By Vic Attardo

To improve sportfishing opportunities for spring anglers, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission has been bolstering walleye numbers across the state with an intense stocking program. Since 1997, the program has produced a substantial number of walleyes in popular waters, and increasing numbers of legal-size walleyes are now available in many of the state's rivers and impoundments.

According to Bob Lorantas, the PFBC's warmwater unit leader, walleye management in Pennsylvania relies on both natural reproduction and the stocking of juvenile fish. Both facets are needed to sustain the state's walleye sport fishery, he said.

The number of walleyes the PFBC adds to state waters is substantial. But some explanation is necessary. According to Lorantas, the state stocks both walleye fry and walleye fingerlings. Walleye fry are classified as being only a few days old, while walleye fingerlings are several months old.

Knowing the difference between the two age groups makes the following discrepancy in stocking numbers more understandable. Since 1997, the PFBC has stocked an average of 700,000 fingerlings and 72 million fry in Commonwealth waters each year.

According to Lorantas, the PFBC currently stocks up to 95 reservoirs and river sections each year. These waters are stocked with both types of juvenile walleyes.

Lorantas said that younger walleyes are cheaper to stock than older fish, but there is a "survival price" to be paid for the stocking of juvenile walleyes.

Photo by Ron Sinfelt

"Stocking fry may yield good walleye populations on some waters but not on others," he noted.

So why, if there are survivability issues in stocking juvenile walleyes, doesn't the PFBC stock adult walleyes instead?

"The common-sense component to stocking adult fish is that the practice requires valuable rearing space," Lorantas said.

"It takes about three years for a walleye to reach 15 inches in Pennsylvania. Consider also that studies have shown that juvenile walleyes grow faster in the wild than in a hatchery setting. So stocking young fish yields the most legal walleyes in most cases." Lorantas said.

Seventy-two million walleye fry and 700,000 walleye fingerlings are a lot of fish to be raised, and one question often asked is: Where do all these fish come from?

"All walleyes stocked by the PFBC are derived from wild broodfish collected at Pymatuning, the adjacent sanctuary area, and Lake Wallenpaupack," Lorantas explained.

"The number of fry produced is influenced by the number of broodfish collected and by spawning duration, which is influenced by the rate of spring warming."

The PFBC collects its broodfish soon after ice-out. Spawning also takes place at this time. Walleye fry destined for fingerling production are stocked into fertilized rearing ponds containing naturally produced zooplankton.

According to Lorantas, weather affects the production of zooplankton and results in fluctuations in fingerling production.

"Cold spells can reduce zooplankton density, which ultimately reduces fingerling production," he explained. "On the other hand, moderate temperatures can enhance zooplankton densities and lead to enhanced walleye fingerling production. These variables lead to annual fluctuations in numbers of fry and fingerling production."

In 1999, for instance, walleye fry production fell to 5.9 million, while in 2002, the number rose to 7.2 million. The highest fry production was in 1998, when 8.08 million fish were produced. Fingerling production has been as high as 97,1550 in 1997 and as low as 57,7123 in 1998. Last year, the state produced 70,2831 walleye fingerlings.

An important part of the walleye management plan in the state is the allocation of fish for stocking.

"The state's allocation system is designed to handle the variability (in production) and is structured so that all waters scheduled to be stocked in a given year receive some walleyes," Lorantas said.

Recently, creel survey data was used to evaluate anglers' interest in walleyes in specific waters. Biologists used that information to determine how many walleyes to stock. The data showed that most angling effort directed at walleyes was done in medium to large reservoirs. More than 80 percent of angler effort was attributed to the state's stocking program.

To determine walleye populations in any given water, area fisheries managers perform night electro-shocking and trap net surveys. Night electroshocking is used exclusively on rivers. Waters such as Pymatuning Lake, Lake Wallenpaupack and several other large reservoirs are monitored exclusively by trap netting. Based on recent biologists' surveys, here is a look at some of the best waters to fish for walleyes in 2004:

Crawford County's Pymatuning Lake has seasonal moorings in the adjacent state park and five commercial marinas. Launch sites are off Route 322 from Jamestown to Espyville, as well as along Route 285. Launches are also available off Route 6, two miles west of Linesville.

Another top-ranking walleye water in the northwestern part of the state is Woodcock Creek Lake, also in Crawford County. This 500-acre impoundment operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is five miles northeast of Meadville off Route 198 or Route 86.

The largest walleye water in the Northwest Region is Allegheny Reservoir or Kinzua Dam. At 120,000 acres, the impoundment offers 91 miles of shoreline. It has four major marina and access points in Warren County and another four major sites in McKean County.

Call the PFBC's Area 2 office at (814) 755-3890 for more information.

Call the PFBC's Area 8 office at (814) 445-3454 for more information.

Lake Marburg in Codorus State Park is a fine walleye water. The horsepower limit on this 1,275-acre impoundment was recently increased to 20 horsepower. The lake is in York County, about two miles east of Hanover on Route 216.

Numerous sections of the lower Susquehanna River are also listed on the top walleye water list. These include Holtwood Dam and Safe Harbor Dam.

Call the PFBC's Area 6 office at (610) 847-2442 for more information,

About six miles east of Quakertown, Lake Nockamixon covers some 1,450 acres. It has three public launch sites on Route 563 and a fourth on Three Mile Run Road on the opposite side of the lake.

Call the PFBC's Area 6 office for more information.

Call the PFBC's Area 4 office at (570) 477-5717 for more information.