GREERS FERRY, THE WALLEYE STUDY AND THE FUTURE

[DICK KNUTSON]

WELL THE FINAL CHAPTER IS NOW UPON US OR IS IT? ONE NEVER CEASES TO LEARN! THE WALLEYE RESEARCH FUND IN MY OPINION GAVE THE FISHERIES PEOPLE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF INFORMATION THAT WE CAN ONLY HOPE THEY WILL USE IN FUTURE WALLEYE PROJECTS.
1. WE FOUND OUT THAT WALLEYES IMPRINT LIKE SALMON AND RETURN TO THEIR PLACE OF BIRTH TO SPAWN. THIS INFORMATION PROVED VITAL TO US NOT ONLY IN GREERS FERRY BUT ALSO IN OUR BATTLE TO GET RID OF THE COMMERCIAL GILL NETS ON LAKE OF THE WOODS IN MINNESOTA. I WAS SELECTED TO CO-CHAIR THE " SAVE OUR GAMEFISH COMMITEE' IN MINNESOTA, WHICH IS A LONG STORY IN ITSELF, AND THE KNOWLEDGE OF WALLEYE MOVEMENTS LED TO AN EXTENSIVE FISH TAGGING OPERATION ON LAKE OF THE WOODS THAT PROVED WALLEYE ARE HIGHLY MIGRATORY AND VERY SUSEPTIBLE TO NETTING.
2. WE FOUND OUT THAT THERE ARE DISTINCT STRAINS OF WALLEYE AND THAT SOME OF THESE STRAINS GROW VERY QUICKLY AND DIE YOUNG WHILE OTHERS GROW VERY SLOW AND DIE AT AN OLD AGE. SOME STRAINS NEVER GROW AND ARE GENETIC DUDS.
3.WE FOUND OUT THAT THE "OLD BLUE WALLEYE" IS A VERY RARE CRITTER AND YOUR ODDS OF CATCHING ONE LEGALLY IS SLIM.
4. THAT THE FOOD SOURCE PLAYS A ROLE AND THAT RAINBOW TROUT ARE A HUGE FACTOR IN SOME TYPES OF FISH GROWING VERY LARGE, FLORIDA STRAIN OF LARGEMOUTH BASS CAN BE INCLUDED IN THIS GROUP, PARTICULARY IN WESTERN RESEVOIRS THAT PLANT RAINBOW TROUT.
5. WE ALSO SADLY FOUND OUT THAT SOME OF OUR STATE FISHERIES BIOLOGISTS DO NOT LIKE BEING TOLD NEW INFORMATION BY NON- BIOLOGISTS
6.THAT THERE HAS BEEN TREMENDOUS GENETIC DAMAGE TO THE ENTIRE WALLEYE FISHERY BY THE CROSS SHIPPING OF WALLEYE BETWEEN STATES OF THE WASKISH, MINNESOTA HATCHERY FISH. NO BLAME CAN BE LAID HERE BECAUSE WHEN THIS WAS DONE IN THE EARLY 1900S THEY DID NOT KNOW ANY BETTER. RECENTLY THE STATE OF MINNESOTA DNR FINALLY PULLED THEIR HEAD OUT OF THE SAND AND WILL NOT ALLOW FISH TO BE INTRODUCED FROM DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE STATE.
7. WE FOUND OUT THAT PLANTING WALLEYE FRY IS VERY INEFFECTIVE BECAUSE THE MORTALITY RATE IS VERY HIGH COMPARED TO INTRODUCING FINGERLINGS WHOSE MORTALITY RATE IS VERY LOW( ALMOST THE OPPOSITE) I WAS GLAD TO HEAR THAT THE ARKANSAS GAME AND FISH IS NOW GOING TO CONCENTRATE ON RAISING FINGERLINGS FOR GREERS FERRY IN AN EFFORT TO KEEP THE "BLUE STRAIN" ALIVE.
