Do stocked walleyes attempt to spawn in lakes with no natural reproduction?

[AaronTC05]

I'm not a biologist by any means, but I'm thinking they still want to reproduce (and possibly try) right?  Or does the biological make up of the lake cause them to not even bother to try?  Is it a case of limited breading areas in the lake, in addition to the chemical makeup, predators, etc..?

I'm guessing they just try and aren't successful.  Are there any anecdotes from spring pan-fisherman of seeing/catching walleyes in the shallows during typical spawning time (theoretically before the walleye opener happens)?  

Thoughts?

[Rodbldr4fun]

It is a matter of appropriate spawning habitat (substrate).  Some lakes are able to self sustain; lakes like Big Cormorant and Island in Becker County, and Lake of the Woods, which have a lot of rocky and gravel substrate are able to be self sustaining.   The classic walleye lakes like Red Lake and Big Winnie are large, wind swept lakes.  Stocking these lakes is at best nonproductive and, worse yet, can be detrimental to the year class by over production.  Some factors affecting large lakes of this nature are over fishing (nets in particular) and, in the case of Leech, too many predators (cormorants).  Lake of the Woods struggled until all netting licenses were purchased and discontinued.  The lake responded and is a highly quality fishery now.

Lakes that are sustained by stocking generally were not originally walleye lakes.  Rather, they were often bass/panfish lakes and are more suited to these species.  But because walleye is king ij MN (I am a walleye, trout and salmon snob myself) walleye stocking has continued to maintain opportunities.  Some natural reproduction does happen in these lakes but at insufficient numbers.

Some shallow, eutrophic lakes are also stocked.  They allow for rapid growth, but have the propensity to winter kill (oxygen depletion).  Often, their substrate is muddy with minimal rocky or gravel substrate.  Reproduction is virtually nonexistent in these lake types.

[Kirk Bonanny]

   Interesting...

Rodbldr4fun

I like your reply...well stated, informative.