I tuned in to a repeat of the episode featuring Eric Haataja (sp?) fishing Milwaukee harbor for Lake Trout with Steve. While it was mentioned many times that these fish should be released, at no point was anything said about the fact that lake trout from Lake Michigan are listed on the WiDNR  site as being potentially contaminated with PCBs and fish over 30" should not be consumed! (source-Wisconsin DNR web site) This is a problem common to all the large predator species that live longer than a few years and consumption of any large, long lived species from Lk. Mich should be restricted or avoided. PCBs are cumulative and deposit in the fatty tissues of these fish. Because of the way fat is distributed in the salmonids it cannot be cut out like in some other species. Tom

Tom, I forwarded your feedback to North American Fisherman host and Fishing Club Executive Director Steve Pennaz. Here is his reply:

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Tom,

The issue of contamination is a topic that deserves more attention; one that certainly could have been covered within the show. We chose to focus on releasing the fish based on their growth potential for the simple fact I believe it (the argument) stood the best chance of enacting angler behavior changes. Releasing fish is a viable option for reducing the health impacts of consuming contaminated fish.

Thanks for watching the show -- and for sharing your feedback. I appreciate it greatly.

Steve Pennaz

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Good answer Steve! One bright spot is that much of the contamination has been removed (work is ongoing in Waukegan harbor. Thanks OMC) and the younger trout are much safer to eat. Selective harvest of an occasional fish should not be a problem, at least in aLk Mich. where the lakers seem to be rebounding nicely. Tom

Yes Releasing them is a viable option to the problem, as well as cleaning up the watershead and the lake so this doesn't continue!!!

I know this is slightly off-topic, but Crabtree Creek here in the area where I live is heavily contaminated with PCB's from way back when they had a factory that made electrical transformers upriver. Is there any public information one can find on how they're cleaning this up where you're that we could maybe pass on to our elected officials here to spur them into cleaning it up. I ask because not everyone here knows about the contamination in the rivers and how bad it is, and thus are still consuming what they catch. In fact, it's so bad I won't even wet my line in any part of Crabtree Creek!

Posted By Mr. Blank on 26 Jan 2012 07:25 PM
I know this is slightly off-topic, but Crabtree Creek here in the area where I live is heavily contaminated with PCB's from way back when they had a factory that made electrical transformers upriver. Is there any public information one can find on how they're cleaning this up where you're that we could maybe pass on to our elected officials here to spur them into cleaning it up. I ask because not everyone here knows about the contamination in the rivers and how bad it is, and thus are still consuming what they catch. In fact, it's so bad I won't even wet my line in any part of Crabtree Creek!

Contact your local DNR office and write a letter or two to your govenor!