Forums > Fishing Club Forum > Exotic and Unusual Species Fishing
Zander in North America?
Last Post 09 Dec 2010 06:17 PM by fisherfanatic. 18 Replies.
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fisherfanaticUser is Offline Veteran Poster Veteran Poster Send Private Message Posts:1493 fisherfanatic
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20 Nov 2010 03:09 PM
    Zander:
    http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/Spe...&AT=zander

    I was reading one of my In-Fisherman magazines from a few years ago and I read an interesting article.  It seems that several years ago, Zander were experimentally stocked into Spiritwood Lake (North Dakota) in 1989.  Fear of that they would escape the lake and move into other waterways led to efforts to remove them a few years later.  In 2006 someone caught and released a Zander that measured over 30 inches long and had a 20 inch girth (a North American record)!

    Does anyone ever gotten the chance to fish for these fish?  What is your opinion on stocking these fish in North America?
    "I may be physically at my computer right now, but my mind has gone fishing!" --Avid angler from MI and member since 2009--
    ramseyetcsUser is Offline Advanced Poster Advanced Poster Send Private Message Posts:310 ramseyetcs
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    20 Nov 2010 06:15 PM
    I think the rule of unintended concequences applies and that probably won't be known for some time.
    Until you made this post I thought "zander" and "walleye" were the same thing but are NOT, although they are closely related.
    Only time will tell...........
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zander
    Paul, S-Eastern CT, Retired USNR/USN, American Legion, NERA Life Member, MDA/UAW
    slipperybobUser is Offline Veteran Poster Veteran Poster Send Private Message Posts:1240 slipperybob
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    24 Nov 2010 05:27 PM
    I vaguely remember some old Zander stockings in one MN lake as well. Maybe I remember wrong.
    fisherfanaticUser is Offline Veteran Poster Veteran Poster Send Private Message Posts:1493 fisherfanatic
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    24 Nov 2010 07:41 PM
    I've never heard of any stocking attempts in MN.  I'll have to research into that...
    "I may be physically at my computer right now, but my mind has gone fishing!" --Avid angler from MI and member since 2009--
    ramseyetcsUser is Offline Advanced Poster Advanced Poster Send Private Message Posts:310 ramseyetcs
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    24 Nov 2010 07:48 PM
    Unfortunately, problems caused by stocking new species in any given location may not be apparent for years after its to late.  Like I said, only time will tell.
    Paul, S-Eastern CT, Retired USNR/USN, American Legion, NERA Life Member, MDA/UAW
    slipperybobUser is Offline Veteran Poster Veteran Poster Send Private Message Posts:1240 slipperybob
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    25 Nov 2010 10:54 AM
    These are zander stockings back in the days of pioneer settlers or seomething like that.
    skewlUser is Offline Veteran Poster Veteran Poster Send Private Message Posts:1007 skewl
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    25 Nov 2010 06:40 PM
    I would definitely not like to have zander stocked in my home lake, I read a story about one biting several swimmers in I think Switzerland a year or two ago, and this one was about 30 inches long and something like 25 pounds! I guess this time dinner fought back
    fisherfanaticUser is Offline Veteran Poster Veteran Poster Send Private Message Posts:1493 fisherfanatic
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    25 Nov 2010 09:21 PM

    I'm not sure how much truth there was to that story, skewl.   Is there an internet article on it?
    "I may be physically at my computer right now, but my mind has gone fishing!" --Avid angler from MI and member since 2009--
    esoxhunterUser is Offline New Poster New Poster Send Private Message Posts:28 esoxhunter
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    26 Nov 2010 07:51 PM
    I've read that article about the one in N Dakota as far as stocking them I don't think there would really be any benefit to stocking zander. They dont really provide anything for angling that you wouldnt get from walleye. That and I'm strongly against introducing non-native species. The fish themselves probably would be ok because they're so similar to eyes but you never know if they carry some kind of disease or parasite that they are immune to but would harm the native fish.
    Take a fish boating
    fisherfanaticUser is Offline Veteran Poster Veteran Poster Send Private Message Posts:1493 fisherfanatic
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    27 Nov 2010 09:20 AM

