News
- Pete Tarnowski's Presentation (download the Powerpoint)
- Pete Tarnowski's presentation (PDF)
- MCLA meeting minutes July 27, 2017 (PDF)
July 2017 Meeting Minutes and Presentation Available
The meeting minutes from the July 27, 2017 MCLA meeting are now available. The guest was Pete Tarnowski. He has made his presentation on the status Manitowoc County Parks available for download. In it, he discusses recent improvements at our lakes, as well as future plans. Please take a look!
From Pete Tarnowski's presentation. Harpt Lake has a new handicap accessible 30 ft. floating pier that doesn’t have to be removed for winter. A handicap parking spot was also designated.
Deadline for comments on Lake Michigan fisheries plan is May 20
April 18, 2017. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has completed the final draft of its long-term fisheries management plan for Wisconsin's Lake Michigan waters and invites citizens to provide final input. Lake Michigan has seen drastic ecological changes in recent years and the new plan will guide fisheries management through the next 10 years.
read full articleSkamania to be Reintroduced to Lake Michigan
Skamania Steelhead. Source: DNR FactSheet
April 4, 2017. In a boost to diversify Lake Michigan fishing opportunities, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources will reintroduce Skamania steelhead into the Wisconsin waters of Lake Michigan over the next three to five years.
Dave Giehtbrock, DNR fisheries propagation section chief, said the Skamania strain is particularly prized because it may reach 32 inches and 12 pounds at age five - larger than other strains. Read the full article on the Wisconsin DNR website.
About the Skamania summerrun steelhead:
This strain was developed at the Skamania hatchery in the state of Washington. Wisconsin originally obtained eggs from Indiana, but we now take eggs from adults returning to our streams. The spawning migration (known as “the run”) begins in late June and early July. The good stream fishing doesn’t begin until the water temperatures start to cool, usually in mid‐September. Spawning occurs from mid‐December through mid‐March with the peak occurring in January and February. The majority of spawning fish are four and five year olds. Four year old fish average 28 inches and 8 pounds while five year old fish average 32 inches and 12 pounds.
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second-largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third-largest by surface area. Lake Michigan is shared by Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. The word “Michigan” originally referred to the lake itself, and is believed to come from the Ojibwa word mishigami meaning “great water.”
Interested in Lake Michigan levels?
Try the interactive Great Lakes Dashboard Project at the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL).
- Click this link if you are using a tablet, mobile device or a Mac without Flash Player installed https://www.glerl.noaa.gov//data/dashboard/GLD_HTML5.html
- Click this link if you are using a device with Flash Player installed: https://www.glerl.noaa.gov/data/dashboard/GLWLD.html
Facts & Figures:
All of Manitowoc County is included in the Lake Michigan watershed.
Shore length: 1,400 mi + 238 mi (islands)
Max. length: 307 mi
Max. width: 118 mi
Surface area: 22,300 sq mi
Depth: Max. 923 ft Mean 279 ft
Volume: 1,180 cu mi
Lake type: Glacial
Recreation and Parks: Visit the Manitowoc City and Manitowoc County websites for information on the many lakeshore parks and attractions, such as Fischer Creek Conservation area.
Fishing Regulations:
- Species present: Click here.
- Current Fishing Report: Click here.
In general, Manitowoc County Lake Michigan fishing reports are updated once per week, usually on Tuesdays, beginning in spring. - 2015 Point Creek Smallmouth Bass Survey Report
- Consumption advisory: Click here.
Aquatic Invasive Species
Alewife, Big Head carp, Rainbow smelt, Ruffe, Round goby, Silver carp, Sea Lamprey, White perch, Bloody-red shrimp, Spiny and fishhook waterfleas, Zebra and Quagga mussels, Rusty crayfish.
Read more on the Wisconsin DNR website.
Other Resources:
EPA Lake Michigan Management Plan
US Army Corps of Engineers – Lake Michigan Conditions
Anglers are reminded that the new license year began April 1 for waters or species with a continuous open season. Licenses and stamps for the 2017 year are on sale now through 
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