Clear Lake’s long-range fishing forecast showed a marked improvement last week as more than 18,000 9-inch, advanced fall fingerling walleyes were stocked near the reed beds at McIntosh Woods State Park.
Reared at southern Iowa’s Rathbun State Fish Hatchery, the fingerlings began life on natural foods but were then trained to feed on a specially developed dry ration. The protein-rich mixture promotes rapid growth and produces advanced fingerlings that are regarded as “super fish” by anglers who one day hope to put them in the boat and on the table.
“The survival of the fingerlings we stock at this size is almost beyond excellent. Fish like these don’t happen by accident but are the direct result of more than two decades of advanced fisheries research and technology,” said DNR fisheries technician Randy Esser.
Until recently, first-year walleye growth exceeding 6 inches was considered out of the norm and 9-inch fingerlings were simply unheard of. In addition to already achieving the 9-inch growth mark, this year’s crop of “Rathbun Jumbos” currently weigh in at more than a quarter of a pound each — simply incredible for walleyes less than six months of age, said Esser.
According to DNR district fisheries Biologist Scott Grummer, the Rathbun walleye stocking represents the season’s final installment of young gamefish to Clear Lake and is intended to supplement earlier 2009 stockings which included 16 million fry, 55,000 3-inch fingerlings and 18,000 6-inch advanced fingerlings.
“Recent young of the year fish surveys have revealed that the natural reproduction of (food base) forage fish was phenomenal at Clear Lake this year,” said Grummer.
“The lake definitely has food, and the survival and growth rates of these advanced fingerlings should be incredible.
“Under excellent conditions, walleyes can attain the legal 14-inch minimum length limit within four growing seasons. I think these fish will make it in three.”
Other Iowa lakes to receive Rathbun fingerlings this fall are Black Hawk Lake, Lake Icaria, Storm Lake, West Okoboji, Big Creek, Lake Manawa and Lake Sugema. Although original requests called for 200,000 advanced fingerlings, stockings were cut by more than 40,000 walleyes due to budget cuts, said Esser.
Lowell Washburn is with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
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