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Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay. | This was a question asked on another board that I answered, and thought it might be a good thread here as well.
snakebit67
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Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: livonia
Posts: 1,123
Photos: 11
Smalleyes?????
Just wondering what everyones opinion is on the seemingly overabundent undersize walleye poplulation of the Saginaw Bay/River the past couple of years.
Answer: --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Even though the DNR has had two very good (pond raised) fingerling plants the last two years, the natural reproduction of walleyes in the area rivers is the real cause of this bonanza of little guys. The reasons, circumstances and conclusions surrounding this walleye natural reproduction wind fall, fly in the face of what our DNR has wrongly concluded for years. They assumed our river systems were not environmentally adequate enough to support a natural reproduction of walleyes, and their Fall trawls every year (supposedly) suported those fact.
They always assumed the majority of the small walleye fry were starving to death before they smolted out into the Bay. But have recently concluded that the walleye fry spilling out of the rivers in the spring, were being ate by the multitude of alewife (their worst predetor at that stage in their lives) before they could grow into fingerlings and fend for themselves. Their reasons for this conclusion though, were sound.
For reasons they are still trying to determine, the alewife population has declined seriously the last two years in a row on Lake Huron and Saginaw Bay. And at the same time, the DNR has recorded record numbers (in the millions) of natural reproduced walleye fingerlings in their trawls the last two years in a row. The walleye fry's worst predator is no longer in the equation, so their numbers have skyrocketed. You have to keep in mind, that everything in the Bay rather predator or prey, has everything to do with keeping the balance for everything else. Take away one fish's food or prey, and it will either prosper or die. Heres some info from their trawl results last year.
Preliminary Observations from the DNR Annual
Saginaw Bay Fish Community Survey 2004
This survey is conducted each September by the DNR Fisheries Division. Trawling is performed by the R/V Channel Cat from the Lake St. Clair Fisheries Research Station and Gillnetting by the R/V Chinook from the Alpena Fisheries Research Station. Trawling collects mostly juveniles of game species and smaller prey species. Gillnetting samples some juveniles and adults of game species. Together they provide good coverage of the overall fish community.
These initial impressions are based on field observations by the research biologists involved (Dave Fielder and Mike Thomas). Actual data analysis and additional lab work has yet to take place and final conclusions may differ from these preliminary impressions.
• The record 2003 year class of walleye first measured as young-of-the-year (YOY) last year in the bay were not nearly as abundant this year. The corresponding catch rate in the gillnets suggested that they were only as abundant as the previous record year class (1998) but no more so. The 2003 walleye year class is still very large and will greatly benefit the fishery, but unfortunately appears to have suffered considerable mortality since first measured in 2003.
• The 2004 walleye year class (as measured this year at the YOY stage) is also very abundant. This constitutes the third strong walleye year class in a row (since 2002). However, the average size of these YOY walleye was very small this year. This means they will be vulnerable to more over winter mortality, especially if the coming winter is harsh.
• The record yellow perch year class first measured as YOY last year in the bay were vastly reduced in number this year (measured as yearlings). Their numbers were more than 90% less than last year. Like the walleye, they appear to have been diminished by mortality.
• The 2004 yellow perch year class (this year’s YOY) were again very abundant although not as great as last year. However, they also appear to be small in size and will potentially experience high over winter mortality.
• Adult perch were not widely abundant but those that were present were very large and fat.
• Adult walleye numbers appeared typical of recent years.
• Young-of-the-year alewives were very scarce in this year’s survey. Normally Saginaw Bay is one of the principal nursery grounds for alewives in Lake Huron. Their near absence this year suggests that the Lake Huron alewife population will likely get little boost next year (at least not from the Saginaw Bay source).
• Overall prey numbers of bay-resident species such as spottail shiners and trout-perch remain very abundant (in the bay).
• Round gobies continue to be found throughout the bay in large numbers.
• Whitebass YOY numbers in 2004 were high for the second consecutive year after an extended period of low catch rates in the trawls.
Overall, we see the fish community of Saginaw Bay continuing to experience very strong percid (perch and walleye) production (since about 2002). The strong perch and walleye year classes still bode well for the future of those fisheries in the bay. Unfortunately, the resulting year class strength is not nearly as large as first indicated by last years sampling. Analysis of the data collected this September will continue this winter and these observations will be refined into quantitative descriptions. Emphasis will be placed on understanding what factors are limiting percid survival. |
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| Looks like 2005 may be a good year to use walleye, perch and goby colored crankbaits. Without the alewives I'm sure they will be on the menu. |
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Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay. | Ed Stachowski - 1/27/2005 11:15 AM
Looks like 2005 may be a good year to use walleye, perch and goby colored crankbaits. Without the alewives I'm sure they will be on the menu.
Keep that thought Ed.
I'll have and share some exciting news concerning that subject in a few weeks with all you guys.   |
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| Dan,
I was womdering about the white bass population and their effect on the YOY walleye and perch numbers. I have never seen the white bass numbers as high as last year, and those puppies are very aggresive. I would bet that they are having a field day on these YOY fry.
Rob |
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Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay. | Rob Stratton - 1/27/2005 2:23 PM
Dan,
I was womdering about the white bass population and their effect on the YOY walleye and perch numbers. I have never seen the white bass numbers as high as last year, and those puppies are very aggresive. I would bet that they are having a field day on these YOY fry.
Rob
Rob.
I'm thinking virtually everything that swims can eat those little (dime size) fry as they smolt out. But some species seem to taget better, and be especially detrimental to other certain species. Rather it's climatic timing, life cycle circumstances that throw them together, or simple forage preferences, who knows. I'm guessing Mother Nature tosses the dice more often than even we know. All we can do is role with her punches. |
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