Wisconsin Walleye Initiative

http://host.madison.com/news/local/environment/wisconsin-walleye-initiative-aims-to-build-up-numbers-of-game/article_198f0dd7-6507-5fce-9e84-b060ad2d81c5.html That's a lot of walleyes.......

I know I for one am pretty much done heading up north due to lack of eyes. I can fish near home (Lake 'bago and GB) for many more, and nicer fish. Yes, the scenery up there is better, and hanging out with my buddy is great, but if you think you are to head up north for a great fishing outing, I know it has not happened to me in a few years. I will fish at home like I am this weekend. For me, there is a direct correlation. With Walker's attempt to bring more fish upnorth, maybe I will reconsider when they are bigger.

D2E, I don't even care what we can keep as long as there are some fish to catch. Make the lake C&R is fine but when fish are so rare that even catching one is a major feat makes me not really excited to go up north.

I also commend Gov. Walker in this effort to get walleye back in the systems that in combination has been over speared and over harvested. Ulbian needs to shag them rose colored glasses and find a piece of Wisconsin reality.. Tourism is tanking here in Wisconsin and one of the driving factors in this IS the over spearing of these northern lakes.. Native Americans went way over the top this year on their percentages and what they indicated that THEY WERE GOING TO SPEAR! You cant justify a family vacation anywhere with population levels that only allows 1-2 fish daily. I could care less what I take home but to some, for the 1000.00 spent on a week in a cabin, what you can catch and keep becomes really important.. I just love blowhards that scream racism, over this or even try and turn what Scott walker and his triage is trying to accomplish here into anything short of a compassionate attempt to save this states walleye fishery and create levels both sides can benefit from...

If the Indians want to spear , I don't have a problem with them doing the spearing . But they should have to use torches and homemade canoe. like they did when the treaties were written. Wolfer

Ulbian, my comments were not anti-Indian. Stating the truth is not being racist. If we stock more walleyes the indians will just claim more of them and spear more of them, that's not racist it's just what will happen. Personally I don't think we should stock a single fish in the cedded area until we come to an agreement with the indians which would allow them to still spear but not to rape the resources.

Ya gotta put it in perspective. Not only is there the significant Lake Michigan fishery to consider when you make the comparison to walleye stocking, but lets not forget, that's just a positive side effect to the real reason those fish started to be stocked and continue to be stocked, and that's a straight up NEED. The alewives are here to stay, and as fragile baitfish, they are not only prone to huge population bursts that need major control, but are also to major die-offs at an almost constant pace. Even minor temp changes from cold fronts or heat waves cause die offs, not to mention the extreme temp changes the wind brings to the shoreline, which also catch the alewives off guard and cause die offs. Anyone old enough to remember what Lake Michigan smelled like before the trout/salmon were introduced will welcome that fishery with open arms whether or not they enjoy the fishery or even fishing. Walleye aren't stocked for any reason but to maintain enough of a population for anglers to catch.

How about cleaning up the lakes and stop destroying the natural habitat and shoreline? & IMHO, if the "native americans" want to spear any lakes stocked by the "white man", they have to pony up some of the dough.

I'm not shocked at all that it took less than 90 minutes for the first anti-native comment to show up in this thread. How sad. The WDNR and the GLFWC need to be partners on this to make it work. There is more common ground to stand on than what many people think and that whole "us vs. them" pouting and whining will reap no rewards. Tribal hatcheries are part of this initiative as well. Focusing on extended growth fingerlings is a good thing. If systems are out of whack (i.e. higher populations of LM bass) you can dump millions upon millions of fry into a system and the ROI won't be as great as it will with the extended growth fish.

Yes it is. The indians will be eating well and making lots of money from selling them!