Anglers fishing the Muskegon River from Croton Dam to its Lake Michigan outlet this fall could see lake whitefish wearing compact sound tags and listening units set in the channel. State wildlife staff and partners are checking whether such rivers might serve as extra spawning sites for the native species, whose numbers in Lakes Michigan and Huron have fallen sharply since the 1990s.

People who catch a tagged fish should return it alive when they can and contact Scott Heintzelman at 231-433-9782 or Matt Herbert at 517-316-2283 if they keep one or spot damaged gear; they should leave the listening units unmoved. Adults will be marked this November near the back fin and released in a joint project with tribal nations and Grand Valley State University that aims to restart historic river spawning so young fish find more food.