Walleye spring spawning sport fishing debate growing in Ohio

As an avid fisherman, I was shocked when I read an article in the March 2011 issue of Country living, a publication from Ohio rural electric coop.

The article written by Chip Gross brings to light the growing debate on whether closing the walleye fishing season during the spring spawn in the Ohio waters of Lake Erie would increase the population of walleye.

The current Ohio fishing regulations state that in the Ohio waters of Lake Erie, anglers may take only four walleyes per day during the spawning season (March and April),

with six fish allowed per day the remainder of the year.  All walleyes kept must be a minimum of 15 inches.

Travis Hartman, a fishery biologist with the Ohio Division of Wildlife, reports that the population of walleye went from 70 million walleyes in the 1980s to less than 20 million today.

Despite the declining numbers, Hartman went on to explain that there are many reasons why the Ohio Division of Wildlife has not closed the season to fishing.  “First of all, spring sport-fishing opportunities are important to many Ohioans, and we won’t eliminate those opportunities without sound biological reasons.”  He said, “and secondly, the spring catch is low compared to other times of the year – just 7 percent of the overall annual catch.”

Hartman added that most of the walleyes caught during spring are males (84%), and that more than 90% of the females caught have already spawned.  “The bottom line is that weather and other environmental factors drive walleye hatching success from year to year, and not spring fishing,” concluded Hartman.

Mr. Gross writes of a compromise in his article that was offered by Dave Hoy of Mansfield. He fishes the spring spawn but does not keep the pregnant female walleyes he catches.

What are your thoughts on this debate?  Leave a comment or e-mail me at brad.proxmire@yahoo.com