Bigger walleye stocked in northern lakes
DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife biologists recently stocked more than
31,000 large walleye fingerlings into three natural lakes in northern
Indiana as part of an experimental project.
Crooked Lake in Steuben County, Sylvan Lake in Noble County and Winona Lake
in Kosciusko County shared walleye purchased from a commercial fish hatchery
in Wisconsin. The fish cost $1.45 each and averaged seven inches in length.
Fishing license sales funded the walleye purchase.
Small walleye stocked into these lakes in the past failed to thrive. DNR
biologists believe stocking fish large enough to avoid predators will
produce a sustainable walleye population.
“The larger walleye are more expensive, but have a much better chance of
growing to maturity and catchable size,” said DNR fisheries biologist Tim
Cwalinski. “This year’s fish should reach harvestable size of 14 inches in
two years.”
This stocking is the first of three annual experimental stockings. Project
biologists will evaluate fish survival throughout the course of the project
and determine if walleye stocking rates were adequate.
Walleye are one of the most popular and tastiest Indiana sport fish. Surveys
indicate that anglers pursue walleye more than any other DNR-stocked fish.
More walleye fishing information:
http://www.IN.gov/dnr/fishwild/fishing/wallfish.htm