Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Fisheries Research Report No.1885, 1980
Reproduction of Planted Lake Trout in Lake Michigan
Wilbert C. Wagner
Abstract.-Although lake trout planted in Lake Michigan survive well and many spawn, there has been little evidence of successful reproduction except for the capture of a few sac fry in a power plant intake. To determine if other reproduction occurred, I examined eight natural reefs and three artificial structures in northeastern Lake Michigan in 1973-1979. I used pumps, a beam trawl, and emergent fry traps to sample for eggs and/or fry. A few viable eggs were found on three of the natural reefs and many were collected from the artificial structures. Fry were not found on the natural reefs and one artificial structure; they were rare on one artificial structure and very abundant on another. The fry collected were 24-36 mm (TL) long.