CHARTER INFO

LAKE SCUGOG TAGGING PROJECT

PURPOSE & METHODOLGY:

Muskies will be caught from Lake Scugog using conventional casting and trolling techniques, commencing in the 2000 angling season, by a group of angling volunteers, through the 2005 angling season. The capture of muskies may be supplemented by the MNR when possible, through the use of trap or hoop nets set in the Osler Marsh by M.N.R. personnel (to coincide with annual spawning runs). This project is funded through the CFWIP Program, and was being administered by the Kawartha Fisheries Association.

Some of the goals of this project include:

Gather information regarding the likelihood of re-capture for previously caught fish.
Gather information on the potential impact of delayed mortality using different release methods.
Gather information on the reaction of fish to capture, such as location, growth, and health.
Identify growth rates in the muskellunge population on Lake Scugog.
Identify population statistics and size distribution of the existing population.
Determine population densities for a truly wild population of muskies in a lake environment.
To identify seasonal movements and home ranges for mature muskies.

MY BACKGROUND AND INVOLVEMENT:

I was approached by the Kawartha Fisheries Association in January 2000 regarding the proposal to move forward with this project. I was to serve in the capacity as Project Coordinator. In this volunteer capacity, I recruited a team of 3 additional anglers, arranged for equipment and training with Dr. Mark Ridgway, and Helen Ball from the MNR Peterborough office. Over the past 5 seasons, I have coordinated the collection and submission of data collected from the angling team, and assisted Mark with the analysis of this data. I am currently working with Mark on a digital mapping of the data collected from this project. I also had the opportunity to work with MNR Biologist, Stefan Romberg from the MNR Aurora office, and fisheries PHD student Mike Butler on netting studies done in the Osler Marsh.

Mike Butler (left), Stefan Romberg (middle), and Steve Wickens (right)

PIT (Passive Integrated Transponder) Tag, Floys / T-Tag (yellow), and Injector Syringe (with a dime for scale)

Steve Wickens injects a PIT Tag into the throat area of a muskie

A Floys Tag at the base of the back dorsal fin (left) Steve Wickens scans a muskie for a PIT Tag (right)

PIT tags will be found either in the left cheek of the muskie, or throat area, but can only be verified
with a special scanning wand, or by killing the fish. (Please don't kill the fish just to check for a tag!)

Older style M.N.R. flat plastic tags (yellow or white) may be found in the back of larger fish in front
of the dorsal fin. These will likely be covered in a ball of algae and weeds. Gently clean this off, and
record the tag number... but please DON'T remove the tag!

Beginning in 2001, some muskies may have a yellow Floys (also called spaghetti, garment or "T")
tag in the back portion of the dorsal fin. These tags will have each have a unique number...
but please DON'T remove the tag!