8. SADLY WE FOUND OUT THAT SOME DNRS, PARTICULARLY IN MINNESOTA, ARE GENETIC DUDS IN THEMSELVES. BECAUSE OF THE HUGE BUREAUCRACY, THE FISHERIES BIOLOGISTS THAT ARE INNOVATIVE AND WILLING TO TRY SOMETHING NEW, NEVER MAKE IT TO THE TOP. ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN , IN THE STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA, A FISHERIES BIOLOGIST BY THE NAME OF DALE HENNAGER, CHANGED THE WALLEYE FISHERY FOREVER IN NORTH AND SOUTH DAKOTA, BY HAVING THE GUTS AND FORESIGHT TO INTRODUCE A NEW BAITFISH IN THAT RESEVOIR SYSTEM. I STILL SAY THAT SOMEONE SHOULD BUILD A GIANT STATUE OF DALE NEXT TO THE LAKE.
9. I HAVE TO COME BACK TO MINNESOTAS DNR. DID YOU KNOW THAT FOR FOUR YEARS, FOUR YEARS!!!!! THE MINNESOTA SPORTFISHERMAN FOUGHT WITH OUR OWN DNR TO GET RID OF THE GILL NETS ON LAKE OF THE WOODS. THESE BONEHEADS SIDED WITH THE NETTERS!!!!!! REMEMBER IN A PREVIOUS POST THAT I TOLD YOU THAT I BROUGHT A HUGE WALLEYE FROM GREERS TO SHOW THE MINN. DNR. WE DID NOT EVEN GET PAST THE RECEPTIONIST!!!! NOT UNTIL WE SHOWED AND EXPLAINED THE RESEARCH STUDY TO STATE LEGISLATORS DID WE GET DIRECT HELP FROM THE LEGISLATURE. THEN AND ONLY THEN DID WE FINALLY CONVINCE ENOUGH LEGISLATORS OVER SEVERAL YEARS TO BAN GILL NETTING ON LAKE OF THE WOODS!!!! THE DNR FOUGHT ON THE SIDE OF THE NETTERS TILL THE LAST DOG WAS HUNG. TRUE STORY!! WHY YOU ASK? MAYBE , JUST MAYBE, THAT FOR MANY YEARS THE COMMERCIAL FISHING INDUSTRY WINED AND DINED OUR DNR OFFICIALS AND TOOK THEM AND SOME OTHER POWERFULL OFFICIALS ON CANADIAN FISHING TRIPS ON A YEARLY BASIS FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. I WILL LET YOU DRAW YOUR OWN CONCLUSIONS!!! THE REALLY SAD NEWS IS THAT SOME OF THESE A.H. STILL WORK FOR THE MINN. DNR.THERE IS NO EXCUSE TO ALLOW GILL NETTING ON MILLE LACS.PERIOD!
10.I HAVE DONE A LOT OF THINGS IN MY LIFE AND THE BATTLE FOR LAKE OF THE WOODS WAS ONE OF MY PROUDEST MOMENTS. TO HAVE SERVED AS CO CHAIR OF THE "SAVE OUR GAMEFISH COMMITEE" ALONGSIDE DOUG WAHL FROM GREENBUSH, JOHN BECKEL FROM SPORTSMANS LODGE, HOWIE " HURRICANE" HANSON FROM THE TWIN CITIES, AND THE COUNTLESS THOUSANDS OF SPORTFISHERMEN WHO DONATED TIME AND MONEY TO THE CAUSE,WAS A GREAT HONOR FOR ME.BECAUSE OF ALL OF THESE PEOPLE LAKE OF THE WOODS WALLEYE FISHERY AND ECONOMY IS WHAT IT IS TODAY!!!!!AND IN RETROSPECT WE GOT PART OF THE JOB DONE BECAUSE OF THAT 22LBER FROM GREERS FERRY THAT I DRAGGED IN FRONT OF THE MINN. STATE LEGISLATURE. WHO SAYS BIG FISH DON'T SELL!!!!! DICK KNUTSON GENETRON

[curt quesnell]

I met Dick through the "SAVE OUR GAMEFISH" days and he is someone
who gets things done. Dick doesnt avoid controversy and "I pity the fool" who would get in Dicks way when he is on a cause.

