Number of walleye fingerlings stocked nearly doubles

State and private fish hatcheries produced three million walleye fingerlings for stocking in more than 250 lakes this year, almost twice last year’s total of 1.7 million fingerlings, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

The number of fingerlings increased because the average size and weight of fingerlings decreased. This year’s fingerlings averaged 4 to 6 inches or about 21 fingerlings per pound. Last year’s fingerlings were 6 to 8 inches, or about 10 fingerlings per pound.

“Fingerlings stocked at a rate between 10 and 35 per pound provide the maximum benefit to anglers,” said Roy Johannes, who coordinates the statewide fish stocking programs for DNR. “At that size, the fingerlings are large enough to avoid predation from other fish species and plentiful enough to provide a good return to anglers.”

This year’s total of approximately 144,000 pounds represents 90 percent of the annual walleye-stocking goal, which was increased from 130,000 pounds to 160,000 pounds this year. State and private hatcheries have produced about 139,000 pounds of walleye. Private hatcheries are under contract for an additional 5,000 pounds.

The DNR purchased one million walleye fingerlings weighing 40,000 pounds from seven private producers. “Purchasing a portion of our quota from the private sector worked very well and we look forward to continuing the relationship in the future,” Johannes said. The DNR produced the remaining fingerlings.

Ron Payer, program chief for the DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife, is optimistic that in future years, the DNR and private fish producers will meet the goal of 160,000 pounds called for in the Conservation Agenda, a report that contains natural resource indicators and targets for 2003-2007.

“We have the capacity,” Payer said. “When weather conditions are good, we will likely meet or exceed our goals. There will also be years when production might be below the goal. Over time we’ll meet the goal on average.”

Under the Accelerated Walleye Program, the DNR has stocked an average of 136,000 pounds of fingerlings, including 113,000 pounds in 2000 and 161,000 pounds in 2001, 98,000 pounds in 2002, 165,000 pounds in 2003 and 143,000 pounds this year. Raising fish in natural ponds will cause annual production to fluctuate, because environmental variables cannot be controlled.

“We are somewhat at the mercy of the weather,” Payer said. “The upside is that it’s a low-cost way to produce fingerlings because we use the pond’s natural productivity to grow the fish.”

In addition to stocking walleye fingerlings, the DNR also stocked also stocked other cool-water species, including:

- 2,830 pounds of walleye fry in 242 lakes this past spring. Each pound contains approximately 100,000 walleye fry.

- 22,000 pounds of muskie fingerlings to be stocked this fall, which includes 2,100 fish purchased from a private fish hatchery. Each year, the DNR stocks between 20,000 and 30,000 fingerlings in 15 to 40 designated muskie lakes.

- 30,000 lake sturgeon fingerlings were stocked in four lakes and two rivers as part of the Red River restoration project in northwest Minnesota. The DNR stocked 17,867 fingerlings and the White Earth Reservation stocked the remaining fingerlings. Sturgeon stocked by the DNR included fish reared by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and in the private sector.

The SELASPHORUS HUMMINGBIRD continues to visit the feeders at Laura Erickson’s home in east Duluth along Peabody Street. The bird was seen as recently as December 2nd.

GREAT GRAY OWLS and NORTHERN HAWK OWLS continue to be seen across northeastern Minnesota. The Sax-Zim bog area seems to be one of the best locations to find these birds. Check along St. Louis County Road 7 between County Roads 52 and 319, as well as along County Road 133 west of U.S. Highway 53, and along the various county and forest roads south of the town of Hoyt Lakes.

On December 2nd, Manley Olson had a VARIED THRUSH visit his yard on West Summer Street in Falcon Heights, in Ramsey County. This location is just southeast of the community park at Cleveland and Roselawn Avenues.

Two EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES were in the backyard of Steve Hettig of Olivia in Renville County on November 25th. The doves were seen along the 400 block of South Second Street.

