A new record stock is expected to occur this fall, with 760,000 extended growth walleye in the 6 to 8 inch range put in state waters. Last year, 720,000 extended growth walleye were stocked.
So far, 68 of 128 state waters have been stocked, according to the news release.
Prior to 2013, an average of 40,000 extended growth fingerlings were produced by the state each year. During the first three years of the initiative through 2015, 255 lakes will be stocked with more than 1.5 million extended growth walleye.
A large factor to the success of 2015 is the contributions from private and tribal fish farms to the pool of fish available for stocking. According to the release, during the first year of the Wisconsin Walleye Initiative, fish farms contributed just under 22,000 fish. That number rose to 213,000 fish last year and should be even higher this fall.
This year’s stocking schedule also calls for distribution of 1.4 million small fingerlings and 15.2 million fry. In some lakes the fry and smaller fingerlings perform very well and are more cost effective than the larger fish.
In 2013, Gov. Scott Walker and the Legislature approved the Wisconsin Walleye Initiative with $8.2 million for state hatchery infrastructure improvements, $1.3 million additional funding for annual state hatchery operating costs, along with a one-time allotment of $2 million for private sector and tribal infrastructure improvements and $500,000 for the annual purchase of extended growth walleye from non-DNR hatcheries. Funding totaling $500,000 was approved earlier this year to continue the effort for 2015 and 2016.
For a list of lakes being stocked, click here
Source: Wisconsin Outdoor Fun
