Walleye in the Kawarthas

Just saw this article and thought I would pass it along

https://www.kawartha411.ca/2024/03/12/where...t-series/?amp=1

I have fished the Kawarthas for over 30 years and yes I have definitely noticed a decline in walleye numbers. Anyways.. Interesting read..

And this is part 2.. just found it

https://www.kawartha411.ca/2024/03/13/where...part-two/?amp=1

That popped up on my phone the other day. A very interesting read from more than one perspective. Last season was very lucky for me catching more walleye than in the last 20 years. Small, medium, large walleye and a few monster PB walleye as a bonus. I think the walleye are going to come back to a stable and healthy population in the Kawarthas. BUT, it will never be what it was in the past because of the many factors mentioned in the two part article. Educating people on fishing is a great way to protecting a fishery one person at a time. Thank you for posting that article, the more people that read it the better. Your Fishing Forum has and will continue to be a great place to accumulate and pass on knowledge. People helping people, helping the fishery is a good place to start.

Interesting read. What is also interesting is that it seemed to suggest that walleye were not native but introduced to these lakes. So, should we be protecting an introduced species because people prefer to catch them? There is no mention of the introduced black crappie either. For Scugog at least there was some concerns (not sure if they are still real concerns or not) that the introduction of crappie has had an impact on Scugog's walleye population. No doubt all those things mentioned will likely have some impact on all the life in these lakes and it also seems to imply that fishing level has little to do with the population. I can kind of see that argument for sure if large areas of habitat is being destroyed (and the important habitat of the fish prey). If the larger issue (I would think the habitat) is not addressed, then the other impacts like fishing pressure is not going to do much in changing the situation. The annual draw-downs to ensure waterfront property owners are happy seem like a bad idea...my feeling is that waterfront property owners should weigh the risks of living waterfront with the pros of living there. But most never seem to want to have the problems of living beside naturally changing environments and want to control the changes that are so necessary for life to flourish.

Thanks for posting this article, I did read this a few years ago when the local MPP was using it as part of his election platform. As a lifetime fisherman on Stoney lake (I'm 52) I witnessed the decline personally. As a youn man I could go out in a small tinny, pick a shoal and almost always catch a few nice walleye "pickeral". I can also tell you that there was far more fishermen on the lake back then and it did not seem to hurt the population of walleye. I also remember going to a local creek where we would watch the white suckers in the hundreds if not thousands in the Spring. The suckers are gone and the walleye fishing is a mere fraction of what it used to be.

I can also say anecdotely that not a lot of people are out fishing on Stoney anymore. Way less than it used to be even though the people population is exponentially larger. However, the Bass (Both smallmouth and largemouth as well as Crappie are flourishing.

Therefore I would agree that the issue is definitely spawning habitat versus overfishing.

I would like to see an effort to repair or create spawning grounds. Alternatively and a less desireable solution would be to have a stocking program knowing that there is food and habitat for the walleye but that's a longer conversation.

MC

I've been on Upper Buckhorn for 8 years and have seen a decline from when I started here till now.

I'm close in age as you, a couple years older, 54. I have not fished Stoney, but have fished Scugog, Rice, Sturgeon and the Tri-lakes extensively. Scugog is completely changed and as we know, walleye fishing is closed now. Rice has definitely seen a large decline. I used to get a limit very easily before the slots and limit was reduced. Sturgeon, same, lots of walleye 25 years ago in normal holding areas, drop-offs, shoals etc. Now it's much more difficult. Agreed the number of fisherman has dwindled with the decline of the walleye. Yes some populations are still there, but in general much harder to catch. The out-of-town renters who used to come and fill the resorts and rent fishing boats, who are not as experienced as 'us' locals for the most part --- they are not catching walleye consistently or as easily anymore and stopped coming. I know many resorts that have closed down and converted to the rent to own type, and for the most part today's renters are not fishermen, they are families just wanting to come out to lake and spent a weekend or week, with paddle boats, canoes and some dock fishing for panfish.

I understand things change. But for those of us that remember how it used to be. It's a bit sad now, just flipping through the photo albums.

Fish on and have fun.. and enjoy what we have.

