Fish Stocking Program - 2023 Update
The following is a recap of the Fish Stocking Meeting held at the Coldwater Lake Association Building on Tuesday the 5th of September 2023.
Matt Diana of the Michigan DNR is a Fisheries Biologist who has extensive knowledge of Michigan Fisheries overall and specifically the St Joe watershed, which includes Coldwater Lake and all lakes and streams within Branch County.
Matt had come to speak with the Coldwater Lake Association Board of Trustees as they are in their second year of a three-year Walleye stocking plan. The Board started their 3 year plan after Jim Bentley, expressed interest and outlined the DNR’s guidelines and referenced the 2014 survey of the Coldwater Lake Fishery written by Matt himself.
Jim’s hard work was of interest to the Board as feedback from members in survey’s repeatedly expressed their interests in the Association taking up stocking actions for the lake and specifically Walleye.
When Matt’s interests in coming were first made to the Board, they quickly elected to open the meeting up to everyone and anyone who wanted to attend. Their actions were rewarded as over 30 interested parties attended the meeting. Further, the group’s interest in attending could prove to be more valuable than what we see on the surface.
While the Lake Association is making investments in a stocking program, the DNR has their own stocking program that is fully State funded. The DNR makes use of their resources and assets to stock Walleye in all of Michigan Lakes, which there are quite a few out there. Of all the inland lakes in Michigan, the DNR makes assessments on which ones to support by reviewing the habitat and balance of the fish contained within the fishery, all of which contribute to the success rate of their stocking efforts. Additionally, it is a positive when the DNR sees a local Association making investments on their own, as it speaks loudly to the interest and commitment of the local community. Matt made a point by stating there are so many lakes in Michigan, the DNR alone is not fully capable of managing them all. They depend on the efforts and interests of local communities to become extensions of the DNR for many lakes. When they see the local community involved and offering assistance, those are likely targets for the DNR to contribute additional resources, support and funding.
Matt spent a great deal of time outlining the benefits and concerns with moving forward with a Walleye program in Coldwater Lake and assured the group that this is a good program for not only Coldwater Lake but, the chain as a whole. The DNR’s studies shows that doing so would be beneficial. By doing so in a controlled manner, the down sides of doing so would be very limited.
One of the negatives to be cautious of, is increasing the natural balance of predator fish. Bass and Pike are a predator fish and they are both in ample supply within the Coldwater Lake Fishery. Matt informed the group that one option for better controlling the smaller sized Pike in the Lake and allow for more Walleye is to change some of the regulations regarding Pike fishing. The DNR has the ability to amend State Regulations by adapting them to specific Fishery needs. Doing so by targeting specific sizes of Pike would allow a greater harvest rate of medium sized Pike while also providing for the occasional “trophy” Pike to remain an event.
Reviewing and managing the Fishery in this manner is exactly the purpose of the DNR’s program and by working closely with them, our group can improve the asset of the Fishery over time. It is this interaction between the local community and government agencies that produce positive results.
The Coldwater Lake Association Board of Trustees immediately reacted to the positive outcomes of the meeting and voted to increase the funding commitment for the fall of 2023. Further, a committee structure is being initiated to support this project long term and interested attendees volunteered to participate on the committee.
The Committee will assess and discuss actions to be recommended to the Coldwater Lake Association Board, as well as work closely with the DNR. As the last Fishery survey on Coldwater Lake was completed in 2014, the committee will also follow through to assure the DNR updates the survey by 2025. Furthermore, the committee will be responsible for setting budget and fundraising efforts for the long-term success of the program.
Matt Diana of the Michigan DNR is a Fisheries Biologist who has extensive knowledge of Michigan Fisheries overall and specifically the St Joe watershed, which includes Coldwater Lake and all lakes and streams within Branch County.
