1 00:00:33,270 --> 00:00:34,569 And on the top end of the path we 2 00:00:34,570 --> 00:00:36,169 have, of course, no flats. 3 00:00:36,170 --> 00:00:37,649 And this whole department area 4 00:00:37,650 --> 00:00:39,009 complex is one of the most 5 00:00:39,010 --> 00:00:40,669 productive all-night marches on the 6 00:00:40,670 --> 00:00:41,589 entire system. 7 00:00:41,590 --> 00:00:42,889 As I just noted, it's actually since 8 00:00:42,890 --> 00:00:45,069 the 1960s and stuff. 9 00:00:45,070 --> 00:00:46,729 That's gonna be cool how they go 10 00:00:46,730 --> 00:00:48,069 back to the really old stuff. 11 00:00:48,070 --> 00:00:49,209 And it's still true to this day. 12 00:00:49,210 --> 00:00:51,129 This march right here for Enters, 13 00:00:51,130 --> 00:00:52,189 which is the property, 14 00:00:52,190 --> 00:00:53,569 understandably, why it's called 15 00:00:53,570 --> 00:00:54,570 that. 16 00:00:54,990 --> 00:00:57,169 We've packed out of all the sites, 17 00:00:57,170 --> 00:00:58,629 there's probably been like 15 to 20 18 00:00:58,630 --> 00:01:00,589 of these sites that have the most 19 00:01:00,590 --> 00:01:01,590 mesh. 20 00:01:03,830 --> 00:01:05,389 And just like, you know, it is 21 00:01:05,390 --> 00:01:07,121 really nice to talk to you about 22 00:01:09,150 --> 00:01:10,089 Yeah, we'll get them all in the 23 00:01:10,090 --> 00:01:11,090 water. 24 00:01:42,040 --> 00:01:43,219 All right. 25 00:01:43,220 --> 00:01:44,270 Good luck. Thank you. 26 00:01:47,750 --> 00:01:48,809 Nice day. I thought it'd be a lot 27 00:01:48,810 --> 00:01:49,749 colder. 28 00:01:49,750 --> 00:01:50,669 Yeah, I thought you were going to 29 00:01:50,670 --> 00:01:51,799 give me the 20s. 30 00:01:51,800 --> 00:01:53,999 When you said that, I'm like, oh no. 31 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:54,959 Then I looked and I'm, like, what's he talking 32 00:01:54,960 --> 00:01:56,739 about on the app thing? 33 00:01:58,920 --> 00:01:59,920 All right, sorry, quiet on set. 34 00:02:08,039 --> 00:02:09,039 Go ahead. 35 00:04:01,380 --> 00:04:02,380 At least I'll be healthy. 36 00:04:04,780 --> 00:04:06,279 I don't know, I just, I like to get 37 00:04:06,280 --> 00:04:08,059 a big one, so it's just the best 38 00:04:08,060 --> 00:04:09,199 thing for the buck, you know? 39 00:04:09,200 --> 00:04:10,059 Is it? Yeah. 40 00:04:10,060 --> 00:04:11,220 Can you stop talking and I'll do it? 41 00:04:45,720 --> 00:04:46,720 Yeah 42 00:05:23,040 --> 00:05:24,480 Hold on. 43 00:05:25,620 --> 00:05:26,620 I need water. 44 00:05:30,600 --> 00:05:32,279 More so my forte. 45 00:05:37,620 --> 00:05:39,579 If you do that hold another sheet. 46 00:05:39,580 --> 00:05:41,079 If you guys watch you have plenty of 47 00:05:41,080 --> 00:05:42,080 opportunity 48 00:05:43,260 --> 00:05:44,919 Don't stick any parts of your body 49 00:05:44,920 --> 00:05:46,739 in the water for any reason at any 50 00:05:46,740 --> 00:05:47,699 time should be pretty 51 00:05:47,700 --> 00:05:48,700 straightforward 52 00:05:49,440 --> 00:05:50,899 If you drop anything in the water, 53 00:05:50,900 --> 00:05:52,039 and we like drop the net in the 54 00:05:52,040 --> 00:05:53,159 water or your hat, something we need 55 00:05:53,160 --> 00:05:54,779 to pick it up, make sure to ask 56 00:05:54,780 --> 00:05:56,959 Angela to choose this off before we 57 00:05:56,960 --> 00:05:58,029 go for it. 58 00:05:58,030 --> 00:05:59,849 Get up into like some woody areas 59 00:05:59,850 --> 00:06:01,869 and you get your net caught on a 60 00:06:01,870 --> 00:06:03,349 tree limb or a branch or something 61 00:06:03,350 --> 00:06:05,249 like don't like you can just 62 00:06:05,250 --> 00:06:06,929 drop the net like yeah you can try 63 00:06:06,930 --> 00:06:08,089 to get it off but if it's really 64 00:06:08,090 --> 00:06:09,369 stuck in there i've actually snapped 65 00:06:09,370 --> 00:06:11,189 the net myself trying to trying too 66 00:06:11,190 --> 00:06:13,069 hard so i'd rather not snap nets 67 00:06:13,070 --> 00:06:14,749 and just go back and pick it up the 68 00:06:14,750 --> 00:06:16,569 the black handle ones do float so 69 00:06:18,470 --> 00:06:20,229 The biggest thing is trying not to 70 00:06:20,230 --> 00:06:21,269 knock my teeth out with the end of 71 00:06:21,270 --> 00:06:22,369 the pole up there. 72 00:06:22,370 --> 00:06:23,389 That's probably the most dangerous 73 00:06:23,390 --> 00:06:24,669 thing. 74 00:06:24,670 --> 00:06:26,509 Which is also why you will be back 75 00:06:26,510 --> 00:06:27,510 here. 76 00:06:28,210 --> 00:06:29,589 But yeah, other than that, Jason's 77 00:06:29,590 --> 00:06:30,589 gonna open the tank up, we'll get 78 00:06:30,590 --> 00:06:31,609 some water in there, and we're 79 00:06:31,610 --> 00:06:32,610 pretty much ready to go. 80 00:06:45,300 --> 00:06:47,279 We've got 25 feet of water out 81 00:06:47,280 --> 00:06:48,280 here in the main channel. 82 00:07:01,349 --> 00:07:02,469 Hey Jason, did you get the start 83 00:07:02,470 --> 00:07:03,470 time done? 84 00:07:06,370 --> 00:07:07,370 Alright, you guys ready to go? 85 00:07:20,610 --> 00:07:21,649 Okay, you're going on! 86 00:07:25,849 --> 00:07:26,849 You're on! 87 00:07:57,730 --> 00:07:59,709 So we'll start off in the 88 00:07:59,710 --> 00:08:01,729 lower end here, deeper water, 89 00:08:01,730 --> 00:08:03,789 typically a little bit slower of 90 00:08:03,790 --> 00:08:05,689 catching as we work our way up, 91 00:08:05,690 --> 00:08:06,789 we'll probably see more and more 92 00:08:06,790 --> 00:08:07,790 fish. 93 00:10:30,839 --> 00:10:33,079 And probably well-educated 94 00:10:33,080 --> 00:10:34,939 anglers alike will always point 95 00:10:34,940 --> 00:10:37,199 to small diameter 96 00:10:37,200 --> 00:10:39,419 rock, gravel with 97 00:10:39,420 --> 00:10:41,279 water flow either in a river 98 00:10:41,280 --> 00:10:43,299 or a wind-swept shoreline with good 99 00:10:43,300 --> 00:10:45,199 wave action to keep 100 00:10:45,200 --> 00:10:47,139 the eggs free of sediment as well 101 00:10:47,140 --> 00:10:49,200 as provide aeration for development. 102 00:10:50,380 --> 00:10:52,259 The water quality parameter is there 103 00:10:52,260 --> 00:10:54,129 to keep eggs free 104 00:10:54,130 --> 00:10:56,029 of sediment and well-oxygenated is 105 00:10:56,030 --> 00:10:58,189 the same for the Winnebago 106 00:10:58,190 --> 00:10:59,129 system walleye. 107 00:10:59,130 --> 00:11:01,429 However, they spawn on a 108 00:11:01,430 --> 00:11:02,929 different substrate being marsh 109 00:11:02,930 --> 00:11:04,069 grass. 110 00:11:04,070 --> 00:11:05,549 So how that works is you typically 111 00:11:05,550 --> 00:11:07,509 have a upper end of the marsh and 112 00:11:07,510 --> 00:11:08,649 a lower end of marsh. 113 00:11:08,650 --> 00:11:10,589 The marsh will basically have a 114 00:11:10,590 --> 00:11:12,469 directional flow going through it, 115 00:11:12,470 --> 00:11:14,069 overtopping at the top end, and then 116 00:11:14,070 --> 00:11:15,649 the marsh grass will get pushed back 117 00:11:15,650 --> 00:11:17,429 in the current, kind of creating a 118 00:11:17,430 --> 00:11:18,429 mat and that's where the fish will 119 00:11:18,430 --> 00:11:19,430 lay their eggs. 120 00:11:22,610 --> 00:11:24,529 So yeah, kind of unique 121 00:11:24,530 --> 00:11:26,109 to the Winnebago system. 122 00:11:26,110 --> 00:11:27,409 And I would say the Winabago system 123 00:11:27,410 --> 00:11:30,069 is probably the largest 124 00:11:30,070 --> 00:11:32,329 marsh spawning walleye 125 00:11:32,330 --> 00:11:33,169 strain. 126 00:11:33,170 --> 00:11:34,250 Probably that's even out there. 127 00:11:55,740 --> 00:11:58,619 The pike just jumped right there, 128 00:11:58,620 --> 00:11:59,620 thought I'd get a 30-incher. 129 00:12:35,880 --> 00:12:37,939 Yeah, right now the new London 130 00:12:37,940 --> 00:12:41,159 River Gage is at right around 9.7, 131 00:12:41,160 --> 00:12:42,959 we've been out here doing this when 132 00:12:42,960 --> 00:12:44,839 that gage is at 1.5, when 133 00:12:44,840 --> 00:12:46,439 all the marshes are completely dry 134 00:12:46,440 --> 00:12:47,759 and we're shocking the main channel 135 00:12:47,760 --> 00:12:48,760 of the river. 136 00:12:50,360 --> 00:12:51,360 So, 137 00:12:53,140 --> 00:12:54,879 the hydrograph of the Wolf River can 138 00:12:54,880 --> 00:12:56,119 have some pretty impressive 139 00:12:56,120 --> 00:12:57,120 fluctuations. 