Walleye Girth

[Bassman09]

I heard a rumor that a lot of the walleyes in the protected slot are extremely skinny this summer. Is there any truth to this rumor?

[big musk411]

Here are a couple of ours from last week.

These are 23-24inch fish, very skinny in my opinion.

To compare, here is a fat 24 incher I caught elseware last fall

[Kyle Sandberg]

Granted, most summer fish are usually skinny. They get big in the fall because they put the feed bags on for winter and stay big in the winter because of low metabolism.

[big musk411]

I agree, its the only comparable pic I had. I stopped and fished on the whitefish chain on the way up and got a 23 that was way fatter, but no pic of that one. You are indeed correct that they get bigger in fall, but these URL walleyes are very skinny.

[MOBY RICHARD*]

Some times the males seem to have much larger heads ...have not kept track out of Red so don't know if it applies???

[Random guy]

Those are river fish. For some reason the river fish are starving out and refuse to move out to the lake. The boys at the DNR are even puzzled by this. The fish are running out of food and water but stay in the river. Funny thing is you can catch walleye within 50 yards of the lake and they are skinny, go out to the lake within 100 yards of the river and the fish are fat and healthy.

[Pikester]

That's bizarre. Must be afraid of all the big gators cruisin around, I would be.

[Bassman09]

So it's only the larger river walleyes that are super skinny. Does anyone know if these river eyes stay in the river all winter or do they leave when the water freezes? That is good news that the eyes found in the main lake are nice and fat. Also, what does everyone think about possibly increasing the protected slot to 19 inches like LOTW? I think this could help even out the size structure of the walleye population which will ensure good numbers of fish for years. Just wondering what everyone thought.

[ozzie]

I was wondering about that for the fact that in the winter all the fish are fat and healthy.....haven't been up in the summer to comment on the health of the fish but to go from what they are in the winter to that (picture) would be hard to believe!!

[Mike L]

Maybe the DNR should check for a "telephone" wire in the river.

[Desperado]

Easy explanation; it's the SEALS.

They have noticed the numbers gradually but steadily dwindlin' in their herd of crappies. They've come to realize that it's time to diversify; now that there's free range Walleyes to be had at just about every turn. But with any wild free-range population, Ya gotta round 'em up and corral 'em before you can start to herd 'em. The Seals must have just begun Walleye round ups this summer; seems ta be their corralin' 'em in the river.

[IBTanin]

hoping not to sound dumb but what is SEALS?

[Desperado]

Everything you ever wanted to know (probably more than your ever wanted to know) about the Red Lake Seals

http://www.fishingminnesota.com/forum/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB23&Number=1040413&Forum=f23&Words=seals&Searchpage=0&Limit=25&Main=1040413&Search=true&where=bodysub&Name=&daterange=1&newerval=1&newertype=y&olderval=&oldertype=&bodyprev=#Post1040413

[Pikester]

Oh Ohhh, seal talk? Must mean ice is right around the corner!!! Bring it on~~~