Smallies

[Smithvillesteve]

Just got back from our annual trip up to NW Ontario. Caught a lot of walleyes despite the hot weather. Mid to Upper 80's every day. Unheard of up there this time of year. I been going to this lake for nearly 40 years. Never caught a smallmouth bass. You can portage over to another lake and catch them however. This year we caught several. Mostly cookie cutters in the 14 to 16 inch range. My son did catch a fat 19 incher. Beautiful fish! My question to you boys is this: The lodge owner wanted us to kill every smallie we caught. We didnt do that. There are guys in camp from Minn and Wisc that hate the smallies also. Claim they will take over the lake. One Minn guy points to Mille Lacs lake. Claims the smallies have overtaken that once great walleye fishery. Is there any truth to this? It would be nice to talk to a conservation officer or somebody in the know on this topic. But i thought I would ask you boys about it. What your thoughts are.

[FishnDave]

 

"What happened to walleye population on Mille Lacs Lake?"

 

The DNR says in June of last year, 7% of walleye caught died from hook mortality. That number jumped to 16% in July as water temperatures increased. Jensen says the walleye population on Mille Lacs has been declining since the late 90s when phosphorus levels in the lake started to get cleaned up.

[FishnDave]

Also this article gives some insight:

https://lakesarearadio.net/2023/03/03/walleye-fishing-scheduled-to-be-open-all-summer-on-mille-lacs-lake/

 

[tjm]

8 hours ago, FishnDave said:

when phosphorus levels in the lake started to get cleaned up.

isn't that what also caused the dreaded rock snot explosion across the country and bans on felt soles?

[Gavin]

Smallmouth are invasive in many parts of North America. I have no problem with eating them for lunch in Canada, but not here. They taste  just like the walleye & pike.

[tjm]

They are invasive/non-native in about half the places that they can be caught including several drainage's within Mo.