140 00:13:19,829 --> 00:13:21,609 Able to get some experience netting 141 00:13:21,610 --> 00:13:23,759 the first time you guys went out or? 142 00:13:23,760 --> 00:13:25,579 No, we are just watching 143 00:13:25,580 --> 00:13:26,580 the whole time. 144 00:13:27,690 --> 00:13:29,129 Did you have five people on the boat 145 00:13:29,130 --> 00:13:29,909 then, or? 146 00:13:29,910 --> 00:13:30,709 I don't know. 147 00:13:30,710 --> 00:13:32,109 I've been told it's a pretty strict 148 00:13:32,110 --> 00:13:33,110 of four, but... 149 00:13:34,130 --> 00:13:35,510 We'll go and see exactly who the 150 00:13:35,511 --> 00:13:36,629 other guy we're calling out is, so 151 00:13:36,630 --> 00:13:37,630 we'll get in touch with him. Got it. 152 00:13:39,800 --> 00:13:41,199 I mean, you could probably fit five 153 00:13:41,200 --> 00:13:42,579 people in here. It's just difficult 154 00:13:42,580 --> 00:13:43,082 from the top of the line. 155 00:13:43,083 --> 00:13:44,629 It was already drawn in before, 156 00:13:44,630 --> 00:13:45,630 yeah. 157 00:13:45,760 --> 00:13:46,760 Especially you've got a camera. 158 00:13:48,190 --> 00:13:49,190 Yeah. 159 00:14:01,280 --> 00:14:02,859 Have you guys covered the sturgeon's 160 00:14:02,860 --> 00:14:03,559 fearing? 161 00:14:03,560 --> 00:14:05,419 No, we're just really focusing on 162 00:14:05,420 --> 00:14:07,239 wildlife and all kinds of wildlife, 163 00:14:07,240 --> 00:14:08,219 pretty easy. 164 00:14:08,220 --> 00:14:10,339 Have you seen, uh, 165 00:14:10,340 --> 00:14:11,579 I'm pretty sure it was a PBS 166 00:14:11,580 --> 00:14:13,569 documentary, The Frozen, Frozen. 167 00:14:13,570 --> 00:14:15,449 I think so, yeah, that's 168 00:14:15,450 --> 00:14:16,029 pretty cool. 169 00:14:16,030 --> 00:14:17,769 Yeah, that's basically out of our 170 00:14:17,770 --> 00:14:19,689 office, most of the 171 00:14:19,690 --> 00:14:21,229 coverage, kind of campy and around 172 00:14:21,230 --> 00:14:21,569 brook. 173 00:14:21,570 --> 00:14:22,570 Yeah 174 00:14:28,150 --> 00:14:30,049 Yeah what really gets fish in these 175 00:14:30,050 --> 00:14:32,149 marshes is the 176 00:14:32,150 --> 00:14:34,229 river will have much more thermal 177 00:14:34,230 --> 00:14:36,109 resistance, it'll have much volume 178 00:14:36,110 --> 00:14:37,989 because it's a lot deeper so when 179 00:14:37,990 --> 00:14:40,289 the water over tops the bank on 180 00:14:40,290 --> 00:14:42,409 the upper end and flows through 181 00:14:42,410 --> 00:14:44,229 the marsh it's much shallower. 182 00:14:44,230 --> 00:14:45,729 It's typically a dark bottom so if 183 00:14:45,730 --> 00:14:47,629 it's sunny day the sun will pick 184 00:14:47,630 --> 00:14:49,309 that dark bottom and warm the water 185 00:14:49,310 --> 00:14:50,970 up so then when 186 00:14:52,690 --> 00:14:54,969 The water travels through 187 00:14:54,970 --> 00:14:56,569 the marsh and exits at its 188 00:14:56,570 --> 00:14:58,709 downstream location it 189 00:14:58,710 --> 00:15:00,609 will Basically create 190 00:15:00,610 --> 00:15:02,089 a temperature gradient where it's 191 00:15:02,090 --> 00:15:03,689 meeting the river and that's what's 192 00:15:03,690 --> 00:15:05,089 going to bring those fish into the 193 00:15:05,090 --> 00:15:06,269 marsh They want to go up there and 194 00:15:06,270 --> 00:15:08,149 spawn that being said when 195 00:15:08,150 --> 00:15:10,109 we have a warm-up and 196 00:15:10,110 --> 00:15:11,949 Then things cool down really quickly 197 00:15:11,950 --> 00:15:13,809 You'll actually start to see warmer 198 00:15:13,810 --> 00:15:14,909 temperatures in the river 199 00:15:14,910 --> 00:15:16,429 Comparatively to the marshes and 200 00:15:16,430 --> 00:15:18,349 that kind of shuts things down until 201 00:15:18,350 --> 00:15:19,509 it warms back up 202 00:15:27,060 --> 00:15:29,019 The male fish will basically 203 00:15:29,020 --> 00:15:30,839 start to show up on the marshes as 204 00:15:30,840 --> 00:15:32,879 soon as the ice breaks up and 205 00:15:32,880 --> 00:15:34,579 then the females will start to find 206 00:15:34,580 --> 00:15:36,519 a couple hanging around in the 207 00:15:36,520 --> 00:15:38,099 lower portions of the marsh around 208 00:15:38,100 --> 00:15:39,959 38 to 40 degrees and then things 209 00:15:39,960 --> 00:15:41,439 really start going crazy when you 210 00:15:41,440 --> 00:15:43,579 get to that 42 to 44 211 00:15:43,580 --> 00:15:45,619 degree mark and then go well 212 00:15:45,620 --> 00:15:47,439 into when it's even upwards 213 00:15:47,440 --> 00:15:48,440 of that. 214 00:16:12,790 --> 00:16:14,949 Are low, the spawning marshes 215 00:16:14,950 --> 00:16:17,709 will not have any water in them. 216 00:16:17,710 --> 00:16:19,589 So high water that we have right now 217 00:16:19,590 --> 00:16:21,049 is excellent. It's actually one of 218 00:16:21,050 --> 00:16:22,709 the highest I've seen it in my five 219 00:16:22,710 --> 00:16:24,209 seasons of doing this. 220 00:16:24,210 --> 00:16:26,129 But that being said what you really 221 00:16:26,130 --> 00:16:28,189 need is the water to maintain 222 00:16:28,190 --> 00:16:30,189 its high level status. 223 00:16:30,190 --> 00:16:31,289 One of the worst things that can 224 00:16:31,290 --> 00:16:32,849 happen for a walleye spawn is for 225 00:16:32,850 --> 00:16:35,009 the water to come up really fast all 226 00:16:35,010 --> 00:16:36,669 the fish will enter the upper ends 227 00:16:36,670 --> 00:16:38,189 of the marshes they'll lay all their 228 00:16:38,190 --> 00:16:39,669 eggs and then if the water rapidly 229 00:16:39,670 --> 00:16:41,469 drops after that all of those eggs 230 00:16:41,470 --> 00:16:43,279 are left high and dry so. 231 00:16:43,280 --> 00:16:45,019 What you really want for successful 232 00:16:45,020 --> 00:16:46,719 water spawning on the system here is 233 00:16:46,720 --> 00:16:48,539 high consistent water and 234 00:16:48,540 --> 00:16:50,759 you also like to see a relatively 235 00:16:50,760 --> 00:16:52,699 stable climb in water temperatures 236 00:16:52,700 --> 00:16:55,159 without massive fluctuations. 237 00:16:55,160 --> 00:16:56,579 Some years when we've observed 238 00:16:56,580 --> 00:16:58,779 really rapid warm-up followed by 239 00:16:58,780 --> 00:17:00,379 a long duration of colder 240 00:17:00,380 --> 00:17:02,319 temperatures, we have seen 241 00:17:02,320 --> 00:17:04,578 that cause some 242 00:17:04,579 --> 00:17:06,539 disarray 243 00:17:06,540 --> 00:17:08,358 in the success of any given 244 00:17:08,359 --> 00:17:09,779 year we observed. 245 00:17:09,780 --> 00:17:11,539 And if you guys also have that story 246 00:17:11,540 --> 00:17:13,388 on the trial you did. 247 00:17:13,389 --> 00:17:15,229 The amount of those little guys that 248 00:17:15,230 --> 00:17:17,068 we catch basically tells us how 249 00:17:17,069 --> 00:17:18,969 well the fish did up here any given 250 00:17:18,970 --> 00:17:19,970 spring. 251 00:19:05,270 --> 00:19:07,189 Not sure if you guys or 252 00:19:07,190 --> 00:19:09,229 what kind of marsh visits you 253 00:19:09,230 --> 00:19:11,509 had with walleyes for tomorrow, but 254 00:19:11,510 --> 00:19:13,429 at the upper end of this marsh 255 00:19:13,430 --> 00:19:15,449 there is a project 256 00:19:15,450 --> 00:19:17,429 type, it's pretty common for the 257 00:19:17,430 --> 00:19:18,589 spawning marshes that we call 258 00:19:18,590 --> 00:19:20,389 marshes, as there's been a long 259 00:19:20,390 --> 00:19:22,629 history of roads being built, 260 00:19:22,630 --> 00:19:24,489 there's a big railroad going through 261 00:19:24,490 --> 00:19:27,149 one, private landowners 262 00:19:27,150 --> 00:19:29,889 making roads and trails, 263 00:19:29,890 --> 00:19:31,989 so kind of just restoring that 264 00:19:31,990 --> 00:19:33,690 is the intention there. 265 00:19:36,570 --> 00:19:38,109 We worked it out quite a bit there 266 00:19:38,110 --> 00:19:39,689 at Gettner's people's. 267 00:19:39,690 --> 00:19:41,369 So what? We worked about quite a bed 268 00:19:41,370 --> 00:19:42,589 there at the Gettler's people. 269 00:19:42,590 --> 00:19:42,590 Yeah. 270 00:19:42,591 --> 00:19:43,591 Yeah they're great. 271 00:19:45,120 --> 00:19:46,799 They're well funded they usually 272 00:19:46,800 --> 00:19:49,199 have the financial backing to you 273 00:19:49,200 --> 00:19:51,219 know do all the cool 274 00:19:51,220 --> 00:19:52,819 extracurricular stuff that we want 275 00:19:52,820 --> 00:19:53,820 to do. 276 00:19:55,950 --> 00:19:57,729 Like some of those movement studies 277 00:19:57,730 --> 00:19:59,629 that we've done, like there's no way 278 00:19:59,630 --> 00:20:01,309 we'd be able to afford that just on 279 00:20:01,310 --> 00:20:03,269 the state budget with our groups, 280 00:20:03,270 --> 00:20:04,929 like Walleyes for Tomorrow and many 281 00:20:04,930 --> 00:20:07,009 others on the system. 