Is That Possible?

[T-Mac]

I had a little disagreement with a reporter today.
The reporter was trying to tell me that the bulk of the walleye being caught in a certain lake are from the year classes of 1996 and 1997.
We both agreed that the bulk of walleyes are of 2 year classes, and their sizes are:
18" ( /-) and weigh over 2 lbs (fat fish).
22" ( /-) and weigh 3 1/2- 4 lbs. (more fat fish)
He says these fish are only 3 and 4 year fish.
I am sorry, but, I cannot believe this. I contend the fish are at least one year older, minimum, and likely more than that. This is in a state bordering Canada, by the way.
Any biologists out there?
What do you think?
Expert opinion would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for your help, in advance.

[jeff reed]

T-Mac, I'll vote with you, get a scale sample and have somebody read it.

[U.C>]

I'm no expert...but sounds wrong to me.
Walleye grow faster when they get to 18" or so...why did they only grow 4" in one year if they made 18" their 1st 3 yrs.
Naw, that don't sound right.
I think you have to read the growth rings on the spinal bones, like a cross section or something..to get the real age.
Just doesn't sound right?

[Weyes1]

I imagine where you are located. The fish in the northern states will grow slower than the fish in the southern states. Living here in Kansas a 3yr fish will more than likely measure 18 inches. Depends on the winters and the forage.
Weyes1

[Matt]

From the Minnesota DNR:

The average length and weight of walleye was 16.3 inches and 1.5 pounds. The 1994 year class appears to be strong and should provide good fishing for several years. Walleye attain an average length of 15.9 inches at five years of age

Take that for what is worth.

[T-Mac]

That is more like what I was thinking.
Appreciate it....thanks.

[ETT]

T Mac, on Erie last years fish are now 9- 11"s, 2 year olds are 13-15"s, 3 year olds are the 18"ers, 4 year olds are +/- 21". You said the fish were fat so they have plenty to eat. So I'd say yes that is possible, but Min growth rates are slower. I for one don't like taking a fish out before it has a chance to spawn. Which means through the 15"ers back.

[Chad]

Either could possibly be correct depending on the forage in the lake. I would suggest calling your local fisheries person for a ruling.

[Eyez]

LAST EDITED ON Jul-20-00 AT 10:41AM (CST)[p]We've got a few lakes here that are so full of forage, and the fish grow so fast, that the females are 17-18 inches from the 1998 year class. They hit about 8 inches their first year, and about 14 their second year. These are very fast growth rates for SD, but It could happen in MT also if there is a high quality forage and enough of it. We recently had a slough fill up, and a nearby lake flowed into it, spilling truckloads of young walleyes into it. Most of the fish that went across were under 10 inches because they had to cross a road with about 4 inches of water over it. That was in 1997, and those fish are now between 19 and 27 inches. No other walleyes have entered the lake since then, so that means that (since the smallest fish in the lake are about 19 inches), they are 1996 or 1997 year, the smallest fish that could have crossed the road. Moral of the story? It could happen, but they'd need fantastic growing conditions and probably fairly warm water. So how warm is the water in this lake? These waters that I'm talking about regularly hit 90 on the surface in the summer.

Sorry for the long post.

Eyez

[Mille Lacs Guy]

I have a friend who is a fisheries biologist for one of the DNR regions near Brainerd, MN and he says if one year a fish is 12-13" two years later it should be around 18-19". So if it was 12-13" inches in 1998 it would be 18-19" in 2000. This is the case in one of the lakes I fish in south central MN, so I could believe that what the reporter was saying is possible.

[T-Mac]

Thanks for the input, folks.
Guess I lost that one, huh?
Interesting...I did not think it possble.

[mkebenn]

I would have agreed with you, but salmon grow twice that fast, makes it seem more possible. Bet you grew up with smallmouths like I did.
Mike in E.A.