Headwaters Fisheries, Inc
Headwaters Fisheries is a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization dedicated to improving and sustaining world renown fisheries in Iron, Oneida and Vilas Counties by being individually lake focused
We are a project-driven organization focused on hands-on efforts such as spawning support, habitat construction, enhancement, and rehabilitation in the waters of the Manitowish Waters and Minocqua area.Working in conjunction with Walleyes for Tomorrow.FUTURE EXPANTION TO MORE AREA LAKES
Why Maximized Natural
Reproduction
*Maximizes lake carrying capacity
*Reduces dependency on stocking
*Specific Lake reared fish Support Lake Specific Genetic Characteristics, Spawning bed homing, Sex ratio maintenance Vs sex skewed hatchery raised
*Best long term sustaining solution = Aqua culture ala Agriculture
Enhances perpetual solution to ever growing need for numbers of harvestable fish.
Walleye Hatchery
Our team provides essential support during spawning seasons, protecting and boosting local walleye populations through active monitoring.
Working in conjunction with Walleyes for Tomorrow.
Launching a first of a kind
mini walleye hatchery program
FIRST OF A KIND MINI WALLEYE HATCHERY
Working in conjunction with Walleyes for Tomorrow.
We will be launching a first of a kind mini walleye hatchery program designed for small to medium size lakes in our region.
It is intended to enhance naturally produced walleye in the individual lake desired. Experience indicates that mobile hatcheries work and can help significantly in fisheries improvement and sustainment. They also may have advantages over stocking by producing adults that match the genetic makeup of existing populations, possibly enhancing their ability to reproduce and survive long term. We are looking for several lake groups to observe this spring’s demonstrations on the Manitowish chain and help brainstorm programs to launch next year. The mini mobile hatchery demonstration will take place at the Blue Bayou Restaurant on Manitowish Lake beginning the first day of ice out. If there are interested parties in your organization, please let us know. We would also be delighted to discuss this and other of our new programs in more detail.
Stripping and Fertilizing
Adult fish for egg production and fertilization are obtained through the use of fyke nets.
These are specially designed to trap live spawning fish as harmlessly as possible.
They are set at traditional spawning sites on each lake.
Based on experience, it is estimated that 1 fyke net per 100 hectares should be adequate to capture sufficient adults of both sexes over a 3-to-7-day period immediately following ice out.
Release
Once swimming vertically eggs are released back into the same lake as their parents.
Since the next weeks of life will depend on schooling and ability to eat plankton, their release takes place in locations previously determined to have strong
plankton blooms. Usually in deepest water available, sampling several days before confirms location.
Live Underwater Footage
Underwater Camera feed
Gallery
