Salmon Numbers Down Sharply
This year’s king salmon run in Wisconsin is what one might call pitiful, both in numbers and in size. And that marked decrease is seen right on through the cohos and browns and rainbows. It’s not due to any single factor, but a combination of super cold winters the last two years, poor spawn return, zebra mussels, and the feeding habits of the predator fish in Lake Michigan.
My friend, John Beth, spent a day last week pounding our favorite tributary, and managed a king or two and a few browns. However, the fish were all small—none of the behemoth browns of years past—just the “small ones” up to 26 inches. Still very nice fish, but not what we’ve seen.
John sent me some photos, and a very interesting link to an article on the low salmon numbers and size. Have a look: Salmon population plummeting in Lake Michigan
John with one of the smaller and lesser in number kings.
John’s biggest brown, a nice 26 inch, robust female.
A very nice male brown, only several inches smaller than in years past.
A nice female coho, but space in numbers.