Pymatuning Lake 2009 Fall Walleye Survey Results Are Best Since 2000!

ANDOVER, OH - A change in stocking strategy appears to be boosting the walleye population in Pymatuning Lake, which began dwindling in 2001.  Since that time, biological changes in the lake had resulted in poor survival of walleye that were stocked as ¼” fry each spring.  This stocking strategy, initiated by the Ohio Division of Wildlife and Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, involves stocking lower numbers of larger walleye fingerlings (1”+).  Fall night-time electrofishing surveys, conducted jointly by Ohio and Pennsylvania, indicated that first year survival of walleye in both 2008 and 2009 was the best observed since 2000.  Most notably, the results in 2009 were 2.5 times better than the success realized in 2008!

After two successful years of stocking fingerling walleye into Pymatuning Lake, Ohio and Pennsylvania fisheries biologists are optimistic about the recovery of the walleye fishery.  A substantial percentage of the walleye stocked in 2008 should reach the 15-inch minimum length limit by mid-summer of 2010, while fish stocked in 2009 will start to reach the 15-inch benchmark by mid-summer of 2011.  Pymatuning Lake has been one of the best inland walleye fisheries in either Ohio or Pennsylvania.  Successful survival of walleye stocked during the past two years should provide great expectations for the future of the walleye fishery at Pymatuning Lake.

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