Field Notes: Fisheries Work in the Field

Some of the most rewarding parts of wildlife biology happen out in the field.

While working with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, I had the opportunity to assist with fisheries surveys targeting species like lake sturgeon and catfish using set lines. Work like this helps biologists better understand fish populations, habitat conditions, and the overall health of our waterways.

A lot of the work starts long before any fish are actually brought up. I helped build and prepare the set lines, baiting hundreds of hooks before they were set in the river. In total, there were around 500 hooks per set, split between two boat teams. It took time and coordination to get everything prepared and deployed properly.

Different bait sources were tested to see what produced the best results, and part of the process was simply learning what worked and what didn’t.

When the lines were pulled the following day, it was always a bit of a surprise to see what was on the other end. Some days it meant pulling up impressive catfish that reminded you just how much life exists beneath the surface of our rivers.

One detail I’ll never forget was how warm the water could get in the summer. We baited the lines with raw shrimp, and when the lines were pulled the next day the shrimp had already started turning pink from sitting in the warm river overnight.

Experiences like that are a reminder that field work is rarely predictable. There is always something new to observe, adjust, or learn.

The more we understand the systems we’re working within, the better decisions we can make to conserve and sustain them.

That same philosophy carries into everything we do at Tip of the Spear Outdoors.