,629
penetrating the egg, that's

473
00:26:21,630 --> 00:26:23,529
That's a 10 minute process

474
00:26:23,530 --> 00:26:25,169
during which we use this handy

475
00:26:25,170 --> 00:26:26,669
little guy here.

476
00:26:26,670 --> 00:26:28,629
So we call it a pig trough

477
00:26:28,630 --> 00:26:30,029
around here, but this is a von Baer

478
00:26:30,030 --> 00:26:31,309
trough.

479
00:26:31,310 --> 00:26:33,409
And the way it works is

480
00:26:33,410 --> 00:26:35,049
you line up a single file of eggs

481
00:26:35,050 --> 00:26:37,429
down at the bottom of the trough and

482
00:26:37,430 --> 00:26:38,829
count them.

483
00:26:38,830 --> 00:26:40,729
We usually do that three times and

484
00:26:40,730 --> 00:26:42,669
take an average and this is

485
00:26:42,670 --> 00:26:44,509
the standardized size so it

486
00:26:44,510 --> 00:26:46,549
allows us to extrapolate eggs

487
00:26:46,550 --> 00:26:47,550
per quart.

488
00:26:48,370 --> 00:26:50,349
Believe it or not every female fish

489
00:26:50,350 --> 00:26:52,229
is a little different and there

490
00:26:52,230 --> 00:26:53,769
seem to be some trends on some

491
00:26:53,770 --> 00:26:54,970
lengths as far as egg size.

492
00:26:57,550 --> 00:26:58,550
For walleye,

493
00:26:59,730 --> 00:27:00,629
I don't know if this is even worth

494
00:27:00,630 --> 00:27:02,469
showing, but they're the

495
00:27:02,470 --> 00:27:04,349
smallest eggs we deal with.

496
00:27:04,350 --> 00:27:06,269
So this number, you kind

497
00:27:06,270 --> 00:27:08,029
of end up squinting at it a lot, but

498
00:27:08,030 --> 00:27:09,549
it becomes important once we get out

499
00:27:09,550 --> 00:27:10,550
here.

500
00:27:11,189 --> 00:27:13,309
So that's typically one person's

501
00:27:13,310 --> 00:27:14,310
job.

502
00:27:15,950 --> 00:27:17,989
This was built so that it's a

503
00:27:17,990 --> 00:27:19,909
separate space and

504
00:27:19,910 --> 00:27:21,009
then someone else is out here

505
00:27:21,010 --> 00:27:22,669
receiving those eggs and putting

506
00:27:22,670 --> 00:27:23,670
them up in the jars.

507
00:27:32,110 --> 00:27:34,029
This is a McDonald's type hatchery

508
00:27:34,030 --> 00:27:35,989
jar. We have 1,080

509
00:27:35,990 --> 00:27:37,889
of them just on this half

510
00:27:37,890 --> 00:27:39,069
of the hatchery here.

511
00:27:41,470 --> 00:27:43,569
Typically, we're very efficient

512
00:27:43,570 --> 00:27:44,529
compared to when this was

513
00:27:44,530 --> 00:27:45,369
constructed.

514
00:27:45,370 --> 00:27:47,429
So for walleye, we typically using

515
00:27:47,430 --> 00:27:49,450
maybe a dozen of these in a season.

516
00:27:50,570 --> 00:27:52,429
The way this works is

517
00:27:52,430 --> 00:27:54,429
you've got water running from this

518
00:27:54,430 --> 00:27:56,589
Top Trough 24-7 down

519
00:27:56,590 --> 00:27:57,590
each of these.

520
00:27:59,000 --> 00:28:01,179
Spigots into this downspout.

521
00:28:01,180 --> 00:28:02,719
So the water is actually entering

522
00:28:02,720 --> 00:28:05,159
the jar from the bottom.

523
00:28:05,160 --> 00:28:06,499
For walleye, we're going to be

524
00:28:06,500 --> 00:28:08,319
putting about two quarts of eggs

525
00:28:08,320 --> 00:28:10,159
per jar and

526
00:28:10,160 --> 00:28:12,119
you want to create kind of

527
00:28:12,120 --> 00:28:14,139
a gentle rolling of the eggs in

528
00:28:14,140 --> 00:28:15,499
here. You don't want them flying all

529
00:28:15,500 --> 00:28:17,119
over the place, but you also don't

530
00:28:17,120 --> 00:28:20,159
them squashing down on one another.

531
00:28:20,160 --> 00:28:22,059
Our biggest enemy in the

532
00:28:22,060 --> 00:28:24,399
hatchery itself is fungus.

533
00:28:24,400 --> 00:28:26,479
So, the more those eggs can

534
00:28:26,480 --> 00:28:28,489
freely move The

535
00:28:28,490 --> 00:28:30,149
less kind of dead spots that you

536
00:28:30,150 --> 00:28:31,409
have in them, the more we can

537
00:28:31,410 --> 00:28:33,069
control any fungal outbreak.

538
00:28:34,110 --> 00:28:36,469
If we do notice fungus

539
00:28:36,470 --> 00:28:38,069
starting to creep up in here, we can

540
00:28:38,070 --> 00:28:40,129
add hydrogen peroxide to this top

541
00:28:40,130 --> 00:28:41,989
trough and it kind of floats

542
00:28:41,990 --> 00:28:44,429
the fungus right out for us.

543
00:28:44,430 --> 00:28:46,289
Other than that, someone has

544
00:28:46,290 --> 00:28:48,529
to come through here every day

545
00:28:48,530 --> 00:28:50,349
and siphon out any dead

546
00:28:50,350 --> 00:28:51,669
eggs or anything that just doesn't

547
00:28:51,670 --> 00:28:52,670
look right.

548
00:28:54,290 --> 00:28:56,269
During the height of the season,

549
00:28:56,270 --> 00:28:58,609
that's an eight hour day.

550
00:28:58,610 --> 00:29:00,589
Once those eggs are hatched,

551
00:29:00,590 --> 00:29:01,950
they'll be down here.

552
00:29:03,090 --> 00:29:04,909
Put this guy over the top just to

553
00:29:04,910 --> 00:29:06,729
make sure no one swims out early, no

554
00:29:06,730 --> 00:29:08,229
one gets swept away by the water.

555
00:29:09,330 --> 00:29:11,949
Once we think they're ready to swim,

556
00:29:11,950 --> 00:29:13,329
we'll darken all the windows in

557
00:29:13,330 --> 00:29:14,729
here, we'll turn off all the lights,

558
00:29:14,730 --> 00:29:16,709
except for these

559
00:29:16,710 --> 00:29:18,069
lights over the top of whatever

560
00:29:18,070 --> 00:29:20,149
battery we think is ready to be

561
00:29:20,150 --> 00:29:21,150
swimming.

562
00:29:22,030 --> 00:29:23,789
Fry, so young fish.

563
00:29:23,790 --> 00:29:25,329
Are attracted to light in the same

564
00:29:25,330 --> 00:29:26,349
way that bugs are.

565
00:29:26,350 --> 00:29:28,309
So they're gonna swim their

566
00:29:28,310 --> 00:29:30,509
way up out of these jars into

567
00:29:30,510 --> 00:29:32,449
what was the drain trough,

568
00:29:32,450 --> 00:29:34,229
but is now going to allow them to

569
00:29:34,230 --> 00:29:36,509
swim underneath my feet

570
00:29:36,510 --> 00:29:38,069
and swim themselves into these

571
00:29:38,070 --> 00:29:39,309
holding tanks.

572
00:29:39,310 --> 00:29:42,109
So it usually takes about 24 hours.

573
00:29:42,110 --> 00:29:43,909
They'll do it all by themselves.

574
00:29:43,910 --> 00:29:45,309
Sometimes you have to help a little

575
00:29:45,310 --> 00:29:47,109
bit at the end, dump a couple of

576
00:29:47,110 --> 00:29:48,989
jars out, but typically

577
00:29:48,990 --> 00:29:50,109
they'll come in one morning and

578
00:29:50,110 --> 00:29:51,349
they'll all be waiting for you over

579
00:29:51,350 --> 00:29:52,350
here.

580
00:29:53,560 --> 00:29:54,619
These holding tanks,

581
00:29:56,140 --> 00:29:57,399
for walleye, they don't spend a lot

582
00:29:57,400 --> 00:29:58,559
of time in them.

583
00:29:58,560 --> 00:30:00,339
We like to get them into our ponds

584
00:30:00,340 --> 00:30:02,039
pretty much as quickly as possible.

585
00:30:04,020 --> 00:30:05,579
We can't feed them in here.

586
00:30:05,580 --> 00:30:07,439
So it's important that

587
00:30:07,440 --> 00:30:08,759
we just get them moving

588
00:30:09,879 --> 00:30:11,759
and stock our pond as quickly as

589
00:30:11,760 --> 00:30:12,760
we can.

590
00:30:15,440 --> 00:30:18,199
Anything else on hatchery

591
00:30:18,200 --> 00:30:20,399
stuff, anything glaringly

592
00:30:20,400 --> 00:30:21,659
obvious that I missed?

593
00:30:21,660 --> 00:30:23,099
No, I think that's good.

594
00:30:23,100 --> 00:30:24,100
Okay, okay.

595
00:30:25,660 --> 00:30:27,079
Do you want to go into the tour

596
00:30:27,080 --> 00:30:29,059
room? Is that a waste of your time?

597
00:30:30,120 --> 00:30:32,099
So, these are

598
00:30:32,100 --> 00:30:33,179
a walleye for this year.