282 00:20:07,010 --> 00:20:09,469 In the fall of 2021, 283 00:20:09,470 --> 00:20:11,669 we tagged 74 adult 284 00:20:11,670 --> 00:20:14,429 walleye in Lake Winnebago proper, 285 00:20:14,430 --> 00:20:16,349 so tagging them in the fall. 286 00:20:16,350 --> 00:20:18,529 In the lake basically indicating 287 00:20:18,530 --> 00:20:20,489 that those are true Winnebago 288 00:20:20,490 --> 00:20:22,429 resident fish and then we 289 00:20:22,430 --> 00:20:24,049 were with several things we were 290 00:20:24,050 --> 00:20:25,569 looking at there. One of the primary 291 00:20:25,570 --> 00:20:27,129 purposes of that was to see the 292 00:20:27,130 --> 00:20:28,989 proportions of fish that 293 00:20:28,990 --> 00:20:30,789 ran up the Wolf River, the Fox 294 00:20:30,790 --> 00:20:32,649 River, or stayed in the 295 00:20:32,650 --> 00:20:34,669 Lake to spawn and from that 296 00:20:34,670 --> 00:20:36,689 study we saw 91 percent of 297 00:20:36,690 --> 00:20:38,669 fish run up the wolf river. 298 00:20:38,670 --> 00:20:40,449 So the wolf river is most definitely 299 00:20:40,450 --> 00:20:42,769 the most prolific productive 300 00:20:42,770 --> 00:20:44,469 spawning area for the Winnebao 301 00:20:44,470 --> 00:20:45,659 system Alright. 302 00:20:45,660 --> 00:20:47,539 The Winnebago system wildlife 303 00:20:47,540 --> 00:20:49,519 population and its general success 304 00:20:49,520 --> 00:20:51,619 really does pay respect to 305 00:20:51,620 --> 00:20:53,519 the amount of spawning habitat and 306 00:20:53,520 --> 00:20:55,319 the quality of spawing habitat that 307 00:20:55,320 --> 00:20:56,799 we have up here on the wolf. 308 00:20:56,800 --> 00:20:58,799 It's about a hundred miles from 309 00:20:58,800 --> 00:21:00,899 Lake Huygen up to the Shawano Dam 310 00:21:00,900 --> 00:21:02,319 of undamned river. 311 00:21:03,480 --> 00:21:05,679 So a lot of connected floodplain 312 00:21:05,680 --> 00:21:07,439 and wetland between here and there 313 00:21:07,440 --> 00:21:09,499 providing a lot of areas for 314 00:21:09,500 --> 00:21:10,779 fish to spawn successfully. 315 00:21:11,950 --> 00:21:13,269 There's some marshes that will 316 00:21:13,270 --> 00:21:15,309 operate at certain water levels 317 00:21:15,310 --> 00:21:17,309 and other marshes that 318 00:21:17,310 --> 00:21:18,569 require other ones. 319 00:21:18,570 --> 00:21:20,269 So, you know, we have our low water 320 00:21:20,270 --> 00:21:22,129 area marshes that we'll target and 321 00:21:22,130 --> 00:21:23,789 our high water area marshes we 322 00:21:23,790 --> 00:21:25,649 target. But this one right here that 323 00:21:25,650 --> 00:21:27,229 we're in, it's kind of the New 324 00:21:27,230 --> 00:21:28,709 London area complex. 325 00:21:28,710 --> 00:21:30,829 We have Bernagers, Wolf Rats, 326 00:21:30,830 --> 00:21:32,689 Leslie's and Hortonville Flats. 327 00:21:32,690 --> 00:21:35,129 And this has been one of the most 328 00:21:35,130 --> 00:21:36,629 pro-lip-expanding marshes on the 329 00:21:36,630 --> 00:21:38,149 system documented all the way back 330 00:21:38,150 --> 00:21:40,009 to Gordon Friego's work way back in 331 00:21:40,010 --> 00:21:41,029 the 1960s. 332 00:21:51,690 --> 00:21:53,749 The lower ends of the marshes 333 00:21:53,750 --> 00:21:55,949 are typically where the 334 00:21:55,950 --> 00:21:57,929 female fish will stage up before 335 00:21:57,930 --> 00:22:00,009 going into the, oh 336 00:22:00,010 --> 00:22:01,249 that's a big pike, that's probably 337 00:22:01,250 --> 00:22:02,250 35 plus. 338 00:22:04,300 --> 00:22:06,139 The females will stage down in the 339 00:22:06,140 --> 00:22:08,259 lower end before 340 00:22:08,260 --> 00:22:10,239 going up to the upper 341 00:22:10,240 --> 00:22:11,979 end of the marsh to actually drop 342 00:22:11,980 --> 00:22:13,619 their eggs and spawn. 343 00:22:13,620 --> 00:22:15,339 The upper ends are typically shower 344 00:22:15,340 --> 00:22:16,819 where you'll see more of that marsh 345 00:22:16,820 --> 00:22:18,759 grass getting blown back and active 346 00:22:18,760 --> 00:22:20,599 current up there and we 347 00:22:20,600 --> 00:22:22,499 typically like to focus our survey 348 00:22:22,500 --> 00:22:24,659 efforts down in these lower end 349 00:22:24,660 --> 00:22:26,599 to capture pre-spawn 350 00:22:26,600 --> 00:22:28,119 fish and then basically leave the 351 00:22:28,120 --> 00:22:29,639 upper ends alone, let the fish 352 00:22:29,640 --> 00:22:30,640 spawn. 353 00:23:52,220 --> 00:23:53,220 It's long, though. 354 00:23:53,830 --> 00:23:55,709 I think it's the deep water. 355 00:23:55,710 --> 00:23:57,249 We're in six and a half feet right 356 00:23:57,250 --> 00:23:58,689 here. We are not even going to see 357 00:23:58,690 --> 00:23:59,690 everywhere. 358 00:24:01,830 --> 00:24:03,649 It's like, when the water 359 00:24:03,650 --> 00:24:05,489 comes up on the wall, anglers 360 00:24:05,490 --> 00:24:06,729 can also struggle. 361 00:24:06,730 --> 00:24:08,529 The fish just have so much more area 362 00:24:08,530 --> 00:24:10,089 to spread out. 363 00:24:11,100 --> 00:24:12,939 Also, it can just be a little 364 00:24:12,940 --> 00:24:14,619 bit more difficult to fish in the 365 00:24:14,620 --> 00:24:16,279 traditional ways a lot of river 366 00:24:16,280 --> 00:24:18,199 fishermen do when flows are 367 00:24:18,200 --> 00:24:19,839 extremely high. 368 00:24:19,840 --> 00:24:21,699 We can also have struggles with our 369 00:24:21,700 --> 00:24:22,979 survey boat here in the marshes. 370 00:24:24,000 --> 00:24:25,919 If the water exceeds much over five 371 00:24:25,920 --> 00:24:27,839 feet, the electricity doesn't really 372 00:24:27,840 --> 00:24:29,479 penetrate down much further than 373 00:24:29,480 --> 00:24:30,619 that, so we kind of have to go 374 00:24:30,620 --> 00:24:32,559 really slow and then maybe 375 00:24:32,560 --> 00:24:34,320 try to get some more shallow areas. 376 00:24:39,430 --> 00:24:40,729 But yeah, this is just like 377 00:24:40,730 --> 00:24:42,489 interesting to see, honestly, of the 378 00:24:42,490 --> 00:24:43,490 last... 379 00:24:59,540 --> 00:25:00,560 It's gonna be good for us. 380 00:26:22,150 --> 00:26:24,229 Jason had lost a belt on the 381 00:26:24,230 --> 00:26:26,649 truck, it's getting cold. 382 00:26:26,650 --> 00:26:27,649 I love trucks. 383 00:26:27,650 --> 00:26:28,789 I love the trucks. 384 00:26:28,790 --> 00:26:30,309 Oh really? Whatever one of them is 385 00:26:30,310 --> 00:26:31,669 that good? 386 00:26:31,670 --> 00:26:33,589 It's like a 20-25 ain't it? 387 00:26:33,590 --> 00:26:34,829 Yeah, 40 trucks. 388 00:26:56,380 --> 00:26:57,579 I'm probably not going to set the 389 00:26:57,580 --> 00:26:58,580 nets today. 390 00:27:15,440 --> 00:27:17,399 Mostly females out here, it's nice, 391 00:27:17,400 --> 00:27:18,400 I'm not gonna lie. 392 00:27:19,130 --> 00:27:20,529 It's down here, we're not getting 393 00:27:20,530 --> 00:27:22,289 anything, like until we got to that 394 00:27:22,290 --> 00:27:23,649 second finger, we really didn't see 395 00:27:23,650 --> 00:27:24,650 much. 396 00:27:26,340 --> 00:27:28,079 I think it's more so a factor of how 397 00:27:28,080 --> 00:27:29,599 deep it is down here, we got seven 398 00:27:29,600 --> 00:27:30,879 feet in the back of the boat right 399 00:27:30,880 --> 00:27:31,880 now. 400 00:27:33,760 --> 00:27:35,639 I can see fish on graph too if 401 00:27:35,640 --> 00:27:36,640 I'm just not touching them. 402 00:27:43,470 --> 00:27:44,849 We'll have a couple of emails on 403 00:27:44,850 --> 00:27:46,489 that. For us on the other side, 404 00:27:46,490 --> 00:27:47,490 it'll be a first start. 405 00:29:47,670 --> 00:29:49,329 Here as well. 406 00:29:49,330 --> 00:29:51,249 The Winnebago system is very shallow 407 00:29:51,250 --> 00:29:53,169 so it doesn't have nearly as much 408 00:29:53,170 --> 00:29:55,049 thermal resistance as 409 00:29:55,050 --> 00:29:56,909 other inland bodies of 410 00:29:56,910 --> 00:29:58,989 water that you know might be 50, 60, 411 00:29:58,990 --> 00:29:59,789 80 feet deep. 412 00:29:59,790 --> 00:30:00,909 Look at Green Lake, you know it 413 00:30:00,910 --> 00:30:01,929 doesn' really freeze that well 414 00:30:01,930 --> 00:30:03,269 because of how deep it is and how 415 00:30:03,270 --> 00:30:04,869 much volume of water there is there. 