Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Fisheries Research Report No.1899, 1981
Trout of Newton Creek, Clark County, Michigan: A Transitional Zone Trout Stream
Gaylord R. Alexander and Donald R. Peterson
Abstract.-In Newton Creek, a central Michigan cold-water stream, the vital statistics of the trout population were measured in relation to habitat, trout stocking, and changing angling regulations. The trout population was found to consist of 88% wild brown trout, 11% hatchery brown trout, and 1% wild brook trout. The level of the stock of wild brown trout was much lower than the average found in other Michigan streams; it ranked only at the twenty-seventh percentile. Survival and growth rates of wild brown trout were similar to those measured for other streams. Annual production of wild brown trout was 46 kg per hectare compared to an average of 82 kg per hectare for other Michigan wild brown trout populations.
The average annual survival rate of planted brown trout was about 16% compared to 34% for wild fish. Growth also was better for wild brown trout with fish attaining a length of about 430 mm at age VI compared to only 350 mm for planted fish. The planted fish increased the stock of age I and older fish by about 24% without adverse effects on growth or survival of wild fish. The brook trout stock was very small. A creel census of angling indicated brook trout were more vulnerable to fishermen than brown trout and that hatchery brown trout were more vulnerable than wild brown trout. More stringent angling regulations caused trout standing crops to average 70% larger. Annual trout production also increased by 56%. Apparently Newton Creek has a smaller than average trout population and production because of poor recruitment.