History of the Fishes of the Bois Brule River System, Wisconsin, with Emphasis onthe Salmonids and Their Management

摘要

The Bois Brule River in Douglas County is one of Wisconsin's largest, best known,and most intensively studied trout streams. A diverse fish fauna of at least 63 species (11 of which are exotic, plus one cultured hybrid) has been collected from the watershed. However, only 21 are coldwater, riverine species with viable populations; the remainder are either lentic, warmwater forms found in lakes Minnesuing and Nebagamon, are Lake Superior species that only occasionally enter the lower river, or are locally rare. The fish fauna has been profoundly altered by species introduced both intentionally and accidentally, and by control efforts directed at the exotic sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus), which have caused severe density and distribution reductions in two species of native lampreys. Once sustaining a population of native brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) as the only angling target, the river now provides angling opportunities for four species of exotic salmonids as well.