Twenty-three down, 377 to go.

The Department of Natural Resources is reporting this week that 23 of 400 electronically tagged walleyes released in lakes Huron and Erie in the spring have been caught. Biologists inserted special transmitters into the fish in an experiment to discover more about their migratory patterns, which could then lead to better management of the walleye population.

Getting caught is tough on the fish, but it's great for the anglers who get not only a walleye dinner but a $100 reward for returning the transmitters to the DNR.

"So far we've determined that 12 of the fish were caught in Lake Erie and 10 from the Saginaw Bay area of Lake Huron," DNR biologist Dave Fielder said. "And one of the Lake Huron fish was caught just off of St. Ignace, in the Upper Peninsula. That's a long way to swim; the distance they can cover in a short time amazes me."

According to the DNR, each transmitter broadcasts a frequency special to that particular fish.

The state has planted 160 audio receivers in the lakes, and anytime a tagged walleye swims within a half-mile of the receiver, its frequency is recorded.

"The real fun will begin the second week of July when we raise the receivers, download information to computers, change the batteries and re-establish them on the bottom of the lakes," Fielder said. "The big question is to find out how many of those fish were outside of the areas where they were released. We're not only interested in numbers, but timing of any migration, which can lead to all other kinds of biological clues."

According to the DNR, some walleyes migrate while others don't.

"We just don't know why," Fielder said. "Maybe it's due to water temperatures (walleyes like temperatures in the upper 50s to mid-60s), or maybe it's due to crowding or the availability of food."

According to DNR biologist Chris Holbrook, fishermen have been good about mailing in the special transmitters.

"Anglers are always excited to catch a fish, but to get a $100 reward makes it even better," Holbrook said. "Fishermen hook a fish, see the special tag and call. We send them a pre-stamped, pre-addressed envelope, and they mail the transmitter to us.

"Then we send them a check for $100."

DNR receptionist Cathy Jones deals firsthand with the fishermen, taking down information on the who, what, when and where of each high-tech catch.

"So far, no one has offered me a whopper fish story," Jones said. "Although I did have one guy who said he hadn't caught one of the special walleyes yet, but he was sure he was going to. He just wanted us to be ready for his call … we are."

Anglers who catch the marked walleye can call (989) 734-4768 from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays. Other times, leave a message at ext. 111.

tgreenwood@detnews.com

(313) 222-2023