Waterflea bloom may help young alewives, perch
Charter boats struggling with slow business

Brian Mulherin - Daily News Staff Writer

Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Things have been very rough for Ludington area charter boat captains this summer, but one of the problems they’re facing right now could have a big silver lining.

Since the beginning of July, spiny waterfleas have been ridiculously abundant in Lake Michigan. The fleas stick to fishing lines and form long, meaty strips on fishing line, making it nearly impossible to reel in a fish.

Michigan Department of Natural Resources Biologist Tom Rozich said the bothersome zooplankton may be a sign of good things to come.

Rozich predicted after the June 12-13 storms that all the nutrients washed into the lake from the flooding and the City of Ludington’s sewage leak would help the zooplankton population in Lake Michigan. Zooplankton are vital to the food web in the lake and are the primary forage for young perch and alewives.

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