2023 Annual Meeting Summary

WAPOA  President Tony Coffey welcomed the group, outlining some of the activities the organization has been involved in over the past year. He emphasized that our projects take place all over the Pine River Watershed, not just the Whitefish Chain. In 2023 these have included completing water quality testing of 43 area lake and stream sites; completed nine shoreline restoration projects; held a tree sale with planting to benefit area waters; worked with area students to teach them watershed lessons; and collaborated with the County Soil and Water Conservation District, the National Loon Center and more. The resulting impacts of WAPOA’s efforts were:

MAINTAINED AND IMPROVING WATER QUALITY
MAINTAINED VIABLE BOATING, SWIMMING, AND WATER SPORTS
MAINTAINED AND POTENTIALLY INCREASED SHORELAND
IMPROVED WILDLIFE AND FISH HABITAT
INCREASED PROPERTY VALUES

President Tony also reviewed the 2022 year-end Financial Report.  When asked how much was spent on AIS prevention – the answer was $60,000 on inspections, and $10,000 on Landing Surveys by PLM. Elections were conducted:  Tony Coffey was re-elected as President; Anne Mootz was elected as Treasurer; Kristie Roedl and Patty Norgaard were re-elected as Directors.  Tom Paulbeck was recognized for his outstanding job as the previous WAPOA Treasurer.

Tony thanked our WAPOA partners, exhibitors at the meeting, current and past board members, the WAPOA volunteers and most importantly the WAPOA members!  He suggested ways to get involved and volunteer to support WAPOA and our mission:

·         Volunteer As a Water Quality Testing Volunteer
·         Become An AIS Inspector at Local Landings
·         Evaluate Your Shoreline’s Effect on Water Quality
·         Join a WAPOA Strategy Group

Would you like to get involved by volunteering? Are you a member? Contact us at wapoamn@gmail.com .

The business meeting was adjourned, followed by three guest speakers.

Sarah Fogerud, Owner and Client Services Manager, AW Research Labs presented an update on WAPOA’s water quality testing program, and what we can do to protect the lakes. She stated that over the past 20 years, 40% of area lakes are improving in quality, 16% are decreasing, and 44% show no trend in the water quality data. She summarized the overall threats to water quality as Shoreland Development, Nutrient Input from the watershed, Aquatic Invasive Species, and Shoreline Practices.  She reviewed things we can control to protect control water quality.  Some ways to do this are to keep yard grass longer (2.5-3.5”) to allow deeper roots and better filtration, stop/reduce use of fertilizers (especially those that contain phosphorus); grow a buffer zone along the shore by not mowing, planting native plants and grasses- keep it natural!; control run-off by limiting impervious surfaces, install rain gardens and meandering walk-ways, use porous/permeable paving materials; and be sure the septic system is properly sized, and have the it pumped and inspected by a licensed provider every 3-5 years.

Michel Knapp, AREA Fisheries Manager, MN DNR was the second speaker. He answered the question- What Does the MN Fisheries Do?  They manage fish!  - through programs like stocking, surveys, regulations (seasons, bag limits/ length restrictions, gear restrictions, and habitat management and protection). 

He talked about the walleye “egg-take/stripping” operation on Upper Whitefish and the gill netting they do to evaluate walleye populations and sizes.  He said the egg take does not harm the fish. They take about 80% of the eggs from up to 91% of the females captured. The fish are tagged, so they can carefully monitor the number that are recaptured every year.  About 32-43 are recaptured yearly; 6 were recaptured every year for 6 years.  About 5 million fry go back into Whitefish every year – it is the most heavily stocked lake in MN.  They will do another Creel survey in 2024. 

You can help the survey team by noting when you start fishing, what you catch - when and where, the number/type you release, and be courteous to the survey team.  Then, share this information with the survey team. They have found that the walleyes on Whitefish are well-fed, but that anglers are not catching the adults.

The next speaker was Marv Koep, a well-known fishing guide. He told us personal fishing tales from his times as a guide.  He said that “in the 60s, Whitefish was the lake to go to” to fish for walleye. The day before he spoke at the WAPOA meeting they caught four (4) in 4 hours of fishing. In the 60’s -80’s they usually caught 12 walleyes per trip. 

Marv said that anglers now use locators, monofilament line, leeches and night crawlers, not used in the past.  Also, there are not many small fishing boats anymore. And there is more “catch and release” happening. Most anglers keep the walleyes and throw back the bass.   He told us that if a fish is bleeding (from being caught) it won’t survive. Most anglers keep the walleyes and throw back the bass. 

He’s noticed that the number of people fishing regularly has decreased. Now there are fishing tournaments (with more released fish, with low survival rates), lots of new technology; and this technology has reduced the fishing challenge.  “We used to fish for a meal, now it’s a sport!”  He used to charge $20 for two people for a half-day fishing trip; now the going cost is $450 per for four hours of fishing.

He answered some questions from the audience:  When asked about size, he replied that the largest walleye ever caught was thirteen pounds (on Pelican Lake).  He has caught a ten pounder!  When asked about muskie - he thought it would be okay to stock muskies in Whitefish.  Michael Knapp commented that “it would be a process”.   He was also asked about where to fish- he said you can fish above and below the dam and upstream in the Pine River.  He also replied that “rearing ponds” are used throughout the county, and some of these fish go into the Whitefish chain in the fall.