Over the next couple of weeks a total of 36,000 Arlee rainbow trout will be stocked in the Sheboygan, Milwaukee and Kenosha harbors. This is part of a statewide experiment that will stock 72,000 fish from Kenosha to Door County. He noted that stocking the new fish would not replace or interfere with the established and popular trout and salmon fishery. The department currently stocks three stains of steelhead, along with brook and brown trout, chinook and coho salmon, and walleye in Lake Michigan. During the spring and fall, the trout and salmon we stock now provide good near shore fishing in Lake Michigan and its tributary streams.
Research shows that near shore fishing opportunities have declined over the past decade.
The cause, or causes, for this decline is not known, but state biologists speculate the dramatic increase in water clarity resulting from zebra mussels may be moving sport fish to deeper water. Coffaro said the Arlee stocking is experimental and will be closely monitored through creel surveys and other reports. He noted that the Arlee strain, while new to Wisconsin, has had good success in Illinois. It s a fast growing fish that can tolerate warmer water, is disease resistant and stays close to shore. During the week of April 23, both the Milwaukee and Kenosha harbors will receive 12,000 trout.