599
00:30:34,960 --> 00:30:36,599
These aquarium fish are...

600
00:30:36,600 --> 00:30:38,599
Oh, you're

601
00:30:38,600 --> 00:30:40,639
fine. So, These are a Walleye

602
00:30:40,640 --> 00:30:42,659
for the year. These are cram

603
00:30:42,660 --> 00:30:44,479
fish are slightly

604
00:30:44,480 --> 00:30:45,939
smaller than their counterparts are

605
00:30:45,940 --> 00:30:47,619
in our ponds.

606
00:30:47,620 --> 00:30:49,559
They were spawned out of Big

607
00:30:49,560 --> 00:30:52,459
Arbor Vita Lake this year and

608
00:30:52,460 --> 00:30:54,379
you know, they have

609
00:30:54,380 --> 00:30:56,299
a couple weeks left to grow to

610
00:30:56,300 --> 00:30:57,540
the large fingerling size.

611
00:30:58,820 --> 00:31:00,799
Our biggest problems with

612
00:31:00,800 --> 00:31:02,279
raising walleye in captivity,

613
00:31:04,220 --> 00:31:06,079
as a schooling fish we can put

614
00:31:06,080 --> 00:31:08,119
a few more of them into a pond than

615
00:31:08,120 --> 00:31:10,079
we can with musky so they

616
00:31:10,080 --> 00:31:11,959
can be stocked more densely into our

617
00:31:11,960 --> 00:31:13,109
ponds.

618
00:31:13,110 --> 00:31:15,429
They will also readily cannibalize

619
00:31:15,430 --> 00:31:16,430
each other.

620
00:31:17,130 --> 00:31:18,969
So any of them that seem to

621
00:31:18,970 --> 00:31:20,909
be getting left behind in growth

622
00:31:20,910 --> 00:31:23,549
rate will become food.

623
00:31:23,550 --> 00:31:25,449
Also when we go to take fish out

624
00:31:25,450 --> 00:31:27,309
of our ponds, we're drawing

625
00:31:27,310 --> 00:31:30,249
the water down and

626
00:31:30,250 --> 00:31:31,989
condensing them and also causing

627
00:31:31,990 --> 00:31:33,989
some stress and that's another time

628
00:31:33,990 --> 00:31:36,389
we will start seeing a lot of

629
00:31:36,390 --> 00:31:37,390
cannibalism occurring.

630
00:31:39,230 --> 00:31:40,549
The minnows in here, they're all

631
00:31:40,550 --> 00:31:41,809
head minnows.

632
00:31:41,810 --> 00:31:43,329
And we have to purchase them the

633
00:31:43,330 --> 00:31:45,149
same way that a bait

634
00:31:45,150 --> 00:31:46,150
shop does.

635
00:31:46,870 --> 00:31:50,529
So prior to 2000,

636
00:31:50,530 --> 00:31:52,289
crews here were able to go out and

637
00:31:52,290 --> 00:31:54,249
capture food for our

638
00:31:54,250 --> 00:31:55,250
fish.

639
00:31:56,470 --> 00:31:59,749
Viral hemorrhagic septicemia was

640
00:31:59,750 --> 00:32:02,059
noticed in Wisconsin

641
00:32:02,060 --> 00:32:03,809
for the first time then, and since

642
00:32:03,810 --> 00:32:05,869
then we've had to

643
00:32:05,870 --> 00:32:07,170
purchase our minnows.

644
00:32:09,350 --> 00:32:11,549
As far as water quality

645
00:32:11,550 --> 00:32:13,449
goes for walleye in comparison

646
00:32:13,450 --> 00:32:14,450
to muskie,

647
00:32:15,290 --> 00:32:17,209
they are a little hardier when it

648
00:32:17,210 --> 00:32:19,249
comes to pH

649
00:32:19,250 --> 00:32:21,170
and dissolved oxygen.

650
00:32:23,360 --> 00:32:24,739
They're very finicky with

651
00:32:24,740 --> 00:32:26,059
temperature.

652
00:32:26,060 --> 00:32:28,479
If the temperature is

653
00:32:28,480 --> 00:32:30,499
not low enough, any sort of

654
00:32:30,500 --> 00:32:32,659
handling of them just

655
00:32:32,660 --> 00:32:33,919
doesn't end well.

656
00:32:33,920 --> 00:32:35,719
So that's one of the reasons why we

657
00:32:35,720 --> 00:32:38,419
have to wait until September to

658
00:32:38,420 --> 00:32:40,139
harvest them up as a large

659
00:32:40,140 --> 00:32:41,140
fingerling.

660
00:32:44,040 --> 00:32:46,519
So they'll feed throughout the

661
00:32:46,520 --> 00:32:47,559
time on these middles?

662
00:32:47,560 --> 00:32:47,560
Yeah.

663
00:32:47,561 --> 00:32:49,229
Yeah, yeah.

664
00:32:49,230 --> 00:32:50,589
Bad amount of minnows will probably

665
00:32:50,590 --> 00:32:52,749
be gone by Friday,

666
00:32:52,750 --> 00:32:54,130
so a few days from now.

667
00:32:55,210 --> 00:32:57,049
They are, they're

668
00:32:57,050 --> 00:32:59,289
a lot more aggressive

669
00:32:59,290 --> 00:33:01,709
than most people think.

670
00:33:01,710 --> 00:33:03,949
A group of

671
00:33:03,950 --> 00:33:04,950
wall-eyed this size.

672
00:33:08,830 --> 00:33:10,669
Biomass wise, they will eat a lot

673
00:33:10,670 --> 00:33:12,669
more than similar biomass

674
00:33:12,670 --> 00:33:14,300
and musky at this stage of life

675
00:33:17,010 --> 00:33:18,010
Trying to think

676
00:33:20,430 --> 00:33:22,049
Does most of that happen in the

677
00:33:22,050 --> 00:33:22,919
night?

678
00:33:22,920 --> 00:33:25,519
Yeah, so if

679
00:33:25,520 --> 00:33:27,379
we were to

680
00:33:27,380 --> 00:33:29,519
be here right when we feed them

681
00:33:29,520 --> 00:33:31,479
we'd see some action,

682
00:33:31,480 --> 00:33:33,399
but typically these aquarium fish

683
00:33:33,400 --> 00:33:35,439
get pretty spooked by the lights

684
00:33:35,440 --> 00:33:37,479
and just us standing here, so

685
00:33:37,480 --> 00:33:40,399
they're not really actively feeding.

686
00:33:40,400 --> 00:33:42,559
As far as in our ponds go,

687
00:33:43,960 --> 00:33:46,139
they move through

688
00:33:46,140 --> 00:33:51,699
their supply of minnows

689
00:33:51,700 --> 00:33:53,559
very Monday or Tuesday, there's

690
00:33:53,560 --> 00:33:54,739
very few minnows left.

691
00:33:54,740 --> 00:33:56,599
I think they eat throughout the

692
00:33:56,600 --> 00:33:57,619
day in those cases.

693
00:34:04,740 --> 00:34:06,099
Oh, so there's the masking over

694
00:34:06,100 --> 00:34:06,289
here?

695
00:34:06,290 --> 00:34:08,369
Yeah yeah just

696
00:34:08,370 --> 00:34:09,409
lazily hanging out

697
00:34:15,649 --> 00:34:17,109
Yeah, these metals don't seem to be

698
00:34:17,110 --> 00:34:17,529
quite as spooked.

699
00:34:17,530 --> 00:34:18,530
Exactly, yeah.

700
00:34:23,989 --> 00:34:24,989
Yeah,

701
00:34:26,429 --> 00:34:27,609
so at least it doesn't hit on the

702
00:34:27,610 --> 00:34:29,448
fathead.

703
00:34:29,449 --> 00:34:30,449
I think it did.

704
00:34:33,210 --> 00:34:34,109
Yeah, I see it.

705
00:34:34,110 --> 00:34:35,789
I think that is a really young

706
00:34:35,790 --> 00:34:36,209
fathead.

707
00:34:36,210 --> 00:34:38,329
Oh, I guess it

708
00:34:38,330 --> 00:34:39,330
seems right.

709
00:34:40,710 --> 00:34:42,189
Two sizes of minnow.

710
00:34:42,190 --> 00:34:44,388
So we start with

711
00:34:44,389 --> 00:34:46,408
what's called a grade 11 to 18.

712
00:34:46,409 --> 00:34:47,549
It's the smallest minnow we can

713
00:34:47,550 --> 00:34:49,968
purchase and then

714
00:34:49,969 --> 00:34:51,709
we move on. Our grade 10 is smallest

715
00:34:51,710 --> 00:34:52,888
and then when we move onto these

716
00:34:52,889 --> 00:34:53,889
grade 11-18.

717
00:34:55,350 --> 00:34:57,189
So this is big as

718
00:34:57,190 --> 00:34:59,089
the food gets that we offer any

719
00:34:59,090 --> 00:35:00,090
of our

720
00:35:02,930 --> 00:35:07,589
It's one of

721
00:35:07,590 --> 00:35:08,769
the things clip studies are trying

722
00:35:08,770 --> 00:35:10,369
to do is try to do it better.

723
00:35:12,290 --> 00:35:13,610
We do not know

724
00:35:15,140 --> 00:35:17,079
So even right away after

725
00:35:17,080 --> 00:35:18,659
the observer sat there under live

726
00:35:18,660 --> 00:35:19,660
food?

727
00:35:20,270 --> 00:35:22,009
I guess I can talk about that on

728
00:35:22,010 --> 00:35:23,749
camera if you'd like to but

729
00:35:23,750 --> 00:35:25,269
That's what I'm more curious about.

