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AQUATIC DISEASE THREATENS OUR FISHERIES
The Fish and Game Committee is asking for your help in a proactive effort to keep VHS (Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia) away from our interior lakes and ponds.
This disease is one of many dumped in our waters from ocean going vessel ballast tanks. We want to emphasize that the disease is not in our waters at the present time but is in Lake Michigan. The DNR predicts that eventually it will spread to all great lakes and connecting waters. They further tell us that once it is introduced there is not known way of eradicating it. The disease is spread through the movement of infected fish, minnows, water and aquatic weeds.
In an effort to be proactive and prevent the introduction of VHS to our waters, the Board of Governors adopted the following regulations at its April meeting:
Pull-up Lake, Cranberry Lake, and Elbow Lake are restricted to watercraft provided by the club or member owned boats, kayaks, and canoes that have been cleaned in the club provided facility. All motors and trailers need to be cleaned also. A signature sheet will be provided at the cleaning site near the new Recreation Building.
Anyone using baitfish on club property must strictly adhere to the new regulations in the Michigan state fishing guide.
Fish from other lakes and waters may not be introduced to club
waters (except through Fish and Game Committee)
PULLUP LAKE PIKE REGULATIONS CHANGE
The Fish and Game Committee is asking for help from anglers to prevent a die off or stunting of pike in Pullup Lake. The severe low lake levels in the last two years have put stress on the predator fish in Pull-up. We need to remove as many smaller pike (under 24 inches) as possible to keep a quality pike fishery.
Standard sport Fishing ethics say keep only the biggest, and throw back the smaller ones so they can grow. This ethic will not work when a lake goes into stress due to reduced water levels. The limit of Northern Pike on Pullup lake is listed below:
Anglers may keep five pike up to 24 inches
All pike 24 to 30 inches must be released.
Anglers may keep one pike over 30 inches.
During the bullhead netting project this Spring we removed 500 pounds of bullheads. We caught and moved 23 pike to Cranberry Lake as per Lake Superior State’s recommendation. Some were well over 30 inches. Most pike were thin for their length.
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