On December 2nd, as many as twenty-thousand COMMON MERGANSERS were estimated to be on the Mississippi River at Mile Post 71 of U.S. Highway 61, about three miles southeast of the Wild Wings Wildlife Art Store in Wabasha. And, five to six thousand TUNDRA SWANS were seen at Mile Post 10 along State Highway 26 in Houston County on November 29th.

An adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was at Lake Calhoun in Hennepin County on November 27th, as well as a first-winter GLAUCOUS GULL. A first-winter Glaucous Gull was seen at Agate Bay in Two Harbors, in Lake County on the 28th. And, an adult Glaucous Gull was on the break wall at Canal Park in Duluth on the 25th.

And last, Beth Johnson reports both RED CROSSBILL and WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL were recently seen in her yard in Alexandria in Douglas County.

In general, few reports are currently available due to minimal angler activity on most lakes and rivers. Many of the smaller area lakes are beginning to freeze over. During this transitional period, please make sure to check with local bait shops and resorts for up-to-the-minute conditions.

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT ICE IS NEVER CONSIDERED TOTALLY SAFE. The Department of Natural Resources reports that 4 inches of ice is the minimum thickness recommended for travel by foot. Ice safety guidelines also recommend a minimum of 5 inches of new, clear ice for snowmobiles and ATV’s, and 8-12 inches of new, clear ice for cars and small trucks. Melting and refreezing of ice makes it less stable, especially in areas with springs or current such as near lake inlets and outlets.

NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA FISHING REPORTS

GRAND RAPIDS
Ice is now forming on some of the smaller lakes and in the bays on some larger lakes, however conditions are not good. A few more nights of single digit temperatures and no wind are needed to allow for fishable ice. Currently, some fish continue to be pulled from the MP&L discharge area. Most are these fish are bass, bluegills and northern pike. Anglers are fishing from shore and from boat. For the most fish, try a large minnow for the northern pike, and a small minnow or waxworm for the bass and bluegills. Local angers and experts predict that there will be fishable ice on Third River and the shallow lakes by the weekend, however please remember to always check with local bait shops and resorts for the most current ice conditions before venturing out.

KABETOGAMA
Ice is beginning to form on Lakes Kabetogama and Namakan. It is possible that continued cold weather will result in enough ice for foot traffic and spear houses by this weekend.

INTERNATIONAL FALLS
On Rainy Lake, ice is forming, with daytime and nighttime temperatures consistently below freezing. Avid anglers and local guides are predicting ice fishing will begin in roughly mid-December, however anglers may be able to walk out onto the bays beforehand.

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NORTHCENTRAL/WEST MINNESOTA FISHING REPORTS

BAUDETTE
Ice is beginning to form on Lake of the Woods and the Rainy River. All of the feeder streams to the Rainy River are now frozen, and a few more nights of low temperatures should cause the Rainy River to freeze from shore to shore. Current surface water temperatures are at 34 degrees Fahrenheit. Good ice formation is dependent on many factors, including wind speed. Good ice conditions occur when overnight low temperatures are combined with calm winds. According to local anglers and guides, fishing remains great on the Rainy River. For the most walleye, use a chartreuse or very light green jig.

DETROIT LAKES
Some ice has formed on some of the smaller area lakes, however it is still NOT safe to venture out. With consistent and slightly colder temperatures, anglers may be able to access these smaller area lakes sometime next week.

BRAINERD
Many of the smaller ponds and lakes are now coated with a thin layer of ice, but the larger lakes remain wide open. If the current cool temperatures linger, there should be some good ice on the larger area lakes in just a couple of weeks.

NISSWA
Some ice is forming on most bodies of water is this area. North Long and Round lakes have some ice cover, however Gull Lake is still wide open. Some of the smaller, shallow lakes are covered in a thin layer of ice, but conditions are not good. Please remember to always check with local bait shops and resorts for the most current ice conditions before venturing out.

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TWIN CITIES VICINITY FISHING REPORTS

No reports are currently available for this region of the state.

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SOUTHERN MINNESOTA FISHING REPORTS

No reports are currently available for this region of the state.