730
00:35:27,200 --> 00:35:29,159
So, for

731
00:35:29,160 --> 00:35:31,119
walleye, they

732
00:35:31,120 --> 00:35:33,479
begin like eating zooplankton

733
00:35:33,480 --> 00:35:34,480
here.

734
00:35:35,260 --> 00:35:37,159
We inoculate our ponds

735
00:35:37,160 --> 00:35:39,079
with zooplanking and we

736
00:35:39,080 --> 00:35:41,219
fertilize them before any

737
00:35:41,220 --> 00:35:43,299
walleye go in, so we're fertilizing

738
00:35:43,300 --> 00:35:44,509
them with zooblankton.

739
00:35:44,510 --> 00:35:46,329
Understanding how the fish

740
00:35:46,330 --> 00:35:48,509
act in the wild versus

741
00:35:48,510 --> 00:35:49,949
under lights in the...

742
00:35:51,330 --> 00:35:52,330
Um,

743
00:35:53,550 --> 00:35:55,889
I'd say at this size,

744
00:35:55,890 --> 00:35:57,309
these guys are forced to be a little

745
00:35:57,310 --> 00:35:58,689
closer to each other than they would

746
00:35:58,690 --> 00:35:59,690
like to be.

747
00:36:00,550 --> 00:36:02,989
Um, they will school, but

748
00:36:02,990 --> 00:36:04,769
it's pretty tightly packed in there

749
00:36:04,770 --> 00:36:05,770
right now.

750
00:36:06,610 --> 00:36:08,069
Um, but as far as their general

751
00:36:08,070 --> 00:36:09,989
habits, if you turn the lights off

752
00:36:09,990 --> 00:36:11,969
and, you know,

753
00:36:11,970 --> 00:36:14,029
leave for the night,

754
00:36:14,030 --> 00:36:14,949
come out in the morning, they're

755
00:36:14,950 --> 00:36:15,909
all...

756
00:36:15,910 --> 00:36:17,629
Congregating in that tube.

757
00:36:17,630 --> 00:36:19,209
They like finding structure like

758
00:36:19,210 --> 00:36:20,210
that.

759
00:36:21,090 --> 00:36:22,969
Right now,

760
00:36:22,970 --> 00:36:24,549
with the lights on, they're probably

761
00:36:24,550 --> 00:36:26,769
spending more

762
00:36:26,770 --> 00:36:28,869
time, you know,

763
00:36:28,870 --> 00:36:30,329
being anxious about that than they

764
00:36:30,330 --> 00:36:31,969
would be if they were in a little

765
00:36:31,970 --> 00:36:33,249
more turbid water.

766
00:36:34,850 --> 00:36:36,889
And then they do react to

767
00:36:36,890 --> 00:36:39,209
movement out here in

768
00:36:39,210 --> 00:36:41,029
a way that I'm sure is not

769
00:36:41,030 --> 00:36:42,069
actual.

770
00:36:42,070 --> 00:36:44,589
But in our ponds,

771
00:36:44,590 --> 00:36:46,549
which we'll go see, I'll show you

772
00:36:46,550 --> 00:36:48,449
what I'm talking about, but

773
00:36:48,450 --> 00:36:50,369
in that case I

774
00:36:50,370 --> 00:36:52,289
think it's as natural as it can get

775
00:36:52,290 --> 00:36:54,109
with the monoconfold.

776
00:36:54,110 --> 00:36:56,209
...Minors, the plastics potentially

777
00:36:56,210 --> 00:36:57,949
impacting the sex of the person.

778
00:36:57,950 --> 00:36:58,950
Yep, yep.

779
00:37:02,030 --> 00:37:03,309
I don't know how much I should say

780
00:37:03,310 --> 00:37:04,489
on that.

781
00:37:04,490 --> 00:37:05,709
We're not looking for that.

782
00:37:05,710 --> 00:37:07,129
I'm just more curious.

783
00:37:07,130 --> 00:37:10,049
We produce far

784
00:37:10,050 --> 00:37:11,949
more female fish than

785
00:37:11,950 --> 00:37:13,229
male fish.

786
00:37:13,230 --> 00:37:14,409
That's what he said, he's never out

787
00:37:14,410 --> 00:37:15,749
of those puns.

788
00:37:15,750 --> 00:37:17,589
He's there's any of the X

789
00:37:17,590 --> 00:37:18,690
puns are not lying.

790
00:37:20,130 --> 00:37:21,209
And so they said that's one of the

791
00:37:21,210 --> 00:37:22,329
negatives is they have a different

792
00:37:22,330 --> 00:37:23,239
distribution of cells.

793
00:37:23,240 --> 00:37:24,440
But yeah,

794
00:37:26,340 --> 00:37:28,439
most of our line ponds were

795
00:37:28,440 --> 00:37:30,819
created in the mid-90s,

796
00:37:30,820 --> 00:37:33,300
and we used to use blue dirt ponds.

797
00:37:34,380 --> 00:37:36,739
And I think you could line up

798
00:37:36,740 --> 00:37:39,199
on a graph, you know,

799
00:37:39,200 --> 00:37:41,679
the beginning of the line pond,

800
00:37:41,680 --> 00:37:42,680
sex of the fish,

801
00:37:43,880 --> 00:37:44,900
and at least they're correlated.

802
00:37:49,140 --> 00:37:50,799
I will say it's better than the

803
00:37:50,800 --> 00:37:52,639
reverse because

804
00:37:52,640 --> 00:37:54,599
if we are producing all male fish,

805
00:37:54,600 --> 00:37:56,559
it would be a much larger

806
00:37:56,560 --> 00:37:57,560
problem.

807
00:38:03,270 --> 00:38:05,229
So right here we've got five

808
00:38:05,230 --> 00:38:11,949
of our extended

809
00:38:11,950 --> 00:38:13,249
growth walleye ponds.

810
00:38:14,450 --> 00:38:16,349
Each of these ponds is plastic

811
00:38:16,350 --> 00:38:17,350
lined.

812
00:38:18,370 --> 00:38:21,029
They're about an acre in size and

813
00:38:21,030 --> 00:38:23,249
the deep end over by those catwalks

814
00:38:23,250 --> 00:38:24,529
is about eight feet deep.

815
00:38:24,530 --> 00:38:26,469
The shallow end over here is

816
00:38:26,470 --> 00:38:28,029
three and a half to four feet deep,

817
00:38:28,030 --> 00:38:29,209
it's about two million gallons of

818
00:38:29,210 --> 00:38:30,210
water per pond.

819
00:38:31,120 --> 00:38:32,979
Um, we won't

820
00:38:32,980 --> 00:38:34,539
be able to see much while I spend

821
00:38:34,540 --> 00:38:36,339
most of their time down at the

822
00:38:36,340 --> 00:38:38,199
bottom, but it

823
00:38:38,200 --> 00:38:39,439
also means they're more protected

824
00:38:39,440 --> 00:38:41,059
from predators.

825
00:38:41,060 --> 00:38:42,879
So on this side

826
00:38:42,880 --> 00:38:45,779
of the road, we have, you know,

827
00:38:45,780 --> 00:38:47,539
10 other ponds across the road.

828
00:38:47,540 --> 00:38:49,079
But back here, we don't have to

829
00:38:49,080 --> 00:38:51,639
worry too much about birds,

830
00:38:51,640 --> 00:38:52,640
um...

831
00:38:54,130 --> 00:38:55,549
The biggest issue would be otters

832
00:38:55,550 --> 00:38:57,250
coming out of these wetlands, but

833
00:38:57,251 --> 00:38:59,169
other than that, they're pretty safe

834
00:38:59,170 --> 00:39:00,809
back here.

835
00:39:00,810 --> 00:39:02,349
Twice a day, someone's going to come

836
00:39:02,350 --> 00:39:04,229
by and do water

837
00:39:04,230 --> 00:39:06,329
chemistry samples

838
00:39:06,330 --> 00:39:08,429
on every pond at multiple depths.

839
00:39:09,470 --> 00:39:10,729
So you're looking at dissolved

840
00:39:10,730 --> 00:39:12,069
oxygen. My battery died.

841
00:39:12,070 --> 00:39:13,889
Can we just, one

842
00:39:13,890 --> 00:39:14,689
second.

843
00:39:14,690 --> 00:39:15,989
No, you're fine. Um...

844
00:39:18,550 --> 00:39:20,929
With these walleye ponds,

845
00:39:20,930 --> 00:39:22,089
beginning of the year, they're going

846
00:39:22,090 --> 00:39:23,789
to be utilized for our small

847
00:39:23,790 --> 00:39:25,289
fingerling fish.

848
00:39:25,290 --> 00:39:27,269
At that time,

849
00:39:27,270 --> 00:39:29,229
our biggest issue with our

850
00:39:29,230 --> 00:39:31,489
location here is proximity

851
00:39:31,490 --> 00:39:33,609
to these wetlands and

852
00:39:33,610 --> 00:39:34,529
toads.

853
00:39:34,530 --> 00:39:36,309
So toads are going to come in, they

854
00:39:36,310 --> 00:39:38,609
are going lay their eggs in

855
00:39:38,610 --> 00:39:40,089
our ponds. Those eggs are going

856
00:39:40,090 --> 00:39:41,749
hatch, those tadpoles are going swim

857
00:39:41,750 --> 00:39:42,709
around.

