By STEWART A. MCFERRAN
Dan Sampson cares for Arctic grayling at the Oden State Fish Hatchery near Alanson. The grayling once thrived in Michigan streams but have been missing from the state’s fresh waters for nearly 100 years. The fish that traveled by plane from Alaska will be in quarantine until September.
Sampson, a MDNR Natural Resource Manager, says there are approximately 4,000 grayling, each about 6 inches long, at Oden. The quarantine ensures the Alaskan fish will not bring any invasive species into Michigan waters.
“These fish are extremely active, calm quickly after a disturbance, and are a blast to work with,” Sampson said.
He added that the grayling in his care are responsive to you when you walk into the room.
“They notice you very quickly and they try to move away,” he explained. “The fear factor is not overwhelming; they calm down fairly quickly and, if you throw feed in the water, within a few moments they calm down and start feeding.”
The goods on grayling
Preferring to dwell high in the water column, grayling eat zooplankton, aquatic matter and insects, and small crustaceans. Fishers love to catch and eat the iridescent fish with the large dorsal fins. Some say they taste similar to trout, with a whitefish’s flaky, tender texture. Perhaps that’s why grayling once played an important role in Michigan’s commercial fisheries.
The grayling is the most iconic native fish. (See “Cheers to fish restoration project and local distillery,” Freshwater Reporter, Nov. 13, 2019.) With an improved understanding of the grayling life cycle and habits, Sampson and Michigan State University researchers are working to reintroduce the grayling to cold Michigan streams. If this can be accomplished, the feat would signify improved environmental conditions in streams as well as represent a scientific win for the technicians and backers of the program. It would also thrill anglers.
In September, Sampson’s grayling will travel to the Upper Peninsula, where they will continue to grow and be expected to produce eggs. The eggs will be carefully placed in Northern Michigan streams offering the best chance of survival. Micro incubators will be used, as they are in Montana’s grayling program.
Grayling would be an excellent addition to any stream, not only because they are native, beautiful and well-behaved, but because they are celebrities. After all, they have a Michigan town and a U.S. Navy submarine (as well as three other Navy ships) named for them.
With unflagging enthusiasm, Sampson shared:
“It’s been exciting and an honor to get to work with them.”
According to Sampson, if you would like grayling in your stream, you may contact Ed Eisch, (231) 499-4118. Find out more about the grayling restoration project initiated by the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, the MDNR and 47 other partners, at: manisteefoundation.org/migrayling and on follow them on Facebook @MichiganGrayling.
