Deseret News | Illegal fish plant — Walleye may wreak havoc in reservoir

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Illegal fish plant — Walleye may wreak havoc in reservoir

Easterner Jim | 6:18 a.m. June 12, 2008

I'm confused as I grew up in Ohio and every lake and resevoir that has walleye have tons of blue gill and bass. They've been there for centuries in the great lakes coexisting. In Lake Erie, people come from miles around to specifically go walleye fishing. Growing up my father planned summer vacations up to Canada to be able to go walleye fishing where the lake there also are full of walleye, bass and blue gill. They are some of the best fish I've ever eaten. They swim in schools and when they hit, they hit hard and are a wonderful fish to try to catch. It makes it a bit hard to take what this biologist is saying. He sounds like he's just very inexperienced with this wonderful fish. In Ohio, they plant walleyes in resevoirs so help my lack of knowledge in what the difference is.

marc | 6:22 a.m. June 12, 2008

In my state walleye are the preferred fish. More loved and eaten than trout, etc.

Odd... how culture can determine even the type of fish we like. As to walleye being hard to catch, are you kidding???? We have fisherpersons who catch their limits with ease... even I have caught a walleye. Big hook, big worm, float it a foot off the bottom.

Good grief, walleyes not wanted eh?

And they actually taste good. Equal to trout.

SJ Bobkins | 6:28 a.m. June 12, 2008

Utahans with their great affection for the Rainbow and other trout forms need some introduction to the Walleye which is the finest tasting fish I've ever eaten. It's also a huge blast to catch. Rather than try the sick looking colorless trout in the high Uinta Mountain Lakes, the fish and game folks should be open minded enough to plant the walleye even if it's a non reproducing hybrid. The Walleye thrives in far north Canadian lakes with no winter die off.
The Walleye would be idea for Utah Lake once someone with sense enough to wipe out the carp has the authority to rid the lake of this and other trash fish including ALL sucker (May, June or July models) fish.
I have no sympathy for the dipstick that, "planted" the Walleye in the reservoir, but a wake up call to the trout oppressed F&G folks may not be a bad idea. There really are other game fish that the trout and the bass.

Comments continue below

Dave | 7:23 a.m. June 12, 2008

The issue isn't what tastes good or what they have in other places.

The issue is keeping the natural eccosystem balanced. Non-native fish make this a difficult and sometimes impossible task.

Once an ecosystem is whipped out, it can take a decade or more to recover.

rblack | 7:28 a.m. June 12, 2008

I don't think the professionals at the fish and game are ignorant about the "benefits" of good walleye fisheries. Rather, they are educated enough to understand that the relatively small reservoirs that these walleye are being transplanted into are not the Great Lakes and as such are not capable of sustaining a walley population in addition to the current fish population. The indication that the walleye is unwanted is not to be taken as a reflection of the overall value of the walleye as a species. It is an indication of the desirability of the fish in this location. It is unfortunate that there are basement biologists out there who think that, since they grew up enjoying fishing for walleye, or bass, or perch, they should be planted in every body of water in the state. There are fisheries where walleye are appropriate, there are fisheries where walleye are not appropriate. Let's let the professionals make the decisions and avoid the nightmare that ensues when amateurs begin tampering with things.

Fish girl | 7:57 a.m. June 12, 2008

Bobkins have fun trying to rid Utah Lake of suckers. I still don't understand why people can't appreciate the fish that are found here naturally. Yes, Utah Lake supports a good walleye fishery...and suckers do not hinder that. Nor do the carp really, who will soon be removed. I love how everyone complains about suckers in Utah Lake but surveys show that Utah Lake is the most under utilized lake in the state! Quit complaining and start fishing!

ER | 8:53 a.m. June 12, 2008

To you guys who think that just because the Walleye taste great and that you have them in Ohio, I say you speak like you are from the 1870s. Damn wolves, kill 'em! Rid the west of cougar and coyote!!!! Eco-systems have balance, and they are not detirmined by what you fished for in Ohio, or Canada or elsewhere. The professionals make descisions off of what is best long-term, not off of the tastebuds of Utahns or anyone else.

Steve | 9:04 a.m. June 12, 2008

I know we have walleye in Deer Creek and Utah Lake. Are they in those lakes intentionally or were they also planted illegally? They seem to coexist with trout, perch and bass in Deer Creek, so why are they so dangerous in Red Fleet or other lakes?

I've never caught a walleye, but I was told they aren't great fighters -- they just shake their heads a lot and don't run. Is that true? Hey, if it's not true, I suppose I should try some walleye fishing.

Boom & Bust | 9:38 a.m. June 12, 2008

The walleye goes through boom and bust populations in smaller waters. That is, they eat all the available forage fish and then die off themselves from starvation. A few years later the forage fish come back and the walleyes go through another boom. It's a cycle that a small lake cannot handle. Large lakes like the Great Lakes are much better suited to handle a voracious predator like the walleye because the capacity for forage fish is so much greater.

