Indiana DNR Asking for Help Gathering Information on Wabash River

[Fishaholic]

Just in from the DNR:

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources is conducting a 2-year survey of
tagged catfish and sturgeon in the Wabash River. DNR employees, or creel
clerks, will be counting and interviewing anglers and commercial fisherman
along the river to gather information on boating, fishing and life histories
of catfish and sturgeon.

In April, biologists began the catfish-tagging project to run simultaneously
with a shovelnose sturgeon project already underway. The concurrent surveys
will enable biologists to fill in gaps of information otherwise impossible
to obtain.  This information will help determine the recreational use and
most sought species of the Wabash River, allowing biologists to better
manage the river.  The project will also help biologists estimate the
economic value of the river, in the event of a major fish kill.

Creel clerks began interviewing from the mouth of the Wabash up to Covington
in April and will continue through the end of October 2005. Counts and
interviews will resume in 2006, covering Terre Haute to Logansport.

This effort covers 357 miles of the Wabash and is the first recreational
survey of the river from Logansport downstream. The catfish project is a
joint effort by the Indiana and Illinois DNR's, Purdue University and
Southern Illinois University. The shovelnose sturgeon survey is a
cooperative effort by the Indiana and Illinois DNR's and Purdue University.

Anglers and commercial fisherman along the Wabash River are asked to help in
the survey by participating in the interviews when approached by the creel
clerks. However, anglers will need to turn in the tags themselves.

Tags for fish that are kept should be mailed to Big Rivers Fisheries
Program, 2310 E St. Rd 364, Winslow, IN 47598.

If the fish is returned to the river, the tag should be left on the fish and
the tag number recorded. Anglers may mail the tag number to the same address
or call 812-789-2724 and ask for Tom or Kirk.

For more information, contact Bob Ball or Kevin Hoffman at 812-279-1215

[bassmaster135]

Nice to see that people care about the ster