Walleye numbers look good!

[MN BassFisher]

I read some good news this morning about the Walleye population in Vermilion. Here is a link to the story from the Timberjay:

"Walleye Numbers 'Exceptionally Strong'"

Marshall Helmberger

Posted 3/30/16

LAKE VERMILION— While some of Minnesota’s premier walleye lakes are struggling to maintain healthy fish numbers, Lake Vermilion’s walleye population remains exceptionally strong, according to the latest management report issued by the Department of Natural Resources. Test-netting completed last fall by Tower fisheries staff recorded an average of 19.1 walleye per net, the third-highest average recorded in over thirty years.

And for the first time in many years, walleye numbers on the west end actually outpaced those in the eastern basin, thanks in large part to strong walleye numbers in places like Niles Bay.

“That’s very good news,” said Eric Hanson, with Pehrson Lodge, located on the west end of Vermilion. “That’s definitely what we want to hear.”

While the west end traditionally sees plenty of large walleye, resort owners and guides have been complaining for years that the number of “eater” sized fish was disappointing. But the latest numbers suggest anglers will have more success lakewide this year, thanks to an especially large 2012 year class, most of which should be running between 14 and 16 inches by this summer. That’s typically considered the sweet spot for eating-sized walleye.

“They should be perfect eaters this year,” said Cliff Wagenbach, a longtime fishing guide on Vermilion. “By this past fall, we saw a good share of that 2012 year class that we were keeping. A lot were 14 inches even then,” he said.

On the west end, the survey tallied 19.6 fish per net, which was the highest gillnet catch ever recorded in the basin. Fisheries staff recorded a total of 18.8 fish per net in the eastern basin.

The latest numbers reflect a sharp improvement over 2014, when the fall gillnet survey showed below average walleye numbers on the lake. But DNR fisheries staff said poor weather conditions hampered the 2014 survey, which likely accounted for the drop in numbers. In 2013, the walleye numbers were well above average, at nearly 18 fish per net, so this year’s report is more in line with previous surveys.

The results are likely to catch the attention of the state’s walleye anglers, many of whom were upset by the DNR’s recent decision to shift to catch-and-release only on Mille Lacs Lake for walleye for the upcoming season. The usual walleye hotspot has seen a sharp drop in walleye numbers in recent years and the DNR has been taking increasingly aggressive steps to reverse the decline.

Wagenbach said he expects the good news on Vermilion will likely prompt many walleye enthusiasts to bypass Mille Lacs this year. “I have a feeling that the Mille Lacs crew will show up here,” he said.

[SkunkedAgain]

As Cliff said, I guess that all of the traditional Mille Lacs tourists will be driving up to Vermilion this year. Anyway to suppress this article?!? 

Definitely good news though.

Edited March 31, 2016 by SkunkedAgain

[MN BassFisher]

@delcecchi Here is the netting/numbers that were being referred to.

[delcecchi]

Where?  

[MN BassFisher]

10 hours ago, delcecchi said:

Where?  

Scroll to the top of this post.

Or go here: "Walleye Numbers Exceptionally Strong"

[delcecchi]

9 minutes ago, MN BassFisher said:

Scroll to the top of this post.

Or go here: "Walleye Numbers Exceptionally Strong"

I saw that.  It was also in the report in the Sportsmans club newsletter from the DNR.   "places like Niles Bay".  I had been hoping someone would find the raw data or data by bay rather than the averages published in the reports and articles.   And I suppose head-o-lakes got stuck in just to pull my chain. 

Maybe I need to make a Freedom of Information act request....

I wonder if they would show me if i went to the office in Tower? 

[Cliff Wagenbach]

Del,

I think that if you went to the DNR office in Tower they would show you any data that they have.

Cliff

[delcecchi]

I think so too.   This summer, I think I will give them a call and see what I can work out.   I always get frustrated reading the state of fishery report when they lump the netting reports together for the two ends.