Fisheries on Silver LakeDo you know what fish species live in Silver Lake? Got a big one and want to share pictures and story with others, let us know about it. Got a question about fishing in our lake, we'll try to help.
PLEASE FIND 2023 ANNUAL FISHING TOURNAMENT UNDER EVENTS - ENJOY! ********************************************
IT WAS THE 2ND ANNUAL KIDS FISHING TOURNAMENT ON JUNE 11, 2022 ... and what a day it was ........ A total of 28 kids and their families showed up bright and early at 8:00 a.m., prepared to fish! .... and fish they did .... followed by the weigh in with prizes awarded and a great lunch to enjoy and share their tales of how they caught their treasures!
Caden Bogard Hayden Schell
.... and they all fished ..... Thank you to Tom Thompson for organizing and carrying out this special day for these special Silver Lake Kids and families! These are the pictures we have - If you were part of this event and you have pictures, please do send so we can add. .......... and do plan ahead and get ready for next year`s annual event! ***********************************************************
2021 - Silver Lake Kids Fishing Tournament … and what a day it was! Bright and early on June 12th, free fishing weekend in Michigan, 20 kids and their families gathered at the boat launch to start the competition – and competition it was! Shouts of glee as fish were landed, large and small … all were saved. Then back to the landing for lauds of praise and prizes were rewarded to all for their efforts! Then to cap it off, they enjoyed a great lunch provided for them and an opportunity to share their fishing stories with each other – all agreed it had been a great time and definitely would want this to become an annual event on Silver Lake. Looking forward to an even greater event on free-fishing weekend in 2022, please do plan on participating, will send notices out in the spring.
Tom Thompon, Fisheries Committee Chair
Let us have a fishing contest on Silver Lake again!
Years ago, the SLIA sponsored a fishing tournament with great participation, especially amond the "Youngsters". (Please enjoy the above pics of the participants having a good time with these contests.) Over the years it fizzled out as these kids grew up. It seems like a good time to resurrect this popular event. We are looking at free fishing weekend next summer on June 13 or 14, 2020. The thought would be to have different divisions or age groups with appropriate prizes. I would appreciate replies from you indicating your interest in such an event, as I work on firming up the details over the winter in time to publish in the spring newsletter, gmail, and website. Contact Tom Thompsom, Fisheries Committee Chair via this website with your interest, suggestions, etc., and let us make it happen.
Fishing on Silver LakeThere`s something about a kid and a fishing pole!Caden Bogard, proudly sporting his Silver Lake Fishing hat from last summer ... "Sissy, I can`t play anymore right now - I`ve got to go with Grandpa and catch a "Big Fish" ... and HE DID!
Jack Eilers, 2 1/2 and Henry Wilson, 6 - both caught their very "first" fish while vacationing on Silver Lake, summer of 2018. They are proudly sporting Silver Lake hats for their efforts!
Fishing contest winners - bass are good!
Dad is holding, but I caught him! ^ This kid grew up but he is still at it!
It takes a pair! Wintertime is the best time ... 10# - 34" What a catch!
Ice Fishing - what a catch of perch! Memories of the way it was! (Pics taken from the memoirs of the Old Silver Lake Inn, eras 1930, 1940) _____________________________________________________________________________________
INFORMATION ON STOCKING, ETC. (History and Current)
• Fisheries Report 2015 - Scot Ogden reports that on April 24, 2015 the DNR planted 134,800 Walleye Fry into Silver lake, they were an average size of 0.2 inches. • On April 29, 2015 the DNR planted an additional 700 000 Walleye Fry, these Fry were an average size of 0.12 inches • On May 4, 2015 they planted an additional 350,000 Walleye Fry into Silver Lake, these Fry were an average size of 0.12 inches. The reason for this Fry planting was because they had a crop overage in their hatcheries in the spring. The next scheduled planting of Walleye Fingerlings into Silver Lake is scheduled for the spring of 2016. • Fisheries Report 2013 - Scot Ogden reports that on June 12, 2013, the DNR planted 30,414 Walleye Fingerlings into Silver Lake, the average size being 1.276 inches.
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Fishing Contests On Silver Lake Over the years, fishing contests for the kids have been sponsored by the SLIA. The kids who participated in the first contests have grown up, we hope they have fond memories of those times. Because of uncooperative weather on contest days, lack of participation or whatever else, the contests are not being held at this time, perhaps someone with a passion will step forward to volunteer their time to resurrect this fun event! For a trip down memory lane, see pictures of these contests on this website under newsletters. They can be found in August 2004 (the 1st contest), October 2007, October 2009, October 2010, October 2013, Fall 2014, Fall 2015, Fall 2016 - Enjoy! _________________________________________________________
FISH PASSAGE - RECENT UPDATE ON FISH PASSAGE PROJECT, 2008 - IT HAS BEEN DROPPED (See next paragraph for details) When recently asked about progress on the fish passage, Garfield Township Trustees indicated the project was dropped due to negative comments they had received. The Township has been advised of the pro fish passage sentiment expressed at the annual meeting. If you have an opinion about the fish passage, let Garfield Township know about it. E-mail of the Township Supervisor at garfield-twp.com Township mailing address is: Garfield Township, 3848 Veterans Drive, Traverse City, MI 49684. For some years now the possibility of opening a channel (fish passage) between Silver Lake and the pond north of the lake has been under discussion. The fish passage would re-establish a connection from the lake to the pond and provide spawning habitat for Northern Pike, Perch, Bluegills and Pumkinseeds. Development of the lakeshore has destroyed the natural spawning habitat. The following concerns have been expressed if a fish passage is established:
Our understanding of the status of the concerns is:
At the 2007 SLIA annual meeting a motion was unanimously passed (74 members present) asking the association board to encourage Garfield Township to proceed with investigation of the fish passage. Also at the 2007 annual meeting Todd Kalish, local DNR fisheries biologist, noted that DNR Fisheries Division was in favor of the fish passage as it would provide great spawning habitat. __________________________________________________________________________________________
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