Lake sturgeon prevalent in Michigan’s Black Lake

Juvenile lake sturgeon (Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Midwest Region, via Flickr)

Lake sturgeon are prevalent in Michigan’s Black Lake, according to a Michigan Department of Natural Resources release.

The 10,000-acre lake provides a natural habitat where the ancient fish have lived for years. A dam, built near the turn of the 20th century, trapped the sturgeon.

DNR technicians watch the population and stock the fish to keep the population healthy for recreational fishing.  Sturgeon had a strong showing in the study, but natural reproduction is still low.

During the three-week study, DNR fisheries technicians caught 281 unique sturgeon. The fish ranged from 22 inches to 73 inches.  Only five fish were recaptured.

Many were tagged and released. The researchers also took fin samples that they will analyze to determine the fishes’ ages.

Image: Juvenile lake sturgeon (Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Midwest Region, via Flickr)