Chapter Meeting:  Coaster Brook Trout in Minnesota Waters of Lake Superior

Coasters are a unique migratory life-history form of Brook Trout native to Minnesota Waters of Lake Superior. Coasters can reach large sizes exceeding 20 inches and are highly prized by anglers. Coaster rehabilitation is a priority for the Minnesota DNR and a multitude of state, federal and tribal entities throughout Lake Superior. Migratory Fish Specialist Nick Peterson will present exciting new data collected about Coasters in Minnesota waters over the past decade and how it will support future research, management and rehabilitation efforts. Nick will also discuss volunteer angling opportunities and how anglers can contribute to Coaster research and management, and provide information that should help anglers find and catch Coasters on the North Shore of Lake Superior. 

Prior to Nick's presentation, Cory Goldsworthy, Supervisor of the DNR's Lake Superior Fisheries office, will provide a brief update about the upcoming revision of the Lake Superior Fish Management Plan

 

Nick grew up on a cattle and grain farm in central Iowa and lives in Hermantown, Minnesota with wife, Sarah, two boys, Beau and Boone, and two dogs, Ammo and Rookie. Nick attained a Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences from South Dakota State University (2009), and a Master of Science degree in Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences from Mississippi State University (2015). Nick currently works for Minnesota DNR's Lake Superior Area Fisheries in Duluth, where he focuses on management of Lake Superior’s migratory stream fisheries, including but not limited to Brook Trout (resident and coaster forms), Rainbow Trout (steelhead), and other salmonids. Hisy ongoing research projects involve: 1) movement and habitat use of Brook Trout and Steelhead in the Knife and Stewart River watersheds, 2) genetics of Steelhead and Coaster Brook Trout populations, 3) trophic dynamics and feeding ecology of salmonids in Minnesota waters of Lake Superior, 4) steelhead production and stocking program evaluations, and 5) potential impacts of Didymo to North Shore stream fisheries.