Dick, you should write a book (have someone else type it for you)
about SAVE OUR GAMEFISH on Lake of the Woods. This is something
that shouldnt be forgotten by sportfishers

Curt Quesnell

[jerry]

Dick,

I second the book idea. Alot can be learned and passed on from generation to generation by the experienced professional like yourself.

I've thoroughly enjoyed your writings to this point, Dick. I hope this isn't the last one. Keep up the great work.

[EYESCHOOL]

Thanks for the incredible stories Dick! I tried several times to get people (on this site in particular) to understand how wrongfull and selfish our Minn. Dnr top officials are but, many argued and called me over-exaggerated? I do think Minnesota has some very good people working for it's DNR but, the few top dogs making the biased, self-rightous decisions, cause too much grief among many. If sportsmen and women only knew about some of this selfishness, they would see the DNR.(Minnesota) in a whole new light!
Once again, thanks for sharing Dick! Keep the stories flowin' They're very interesting indeed! ;-) ES

[Eyez]

Dick,

I gotta say thanks for sharing this with us. I grew up dreaming about those greers ferry walleyes, and I really enjoy learning something about them. I'm glad to have you and others like you working for fisherman and the walleyes. I hope this isn't the last part of the story, I think you have lots of other storys to share that we would all enjoy and learn from.


Thanks again,

Eyez

[Boatnut]

Dick,
interesting to learn that rainbow trout play a big role in the development of big walleyes.

The lake I fish in Kentucky is full of rainbows, so maybe thats a good omen. the biggest walleye outta the lake officially is 14 lbs, but i know there's bigger ones in there. hope to prove it someday!

thanks for the interesting posts!

[s.f.]

you just gotta have a genetron!

probably see you soon,dick...i'll call on the way.

#49er

[Backwater Eddy]

Interesting stuff again Dick, and thank you for sharing it.

What is your take on the netting on walleye from Lake Winnipeg MB and it's associated river systems? The sumo greenbacks are in real danger due to increased netting from the river mouths.

Any chance we could aim you at the Monster walleye of Manitoba and save them before they all get chopped up and tossed into freezers destined for over seas markets?

Save the piggys!

Backwater Eddy ~ ~ ~><sUMo> ~ ><>

[Hawgeye]

Great point BE. While fishing in the fall and frequenting a few of the little taverns in the area during my northern fishing excursions, I have came across a few natives of the area that claim the netters frequently pull in fish over 18lbs and a few that have been well over 20.

Dick,
Do you think the greenbacks in the Winnipeg and Red River system are a different strain of walleye genetically than the ones you mentioned from the Minnesota lake that has been stocked throughout the country. It does seem these fish are stockier and have different genetics than other fish i have caught in the same weight class or do you think it is a matter of forage?

[DICK KNUTSON]

THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU AGAIN. A TIP OF THE HAT TO YOU CURT!!!!! YOU WERE THERE IN THE TRENCHES WITH ALL OF US DURING THE COMMERCIAL FISHING WARS! WITHOUT PEOPLE LIKE YOU IN THE MEDIA ALONG WITH REX CLAYS NEWSPAPER IN GREENBUSH,JIMMY PETERSEN AND HIS OUTDOOR NEWS,RON AND AL LINDNER AND THE ENTIRE INFISHERMAN CREW, RON SCHARA,GERRY RAFFTERY, AND A HOST OF OTHERS WE WOULD HAVE NEVER GOTTEN THE MESSAGE OUT!
2.TO YOU IN KENTUCKY YOU JUST MIGHT HAVE A SHOT AT IT DEPENDING ON WHERE THE WALLEYES CAME FROM. DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND SEE IF YOU CAN FIND THAT OUT. LET ME KNOW, OK?
3.AS FAR AS MANITOBA IS CONCENED I AM AFRAID TO TELL YOU HOW STRONG THE COMMERCIAL FISHING FISHING INDUSTRY IS UP THERE. HOWEVER AFTER MANY YEARS THE FISHERIES PEOPLE IN ONTARIO FINALLY FIGURED OUT THAT SPORTFISHING CONTRIBUTES FAR MORE TO THE ECONOMY THAN A COMMERCIALLY CAUGHT WALLEYE.
4.BACK IN OUR "WAR' DAYS THE COMMERCIAL FISHERMAN WAS PAID ROUGHLY $1.00 PER POUND IN THE ROUGH. SPORTFISHING BROUGHT IN ABOUT$150.00 PER POUND. NOT TO HARD TO FIGURE OUT THE MATH ON THAT ONE AS FAR AS THE LOCAL ECONOMY IS CONCERNED.I AM SURE IT IS MUCH MORE NOW.GILL NETTING DEVASTATES THE FISHERY. LOOK WHAT HAPPENED TO UPPER RED LAKE!!!!!!! I DOUBT AMERICANS COULD DO MUCH IN CANADIAN POLITICS EXCEPT TO THREATEN A BOYCOTT. I THINK THAT IS WHAT IS NECCESARY AT MILLE LACS. YOU HAVE TO BE READY TO PLAY HARD BALL AND I MEAN HARD BALL IN ORDER TO WIN. I REALLY THINK IT COULD BE DONE AT MILLE LACS!!!!!!!! MAYBE I WILL HAVE TO PUT MY HELMET BACK ON AGAIN. DICK KNUTSON GENETRON

[EYESCHOOL]

Dick, I would be more than willing to get out my battle gear and help with Mille Lacs! Will a goalie mask do? HEH HEH HEH!!

[SnellTier]

Thank you for what you did. And congratulations.

I have seen this net banning work on the Canadian side of Lake of the Woods. It has changed it from "tired water" in the middle 80's and into the early 90's to a darn fine fishery again.

Can I help??

[Boatnut]

Dick,
To the best of my knowledge, most of the walleyes in Laurel river Lake are stocked from the "northern strain". However, both the Laurel river and the nearby, Rockcastle river , flow into the Cumberland river.
Before the Wolf Creek Dam was built that impounded Lake Cumberland, there were lots of the "river strain" walleyes in there. Supposedly, back in the 20's and 30's, people would gather on the banks of the Rockcastle river to catch walleyes during their spawning runs. They were so thick , they claim you could walk across their backs!
I'm not sure if there would be any of the "river Strain" walleyes in Laurel River lake or not, but i'm sure there are some monsters in there.

[DICK KNUTSON]

IN RESPONSE TO BOATNUT. THE CUMBERLAND DEFINITLY HAS THE OLD BLUE STRAIN. MY GUESS IS THAT YOU HAVE A MIXED BAG OF FISH. TRY TO GET UP WHERE THESE FISH SPAWN. IS THE FISHING SEASON OPEN DURING THE SPAWN? IS THERE ANY PICTURES OR RECORDS FROM LONG AGO? CHECK THIS OUT!!! ARE THERE ANY BIG FISH STORIES FROM BACK THEN,ETC? LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU FIND OUT! DICK KNUTSON GENETRON

[Todd_NE]

You just had to remind me about those nets didn't ya Eddy.

I sit in my office and stare at my Sumo replica from Pine Falls and think of all the fish over ten pounds I've been blessed to see the past couple of years and get all misty, especially thinking of the fact that I don't really know if even the released ones had much of a chance.

This past fall a gentleman fishing with us (first walleye trip ever) got a 32.5" fish that was just unreal, when I suggested he'd have a big thrill releasing it and getting a replica he looked at me, looked north to the 2 mile long net, then to me, then at the net, and then put it in the livewell. I don't agree, but it's hard to argue the point. (It's still the only trophy fish I've ever seen kept on my boat)

Pine Falls & Selkirk are my two favorite places on earth to fish for walleye. But I sure wonder what it would be like without netting. I know, the snappy comeback is, "Don't come up here if you don't like it."

