A New Aid to Identify Lake Superior Steelhead
MNSGs “Know the Fish. Know the Regs.” decal is a handy visual aid that anglers fishing in Minnesota's portion of Lake Superior can use to easily identify Steelhead.
The decal was developed by MNSG with input from members of the Minnesota Steelheader and Minnesota Trout Unlimited organizations and staff from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Lake Superior Area Fisheries Office. The fish illustrations are by Joseph Tomelleri, a well-known and nationally acclaimed fish illustrator.
Protecting wild Steelhead
Harvesting wild Steelhead in Minnesota’s portion of Lake Superior is presently illegal because it is a catch-and-release-only fishery.
Wild Steelhead can be identified by having an intact adipose fin, which is the small fleshy fin just behind the dorsal fin.
The catch-and-release regulation was implemented in 1997 by MNDNR to protect wild Steelhead and allow them to spawn in an attempt to increase their abundance. The regulation has been successful in stopping the decline of Steelhead and increasing abundance over the pre-regulation period in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
“Even though the catch-and-release Steelhead regulation has been in place for over 25 years, many anglers still misidentify and inadvertently harvest Steelhead as reported by MNDNR creel survey clerks and conservation officers,” said MNSG Fisheries Specialist and retired MNDNR Lake Superior Fisheries Manager Don Schreiner. “We wanted to develop a tool that is readily available while on the water to protect wild steelhead from unintended and/or illegal harvest.”
Angler Input
MNSG’s project was launched and the decals were distributed as a pilot project in spring 2022. To date MNSG has received positive comments on the usefulness of the decal from stream anglers, boat anglers, fisheries managers and conservation officers. The decal can be attached to a boat, tackle box, lunch box, backpack or any other surface so it is readily available to the angler while on the lake or stream. Several anglers requested that MNSG make the decal graphic available in a digital format for use on their cell phones.
"Partnering with Minnesota Sea Grant, Lake Superior angling organizations and the Minnesota DNR to help design and distribute the decals, and
"Partnering with Minnesota Sea Grant, Lake Superior angling organizations and the Minnesota DNR to help design and distribute the decals, and the availability of a digital version on the MNSG website, should help ensure the continued successful rehabilitation of wild Steelhead in Minnesota’s portion of Lake Superior,” said Davin Brandt, Minnesota Steelheader President.
In addition to informing anglers, MNSG anticipates that the decal will help educate the public about Lake Superior fishery resources.
How to Obtain a Decal
Digital Decal: Steelhead or Salmon? Which Did You Catch?
Hard Copy Decal: Order form. Anglers ordering a decal will be required to supply their contact information and agree to complete a very short, five minute survey at the end of the angling season. The survey will provide MNSG input on the value of the decal and determine if there is any interest in similar identification tools for other Lake Superior fish species. Decals are relatively expensive to produce and supplies are limited so please only request a decal if you actively fish Lake Superior and/or tributary streams or are interested in posting the decal as an educational resource. Only one decal per person and first come first served.
CONTACTS:
Don Schreiner, Fisheries Specialist, Minnesota Sea Grant, University of Minnesota and University of Minnesota Duluth, schr0941@d.umn.edu
Marie Thoms, communications manager, Minnesota Sea Grant, University of Minnesota and University of Minnesota Duluth. methoms@d.umn.edu