858
00:39:42,710 --> 00:39:44,309
And when it comes time to take those

859
00:39:44,310 --> 00:39:45,869
small fingerlings walleye out of the

860
00:39:45,870 --> 00:39:47,869
ponds we are counting

861
00:39:47,870 --> 00:39:49,529
them by weight.

862
00:39:49,530 --> 00:39:51,229
So if you can imagine a bucket

863
00:39:51,230 --> 00:39:53,429
brigade of, you

864
00:39:53,430 --> 00:39:55,749
know, five or six people bucketing

865
00:39:55,750 --> 00:39:57,429
fish up to a distribution truck

866
00:39:58,470 --> 00:40:00,209
and you've got a bucket that's an

867
00:40:00,210 --> 00:40:01,689
unknown amount of tadpoles and an

868
00:40:01,690 --> 00:40:03,649
unknown amount of fish at that point

869
00:40:03,650 --> 00:40:04,849
it makes it hard.

870
00:40:04,850 --> 00:40:06,649
So there's a lot of toad patrol that

871
00:40:06,650 --> 00:40:07,789
goes on down here.

872
00:40:07,790 --> 00:40:09,609
Got to get those guys out of the

873
00:40:09,610 --> 00:40:10,610
pond.

874
00:40:11,950 --> 00:40:13,869
For large fingerling fish We do

875
00:40:13,870 --> 00:40:15,349
have some wading birds.

876
00:40:15,350 --> 00:40:16,649
That might come by.

877
00:40:16,650 --> 00:40:17,869
We're mostly worried about them

878
00:40:17,870 --> 00:40:19,189
taking our minnows.

879
00:40:19,190 --> 00:40:21,109
And to be honest with you,

880
00:40:21,110 --> 00:40:22,409
their beaks are sharp enough to

881
00:40:22,410 --> 00:40:24,309
puncture our liners.

882
00:40:24,310 --> 00:40:25,849
So, you know, honk your horn at

883
00:40:25,850 --> 00:40:27,849
them. Just try not to let them

884
00:40:27,850 --> 00:40:29,449
feel welcome here.

885
00:40:29,450 --> 00:40:31,489
But other than that,

886
00:40:31,490 --> 00:40:33,309
the walleye are left, you now,

887
00:40:33,310 --> 00:40:34,969
they're fed and they're left to do

888
00:40:34,970 --> 00:40:36,430
what they need to do to grow.

889
00:40:37,790 --> 00:40:39,689
As far as

890
00:40:39,690 --> 00:40:40,810
the water chemistry goes,

891
00:40:41,950 --> 00:40:44,019
if we notice any issues

892
00:40:44,020 --> 00:40:45,859
After our water chemistry test,

893
00:40:45,860 --> 00:40:47,539
the only thing we can really do is

894
00:40:47,540 --> 00:40:48,839
run water.

895
00:40:48,840 --> 00:40:51,359
So we've got right here,

896
00:40:51,360 --> 00:40:53,519
our shallow fill is on,

897
00:40:53,520 --> 00:40:55,859
flowing water through this pond.

898
00:40:55,860 --> 00:40:56,999
At the catwalk,

899
00:40:58,120 --> 00:40:59,659
there's a series of dam boards that

900
00:40:59,660 --> 00:41:01,579
maintain the water level, and

901
00:41:01,580 --> 00:41:03,139
we're actually flowing water over

902
00:41:03,140 --> 00:41:04,999
the top of those, so the water is

903
00:41:05,000 --> 00:41:06,099
flowing in one direction.

904
00:41:07,320 --> 00:41:09,039
If water chemistry has started to

905
00:41:09,040 --> 00:41:10,040
get...

906
00:41:10,930 --> 00:41:12,269
Really worrisome.

907
00:41:12,270 --> 00:41:14,129
We can turn on what's called our jet

908
00:41:14,130 --> 00:41:16,269
fill, which is

909
00:41:16,270 --> 00:41:18,109
how we can add the most amount

910
00:41:18,110 --> 00:41:20,089
of water as quick

911
00:41:20,090 --> 00:41:21,789
as possible.

912
00:41:21,790 --> 00:41:23,609
And then there's a downspout to

913
00:41:23,610 --> 00:41:25,669
add water directly below

914
00:41:25,670 --> 00:41:27,269
the catwalk.

915
00:41:27,270 --> 00:41:29,089
Typically, this

916
00:41:29,090 --> 00:41:30,789
time of year, you might come here

917
00:41:30,790 --> 00:41:32,649
and see all of

918
00:41:32,650 --> 00:41:33,869
our ponds running at the shallow

919
00:41:33,870 --> 00:41:35,869
fill, long hot sunny

920
00:41:35,870 --> 00:41:37,229
days.

921
00:41:37,230 --> 00:41:38,949
The pH is gonna start climbing up

922
00:41:38,950 --> 00:41:40,329
and.

923
00:41:40,330 --> 00:41:42,769
You know, associated dissolved

924
00:41:42,770 --> 00:41:43,830
oxygen as well.

925
00:41:46,190 --> 00:41:47,929
I should mention these ponds have

926
00:41:47,930 --> 00:41:49,749
all been fertilized

927
00:41:49,750 --> 00:41:51,649
before any fish got put into

928
00:41:51,650 --> 00:41:53,969
them early on in the season.

929
00:41:53,970 --> 00:41:56,669
So fertilization is,

930
00:41:56,670 --> 00:41:58,529
you know, we use brewer's yeast and

931
00:41:58,530 --> 00:42:00,649
ground alfalfa to

932
00:42:00,650 --> 00:42:03,229
kickstart some zooplankton growth.

933
00:42:03,230 --> 00:42:05,069
We typically leave one

934
00:42:05,070 --> 00:42:06,969
pond without fish for a period of

935
00:42:06,970 --> 00:42:08,649
time. We treat that as our bug pond.

936
00:42:08,650 --> 00:42:10,919
Are able to take

937
00:42:10,920 --> 00:42:12,839
zooplankton out of that pond and

938
00:42:12,840 --> 00:42:14,569
inoculate the other ponds with that.

939
00:42:16,140 --> 00:42:18,219
During the middle of our

940
00:42:18,220 --> 00:42:20,239
growing season here,

941
00:42:20,240 --> 00:42:22,119
once we're not worried

942
00:42:22,120 --> 00:42:23,899
about zooplanking and all our

943
00:42:23,900 --> 00:42:25,859
walleye are feeding on minnows,

944
00:42:25,860 --> 00:42:27,759
we will add a blue pond

945
00:42:27,760 --> 00:42:29,260
eye to these ponds.

946
00:42:30,360 --> 00:42:32,399
That pond eye refracts more

947
00:42:32,400 --> 00:42:34,179
sunlight than it allows to penetrate

948
00:42:34,180 --> 00:42:35,759
and really helps us control

949
00:42:35,760 --> 00:42:37,069
photosynthesis.

950
00:42:37,070 --> 00:42:38,969
So without that, we would have

951
00:42:38,970 --> 00:42:40,889
major allergy problems all the time.

952
00:42:42,590 --> 00:42:44,629
At this time of year, we float, we

953
00:42:44,630 --> 00:42:46,269
flowed, is that a word?

954
00:42:47,530 --> 00:42:49,229
We put so much extra water into

955
00:42:49,230 --> 00:42:51,149
these ponds at this point

956
00:42:51,150 --> 00:42:53,309
that that pond die has

957
00:42:53,310 --> 00:42:55,149
left anything

958
00:42:55,150 --> 00:42:57,069
that leaves our hatchery

959
00:42:57,070 --> 00:42:59,289
either the building itself or

960
00:42:59,290 --> 00:43:01,689
the ponds, any of that water

961
00:43:01,690 --> 00:43:03,169
does not get reused.

962
00:43:03,170 --> 00:43:05,049
We're not a recirculating system.

963
00:43:05,050 --> 00:43:07,289
Gets pumped out from that little

964
00:43:07,290 --> 00:43:09,229
station behind you up

965
00:43:09,230 --> 00:43:11,129
over the top of this hill to

966
00:43:11,130 --> 00:43:13,009
a three acre retention pond and we

967
00:43:13,010 --> 00:43:14,489
let mother nature filter our water

968
00:43:14,490 --> 00:43:16,249
for us.

969
00:43:16,250 --> 00:43:18,249
We're coming up pretty quickly here

970
00:43:18,250 --> 00:43:20,329
to large fingerling harvest

971
00:43:20,330 --> 00:43:22,189
so the way that works

972
00:43:22,190 --> 00:43:23,669
is a little different than with the

973
00:43:23,670 --> 00:43:24,670
small fingerling.

974
00:43:27,010 --> 00:43:29,389
Instead of bucket brigading and

975
00:43:29,390 --> 00:43:31,249
counting by weight we're

976
00:43:31,250 --> 00:43:32,850
able to use a fish loader

977
00:43:34,170 --> 00:43:36,089
which allows us to

978
00:43:36,090 --> 00:43:38,349
basically just add fish with

979
00:43:38,350 --> 00:43:40,429
no water to our distribution truck

980
00:43:40,430 --> 00:43:42,289
so at that stage

981
00:43:42,290 --> 00:43:43,969
we're counting those fish by water

982
00:43:43,970 --> 00:43:44,970
displacement.

983
00:43:45,570 --> 00:43:47,149
It's a pretty nice system.

984
00:43:47,150 --> 00:43:49,309
At the bottom of each of these ponds

985
00:43:49,310 --> 00:43:50,690
is what's called a catch kettle.