It would be interesting to know what the genetics are of those fish Eddy. That's a very interconnected waterway, but I can't believe forage is the only thing driving the size of those fish.

Todd_NE

[Peanut]

I've enjoyed your stories these past couple of weeks. Like many other readers, I think they would make a fine book. If you're ever in need of a ghost writer/typer, let me know.

derrek.

CANADIAN WALLEYE OPEN UP AND SAY "EH"!

[DICK KNUTSON]

SEVERAL OF YOU HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE WINNIPEG RIVER AREA IN MANITOBA. I LOOKED BACK IN MY RECORDS AND DID FIND THAT IN THE EARLY 1900S BLACKS BAY ON RAINY LAKE AND ALSO LAKE OF THE WOODS RECEIVED FISH FROM WASKISH. I SUPPOSE IT IT POSSIBLE THAT THESE FISH MOVED THROUGH KENORA INTO LAKE WINNIPEG. THE ORIGINAL FISH UP THERE ALSO LIKE TO RUN UP RIVER TO SPAWN SO IT IS QUITE LIKELY THAT YOU HAVE SEVERAL DIFFERENT STRAINS IN THAT SYSTEM. WE DID NOT TAKE ANY SAMPLES FROM CANADA SO I CANNOT SAY FOR SURE. I KNOW A LOT OF MY FRIENDS HEAD UP THERE TO CATCH A PIGGY. I DID TALK TO A LOT OF COMMERCIAL NETTERS ON LAKE OF THE WOODS AND MAYBE, AND I SAY A BIG MAYBE, 15LBS TOPS. BUT WE MUST REMEMBER THAT MOST OF US DO NOT HAVE ACCESS DURING THE SPAWN BECAUSE THEY ARE PROTECTED. OF COURSE THERE IS EXCEPTIONS LIKE THE RAINY RIVER AND GREERS FERRY AS TWO EXAMPLES. DICK KNUTSON GENETRON

[Hawgeye]

Dick,

I do know for a fact of 17 pound fish being caught in the fall at Pine Falls. I have seen them. In fact, Bob Jensen of Fargo caught a 15+ lber in I beleive the fall of 2000, you probably know Bob. I do realize that the gill nets used are 3 inch which may keep some of the real big eyes out. Personally my best is 13lbs and I have caught too numerous to mention of fish over 10. There is a distinct difference in appearance from the "greenbacks" and the river fish. I am assuming these are a different strain of fish. It would be interesting to know what makes the difference between these "greenbacks" and the river fish.

I sure have enjoyed your history reports and am excited to see any more of this in the future.

Thanks

[Magic]

Great work, great story. Is the information that you have available so I can take it to our FW&P people here in MT. Stats on fry survival rates would be great. Please e-mail me at magicofmt@imt.net

[Todd_NE]

There was a 17+ caught on the Red in 1999 during a "derby", that's as official as it gets for a weight. I also happen to have a picture of 16.5# fish from Pine Falls that was only 31" and released in 1999 by a friend of Rob Carlson's. I have seen two 14+ the last two years, one was 31.25" and the other 32.5", imagine those same fish a couple of years from now just before spawn!