Matt had come to speak with the Coldwater Lake Association Board of Trustees as they are in their second year of a three-year Walleye stocking plan. The Board started their 3 year plan after Jim Bentley, expressed interest and outlined the DNR’s guidelines and referenced the 2014 survey of the Coldwater Lake Fishery written by Matt himself.
Jim’s hard work was of interest to the Board as feedback from members in survey’s repeatedly expressed their interests in the Association taking up stocking actions for the lake and specifically Walleye.
When Matt’s interests in coming were first made to the Board, they quickly elected to open the meeting up to everyone and anyone who wanted to attend. Their actions were rewarded as over 30 interested parties attended the meeting. Further, the group’s interest in attending could prove to be more valuable than what we see on the surface.
While the Lake Association is making investments in a stocking program, the DNR has their own stocking program that is fully State funded. The DNR makes use of their resources and assets to stock Walleye in all of Michigan Lakes, which there are quite a few out there. Of all the inland lakes in Michigan, the DNR makes assessments on which ones to support by reviewing the habitat and balance of the fish contained within the fishery, all of which contribute to the success rate of their stocking efforts. Additionally, it is a positive when the DNR sees a local Association making investments on their own, as it speaks loudly to the interest and commitment of the local community. Matt made a point by stating there are so many lakes in Michigan, the DNR alone is not fully capable of managing them all. They depend on the efforts and interests of local communities to become extensions of the DNR for many lakes. When they see the local community involved and offering assistance, those are likely targets for the DNR to contribute additional resources, support and funding.
Matt spent a great deal of time outlining the benefits and concerns with moving forward with a Walleye program in Coldwater Lake and assured the group that this is a good program for not only Coldwater Lake but, the chain as a whole. The DNR’s studies shows that doing so would be beneficial. By doing so in a controlled manner, the down sides of doing so would be very limited.
One of the negatives to be cautious of, is increasing the natural balance of predator fish. Bass and Pike are a predator fish and they are both in ample supply within the Coldwater Lake Fishery. Matt informed the group that one option for better controlling the smaller sized Pike in the Lake and allow for more Walleye is to change some of the regulations regarding Pike fishing. The DNR has the ability to amend State Regulations by adapting them to specific Fishery needs. Doing so by targeting specific sizes of Pike would allow a greater harvest rate of medium sized Pike while also providing for the occasional “trophy” Pike to remain an event.
Reviewing and managing the Fishery in this manner is exactly the purpose of the DNR’s program and by working closely with them, our group can improve the asset of the Fishery over time. It is this interaction between the local community and government agencies that produce positive results.
The Coldwater Lake Association Board of Trustees immediately reacted to the positive outcomes of the meeting and voted to increase the funding commitment for the fall of 2023. Further, a committee structure is being initiated to support this project long term and interested attendees volunteered to participate on the committee.
The Committee will assess and discuss actions to be recommended to the Coldwater Lake Association Board, as well as work closely with the DNR. As the last Fishery survey on Coldwater Lake was completed in 2014, the committee will also follow through to assure the DNR updates the survey by 2025. Furthermore, the committee will be responsible for setting budget and fundraising efforts for the long-term success of the program.
Fish Stocking Program - General Information
It is the Coldwater Lake Association’s intent to bring together resources, knowledge and members to affect positive actions on and around Coldwater Lake. The handful of Trustees are limited in the work they can accomplish. To make a significant difference, we look to member volunteers to take active roles on committees to help develop and implement ideas and make use of governmental resources for the benefit of all.
If you are reading this, you may have an interest in assisting. Please reach out to any trustee and/or email us at [email protected]. We would look for volunteers to help with the stocking process and/or participate on a committee to help coordinate efforts between the connecting lakes. Unlike many of us, the fish do not see navigating the Warren Road Bridge as an issue and readily follow food sources up and down the chain through the channels.
Fish stocking at Coldwater Lake has a storied history. The below link to the DNR’s report on the status of the Fishery for Coldwater Lake provides an excellent summary of its history and where we stand. While the report is dated 2018, the last physical survey was completed in 2014. Not exactly current but, the best we have to work on.
