Despite drought then deluge, trout populations thrive

MADISON – Hats off to the wily wild trout.

Their instincts, major land use changes and state habitat improvement projects helped them survive the extreme weather of 2007 in good numbers, according to state fisheries biologists. This should result in good prospects for a bumper crop of new fish in spring 2008, according to Dave Vetrano, veteran fish manager for Crawford, La Crosse, Monroe and Vernon counties, who has a number of audio files on the topic available on the early trout fishing pages of the Department of Natural Resources Web site.

Wild Trout Survival has Proven to be Better (AUDIO length: 21 seconds)

Moderate to extreme drought conditions in 2007 left 85 percent of the state with a precipitation deficit of 2 to 4 inches by mid-summer, only to be followed in August by record rains and flooding in parts of southwestern and southeastern Wisconsin.

Minimal Damage to Streams with Prior Restoration Work (AUDIO length: 23 seconds)

Sadly, people suffered millions of dollars of flood-related property damage, but the trout and their home streams fared much better.

Fishing in March Should be Good (AUDIO length: 22 seconds)

Wisconsin fish have more cover and more pool habitat as a result of DNR trout habitat work over the past 30 years on more than 750 miles of stream statewide. The work, often done in partnership with local organizations, is paid for by the trout stamps anglers buy to fish for trout on inland waters. It has also stabilized and reshaped stream banks and reconnected them with their floodplains.

Timber Coulee Improved by Flooding (AUDIO length: 14 seconds)

Those in-stream improvements have occurred as improvements in farming practices and changing land use – from agriculture to recreational use -- has meant that more rain and melting snow is soaking into the ground and less soil is entering the streams. The ultimate result is more water and colder water to the streams, as described in a February 2002 Wisconsin Natural Resources magazine story.

Good Year Class from 2008 (AUDIO length: 16 seconds)

So with the streams in pretty good shape to handle the floods, the high, fast moving water performed some valuable maintenance work that will benefit older fish, the young ones hatching this winter in the gravel beds of Wisconsin streams, and the anglers that pursue them.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Dave Vetrano 608-785-9009