UP Brook Trout Lakes

[eapling]

A few years ago, an article in the regional outdoors tabloid, discussed a dozen or so DNR dedicated trophy brook trout lakes in the UP. any info on line?.

I'm striking out .

email to DNR, no response.

Thanks, E

[jhuskey]

I lived there once upon a time. I always found the DNR handshake face to face kind of folks. Buy a Gazetteer and find a phone number. Even better if you lived "close", a day trip to an office, Gazetteer in hand. I don't believe managed trophy Brook Trout lakes existed in the 70's and 80's when I was there. Good Luck!

[RAZINGKANE]

I lived in Marquette County and haunted the northern reaches back in the late 70's and early 80's. At that time, I don't recall any managed brook trout waters either. I would recommend a call to the DNR Marquette field office since these are the guys with boots on the ground and can tell you what's up. I know the regs list designated trout waters but if anything is being managed for bigger than average, I can't say. Good luck. It is AWESOME country.

John

[billems]

Some of those lakes--the ones I visited were part of the Ottawa National Forest, near the Ontonagan--had a strain called the Assinica brook trout. They grow larger than other strains. Here's a mention from the NY Times: Two strains of Canadian brook trout that are unusually long‐lived and grow to giant size — the assinica and the tmiscamie — are gaining a foothold in this country.

This all began almost 20 years ago when William A. Flick, a research specialist at Cornell University, and others journeyed to a remote area of Quebec, off the southeastern tip of James Bay, to obtain live specimens of these fish and their eggs.

In Canada, the assinicas are in Assinica Lake, which drains into James Bay via the Broadback River; the tmiscamie strain is in the river of the same name, which drains into Lake Albanel two streams, the watersheds are separate.

How anglers discovered the big trout is not clear. One story has it that bush pilots flying over Lake Assinica saw Indians smoking huge brook trout on its shores.


Anyway, they stock them in the U.P.

[DrLogik]

I fished mostly rivers and streams during my time in the UP (1979 - 1982). I don't recall any trophy Brook Trout lakes but I give a +1 to call the Marquette DNR office.

[eapling]

Thanks to all who replied. I saved the original article, but it's in Michigan. When I retrieve it, I'll try to post some info. I leave it there in the same place so as not to lose it.

Is the Marquette office Grady Service's district?

[Oxbow]

I seem to faintly remember something about this in a publication some time ago. It was several lakes, somewhat secretive as I recall and there was at least one in the lower P that I fished to no avail. Never heard anything after that.

[Bamboo River]

What size are you looking for? 20 inches?

[eapling]

No particular size. I just enjoy hiking into less fished places to catch nice brookies. Sometimes with a float tube.
Some of the lakes were hike in only.

[DrLogik]

On a side note, the "Coaster's" as they are called are lake-run Brook Trout in Lake Superior. Kinda an enigmatic and mythical fish. I have not gone fishing for them but I hear they are a challenge. You need a boat and a lot of patience for those.

[eapling]

The DNR and some other groups, as I recall, are working to revive the coasters fishery.

[carl otto]

The State of Michigan maintains a comprehensive listing, by county, of the lakes and streams under special regulations. I would think this would be the source for your answer. One could check the previous years listings to see about other lakes that may no longer have these designations, but once did (hint).

Speaking to the planting of Brook trout of various strains from Canada in hopes they would grow outside their range to the same larger size. In simple terms; The strains mentioned above have not proven out. Large Brook trout inhabit systems where there are connected rivers and lakes in climates where winters are fairly severe. These fish migrate into the river systems during the warmer months and then in the fall after spawning move back into the lakes (potamodromous behavior?) where essentially they are in an environment where the water temperatures goes down to just above freezing (32.1 degrees F). There due to the water temp they enter a state of suspended animation for the 6 plus months they are there. The average life span of a stream Brook trout in Michigan is 3-4 years, the average life span of the noted Canadian fish is 7-8+ years, it is believed this is because half of their lives they are in this suspended state. When they come out of suspension in the spring and summer they eat ravenously and pack on the weight. They have eight seasons to do this instead of four, thus tend to grow larger. This behavior is also the reason there are "coasters" in the upper Great Lakes and some localized conditions in mountain regions. On top of this, these Canadian streams also tend to be more rocky, having larger aggregate material in them. Research by a Dr. Serge Leliavsky shows that streams with predominately larger size spawning habitat aggregate on their bottoms will have larger fish in them, since only the genetically larger fish are strong enough to push this material around to make the spawning redds. Natural selection dominates and the larger fish survive to spawn and pass those larger fish genes on.

