Movements of Hatchery-Reared Lake Trout in Lake Superior

Abstract

The history of stocking of lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) in the Great Lakes is reviewed.The study of movements is based on capture of 24,275 fin-clipped lake trout taken in experimental gill nets and trawls and commercial gill nets.Yearling lake trout planted from shore dispersed to 15-fath (27-m) depths in [Formula: see text]. Most fish remained within 2 miles (3.2 km) of the planting site 2 months, but within 4 months some fish had moved as much as 17 miles (27 km). The highest abundance of planted lake trout was in areas 2–4 miles (3.2–6.4 km) from the planting site even 3 years after release. Distance moved and size of fish were not correlated.Dispersal of lake trout begins at planting and probably continues until the fish are mature. Most movement was eastward in southern Lake Superior and followed the counterclockwise surface currents. Movement is most rapid in areas of strong currents and slowest in areas of weak currents or eddies. Movement to areas west of the Keweenaw Peninsula was insignificant from plantings in Keweenaw Bay and nil from other plantings farther east. Lake trout planted in the eastern third of the lake dispersed more randomly than those planted farther west. Few fish moved farther offshore than the 50-fath (91-m) contour. Lake trout planted in Canadian waters made insignificant contributions to populations in US waters.