Lake Erie Discussion Board

Quote from: Wakina on 09/19/11, 11:05

those who cry wolf are clueless as to what it takes to have a good hatch and most importantly the survival of the fry. I know that they mean well and all but really do they have to always advocate closing the spring season, slot limits, increased minimum size as well as vastly reduced creel limits. Just because a female walleye is not heavy with eggs in june does not make her any less a female that is due to spawn the following spring!

With walleye numbers down around 70% from a few years ago seems like your clueless!!
Since the survival of fry and conditions for a successful hatch are MULTIFACTORIAL, I vote for increasing the odds of successful spawn by whatever means necessary until two above average hatches occur consecutively.
That means:  Putting a size limit on Canadian walleye (Yep, taking a 13 incher means they don't even have a chance to spawn even once in their short lifetime), increasing our minimum size in the states (increase the chance that some of those 15-16 inch fish can actaully spawn); or put in a slot limit (Really increases the chances that those 18-22" fish are available to spawn); close the Maumee and Detroit fisheries (won't, too much money involved); and catch and release on the Lake until spawning ends (won't, see previous comment).
Do we have the best Walleye fishery in the world?  Well, we did, but it isn't now, at least in my opinion.

BOB ask the experts -- WE HAVE ENOUGH walleye to have a mega hatch. Do you happen to remember 2003 when we had "low" numbers and we had calls for reduced limits, minimum size increases, making it illegal to CATCh or look at a walleye, etc. What happened, a MEGA hatch. We have enough fish for the spawn, we just need the stars to line up. And, spend our time fixing the algae problem!!!

those who cry wolf are clueless as to what it takes to have a good hatch and most importantly the survival of the fry. I know that they mean well and all but really do they have to always advocate closing the spring season, slot limits, increased minimum size as well as vastly reduced creel limits. Just because a female walleye is not heavy with eggs in june does not make her any less a female that is due to spawn the following spring!

With walleye numbers down around 70% from a few years ago seems like your clueless!!
Since the survival of fry and conditions for a successful hatch are MULTIFACTORIAL, I vote for increasing the odds of successful spawn by whatever means necessary until two above average hatches occur consecutively.
That means:  Putting a size limit on Canadian walleye (Yep, taking a 13 incher means they don't even have a chance to spawn even once in their short lifetime), increasing our minimum size in the states (increase the chance that some of those 15-16 inch fish can actaully spawn); or put in a slot limit (Really increases the chances that those 18-22" fish are available to spawn); close the Maumee and Detroit fisheries (won't, too much money involved); and catch and release on the Lake until spawning ends (won't, see previous comment).
Do we have the best Walleye fishery in the world?  Well, we did, but it isn't now, at least in my opinion.

I agree, those who cry wolf are clueless as to what it takes to have a good hatch and most importantly the survival of the fry. I know that they mean well and all but really do they have to always advocate closing the spring season, slot limits, increased minimum size as well as vastly reduced creel limits. Just because a female walleye is not heavy with eggs in june does not make her any less a female that is due to spawn the following spring!

BOB:

Never say never. 
We have had years in the past (2007 was a good example) when the trawl reports were poor, yet once the 1-2 year old walleye began to show up in 08 and 09 trawls and angler reports, the 07 hatch report was corrected upwards.
Remember, this is an 'estimate' of the hatch----many variables (food abundance and location, wind, waves, currents, water temperature, oxygen levels) can impact if YOY walleye will be at those standard trawl sites every year at a given time. 
And it's the best estimate we have----sometimes it may be slightly off to the left or right, other times (2007) it can be way off, and sometimes it can be right on the money.
 None the less, the data is collected/compiled by our fishery management professionals on our side of the lake and from our management partners to the north with the best scientific knowledge that exists.  Trust their knowledge and expertise in managing this great resource.
Bottom line--it is what it is-----
We still have the greatest walleye fishery in the world. 

Dave Kelch, Ohio Sea Grant Extension Specialist, Ohio Sea Grant College Program

UPDATE:  Sept. 7, 2011---Ohio August Walleye and Yellow Perch Trawl Data Preliminary Results
According to Roger Knight with the Sandusky Fish Research Unit, ODNR Division of Wildlife, the August Ohio trawl data was considered to be very low for walleye (comparable to the 2000 August data), with the yellow perch data the lowest since 1987.
Ohio is waiting to see the Ontario MNR trawling data, which will be included in the final assessment.
It should be noted that although dissolved oxygen levels were back to near normal in most trawling locations, some trawl sites still were experiencing slightly anoxic conditions, which could result in a lower catch from those sites.

Dave Kelch, Ohio Sea Grant Extension Specialist, Ohio Sea Grant College Program

Don't think I can hold my breath that long

Any word yet, seems about time :-)