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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Fishing Forum :: Wisconsin Walleye Study
 
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HighnDry
03/31/2018 05:39PM
  
I haven't had time to full read and digest this report so my opinion is just an opinion. However I heard today that the walleye population overall was starting to or already in decline in the state. The DNR is still assessing whether there needs to be an intervention at this time or in the near future to bolster the population.
 
LindenTree3
03/31/2018 10:24AM
  
My apologies if this has been covered in the past, I do not follow the fishing forum much.

I am curious what some of you who know alot more about fish than myself, think of this study?

Wisconsin Walleye Study, lots of good links within this article
 
Pinetree
04/04/2018 10:18AM
  
Update on LindenTree data


Interesting thoughts
 
old_salt
03/31/2018 05:45PM
  
Too many cheese curds being used for bait. They need to ban cheese curds and other live bait and go barbless. Aka Packers.
 
Pinetree
03/31/2018 11:03PM
  
That is a lot to digest with so many variables present and the time span limited to like 22 years in much of their study. A short time in the natural world.


That said things are changing rapidly at present,will it revert in time?
Lakes like Mille lacs has zebra mussels as now Winnebgosh and Leech lake. Water clarity has increased substantially in all lakes and the present population of of zebra mussels now in Mille lacs is extremely high and has the ability to filter the entire water mass present and zooplankton many times over. So how much biomass are they tying up for other invertebrate life and fish forage species and up the fish chain.


Mille lacs like in the lake 60's had smallmouth bass present in low numbers and mainly in the southeast corner. Population has exploded in the entire lake. Also statewide the smallmouth population has become present in 10 fold plus more lakes in the last 20+ years. I believe much of this is due to warmer lake water(yes also fishermen introduction also) favorable to Centrachid type fish.
Smallmouth will be tying up some of the biomass and compete for food in many lakes but not all.


Tullibee populations in its southern range area(Brainerd-Mille lacs) warmer lake waters has caused more frequent die-offs.
Walleye numbers down long term we just have to wait and see. At present I really see no danger for walleye decreasing along the border tho. Short term it might help there. More smallmouth present will hurt some walleye lakes.


A side note look how even black crappie numbers have expanded in lakes and numbers in the BWCA and there I think it is due mainly to a longer iceout period than the past and a little warmer water.
 
Rs130754
04/01/2018 09:21AM
  
Pinetree: "A side note look how even black crappie numbers have expanded in lakes and numbers in the BWCA and there I think it is due mainly to a longer iceout period than the past and a little warmer water."


I didn't realize this about Crappies, I figured I would find Walleye, Smallmouth, Trout, and Northern. Now I need to add a Crappie tray to my tackle box.