416 00:30:06,390 --> 00:30:08,449 Lake Winnebargo is 137,000 417 00:30:08,450 --> 00:30:10,289 acres and has a max depth of 21 418 00:30:10,290 --> 00:30:11,909 feet so we get really good solid 419 00:30:11,910 --> 00:30:14,089 ice. It's usually one of the 420 00:30:14,090 --> 00:30:16,289 first areas to get good solid 421 00:30:16,290 --> 00:30:17,290 nice 422 00:30:18,630 --> 00:30:20,629 Lake Porygon is a pretty well-known 423 00:30:20,630 --> 00:30:22,569 hot spot for walleye fishing on 424 00:30:22,570 --> 00:30:23,570 the ice. 425 00:30:24,670 --> 00:30:27,229 That is the furthest 426 00:30:27,230 --> 00:30:29,189 upstream pool lake 427 00:30:29,190 --> 00:30:30,169 of the system. 428 00:30:30,170 --> 00:30:32,109 You got the Wolf River turning 429 00:30:32,110 --> 00:30:33,969 into Lake Porygan. 430 00:30:33,970 --> 00:30:35,669 Lake Poygon is highly connected to 431 00:30:35,670 --> 00:30:37,289 Lake Winnikani. 432 00:30:37,290 --> 00:30:39,309 The Wolf River then conjoins 433 00:30:39,310 --> 00:30:41,169 with the Fox River meeting 434 00:30:41,170 --> 00:30:43,329 at the confluence where 435 00:30:43,330 --> 00:30:45,429 it enters Lake View-the-more 436 00:30:45,430 --> 00:30:47,429 and then both of those River's 437 00:30:47,430 --> 00:30:48,430 exit B. 438 00:30:49,180 --> 00:30:51,079 Exit Lake Butamore as the 439 00:30:51,080 --> 00:30:52,759 Fox River through Oshkosh before it 440 00:30:52,760 --> 00:30:53,760 enters Lake Winnebago. 441 00:32:13,990 --> 00:32:14,899 Shocking okay 442 00:32:14,900 --> 00:32:16,479 You can maybe turn it up a little 443 00:32:16,480 --> 00:32:17,480 bit. 444 00:34:25,480 --> 00:34:26,719 Zach, how you doing up there? 445 00:34:31,760 --> 00:34:33,849 Is that my success rate? 446 00:34:33,850 --> 00:34:35,349 No, I was wondering if you were 447 00:34:35,350 --> 00:34:36,948 thinking about a career change yet, 448 00:34:36,949 --> 00:34:37,949 if you liked it or not. 449 00:34:40,570 --> 00:34:41,570 I'm a volunteer! 450 00:34:43,520 --> 00:34:45,459 It's usually a pretty popular 451 00:34:45,460 --> 00:34:47,539 thing for our volunteers to enjoy. 452 00:34:56,770 --> 00:34:58,709 You could shock the entire shoreline 453 00:34:58,710 --> 00:35:00,709 of a, you know, 454 00:35:00,710 --> 00:35:03,629 average inland walleye lake and 455 00:35:03,630 --> 00:35:05,469 see a fraction of the amount of 456 00:35:05,470 --> 00:35:07,269 fish that we could capture here in, 457 00:35:07,270 --> 00:35:09,829 you know, under an hour on 458 00:35:09,830 --> 00:35:11,229 certain days. I wouldn't say today 459 00:35:11,230 --> 00:35:13,189 is necessarily a incredibly high 460 00:35:13,190 --> 00:35:14,190 catch day, but. 461 00:35:16,500 --> 00:35:18,099 Or probably handle a couple hundred 462 00:35:18,100 --> 00:35:19,199 fish by the end of the day. 463 00:38:29,360 --> 00:38:31,079 If that sun could stay out, that'd 464 00:38:31,080 --> 00:38:32,080 be nice. 465 00:39:30,010 --> 00:39:31,010 I didn't see anything. 466 00:40:45,890 --> 00:40:46,890 Catch and release! 467 00:41:07,070 --> 00:41:08,589 Do you guys specifically cover, 468 00:41:08,590 --> 00:41:10,939 like, outdoors stuff? 469 00:41:10,940 --> 00:41:13,039 Uh, not necessarily. 470 00:41:13,040 --> 00:41:14,040 That'd be cool though. 471 00:41:24,030 --> 00:41:25,709 I'd really enjoy that, but, you 472 00:41:25,710 --> 00:41:27,269 know, we're doing a lot of politics, 473 00:41:27,270 --> 00:41:29,789 you're just, people, you know, 474 00:41:29,790 --> 00:41:31,029 doing interesting stuff. 475 00:41:31,030 --> 00:41:32,050 Politics suck. 476 00:41:33,960 --> 00:41:34,960 That's what I like. 477 00:41:37,440 --> 00:41:39,559 If you work in fish management 478 00:41:39,560 --> 00:41:41,419 or if you work for the DNR 479 00:41:41,420 --> 00:41:42,479 in general, you're like, oh, I 480 00:41:42,480 --> 00:41:44,699 wanted to work there because it's 481 00:41:44,700 --> 00:41:46,499 fish and wildlife, but you actually 482 00:41:46,500 --> 00:41:47,979 get into quite a bit of politics. 483 00:41:47,980 --> 00:41:49,420 Oh yeah, I can imagine. 484 00:42:03,520 --> 00:42:05,139 But in our reality, the politics 485 00:42:05,140 --> 00:42:07,839 really are what support 486 00:42:07,840 --> 00:42:10,419 and fund our work, so it's 487 00:42:10,420 --> 00:42:11,420 very important. 488 00:42:34,620 --> 00:42:37,499 Jason, I think I'll 489 00:42:37,500 --> 00:42:38,950 have a brief fail effort up here. 490 00:42:41,500 --> 00:42:43,479 But when you think about walleye 491 00:42:43,480 --> 00:42:45,639 spawning, you do not think about 492 00:42:45,640 --> 00:42:47,399 fish swimming around a flooded 493 00:42:47,400 --> 00:42:49,659 forest in most areas. 494 00:42:49,660 --> 00:42:50,660 Very unique. 495 00:44:02,050 --> 00:44:03,689 So if you get a shot of that right 496 00:44:03,690 --> 00:44:05,669 there, that is the Bernerger 497 00:44:05,670 --> 00:44:07,589 Bank Cut. Right now, when the water 498 00:44:07,590 --> 00:44:09,469 is so high, the 499 00:44:09,470 --> 00:44:11,249 water is going to flood the river 500 00:44:11,250 --> 00:44:13,149 regardless, because it's going 501 00:44:13,150 --> 00:44:14,769 to overtop the bank even where that 502 00:44:14,770 --> 00:44:16,509 bank cut does not exist. 503 00:44:16,510 --> 00:44:18,269 But in lower water years, that 504 00:44:18,270 --> 00:44:20,149 really helps to facilitate water 505 00:44:20,150 --> 00:44:21,909 getting into the marsh. 506 00:44:21,910 --> 00:44:23,729 It's actually really impressive how 507 00:44:23,730 --> 00:44:25,189 much water for it's doing. 508 00:44:25,190 --> 00:44:26,469 And then you can see it feeds 509 00:44:26,470 --> 00:44:28,289 directly into the Marsh. 510 00:44:28,290 --> 00:44:30,109 And again, this is one of the 511 00:44:30,110 --> 00:44:32,009 most successful, most productive 512 00:44:32,010 --> 00:44:33,389 walleye spawning marshes on the 513 00:44:33,390 --> 00:44:34,609 entire system. You can see that 514 00:44:34,610 --> 00:44:35,849 little cut right through the woods 515 00:44:35,850 --> 00:44:36,850 there. 516 00:44:49,030 --> 00:44:50,109 Looks like you could even drive the 517 00:44:50,110 --> 00:44:51,169 boat through there on a day like 518 00:44:51,170 --> 00:44:52,170 today. 519 00:45:04,920 --> 00:45:07,119 That one really gets flowing around 520 00:45:07,120 --> 00:45:08,979 6-7 feet, and 521 00:45:08,980 --> 00:45:11,040 right now we're approaching 10 feet. 522 00:45:17,770 --> 00:45:19,209 Got a little bit more rain in the 523 00:45:19,210 --> 00:45:20,249 forecast as well. 524 00:45:32,210 --> 00:45:34,389 In addition to providing 525 00:45:34,390 --> 00:45:36,509 aeration and keeping the eggs 526 00:45:36,510 --> 00:45:38,549 free of sediment and debris 527 00:45:38,550 --> 00:45:40,449 as they develop the 528 00:45:40,450 --> 00:45:42,189 water flow through the marsh, also 529 00:45:42,190 --> 00:45:44,349 back into the Wharf River 530 00:45:44,350 --> 00:45:46,189 and subsequently down into 531 00:45:46,190 --> 00:45:48,489 the pool lakes on the system where 532 00:45:48,490 --> 00:45:50,429 the zooplankton hatches, which is 533 00:45:50,430 --> 00:45:52,209 their primary food source of larval 534 00:45:52,210 --> 00:45:53,670 fish, are much more abundant. 535 00:45:56,490 --> 00:45:58,309 The faster a 536 00:45:58,310 --> 00:46:00,249 larval fish can get a piece of 537 00:46:00,250 --> 00:46:02,689 zooplankton in front of its face, 538 00:46:02,690 --> 00:46:04,509 the more likely it is it's 539 00:46:04,510 --> 00:46:05,670 going to survive. 540 00:46:15,530 --> 00:46:18,209 That also plays into temperature. 541 00:46:18,210 --> 00:46:20,449 Temperature can be correlated 542 00:46:20,450 --> 00:46:22,609 to more 543 00:46:22,610 --> 00:46:24,829 or less productive zooplankton 544 00:46:24,830 --> 00:46:25,830 booms. 545 00:46:28,070 --> 00:46:29,070 If you have a 546 00:51:09,240 --> 00:51:10,440 15-0 547 00:51:13,410 --> 00:51:15,509 Hole tag two one three 548 00:51:15,510 --> 00:51:16,510 six six 549 00:51:17,390 --> 00:51:18,769 Good to go. 550 00:51:18,770 --> 00:51:21,589 Here, uh, logs fell off, I think. 551 00:51:21,590 --> 00:51:23,269 What? Oh, yeah. 552 00:51:23,270 --> 00:51:24,510 There's this thing right there. 553 00:51:35,340 --> 00:51:36,659 Should I get this recap out of the 554 00:51:36,660 --> 00:51:37,660 way? 555 00:51:38,640 --> 00:51:41,299 Record fresh recaps this year, 556 00:51:41,300 --> 00:51:42,219 unless you think they're from that 557 00:51:42,220 --> 00:51:43,659 same day, obviously these aren't 558 00:51:43,660 --> 00:51:44,660 from the same day. 559 00:51:50,310 --> 00:51:51,509 Those are fish we probably tagged a 560 00:51:51,510 --> 00:51:52,869 couple days ago, you see how bright 561 00:51:52,870 --> 00:51:53,949 yellow the tag is still. 