Relative Survival of Three Sizes of Walleyes Stocked into Illinois Lakes

The ability to differentially batch-mark several size-groups of fish stocked concurrently in lakes or rivers makes it possible to compare survival within a single year. We evaluated stocking of walleyes Stizostedion vitreum in Illinois during 1991–1996. Ten lakes were stocked with combinations of two or three sizes of walleyes, including fry and small (50-mm) and large (100-mm) fingerlings. This permitted a total of 73 lake-year comparisons: fry versus large fingerlings (23 lake-years), fry versus small fingerlings (29 lake-years), and small versus large fingerlings (21 lake-years). Stocked fish were differentially marked with oxytetracycline or fin clips. Electrofishing catch per effort, relative survival, and population estimates were used in conjunction with production costs to compare size-based contributions and survival. Survival generally favored fingerlings over fry (70% of lake-years for small fingerlings, 67% for large fingerlings) and small fingerlings over large fingerlings (72% of lake-years). In some lake-years, fry and large fingerlings had the highest survival. Fish stocked as fry and small fingerlings were larger than large fingerlings beginning their third year of growth. Based on our results, stocking small fingerlings will generally be more cost-effective than stocking fry or large fingerlings. However, if fry or large fingerlings are available, stocking assessment on specific lakes may allow biologists to determine particular lakes where alternative sizes could be economically feasible

Evaluation of Walleye Stocking Program January 1, 1991 to December 31, 1998

Illinois Department of Natural Resources Division of Fisheries Federal Aid Project F-118-Runpublishednot peer reviewedOpe

Annual Progress Report Evaluation of walleye stocking program

Report issued on: April 1997INHS Technical Report prepared for Division of Fisheries, Illinois Department of Conservatio

Evaluation of Seven Oxbow Lakes on an Unchannelized Reach of the Lower Kaskaskia River, Illinois

Progress ReportSubmitted to unspecified recipien

Evaluation of Watershed Management Practices for Improving Stream Quality in the Illinois Watershed Program

ID: 8886; issued July 1, 2000 F-136-RINHS Technical Report prepared for Division of Fisheries, Illinois Department of Natural Resource

Evaluation of Watershed Management Practices for Improving Stream Quality in the Illinois Watershed Program

Annual Progress Report, Federal Aid Project F-136-RReport issued on: July 1999INHS Technical Report prepared for the IDNR Division of Fisherie

Quality management of bluegill: Factors affecting population size structure

Report issued on: issued November 1, 2001INHS Technical Report prepared for Division of Fisheries, Illinois Department of Natural Resource

Factors Influencing Largemouth Bass Recruitment: Implications for the Illinois Management and Stocking Program

Report issued on: August 2000INHS Technical Report prepared for Division of Fisheries, Illinois Department of Natural Resource

Factors Influencing Largemouth Bass Recruitment: Implications for the Illinois Management and Stocking Program

Report issued on: August 2001INHS Technical Report prepared for Division of Fisheries Illinois Department of Natural Resource