“Walleye popularity is growing in North America, and may be stronger than ever,” says Wayne Barber. It definitely is. There are more tournaments. more trophy-class walleyes, more walleye anglers, more walleye boats, more walleye gear, more walleye waters, more walleye fishing and more walleyes to eat than ever before. They are being caught in lakes, rivers and reservoirs with simple tactics like a bobber and worm to some of the most advanced tactics in fishing, which employ cutting-edge electronics, high-dollar gear and high-level fishing skills. Walleye boats range from canoes and kayaks to 14-footers with small outboards to 20-foot deep-vee hulls loaded like spaceships. Walleye are also caught from shore or while wading.
To determine where walleyes swim today, we talked with fisheries biologists and walleye anglers all over the continent. The findings are compiled in the map, which also outlines the typical ice line – because during open water Target Walleye lives and breathes walleyes, and during hard water covers all species pursued by ice anglers.
Walleye fishing and ice fishing are two of the biggest fisheries in North America, and the OUTDOOR SCENE is the #1 New England media outlet catering to these regions, fisheries and anglers. Walleyes fascinate anglers and have a reputation for confounding fishermen. So do many species under the ice.
Walleye are
one of the most popular gamefish in North America. They grow to a large size,
can be caught throughout the year using a variety of techniques, and are known
for their exquisite flavor. Walleye are also efficient pelagic predators that
play an important role in enhancing balanced fish populations and quality
fisheries. The Connecticut Inland Fisheries Division began stocking fingerling walleyes into
a few lakes in 1993 to diversify the State's recreational fisheries. These lakes
were selected because they were best suited for walleye, have marginal trout
habitat and abundant forage fish populations. In these waters walleyes will
create additional fisheries for large open-water gamefish. In addition, a lack
of large predatory fishes has been identified as a problem resulting in
imbalanced fish populations in many Connecticut lakes.
As part of DEEP Inland Fisheries Research and Mangement Grant
(F-57-R), quality walleye fisheries were established in Gardner Lake, Salem and
Squantz Pond, New Fairfield. Due to the popularity of the program, two water
companies initiated stocking walleye into Lake Saltonstall, Branford and
Saugatuck Reservoir, Weston. Also, in 2001, Connecticut expanded the walleye
program to include the following lakes: Batterson Park Pond, Farmington; Beach
Pond, Voluntown; Coventry Lake, Coventry and Mashapaug Lake, Union.
More
recently walleye fingerlings were stocked into Lake Zoar, Monroe-Oxford (2011)
and Mt Tom Pond, Litchfield; Cedar Lake, Chester and West Thompson Reservoir,
West Thompson (2012).
Walleye populations in these lakes are completely supported by
annual fall stockings of 4 to 6-inch fingerlings purchased from a commercial
supplier located in the mid-west. Currently the state stocks more than 33,000
fingerlings into 10 public lakes. An additional 10,000 fingerlings are stocked
by South Central Regional Water Authority (Lake Saltonstall) and Aquarion Water
Company (Saugatuck Reservoir) into their lakes that allow fishing through permit
access. Statewide walleye regulations in Connecticut are an 18-inch minimum
size limit and a 2-fish creel limit. Trophy fish awards of walleye catches
greater than 23 inches (released) or greater than 6 pounds (kept) have been
awarded to anglers from every lake stocked with walleye (since 2001). Most
trophy fish awards have come from Lake Saltonstall and Squantz Pond. Check out
the link on
our Facebook
page to see how the Inland Fisheries Division uses electrofishing techniques
to sample walleye populations. Inland Fisheries Division is continually
exploring new options to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of this
program with a priority to assess angler harvest rates to ensure that current
walleye regulations are adequate to sustain quality fishing. Please visit one of
our walleye
lakes and get in on the fast action and excellent table fare that these fish
provide!
How To Fish For Walleye
SPRING
Top Baits: Small crankbaits, small jigs and plastic worms.Fish shallow to moderate depths as the walleye move into the shallows to spawn. Gravel ledges, points and submerged humps in protected areas are prime holding areas.
SUMMER
Top Baits: Crankbaits, Jigs and plastic worms.Fish shallow in the mornings and evenings and move deeper as the sun rises. Use lures that mimic crawfish as this is a favorite food of the walleye. Follow points and rocky or gravel structure deeper until you establish the proper depth.
CT State Record: 14 lbs 8 oz
World Record: 25 lbs
FALL
Top Baits: Jigs, crankbaits and spoons.Fish shallow to moderate depths in the mornings and evenings. As the sun rises move deeper toward outside structure and use small spoons or jigs.
WINTER
Top Baits: Jigs, spoons and plastic worms.Try moderately shallow depths in the mornings then move deeper as the sun rises. Walleyes are less active in cold water, so move your bait in a slow, easy to catch manner and fish deep structure.
ICE FISHING: Jig with spoons tipped with a piece of worm, mealy worm or small golden shiner. Tip-ups work great with a medium size shiner. Rhode Island (Beach Pond) 5 tip-ups and no treble hook, single hook only. Conn. 6 tip-ups so check your State abstracts for ice fishing regulations
Where they go, why they move, how to find them, and how to catch them – these are just some of the things constantly pursued on the OUTDOOR SCENE. Thanks for following our Web-Site and for tuning in every week.
Source Target/Walleye, The Fishing Wire
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