A few weeks ago, I wrote about our future walleye population, and natural predators were another reason for their declining numbers but was asked about another subject and got sidetracked. So, sorry about that and I will cover natural predators this week. To start, someone told me I should have added CLIMATE CHANGE being the cause for the decline in walleyes numbers because of the water temperature rising. Ok, I don’t want people to think I am not concerned about climate change, but most of the lakes with good walleye numbers have deeper water where walleyes CAN and WILL spend most of the summer and for over 25 years, I have kept a fishing journal with the date, weather conditions, where and what I used to catch the fish, the air AND water temperature. I will tell you, over those years, the water temps have not really fluctuated to the point where it has affected walleye fishing. So, I don’t think climate change is one of the bigger reasons for their low numbers. That being said, I was surprised to read articles that stated Wisconsin DNR biologist were looking into the relationship between largemouth bass and the walleye population on lakes where largemouth bass and panfish are abundant, but walleye numbers are low. Their thinking is, if a lake is overpopulated with largemouth bass and panfish, these two species are either preying on first year or small walleye fingerlings or there is not enough forage for all species.

To see if this study holds merit, the DNR wanted to find a lake with this scenario and remove 80 to 85 percent of the largemouth bass and panfish and relocate them to another lake. First of all, if you lived on, had a cottage or rented a cabin on a lake that the DNR wanted to perform this study, would you want this to happen? HELL NO. Second, will the same thing happen on that lake in 5 to 6 years? HELL YES. If this did occur, would the walleye numbers go up? OF COURES IT WILL. There have been past studies that have shown, abundant panfish and a larger number of largemouth bass in a lake equaled less walleye.

Here’s the thing. Lakes with good habitat where walleye spawning occurs, and walleye numbers are normal or above normal, the largemouth bass rating was always listed as present, while smallmouth bass were rated as common. Meaning, there’s not enough largemouth bass in the lake to affect the walleye population. Then, for the past 40 years, all those bass organizations, professional fishermen on TV and many guides have been preaching, IF YOU WANT BIGGER (TROPHY) BASS, ITS IMPERATIVE TO PRATICE CATCH AND RELEASE. Now add that walleye is one of the top species that people come to the Northwoods to fish for, so large amounts of legal-size walleyes are kept, and largemouth bass are released. What do you believe will happen? Yep, bass get bigger, and the walleye numbers goes down. One reason is because largemouth eat walleye, but walleye don’t eat largemouth bass.

There are some lakes that just aren’t suited for walleye, so stop spending the money on stocking walleye in that type of lake and let those lakes become known for good panfish and a trophy largemouth bass. Then, maybe concentrate on lakes that need to be supplemented by stocking extended growth walleye where the largemouth bass population is rated as present or common. Or how about enhancing walleye spawning habitat by adding rock/gravel to undeveloped shorelines on lakes that have low natural reproduction. This is just my opinion and I’m probably wrong, or am I?