Walleye Population Report

[gbill512]

https://www.cleveland.com/sports/2020/03/lake-erie-walleye-numbers-in-stratosphere-future-is-bright.html

[GAMBLER]

I would think the walleye population boom is to the decline in alewife after two very harsh winters a couple years ago. 

[mr 580]

Alewife are present in Lake Erie but they tend to makeup a small percentage of baitfish base.  Believe studies show the shallower nature of the lake and ice cover tend to limit alewife.  Emerald shiners, rainbow smelt, perch and now gobies seem to be what walleyes on east end are targeting.  I don’t usually see alewife if I happen to check stomachs.  Interesting how the forage base differs one lake to another.

[GAMBLER]

2 hours ago, mr 580 said:

Alewife are present in Lake Erie but they tend to makeup a small percentage of baitfish base.  Believe studies show the shallower nature of the lake and ice cover tend to limit alewife.  Emerald shiners, rainbow smelt, perch and now gobies seem to be what walleyes on east end are targeting.  I don’t usually see alewife if I happen to check stomachs.  Interesting how the forage base differs one lake to another.

Like Ontario, the two harsh winters a couple years ago more than likely put a dent in what was left in the alewife population in Erie.  The fewer alewife the walleye eat, the less thiamine deficiency they will have and better reproduction.  Two years ago, the walleye we cut up had small alewife, gobies, and perch in their stomachs. 

[mr 580]

Agree walleyes adapt to available forage-pretty efficient predator.  Hoping we don’t have so many walleyes that they crash the bait populations. Hard to believe they could dent the goby population.

[sherman brown]

On 3/28/2020 at 1:00 PM, gbill512 said:

https://www.cleveland.com/sports/2020/03/lake-erie-walleye-numbers-in-stratosphere-future-is-bright.html

thank you for posting this. the walleye fishing looks great for yrs to come even with a few bad hatches. we were still getting a large number of the 03 hatch when the small fish took over. we've had 3 awesome hatches out of 4. with the 18 hatch being the best on record. plus we are getting fish early to the east from the resident hatches. just hope i'm able to keep fishing for the next 10 yrs. i'm 68 now and not near as healthy as I was 10 yrs ago. I fish Geneva ohio on the central basin.

[J. Sparrow]

God Bless you Mr. Brown. I hope you can fish for at least another 10 years.

 

Stay Safe.

Edited April 3, 2020 by J. Sparrow

[Misdirection]

God Bless you Mr. Brown. I hope you can fish for at least another 10 years.
 
Stay Safe.

Now don't you be calling Uncle Sherman Mr. Brown. That'll be going to his head....

Sorry Sherman, I just had too!

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