Responce from GFP on female reproduction

[Don..SD]

I e-mailed our South Dakota Game fish and parks about females being killed before they had a chance to spawn. Here is what they wrote back to me.

Thank you for your e-mail message and comments. I referred your message to our fisheries administrator Dennis Unkenholz. Here is what he says.

The number of walleye eggs spawned in natural lakes are not the limiting factor in successful walleye production. Water levels and spring weather conditions often determine the success of natural reproduction of spring spawning fish. The other requirement for success is that food for newly hatched fry is available when fish are ready to begin feeding.

If the number of sexually mature females is limiting success of a natural reproduction, it seems that big spawning age females will have to be protected all year and not just in the spring prior to spawning. A sexually mature female taken from the population in June will not be available to spawn the next spring as if she had been harvested in April just prior to spawing. If harvest of sexually mature walleye females is considered by month, the most harvest of big females occurs in May, June, and July and sometimes in September.
Thanks you again for writing. If you have other questions or comments on this matter, feel free to call Dennis Unkenholz at 605.773.4508

This was their respoce to me. How do you feel about the answer. ????

[bio-boy]

yes it was to you & it hit the nail on the head.

[Mac]

Did these guys go to the same school the Minn DNR did?

[Fin Addict]

I would have to agree w/ them. I guess the sad part is that these fish are almost there after a whole year of tough living. W/ millions of eggs in a healthy system I would think the determining factors for a year class are amount of food available, growing season, water level (habitat for fry) and predation level. I have seen studies that show heavy stocking to actually be detrimental to a year class as more fish the same age compete for the same forage, fewer are able to get enough to sustain them through the lean winter months and more die off w/o making it to year 2. I would guess that in a healthy lake removing some of these fish makes little or no difference but it seems ethically wrong.