Walleyes Remain Abundant in Sylvan Lake, Indiana
OutdoorHub 05.07.12
Walleyes remain so abundant at Sylvan Lake in Noble County that the DNR is again scaling back walleye stocking there.
The move will allow the DNR to devote more walleye fingerlings to Lake Maxinkuckee in Marshall County.
“Given the high number of walleyes now present in Sylvan Lake, we think we can make better use of walleye fingerlings without affecting the quality of walleye fishing at Sylvan,” said Jed Pearson, fisheries biologist for DNR’s Division of Fish & Wildlife.
This year is the second time since 2009 the DNR has reduced walleye stocking at 669-acre Sylvan Lake. Even so, Sylvan continues to support one of the densest walleye populations in Indiana.
Using an electro-fishing boat, DNR biologists captured 100 age-1-and-older walleyes per hour of sampling last fall. The catch rate was the highest ever recorded in the state for walleyes and rivaled the number of largemouth bass typically found in Indiana lakes.
The biggest walleye sampled was 24 inches, and 36 percent measured at least 14 inches, the minimum size for anglers to keep walleyes in Indiana.
The DNR began stocking walleye fingerlings at Sylvan in 2001 at about 13,000 fingerlings each year. In 2009, biologists cut the number to 10,000 walleyes per year due to concerns of over-stocking and signs of slowing growth.
“Even though we are now stocking fewer walleyes in Sylvan, there are more in the lake than ever before,” Pearson said.
Biologists will cut the number of walleyes stocked at Sylvan by another 25 percent in 2012.
