06-18-2003, 12:54 AM
Minnesota Angler Lands Computerized Laker
DULUTH, MN--Larry Mattson thought the lake trout he caught recently in Lake Superior looked like any other--until he cut open its belly and found a small computer inside. Amazed by his find, Mattson called a phone number on a tag on the fish's back.
That made fisheries biologist Bill Mattes very happy.
As it turns out, the laker was one of 124 the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission captured and fitted with data-recording computers in November 2001. Mattes says the computer from Mattson's fish was only the eighth returned so far.
Mattes recovered 19 months of data from the computer, which had been recording the fish's depth and water temperature every 15 seconds. The data will tell researchers what kind of water lake trout prefer. The most amazing aspect of Mattson's catch, however, was that he caught the laker 150 miles from where it was originally netted.
The trout originally were caught in nets in Lake Superior's Traverse Bay, on the east side of Upper Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula.
They were anesthetized, and then fish surgeons made a small incision near each trout's stomach. Computers were placed inside, and the fish were sutured and released into recovery tanks until the anesthetic wore off. Then they were set free in the lake.
Of the eight computer-fitted trout caught and returned, five were from commercial netters and three came from sport anglers.
Most were caught within five miles of where they were netted, but one fish swam all the way to Ontario.
Mattson's fish swam more than 150 miles-to the western end of Lake Superior, sometimes reaching depths of 400 feet.
The project was funded with a $55,000 grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Mattson got a $100 reward for returning the computer.
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DULUTH, MN--Larry Mattson thought the lake trout he caught recently in Lake Superior looked like any other--until he cut open its belly and found a small computer inside. Amazed by his find, Mattson called a phone number on a tag on the fish's back.
That made fisheries biologist Bill Mattes very happy.
As it turns out, the laker was one of 124 the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission captured and fitted with data-recording computers in November 2001. Mattes says the computer from Mattson's fish was only the eighth returned so far.
Mattes recovered 19 months of data from the computer, which had been recording the fish's depth and water temperature every 15 seconds. The data will tell researchers what kind of water lake trout prefer. The most amazing aspect of Mattson's catch, however, was that he caught the laker 150 miles from where it was originally netted.
The trout originally were caught in nets in Lake Superior's Traverse Bay, on the east side of Upper Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula.
They were anesthetized, and then fish surgeons made a small incision near each trout's stomach. Computers were placed inside, and the fish were sutured and released into recovery tanks until the anesthetic wore off. Then they were set free in the lake.
Of the eight computer-fitted trout caught and returned, five were from commercial netters and three came from sport anglers.
Most were caught within five miles of where they were netted, but one fish swam all the way to Ontario.
Mattson's fish swam more than 150 miles-to the western end of Lake Superior, sometimes reaching depths of 400 feet.
The project was funded with a $55,000 grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Mattson got a $100 reward for returning the computer.
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