Population Studies

• MDNRE Study from 2003 – 2004 studying the status and trends of fish populations including trout (both landlocked and Great Lakes access) and small mouth bass.  www.michigandnr.com/PUBLICATIONS/PDFS/fishing/research/huntcreek/studies/737-Status_trends-fish-habitat-MI-streams.pdf
  • Progress Reports:  www.michigandnr.com/PUBLICATIONS/PDFS/ifr/ifrlibra/federal%20aid%20annual%20reports/F-81-R-8/230737.pdf
• Au Sable River Trout Populations: 
  • Graphs that depict trout per acre in the Au Sable system from as far back as 1957 to as recent as 2009. www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10364_52259_10951_11302-114740–,00.html
  • www.michigan.gov/documents/dnr/665-Zorn-Nuhfer-2007a_232139_7.pdf
    • Objectives: To continue to conduct annual trout population surveys at index stations on the Au Sable River. These data will be analyzed in relation to environmental variables to explore possible mechanisms causing the declines in larger trout. They will also be used to evaluate the effectiveness of large woody debris enhancement in the North Branch Au Sable and Mainstem Au Sable rivers (management action that will be funded by the private sector).
    • Investigators: Troy G. Zorn and Andrew J. Nuhfer

Gear Restrictions

• An article that draws conclusions after researching an extensive bibliography of articles and studies that research the effect of gear restrictions (provided by T. Buhr):
  • files/NRC Presentatiion on Research into Regs to Commissioners .doc
• Ongoing DNR study of brook trout in the Black River.   The effects of gear restrictions and size limit on brook trout populations.  Study began in 2007 and is budgeted to continue until 2012.  www.michigan.gov/documents/dnr/556-study-proposal_232127_7.pdf
  • Progress Reports: files/DOCUMENTLIBRARY/Black_River-Special_Regs_evaluation_2010.doc

Habitat Improvements

• A DNR study that began in 2001 whose purpose is to study the effect of sand traps on Michigan streams.  The study involves 20 Michigan rivers (including the Au Sable and East Br of the Au Sable). This link provides a description of the study: www.michigandnr.com/PUBLICATIONS/PDFS/fishing/research/huntcreek/studies/702-Effects-sediment-basins-river-channels.pdf
  • Progress Reports:  www.michigandnr.com/PUBLICATIONS/PDFS/ifr/ifrlibra/federal%20aid%20annual%20reports/F-80-R-8/230702.pdf

Stocking

• DNRE Stocking Link:  www.michigandnr.com/fishstock/
• An article by Todd C. Wills (MDNRE) that evaluates brown trout stocking on 6 rivers from 1997 – 2000. www.michigan.gov/documents/dnr/735-peer-reviewed_232137_7.pdf