The DNR has a lot on their plate and surveying all the Lakes in Michigan requires a large staff. Getting it done routinely is a challenge. It is our hope for them to repeat a survey in 2025. With plans to stock walleye each fall for three years, this would also provide us with direct feedback on the results of those efforts as it would coincide with the third year of stocking.
CLA has committed to stocking 1,500 walleye each fall for a three-year period. The walleye are 6-8 inches in length and are obtained from a fish farm in the Kalamazoo area that acquires their walleye from a farm in Minnesota. The fish are transported down via truck with separate tank compartments and then are transferred to the lake. The process of transferring them to the lake is done through CLA volunteers. Last year the event took place on the north side of Iyopawa Road where it was easy access from the tanker truck to the lake.
CLA thanks Jim Bentley for his efforts in bringing much of this information to light and for his time spent working with the DNR to acquire the permit to stock, organizing the purchase with the fish farm and coordinating the stocking process. Good job, Jim!
The ideal habitat for walleye is not well supported by lakes in the Branch County area. While Coldwater Lake is likely the best suited, it, too, has its challenges in providing walleye a habitat that enables them to prosper enough to sustain an ongoing fishery that includes walleye. In order to sustain the population, an ongoing and continuous stocking program is likely needed. It is through monitored efforts and surveys by the DNR that we measure the results. As these are infrequent, we also rely on the feedback from local anglers and fishing groups.
We hope you find the information here helpful and we will update this as time and developments allow. Ideally, we would engage local fishing clubs to help in providing additional information and feedback for these pages. If you or, someone you know is interested, please reach out to us.
If you are reading this, you may have an interest in assisting. Please reach out to any trustee and/or email us at [email protected]. We would look for volunteers to help with the stocking process and/or participate on a committee to help coordinate efforts between the connecting lakes. Unlike many of us, the fish do not see navigating the Warren Road Bridge as an issue and readily follow food sources up and down the chain through the channels.
Fish stocking at Coldwater Lake has a storied history. The below link to the DNR’s report on the status of the Fishery for Coldwater Lake provides an excellent summary of its history and where we stand. While the report is dated 2018, the last physical survey was completed in 2014. Not exactly current but, the best we have to work on.
The DNR has a lot on their plate and surveying all the Lakes in Michigan requires a large staff. Getting it done routinely is a challenge. It is our hope for them to repeat a survey in 2025. With plans to stock walleye each fall for three years, this would also provide us with direct feedback on the results of those efforts as it would coincide with the third year of stocking.
CLA has committed to stocking 1,500 walleye each fall for a three-year period. The walleye are 6-8 inches in length and are obtained from a fish farm in the Kalamazoo area that acquires their walleye from a farm in Minnesota. The fish are transported down via truck with separate tank compartments and then are transferred to the lake. The process of transferring them to the lake is done through CLA volunteers. Last year the event took place on the north side of Iyopawa Road where it was easy access from the tanker truck to the lake.
CLA thanks Jim Bentley for his efforts in bringing much of this information to light and for his time spent working with the DNR to acquire the permit to stock, organizing the purchase with the fish farm and coordinating the stocking process. Good job, Jim!
The ideal habitat for walleye is not well supported by lakes in the Branch County area. While Coldwater Lake is likely the best suited, it, too, has its challenges in providing walleye a habitat that enables them to prosper enough to sustain an ongoing fishery that includes walleye. In order to sustain the population, an ongoing and continuous stocking program is likely needed. It is through monitored efforts and surveys by the DNR that we measure the results. As these are infrequent, we also rely on the feedback from local anglers and fishing groups.
We hope you find the information here helpful and we will update this as time and developments allow. Ideally, we would engage local fishing clubs to help in providing additional information and feedback for these pages. If you or, someone you know is interested, please reach out to us.
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