has anyonr heard any rumors about this years hatch? does anyone have any early info on the resultd of odnr or stone lab netting surveys?

I believe they are doing it now. Have seen several of there survey nets out in the last week.

Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.

I've caught several 6-9 inch fish in the last month. I assume these must be from the 04 class? If so, it looks like 2004 must have been an ok hatch too.

If you where catching 6-9 those must be from 05 becuase the smallest ones from 04 are like 12's at least most of the ones I have seen are just at 14 and change, if we had another great hatch the lake will be back up to par in 4 years like it was in the 80's I just hope they lower the TOC it's killing the keeper walleye out there. ODNR estimated between 60-70% of the eyes in the lake are the 04 hatch.

The 12-14" fish everyone is catching this year are from 03. The 05 fish are only an inch or two at best right now.

I've seen the same thing Ricky. Some under 10" eyes in our neck of the woods, not a lot but a few every trip. About the size the '03 fish were last year. I would bet they are '04 fish.

I have found that when I get a lot of 5-6" eyes while perch fishing in the fall, we've had a good hatch.

My mistake had my years wrong, and now that I think about it the little guys are around in the fall for perchin

With respect to the 2005 walleye hatch, I have only seen 2 young of year so far this summeraround the Islands. In 2003 it was hundreds-in 2002 it was about the same as this year. Way west, the minnow dippers are seeing fair numbers and some have been seen near Sandusky Bay by the USFWS and Ohio Div. of Wildlife trawling surveys. Looks poor overall. Better news for yellow perch and white bass, numbers look good. To continue this discussion, post your inquiries on the Ohio Sea Grant Information Discussion Board-www.sg.ohio-state.edu/discus as it is checked daily by Ohio Sea Grant staff. Unfortunately, I don't get time to see this site as often....

thanks!! while that isn't what I was hoping for, it is what I was looking for.