This extension publication intends to educate audiences on Lake Michigan ecosystem changes and their effect on target species such as salmon and trout. This may provide audiences with a better understanding on key management strategies (e.g., decreases in salmon stocking rates) used by state fisheries agencies. Additionally, an increased understanding of what salmon and trout are eating in Lake Michigan may help anglers better target these species, which may increase catch rates and overall enjoyment of fishing.

This document is available through the Purdue University Extension Education Store at https://edustore.purdue.edu/FNR-565-W.html

What are the most critical concerns facing Lake Michigan? The Great Lakes Regional Research and Information Network (GLRRIN) Lake Michigan team set out to answer this question by bringing together more than 50 government and academic researchers over several meetings to share what’s known, what isn’t, and what information would be most valuable to inform resource managers and others interested in the health of the lake.

Overview of funded research in Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant in 2016

Feature Headlines

• Indiana Seafood: Coming to a Restaurant Near You
• Cook County Critical Facilities have New Tool to Reduce Flood Impacts
• The Grand Cal Keeps Getting Better
• Medicines in Lake Michigan Impact Minnow Embryos
• New Research Projects Address Pollutants and Other Key Issues
• The Medicine Chest has a New Look and New Lessons

This website provides anglers on Lake Michigan with information about catch rates of rainbow trout, lake trout, Chinook salmon, brown trout, and Coho salmon over the past two decades.

For more detailed information, visit Lake Michigan Fish Atlas

A collection of activities connecting Great Lakes and ocean science topics to enhance teacher capabilities for accessing science information that is vital to maintaining the environmental health and economic benefits of our nation’s freshwater and marine systems.

Feature Headlines

• Communities Come to Life in Public Spaces
• Get the Scoop on Cleanup Projects with Great Lakes Mud
• Be a Hero is the Invasive Species Prevention Message in Illinois
• Dead Zone Data Helps Protect Vital Fishery
• Finding Where the Fish are Just Got Easier
• Swim Safe This Summer in Southern Lake Michigan Waters

Angler Archive provides easy access to long-term recreational fishing data collected in southern Lake Michigan. These data have been provided by the Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS) and Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). The Angler Archive allows you to explore trends in three recreational fisheries from the mid 1980s, filter and compare data by factors such as month, site, and target species, visualize the data in a number of different ways, and export charts and data table.

  For more detailed information, visit Angler Archive

Just as a gardener hopes that their scattered seeds will eventually bloom into a lush garden, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant awards Discovery Grants, or ‘seed’ grants, to a number of projects in the hopes that the initiatives will grow into something larger. This publication highlights research on stream water contamination, Asian carp, fish consumption safety, and more.