The Walleye Population and Fishery in the Red Cedar River, Wisconsin

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Date
1975-09Author
Colvin, Michael A.
Publisher
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
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Show full item recordAbstract
Walleye, Stizostedion vitreum (Mitchill), were tagged
and a partial creel survey conducted in a 12.5 ha segment
of the Red Cedar River, Wisconsin, between the impoundments
of Tainter Lake and Lake Menomin. Tag returns and electrofishing
catches indicated a high concentration of walleye in the
river during April and early May. Walleye migrated downstream
into Lake Menomin during summer and upstream in fall.
Fish was the most important food item and comprised 84 percent
of the total food volume of walleye less than 200 mm long
and 97 percent of the total for those larger than 200 mm.
Total lengths at annulus formation based on the sum of mean
annual increments for each year class were 162, 264, 328, 373,
419, 452, 474, 490, 514, 537, 562, and 618 mm for ages I
through XII, respectively. Total annual mortality rate determined
from catch curves and angler recapture of tagged fish was
estimated to be 50 percent for ages II through IX. Exploitation
rate, estimated from angler tag returns corrected for nonresponse
and tag shedding, was 31 percent for 1973 and 1974.
Anglers fished an estimated 273 and 278 hrs/ha, caught 22 and
12 walleye/ha (9.1 and 4.7 kg/ha) at rates of 7 and 4 fish/100 hrs in 1973 and 1974. Mean length of walleye creeled was 362 and
351 mm in 1973 and 1974, and 82 percent of the catch was made up of ages II through V. Males and females appeared to be
equally vulnerable to anglers. Population estimates, calculated
from creel survey data, ranged from 7.6 to 9.7
walleye/ha and 3.0 to 3.2 kg/ha with a mean of 8.5 walleye/ha
(3.1 kg/ha) for walleye 250 mm and longer. Critical size,
the size at which a year class reaches its maximum biomass,
was estimated to be between 419 and 452 mm total length, weights
of 663 and 845 grams, or ages V and VI. Calculation of equilibrium
yield per unit recruitment indicated that weight harvested
could be increased by 27, 38, and 35 percent with 328, 373,
and 419 mm length limits.
Permanent Link
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1793/79444Type
Thesis