Fish
Cribs
Fish cribs are important to the fishery in that they provide good habitat for all levels of the water food chain; especially in the greater depths. Fish cribs are constructed by CLPA volunteers and later sink them in the water. The pallets are modified (slats removed), sized and piled (stacks of five) and banded (with plastic strapping).
The team that recently constructed cribs under the supervision of Don
Freeman consisted of Bob August, Jerry Zehner, Jeff Biesecker and Ron
Morrison. Fifty-seven cribs have been completed out of the total goal
of 150 cribs. It took nine men 56 hours to build them. A DNR requirement
specifies that there must be a minimum of eight feet of water over these
cribs. Therefore, they must be placed in a minimum of 12 feet of water.
The cribs must be transported by trailer to the launch site, loaded onto a work barge, have four cement blocks of 55 lbs. each attached to each crib with aluminum wire, then transported to the water location and sunk. Three sites have been selected and approved by the DNR for 2002 in Pokegama and Chetek Lakes.
Last fall and winter ninety six fish cribs were built by the Wisconsin Conservation Corp. The pallets were donated byExcel Energy and Image Plastics and the cement blocks were donated by County Concrete.
On June 5th 2002 48 cribs were put in Lake Chetek about 100 feet south
of Northland Resort.
On June 11th 2002 48 cribs were put in Pokegama Lake, 24 were placed at
the northwest corner and 24 at the southeast corner of Meadows Island.
Total cost for the 152 cribs put into the Chetek Chain in the last two
years was $1,295.49. With a total cost per crib of about $8.50. We have
enough strapping left for at least another 100 or more cribs.
On May 13th 2003 an additional 47 cribs were placed in Pokegama Lake on
the western edge of Hayes Bay. Since September 2000, 245 cribs have been
placed in the Chetek Chain.
All cribs are in 12 feet of water or more. The cribs were installed by
CLPA volunteers and the Wisconsin Conservation Corp. We have about 350
pallets the Corp will work to assemble this year for future installation.
"ADOPT" A FISH CRIB
The Chetek
Lakes Protection Association has started an adopt a fish crib program.
For $10.00 you can adopt a fish crib. Each crib will be numbered and you
will receive a certificate of appreciation. The certificate will have
your name, the date the crib was put in, the location and the number of
the crib. A neat gift idea or for yourself.
For more information or adoption contact
Don Freeman 715-924-3658