[DICK KNUTSON]

IN RESPONSE TO MAGICS QUESTION I WILL TRY TO TELL YOU WHAT SHOULD BE DONE,IN MY OPINION, TO RAISE WALLEYE FOR STOCKING PURPOSES. THIS OPINION IS BASED ON KNOWLEDGE GAINED BY OUR STUDY AND WORKING " HANDS ON" ON STOCKING PROJECTS.
1. YOU HAVE TO MAKE ABSOLUTELY SURE THAT YOU ARE WORKING WITH AND TRANSPLANTING QUALITY BROOD STOCK!! LIKE FARMING, GENETICALLY "PROPER" FISH MUST BE SECURED. HOW DO YOU DO THIS? FIRST OFF YOU MUST DO THE BACKGROUND AND HISTORICAL CHECKS TO ASCERTAIN THE GROWTH PATTERNS OF THE FISH YOU ARE WORKING WITH!! ARE THE FISH "NATIVE" TO THE BODY OF WATER YOU ARE TAKING THE FISH FROM FOR STOCKING? HAVE THERE BEEN FOREIGN FISH OF THE SAME SPECIES EVER INTRODUCED INTO THIS BODY OF WATER? YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE STRIPPING AND MILKING THE SAME STRAIN OF FISH!!!! AS YOU CAN SEE THIS CAN BECOME VERY COMPLICATED IF YOU HAVE SEVERAL DIFFERENT STRAINS IN THE SAME BODY OF WATER. AS I SAID IN A PREVIOUS POST A LOT OF MIXING HAS BEEN DONE IN PAST YEARS IN A LOT OF LAKES AND A LOT OF DAMAGE HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE AS FAR AS MIXING INFERIOR STRAINS. GENETIC TESTING EQUIPMENT IS NOT READILY AVAILABLE EITHER AND MOST GAME AND FISH DEPARTMENTS DO NOT HAVE IT. ALSO YOU MUST REMEMBER THAT GENETIC TESTING ONLY CAN PROVIDE A "TAG" OR MARKER TO HELP IDENTIFY THE FISH FOR FUTURE REFERENCE AGAINST ANOTHER FISH!
2. THE STUDIES ARE WELL DOCUMENTED ABOUT THE SURVIVAL RATES OF FRY VERSUS FINGERLING MORTALITY RATES. I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU CAN GET THIS INFORMATION FROM THE "PROFESSIONAL FISHERIES SOCIETY". ALMOST ALL OF THE FISHERIES PEOPLE BELONG TO THIS ORGANIZATION AND THE RESEARCH PAPERS ARE READILY AVAILABLE TO THEM.
3. STOCKING FRY IS CHEAP!! IT IS ALSO A "FEEL GOOD" WAY OF STATE FISHERIES PEOPLE TO PLACATE THE SPORTFISHERMAN THAT THEY ARE DOING THERE JOB BY THROWING "HUGE " STOCKING NUMBERS AT THEM!! WHAT THEY ARE NOT TELLING THE PUBLIC IS THAT THESE HUGE NUMBERS OF FRY ARE VIRTUALLY ANNIHILATED WITHIN A DAY OR TWO OF STOCKING. SURVIVAL RATE IN MOST CASES IS LESS THAN 5%
4. STOCKING FINGERLINGS ON THE OTHER HAND IS ALMOST THE OPPOSITE WHEN IT COMES TO SURVIVAL RATES IN THE WILD. THE DOWNSIDE IS COST OF REARING PONDS AND FEED! THIS IS WHERE YOU AS SPORTANGLERS COMES IN. THE SPORTANGLER IS PAYING THE FREIGHT BILL FOR THESE PROJECTS AND TO SETTLE FOR LESS THAN THE VERY BEST RESULTS IS IN MY OPINION A WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY!!!!!
5. WHEN YOU DO STOCK DO NOT DUMP THEM IN THE SAME SPOT!!!!! PREDATORS GET USED TO THE SMORGASBOARD AT THE END OF THE RAMP. REMEMBER THE STORY OF THE LITTLE BOY AND THE TROUT AND THE 19LB WALLEYE. YES IT TAKES A LITTLE WORK TO MOVE AROUND THE LAKE TO RELEASE THE FISH BUT BY ALL MEANS DO IT!!!!!
6. WELL THAT DOES IT FOR NOW. IF YOU HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS I WILL TRY TO HELP AS MUCH AS I CAN. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL THE KIND WORDS!!!!! DICK KNUTSON GENETRON