01-17-2013, 05:48 PM
[quote isda]
So because of our arid state and the reservoirs fluctuating in water level it messes with the Walleye and pike spawn?
how bad of an idea would it be to put walleye in Fish Lake?[/quote]
Many have already thought of this and I know the DWR has too...ultimately, they have not been stocked into Fish Lake for one reason: the belief that the growing season is too short to support a self-sustaining population. To spawn, walleye wait until water temps reach the mid 40's...because this doesn't happen at Fish Lake until the middle of June, the growing season is too short for walleye to survive the cold winter. To survive, walleye would have to reach about 6 inches in length.
So, to establish a viable walleye population, the DWR would have to stock them. Currently, that is not feasible because our hatchery system is already tapped out. And, stocking fish that would be large enough to make it through the winter would require hatcheries to hold them over winter...this is expensive and not cost effective.
Also, by way of comparison, Jordanelle have also been known to frequent at times resevoirs like Jordanelle without doing well at all. Why do they do well at Deer Creek and not Jordanelle? Personally, I believe the elevation is the key. Check out the elevation differences between the lakes in Minnesota and Canada that are great walleye fisheries and Fish Lake...
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So because of our arid state and the reservoirs fluctuating in water level it messes with the Walleye and pike spawn?
how bad of an idea would it be to put walleye in Fish Lake?[/quote]
Many have already thought of this and I know the DWR has too...ultimately, they have not been stocked into Fish Lake for one reason: the belief that the growing season is too short to support a self-sustaining population. To spawn, walleye wait until water temps reach the mid 40's...because this doesn't happen at Fish Lake until the middle of June, the growing season is too short for walleye to survive the cold winter. To survive, walleye would have to reach about 6 inches in length.
So, to establish a viable walleye population, the DWR would have to stock them. Currently, that is not feasible because our hatchery system is already tapped out. And, stocking fish that would be large enough to make it through the winter would require hatcheries to hold them over winter...this is expensive and not cost effective.
Also, by way of comparison, Jordanelle have also been known to frequent at times resevoirs like Jordanelle without doing well at all. Why do they do well at Deer Creek and not Jordanelle? Personally, I believe the elevation is the key. Check out the elevation differences between the lakes in Minnesota and Canada that are great walleye fisheries and Fish Lake...
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