What we are missing
To most anglers, a walleye in the net means a tasty meal at the table. It’s truly hard to beat the white flakey clean taste of fresh walleye, even from warmer summer waters. For those of us that chase walleye as a target species for more than table fare, a walleye in the net represents an accomplishment. Walleye anglers know how shred and finicky walleye can be. Even the most seasoned veterans can see a day or more without a single keeper walleye in the net.
Some folks however, have taken a different look at walleye. Many companies, stores and government offices have seen the financial impact of the walleye. They see it as the commodity it has become. Walleye anglers have proven to be at the top of the pyramid when it comes to monies spent, in tackle, gear, and destinations. Lure companies have revamped their whole infrastructures to develop and produce walleye tackle. Rod companies, fishing line, and even boat manufacturing are now producing a walleye specific product.
For the average walleye angler, there is usually a handful of lakes that make the list of rotation each weekend. Usually this entails a full weekend of travel and fishing, as not every lake is stocked in Indiana. Many camp, some stay the night on the water, some make a two to three hour drive just to return each night. For some like myself, I fish a different lake every other weekend, if not each weekend. I find myself more and more heading into Ohio to fish their numerous fisheries. Most times in the Columbus area. And when I tell others of the fisheries in Ohio, I get the same questions in response, “what is Indiana not doing like Ohio?”
To give you some examples, none of the lakes I fish in Ohio have a park entrance fee. All the lakes have tremendous shore fishing. Both ease of access and number of areas. Almost every lake has clean bath facilities, not a pit and a screen door. Yes, these cost money to the tax payers, but on any given day, the parks, picnic tables and shorelines are filled with families fishing. The bait stores always have a line out the door. And the camp grounds are always at capacity. Trying to find lodging near the lakes on the weekends is nearly impossible without prior reservations. And this is all with not just a lake or two, but seven large reservoirs in the Columbus area.
The next topic of discussion has to do with a variant species of the walleye. Most of Ohio’s impounded reservoirs are stocked with saugeye. A hybrid cross between a female walleye and a male sauger. This hardy fish can not only survive, but thrive in any, and I repeat any lake it is introduced. Unlike walleye, the warm waters of summer don’t send it out to deep waters. And year round it can be caught near shorelines, docks and small creeks. The saugeye also proves to be more aggressive and eager to be caught.
So why doesn’t Indiana take advantage of the saugeye? Why do they not stock in in the hundreds of possible lakes throughout the state for you and I to take advantage of They claim because they do not want to chance affecting the current genetic string of fish down stream of lakes and below dams. We are told that Indiana walleye have nearly a zero natural reproduction rate in our waters. Also, if there is both walleye and sauger in our rivers currently, does that not allow for the cross naturally if they were to spawn?
It is my opinion if saugeye were to be stocked in Indiana, as it is in Ohio and in as many lakes as possible. Indiana would soon see the economic impact of the fisheries. Each community around each lake would benefit. Soon Indiana would capture some of the traffic that crosses through this state each week, headed to fish fisheries to our east and north. States like Texas and Arizona have taken notice. They have lakes filled with walleye and saugeye. I believe that Indiana has fallen behind in our ideas at the DNR. Once they choose to see our fish and wild life like walleye and deer as a commodity, and treat them as such, the state would soon see the economic impact from treat them as such.