Northern Michigan Fishing, An Inside Look at John Cross Fisheries
News story about John Cross Fisheries and including a few recipes written by Tim Tebeau, published online on MyNorth news (July 13, 2012). Excerpt of story as follows: “Behind the ancient screen door at Charlevoix’s John Cross Fisheries, pearlescent piles of tapered whitefish and walleye fillets fill a glass case. Only a few hours have passed between the animated flop from a net and the deft cut of a filet knife. The adjacent fish processing room echoes with the dueling music of whirring blades and sloshing rinse water. The smell is profound but evocative with the lakey sweetness of freshwater fish mingled with the thick vapors of the smokehouse.” CLICK HERE to read full online story with recipes
Natural History of the Sea Lamprey in Michigan, 1950
An extensive scientific report about Sea Lamprey issue and possible management options. Special Scientific Report: Fisheries No. 55, prepared by the U.S. Dept. of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (1950) with contributions from the Institute for Fisheries Research of the Michigan Department of Conservation (Dept. of Natural Resources). Click Here to Review Copy of Report
Fish is Healthy Eating
The March 2003 Chippewa Ottawa Resource Authority (CORA) newsletter (March 2003) featured a series of articles and information related to food values of Great Lakes fish. Information ranges from health values to cleaning and cooking fish – many great recipes included. Click Here to read newsletter articles and recipes.
Five different species of lamprey live in the Great Lakes region
Five different species of lamprey live in the Great Lakes region Many people believe the invasive sea lamprey is the only one that exists. Posted on July 28, 2016 by Ronald Kinnunen, Michigan State University Extension, Michigan Sea Grant Northern brook lamprey are found in brooks, streams, and small rivers. Photo: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Northern brook lamprey are found in brooks, streams, and small rivers. Photo: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Many people who fish in the Great Lakes region are aware of the sea lamprey that invaded the Great Lakes from the Atlantic Ocean in the 1930s and 1940s. It had a devastating effect on the Great Lakes fishery nearly bringing lake trout to extinction. Besides the non-native sea lamprey there are four native lamprey living in the Michigan Great Lakes region. Lamprey, at times, are incorrectly referred to as eels. Eels are a more modern fish that has a developed jaw, is covered with scales, and has a bony vertebra. In contrast lamprey are primitive fish that have a funnel-like mouth, lack scales, and have cartilage instead of bone. The native lamprey that exist in the Great Lakes region include the chestnut, silver, American brook, and northern brook lamprey. The chestnut and silver lamprey are parasitic in their adult stage and feed on body fluids and blood of fish. They can leave a deep wound in the fish that they feed on but rarely kill the host fish as the sea lamprey does. The American brook and the northern brook lamprey are not parasitic on fish and do not feed in their adult life stage. The invasive sea lamprey is the largest of the lamprey in the Great Lakes and can attain a size of two feet. The two native parasitic chestnut and silver lamprey can reach a size of one foot. The two native non-parasitic American brook and northern brook lamprey reach a maximum size of about six inches. People rarely see lamprey because of its secretive habits. Lamprey spawn in streams and after the eggs hatch the larvae burrow into tunnels in the stream bottom. The larvae, with their heads near the surface of the bottom of the stream, feed on organic particles, algae, and microscopic organisms. This larval stage can last for three to seven years. The adult stage is relatively short for all lamprey and ranges from eight to twenty months. The beginning of the summer is when the parasitic lampreys emerge as adults and begin to parasitize fish. For native non-parasitic lamprey transformation into adults begins in the fall of the year and their digestive tract becomes non-functional and they stop feeding. After transformation into adults, lamprey swim freely in the water. All lampreys achieve sexual maturity in the spring and are usually more active at night. In preparation for spawning, lamprey build nests in rivers and streams. After spawning both the male and female adult lamprey die. The chestnut and silver lamprey both live in rivers. The American brook and northern brook lamprey are found in brooks, streams, and small rivers with the American brook lamprey preferring to live in colder water. Michigan Sea Grant helps to foster economic growth and protect Michigan’s coastal, Great Lakes resources through education, research and outreach. A collaborative effort of the University of Michigan and Michigan State University and its MSU Extension, Michigan Sea Grant is part of the NOAA-National Sea Grant network of 33 university-based programs. This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit http://expert.msue.msu.edu, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).
