Most of the walleye manufacturing in Lake Erie comes from its western basin. The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) and Ohio Department of Natural Resources produce joint surveys that assess the inhabitants by way of index netting surveys.
The newest younger of the 12 months (YOY) walleye catch was the ninth highest since evaluation started 34 years in the past. The yearling catch was the fifth highest on report.
“The high number of juvenile walleye in 2022 continues a multiyear streak of high numbers of juvenile walleye in the west basin of Lake Erie,” MNRF Biologist Michael Thorn stated.
Lakewide, assessments YOY and older walleye discovered the inhabitants was sixth highest within the final 33 years.
Thorn famous that the fish are rising slower than seen just lately.
“In 2022, the length of YOY and yearling walleye was well below the average for the 34-year time series. We have not seen any major negative impacts on survival from the slower growth, but the MNRF is monitoring the situation closely with our partners in Lake Erie.”
Erie perch issues
The scenario with yellow perch isn’t as clear reduce.
In the western basin, west of Point Pelee, catches of YOY and yearling perch have been seventh highest within the 34-year evaluation historical past. Another evaluation was even higher, giving numbers that have been sixth highest. Thorn stated these excessive numbers are a continuation of a pattern that began in 2014.
Perch aren’t doing as nicely within the central basin — from Point Pelee to the bottom of Long Point. The east and west central basin items have yielded the bottom numbers of YOY perch within the eight years since evaluation began there. An evaluation of yearling and older perch, which has been going 33 years, discovered the fourth lowest numbers within the west central basin and third lowest within the east central basin.
The information is best within the jap basin. Long Point Bay YOY counts have been under common however evaluation of yearling and older perch throughout the basin was the fourth highest in 34 years of evaluation. Overall, Thorn rated the perch inhabitants as “very good” within the east basin.