Mdc Smarter Than You Think - Walleyes

[mic]

I have not fished for or caught a walleye since I was a teenager on a Father/Son YMCA trip to Canada. However, I really don't like it when folks on this forumn with no background in science beyond the "C" they got in Sophmore biology and/or who don't understand the details (labor, infrastructure depreation, earned value, etc) assoicated with muliti-year cost bennifit anaylsis take pot shots at the MDC. The latest was when the MDC were idiots for stocking walleye fingerlings in the fall instead of waiting until the spring. So instead of guessing, I just asked.

Turns out, there are two good reasons: Once walleye become fingerlings in stock ponds, they start eating each other. Second, once they are to big to eat plackton, they need live food instead of pellets like trout and catfish. Everyone here knows minnows cost more then bread. Here is the whole story if you would like to read it.

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Thank you for your interest in Bull Shoals and its walleye fishery. Reading through the thread, it is easy to tell walleye are a popular species among area anglers. Since a number of questions are raised throughout the thread, I’ll be more thorough than just answering your questions.

The popularity of Bull Shoals’ walleye has only increased in the past 25 years, especially with the number of residents who have moved here from northern states. During this period MDC has made walleye a priority species in the lake as we’ve established minimum length/daily limits and increased stocking rates. Also, both MDC and the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission (AGFC) are sharing information and working together to maintain and improve this fishery.

Since the mid 1980’s MDC and AGFC have consistently stocked walleye into Bull Shoals. On average MDC stocks approximately 352,000 fingerlings per year while AGFC typically stocks closer to 200,000 fingerlings per year. Depending upon the availability of surplus, the lake may receive more than 600,000 fingerlings in a given year.

Our typical stocking process involves collecting broodstock from the Forsyth/Pothole area of Bull Shoals in mid-March. Once collected from the lake, most male and female are sent to the hatchery to be later returned to the lake after the spawning process. Sometimes while at the lake, eggs are collected from “flowing” females and fertilized by a few of the numerous male walleye collected. Traditionally, broodstock collected from Bull Shoals produce enough fingerlings to stock Bull Shoals and Norfork lakes. However, there are times both lakes receive surplus fingerlings reared from Lake of the Ozarks broodstock.

Once fry develop they are stocked into rearing ponds where they feed on plankton. Usually, by early to mid-May the walleye fingerlings are close to two inches in length and become cannibalistic. At this time the fish are harvested from the ponds.

MDC stocks fingerlings into the most fertile areas of the lake (Beaver Creek, K-Dock, Big Creek, and Theodosia) and normally stocks them in deeper water, away from the shoreline. These methods provide fingerlings the highest abundance of plankton and other food items while reducing the likelihood of being eaten by sunfish swimming the shoreline. Sometimes walleye become stressed when they are harvested from the ponds and transported to the lake, resulting in the death of some fish from each tank. When this happens, those fish are usually flushed at the shore and are not taken out to deeper water (I believe one of the contributors witnessed this happen). However, recent surveys have resulted in increased numbers of juvenile walleye, indicating our stockings are having a positive impact.

Numerous studies have been conducted by agencies to determine whether stocking more, smaller fish or fewer, larger fish results in higher survival of stocked fish. A number of factors come into play, such as the exceptional cost of minnows to feed walleye fingerlings, ponds needed to raise other fish species (i.e. catfish, sunfish) which spawn later in the year, lower survival rates of fish held over in shallow ponds during hot summer months, costs for hauling larger fish, benefits of getting fish into the natural environment as soon as possible, etc. Overall, MDC and many other agencies have found stocking the two-inch fingerling provides the greatest benefit:cost ratio.

In a recent study our stockings contributed to 60% and 99% of the young walleye in the lake, in years with “normal” water levels (2005 and 2007), respectively. During high water years (2004 and 2008), natural reproduction dominated and our stockings contributed only 11% and 12% of the respective year class. During the entire study period our stockings, on average, contributed to 43% to the young walleye in the lake.

The Bull Shoals population has a varied genetic background and has mostly originated from stocks in northern states. There is a remnant of the “river” fish, but it is a very small percentage. The northern strains are more easily raised in a hatchery system. The “river” strain has proven exceptionally more difficult to raise; with typically very poor results to show for the effort invested. I do not believe we would have our current fishery if we were solely dependent upon the “river” fish.

Overall, I believe the Bull Shoals fishery is in good shape. We continue to learn more about the fishery and are always look for ways to improve it. We will run into bumps along the way (2011 fish kill and natural swings in the population), but the future looks promising.

If you have any additional questions regarding our walleye program or the Bull Shoals fishery, feel free to contact me. If you see us at the lake, do not hesitate to come by as I will be glad to talk to you about these or any other fishery related issues. Good luck with your fishing!

A.J. Pratt

Fisheries Management Biologist

Missouri Dept. of Conservation

551 Joe Jones Blvd.

West Plains, MO 65775

(417) 255-9561, ext. 277

Anthony.Pratt@mdc.mo.gov

[Blazerman]

Good job, MIC. Very informative.

[ollie]

Funny you posted this, I learned that from the Hatchery manager in Neosho about that just a few months ago. Neosho does raise the fingerlings until they reach a certain size then they shipped them out. They aren't there very long. Hey, they know more than me!

[mic]

I'm not sure from the write up but it also sounds like the empty the pond to use it for a second speices, and then they alternate. They may drive them to keep then longer then Neosho.

[ollie]

In Neosho they dedicate just one pond for them. Sure it has to do with cross contamination. When they hold the derbys at the hatchery you can't bring your own pole either.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I'm not knocking their walleye program, but now that it is well established I want some of that money and revenue used for Hybrids in BS.

Oh, and that's good info Mic, good post.

[parsonsles87]

i second that about the hybrids on BS! Maybe they should include them on the striper proposal.

[Ham]

Thank You for the intell.

[Bill Babler]

Great info. Looks like my work of a few years ago was pretty close to accurate, and I did speak to quite a few people about the old River Strain.

Here is the deal, and for me it would not be a thing at all. I would really like to suppliment this fishery as it for sure can grow great fish. To increase the ammount of funds for Walleye I for one would be more than willing to buy a Walleye permit similar to trout. I know most on this board would also be in favor of it. I just wonder if enough funds could be generated thru a walleye permit to fund a minnow project at the hatchery.

My gosh it is cheap enough for a fishing lic and the permits we buy are a miniscule ammount for the fun we have. If it would work I would be all for it.

[Ham]

It seems like an annual $5 permit to retain Walleye paid to the anglers Home state (Mo or Arkansas rather than both) would bring in significant revenue. Of course, it depends upon people being honest.