Angler input sought for Luce and Chippewa counties

The Department of Natural Resources today announced Blind Sucker Flooding and Bodi Lake in Luce County and the Tahquamenon River in Chippewa and Luce counties will be part of angler survey efforts this spring. These surveys look to evaluate fishing efforts and angler attitudes and values regarding the fisheries of these water bodies.

Angler input is being sought in one of two ways. Survey cards are available on site at each location and anglers are asked to fill out one card, per person, per trip. The survey cards are self-addressed and can be mailed free of charge. Another option is online surveys, available for all three locations:

• Blind Sucker Flooding – www.surveymonkey.com/s/blindsuckerfloodingsurvey
• Bodi Lake – www.surveymonkey.com/s/bodilakesurvey
• Tahquamenon River – www.surveymonkey.com/s/tahquamenonsurvey

These surveys are being conducted by the DNR, Fisheries Division’s Eastern Lake Superior Management Unit. Surveys will be open May 1 through Oct. 31, 2013.

The Blind Sucker Flooding and Bodi Lake surveys are focused on northern pike fisheries with questions pertaining to type of bait used, number of days anglers fish for northern pike at each location, and how anglers rank the northern pike fishery.

The Tahquamenon River survey is focused on various fisheries and includes questions about types of bait used, number of days anglers fish for brown trout, walleye, muskellunge and smallmouth bass on the Tahquamenon River, and angler’s preference for either catch-and-release or catch-and-keep fishing. Participation in these survey efforts is key to proper fisheries management.