Biggest sturgeon

[ANYFISH]

Canopy Sam,

Instead of asking us your science questions could you answer some with some citied material to prove your ideas. Suckers and sturgeon will not have a noticable impact on walleye populations because the already low survival rate of fry and the standerd (yet naturally fluctuating) recrutment of young walleye. If you would like to find good answers to your questions call the Baudette area fisheries or the Ontario Ministry on Natural Resources and they have years of study already into the Lake Sturgeon. I to went to college for natural resources and feel that your education as a fisheries biologist should have kept you from making such a silly assumption that suckers and sturgeon could make any noticable impact. Sturgeon do spawn after walleye but they remain in rather deep (typical deeper that 10)water during the the walleyes spawn, helping to limit thier predation. Although some eggs are certainly eaten not enough to make an impact. Also sturgeon are very limited on thier reproduction and females in this system do not spawn until approx. 26 yrs of age and males 17 yrs, females also only spawn once every 5 or more years. So my theory is that the sturgeon population can not grow fast enough to have a sudden impact.

[PerchJrkr]

suckers spawn prior to walleye? is that why in may when the walleyes are done and back in the lakes im spearing thousands of suckers in small creeks and rivers?

[PerchJrkr]

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[ANYFISH]

My intentions were not to argue, but rather to give the best info I could at the time. I value any biologist opinions even if I disagree. I will recheck my info regarding sucker spawn but walleyes spawn around 47 degrees and suckers at a lower temp. And although you may spear or net them in May( assuming you spear early on in may), they may be resident suckers and/or may not be feeding.

I rechecked and stand corrected white sucker spawn around 50 degrees F and redhorse up to 60 degree's, sorry for mis information.

[CANOPY SAM]

Anyfish,

Thanks for the recommendations for accurate stats on the Rainy. I'm not at all offended by your comments above, except for maybe the "silly" part.

I simply opened by initiating a slightly seperate conversation about big sturgeon and their potential impact on the fishery. Even though I do know something about fisheries biology, I would never presume to be an expert - even with a college education.

I don't think this is the place to post a dissertation on the life-cycle of the Lake Sturgeon. I was only stimulating some conversation and seeking some insight and opinion.

You're certainly entitled to your opinion, and I'm entitled to mine. I wouldn't insult anyone simply for submitting their thoughts about an issue.

The fact is Lake of the Woods is a massive body of water. Most people don't even recognize just how big it is. As a whole waterway, in it's entirety, it stretches a couple hundred miles into Ontario Canada north, into Lake Winnipeg and on up to the Northwest, and through the Rainy River into Rainy Lake into Kettle Falls and on, and on, and on.

Can we really have any impact on a body of water this large? Can any one single species impact an ecosystem this large? Well, we've had a pretty significant impact on fishing grounds in the Oceans of the world over time. Lamprey eels nearly wiped out the Great Lakes fisheries years ago, and they continue to be a nuisance.

It's only conversation, something to think about. Thanks for your input though.

[Jarnotski]

Key word is "WE" have had a significant impact. There are numerous instances where we have tried to blame the lack of fish on other factors when I strongly believe we have more of an impact on the fisheries than the abundance of native species. I do agree that exotic species can drastically change any ecosystem, but when it comes to the king fish of minnesota (walleye) man can certainly play a big role in decreasing the fishery.