986
00:43:51,870 --> 00:43:54,189
If think of a U-shaped

987
00:43:54,190 --> 00:43:55,989
concrete structure, if I was

988
00:43:55,990 --> 00:43:57,649
standing in it the water level would

989
00:43:57,650 --> 00:44:00,209
be right above my knee and

990
00:44:00,210 --> 00:44:02,589
you're able to put the

991
00:44:02,590 --> 00:44:04,449
intake of that fish loader down

992
00:44:04,450 --> 00:44:06,169
into that catch kettle.

993
00:44:06,170 --> 00:44:08,109
Sucks fish and water up to

994
00:44:08,110 --> 00:44:10,129
a hopper where there's a series of

995
00:44:10,130 --> 00:44:11,569
grates that the fish kind of bounce

996
00:44:11,570 --> 00:44:13,609
along and the water falls right

997
00:44:13,610 --> 00:44:15,709
back into the pond and just fish

998
00:44:15,710 --> 00:44:17,269
once again are loaded onto the

999
00:44:17,270 --> 00:44:18,270
truck.

1000
00:44:19,470 --> 00:44:20,769
For that it's kind of an all hands

1001
00:44:20,770 --> 00:44:23,169
on deck operation so you've got

1002
00:44:23,170 --> 00:44:25,469
multiple people in the pond kind

1003
00:44:25,470 --> 00:44:26,989
of herding the fish towards that

1004
00:44:26,990 --> 00:44:28,989
catch kettle, you got someone

1005
00:44:28,990 --> 00:44:31,069
manning the hopper because

1006
00:44:31,070 --> 00:44:32,489
occasionally you have to help those

1007
00:44:32,490 --> 00:44:34,049
fish keep bouncing along That was

1008
00:44:34,050 --> 00:44:35,050
great.

1009
00:44:35,710 --> 00:44:37,269
Of course, you have to have drivers

1010
00:44:37,270 --> 00:44:39,049
for the distribution trucks and

1011
00:44:39,050 --> 00:44:41,149
people monitoring the water level

1012
00:44:41,150 --> 00:44:42,150
in those trucks.

1013
00:44:43,650 --> 00:44:44,670
For stocking fish,

1014
00:44:46,470 --> 00:44:49,849
we use two B-class

1015
00:44:49,850 --> 00:44:52,309
semi trucks and one

1016
00:44:52,310 --> 00:44:54,189
F450 that usually

1017
00:44:54,190 --> 00:44:55,749
gets us by. Sometimes we have to put

1018
00:44:55,750 --> 00:44:57,329
a tank on a smaller pickup truck.

1019
00:44:59,970 --> 00:45:01,369
We'll salt the water.

1020
00:45:01,370 --> 00:45:03,109
So you're adding salt to the

1021
00:45:03,110 --> 00:45:04,949
distribution truck water and that

1022
00:45:04,950 --> 00:45:06,669
helps calm the fish and we're able

1023
00:45:06,670 --> 00:45:08,769
to put much

1024
00:45:08,770 --> 00:45:10,709
more on board than

1025
00:45:10,710 --> 00:45:11,849
otherwise.

1026
00:45:11,850 --> 00:45:13,329
So you'll be able to leave here with

1027
00:45:13,330 --> 00:45:16,269
sometimes enough

1028
00:45:16,270 --> 00:45:18,149
fish that you won't have to send a

1029
00:45:18,150 --> 00:45:19,809
second truck to that lake.

1030
00:45:22,330 --> 00:45:23,349
I'm trying to think of what else for

1031
00:45:23,350 --> 00:45:24,350
stocking.

1032
00:45:27,050 --> 00:45:29,109
We service predominantly

1033
00:45:29,110 --> 00:45:31,409
the upper Wisconsin river

1034
00:45:31,410 --> 00:45:33,229
strain of walleye.

1035
00:45:33,230 --> 00:45:35,069
At this time we also

1036
00:45:35,070 --> 00:45:36,889
have some extended growth

1037
00:45:36,890 --> 00:45:38,889
walleye from the upper Chippewa

1038
00:45:38,890 --> 00:45:39,909
River strain.

1039
00:45:39,910 --> 00:45:42,209
Those were given to us by spooner,

1040
00:45:42,210 --> 00:45:43,369
the Hatcheryon spooner.

1041
00:45:43,370 --> 00:45:45,649
So for our purposes we're

1042
00:45:45,650 --> 00:45:47,649
spawning our own

1043
00:45:47,650 --> 00:45:49,010
upper Wisconsin fish.

1044
00:45:50,430 --> 00:45:52,809
Those fish, our upper Wisconsin,

1045
00:45:52,810 --> 00:45:54,769
fish might be stocked anywhere

1046
00:45:54,770 --> 00:45:56,669
from Lockview to Zaire

1047
00:45:56,670 --> 00:45:58,729
down to Lake Dubay

1048
00:45:58,730 --> 00:46:00,609
in Stevens Point.

1049
00:46:00,610 --> 00:46:02,469
Our upper chipfish, it's kind of

1050
00:46:02,470 --> 00:46:03,869
all up to Spooner where they'd like

1051
00:46:03,870 --> 00:46:05,749
them, but you know think like

1052
00:46:05,750 --> 00:46:07,809
Yellow River area, something

1053
00:46:07,810 --> 00:46:08,810
like that.

1054
00:46:09,330 --> 00:46:11,189
So I always have

1055
00:46:11,190 --> 00:46:13,029
people on these tours ask me,

1056
00:46:13,030 --> 00:46:14,669
you know, the genetics of these fish

1057
00:46:14,670 --> 00:46:16,569
and the state of Wisconsin

1058
00:46:16,570 --> 00:46:18,869
doesn't

1059
00:46:18,870 --> 00:46:20,809
discriminate between lake to lake

1060
00:46:20,810 --> 00:46:22,170
basis, it' all by watershed.

1061
00:46:24,200 --> 00:46:25,519
There's the Chippewa up over

1062
00:46:25,520 --> 00:46:27,419
Wisconsin, Green Bay,

1063
00:46:27,420 --> 00:46:29,239
and is the Fox considered

1064
00:46:29,240 --> 00:46:30,659
different or is that part of the

1065
00:46:30,660 --> 00:46:31,239
Green Bay?

1066
00:46:31,240 --> 00:46:32,699
I think it's up to a certain

1067
00:46:32,700 --> 00:46:34,539
impoundment it's considered Green

1068
00:46:34,540 --> 00:46:37,119
Bay, but then

1069
00:46:37,120 --> 00:46:39,259
past that I think it's its own

1070
00:46:39,260 --> 00:46:40,260
watershed as it were.

1071
00:46:44,880 --> 00:46:46,579
How many typically come through

1072
00:46:46,580 --> 00:46:47,249
here?

1073
00:46:47,250 --> 00:46:48,429
Fish wise?

1074
00:46:48,430 --> 00:46:50,309
Yeah. So this year,

1075
00:46:50,310 --> 00:46:52,289
I think we've got 140,

1076
00:46:53,290 --> 00:46:54,509
I'd have to really double check my

1077
00:46:54,510 --> 00:46:57,149
numbers but so maybe,

1078
00:46:57,150 --> 00:46:58,929
okay don't include this, it's like

1079
00:46:58,930 --> 00:47:01,249
140,000

1080
00:47:01,250 --> 00:47:03,589
large fingerlings

1081
00:47:03,590 --> 00:47:04,749
and

1082
00:47:08,330 --> 00:47:10,469
about maybe half again as much

1083
00:47:10,470 --> 00:47:12,049
for the smalls.

1084
00:47:12,050 --> 00:47:13,459
We can produce quite a few smalls

1085
00:47:15,050 --> 00:47:17,489
the reason we

1086
00:47:17,490 --> 00:47:19,389
even worry about small

1087
00:47:19,390 --> 00:47:21,229
fingerling people always ask

1088
00:47:21,230 --> 00:47:23,329
aren't you just feeding

1089
00:47:23,330 --> 00:47:24,609
other fish with those they're very

1090
00:47:24,610 --> 00:47:26,789
small two or three inches maybe

1091
00:47:26,790 --> 00:47:28,309
the lakes that those get put into

1092
00:47:28,310 --> 00:47:30,069
have been shown to be receptive to

1093
00:47:30,070 --> 00:47:32,179
them and they're very

1094
00:47:32,180 --> 00:47:33,219
cheap to make.

1095
00:47:34,500 --> 00:47:36,339
So, you know, large fingerling

1096
00:47:36,340 --> 00:47:38,289
walleye. There's a few dollars for

1097
00:47:38,290 --> 00:47:40,189
the state to produce, whereas

1098
00:47:40,190 --> 00:47:41,590
the smalls are cents.

1099
00:47:43,990 --> 00:47:45,809
I can get you some numbers before

1100
00:47:45,810 --> 00:47:46,810
we're done.

1101
00:47:47,360 --> 00:47:49,279
One of the other people

1102
00:47:49,280 --> 00:47:51,179
talked about by the time the

1103
00:47:51,180 --> 00:47:52,959
number that survived from the eggs

1104
00:47:52,960 --> 00:47:55,039
to this to an actual

1105
00:47:55,040 --> 00:47:56,919
trophy fish, it could be hundreds

1106
00:47:56,920 --> 00:47:58,869
of dollars for that one fish.

1107
00:47:58,870 --> 00:48:00,829
Hundreds of dollars and a

1108
00:48:00,830 --> 00:48:02,610
very low percent chance too.

1109
00:48:04,530 --> 00:48:06,349
So most of our lakes around

1110
00:48:06,350 --> 00:48:08,249
here, just three to five

1111
00:48:08,250 --> 00:48:09,789
years before that fish is gonna be

1112
00:48:09,790 --> 00:48:11,329
15 inches.

