Walleye Populations Coming Back, Gbay Walleye

I've been fishing Georgian Bay for over 25 years along the Eastern shores, South of Parry Sound. Until 2017, I had never hooked into a walleye... part of it was that I wasn't targeting them specifically, but I would have expected to at least hook into the odd one when fishing other species. I'm really happy to see (what appears to be) the populations making a come back. I've been finding them more consistently and even hooking the odd one when downrigging for salmon.

This past weekend was no exception. I was out for 3 hours and the first 2.5 I got skunked... jigged for walleye, then cast for pike and then decided to throw a lipless crank and troll... nothing worked. But while I was trolling, I noticed a few fish hugging the bottom in 50fow off a shelf. I was going to ignore it and continue home, but decided to stop the boat, lock on my spot and let out a drop shot minnow. Within 2 minutes, I had a bite but lost the fish and the bait. I immediately dropped it back down and within a minute, hooked into a beautiful 15.5" walleye. Super excited, I dropped it my line right back down, and within seconds of hitting the bottom, I landed a 17.5" eye. Beautiful fish - both fish were let go.

So glad to see the populations making a come back in the area! Can't wait to try my luck again this weekend!

Walleye#2

I used to target walleye and then one year I quit. I went 68 fish in the slot size 16 to 22 inches. My 69th Eye I was allowed to keep.....what a waste of time is how I felt. I love to eat my fish. The regs in my opinion are wrong on eyes. You can have two under or one under and one over for your limit. So a guy takes his son fishing and buys a licence, a $5,000 entry level boat and motor, tackle, gas for travel and boat, wear and tear on car, and he has to throw all fish back in....that is wrong. He and his son go home empty handed. In my humble opinion you should be able to keep still only two....two under or any combo of one in each of the three sizes....one under and one in the slot......one in the slot and one over.

I did find out targeting pike in deeper colder water ....the taste of the pike are every bit as good in taste as Eyes.

Definitely frustrating, as to your point the majority of the fish that I've caught over the past couple year were in the 16-22" range... The 15.5" was one of the first good sized fish that could have been a keeper. Hopefully as the fishery improves, they will consider changing regulations on them... but who knows if/when that could be.

In terms of pike, I totally agree - I always keep a few every year for a fish fry. I cut them into thin strips, batter them and deep fry to make them curl up. Call it Georgian Bay Shrimp.. excellent!

I wouldn’t say George Bay is getting better. It would be nice if there was a fish hatchery in the penatane or Midland area Let’s stocked more walleye. I’ve heard of all kinds of good stories up north where the local owners of the lake have started their own hatchery program Regulated by the Ministry and some lakes have bounce back from over harvesting.

I would definitely be interested in volunteering if the walleye in Georgian Bay would be better

Ewwy cant see how pike tastes as good as a pickeral

I can't let that pike comment alone. Sure, pike is different from walleye, but its just as good eating, if it is prepared well. If we are keeping a pike (usually one from 3 to 5 lb);
1. I kill it with a whack on the head, and that stops the fish from producing slime,
2. keep it cool until I can filet it,
3 take the filets off, then the skin, then the y-bones, always keeping the meat clean,
4. separate the meat into 1/2 in thick pieces approx 2 oz or smaller
5. batter, deep fry.
We use a deep fryer from crappy tire, cost less than $100 on sale. Cook the fish in batches of 4 to 6 pieces, so that the oil stays hot. My batter is 3 parts flour and 1 part baking powder mixed in beer. You can add herbs and spices to it.