Pike River Hatchery

[SkunkedAgain]

There are two main spawning spots on Vermilion that I know of. I'm near the one on the west end of Vermilion. The walleye haven't been as good on this end yet they don't pull any fish out from here. They've been pulling walleye out of the east end spawning spot in Pike Bay, and for some reason walleye have been doing better over there.

 

I have no doubt that there are many variables that go into the equation, but you can't ignore that the end they put the 10% back into has been doing better than the one where they leave it alone.

[mbeyer]

Article in recent The Timberjay explaining breakdown of where the eggs are going....

[Cliff Wagenbach]

I just returned from the hatchery and got a few stats on this springs catch.

Total eggs taken this spring is 708 quarts which was their quota wanted this year. Normal yearly quota is 850 qts. to 900 qts. Nets were pulled as soon as their quota was met, but the walleyes were still running well and probably spawned below the dam naturally.

There are about 100,000 eggs per quart and the average fry hatch rate in the hatchery is 75% to 80%!  Natural hatch rate for eggs is only about 2% to 3% in the lake!

Actual survival rate of all fry is highly dependent on water temps during the spring and summer, (the warmer-the better)! Predators also play a huge role in survival rate. Predators of the fry range from zooplankton to any thing else that wants to eat them!

There were 5,500 male walleyes trapped and 2,000 female walleyes trapped before the trap nets were pulled.

The eggs are hatching much slower this spring because the water temps have dropped from 53 degrees at the start of the trapping to 39 degrees this morning.

Fry release into Vermilion is estimated to happen at around the walleye fishing opener this year because of the late hatch and water temps.

Largest female trapped this spring was 32 inches!

Cliff

 

 

[Wheres_Walter]

Assuming the ratios given to Cliff by the hatchery are accurate, then:

 

With Hatchery:  708 quarts X 100,000 eggs is 70,800,000 eggs.  Survival rate is (low end) 75%, so total fry is 53,100,000.  If 10% go back into Vermilion, that's net +5,310,000 new fry this year.

 

Natural reproduction:  70,800,000 eggs at 3% (high end) survival rate would be net +2,124,000 for vermilion this year.

 

5,310,000/2,124,000 is 2.5X the walleye fry in vermilion this year compared to natural reproduction.

 

I'd take a 250% return on pretty much anything!  

 

Ancillary benefit is +47,790,000 fry to other MN waters.  

 

I'm sure there's a downside, but I can't see it. 

 

[Cliff Wagenbach]

The walleyes that spawn at the Pike River dam are supposedly only about 5% to 8% of the walleyes that spawn on Vermilion.

The rest spawn in other rivers, creeks, reefs. and  on shorelines.

Cliff

 

[JerkinLips]

Cliff - why do they quit taking spawn when they haven't filled up to capacity, and the spawn is still active?  Years ago my dad was convinced that the DNR took adult walleyes out of Vermilion and transferred them to other lakes; do you think that ever occurred?  The hatchery is beneficial to Vermilion and other lakes, but why do they plant fry in lakes where they have no chance of reproducing?  Aren't there enough lakes where they can reproduce to some extent to plant them in?

[trolloni]

True north, head true west on vermillion and find out for yourself how strong the walleye population is !! DNR stats and numbers are meaningless on that end ,and it is a shame! trolloni is short hand for TROLL ONLY to catch fish.

[Cliff Wagenbach]

I have also heard the rumors that the DNR removed adult fish to plant into other lake years ago. I heard that a few locals had gone as far as to threaten to dynamite the Pike River Dam if that practice did not stop!  I have never heard any proof either way on that report.

I assume that fry are planted into lakes that they cannot reproduce in to give fishermen in the area of those lakes the chance to fish for walleyes. Most lakes that the walleyes can reproduce in naturally usually do not require yearly planting to maintain a fishable walleye population.

The DNR quit milking walleyes early because they had no demand for fry elsewhere in the state.

They very seldom try to fill all of the egg batteries in the hatchery anyway.

Cliff

 

[TrueNorth]

Good Stuff Cliff!  Always appreciate your input.  

[guideman]

Cliff's point about the spawn are true, more Walleyes spawn out in the basin and in other locations on the lake than in Pike bay which represents about 5% of the total eastern basin spawn. That means that all of the spawning Walleyes on the west end are unaffected by the hatchery on Pike bay.  Years of over fishing and stocking freezers has had more effect on Walleyes on the west end than the Pike river hatchery has. The DNR test nets in the fall showed Walleye on Lake Vermilion are well over the state average on both ends of the lake and the numbers have improved on the west end over the last few years. So don't blame the DNR if you are struggling to catch Walleyes. Stop fishing your memories and try something new, either location or presentation, because the fish are there.  I have been fishing Vermilion for almost 50 years now and in my humble opinion the Walleye fishing has never been better than it is right now. Ad to that a world class Muskie fishery, giant Pike, excellent Bass fishing (Both species) jumbo Perch, panfish and the shear Beauty of Lake Vermilion. What is there to complain about?  Count your blessing Vermilion anglers because it doesn't get any better than this. JMHO.