1113
00:48:11,330 --> 00:48:13,229
And the closer they get to like a

1114
00:48:13,230 --> 00:48:14,830
magical 30 inch mark,

1115
00:48:15,990 --> 00:48:18,729
more slowly they're gonna grow.

1116
00:48:18,730 --> 00:48:20,789
Females especially will grow

1117
00:48:20,790 --> 00:48:23,029
quickly in the beginning and then

1118
00:48:23,030 --> 00:48:24,489
they start putting a lot of energy

1119
00:48:24,490 --> 00:48:26,649
into making eggs every year.

1120
00:48:26,650 --> 00:48:28,069
So this slows down their growth

1121
00:48:28,070 --> 00:48:28,419
rate.

1122
00:48:28,420 --> 00:48:30,239
So when someone asks, is

1123
00:48:30,240 --> 00:48:31,240
it worth it,

1124
00:48:32,460 --> 00:48:34,379
is there are researches that say

1125
00:48:34,380 --> 00:48:36,019
we shouldn't be putting effort into

1126
00:48:36,020 --> 00:48:37,259
stocking. We should put effort into

1127
00:48:37,260 --> 00:48:39,039
making the lakes more habitable, or

1128
00:48:39,040 --> 00:48:40,939
at least when we stock only stock

1129
00:48:40,940 --> 00:48:42,159
in the lakes that we know will

1130
00:48:42,160 --> 00:48:44,149
actually sustain a population.

1131
00:48:44,150 --> 00:48:46,009
Yeah so that's two different schools

1132
00:48:46,010 --> 00:48:47,329
of thought there. You've got people

1133
00:48:47,330 --> 00:48:48,330
who think that

1134
00:48:49,190 --> 00:48:50,889
kind of return everything to nature

1135
00:48:50,890 --> 00:48:52,769
and if you were

1136
00:48:52,770 --> 00:48:54,149
to do that there's quite a few lakes

1137
00:48:54,150 --> 00:48:55,329
in northern Wisconsin that would

1138
00:48:55,330 --> 00:48:56,449
have no walleye.

1139
00:48:56,450 --> 00:48:58,029
The only reason they have walleye in

1140
00:48:58,030 --> 00:48:59,989
the first place is because of

1141
00:48:59,990 --> 00:49:01,349
the hatchery system.

1142
00:49:01,350 --> 00:49:02,969
We are you know we've been around

1143
00:49:02,970 --> 00:49:04,849
since 1901

1144
00:49:04,850 --> 00:49:06,869
and only the fourth

1145
00:49:06,870 --> 00:49:08,769
oldest hatchery in the state

1146
00:49:08,770 --> 00:49:10,649
so it's a legacy that's

1147
00:49:10,650 --> 00:49:11,949
been going on for quite some time.

1148
00:49:13,850 --> 00:49:15,989
As far as supplemental stocking

1149
00:49:15,990 --> 00:49:18,069
goes, if you're going to supplement

1150
00:49:18,070 --> 00:49:20,669
an already naturally

1151
00:49:20,670 --> 00:49:23,049
reproducing population,

1152
00:49:23,050 --> 00:49:24,570
that has been shown to be...

1153
00:49:26,770 --> 00:49:27,929
Not as productive.

1154
00:49:30,790 --> 00:49:32,629
What we do a lot here

1155
00:49:32,630 --> 00:49:35,389
is our

1156
00:49:35,390 --> 00:49:37,789
biologists will identify lakes with

1157
00:49:37,790 --> 00:49:39,949
declining natural reproduction,

1158
00:49:39,950 --> 00:49:41,769
maybe zero natural

1159
00:49:41,770 --> 00:49:42,929
reproduction.

1160
00:49:42,930 --> 00:49:44,829
And if you start looking at

1161
00:49:44,830 --> 00:49:46,389
those lakes, you're talking about

1162
00:49:46,390 --> 00:49:48,789
really high-dollar

1163
00:49:48,790 --> 00:49:50,729
tourist attractions that

1164
00:49:50,730 --> 00:49:52,229
people wouldn't want go to if they

1165
00:49:52,230 --> 00:49:55,149
weren't walleyeing them and

1166
00:49:55,150 --> 00:49:57,239
then there's some lakes that managed

1167
00:49:57,240 --> 00:49:59,259
more as a trophy fishery

1168
00:49:59,260 --> 00:50:01,479
and you know supplemental

1169
00:50:01,480 --> 00:50:02,839
stocking along the way might be

1170
00:50:02,840 --> 00:50:04,799
helpful for them but

1171
00:50:04,800 --> 00:50:06,899
generally speaking

1172
00:50:06,900 --> 00:50:08,739
if

1173
00:50:08,740 --> 00:50:10,999
you were to eliminate you

1174
00:50:11,000 --> 00:50:13,279
know rearing of walleye and

1175
00:50:13,280 --> 00:50:15,339
stocking of wall I I

1176
00:50:15,340 --> 00:50:17,379
think the major outcome is suddenly

1177
00:50:17,380 --> 00:50:18,380
there'll be

1178
00:50:21,020 --> 00:50:23,319
much fewer walleye destinations

1179
00:50:23,320 --> 00:50:26,579
in the state especially

1180
00:50:26,580 --> 00:50:28,499
you know if you

1181
00:50:28,500 --> 00:50:30,899
look at when this place started

1182
00:50:30,900 --> 00:50:33,019
focused on black bass that

1183
00:50:33,020 --> 00:50:35,039
was what people were wanting

1184
00:50:35,040 --> 00:50:36,399
to catch.

1185
00:50:36,400 --> 00:50:37,759
They started bringing walleye all

1186
00:50:37,760 --> 00:50:39,639
over the state and

1187
00:50:39,640 --> 00:50:41,859
that became you know

1188
00:50:41,860 --> 00:50:43,619
why people wanted to come to Johnson

1189
00:50:43,620 --> 00:50:44,179
so.

1190
00:50:44,180 --> 00:50:46,099
It's interesting that that

1191
00:50:46,100 --> 00:50:48,099
history, like Wisconsin in

1192
00:50:48,100 --> 00:50:50,239
many ways, literally grew its

1193
00:50:50,240 --> 00:50:51,079
walleye tradition.

1194
00:50:51,080 --> 00:50:52,419
Mm-hmm. Yeah.

1195
00:50:52,420 --> 00:50:53,420
Yeah, so

1196
00:50:55,570 --> 00:50:58,789
funny like anecdotal stuff with

1197
00:50:58,790 --> 00:51:00,349
musky.

1198
00:51:00,350 --> 00:51:02,569
Any, you know, world record musky

1199
00:51:02,570 --> 00:51:04,529
back in the 20s and 30s

1200
00:51:04,530 --> 00:51:06,369
seemed to be caught by

1201
00:51:06,370 --> 00:51:08,150
someone who owned a bar or tavern.

1202
00:51:09,390 --> 00:51:11,189
Walleye kind of started following

1203
00:51:11,190 --> 00:51:13,489
suit with that and

1204
00:51:13,490 --> 00:51:15,329
people were advertising, you'll

1205
00:51:15,330 --> 00:51:17,689
come to my resort we have

1206
00:51:17,690 --> 00:51:19,669
you know swingers of

1207
00:51:19,670 --> 00:51:20,770
walleye you can come catch.

1208
00:51:21,990 --> 00:51:23,529
The state realized pretty quickly

1209
00:51:23,530 --> 00:51:25,339
they had to support that effort.

1210
00:51:25,340 --> 00:51:27,259
And because of

1211
00:51:27,260 --> 00:51:29,579
that, you've got two

1212
00:51:29,580 --> 00:51:31,679
of the world's

1213
00:51:31,680 --> 00:51:33,859
largest walleye

1214
00:51:33,860 --> 00:51:36,059
hatcheries in northern Wisconsin

1215
00:51:36,060 --> 00:51:37,719
with Austin Spooner.

1216
00:51:42,169 --> 00:51:43,169
As far as, you know.

1217
00:51:45,280 --> 00:51:47,279
Kind of a self-fulfilling

1218
00:51:47,280 --> 00:51:49,159
prophecy in a way you

1219
00:51:49,160 --> 00:51:50,999
put the money and time into it and

1220
00:51:51,000 --> 00:51:52,499
people will enjoy it.

1221
00:51:53,760 --> 00:51:55,759
So to say that it's a waste

1222
00:51:55,760 --> 00:51:57,779
of time depends on what

1223
00:51:57,780 --> 00:51:58,789
you're trying to get out of it.

1224
00:52:00,340 --> 00:52:02,259
Would it be awesome if we could

1225
00:52:02,260 --> 00:52:04,379
move to

1226
00:52:04,380 --> 00:52:06,999
all habitat protection,

1227
00:52:07,000 --> 00:52:08,819
development, rehabilitation?

1228
00:52:08,820 --> 00:52:10,759
Sure, I've yet to

1229
00:52:10,760 --> 00:52:12,979
see anything that says that that's

1230
00:52:12,980 --> 00:52:14,579
100% successful.

1231
00:52:14,580 --> 00:52:17,819
You look at even some

1232
00:52:17,820 --> 00:52:20,099
fairly recent studies on creating

1233
00:52:20,100 --> 00:52:22,239
habitat for walleye spawning.

1234
00:52:22,240 --> 00:52:23,759
They don't seem to have much

1235
00:52:23,760 --> 00:52:24,760
promise.

