WEST ISHPEMING, Mich. (WZMQ) – The Michigan DNR has noticed a decline in the size and number of walleye being taken from Upper Peninsula lakes. To reverse this trend, the DNR is proposing a limit on the size of walleye that can be harvested from 10 lakes in the UP. Two of those lakes are in Marquette County: Lake Independence in Big Bay and Teal Lake in Negaunee.
“These lakes all have strong natural reproduction, which is an important factor. They’re popular fisheries, which is an important factor. And they’re lakes that deserve a little bit more attention as we try to monitor and sustain walleye populations,” said Dave Caroffino of The DNR.
The proposal will protect fish from 18 inches to 23 inches, because these sizes are prime spawning sizes for walleye.
“We are trying to protect those females in that 18 to 23 inch range. We will want to have a strong spawning population, and having a large number of females in that size range will really help our populations,” said Caroffino.
The anglers in attendance at this meeting asked questions of the DNR fisheries representatives and, for the most part, agreed with the proposal.
“I’m in favor of the proposal to actually limit harvest of those female walleyes and that really vulnerable stage of their lives, which is going to benefit all the fishermen that are out there,” said angler Terry Parkkonen.
The proposed rule change still has to be approved by the Natural Resources Commission, but DNR officials believe this initiative will produce a more plentiful and robust walleye population for years to come.