562 00:51:57,640 --> 00:51:59,599 Your very common Winnebago 563 00:51:59,600 --> 00:52:00,780 system walleye will look like. 564 00:52:05,370 --> 00:52:07,249 15.6 and the whole tag 565 00:52:07,250 --> 00:52:09,830 number is 208411. 566 00:52:11,310 --> 00:52:12,349 Yeah, that is a recap, right? 567 00:52:16,640 --> 00:52:17,939 No! 568 00:52:17,940 --> 00:52:19,099 14.9! 569 00:52:23,020 --> 00:52:23,959 More! 570 00:52:23,960 --> 00:52:25,079 15-0! 571 00:52:29,850 --> 00:52:31,510 Ma, 16'7 572 00:52:38,120 --> 00:52:39,879 No! 16-1! 573 00:52:44,500 --> 00:52:46,180 No! 15-6! 574 00:52:53,640 --> 00:52:54,439 Female. 575 00:52:54,440 --> 00:52:55,440 Green. 576 00:52:56,280 --> 00:52:57,339 19'2". 577 00:53:02,760 --> 00:53:04,899 Bunch of grass in here. 578 00:53:04,900 --> 00:53:08,499 Lovey green grass 17-2. 579 00:53:08,500 --> 00:53:10,219 Last head on the rock. 580 00:53:10,220 --> 00:53:12,539 Tag track 213675. 581 00:53:36,520 --> 00:53:38,099 Excellent sequence, right? 582 00:53:38,100 --> 00:53:39,100 Correct. 583 00:53:42,030 --> 00:53:43,090 Oh boy! 584 00:53:44,430 --> 00:53:45,730 18.9! 585 00:53:50,680 --> 00:53:52,319 Marow 18.4 586 00:53:57,740 --> 00:53:59,720 14-0 587 00:54:04,440 --> 00:54:06,020 May I have 16-4? 588 00:54:10,290 --> 00:54:11,849 Female! 589 00:54:11,850 --> 00:54:12,850 Green! 590 00:54:16,340 --> 00:54:17,340 Let's go, let's go. 591 00:54:18,390 --> 00:54:19,989 22-0. 592 00:54:19,990 --> 00:54:21,310 Had a 28-incher yesterday. 593 00:54:27,230 --> 00:54:28,929 She was spawned out there, so it 594 00:54:28,930 --> 00:54:30,269 seemed a lot less impressive. 595 00:54:31,730 --> 00:54:32,730 17-0! 596 00:54:34,830 --> 00:54:35,830 There's a male. 597 00:54:38,130 --> 00:54:39,329 17-0 598 00:54:46,100 --> 00:54:47,139 14-2 599 00:54:51,580 --> 00:54:52,739 13.4 600 00:54:55,210 --> 00:54:56,389 Tag Jack 8-5 601 00:55:00,000 --> 00:55:01,000 Female, green. 602 00:55:04,310 --> 00:55:05,510 21-1. 603 00:55:12,580 --> 00:55:13,900 Alright, have a nice time. 604 00:55:22,970 --> 00:55:24,150 14.5 605 00:55:28,980 --> 00:55:30,420 13.9 606 00:55:36,540 --> 00:55:38,659 Female, green, 23, 607 00:55:38,660 --> 00:55:39,660 seven. 608 00:55:50,610 --> 00:55:53,429 Female, green, 22, 609 00:55:53,430 --> 00:55:54,430 six. 610 00:56:03,650 --> 00:56:04,889 Dunk him back in the water 611 00:56:06,210 --> 00:56:08,749 Female green, 22.6. 612 00:56:13,819 --> 00:56:14,880 Tag track 9-1. 613 00:56:18,660 --> 00:56:19,539 No! 614 00:56:19,540 --> 00:56:20,599 13.9! 615 00:56:25,710 --> 00:56:27,230 Now 18-2! 616 00:56:31,860 --> 00:56:33,699 Male, 18, 617 00:56:33,700 --> 00:56:34,700 9. 618 00:56:40,230 --> 00:56:41,889 Now 15.3 619 00:56:47,430 --> 00:56:48,870 May I have a 14.6? 620 00:56:54,100 --> 00:56:55,900 Yeah, 17.6! 621 00:57:00,340 --> 00:57:01,900 Now 15.1 622 00:57:06,080 --> 00:57:07,600 Male 16'7 623 00:57:11,440 --> 00:57:13,619 Now 16.9. 624 00:57:13,620 --> 00:57:15,419 Last night on the rack. 625 00:57:15,420 --> 00:57:17,239 Next fish coming is a recap. 626 00:57:19,180 --> 00:57:20,180 Ready for a recap? 627 00:57:21,220 --> 00:57:24,439 Now 15.1. 628 00:57:24,440 --> 00:57:27,940 Tag is 208.417. 629 00:57:29,570 --> 00:57:31,089 4-1-1 630 00:57:31,090 --> 00:57:32,090 That's 117. 631 00:57:40,450 --> 00:57:41,710 Now 15-3. 632 00:57:44,320 --> 00:57:46,319 Hold tag two one three seven oh 633 00:57:46,320 --> 00:57:47,320 two. 634 00:57:50,050 --> 00:57:51,449 Now 15.6 635 00:57:55,440 --> 00:57:56,820 Now 16-1. 636 00:58:00,350 --> 00:58:01,690 Male, 13'6. 637 00:58:05,710 --> 00:58:07,250 May I have 15 fives? 638 00:58:11,970 --> 00:58:13,630 Mayoral 16-7 639 00:58:19,940 --> 00:58:21,360 Now, 14-4. 640 00:58:25,420 --> 00:58:27,320 Male, 13, 9, 641 00:58:28,400 --> 00:58:29,620 tag check, oh 9, 642 00:58:30,900 --> 00:58:32,460 female, green, 643 00:58:33,520 --> 00:58:34,520 19, 2. 644 00:58:39,160 --> 00:58:40,679 Now, 15.7! 645 00:58:45,029 --> 00:58:46,389 May I have a 14-2? 646 00:58:50,870 --> 00:58:52,370 Mea 15.3 647 00:58:56,590 --> 00:58:59,929 Mayo, 19-0, 648 00:59:01,190 --> 00:59:02,190 got a tag. 649 00:59:04,540 --> 00:59:05,899 May I have a 15-1? 650 00:59:09,860 --> 00:59:11,380 Now 16.3 651 00:59:17,720 --> 00:59:20,339 Female, green, 17-2. 652 00:59:25,990 --> 00:59:27,589 Boy 18-2! 653 00:59:30,980 --> 00:59:32,879 Female, green, 654 00:59:32,880 --> 00:59:33,880 21-2. 655 00:59:40,650 --> 00:59:42,070 May I have 15.1? 656 00:59:46,850 --> 00:59:48,290 May I have 18.1? 657 00:59:53,340 --> 00:59:54,880 May I have 16-7? 658 01:00:03,421 --> 01:00:05,320 Mall, 659 01:00:05,321 --> 01:00:06,321 14-2. 660 01:00:10,651 --> 01:00:12,950 MA 16-2, 661 01:00:12,951 --> 01:00:14,550 last out on the rack, tag track 662 01:00:14,551 --> 01:00:16,910 2-1-3-7-2-5. 663 01:00:16,911 --> 01:00:17,911 Yep. 664 01:00:29,351 --> 01:00:31,250 Female, green, 19, 665 01:00:31,251 --> 01:00:32,251 1. 666 01:00:35,501 --> 01:00:36,800 Okay, check on the next one. 667 01:00:36,801 --> 01:00:40,780 Female, green, 20.0, 668 01:00:40,781 --> 01:00:42,201 tag check, 27. 669 01:00:50,541 --> 01:00:52,121 Boy! 15-1! 670 01:00:56,681 --> 01:00:58,341 Boy, 15-2! 671 01:01:01,971 --> 01:01:03,450 Boy, 15.8. 672 01:01:07,081 --> 01:01:08,681 Boy, 15.1! 673 01:01:14,771 --> 01:01:16,531 Boy 16.5 674 01:01:20,261 --> 01:01:22,020 Boy, 15.5! 675 01:01:27,141 --> 01:01:28,620 Boy, 14.7! 676 01:01:36,801 --> 01:01:37,961 Sprint girl 677 01:01:41,301 --> 01:01:42,301 Nineteen-four! 678 01:01:49,861 --> 01:01:51,240 Tag check 3-5. 679 01:01:57,861 --> 01:01:59,461 Now 16'6 680 01:02:04,661 --> 01:02:06,140 Merrill, 19-3. 681 01:02:10,461 --> 01:02:11,801 Now 14-8. 682 01:02:15,961 --> 01:02:17,321 Now, 14.6. 683 01:02:22,091 --> 01:02:23,651 Now 14-0. 684 01:02:27,711 --> 01:02:29,391 Now, 17.6 685 01:02:33,361 --> 01:02:34,801 Now 14-5. 686 01:02:39,281 --> 01:02:40,281 15-1 687 01:02:46,421 --> 01:02:47,440 18-0. 688 01:02:51,751 --> 01:02:52,751 14-0 689 01:02:56,921 --> 01:02:57,980 15.3 690 01:03:02,391 --> 01:03:03,580 16.1 691 01:03:03,581 --> 01:03:04,850 The shore is on it. 692 01:03:04,851 --> 01:03:06,150 Yeah, I'll get that. 693 01:03:07,631 --> 01:03:10,390 It's called cold water warts or 694 01:03:10,391 --> 01:03:11,450 lymphocystis. 695 01:03:15,711 --> 01:03:16,711 Male 19, 696 01:03:18,291 --> 01:03:19,530 do we need male 19s? 697 01:03:26,601 --> 01:03:27,601 It's way back. 698 01:03:37,111 --> 01:03:38,111 Second! 699 01:03:44,051 --> 01:03:45,910 You need a small number of 700 01:03:45,911 --> 01:03:47,071 fish for an age sample. 701 01:03:51,681 --> 01:03:52,960 Thank you. 702 01:03:52,961 --> 01:03:53,961 That was 19-4. 703 01:03:57,111 --> 01:03:59,050 Thank you. 704 01:03:59,051 --> 01:04:01,571 Marrow, 14-4, 705 01:04:02,771 --> 01:04:03,771 tag check, 4-8. 706 01:04:08,591 --> 01:04:10,011 Now 15-4. 707 01:04:14,191 --> 01:04:16,290 Male, 14-4, last tag 708 01:04:16,291 --> 01:04:19,111 on the rack, tag track 213750. 709 01:04:31,431 --> 01:04:34,150 Male 16-2, 710 01:04:34,151 --> 01:04:35,871 hold tag 2-1-3-7-5-1. 711 01:04:39,031 --> 01:04:40,470 Male, 13, 9. 712 01:04:44,461 --> 01:04:45,841 May I have 16.5? 713 01:04:50,051 --> 01:04:51,331 Now 14.8. 714 01:04:57,341 --> 01:04:58,620 Now 18-4. 715 01:05:02,891 --> 01:05:04,371 Male 16'6 716 01:05:07,881 --> 01:05:08,960 Tag check 56. 717 01:05:14,651 --> 01:05:17,070 18, 18, 718 01:05:17,071 --> 01:05:18,071 0 719 01:05:19,771 --> 01:05:21,950 Hold tag five, oh sorry, hold tag 720 01:05:21,951 --> 01:05:23,850 two, one, three, seven, five, 721 01:05:23,851 --> 01:05:24,851 seven. 722 01:05:33,011 --> 01:05:34,611 Now 15-4! 723 01:05:42,311 --> 01:05:43,771 Mal, 15.4. 724 01:05:49,281 --> 01:05:50,680 Male, 13.7 725 01:05:54,651 --> 01:05:56,151 Marow 18-4 726 01:06:00,851 --> 01:06:02,350 Male, 14, 9. 727 01:06:07,391 --> 01:06:08,811 16.5 728 01:06:15,171 --> 01:06:16,191 16 to 729 01:06:25,141 --> 01:06:26,180 15-2 730 01:06:31,961 --> 01:06:33,100 15.4 731 01:06:38,841 --> 01:06:40,280 Fifteen, four... 732 01:06:45,601 --> 01:06:46,601 15, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. 