Fisheries Conclude Fall Walleye Stocking

By Mike Preul, Mole Lake Fisheries Director

In early October, Mole Lake Fisheries wrapped up another successful year of stocking walleye into local lakes. Walleye were harvested from the six Tribal rearing ponds, which are located on North Mole Lake Road, east of the ball fields. A record 68,000 walleye were harvested from the ponds and stocked into 16 lakes in Forest, Florence and Langlade counties. These are some of the biggest, best-quality walleye we’ve ever raised. Walleye averaged almost eight inches in length, with some up to 10 inches!

Walleye were raised for approximately five months. Walleye eggs were collected from local lakes in the spring, and hatched fry were stocked into the ponds for grow-out to fall. Walleye were fed minnows to achieve the desired large fingerling size. Walleye were stocked into lakes where the walleye populations are struggling and need the help; their large size results in higher survival rates. Walleye stocking is intended to be temporary in each lake – to provide a boost to the population until natural reproduction takes over. The ultimate goal is for walleye populations to be self-sustaining and stocking is no longer needed. Many of the best walleye lakes in the area, such as Pelican, Metonga, Enterprise, Kentuck and North Twin, need no stocking to maintain strong walleye populations.

Photo Courtesy of WXPR Public Radio. Photo By Dan Dumas, Kim Swisher Communications.

Since 2014, Mole Lake Fisheries has stocked 450,000 large fingerling walleye into 45 different lakes in seven local counties.

Please contact me with any questions or comments at 715-478-7621.

Ben Meyer with WXPR Public Radio visited the Fisheries. Click on The Stream image above to view the story. Listen or read the full story here.