Walleye's Or Trout in our cold water rivers.

[CrappiePro]

Every time I see a stocking truck dropping fish into one of our cold water rivers its a truck load of Trout. Why don't I see more Walleye getting stocked into our cold water rivers by the AGFC? Or at least One river that's managed for Walleye fishing and not trout. I don't know about the rest of you all, but I know which one I prefer eating. I recently saw a Walleye hatchery documentary in MINN so I know they can be hatchery raised. I have fished just about every Cold water river in Arkansas and every one produces 100-1 or more ratio trout to walleye to include the Spring River. It's hard to target the few walleye in our streams with the trout eating you up every cast.

[Mojorig]

CrappiePro,

Here are some numbers from 2008 to 2010 for NE Arkansas. Walleye are stocked in other water bodies around the state but I don’t have first hand knowledge of the numbers.

Current River:
2008 - Fingerlings - 23,720 fish
2009 - Fingerlings - 24,500 fish
2009 - Catchable - 24,250 fish

11-Point River:
2008 - Fingerlings - 44,800 fish
2009 - Fingerlings - 33,330 fish
2010 - Fingerlings - 43,341 fish
2009 - Fry - 12,113 fish

Spring River:
2009 - Fingerlings - 38,332 fish
2010 - Fingerlings - 16,000 fish

Also in the early 2000's, there was an intense study conducted on the 11-Point River to evaluate the walleye stocking in this river. It looked at whether the stocked walleye contributed to the overall population in the river.

Shortly after that, the walleye population in Spring River was evaluated during an intense three study looking at the sport fish population in the river. We are currently finishing up a study on the Strawberry River and we have seen plenty of walleye there. Next year, we are going to start back on the 11 point river for three years.

The problem with stocking walleye is growing them in a hatchery system. When walleye reach a certain size, they exhibit a high rate of cannibalism. So what you end up with is very few large fingerings. To reduce cannibalism, walleye are stocked at a little smaller size compared to other sport fish. Thus stocking smaller fingerlings means lower survival rates. Currently the Spring River Hatchery is conducting a study to utilize different grow out techniques to increase size of walleye stocked by reducing the cannibalism. This will increase the survival rates of walleye stocked in these fisheries.

There is some work occurring on the walleye population in cold water streams. However, the information may not always get out to the public like it should. We are consistently working on getting information out by utilizing forums like this one.

I hope this helps.

[rockmike]

What little walleye stocking has occurred on the White has boosted the population. With the constant flucuation in levels due to hydro releases, the natural spawn is not real productive, but we do have a native population of good fish. I have a 16 on my wall, and have caught quite a few over 10, but the pressure is greater now than ever before. Non trout species are a low priority for our fisheries folks.

[slabsntaters]

What little walleye stocking has occurred on the White has boosted the population. With the constant flucuation in levels due to hydro releases, the natural spawn is not real productive, but we do have a native population of good fish. I have a 16 on my wall, and have caught quite a few over 10, but the pressure is greater now than ever before. Non trout species are a low priority for our fisheries folks.

Rock, you could not be more correct, our Game and Fish could care less about what the people would like to see stocked in our waterways around the natural state. If it aint a trout, or a trout related issue then their interest is vague at best. i have said for many years if the AGFC would stock more of the sport species into our lakes and streams the natural state could have some of the best fishing in the United states. We have the lakes and stream to support some of the big time sport fish that draws revenue to many states. However rather than relying on revenue generated through sport fishing, Its easier to say we aint got the revenue to support these kind of stocking programs. Well this is how i see it, you have to spend money to make money, its like a buisiness, the initial investment is costly, but the rewards come from the effort put into it. If i could go bass fishing in The lakes of arkansas and Catch the Kind of Fish that they catch in Lake fork in Texas i would spend more money bass fishing, I had a friend who went to Kentucky lake bass fishing not long ago, They caught on average over 100 bass a day, and they had a average weight of three to four pounds. Tell me of a lake in arkansas that can do that. If a lake can produce bass like that, just imagine how the crappie fishing is, or maybe it has dinner plate sized Bream in it. Thats unheard of in the lakes of Arkansas.

[rockmike]

When we quit funding the G&F through user fees, and passed the sales tax, the G&F no longer had to be responsive to the average hunter or fisherman's wants or needs. As long as they keep the commission appointees placated, they can pretty much do as they want. You don't see many average fishermen on the commission.

[rockmike]

When we quit funding the G&F through user fees, and passed the sales tax, the G&F no longer had to be responsive to the average hunter or fisherman's wants or needs. As long as they keep the commission appointees placated, they can pretty much do as they want. You don't see many average fishermen on the commission.

Glad I got that out of my system.

[Gomer Snerd]

Hard to believe but i was told that electroshocking above dam 3 on the spring turned up more walleyes than trout. Just nobody fishes for them. Right after I caught an 11.75 eye in greers i was on the spring near the confluence with the black. Ran into a guy that had caught a 19.33 there. I caught 4-5 that day all around 5 lbs. thought I had found a new technique. Went back next week and couldn't find a one.

[river slabs are better]

i knowww walleye tourism could be as big as trout tourism if they put more effort into it. have you tasted a walleye....:D:D:D:D:D they are as good as if not better than crappie. way better than trout. plus theres a good sized fillet on them. id love to have a GOOD river walleye fishery in arkansas. i make 2 trout trips a year but if it were for walleye i would at least double that,

[wish4fish]

Crappie are hard to catch, walleye are harder. I finally caught my first eye this year on greers, it was good. I ain't trying to stir anything up but trout are a lot easier to catch, so maybe more is put into them for the weekend or family vacationers/tourist, same way with the hybrids that everybody who fishes once a month or once a summer on greers just loves to catch, they get a kick out of catching them and anyone can do it. There are a whole lot more occasional anglers than there are die hard fishermen like ya'll (I mean us I just don't get to go enough).

Everyone has made good points and I know absolutly nothing about the G F. My two cents

[CrappiePro]

Mojorig, thanks for your response I appriciate it and shows there is good work being done. There is enough beautiful cold water streams for both species in Arkansas and I see the benifits of the trout in our streams. But I also see the benifits for the AGFC to promote a very active walleye program and walleye stockings across the state in our streams and maybe feature at least one of those streams as a world class walleye fishery. Like already mentioned, it just seems like a WIN WIN situation, for the fisherman,tourism, and more license sold for the AGFC. The info you provided in this thread is great info, I think we would all like to see more of.

I would like to know about the walleye population on Greers, seems to me it just isn't putting out the numbers or size of the 80's n 90's we saw caught even thou limits were reduced. My guess is still fishing pressure? Is there a record of how many walleye are being stocked in this lake or what shock tests are showing? are you aware of any study's or stocking programs to help the walleye population on Greers? I would appriciate any info you can provide, and thanks agian for your response Sir.