History of Commercial Fishing on Thunder Bay 1835 to 2014
Book offers news articles and images, stories and personal experiences illustrating the history of commercial fishing in Thunder Bay and surrounding areas of northern Lake Huron (near Alpena, Mich.) from Black River to Rockport. Book is written and published by Clarence “Tuffy” and Bonnie Cross (2014); and is available for purchase at the Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan.
Freshwater Feasts, Great Lakes Cooking at its Best
Welcome to Freshwater Feasts, a cooking blog from Michigan Sea Grant! We’re a collection of educators, communicators, and research scientists who love the Great Lakes–and the delicious edibles that come from their waters. We’re excited to use this blog to showcase fantastic recipes, unusual edible fish, and safe seafood resources tied to our freshwater seas. We may even hit the road and feature some of the Great Lakes region’s stellar seafood restaurants! Visit website to read and learn more!
The Fishermen
This Michigan Fish Producers Association website captures the stories of commercial fishermen and fishing families from Michigan. Fishing families and communities featured include: BAY PORT FISH CO. – The Fish Caught the Williams Brothers, and Their Best Fish Are Becoming Legends. BIG STONE BAY FISHERY – A fleet of fish trucks and a boat. BLAIR FISH COMPANY LLC. – The BEST catch in fish supply and transport BODIN FISHERIES – Fresh from the lake to your plate! CARL FRAZIER – Fraziers persist with fishing ‘in their blood.’ THE FISH MONGER’S WIFE – Lake Michigan’s Finest FISHTOWN – Visit our historical, authentic working waterfront for fish, shops, eateries and exhibits. THE FRESH LAKE WHITEFISH CO. – To Market, To Market, To Buy Some … Fresh Fish. HALVORSON FISHERIES – We’ve been fishing in the clear waters of Lake Superior for more than 40 years, providing some of the cleanest, freshest fish you will find. HAMEL AND SON’S FISHERY – Fresh Whitefish since 1869! JOEL PETERSON: I.E. FAIRPORT FISHERIES –At the tip of Michigan’s Garden Peninsula lies tiny Fairport which, as the name suggests, has docks for boats such as the Martha Jean, the Peterson brothers’ 45 foot trap net fishing vessel. SERAFIN FISHERY – Fishing for Generations in Lake Huron and Saginaw Bay RULEAU BROTHERS, INC. (CEDAR RIVER) – Ruleaus stay afloat in the fishing business by adapting. THILLS FISH HOUSE – It’s all about fish – through thick and thin. VANLANDSCHOOT & SONS – VanLandschoots work as a team—from net to sale
The Lone Survivor, The Katherine V of Rogers City
This research report documents, ‘the historical significance of the wooden fishing vessel Katherine V, located at Rogers City, Michigan [now at Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan in Alpena, Michigan], on the shores of Lake Huron.’ Authors write that, ‘The Katherine V is the last remaining example of the large, wooden fish tugs that once plied the waters of Lake Huron on both the Canadian and American sides of the lake. She is also a splendid example of wooden ship building methods and skills that were once common among the craftsmen of this region.’ Report by Frank and Nancy Prothero (1990); published by Nan-Sea Publications, Port Stanley, Ont. N5L 1H3. Available for purchase at the Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan where the vessel is now on display.
Commercial Fishing in Michigan
Commercial Fishing in Michigan by Saralee R. Howard and Alan Moore (Michigan History Division) published in Great Lakes Informant (Series 3, Number 1, Michigan Industries). Click Here to read full copy of this Michigan Department of State publication, approximately mid-1970s.
Dockside Fish Market…Fish Tales
Dockside Fish Market …Fish Tales (read online here) DOCKSIDE FISH MARKET FRESH & SMOKED / THE BIG SEA WATER by William Least Heat – Moon Photographs by David Bowman (Gourmet Magazine May 2004) SHELE CLAPP TOFTEY – ONE GREAT FISHING STORY. Why would a woman choose this profession, and where does she find the perseverance? by Anna Klobuchar (The Area Woman Summer 1999)
