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Fish Culture and Aquatic Research Center
at the Muller Field Station 

Great strides continue to be made at the Aquatic Research Center at the south end of Honeoye Lake.  There is now a temporary fish culture facility in the garage at the Field Station.  The new ponds are now full and ready for the walleye fingerling project. 

John Foust of FLCC conducted a two year walleye research project to determine if there has been any successful or attempted natural reproduction of walleye in the Honeoye Lake watershed.  This spring the students have placed a trap net in the Honeoye Inlet at the Muller Field Station.  The trap net does not harm the fish in any manner.  The fish are brought to shore where they are measured, marked (fin clipped), and their sex is determined. 

The “ripe” fish will be stripped of eggs or milt and then released back into the Inlet.  The temporary fish culture center will be used to teach how the eggs develop into fry.  The fry will then be released either into Honeoye Lake or placed in the fish culture ponds to grow to fingerlings.  The ponds and pond water control structures were constructed in a cooperative effort with the NYSDEC. 

Along with the walleye, two northern pike and several pickerel were found during the trap net process which may come as a surprise to many people.  One of the northerns weighted in at 22 pounds. 

It is exciting to have this facility in our watershed.  The Field Station and Fish Culture Center will be periodically open for public tours and mini-classes.  Watch for announcements in local papers or at www.hvaweb.org.

Click on any of the images to see a larger version

FLCC Intern Chris Devanzo and Bill Hershey with Bill's son at the Muller Field Station	Steve Connelly holds 22# Northern Pike caught in Honeoye Inlet - Spring 2004	One of the newly constructed ponds that will be used for Walleye development at the Muller Fish Culture Center	Bill Hershey (FLCC student & Canadice resident) in Muller Fish Culture Center	FLCC faculty and students recording Walleye data at Muller Field Station
Steve Connelly, FLCC Conservationist, discussing Walleye research at Muller Fish Culture Center	FLCC faculty and students recording Walleye data at Muller Field Station	Female walleye being stripped of eggs at Fish Culture Center to be used for developing fry and fingerlings for Walleye stocking program (Walleyes do not reproduce naturally in Honeoye Lake)	John Foust (FLCC) showing antennae on Walleye that has implanted radio transmitter as part of John's Honeoye Walleye research project	Bill Hershey's sons learning from FLCC intern, Chris Devanzo