As the international Lake Erie Committee meets to set 2021 commercial harvest limits on walleye and yellow perch, the group’s biologists are anticipating another phenomenal year of walleye fishing.
With record numbers of walleye in the lake, the allowable commercial take is expected to rise, while the industrial perch limit is expected to go down to shore up spotty populations.
In western Lake Erie spawning waters, improving agricultural runoff conditions could result in another spectacularly successful spawn.
The number of trophy-size Lake Erie walleye caught in Ohio waters has grown steadily since 2017. The average harvest rate was recently documented as a record four keeper walleye per five hours of fishing, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
A Lake Erie walleye measured at 28 inches or longer qualifies anglers for “noteworthy catch” recognition from the Fish Ohio program. Entries have increased every year since 2017, culminating in 1,901 submissions in 2020.
“Anglers will find plenty of keeper-size walleye, measuring at least 15 inches long, from the 2014 to 2019 hatches,” said Travis Hartman, Lake Erie fisheries administrator for Ohio DNR’s Division of Wildlife, in a statement. “Many of the 2-year-old fish will reach the minimum length by the end of the 2021 summer.”
The walleye migration that reaches Pennsylvania waters in June and July follows spawning in the Maumee and Sandusky rivers and shallow off-shore plains, underway in March and April.
Lake Erie’s 2020 walleye population began at 116 million catchable fish, said Mr. Hartman.
Outstanding walleye hatches in 2015, 2018 and 2019 are expected to sustain the fishery for years to come.
Modest-to-good hatches in 2014, 2017 and 2016 will add to the stockpile of older, larger fish. Walleye remaining from the 2003 year-class are dwindling, said Mr. Hartman, but expectations are high that they may yield a new state record this year to replace the Ohio’s current record of 16.19 pounds, which has stood since 1999.
This year, some 151 million ‘eyes are expected to enter the Lake Erie fishery as legal 15-inchers that were spawned with the 2019 year-class, Mr. Hartman said. By the end of summer, last year’s 2-year-old throw-backs are expected to reach the 15-inch minimum harvest size in Ohio and Pennsylvania. Walleye that grew to 15-18 inches in 2020 will surpass 20-23 inches when they cross the state line in June and July.
What’s the maximum age of Lake Erie walleye? Mr. Hartman said modern aging techniques using otoliths, or ear bones, show they can live for 25 years.
Virtual wildlife
The Game Commission’s online wildlife education program, Wildlife on WiFi, was awarded the 2021 Outstanding Environmental Education Program Award by the Pennsylvania Association of Environmental Educators. The award recognizes innovative environmental education programs that aid educators throughout the state.
Wildlife on WiFi was launched in April 2020 to meet the agency’s strategic objective of providing outdoors educational services during the COVID-19 stay-at-home orders and state school closures.
“What started as an initiative to ensure Pennsylvania’s students, educators and parents had virtual wildlife educational tools available at their fingertips has led to a successful, permanent wildlife education program,” said Bryan Burhans, Game Commission executive director, in a statement.
“It is great to see the WoW resources being widely used across the state and we plan to continue to grow the program.”
Virtual lessons are free to Pennsylvania educators, youth leaders, assisted living and retirement communities and other groups. To schedule a virtual lesson, email wildlifeonwifi@pa.gov.
