walleye

[rps]

 

Not sure what the connection between walleye and geese are?  I am not a waterfowler but don't think there is a season on cormorants and you are never going to see a bounty on them.  There is a trade off of stocking size, smaller size is much cheaper to raise to that level and can be stocked in large quantities, but survival is much lower.  Larger size such as fingerings are costlier to raise to that size but have a better survival rate.  Where feasible MDC has moved more to stocking larger sizes for the better survival rate.  I don't know of any studies bu would guess that far more fingerling walleye get eaten by other fish (bass, white bass etc.) that are ever eaten by cormorants, although they are very good at eating fish.  Generally a critter like that eats more of the more populous species like bluegill and shad or even crappie than a small group like walleye, simply because there are more to choose from.

Sorry MOPanfisher - I had my tongue stuck firmly in my cheek. Text posts suck at conveying tone and humor. I was responding to the post that suggested we should hunt more fish eating cormorants. You are right - that will never happen. As for the the real topic at hand-> walleye population, I believe the current numbers and size of fish in Table Rock are well managed. Allow me to explain why.

First, no person, even a skilled angler, should expect to catch a limit on every outing. If they do, they are either incredibly skilled or the regulations are off kilter.

Second, an average angler should have a fair chance of catching a keeper on several trips per year.

Third, several times per year, a number of anglers should catch 10% fish. That means for walleye you should see 7+ pound fish reported.

Fourth, more than once a year, you should find a 1% fish (10+ pounds) reported.

Apply those criteria to bass on Table Rock and we see a well managed fishery. Apply the same criteria to walleye and we see a well managed fishery.

I do not fish Stockton, but I would urge those who do to examine the criteria I have suggested and decide if they wish to lobby for a change.

[Walcrabass]

To All,

  I don't see any connection between Walleye and Geese either. I do see a connection between populations getting out of hand. I know someone will write in and say "Nature will balance it out". They are correct. But when Nature does it things can be severe.

  I think for sportsmen it all boils down to making the "sporting species" as successful as possible. Nobody wants to eat Cormorants or Mud hens either. They taste pretty terrible from  what I heard from a dear friend that is now gone. He ate Mud Hens because he had to. It doesn't matter if Cormorants eat Walleye, Crappie, Bluegill, Shad, or any other fish. That is a fish that will not help the "Fish" population as it was consumed by a non game and non fish species. I don't want the Cormorants to be extinct. Just severely less in numbers. Talk to some of the people that have them roosting in their boat docks. They rip the seats, carpet, and boat covers to shreds. Try to get permission to kill them to get this stopped. Forget it. In short they are nice to see occasionally but a terrible nuisance and costly in more ways that just monetarily.

This is just another one of those species in nature that definitely has a place, it just needs to be a small one. Unless disease invades these birds you will see their numbers soar ( pun intended).

Kind of funny that we view the wild hogs as a problem and want to eradicate them but not another species that causes damage. After all the hogs root and tear up crops and forests. Forests that grow trees. Trees that produce logs and lumber. Oops, I almost forgot. Lumber is harvested by governmental agencies and produces MONEY !!! Guess now we are getting to the "root" of it all. ( Pun intended )

In short, these birds eat A LOT OF FISH, AND DO A LOT OF DAMAGE !!!!!

Ok.............. go ahead................. blast me............

 

Walcrabass