Walleye Stocking Forum
The LBPIA has developed this forum to address topics of interest related to the lake. The purpose is to create an open dialog between our members and professionals to address key topics and answer questions you might have. The first topic we are piloting is related to the Walleye stocking program on Lake Beulah.
Why this topic?
Several members have asked the question, “Why are we stocking Walleyes on our lake? Does it impact other fish populations on the lake? Is the program working? What further things are being done to improve the success of Walleye on our lake? These are among the questions we will answer with the help of our local fisheries biologist Travis Motl.
What is typical habitat for Walleyes?
As a general overview of walleye as a species, the following are excerpts from Walleye Habitat: Management and Research Needs (Bozek et al 2011): “Walleye is a highly successful species inhabiting a wide range of latitudes and habitat conditions across North America including rivers, lakes, lake–river networks, and reservoirs. Walleye are native to freshwater lakes and rivers in northern latitudes of North America and are thought to have attained their current distribution as a result of repeated glacial events, river movement and colonization, and more recently, stocking. Walleye are described as a coolwater species and reach their maximum abundance in cool, mesotrophic environments where summer maximum temperatures and dissolved oxygen concentrations remain optimal. They inhabit deeper, darker waters, become active at night, and can inhabit turbid and stained water. Walleye populations in lakes are generally more successful in larger systems. Large systems may have adequate habitat, refugia, and food resources for several top predators to coexist or fill different ecological niches. In larger lakes, walleyes can coexist as top predators with northern pike, muskellunge, lake trout, and smallmouth bass.”
Does Lake Beulah provide good habitat for Walleye?
This information relates to Lake Beulah in a number of aspects. The reported Trophic State Index for Lake Beulah based on water quality monitoring is mesotrophic. As the literature above suggests walleye do well in mesotrophic systems. In addition Lake Beulah is classified as a two story natural community. Two-story lakes are deep stratified lakes with sufficient oxythermal habitat to support both warmwater and coldwater fisheries. While recent surveys suggest coldwater species such as cisco no longer inhabit Lake Beulah, the deep, cold water does offer good thermal refuge for walleye which are a coolwater species. At 812 acres Lake Beulah is considered a relatively large lake which offers a range of habitats due to its complex shape.
Regarding spawning, again from Bozek et al 2011: “Historically in lakes, walleyes have been known to spawn over clean, windswept gravel, cobble, and rubble substrate shorelines. Large substrates are often considered ideal for walleye, as the interstitial spaces may provide sufficient flow of DO and protection for eggs and larvae from waves or predation. However, walleyes have been observed spawning on numerous other types of substrate such as sand, silt, muck–detritus, vegetation, and root masses. Recent quantitative studies on spawning habitat selection in Wisconsin lakes indicate that walleyes primarily select for gravel (6.4–76.0 mm) and mixtures of gravel and cobble (76.1–149.9 mm) substrate shorelines with low embeddedness (i.e., interstitial spaces present, one or more clean layers of substrate). Walleyes tend to spawn close to shore and in shallow water in inland lakes.”
Can habitat be created to help Walleye be successful?
Yes! Walleye spawning beds can be created by placing gravel beds in desirable locations of the lake. Ideally these beds are in areas of the lake where there is a current. The spawning beds are created by placing a desirable pebble size of stone and gravel on the ice during the winter. In spring when the ice melts the stone falls into place. Success of creating spawning beds is only about at a 50% success rate. Pike Lake is one example where creating these spawning beds has proven successful.
The LBPIA had planned to do this this last winter but poor ice conditions did not allow us the ability to drive a dump truck on the lake so the program has been postponed. It will be reassessed again this coming winter.
Why do we stock on Lake Beulah?
Walleye abundance observed during the 2016 comprehensive fisheries survey suggests that contribution from natural reproduction is minimal, if any. Many waters in WI rely on stocking to provide a fishable walleye population. The Wisconsin Walleye Initiative was developed by the Department of Natural Resources and the Governor’s office to increase the number of walleyes in state walleye waters by expanding the production of large fingerling walleye at state, private and tribal fish hatcheries for stocking in waters accessible to the public. This historic investment in Wisconsin’s walleye fishery will benefit all users and Wisconsin’s angling related economy. See this link for more information: The Wisconsin Walleye Initiative | Fishing Wisconsin | Wisconsin DNR
Lake Beulah has a special designation as a Sentinel Lake under the Wisconsin Walleye Initiative. Sentinel Lakes are a subset of lakes within the Wisconsin Walleye Initiative that receive higher priority if fish production is short of demand. Sentinel Lakes also receive more frequent monitoring in the form of fall electrofishing surveys to monitor for natural reproduction and spring netting to obtain an adult population estimate.
This is a start in the dialog. What questions do you have regarding Walleyes in Lake Beulah? Also if you have other topics you would like to see discussed in this forum format, please send us your recommendations.