Walleye Research Lake

For many, the walleye is the king of freshwater fish both in terms of the fight they put up on the line and the taste in the pan. Steering Long Lake towards a trophy-class walleye fishery has been and continues to be a goal of the board, which is proving to be a challenge.

The walleye population in Long Lake is impacted by both spear-harvesting by the bands of Chippewa tribes each year, as well as sport fishing. In 1983, the Voigt case affirmed the right of the Chippewa tribes to hunt, fish and gather in ceded territory. Subsequent implementation by the Department of Natural Resources of a three-walleye bag limit for all northern lakes, regardless of tribal declarations, has quelled public opposition to the activity. Most leading researchers believe warming waters and altered food webs are chief culprits of walleye decline (source: Milwaukee State Journal, April 25, 2018).

A significant concern is the impact of the rainbow smelt on the walleye fishery (see the section on smelt). In 2014, Long Lake was designated by the DNR as a walleye research lake, enabling us to be part of a statewide research program commissioned to improve the state’s walleye fishery. In practice this means that the DNR has made a commitment to stock large, extended-growth fingerlings in large numbers in odd-numbered years until at least 2020. Prior to designation as a walleye research lake, the LLPLD paid for a small quantity to be stocked on even-numbered years, and the DNR stocked a small quantity on odd-numbered years. Now, in order to support study of the population, Long Lake is only stocked in alternating years by the DNR with a large quantity of walleye fingerlings. DNR personnel mark the fish they stock by clipping their fins, allowing scientists to determine which fish they stocked and which resulted from natural reproduction. Disturbingly, it seems that no walleye are hatching and growing to adulthood on Long Lake, which appears to be primarily due to the presence of the non-native rainbow smelt.