What Walleye Stocking

[Beerbatter]

I just read an alarming report from Mike Sheehan on the walleye central website. Goto the site and do a search on his name and look at the article titled "What Walleye Stocking". It opened my eyes to a big problem we have here in MN. Please read and lets have a conversation about it.

[This message has been edited by Pwaldow123 (edited 02-19-2002).]

[Guest]

Very interesting article! I agree with a lot of points in that article by sheehan. Especially the one that fisheries managers are hesitant to increase stocking. This is very much so the case because fisheries managers in Minnesota find walleye stocking to be very labor intensive and would just assume to something else with there time.

Denny Schupp has a huge influence on how fisheries managers throughout the state respond to certain fisheries related issues, especially stocking! Too many biologists in Minnesota would just assume that the public fish the bigger walleye waters and then they could leave their duties as managers to the large lake specialists instead of "wasteing" there time stocking all the lakes that local anglers would like to see stocked.

I know this issue very well and worked on the proposed "Accelerated Walleye Stocking Program" in 2000 for the MNDNR in Grand Rapids. It hurt me to see the dramatic decline in stocking because it was affecting my fishing on many smaller lakes in Northern Minnesota. The MNDNR recognized the problem with stocking lakes that could not sustain a natural population of walleyes and decided to eliminate stocking on many lakes based on recruitment and survival. There defense to this elimination of stocking was that "The only places where we've showed spectacular walleye fishing from stocking is in 'Freeze-out' lakes." This is a crock! I have stocked lakes with mediocre walleye fishing and seen a dramatic improvement in the quality of the fishery within 3 years of stocking fingerlings. I think the fisheries supervisors and managers in MN need to get out and see for themselves and listen to sportanglers whether or not stocking is working on some of the lakes in their area. A fisheries manager should follow up there studies just as a good consultant would do and stop accepting theories about stocking from biologists in different parts of the state.

I agree that it is a waste of money to stock lakes that cannot support a natural walleye population, but where the DNR went wrong was they stopped stocking many lakes that could!

A few more years in AK and maybe I will come back and jump balls deep into the Minnesota DNR conflict.

[Beerbatter]

I grew up in Deer River and I know some of the smaller lakes are hurting for more than one reason. The lakes that have slots on them have driven some of the guides to seek out the smaller local lakes. The increased pressure from that and in the lack of restocking are showing negative signs. Look at the Bigfork River flowage. I fished these lakes all my life and I have seen first hand how fishing pressure can clean out the lakes. I pay for my license expecting a portion of it to go towords restocking. I was naive to think that this was happening. When you move back to MN you and I should start a restocking revolution.

[BigFisherman]

I agree whole-heartedly! I own a place on the Bowstring chain (Big Sand Lake). Have fished it for over 20 years. The last 5 I have seen a steady decline in the #'s of walleys caught. I see the guides there that I used to see on Winnie. We do get some natural reproduction but the #'s of boats have increased 10-fold in the last 10 years also. COME ON DNR - WE NEED TO GET THESE PROGRAMS BACK IN SINC!!!!!

[Beerbatter]

I fish Big Sand alot and I have family on little sand. I know what your saying about the decline. I wonder where to start calling to find out about the resocking effort on these area lakes. What part of the lake do you live on? I generally fish out of Edgewater resort and troll the islands and rock piles.

[Guest]

If your interested in increasing the stocking efforts in the Grand Rapids area call:

Christopher M. Kavanaugh
Area Fisheries Supervisor
(218) 327-4322
e-mail [email protected]

Anyone who thinks that their license fees are not being utilized in the right places should call Chris and suggest that they work to increase stocking on bodies of water within their district. The more you pressure those guys the more money they will most likely invest in future stocking efforts.

[BigFisherman]

beerbatter - I'm down on Portage Lake 4 places south of the bridge on the west side. We fish the humps & flats around the entrance to Birds Eye and the islands. I e-mailed the DNR with my concerns. When/if I get a reply I would be happy to share with you. e-mail me at [email protected] with your e-mail address. < )))><

[Beerbatter]

Big, My email is [email protected]. Even though I live in St. Cloud now I get up north to fish alot during the year. The waters you live/fish on mean alot to me and my family. I would like to see what your response will be from your email. If the DNR is too busy I would donate some time to help restock. I have a fleet of trucks for my business and could find drivers to help transport the fry/fingerlings to the lake.

