Biologists on McInnes Lake

Lake trout netted on McInnes Lake at 66 to 115 feet

They caught 7 lake trout at 66 to 115 feet.

Four were sampled and three were released.

Top: common white sucker, Bottom: long nose sucker
There are lots of fish in the lake a fisherman seldom sees.
Suckers, White Fish, Cisco, Burbot, Perch and smaller Minnows

Reasearch by
the Cooperative Freshwater Ecology Unit
Laurentian University in Sudbury Ontario
Professor:  Tom Johnston

Nate Antoniolli and Andrew Corston were up at McInnes Lake this past week.  As they describe it, they were collectiong samples from netted fish.  These samples will be used in a food web and contaminent survey of Northwestern Ontario fish using stable isotope annalysis.  Data will indicate how the fish are feeding, where, what and depth.  If they can develop a baseline of data, it can be used throughout the area as a measuring tool when looking at other lakes. 

For more info go to this Uof M in Duluth site: Lake Zones

For example, it is interesting to know where McInnes lake trout feed. Lake trout are very temperature sensitive and prefer to hang out in the cold water 47 degrees F and below.  However they will go to the food.  Each lake offers different types of food for lake trout; cisco (lake herring) swimming in schools in colder midwater, suckers, white fish and burbot (ling or freshwater cod) on the bottom, minnows and walleye and perch in warmer water.  Lake trout will also resort to zooplankton and insects if need be, but the lake trout will not be as healthy on this diet.

Here is their list of sampled fish from the board at the cabin.
They caught 7 lake trout but couldn't resist throwing 3 huge healthy ones back in the lake

They had trouble catching northern in the nets but found angling for them to be easy.

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW

• How old are these huge lake trout?
• Is there a chart of size versus age for walleye, northern and trout for our area?
• What is considered old age and extra large for the game fish around here?
• What are they eating, where are they hanging out?

Sure hope these guys get back to me