1236
00:52:25,600 --> 00:52:27,599
So we seem to reach

1237
00:52:27,600 --> 00:52:29,659
the point with walleye

1238
00:52:29,660 --> 00:52:31,819
in particular where,

1239
00:52:31,820 --> 00:52:33,799
and you can talk

1240
00:52:33,800 --> 00:52:35,139
to a biologist who knows a lot more

1241
00:52:35,140 --> 00:52:36,140
about this than I do,

1242
00:52:37,200 --> 00:52:39,219
but there's lakes of greatest

1243
00:52:39,220 --> 00:52:41,479
concern when it comes to walleye

1244
00:52:41,480 --> 00:52:43,559
that despite many

1245
00:52:43,560 --> 00:52:45,409
efforts to Kickstart

1246
00:52:45,410 --> 00:52:47,029
natural reproduction don't seem to

1247
00:52:47,030 --> 00:52:49,009
be responding to those and

1248
00:52:49,010 --> 00:52:51,229
therefore Facilities

1249
00:52:51,230 --> 00:52:52,789
like ours are going to have to be

1250
00:52:52,790 --> 00:52:54,489
responsible to keep walleye in them

1251
00:52:57,100 --> 00:52:58,459
Most people don't know that walleye

1252
00:52:58,460 --> 00:52:59,599
are a river fish.

1253
00:52:59,600 --> 00:53:01,199
Yeah, yeah.

1254
00:53:01,200 --> 00:53:02,719
So how many of the lakes up here

1255
00:53:02,720 --> 00:53:04,619
that people became Walleye

1256
00:53:04,620 --> 00:53:06,639
destinations like were

1257
00:53:06,640 --> 00:53:08,559
originally stocked, maybe not by the

1258
00:53:08,560 --> 00:53:10,159
state, but like Walleye weren't

1259
00:53:10,160 --> 00:53:11,699
native there to begin with.

1260
00:53:11,700 --> 00:53:14,359
It's hard to say, so until

1261
00:53:14,360 --> 00:53:17,419
the modern genetics they'd

1262
00:53:17,420 --> 00:53:19,739
be really hard to pin down

1263
00:53:19,740 --> 00:53:21,140
a number of lakes.

1264
00:53:22,540 --> 00:53:24,999
You can pretty safely say that,

1265
00:53:25,000 --> 00:53:26,879
you know, these small

1266
00:53:26,880 --> 00:53:28,979
acreage landlocked lakes

1267
00:53:28,980 --> 00:53:31,499
with, you

1268
00:53:31,500 --> 00:53:33,979
know, poor spawning

1269
00:53:33,980 --> 00:53:35,839
habitat to begin with, probably

1270
00:53:35,840 --> 00:53:37,279
you were never meant to have walleye

1271
00:53:37,280 --> 00:53:39,559
in them. Just because they can

1272
00:53:39,560 --> 00:53:41,079
naturally reproduce somewhere

1273
00:53:41,080 --> 00:53:43,179
doesn't mean that they belong

1274
00:53:43,180 --> 00:53:45,059
there as it were they

1275
00:53:45,060 --> 00:53:46,659
of course belong there now if you

1276
00:53:46,660 --> 00:53:47,700
ask people but

1277
00:53:49,100 --> 00:53:51,739
You know a lot of

1278
00:53:51,740 --> 00:53:53,919
larger deep water

1279
00:53:53,920 --> 00:53:55,939
clear water lakes

1280
00:53:55,940 --> 00:53:58,219
probably have a wildlife population

1281
00:53:58,220 --> 00:54:00,299
in them to begin with but

1282
00:54:00,300 --> 00:54:02,259
you go in

1283
00:54:02,260 --> 00:54:03,899
back in the 1800s there were people

1284
00:54:03,900 --> 00:54:05,899
just filling up a milk

1285
00:54:05,900 --> 00:54:07,899
jug of fry and bring

1286
00:54:07,900 --> 00:54:09,699
it wherever they wanted.

1287
00:54:09,700 --> 00:54:11,799
So it's one of the reasons we work

1288
00:54:11,800 --> 00:54:14,119
so hard to maintain the

1289
00:54:14,120 --> 00:54:15,579
genetic integrity of our fish

1290
00:54:15,580 --> 00:54:16,580
leaving here.

1291
00:54:18,060 --> 00:54:19,959
We're trying to avoid obviously

1292
00:54:19,960 --> 00:54:21,259
creating what's known as a hatchery

1293
00:54:21,260 --> 00:54:23,679
strain of fish where we're

1294
00:54:23,680 --> 00:54:25,039
breeding, spawning the same fish

1295
00:54:25,040 --> 00:54:27,119
again over and over.

1296
00:54:27,120 --> 00:54:29,499
But also there's a reason why

1297
00:54:29,500 --> 00:54:31,759
they're genetically diverse and

1298
00:54:31,760 --> 00:54:34,039
maintaining that seems to help with

1299
00:54:34,040 --> 00:54:36,569
natural reproduction as well.

1300
00:54:36,570 --> 00:54:38,609
What would happen if the

1301
00:54:38,610 --> 00:54:40,309
state stopped doing this like in

1302
00:54:40,310 --> 00:54:41,969
there were no more walleye would

1303
00:54:41,970 --> 00:54:43,329
people just move on to something

1304
00:54:43,330 --> 00:54:44,330
else and

1305
00:54:45,190 --> 00:54:46,949
Another fish would take its spot in

1306
00:54:46,950 --> 00:54:48,889
the ecosystem, but sure what would

1307
00:54:48,890 --> 00:54:49,579
be lost

1308
00:54:49,580 --> 00:54:51,679
Sure, ecosystem

1309
00:54:51,680 --> 00:54:53,659
wise, most places

1310
00:54:53,660 --> 00:54:55,439
would be fine.

1311
00:54:55,440 --> 00:54:56,959
There's other fish species that

1312
00:54:56,960 --> 00:54:57,960
would fill that niche.

1313
00:54:59,740 --> 00:55:01,359
I guess I've talked to plenty of

1314
00:55:01,360 --> 00:55:03,459
people. I pull up in a truck

1315
00:55:03,460 --> 00:55:05,379
to a boat launch

1316
00:55:05,380 --> 00:55:07,279
and I go and I start getting

1317
00:55:07,280 --> 00:55:09,039
ready to dump fish off.

1318
00:55:09,040 --> 00:55:10,459
And I have plenty of of people ask

1319
00:55:10,460 --> 00:55:11,799
me, hey, what do you have in there?

1320
00:55:11,800 --> 00:55:13,719
What are you bringing to us?

1321
00:55:13,720 --> 00:55:15,869
Walleye, thank you.

1322
00:55:15,870 --> 00:55:17,649
No one is mad that we're putting

1323
00:55:17,650 --> 00:55:19,309
walleye into the lakes.

1324
00:55:19,310 --> 00:55:21,369
If I were to say, I've got to load a

1325
00:55:21,370 --> 00:55:23,289
smallmouth bass, I'd get run

1326
00:55:23,290 --> 00:55:25,229
out of there in some places.

1327
00:55:25,230 --> 00:55:26,590
So smallmouth Bass,

1328
00:55:28,570 --> 00:55:30,349
it's a public opinion matter.

1329
00:55:30,350 --> 00:55:31,949
They think it's major competition

1330
00:55:31,950 --> 00:55:33,729
for walleye.

1331
00:55:33,730 --> 00:55:35,309
Maybe it is, maybe it's not.

1332
00:55:35,310 --> 00:55:36,889
I think it really depends on the

1333
00:55:36,890 --> 00:55:37,739
system you're talking about.

1334
00:55:37,740 --> 00:55:38,979
I thought it was largemouth bass

1335
00:55:38,980 --> 00:55:40,119
that were actually more competitive

1336
00:55:40,120 --> 00:55:41,759
than smallmouths before habitat.

1337
00:55:41,760 --> 00:55:41,761
It is.

1338
00:55:41,762 --> 00:55:42,762
It is, yeah.

1339
00:55:43,510 --> 00:55:45,829
But you tell that to a

1340
00:55:45,830 --> 00:55:47,889
60-year-old with a $200,000

1341
00:55:47,890 --> 00:55:50,749
boat, they don't want to hear it.

1342
00:55:50,750 --> 00:55:52,809
So I think the

1343
00:55:52,810 --> 00:55:55,509
fallout from not having any walleye

1344
00:55:55,510 --> 00:55:57,589
on the landscape,

1345
00:55:57,590 --> 00:55:58,590
it'd be more,

1346
00:56:00,270 --> 00:56:02,169
you'd see it more with how people

1347
00:56:02,170 --> 00:56:03,129
use the resource.

1348
00:56:03,130 --> 00:56:05,229
You wouldn't necessarily see

1349
00:56:05,230 --> 00:56:07,169
major changes to the

1350
00:56:07,170 --> 00:56:09,069
ecosystem. I'm sure there'd be some,

1351
00:56:09,070 --> 00:56:10,070
but

1352
00:56:11,130 --> 00:56:13,129
be a lot less money spent on,

1353
00:56:13,130 --> 00:56:15,029
you know, coming here with

1354
00:56:15,030 --> 00:56:16,890
your boat from Illinois.

1355
00:56:18,050 --> 00:56:19,509
We have a lot of less time spent on

1356
00:56:19,510 --> 00:56:21,789
the water certain

1357
00:56:21,790 --> 00:56:23,729
times of the year.

