Originally posted by: Chris Stack on 2/11/2007 8:45:06 AM

We're all entitled to our opinions and I respect that. Just thought I'd offer mine on the topic of keeping big walleyes... I mainly fish the eastern basin of Lake Erie when the walleyes have migrated from the shallower western end to the deeper, cooler waters of the eastern end. The majority of these fish are 6 pounds or larger, with "over 10's" very common. I keep many of the biggest walleyes I catch and feel no guilt at all! Aside from being my legal right, I firmly believe that most of these fish are well past their prime and of little use as far as propagation of the species goes. Very few of their eggs are fertile. Every fisheries biologist I've talked with seems to agree on this subject. As for having one mounted.. I've caught several 12's and 13's, and one over 14 and have yet to put one on the wall. If I did.. it would be a replica mount.. they're too good to eat! Let's hear some other opinions! Good Fishing, Sluggo (Chris)

Hey Nebraska! I have to agree with you on releasing the larger fish. Here in NE Ill the prime walleye water is the Fox Chain, and there is a slot limit in place. You are allowed 3 walleye none of which can be smaller than 14", no fish can be kept between 18" and 24", and you may keep 1 fish overe 24" as part of your 3. I am a firm believer in catch and release: Any 15-17" walleye should be immediatly cleaned and released into hot Crisco after being suitably coated in crumbs or batter. Let the big 'uns go to make babies.

Too bad we don't live closer, I think I could fish for a week with you without a cross word.

Tom

  Just remember that BIG Fish depends where you are fishing. If the average is 10 Lbs then its only big to those of us that regularly hook into 13 inch fish. I put back 80% of what I catch, since I fish everyday and you can only possess 2 days limit.

Anyone who routinely practices catch and release should never feel guilty about keeping a legitemate trophy, especially a record fish. I fish a local pond that is 1 1/2 blocks from the house. when I first started fishing there, 24" bass were common. The lake has since been fished out of all the large fish and the remaining fish are stunted. The Park Dist. stocked some Northern to thin the herd, I hope they don't get fished out also. The one I caught last fall was 25" (a keeper in Il) and had some girth to it. I released it.

Tom

A good topic and all good points made.  The topic made me do some research.  I had the privilege to sit in on a ODNR seminar (Ohio Division of Natural Recourses) were the gentleman discussed growth and aging of walleye.  This was confusing to me at first.  They know use an ear bone to age the fish (otoliths).  The growth rings are like a tree one ring per year.  Ohio State has know aged a male walleye at 24 years old and 21 inches long as male do not grow as big as females do. The larger fish were females 32 inch rang and 15 years old the fish that were older were smaller but not by much around 29 inches.  They say the fast growing fish die sooner.

So in my opinion releasing larger fish would be good 15 year old fish still are fertile I think.  But I am guilty of keeping larger fish and I do think smaller fish 18 to 22 inches taste better.    Chris they do seem to grow them big around here and they get heavy in the fall. The average size is about 24 to 26 inches in the central basin 5 to 7 pounds depending on the time of the year.  Fish-a-holic has a good point it is relative to the average in your area.

Nebraskawalleye has a good point there are more of the smaller ones than the giants especially after the 2003 hatch averaging 20 to 22 inches.  Good eating fish! In Ohio the bag limit is 4 from March 1 to April 30 and then it is 6 the rest of the time with a min of 15 inches long. 

Thank you for the post.

Limits are not one size fits all. A 6 fish limit on Erie might be fine, but would be devestating on the Fox Chain northwest of Chicago. I fish the Chain and choose to only harvest 14-18" fish for the table, I release the over 24's to breed even though I can keep 1 per day by law. I'm not sure about the regs on Lk. Michigan, as the Il. DNR denies that Lk. Mich can support a viable Walleye population. They seem to be at a loss to explain the 7.5# Walleye caught last fall on the lakefront from a City of Chicago park(Northerly Is. formerly Meigs' Field). No one put it there, and the lake ecosystem can't support 'eyes.WTF?

Tom

Pegsguy,

Your point is well taken.  It is not one size fits all.  We are not allowed to keep 14” fish for example to small.  It is different from place to place like fish-a-holic explained. If I targeted 14” to 18” fish I would come in empty sometimes witch happens sometimes any way.  Last fall I pulled in a nice catch off of South Bass Island Put-in-bay fishing from shore and not one was less than 18” and the big one was a fish Ohio at 30 ½” 10 pounds nice fat fish. So I am guilty of keeping some big ones but I do let most of the 28”+ go if they aren’t harmed.  It seems live bait rigs hurt them more often.  

Tony 

Tony:

Nice fish. Lake Erie? I wish we had walleye that size in abundance here, but our fish seem to be slimmer. It's probably due to the environment, the Fox river and chain is heavily fished due to being an hour from Chicago proper, and also sees heavy recreational traffic all summer long, esp. the weekends. You literally take your life in your hands going out to fish on the weekends in summer. I know some guys that fish on the weekends, but they get out early and are off the lakes by 11 AM. I try to fish during the week, preferably Wed and thurs as the lakes have settled down from the weekend and the boat traffic is manageable. Good luck this coming season.

Tom

St. Croix Man,

Love the name those are my favorite rods.  I think that it depends on their diet environment and sex ODNR says the females 15” are 2 to 3 years old males are older.  Just an opinion I formed from talking with ODNR and others.   

 Nebraskawalleye,

That’s a good fish.  Over here we use a lot of crawler harnesses along with spoons and hard baits. Not much on jigs and minnows except over reefs or ice fishing.  We catch them at about 40’ to 50’ but there bladders mostly stay down but not always.  You can puncture the bladder and they will live I did not know that.  Thanks for that info.

there was a study done in Alberta Canada on the subject of fizzing walleyes and they found that fizzing did not increase survival rate of deep caught walleyes and in some cases actually lowered it  this study also showed that deep caught walleye have other problems besides an over inflated swim bladder.

http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/228130.pdf

the link is not the study done in Canada but dose have reference to it  page 8 of this pdf will give the info.

Sluggo:

Don't get the wrong idea from my posts! Every lake or river is different. What is good for Lk. Erie would devastate the local walleye fishery in the Il Fox Chain. On the Fox Chain we are limited to 3 walleye and have a slot limit. We cannot keep any fish under 14" any fish between 18'and 24" and if you keep a 24+ it counts againt your 3 fish limit. I don't know anyone who keeps fish over 18", although if I caught a possible record, i'd have to think about it!

Tom

To the best of my knowledge, adult fish do not teach their young. They spawn and may guard the nest but once the eggs hatch, the fry are on their own to live or die. Survival of the fittest at the most basic level.

Tom