    The only benifit I can think of is that they grow larger and are alot more aggressive.  
    "I may be physically at my computer right now, but my mind has gone fishing!" --Avid angler from MI and member since 2009--
    slipperybobUser is Offline Veteran Poster Veteran Poster Send Private Message Posts:1240 slipperybob
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    27 Nov 2010 12:49 PM
    I wouldn't mindfishing for them.
    davesett2000User is Offline Veteran Poster Veteran Poster Send Private Message Posts:2212 davesett2000
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    29 Nov 2010 02:52 PM

    This is yet another of those topics that basically boils down to "personal preference".

    As much as I would like to catch a few monster Zanders...I wouldn't want walleye fisheries to get over-run / wiped out by Zanders.

    JMHO

    What's kind of amazing is that MANY years ago bass and brown tout (among other species) were being spread about North America like flies  but no one seemed to care.

    These days...more folks see & understand the diversity issue than ever before...and the advantages

    Still...JMHO

    Life Member David 2001 BB Linkmeister US Army 1978-1985 Western Wisconsin Photobucket
    skewlUser is Offline Veteran Poster Veteran Poster Send Private Message Posts:1007 skewl
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    30 Nov 2010 04:16 PM
    BTW, fisherfanatic, I just found a few articles on the subject on a few foreign websites, but only a couple in English. Here's 2 of 'em:

    http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/%27Mons...g_swimmers

    http://www.themercury.co.za/index.p...Id=5081567
    fisherfanaticUser is Offline Veteran Poster Veteran Poster Send Private Message Posts:1493 fisherfanatic
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    30 Nov 2010 06:51 PM
    Thanks!
     
    I made your links a bit more user friendly:
     
    http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/%27Monster%27_fish_killed_in_Swiss_lake_after_biting_swimmers 

    http://www.themercury.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=5081567 

    Wow!  10 cm long bite marks!

    I wish there were some pictures of the victims.  If you find any, please include a link.
    "I may be physically at my computer right now, but my mind has gone fishing!" --Avid angler from MI and member since 2009--
    slipperybobUser is Offline Veteran Poster Veteran Poster Send Private Message Posts:1240 slipperybob
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    30 Nov 2010 08:58 PM
    I like how they made a meal out of it afterwards...but I can't imagine the cost of what it took to catch the fish.
    skewlUser is Offline Veteran Poster Veteran Poster Send Private Message Posts:1007 skewl
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    08 Dec 2010 04:45 PM
    Fisherfanatic: I can't find any bite pics, probably some legal issues or something with that kind of thing. And I'll bet the cost of the catch was a fraction of the $ they've gotten from the publicity, slipperybob.
    lowellhturnerUser is Offline Advanced Poster Advanced Poster Send Private Message Posts:267 lowellhturner
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    09 Dec 2010 08:54 AM
    Zander are the largest members of the walleye class and can exceed 60+ lbs, they are more agressive feeders as their size would imply and commercial fishermen and sportsfishermen in Europe have had many cases of losing fingers and/ or parts thereof to those razor sharp fangs while unhooking them; a big nasty (if tasty) "wallygator" that WILL bite back!
    skewlUser is Offline Veteran Poster Veteran Poster Send Private Message Posts:1007 skewl
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    09 Dec 2010 04:25 PM
    Holy smoke! I knew they got big, but 60 lbs?! Thats like as big as a pike or a small gar! I would not like to come face-to-face with a 60 lb zander during one of my wading excursions. Think they make chainmail waders???
    fisherfanaticUser is Offline Veteran Poster Veteran Poster Send Private Message Posts:1493 fisherfanatic
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    09 Dec 2010 06:17 PM
    It says on fishbase.org that the maximum size Zander can reach is approximately 44 pounds (20.00 kg):

    http://fishbase.org/Summary/Species...&AT=zander

    Maybe 60 pounds is the world record?
    "I may be physically at my computer right now, but my mind has gone fishing!" --Avid angler from MI and member since 2009--

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