1358
00:56:23,730 --> 00:56:25,669
You gotta think spring walleye

1359
00:56:25,670 --> 00:56:27,449
is a big deal, ice fishing is a deal

1360
00:56:27,450 --> 00:56:28,550
for walleye.

1361
00:56:29,710 --> 00:56:31,849
So just be less tourism

1362
00:56:31,850 --> 00:56:33,489
dollars coming in the winter, coming

1363
00:56:33,490 --> 00:56:34,749
in in the spring.

1364
00:56:34,750 --> 00:56:36,469
So people might gravitate more

1365
00:56:36,470 --> 00:56:38,369
towards You know, muskie

1366
00:56:38,370 --> 00:56:39,969
fishing in the fall for that reason.

1367
00:56:41,520 --> 00:56:43,479
Bass fishing has kind of taken a

1368
00:56:43,480 --> 00:56:45,159
foothold in Wisconsin and it's an

1369
00:56:45,160 --> 00:56:47,139
important driver for

1370
00:56:47,140 --> 00:56:49,099
tourism, but

1371
00:56:49,100 --> 00:56:50,899
I don't personally think anything's

1372
00:56:50,900 --> 00:56:52,829
going to replace walleye.

1373
00:56:52,830 --> 00:56:53,829
There's just something different

1374
00:56:53,830 --> 00:56:54,599
about it, right?

1375
00:56:54,600 --> 00:56:56,619
Yeah, yeah, and it's part of

1376
00:56:56,620 --> 00:56:58,439
the culture in a way that

1377
00:56:58,440 --> 00:57:00,499
it's hard to sell a

1378
00:57:00,500 --> 00:57:02,899
certain demographic of people on

1379
00:57:02,900 --> 00:57:04,979
bass or muskie,

1380
00:57:04,980 --> 00:57:06,979
you know, both of which have become

1381
00:57:06,980 --> 00:57:08,519
a very catch-and-release-oriented

1382
00:57:10,140 --> 00:57:11,140
species.

1383
00:57:13,000 --> 00:57:14,619
People like keeping a few walleye a

1384
00:57:14,620 --> 00:57:16,099
year. Some people keep more than

1385
00:57:16,100 --> 00:57:17,679
that. People like keepin' a few

1386
00:57:17,680 --> 00:57:19,000
while you're having a fish fry.

1387
00:57:21,790 --> 00:57:23,829
It just wouldn't be their vacation

1388
00:57:23,830 --> 00:57:25,429
in Wisconsin without it, honestly.

1389
00:57:26,850 --> 00:57:28,269
People aren't coming to take tours

1390
00:57:28,270 --> 00:57:30,209
here to watch the smallmouth or a

1391
00:57:30,210 --> 00:57:30,459
bluegill.

1392
00:57:30,460 --> 00:57:33,499
Right right no and there's

1393
00:57:33,500 --> 00:57:34,779
we have two types of people here we

1394
00:57:34,780 --> 00:57:37,059
have the musky diehards

1395
00:57:37,060 --> 00:57:38,919
and the people who

1396
00:57:38,920 --> 00:57:40,839
want to learn more about walleye

1397
00:57:40,840 --> 00:57:42,739
there's really no one

1398
00:57:42,740 --> 00:57:44,719
who's coming on a tour

1399
00:57:44,720 --> 00:57:46,899
taking time out of their day just

1400
00:57:46,900 --> 00:57:48,179
to learn about our white sucker

1401
00:57:48,180 --> 00:57:50,079
production or just to look

1402
00:57:50,080 --> 00:57:52,079
at our nice 1933 buildings

1403
00:57:52,080 --> 00:57:54,039
it's you know people love these

1404
00:57:54,040 --> 00:57:56,319
fish and you know

1405
00:57:56,320 --> 00:57:58,460
I think with good reason, but...

1406
00:58:00,310 --> 00:58:02,589
I'm not going to say that

1407
00:58:02,590 --> 00:58:04,709
if this was a largemouth

1408
00:58:04,710 --> 00:58:06,609
bass hatchery, we wouldn't

1409
00:58:06,610 --> 00:58:08,149
have any visitors.

1410
00:58:08,150 --> 00:58:10,149
It's not quite that far,

1411
00:58:10,150 --> 00:58:12,489
but there's a certain type of person

1412
00:58:12,490 --> 00:58:14,529
who comes

1413
00:58:14,530 --> 00:58:16,309
here in the first place.

1414
00:58:16,310 --> 00:58:17,489
So what's it like for you when you

1415
00:58:17,490 --> 00:58:19,509
get to actually see the full cycle

1416
00:58:19,510 --> 00:58:20,629
of this and bring them to the lake

1417
00:58:20,630 --> 00:58:21,419
and let them go?

1418
00:58:21,420 --> 00:58:22,659
I like it a lot.

1419
00:58:22,660 --> 00:58:24,479
So I start the year on a

1420
00:58:24,480 --> 00:58:25,480
spawning crew.

1421
00:58:27,180 --> 00:58:29,079
You know, get out of here and

1422
00:58:29,080 --> 00:58:30,959
go do something hands on.

1423
00:58:30,960 --> 00:58:32,539
Very enjoyable.

1424
00:58:32,540 --> 00:58:34,339
I am starting to really enjoy

1425
00:58:34,340 --> 00:58:35,819
working with the ponds more as I've

1426
00:58:35,820 --> 00:58:36,820
been here longer.

1427
00:58:38,460 --> 00:58:40,339
The full I have

1428
00:58:40,340 --> 00:58:42,319
pictures on my phone of here are

1429
00:58:42,320 --> 00:58:43,799
eggs that we spawn and here are fish

1430
00:58:43,800 --> 00:58:45,979
leaving my truck and it's

1431
00:58:45,980 --> 00:58:46,819
fun.

1432
00:58:46,820 --> 00:58:48,239
I feel like you have a little bit of

1433
00:58:49,640 --> 00:58:50,879
stake in the game, a little

1434
00:58:50,880 --> 00:58:53,379
ownership of the resource in a way,

1435
00:58:53,380 --> 00:58:55,399
but yeah,

1436
00:58:55,400 --> 00:58:56,579
I really enjoy it.

1437
00:58:56,580 --> 00:58:58,159
And do you catch and release while

1438
00:58:58,160 --> 00:58:59,139
away or what's your fishing

1439
00:58:59,140 --> 00:58:59,659
technique?

1440
00:58:59,660 --> 00:59:01,660
Yeah, um...

1441
00:59:03,230 --> 00:59:04,289
No, he was a genus

1442
00:59:06,180 --> 00:59:08,099
I mostly bass fish in the

1443
00:59:08,100 --> 00:59:09,439
summertime, I don't really like

1444
00:59:09,440 --> 00:59:11,579
eating fish unless

1445
00:59:11,580 --> 00:59:13,419
it's something I caught through

1446
00:59:13,420 --> 00:59:15,619
the ice, personal preference,

1447
00:59:15,620 --> 00:59:17,379
but I like walleye fishing in the

1448
00:59:17,380 --> 00:59:18,380
wintertime.

1449
00:59:18,870 --> 00:59:20,549
Yeah that makes sense.

1450
00:59:20,550 --> 00:59:21,689
I know there's a lot of people that,

1451
00:59:21,690 --> 00:59:22,969
especially summer, they won't touch

1452
00:59:22,970 --> 00:59:23,559
a crappie.

1453
00:59:23,560 --> 00:59:25,139
Yeah, that too, yeah.

1454
00:59:27,120 --> 00:59:28,639
I think that covers what we wanted

1455
00:59:28,640 --> 00:59:30,539
out of this, this was great, can I

1456
00:59:30,540 --> 00:59:31,679
get you to say and spell your name

1457
00:59:31,680 --> 00:59:32,879
and give your title, just so I have

1458
00:59:32,880 --> 00:59:34,489
it correct? Sure.

1459
00:59:34,490 --> 00:59:36,469
So I'm Ryan Flaherty, that's

1460
00:59:36,470 --> 00:59:38,749
R-Y-A-N-F-L-A

1461
00:59:38,750 --> 00:59:40,789
H-E-R-T-Y,

1462
00:59:40,790 --> 00:59:42,069
and I'm a fisheries technician

1463
00:59:42,070 --> 00:59:43,789
advanced at Ardhamkey Fritch

1464
00:59:43,790 --> 00:59:44,129
Hatchery.

1465
00:59:44,130 --> 00:59:45,489
Excellent. Thank you so much.

1466
00:59:45,490 --> 00:59:46,489
You're welcome. Really appreciate

1467
00:59:46,490 --> 00:59:47,490
it.

1468
01:02:31,191 --> 01:02:34,170
So this building here with

1469
01:02:34,171 --> 01:02:35,830
the kind of sliding garage door

1470
01:02:35,831 --> 01:02:37,790
facing us, that's full of pike nets.

1471
01:02:37,791 --> 01:02:39,490
Oh, the big pilliated.

1472
01:02:39,491 --> 01:02:41,690
Yeah, so when

1473
01:02:41,691 --> 01:02:42,731
we use those pike nets,

1474
01:02:44,511 --> 01:02:46,111
they're one time used per season.

1475
01:02:47,591 --> 01:02:49,830
So we put a, let's say we're

1476
01:02:49,831 --> 01:02:52,550
walleye spawning and big arborvita,

1477
01:02:52,551 --> 01:02:54,270
then that net will get hung back

1478
01:02:54,271 --> 01:02:55,670
behind those boats.

1479
01:02:55,671 --> 01:02:56,990
We'll get all fresh nets to go to

1480
01:02:56,991 --> 01:02:57,991
our sucker lakes.