PIKE RIVER— It’s been another late start for operations at the Pike River Hatchery, as late April snows and continued chilly weather have slowed the spring walleye run. Despite the conditions, the local Department of Natural Resources fisheries staff began laying out its cribs and docks on Monday, in anticipation that they could drop nets as early as the weekend.
If so, that would be about two weeks behind the average startup date of April 16, but it would be nearly a week ahead of last year’s May 5 startup, the latest on record for the hatchery.
When walleye might begin showing up this year remains to be seen. Hatchery manager Brent Flatten said the water was 37 degrees as of this week, well below the 40-45-degree temperatures that start to coax walleye into the river and prompt eggs in the female fish to ripen. With daytime highs stuck in the low 40s and overnight lows well below freezing, Flatten said it’s going to take some time for the water temperature to rise. “It will probably take several days for the fish to ripen,” said Flatten.
Hatchery quota
The Pike River Hatchery provides walleye fry for all of the lakes within the Rainy River and Lake Superior watersheds that are regularly stocked by the DNR. This year, the hatchery plans to harvest 500 quarts of fertilized walleye eggs for release in lakes in the region. That number is based on the stocking plans for the few dozen lakes in the region scheduled to receive walleye fry this year.
This year’s quota is lower than some past years, but Flatten said the DNR is currently reviewing the effectiveness of stocking in the various lakes and that has somewhat reduced the need for fry.
No sucker sale
The traditional sucker sale, sponsored by the Vermilion Lake Association (formerly the Sportsmen’s Club) hasn’t been held since the COVID pandemic and it won’t be offered this year, either. No reason was provided for the decision.