I grew up fishing Balsam and the last 50 years has been a significant decline.

Now I catch more Pike than Pickerel. The article is bang on in that the loss of spawning beds is a much larger problem than most other factors, fishing pressure etc.

We also need to be careful what we read. I went right to the source.

Bobcaygeon has 2 bottom discharge radial gates and 9 top discharge log sluices.
Little Bob is also top discharge. So back to the drawing board!

And what was the O2 and temperature readings you got from the water coming out at the bottom where the Hydraulic gates open? I suspect you did get this info if you think they need to go back to the drawing board?

"be careful what we read" . And you did read the entire article? as well as all the info on savethewalleye.ca ? And you read Larry's report? https://savethewalleye.ca/LarrysReport.pdf

Naturenut, yes I did read all articles.
Part,2 of the kawartha411 essentially states the bottom discharge dams are to blame when reality is all but 2 of the dams in bobcaygeon are log top sluices.

Now the second article which was posted (after I made said comments)referring to the interaction with Jamie Shmale. States the issue more clearly that the two radial dams at the farthest point away from the spawning beds have more to do with diverting water.

Never fished the Kawarthas - but this thread has depressed me greatly. Sad to hear about the decline of a once good fishery. Nothing against bass but lets be real here - bass don't eat the way a pan fried wally does. My place is on Nip which has definitely had its ups and downs but is currently in an up place - thanks in large part to the efforts of the MNRF. Not typically a fan of any gov't agency - but credit where credit is due. Maybe if given the chance and adequate resources they can turn things around.

I'll add another observation. Since 2016, when I moved to Upper Buckhorn, I've thrown a minnow trap out, just to see what I could see. From 2016 to 2020, in Spring, the trap would be full of 2"-3" perch. And I mean full! Now, nothing in the way of perch, and I mean nothing. I catch 1" bluegill and sunfish, the occasional crayfish and the odd bait size minnow.

Weirdly, last year I started to catch sculpin. And yes they are sculpin and not gobies. I checked. Never caught them before.

So where have all the small perch gone? Great forage for walleye. I actually tried fishing with the sculpin and nothing would touch it.

The only other observation I will make is that starting about now, I heard boats going out just after dark, and then I hear them again in the early morning hours. That's all I'm going to say.

The jumbo perch are fished out, they clear them all out in the spring, the nighttime walleye harvest can't say anything about that. Did notice the roadside fish & chip wagons and the fresh pickerel on the menus in nearby towns $$$ talks

Walleye in decline - because .

Spawning habitat is deteriorating.

Lack of MNR enforcement, of existing fishing regulations.

Antiquated and “blanket or zone” regulations that do not accurately represent the fisheries of a particular lake or river because the MNR a has no where near the resources or staff to do an adequate job for all lakes and rivers.

Lack of walleye stocking .

I no longer fish the Kawarthas, moved to far away, but I did live on a lake that had a great walleye population . Poaching during the spring spawn, became a problem, and when I reached out to MNR, to get some enforcement or to create a Sanctuary where the walleye were spawning I got the same old story.

We (MNR) do not have enough manpower to enforce on all waters, we do not have enough manpower(biologists) to do any studies for Fish Sanctuaries.

Sooo - I created a Fish Sanctuary.

I wrote a hundred or 2 letters, got a 500 person petition signed, by every cottage and permanent resident on the lake and other area residents, volunteered my boat to take the biologist out to the spawning grounds , volunteered to do the 100 + angler surveys (required for any reg changes) , wrote the wording with lat/long for the sanctuary location.

Did the work for the MNR - and in 2 years had a Federal and Provincial Fish Sanctuary created to help protect the walleye spawn , the creation of the sanctuary also put the lake on the MNR enforcement officers radar.

Only way you will get any change / protection for walleye, or any other fish species on a lake you are fishing, is to do the work yourself.

MNR does not have the resources.

Perhaps a letter a week to your local MP demanding more MNR funding will eventually help, say for 175 weeks in a row ? LOL

Walleye stocking should also become more of a program for many areas, not sure of any local clubs that might get something going, with the MNR ?

Want something done - do it yourselves .

Cheers
Mike