Doug Conroe. executive director of the Chautauqua Lake Association, said they were approached by Muskies Inc. Chapter 69 to assist with equipment and expertise to help the chapter move forward with their project. The project focuses on the significant loss of habitat in Bemus Bay and the need to do something to restore the fisheries in certain areas.

The project has previously been done successfully in Pennsylvania and it was suggested by the state Department of Environmental Conservation that the two organizations work together to attempt something similar.

Conroe said the wooden cribs will serve a few purposes.

“Number one, algae will attach to them and this provides food for the fish,” he said. “Specifically, there is food in algae that young fish feed on. The cribs will allow them the ability to swim in and out as well, and offer them protection against bigger, predator fish. Normally, there is shelter in bodies of water to provide this protection, but there is not in Bemus Bay.”

Chautauqua Lake Asosciation officials are pictured using one of the agency’s boats to install muskie cribs in Chautauqua Lake. Photos courtesy New York Muskie Inc. Chapter 69 Facebook page

The project is important for the area because of the economic impact that the fishing industry provides, Conroe said. The fishing industry is part of the economic support for the local area that Chautauqua Lake provides, and the decrease in fishing has had an impact on that, he said.

The cribs have been placed specifically in the south basin of Bemus Bay.

“The decrease in fishing in the south basin has put pressure on the north basin,” Conroe said. “The cribs should restore the habitats in the south basin and decrease the pressure in the north, to help renew the strong, local fishing industry.”

The cribs were placed at the end of May, at an approximate depth of 15 feet. This is a project that will not have an immediate effect, and will take a year or two to start seeing any impact.

“This is building the habitat for next year’s fishery,” Conroe said. “More cribs will be placed next year in the south basin. This is an ongoing, several year impact project.”

While the project has been completed successfully in Pennsylvania, Conroe said this is the first project of its kind in New York.

Phase two, which includes placing more cribs next year, has been planned out for next year, but the project has nothing planned beyond that point at this time. First, Conroe said they have to see how the current project works.

Conroe said the Chautauqua Lake Association was happy to be a part of the project.

“Local fishery has a big impact for the lake and we are proud to be a part of this project to enhance Bemus Bay, which follows along with our mission,” he said.