Lamprey wanted for research project

By DENNIS APRILL, Outdoors Columnist

Anglers are being asked to bring in any sea lamprey they find during this weekend’s Rotary International Fishing Derby on Lake Champlain. Some of these lamprey may have wire-coded implants, inserted by researchers last fall, that will help track their movements in the lake.

"This kind of data will help complete the picture of what we know about lamprey," says Mark Malchoff, the coordinator of the Lake Champlain Sea Grant research project. "The more that is known, the better scientists and managers can utilize current control technology, or devise new methods."

"Of particular interest," Malchoff adds, "is the question of cross basin movement. The scientists want to know if lamprey spawned in a tributary of the main lake, for example, end up living in the northeast arm, or the south lake, or Malletts Bay."

The thin coded wire implant is not visible and can only be found by a researcher, so anglers are asked to bring in all lampreys they can locate to any of the following locations:

• Richards Bait and Tackle, 71 Johnson Ave., Plattsburgh

• Peru Bait and Tackle, 56 Mannix Rd., Peru

• Champlain angler, 1106 Station Rd., Willsboro

• Westport Marina, One Washington Street

• Norm’s Bait and Tackle, Lake Champlain Bridge Rd., Crown Point