733 01:06:51,991 --> 01:06:53,151 13.6 734 01:06:58,111 --> 01:06:59,190 15.7 735 01:07:05,651 --> 01:07:07,510 15-3 last tag on 736 01:07:07,511 --> 01:07:09,570 the rack tag check 2 1 3 7 737 01:07:09,571 --> 01:07:11,470 5 7 7 5 738 01:07:11,471 --> 01:07:12,471 sorry 739 01:07:13,791 --> 01:07:14,791 It's okay. 740 01:07:16,271 --> 01:07:17,850 We did sack one fish, did that get 741 01:07:17,851 --> 01:07:18,650 you? 742 01:07:18,651 --> 01:07:19,490 No, I was... 743 01:07:19,491 --> 01:07:20,491 You ready? Yep. 744 01:07:22,801 --> 01:07:24,200 Now, 14.5. 745 01:07:28,991 --> 01:07:31,650 Now 14-2, 746 01:07:31,651 --> 01:07:33,630 hole tag 2-1-3, 747 01:07:33,631 --> 01:07:34,631 7-7-7. 748 01:07:41,531 --> 01:07:43,011 Male 13.7 749 01:07:49,991 --> 01:07:51,390 Female, green. 750 01:07:57,801 --> 01:07:59,220 24.3 751 01:08:03,171 --> 01:08:05,130 Tag track two one three seven seven 752 01:08:05,131 --> 01:08:05,700 eight. 753 01:08:05,701 --> 01:08:06,701 What? 754 01:08:07,231 --> 01:08:08,231 2-1-3! 755 01:08:10,051 --> 01:08:11,111 779, I'm sorry. 756 01:08:15,991 --> 01:08:17,590 I was like, I just tag-checked you. 757 01:08:17,591 --> 01:08:18,610 17-2. 758 01:08:25,021 --> 01:08:26,021 8-9 759 01:08:31,801 --> 01:08:33,460 Mal 14.4 760 01:08:41,561 --> 01:08:42,740 We need level 13s. 761 01:08:46,371 --> 01:08:47,371 Nope. 762 01:08:48,021 --> 01:08:49,780 Now, 13-3! 763 01:08:52,791 --> 01:08:53,791 Little guy 764 01:08:56,441 --> 01:08:57,921 Male 16-3 765 01:09:02,771 --> 01:09:04,050 Now, 13-8. 766 01:09:09,691 --> 01:09:11,030 Now, 17-1. 767 01:09:17,011 --> 01:09:18,450 Marrow 15-6. 768 01:09:22,661 --> 01:09:23,661 14-4 769 01:09:26,701 --> 01:09:27,701 Thank you. Thank you, Jack. 770 01:09:33,061 --> 01:09:34,061 15.9 771 01:09:41,391 --> 01:09:42,391 15.8. 772 01:09:46,631 --> 01:09:47,631 14.6 773 01:09:54,291 --> 01:09:55,870 I'm surprised they go hide in there 774 01:09:55,871 --> 01:09:56,871 sometimes. 775 01:10:02,601 --> 01:10:03,961 Alright, probably all she wrote. 776 01:10:07,081 --> 01:10:08,420 There's one more tag on the rack, 777 01:10:08,421 --> 01:10:09,421 right? 778 01:10:12,701 --> 01:10:14,380 Alright, we'll do one more quick run 779 01:10:14,381 --> 01:10:16,000 just in the lower end here, try to 780 01:10:16,001 --> 01:10:17,220 pick off some girls and then 781 01:10:17,221 --> 01:10:19,540 probably get 782 01:10:19,541 --> 01:10:21,140 back on the trailer and let you guys 783 01:10:21,141 --> 01:10:22,141 be on your way. 784 01:10:23,481 --> 01:10:26,260 Give me a sense of where we are, 785 01:10:26,261 --> 01:10:27,520 and it looks a little different than 786 01:10:27,521 --> 01:10:29,780 it might in some years, but what 787 01:10:29,781 --> 01:10:30,920 is this place? 788 01:10:30,921 --> 01:10:33,320 Yeah, so it's April 6th, 789 01:10:33,321 --> 01:10:34,641 2026, the 790 01:10:35,991 --> 01:10:38,030 River while I spawn is definitely 791 01:10:38,031 --> 01:10:39,910 underway. Got some warmer weather 792 01:10:39,911 --> 01:10:41,590 here coming up that will probably 793 01:10:41,591 --> 01:10:43,990 really get things to 794 01:10:43,991 --> 01:10:45,350 get going here. 795 01:10:45,351 --> 01:10:47,570 We're in the New London area marshes 796 01:10:47,571 --> 01:10:49,550 or Hortonville area 797 01:10:49,551 --> 01:10:50,810 marshes. 798 01:10:50,811 --> 01:10:52,950 One of the many marsh complexes that 799 01:10:52,951 --> 01:10:54,950 are found along the Wolf River where 800 01:10:54,951 --> 01:10:56,850 the a bago system while I come to 801 01:10:56,851 --> 01:10:58,310 spawn each spring. 802 01:10:58,311 --> 01:10:59,990 Most people that know anything about 803 01:10:59,991 --> 01:11:02,310 walleye spawning know gravel base, 804 01:11:02,311 --> 01:11:04,430 rocky shores, so how 805 01:11:04,431 --> 01:11:05,910 does this fit in with walleye? 806 01:11:05,911 --> 01:11:06,850 Why do they do this here? 807 01:11:06,851 --> 01:11:09,010 Yeah, so if you talk to biologists 808 01:11:09,011 --> 01:11:10,670 around the Midwest or even 809 01:11:10,671 --> 01:11:12,610 well-educated anglers when you talk 810 01:11:12,611 --> 01:11:13,970 about walleye spawning, you're going 811 01:11:13,971 --> 01:11:15,970 to hear small diameter rock 812 01:11:15,971 --> 01:11:17,830 or even gravel either in a 813 01:11:17,831 --> 01:11:19,790 river or a windswept shoreline 814 01:11:19,791 --> 01:11:21,910 on a lake that provides good 815 01:11:21,911 --> 01:11:23,930 current to keep the eggs free 816 01:11:23,931 --> 01:11:26,090 of sediment as well as well aerated 817 01:11:26,091 --> 01:11:28,150 during the development process. 818 01:11:28,151 --> 01:11:29,790 Those two water quality parameters 819 01:11:29,791 --> 01:11:31,710 here on the Wolf River are the same, 820 01:11:31,711 --> 01:11:33,610 however the substrate on 821 01:11:33,611 --> 01:11:35,630 which the walleye spawn is very 822 01:11:35,631 --> 01:11:37,310 different. So the Winnebago strain 823 01:11:37,311 --> 01:11:39,290 of walleye are actually a marsh 824 01:11:39,291 --> 01:11:40,950 spawning strain of Walleye, likely 825 01:11:40,951 --> 01:11:42,650 the most successful marsh spawing 826 01:11:42,651 --> 01:11:44,170 strain of a walleye anywhere in the 827 01:11:44,171 --> 01:11:45,171 world. 828 01:11:45,651 --> 01:11:47,550 The fish come all the way from 829 01:11:47,551 --> 01:11:49,030 Winnebego and the Pool Lakes 830 01:11:49,031 --> 01:11:51,070 anywhere between 60 and maybe 831 01:11:51,071 --> 01:11:52,630 even pushing a hundred miles on 832 01:11:52,631 --> 01:11:54,850 their journey upstream, so almost a 833 01:11:54,851 --> 01:11:56,850 be a 200-mile round-trip journey 834 01:11:56,851 --> 01:11:57,851 for them. 835 01:11:58,661 --> 01:12:00,880 Basically what happens up here on 836 01:12:00,881 --> 01:12:02,860 the Wolf River as well as the Upper 837 01:12:02,861 --> 01:12:05,180 Fox River, the flooded 838 01:12:05,181 --> 01:12:07,120 wetlands adjacent to 839 01:12:07,121 --> 01:12:09,180 the Wolf river, we refer to them as 840 01:12:09,181 --> 01:12:10,960 walleye spawning marshes. 841 01:12:10,961 --> 01:12:12,700 The way that the water flows through 842 01:12:12,701 --> 01:12:14,600 them can be dynamic with the water 843 01:12:14,601 --> 01:12:16,280 from the river overtopping the bank 844 01:12:16,281 --> 01:12:18,100 throughout several sections of the 845 01:12:18,101 --> 01:12:20,260 entire length of the march, but the 846 01:12:20,261 --> 01:12:22,200 general idea is that the Water 847 01:12:22,201 --> 01:12:24,140 will enter at a upper 848 01:12:24,141 --> 01:12:26,200 end location and then travel 849 01:12:26,201 --> 01:12:28,270 in a directional fashion. 850 01:12:28,271 --> 01:12:30,170 Down through the marsh and exit at 851 01:12:30,171 --> 01:12:31,590 a lower end. 852 01:12:31,591 --> 01:12:33,250 So we typically always enter the 853 01:12:33,251 --> 01:12:34,890 marshes at the lower end, and that 854 01:12:34,891 --> 01:12:36,490 is also what the fish will typically 855 01:12:36,491 --> 01:12:38,770 do. The marshes are a lot shallower 856 01:12:38,771 --> 01:12:40,070 than the main channel of the river 857 01:12:40,071 --> 01:12:41,290 here, so they have a lot less 858 01:12:41,291 --> 01:12:42,230 thermal resistance. 859 01:12:42,231 --> 01:12:43,990 If you get a nice day, nice spring 860 01:12:43,991 --> 01:12:45,530 day, and the sun's coming down, 861 01:12:47,011 --> 01:12:48,770 the dark bottom of the marsh is and 862 01:12:48,771 --> 01:12:50,410 the shallow water will heat up a lot 863 01:12:50,411 --> 01:12:51,530 faster, so. 864 01:12:51,531 --> 01:12:53,390 As the water is making its 865 01:12:53,391 --> 01:12:54,910 way through the marsh, it will 866 01:12:54,911 --> 01:12:56,190 actually heat up and then actually 867 01:12:56,191 --> 01:12:57,410 create a little bit of a temperature 868 01:12:57,411 --> 01:12:59,150 gradient at the lower end where it 869 01:12:59,151 --> 01:13:00,790 meets up with the river. 870 01:13:00,791 --> 01:13:01,990 The fish making their migration 871 01:13:01,991 --> 01:13:03,650 upriver will feel that and enter the 872 01:13:03,651 --> 01:13:05,240 marsh to go spawn. 873 01:13:05,241 --> 01:13:07,280 So when we talk about walleye 874 01:13:07,281 --> 01:13:09,660 habitat, I mean, there's a lot of 875 01:13:09,661 --> 01:13:11,740 stories about climate change and 876 01:13:11,741 --> 01:13:13,620 lake shore development, 877 01:13:13,621 --> 01:13:15,460 and this is pretty unique. 878 01:13:15,461 --> 01:13:17,020 And the amount of people over 879 01:13:17,021 --> 01:13:18,500 decades that have made sure that 880 01:13:18,501 --> 01:13:20,400 this habitat has not been 881 01:13:20,401 --> 01:13:22,280 drained or dredged or put into 882 01:13:22,281 --> 01:13:24,770 farmland or is still available. 