This year’s spawning run took place on January 14th. The Wisconsin DNR had a new system in place, whereby they would send you eggs from a state hatchery and take care of all the licensing paperwork too. The motivation for this change was due to TIC programs exploding in the state and therefore the need for a more streamlined and standardized procedure. Where was the challenge in that? No more driving around in the dark, during a snowstorm, in the backwoods of Frederic to collect eggs at 6 am. Instead, I waited in my warm house, cup of tea in hand, getting UPS updates, as the truck neared. The truck arrived at 10:30 a.m., just as they said they would.
The one challenge we did face was with a later start and getting the eggs to all eight classrooms before the end of the school day. However, like clockwork, my two newly enlisted Egg Runners appeared as the UPS truck left. Kiap-TU-Wish members Zak Trimble took the central core (River Falls and Ellsworth), Dustin Wing delivered the southern swing (Hudson and Prescott) and I headed out to the northern neighbors (Roberts and Amery). When the timing lined up, we were able to present the eggs to some very excited children. This year I did my homework beforehand, because I knew
I would be asked what the state record brown trout is (41 lbs from Lake Michigan). According to the hatchery manager, the trout should hatch within a week!
Stay tuned for further updates and opportunities to help with Bugs in the Classroom, Rocky Branch Eco Day, and the trout releases at Willow River State Park, all coming up this spring. —Greg Olson