B.J. | 9:50 a.m. June 12, 2008

I'm sorry, but it bothers me to hear those "in my State" comments. This is Utah, and we like it hear because it is Utah, not Ohio or any other State or Country. There all fine places and so are there fisheries. If I go to Canada to fish, it is because I want to fish in Canada. Would all of the transplants please stop trying to change this state, and just enjoy what we have. If you want walleye fishing, I hear Mona resevoir is open.

fishpeople | 9:54 a.m. June 12, 2008

To:bobkins
The june sucker is an endangered fish that only exists in a couple of areas in the world.I think that the DWR knows a little bit more about what should be stocked and how the eco-system can support certain types of fish. The person who planted these fish illegally did a disservice to all who fish.

lovesaltlake | 9:56 a.m. June 12, 2008

i'll never forget the time I loaded up my hook with a nice juicy worm. I was fishing for a walleye. I'd heard it wouldn't be easy. I'd heard they are fierce competitors. But I didn't let the hype sway me. I was determined. I set out early one morning. The sun with just barely peeking over the summit. I knew the walleye would be hungry. They are always hungry
As I cast my line into the still flat water, I began to wait. And wait and wait. I don't know if you've ever been fishing before but its a thing you have to get used to. waiting.
I decided to troll my line in slowly. I had heard the walleye like a moving worm. All of the sudden I felt a jerk on the line. I tightly clinched my pole and began reeling in as fast as I could. What ever had the end of the line was a fighter. And it was big. Maybe 5 or 6 pounds I figured. I knew this was no ordinary fish, I knew it had to be a walleye. I'm out of space or I'd tell you the end of the story.

Franz | 9:58 a.m. June 12, 2008

A rose bush where it is not wanted is a weed. What I get from the article is that the only food source for walleye here are other fish. Perhaps in Ohio or elsewhere they have a preferred food that is something else, therefore they leave other fish alone. After they eat up the fish here, there is nothing left for them and they die. Our country has hundreds (maybe thousands)of plants and animals which were great in their native habitat. Some bucket biologist decides to bring them here where they do not have natural predators and they get out of hand. Look at Yellowstone Lake which is invaded by lake trout (non-native to the lake) and are devastating the native cutthroat.

BTW, if you want a great fighting fish try carp (a non-native). In Europe they treat carp almost like trout are treated here.

Matthew | 10:29 a.m. June 12, 2008

The problem is the climate, water temperatures, food species, productivity, and overall habitat are all very different in most Utah reservoirs as compared to Midwestern lakes. The Walleye don't lend themselves to a sustainable fishery. Most of that was touched on in the article, but apparently the Walleye fishermen commenting here missed it the first time.

On top of all that are the impacts on native species.

The bottom line is that planting some fish is illegal and it is illegal for many good reasons.

interested | 10:45 a.m. June 12, 2008

Can they plan something along the lines of what was done at Mantau resevoir? Catch and keep alive all the big fish that are wanted, and do this for 12-18 months, then kill off the resevoir and replant with the fish they pulled out and kept. This will allow for larger adult fish to re-establish the eco system faster and easier than planting new fish.

It requires fishermen to assist in the work, but would reward those that want to see this lake restored.

vtwinrhino | 1:01 p.m. June 12, 2008

Walleye problem? see Davis lake Cal. It was drinking water but we safely poisened the crap out of those stupid fish (TWICE) and nobody died. Oh except the fish

rblack | 2:59 p.m. June 12, 2008

Steve,
The Walleye in Deer Creek were planted illegally and it took years (and alot of management dollars)for that lake to make a comeback. The fact that there is still a viable fishery at Deer Creek today is a credit to the professionals at the DWR. In that case the fishery was damaged but not destroyed. Unfortunately, they don't have the management dollars necessary to rework the management plan for every lake and reservoir at the whim of someone who just wants to fish for more walleye. It's actually kind or shortsighted on the part of the illegal stockers, because, instead of managing a few areas as great walleye fisheries the DWR is forced to manage a bunch of areas as subpar walleye fisheries and kill off and restock some reserviors that could never become good walleye fisheries.

SJ Bobkins | 2:59 p.m. June 12, 2008

The best way to stop thinking is to make a blanket statement that those in a certain organization are professional and as such know more than anyone else. As a result no one has the right to question or offer up a suggestion. To think that the Utah Fish and Game is without error is to not know a blessed thing of the trial and error process they work their way through. Many suggestions have been made from fisherman and adopted, many efforts by the F&G have been disastrous. I bet you take the same position on police officers. Did you read the POST report on 21 of those folks who committed many crimes?
Question Authority!

Don | 5:04 p.m. June 12, 2008

Lake Davis was northern pike instead of the walleye but is the same problem. It will eat itself out of house and home as the native fish species in the smaller lakes in Utah cannot maintain enough to feed these two species of fish. They need to be in a larger body of water. The natives in Alaska found a long time ago that they have to keep the Northern Pike under control so they can have other fish in their waters and they feed the pike to the dogs.

Paul | 5:37 p.m. June 12, 2008

Maybe the simple answer is to just close off each reservoir and lake that is illegal stocked. Let the Walleye population explode and then crash. Then wipe out the fish that are left and, maybe in 5 years or a decade, restock with the fish that are supposed to be there. Maybe fishermen will stop the stocking if they take a bigger hit than the native fish.

Here in Montana | 7:26 p.m. June 12, 2008

In Montana (yes, there really are people here)we have a similar problem but not with fish. The federal government introduced wolves here a few years ago and now we have a huge problem with them. For example, the northern Yellowstone elk herd has dropped over 70% and still dropping with no end insight. I sure miss our elk! I haven't seen a moose either for several years in this area. I see lots of wolves..whoopee!

Steve | 2:53 p.m. June 13, 2008

Thanks for the feedback about Deer Creek, rblack. What about Utah Lake? It has quite a few walleye, too. Were they illegally put there? Is it safe to say DWR didn't want walleye in any of our lakes? Or did they put them in Utah Lake to try eating young carp?

Anyway, they're already in Utah Lake, so the comments about June suckers (which are native only to Utah Lake) are a bit irrelevant above.

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