[Guest]

BeerBatter...You don't just go and stock any lake you want to! I've been studying fish and doing fisheries related research for years and realize the sensitivity of lakes and streams and the effects involved on other species when fish are added into a system. If you get caught introducing walleyes into a lake without proper authorization from the state, you will have your fishing rights revoked!

It is great to get involved, but too many people think that they are fish managers and do more harm than good in most cases. If you introduce walleyes into a lake that you live on and have the water rights to, that is a different story as long as you don't inform the whole world.

[Beerbatter]

Well I wasnt inferring that I was going to stock without there knowledge. I was simply saying that if they have a need for help I would help. I dont have access to the fry or fingerlings so for sure I would have to work with them. I was looking at some pictures I saw posted on the Red lake forum where some resort owners where carrying walleye fry to the lake.

[Guest]

I read with intrest to some of the things said about stocking.The DNR went through a little phaze here awhile back and decided that the lakes should reproduce naturally and they cut way back on stocking.The trouble was when Winnie shut down here 2 years ago and you couldnt catch a fish hardly,the guides including myself had to search for a differnt source of fish and we fished alot of the smaller lakes as well as heading to Leach.It wasnt only the guides fihing these other lakes but a couple times of going to Winnie and not doing well everybody was out on these small lakes and it didnt take long to see that it hurt the fishery.The guide group suported the slot limit on Winnie 100% and it will keep from having the ups and downs in fishing that Winnie has had in the past.As a guide I have to keep my clients on fish and it has nothing to do with the slot limits where I fish.The Dnr is starting to stock more now and if everybody keeps on Chris K at the DNR they will have to keep putting fish in these smaller lakes.Also there is a Fish and Game Coalition meeting at the shooting center on Sat from 9AM to 12.It is a grassroots organization that lobbies for the kinda things were talking about here. So if your interested in keeping things going good with the fishing or hunting or you have concerns come and join us
Jason

------------------
fishing fever guide service
fishingminnesota.com/fishingfever/
phone 218-327-2191
e-mail [email protected]

[Guest]

Fishing fever...Hey what do you think about Jerry albert? Do you think that his analysis of Winni is correct or do you think he is full of bull? Working with him turned me off to the point of realizing some of his imaturities.

The slot put into place on Winni was supported fully by myself, the rest of the DNR staff, resort owners and guides. There was some conflict with resort owners, but that has been resolved. Being a large lake specialist has a lot of responsibility. Do you think he is doing a good job?

Just inquiring into your feelings or personal opinions.

[Guest]

Alaskander,I dont know what Jerry Alberts anaylasis is of winnie.I would be very curious to here it though, how do I find that? I did read that article by mike sheehan,he hit it right on the target.The DNR has been trying to sell the public thier belifs for a long time.We used to have meetings with chris and other members the whole League of Guides and resorts.and so many times they would sit there and blow smoke up our butts we dont even have them anymore.They have a real low expectation of how many fish per hour will keep people fishing.I dont want to get to mean on this forum but I'm not happy with our fisheries person and his head honcho Gaber.Thats why we have to start getting involved and get these people to serve us the fisherman,not thier college educated idea of what they think fishing should be.thats my fellings on the whole deal.
Jason

------------------
fishing fever guide service
fishingminnesota.com/fishingfever/
phone 218-327-2191
e-mail [email protected]

[BigFisherman]

Beerbatter, did you get the e-mail I sent you from Kavanaugh? Interesting. Let me know. Thanks

[Guest]

Bigfisherman...I used to work for Kavanaugh and I would appreciate the e-mail that he sent you if you don't mind.

[email protected]

Thanks!

FishingFever...I hear ya brother! Chris is a nice guy and he does a good job for the most part, but as a fisheries manager I think that he should be serving the community more when it comes to there interests. There is a lot of beurocratic bull when it comes to dealing with the big wigs in St. Paul, but stocking is something that those guys should do with the money they allocate from within there budget.
My best advice is to hound the living daylights out of him and put him on the spot!