Exam is next week.

Carl

[carl otto]

As to "coasters"; these large lake to stream run Brook trout were once very common in the upper Great Lakes. It has been proven they are not genetically different to the Brook trout that inhabit the Great Lakes streams. When the Europeans arrived they were immediately targeted and over harvested. Enough fish survived the onslaught that there was a sport fishery for them. The famous Nipigon monster Brook trout caught in 1910(?) was one of these fish. These large fish fed in the Great Lakes on various bait fish species that were in abundance. Then came the St. Lawrence Seaway and its canals with the introduction of sea lampreys into the Great Lakes. The lampreys crashed the commercial fisheries in the Great Lakes in the 50'-60's, where "coasters" were a by catch. Along with the lampreys came the Alewives. The lampreys were brought under control, but the Alewives posed a new problem. The solution was the introduction of various salmonid species from the west coast ( salmon). So the Great Lakes have this great large salmonid fishery, but these new fish species out compete the Brook trout in the Great Lakes for the various bait fish species. All of these impacts thwart the recovery of the "coaster" fishery to its historical levels. To dream of abundant 20+ inch Brook trout back in the upper Great Lakes I do not believe is realistic. There are some remnant strongholds, primarily in Canada with viable sport fisheries. So, at the moment all is not lost.

Carl

[eapling]

Thanks Carl, I tried that route in the past, but not recently. Worth a try again.

E

[billems]

I spent a week, camping in the Ottawa forest, and met two locals, who took me around to some of the "hike in" ponds and lakes. Some of the most beautiful locales I've spent time in. It was an unusually warm September, 1994. They could drive for miles on the logging roads. Most places, we never saw another human. I'm sure much of it has changed. But the place has a place in my heart.

[DrLogik]

I found this recent video on YouTube on Coasters in Lake Superior.

https://youtu.be/gdPKez3u16A

Check out the 23:00 minute mark!

[Srock]

Sorry for being a bit late, but thought I would add a few words. I have fished the UP for trout for over 20 years, mainly streams in the western region. I have tried some trout ponds and lakes but have not had got luck with them. This is likely me. It is very important re: when you are fishing. Once the weather warms up the trout head deep and are much harder to reach with a fly rod set up. A resource you might want to look into is Christopher L. Deubler’s book, Trout Ponds and Lakes in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Siskiwit Press, 1999, might be worth looking into. He lists numerous ponds in many UP counties and goes into detail with about 25 of them. He states that these are primarily stocked, not wild brook trout. I have tried to fish a couple of these lakes to no avail. Timing is crucial. You need to fish them either early in the season or in the fall. Summer will not produce much. Personally, if I decide to fish trout in the UP I will stick to streams, generally much more productive. If you fish these lakes and ponds you will need a canoe or boat. They offer very little shore fishing. A tub may work but I do not think they are worth the effort. Good luck in your search.

[eapling]

Thanks to all of you. Really helpful.

E

[explore1948]

I have been absent from the forum for quite sometime but wanted to respond to this thread. I've fished some of the U.P. lakes you are wondering about. The lake I fished 98% of the time is called Timber Lake. It is no secret, well marked, and just west of the town of Iron River. Admittedly, I haven't fished the lake in maybe 10 years? When I was fishing the lake, I did so from a float tube. It requires an approximate hike of 3/4 mile to get to the lake. I had some great fishing and landed brook trout up to 18 inches. I believe the best time to fish this lake is early or late season. The lake was stocked with arsenic trout and I witnessed an occasion when the DRN stocked the lake. At the time, I believe one could keep a fish 16 inches or better? Artificial lures only. Hope this is helpful and perhaps you can still experience large brook trout without going to Canada?

[explore1948]

Sorry, I missed spelled assinica and DNR (Department of Natural Resources) in previous post.