The city of Mound City, KS. where I grew up some of my life built a new city lake west of it and due to last years and early this years heavy rainfall in that area, filled up completely way ahead of schedule.

It was stocked with several species of fish [including Walleye] I heard that recent rains had caused maybe half [or more] of the freshly stocked fish to get out of the new lake and go downstream. [Little Sugar Creek]

I was recently fishing with a buddy around 8 miles downstream from the lake and we caught 5 channel cat all in the 1 to 1 an 1/2 lb class in a pot hole and I caught 2 Walleye. I know these are some of the escaped fish. I was surprised at first that the fish had came this far down already, but I learned that there had been several 5-10 inch rains this yr. and serious high water that must have scattered lots of those fish up and down that creek [in every pothole is my guess.]

I know Panfish, Bass, Crappie, and Catfish can all survive in this creek as they have been there for decades.

But what about Walleye?

This creek has several deep long stretches of water [several hundred yards or [2-3 miles long] in it and thousands of pot holes. A few potholes could be 6-10 ft deep and the long stretches of water might be between 10-14 ft deep. I doubt any place along this creek would one find a hole of water 20 ft. deep. 

Can Walleye survive in water in the Winter time in Creek Water only 10-14 ft Deep? Or will they die from the cold or lack of oxygen maybe?  

I put the two Walleye I caught on a stringer and moved them down and released them into one of the longer deeper stretches of water. They will live for now. But I wonder if any of them will be alive by the end of next Winter?

   Steve the walleye will do just fine. Here at home on the Black River where I live I have yet to find a hole that is deeper than I am tall. We have Walleye, Muskie, Northern, SM Bass, and LM Bass all swimming in there. I don't think you get the frozen river syndrom like we have here. The only problem with our river is the size limit on Muskie is too big and they are eating all the other fish.

Thanks for the reply. I was worried the water would get too cold for them in KS as it is shallow it many places [the potholes] But the long stretches are deeper The next problem will be over crowding and will these longer stretches of river now survive with added Channel Cats and Walleye in them ?

I know plenty of the food size fish -  minnows and bluegills and whatever else is stocked as food in  new places & stocked in the new lake escaped to these same areas. So maybe the first year or two these fish will have plenty enough to eat.

This used to be a nice little  quiet creek where one caught Crappie, Panfish, Bass, and some Bullheads and Channel Cat. One mostly used 6 lb. test line throwing jigs and tube baits For the Crappie and panfish; 8 lb. maybe 10 lb. test for live bait poles. A few serious guys used 10-20 lb. test expecting to nail one of the Grandaddies of any Bass or Catfish. Largest Bass I have known to come out of this creek [since 1961] is 9 lbs. and I personally don't think I have ever seen a Catfish yet that weighed more than 5 lbs. But something has to Spawn to create the smaller ones, so there must be a few big ones hiding out in the brush piles and old Beaver dens underwater somewhere.

I still only use 6 lb on my jig and tube bait outfits and 8 lb for live bait rods in this creek. If these new fish start growing well in the next two-three yrs. I guess I better have my drags set and anti-reverse levers ready to use.

I guess whomever fishes this creek from now on, better get ready for a pleasant cultural shock. I have never seen a Walleye caught in it [until now] and never seen 5 Channel catfish  caught by anyone in one day either [I have caught more than 5 Bullheads in a day a few times] I caught 18 once.

  Steve I have my spinning rod spooled with 6# test. I have my baitcaster spooled with 12#. I have caught some awsome big fish on the 6#. One was a 60 inch lake sturgeon. The key is to keep the drag clean and set correctly. Then just be patient and the fish will tire. The only reason to use a heavier line is if you are fishing in weeds or if you want to boat the fish quickly with out tireing it too much.

We went and tried another long section of Little Sugar Creek 7/10. We caught another 1 lb + Channel cat, and 5 more small Walleye. We brought home 11 Bluegill and 10 Crappie. Threw back another 50-60 small fish inc. small LMB's. So it proves my theory that all those escaped fish have taken up residence in any stretch of water w/plenty of food and cover. We never did find a place deeper than 8 ft anywhere.And most of the [4 of 5] Walleye were in a stretch of water with dirt and small gravel mixed into the bank and river bottom. The other was caught next to a brush pile

I always use 6 and 8 lb. test on my reels graduating to 10,14-17, or 20 lb. test fishing for Serious Catfishing and for Northern Pike.

I know all about keeping drags clean and how to play fish.

In my life, I have a 9 1/2 lb Walleye, a 8 1/2 lb LMB, and a 12 1/2 lb Northern Pike all caught and landed on 6 Lb test. My two largest fish ever landed = A 15 lb. Carp yrs ago, and a 25 lb. Buffalo[caught this yr] both came in on 8 lb. test. I also have a 10 lb Channel cat as my largest, but it was caught on 10 lb. line on the good Zebco 33 reels made back in the early 70's.