Stocking Programs
A primary responsibility of the DNR is maintenance of fishing opportunities for anglers. In some lakes, natural reproduction is very effective for maintaining a healthy walleye population. In fact, some walleye lakes with excellent natural reproduction don’t benefit from stocking. There are many other lakes, however, where walleye stocking is an excellent tool for the purpose of creating fishing opportunities.

“Stocking is a tool that when used properly and in the proper amount can provide good returns for anglers,” Johannes said.

In some cases, stocking may be ineffective when fish aren’t stocked appropriately. This is even true on lakes where the entire walleye population comes as a result of stocking.

Too many fish stocked in a lake creates an imbalance with other predators, including pike and bass.

The DNR’s goal for the last few years has been 160,000 pounds of walleyes -- about 250 million fry -- stocked every spring. That goal was nearly achieved in 2005, exceeded in 2006 and on target for 2007.

Of the nearly 1,700 walleye lakes in Minnesota, about 900 are on a stocking program for either fry or fingerlings. Some lakes are stocked every year, some every other year, while still others are stocked every third year.

Johannes collects information about lakes where stocking is proposed and plans the stocking to insure quotas are met and the proper number of eggs is taken each spring.

He works closely with regional fisheries managers some of whom are quite bullish about stocking programs in their areas.

“My job is to balance the supply with the demand at the clearing house and make sure the right numbers get out to the right areas of the state.”

Walleye rearing takes place in 350 ponds throughout the prairie pothole region of west-central Minnesota starting in Becker County near Detroit Lakes and moving along the corridor paralleling Interstate 94.

The majority of the walleyes in those ponds come from DNR hatcheries, although 25 percent of the overall amount came from private hatcheries last year. In 2000, the DNR expanded the stocking program based on a recommendation from the Minnesota Legislature that included a mandate to consider using privately hatched fish when possible. The program has been successful and, as a result, more and more fish come from private hatcheries each year.

In some cases, the DNR stocks lakes with walleye fry. Stocking fry is a more economical program because it doesn’t cost very much to put a large number of walleyes into a lake. Their size, however, makes them susceptible to predation from a variety of species, including perch and bluegills.

Fingerlings ranging in size from 4 to 8 inches are another method of stocking. Put into a lake in the fall after growing in ponds throughout the summer, these walleyes have a better chance of survival but aren’t stocked in the same numbers. Stocking fingerlings is more expensive per fish because they must be cared for and maintained throughout the summer, not to mention that fewer can be deposited in a lake at one time.