04-02-2018, 03:20 PM
I actually went and helped the DWR with the program as a volunteer.
The walleye we helped with the day we went were already in tanks in the parking lot waiting to be checked for readiness.
They had over 300 fish in the tanks and we went through them to see if they were ready to strip for eggs. The ones that were then ready were taken to an area and stripped out their eggs. the rest were put back into the tanks to ripen. After we had collected eggs from 5 female walleyes the milt from 3 males was added to the eggs and hatchery water then added to them. The egg were stirred for a minute and a half and then an acid solution was added to them and stirred again to keep them from sticking together. After this, they were put in a canister and added to a pressurization tank for 10 minutes under 9500 PSI to sterilize them.
They were then put into coolers with hatchery water to be transported to Springville.
The mortality of fish in the tanks for the time we were there was 12 total.
That included the ones the we put back in the South Marina for release back into the lake.
Only one that day didn't make it after they were released.
That isn't bad for what I seen. I'm sure there are a few but the amount snagged are probably way more.
All in all, the amount that die for the process are expected and the results far outweigh the amount that are lost.
From what I seen, the walleye in Willard are doing quite well.
The DWR is doing a great job and should be commended instead of chastised.
[signature]
The walleye we helped with the day we went were already in tanks in the parking lot waiting to be checked for readiness.
They had over 300 fish in the tanks and we went through them to see if they were ready to strip for eggs. The ones that were then ready were taken to an area and stripped out their eggs. the rest were put back into the tanks to ripen. After we had collected eggs from 5 female walleyes the milt from 3 males was added to the eggs and hatchery water then added to them. The egg were stirred for a minute and a half and then an acid solution was added to them and stirred again to keep them from sticking together. After this, they were put in a canister and added to a pressurization tank for 10 minutes under 9500 PSI to sterilize them.
They were then put into coolers with hatchery water to be transported to Springville.
The mortality of fish in the tanks for the time we were there was 12 total.
That included the ones the we put back in the South Marina for release back into the lake.
Only one that day didn't make it after they were released.
That isn't bad for what I seen. I'm sure there are a few but the amount snagged are probably way more.
All in all, the amount that die for the process are expected and the results far outweigh the amount that are lost.
From what I seen, the walleye in Willard are doing quite well.
The DWR is doing a great job and should be commended instead of chastised.
[signature]