[Beerbatter]

Bigfisherman,
Thank you for forwarding that email. He is saying the same thing Mike Sheehan said. They dictate where and when the restocking will take place. The lakes that you asked about have taken a pounding lately and I know the preasure has taken its toll. I wonder why they wait so many years between testing. 4-6 yrs is a long time. I had read someplace that the DNR has a 1 fish per hour catch rate defined as a goal. I have fished these lakes my whole life and I know that 1 fish per hr is very optimistic, it used to be a given. I suppose the only good thing is that the lack of fish will eventualy clear the lake of all the crowds. I still have my Ace in the hole lakes and will protect them. Lets keep preasure on the DNR and make sure they change there thinking. If nothing else I wish they would do a better job of faking being interested in our lakes. His email basicly says natural reproduction is good enough.

[rollz2002]

I am very much opposed to what you say about stocking their are a fwe lakes that need it but their are many lakes around here and throughtout the state that have alot of walleyes in it and don't need stocking, My dad works at the dnr and they are happy with the walleye numbers and have no plans on stocking new lakes anywhere.

[Guest]

Rollz2002...I agree with what your saying to a point. In most cases I am very impressed with the status of most of our fisheries even state wide! We could be a heck of a lot worse off and it seems that nobody is ever happy with what they've got. I have dozens of lakes that I can still catch walleyes on, but the main point being made is that even though these lakes are productive fisheries, they at one time or another were likely a lot more productive that they are now. Stocking in some cases gives these type of lakes a dramatic boost and helps the overall fishery, usually short term.

On the other hand! It is true that a lot of lakes in Itasca Co. are changing over time. Each lake has it's own carrying capacity for the number of walleyes that it can contain naturally. Some of the lakes in that area that used to have high numbers of fish no longer are very productive, not because of overharvest, but because the water chemistry in these lakes has been changing over time due to either environmental changes or rapid eutrophication from external sources such as pollution from sewage or fertilizers that people are using to treat there lawns. Phosphate levels in some of the lakes throughout MN are through the roof and where you once had beautiful spawning sites for walleyes, you now have huge beds of macrophytes and other vegetation.

My philosophy is? If the state has the money for addition stocking than do it. It is fun to go in and catch walleyes a few years after stocking has taken hold, especially on small lakes. Otherwise, it is best to leave additional stocking and costs up to lake associations or special interest groups willing to stock lakes in which they live on, therfore benefitting anyone who fishes those lakes. Otherwise stocking lakes where the fish are going to die a week later or be eaten by bluegills is not a very efficient practice when that money could eventually go into other fisheries releated efforts.

If your dad works fisheries in Grand Rapids, tell him Brian in Alaska says hello!

[Guest]

BigFisherman...Thanks for the e-mail!

[Duffman]

Alaskander...
It will be a little while before I'm able to get to your buddies map. Pretty busy with work and life in general. I'll let you know when I start it and a possible finish date.
Duffman

[Guest]

GREAT TOPIC GENTLEMEN

first of all i think that the dnr in st paul is a bunch of bureaucrats who really could care less what happens to the sportsman. Where Chris is one of us as well as one of them I feel that the dnr would rather spend money elsewhere rather than have to spend their "precious" time and money to provide what is needed by these smaller fisheries. jason let me know when the next meeting is I'd like to go..

just my 2 cents

see ya in the bait shop

Rainbow Warrior

[Guest]

Thanks Duffman!

No rush buddy! I appreciate your time and effort and I hope everything is going good for you. I hear what your saying about being busy..I am running wild and at the same time planning a fall canoe trip. I love to think ahead when it's something I like thinking about, hehe!

Sorry ladies! Just to busy for a date at this moment in time. Maybe if I was emotionally available and not so balls deep in fish slime I would consider it

((Wanted!))

A nice girl who admires fish slime.

Thanks again Duff

[Guest]

Duffman...Halibut, Salmon, or Crab?

[swamptiger]

My experience is that if you and others think some of your area lakes are being neglected, it pays to organize and give them some flack about it. The old saying that the "squeaky wheel get the grease" is very appropriate here.