Fisheries D-1 Newsletter

[NWAfishbiologist]

Here is our newsletter for Fisheries in NWA. I took out all the pictures to get it down to size.

If you want me to email it to you, email me at Jonathan.Stein@agfc.ar.gov

District 1 January-March 2015 newsletter condensed.doc

[Ron Burgundy]

It takes a walleye 7 years to reach 18"?.... I thought it was quicker....maybe I miss read the article.

[uofastudent]

When were walleye first stocked? visiting broken bow lake and it seems that walleye are doing quite well there after being stocked in the 1980s

[Quillback]

Thanks Jon for posting the link.

[Stump bumper]

When were walleye first stocked? visiting broken bow lake and it seems that walleye are doing quite well there after being stocked in the 1980s

I am not sure of the date but somewhere around 2004 they started stocking Beaver with 14in walleyes, before that they never would stick. My first walleye on Beaver was a 8lb monster that was probably the breading stock they put in at that time. I remember they had the nursrey pond full of walleye for what seemed like years just to get ready for that first stocking.

I would like to see the results from the Sweepco study, how are the bass doing and also wondering about the crappie.

[NWAfishbiologist]

Walleye take between 3 and 4 years to get to 18 inches in Beaver Lake. In a study in February 2014, the 3 year old walleye averaged 18 inches in size. In the newsletter, I just wanted to point out that there are quite a few fish over 18 inches that will be available this year.

We began restocking walleye in the early 2000s and utilized the nursery pond and Charlie Craig Hatchery to stock the walleye.

If you email me, I can send you the swepco results from this winter.

Jon Stein

AGFC

Jonthan.Stein@agfc.ar.gov

[Feathers and Fins]

Thanks Jon,

[Notropis]

"I am not sure of the date but somewhere around 2004 they started stocking Beaver with 14in walleyes, before that they never would stick. My first walleye on Beaver was a 8lb monster that was probably the breading stock they put in at that time. I remember they had the nursrey pond full of walleye for what seemed like years just to get ready for that first stocking."

Not trying to be argumentative but all walleye stocked in the lake since the decision was made to re-establish them have been fingerling stockings. There were a couple of years the nursery pond was utilized by putting walleye fry (larva) in the pond and allowing them to grow to fingerling size before stocking in the lake. The nursery pond stockings didn't do well due to poor fry survival, probably because of the shallow nature of the pond and it's tendency to cool off rapidly after cold fronts and loose zooplankton blooms (food for the walleye larvae). Fingerling production was much better at the Charlie Craig hatchery and has contributed the "lion's share" of successful walleye fingerling stockings to the lake.

[PigSooner]

Thanks!

[wc1063]

Thank you!!