Walleye Growth (Full Version)

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Finster -> Walleye Growth (6/21/2008 10:12:40 AM)

I'm wondering what the average walleye growth is per year in Erie. I believe in lakes like pymy Growth is about 1 inch per year. Erie has to be much more than that I would think. In fact, come to think of it, I have never caught an undersized walleye in Erie. What a awesome fishery to support the pressure it gets!



Pyme Pete -> RE: Walleye Growth (6/21/2008 5:26:16 PM)

Biologist have found walleye to grow five to seven inches within four months-from point of stocking (June) to (October) when sampled. As they age though the growth lessons. They say a female can reach 15 inches in 2-3 years under good conditions. 



Storm Warning 2 -> RE: Walleye Growth (6/21/2008 5:57:38 PM)

Finster:  The majority of the fish still be caught so far this year are the PA crop of the 2003 hatch of record.  These fish are mostly in the 20 to 24" range right now.  So, I would say you are averaging 4 to 5" per year.  Not very scientific, but simple math.  I am sure that it is much more rapid growth in the first two years. 



Carpet Bagger -> RE: Walleye Growth (6/21/2008 6:22:31 PM)

Walleyes typically are like humans...they have growth spurts.  They can get to that 24-25in in a matter of 4 years..but to tip those 31 and 32" marks requires additional time...

A fish in erie, with the forage fish as many as their are from gobies, perch, smolts, to emerald shiners...they have a large diet that allow them to always continually eat and follow around their food source.

Their hefty diet makes them the super walleye of the united states....



Finster -> RE: Walleye Growth (6/22/2008 12:52:32 PM)

Interesting info. I was unaware that they grew that quickly.



Slay -> RE: Walleye Growth (6/22/2008 4:18:09 PM)

They get a lot more time to grow with my limited abilities.....

Since I also have yet to catch an undersized walley in Erie myself, I wonder, do these fish "not" migrate through here until they are legal size???  I mean, what's the deal with that?



Storm Warning 2 -> RE: Walleye Growth (6/22/2008 4:50:30 PM)

Two totally separate groups of fish in my opinion Slay.

The fish that we are catching right now are PA residents more or less, they have been here most, if not all, their lives.  The areas that we tend to congregate as fishermen early during walleye season are areas in close proximity to their spawning grounds.  Once they are done with procreation, they go out a little deeper than where they spawned, lay on the bottom for a few days, and then begin the recovery/feeding.

Migrants are still a ways away.  At last check, the majority seem to be about the Lorain Sand Bar or so.  We need the western basin and western end of the central basin to warm up a bit to push the bait, as well as the predators, this way.



Slay -> RE: Walleye Growth (6/22/2008 5:56:49 PM)

I follow you on that, but I still have to wonder why we never catch undersized eyes.  Do they not migrate with the schools until later in thier life cycle?  I just cannot imagine the sheer number of eyes we have caught and yet there were no dinks on the rods.



sstaz69 -> RE: Walleye Growth (6/22/2008 6:41:24 PM)

We actually picked up one that was about 10 inches off Shades Beach Thursday. Thought it was a silver bass so no big deal. Then noticed it was a walleye and before we could get it into the boat it came off the hook. Would have loved to get a picture



*commander* -> RE: Walleye Growth (6/22/2008 7:17:06 PM)

according to one of the workers/biologist? at the linesville hatchery it takes a pymatuning walleye 4 years to reach 15" and a lake erie walleye 2 years to reach 15."



bingsbaits -> RE: Walleye Growth (6/22/2008 9:51:52 PM)

[image]http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t11/bingsbaits/Picture002.jpg[/image]



bulldog1 -> RE: Walleye Growth (6/25/2008 11:07:43 AM)

We caught and released 3 undersized Walleye on the 13th. A good sign for the next couple of years I hope!



spoonchucker -> RE: Walleye Growth (6/25/2008 12:41:32 PM)

Slay,

The smaller fish are out there. Numbers vary, by the success of each year class. Most folks tend to fish the same areas ( where they SEE others fishing, or where catches are reported ). Walleyes tend to group up by year class, so where folks are catching "legal" Eyes, you are probly less likely to catch "subs". I'm no expert by any means, but most of the smaller Eyes I catch, I get in areas where I'm also catching lots of junk. Maybe the smaller ones swim the same waters as the "junkies" for the most part. Folks usually avoid, or move out of these waters, so less "subs" are caught.



Slay -> RE: Walleye Growth (6/25/2008 2:43:39 PM)

I like that hypothesis Spoonchucker.  Seems logical to me.  I think they may do that for survival.  Predatorory fish are known to eat their young. 

I have noticed that crappies tend to school in the same age class also.   Somedays they are all dinks, some days they are all slabs.



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