883 01:13:24,771 --> 01:13:26,770 Yeah, so in general the Winnebago 884 01:13:26,771 --> 01:13:28,650 system is home to one of the 885 01:13:28,651 --> 01:13:31,150 Midwest premier walleye fisheries. 886 01:13:31,151 --> 01:13:33,210 That being said, it is 100% 887 01:13:33,211 --> 01:13:34,070 sustained through natural 888 01:13:34,071 --> 01:13:36,150 reproduction and the success 889 01:13:36,151 --> 01:13:37,970 of that fishery really 890 01:13:37,971 --> 01:13:40,050 pays due to the amount 891 01:13:40,051 --> 01:13:41,930 and the quality of 892 01:13:41,931 --> 01:13:43,770 habitat up here on the Wolf River 893 01:13:43,771 --> 01:13:45,690 for spawning purposes. 894 01:13:45,691 --> 01:13:48,250 There are different things 895 01:13:48,251 --> 01:13:50,030 to happen up here like there's 896 01:13:50,031 --> 01:13:51,790 different county highways that go 897 01:13:51,791 --> 01:13:53,390 across the floodplain that kind of 898 01:13:53,391 --> 01:13:54,850 create big dams and dikes. 899 01:13:54,851 --> 01:13:56,190 There's private landowners making 900 01:13:56,191 --> 01:13:57,590 trails and roads through their own 901 01:13:57,591 --> 01:13:59,090 property and then there's another 902 01:13:59,091 --> 01:14:00,570 one a little bit south here that has 903 01:14:00,571 --> 01:14:03,230 a big rail road going through it and 904 01:14:03,231 --> 01:14:05,430 due to those kind of reasons the 905 01:14:05,431 --> 01:14:07,370 disruption of that connectivity 906 01:14:07,371 --> 01:14:09,250 through those wetlands that is you 907 01:14:09,251 --> 01:14:11,070 know typically as bad for 908 01:14:11,071 --> 01:14:12,730 the water flow through those marshes 909 01:14:12,731 --> 01:14:14,320 so... Groups like the Wisconsin 910 01:14:14,321 --> 01:14:16,100 Department of Natural Resources, 911 01:14:16,101 --> 01:14:17,680 Walleyes for Tomorrow, Shadows on 912 01:14:17,681 --> 01:14:19,100 the Wolf, and many others that 913 01:14:19,101 --> 01:14:20,780 financially contribute will 914 01:14:20,781 --> 01:14:22,420 essentially conduct projects that 915 01:14:22,421 --> 01:14:23,860 promote the water flow through those 916 01:14:23,861 --> 01:14:25,300 marshes. A really common one is 917 01:14:25,301 --> 01:14:27,440 either the modification or removal 918 01:14:27,441 --> 01:14:29,420 of dams and dikes that may have 919 01:14:29,421 --> 01:14:31,360 been put in from, you 920 01:14:31,361 --> 01:14:33,340 know, maybe potential road projects 921 01:14:33,341 --> 01:14:35,860 or private landowners, you 922 01:14:35,861 --> 01:14:37,080 know, wanting to make their property 923 01:14:37,081 --> 01:14:38,160 more accessible. 924 01:14:38,161 --> 01:14:39,700 There's also 925 01:14:41,301 --> 01:14:43,920 Some culvert projects that, again, 926 01:14:43,921 --> 01:14:45,740 will either be put into a dam or 927 01:14:45,741 --> 01:14:47,060 a high point in a bank to help 928 01:14:47,061 --> 01:14:48,800 facilitate water flow, and then 929 01:14:48,801 --> 01:14:51,060 another common one are bank cuts. 930 01:14:51,061 --> 01:14:53,460 So in certain water level years, 931 01:14:53,461 --> 01:14:55,400 the water may not be high enough at 932 01:14:55,401 --> 01:14:56,960 the upper end of the marsh to 933 01:14:56,961 --> 01:14:58,700 actually overtop the bank and then 934 01:14:58,701 --> 01:15:00,420 get that marsh flowing. 935 01:15:00,421 --> 01:15:02,260 So one of the more successful 936 01:15:02,261 --> 01:15:03,760 projects we have out there is making 937 01:15:03,761 --> 01:15:05,620 a cut. In the upper end 938 01:15:05,621 --> 01:15:07,520 of the marsh to allow water to 939 01:15:07,521 --> 01:15:09,500 flow through at lower water levels. 940 01:15:09,501 --> 01:15:11,520 Right now, here today, I believe 941 01:15:11,521 --> 01:15:12,960 the new London Gage is right around 942 01:15:12,961 --> 01:15:13,780 97. 943 01:15:13,781 --> 01:15:15,280 That is above flood stage. 944 01:15:15,281 --> 01:15:17,760 We have very high water this year. 945 01:15:17,761 --> 01:15:19,220 So we actually did have a bank cut 946 01:15:19,221 --> 01:15:20,560 up there. I tried pointing out to 947 01:15:20,561 --> 01:15:22,540 you guys, but as 948 01:15:22,541 --> 01:15:23,800 of right now, the water is just 949 01:15:23,801 --> 01:15:25,560 totally overtopping the bank. 950 01:15:25,561 --> 01:15:27,020 In a lower water year when that's 951 01:15:27,021 --> 01:15:28,220 the only spot the water can get 952 01:15:28,221 --> 01:15:29,580 through there you can really go out 953 01:15:29,581 --> 01:15:30,900 there and see the water gushing 954 01:15:30,901 --> 01:15:32,060 through that cut there and then you 955 01:15:32,061 --> 01:15:33,700 can see it feed through the entire 956 01:15:33,701 --> 01:15:35,280 marsh creating that desirable flow 957 01:15:35,281 --> 01:15:36,430 that we want. 958 01:15:36,431 --> 01:15:38,050 When we talk about the full life 959 01:15:38,051 --> 01:15:39,350 cycle of walleye they come up here 960 01:15:39,351 --> 01:15:41,190 to spawn and when the fry 961 01:15:41,191 --> 01:15:43,310 hatch like they're eventually gonna 962 01:15:43,311 --> 01:15:44,930 float their way down, right? 963 01:15:44,931 --> 01:15:47,450 Yep, so the fish, 964 01:15:47,451 --> 01:15:49,470 the eggs will develop over a period 965 01:15:49,471 --> 01:15:51,490 of 10 to 14 days on average, 966 01:15:51,491 --> 01:15:53,050 however it can be prolonged from 967 01:15:53,051 --> 01:15:54,770 that if there's colder water temps, 968 01:15:54,771 --> 01:15:56,690 it's directly related to water 969 01:15:56,691 --> 01:15:58,390 temps the colder the longer it will 970 01:15:58,391 --> 01:16:00,170 take. And then after the fish hash 971 01:16:00,171 --> 01:16:02,190 out, they're dependent on that water 972 01:16:02,191 --> 01:16:03,550 flow going through that marsh to 973 01:16:03,551 --> 01:16:04,990 basically facilitate what we call 974 01:16:04,991 --> 01:16:05,830 larval drift. 975 01:16:05,831 --> 01:16:07,220 The fish roll. 976 01:16:07,221 --> 01:16:09,200 Basically, hatch out is swim up fry, 977 01:16:09,201 --> 01:16:11,060 very low ability to have 978 01:16:11,061 --> 01:16:12,240 any kind of locomotion. 979 01:16:12,241 --> 01:16:13,380 They can basically just flip their 980 01:16:13,381 --> 01:16:14,920 tail around and swim up into the 981 01:16:14,921 --> 01:16:16,500 current and get carried down. 982 01:16:16,501 --> 01:16:17,720 And then what they're trying to do 983 01:16:17,721 --> 01:16:19,180 there is let the current take them 984 01:16:19,181 --> 01:16:20,580 back into the Wolf River. 985 01:16:20,581 --> 01:16:22,020 That will eventually take them into 986 01:16:22,021 --> 01:16:23,880 Lake Poygon and the rest of the pool 987 01:16:23,881 --> 01:16:25,360 lakes where there's zooplankton food 988 01:16:25,361 --> 01:16:27,240 source is much more abundant than up 989 01:16:27,241 --> 01:16:28,241 here on the Wolf River." 990 01:16:29,051 --> 01:16:30,690 And when it comes to the tagging 991 01:16:30,691 --> 01:16:32,770 that you're doing, like you've 992 01:16:32,771 --> 01:16:34,590 got the math figured out, like 993 01:16:34,591 --> 01:16:35,630 the number of people that turn that 994 01:16:35,631 --> 01:16:37,210 in to give you that population 995 01:16:37,211 --> 01:16:38,190 estimate. 996 01:16:38,191 --> 01:16:40,310 Yep, so there's kind of two main, 997 01:16:40,311 --> 01:16:41,970 I would say three main purposes of 998 01:16:41,971 --> 01:16:42,910 the survey up here. 999 01:16:42,911 --> 01:16:44,190 One, we're up here checking out all 1000 01:16:44,191 --> 01:16:45,650 the marsh conditions, getting ideas 1001 01:16:45,651 --> 01:16:47,110 for potential future projects. 1002 01:16:47,111 --> 01:16:47,910 So that's just kind of an 1003 01:16:47,911 --> 01:16:49,270 overarching general thing we're 1004 01:16:49,271 --> 01:16:50,930 doing the whole time. 1005 01:16:50,931 --> 01:16:52,130 Another thing is just all of our 1006 01:16:52,131 --> 01:16:53,330 basic biometric data. 1007 01:16:53,331 --> 01:16:55,510 So we're taking lengths on fish, 1008 01:16:55,511 --> 01:16:57,090 sex obviously, and then we do take a 1009 01:16:57,091 --> 01:16:57,890 male age sample. 1010 01:16:57,891 --> 01:16:59,770 That's a good way to look at how 1011 01:16:59,771 --> 01:17:01,650 our year classes documented in the 1012 01:17:01,651 --> 01:17:03,130 trawl survey actually get recruited 1013 01:17:03,131 --> 01:17:05,560 to the adult spawning stock. 1014 01:17:05,561 --> 01:17:07,620 And then lastly, we have our tagging 1015 01:17:07,621 --> 01:17:09,620 efforts. So we have a goal of 1016 01:17:09,621 --> 01:17:11,700 1,000 female fish every single 1017 01:17:11,701 --> 01:17:13,200 year. We'll usually encounter 1018 01:17:13,201 --> 01:17:15,140 somewhere between two and 3,000 1019 01:17:15,141 --> 01:17:16,580 males along the way. 1020 01:17:16,581 --> 01:17:18,140 The tagging on the system here has 1021 01:17:18,141 --> 01:17:20,120 been done going back to 1993, 1022 01:17:20,121 --> 01:17:21,840 so a very lengthy data set. 1023 01:17:21,841 --> 01:17:23,680 And we basically use those numbers. 1024 01:17:23,681 --> 01:17:25,700 We have the amount of fish we have 1025 01:17:25,701 --> 01:17:27,740 tagged, the number of fish 1026 01:17:27,741 --> 01:17:29,720 that are returned by anglers, 1027 01:17:29,721 --> 01:17:31,740 and then we also factor in tag loss 1028 01:17:31,741 --> 01:17:33,300 and angler tag reporting rate in 1029 01:17:33,301 --> 01:17:34,301 order to get a... 1030 01:17:36,001 --> 01:17:37,400 Order to get an exploitation 1031 01:17:37,401 --> 01:17:38,840 estimate on the system. 1032 01:17:38,841 --> 01:17:40,220 So we did have a bag reduction on 1033 01:17:40,221 --> 01:17:42,300 the system back in 2020, 1034 01:17:42,301 --> 01:17:44,420 went from a five daily bag to a 1035 01:17:44,421 --> 01:17:46,900 three daily bag and that 1036 01:17:46,901 --> 01:17:48,400 exploitation estimate that we get 1037 01:17:48,401 --> 01:17:50,260 there is basically the primary way 1038 01:17:50,261 --> 01:17:51,860 that we're evaluating what that bag 1039 01:17:51,861 --> 01:17:53,820 reduction does to harvest on 1040 01:17:53,821 --> 01:17:54,821 the 1041 01:17:55,661 --> 01:17:57,820 bag reduction more a result of 1042 01:17:57,821 --> 01:17:59,700 core reproduction or just a lot of 1043 01:17:59,701 --> 01:18:00,910 pressure that it gets. 1044 01:18:00,911 --> 01:18:03,230 The main motivation 1045 01:18:03,231 --> 01:18:05,190 behind the bag reduction of 1046 01:18:05,191 --> 01:18:07,550 2020 was a further 1047 01:18:07,551 --> 01:18:09,530 evaluation of angler tag 1048 01:18:09,531 --> 01:18:10,510 reporting rates. 1049 01:18:10,511 --> 01:18:12,810 We had previously estimated that 1050 01:18:12,811 --> 01:18:14,790 one in two, or you could say half 1051 01:18:14,791 --> 01:18:16,810 of anglers that caught a tagged fish 1052 01:18:16,811 --> 01:18:18,350 would actually return their tagged 1053 01:18:18,351 --> 01:18:20,490 fish. We conducted a reward 1054 01:18:20,491 --> 01:18:22,770 tag study and Basically 1055 01:18:22,771 --> 01:18:24,730 put a smaller number of tags 1056 01:18:24,731 --> 01:18:27,010 out that are worth $100 1057 01:18:27,011 --> 01:18:28,690 if an angler returns it It's 1058 01:18:28,691 --> 01:18:29,950 actually the same exact thing Green 1059 01:18:29,951 --> 01:18:31,070 Bay is doing I think you guys 1060 01:18:31,071 --> 01:18:33,230 covered that as well, but from that 1061 01:18:33,231 --> 01:18:35,050 after we basically got a corrected 1062 01:18:35,051 --> 01:18:36,630 tag reporting rate You just compare 1063 01:18:36,631 --> 01:18:39,090 the number of fish that are 1064 01:18:39,091 --> 01:18:40,450 Returned with the hundred dollar 1065 01:18:40,451 --> 01:18:42,270 rewards versus the non 1066 01:18:42,271 --> 01:18:44,240 reward every single year And 1067 01:18:44,241 --> 01:18:45,980 just using that ratio there you can 1068 01:18:45,981 --> 01:18:47,740 basically figure out how many people 1069 01:18:47,741 --> 01:18:49,160 are actually returning their tags 1070 01:18:49,161 --> 01:18:51,000 and we found that to be only one 1071 01:18:51,001 --> 01:18:51,920 in three people. 1072 01:18:51,921 --> 01:18:53,320 So that dropped our tag reporting 1073 01:18:53,321 --> 01:18:55,780 estimate down to 33% 1074 01:18:55,781 --> 01:18:58,100 from 50%. 1075 01:18:58,101 --> 01:18:59,960 So basically making our exploitation 1076 01:18:59,961 --> 01:19:02,300 estimates increase resulting 1077 01:19:02,301 --> 01:19:03,540 in the motivation for the bag 1078 01:19:03,541 --> 01:19:05,060 change. We like to see harvest stay 1079 01:19:05,061 --> 01:19:06,960 below 35% on the system and 1080 01:19:06,961 --> 01:19:08,880 ideally it would be below that. 1081 01:19:08,881 --> 01:19:10,660 You know below 20 would probably be 1082 01:19:10,661 --> 01:19:12,530 better off. But seeing those 1083 01:19:12,531 --> 01:19:14,610 very high exploitation values was 1084 01:19:14,611 --> 01:19:16,270 the main reason for the bag 1085 01:19:16,271 --> 01:19:17,090 reduction. 1086 01:19:17,091 --> 01:19:19,030 When you think about all of the 1087 01:19:19,031 --> 01:19:20,670 things that go into making this a 1088 01:19:20,671 --> 01:19:22,610 successful fishery, how important is 1089 01:19:22,611 --> 01:19:24,910 it that you have so many volunteers, 1090 01:19:24,911 --> 01:19:26,110 you have so many groups raising 1091 01:19:26,111 --> 01:19:28,310 money that people care? 1092 01:19:28,311 --> 01:19:30,630 It's not just how many can I catch, 1093 01:19:30,631 --> 01:19:31,730 but that the whole system is 1094 01:19:31,731 --> 01:19:32,260 thriving. 1095 01:19:32,261 --> 01:19:34,240 Yeah, there's a lot of passionate 1096 01:19:34,241 --> 01:19:35,440 groups on the system. 1097 01:19:35,441 --> 01:19:37,440 We have a larger group that 1098 01:19:37,441 --> 01:19:38,520 the DNR puts together. 1099 01:19:38,521 --> 01:19:40,120 It's called the Winnebago Fisheries 1100 01:19:40,121 --> 01:19:42,020 Advisory Committee and it has 1101 01:19:42,021 --> 01:19:43,880 anywhere from 25 1102 01:19:43,881 --> 01:19:45,380 to probably closer to 30 now, 1103 01:19:45,381 --> 01:19:46,740 different fishing clubs and other 1104 01:19:46,741 --> 01:19:47,980 organizations on the systems. 1105 01:19:47,981 --> 01:19:49,520 We all get together, we look at the 1106 01:19:49,521 --> 01:19:51,000 data, what the population current 1107 01:19:51,001 --> 01:19:53,140 status is at and as of right now, 1108 01:19:53,141 --> 01:19:55,160 we have had a pretty lucky streak of 1109 01:19:55,161 --> 01:19:56,120 production on the System. 1110 01:19:56,121 --> 01:19:57,860 That's what the system... 1111 01:19:57,861 --> 01:19:58,760 Relies on. 1112 01:19:58,761 --> 01:20:00,000 You know we do have very high 1113 01:20:00,001 --> 01:20:01,560 harvest but that being said we have 1114 01:20:01,561 --> 01:20:03,580 very high exploitation so if we 1115 01:20:03,581 --> 01:20:05,680 have a I guess you could say low 1116 01:20:05,681 --> 01:20:07,340 or lack of production on the system 1117 01:20:07,341 --> 01:20:09,060 for a number of years the amount of 1118 01:20:09,061 --> 01:20:10,400 fish getting taken out isn't going 1119 01:20:10,401 --> 01:20:12,360 down so you know the combination of 1120 01:20:12,361 --> 01:20:14,220 low production and high exploitation 1121 01:20:14,221 --> 01:20:16,340 that's the recipe for a crash and 1122 01:20:16,341 --> 01:20:18,340 again as of now going back to 2016 1123 01:20:18,341 --> 01:20:20,340 we've had almost nothing but average 1124 01:20:20,341 --> 01:20:22,200 to above average year classes show 1125 01:20:22,201 --> 01:20:23,920 up with many notable near record 1126 01:20:23,921 --> 01:20:25,360 year classes showing up in that time 1127 01:20:25,361 --> 01:20:26,150 frame. 1128 01:20:26,151 --> 01:20:27,770 There hasn't been too much call to 1129 01:20:27,771 --> 01:20:29,810 action on 1130 01:20:29,811 --> 01:20:31,630 the walleye population as 1131 01:20:31,631 --> 01:20:33,810 of right now, but we're always 1132 01:20:33,811 --> 01:20:35,110 in communication with all those 1133 01:20:35,111 --> 01:20:36,330 different groups out there. 1134 01:20:36,331 --> 01:20:38,190 Another big thing with the groups 1135 01:20:38,191 --> 01:20:39,830 is they actually help us conduct the 1136 01:20:39,831 --> 01:20:40,870 work. 1137 01:20:40,871 --> 01:20:42,230 The management crew that covers 1138 01:20:42,231 --> 01:20:43,670 Winnebago System walleye management 1139 01:20:43,671 --> 01:20:46,210 is a team of typically three people, 1140 01:20:46,211 --> 01:20:48,350 so utilizing not 1141 01:20:48,351 --> 01:20:49,990 only volunteers, we do have 1142 01:20:49,991 --> 01:20:52,370 different DNR staff from different 1143 01:20:52,371 --> 01:20:54,410 parts of the state help 1144 01:20:54,411 --> 01:20:55,470 us out too. 1145 01:20:55,471 --> 01:20:56,931 Those volunteers play a huge role.